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Chapter 87 Part 2

The Answer We Arrive At, and the Result It Brings — Part 2

 

「Frecchi… I mean, even before Frederica came to cook, there was already a shelf full of spices. A jar of sugar and a jar of salt. That means Ashley was cooking too.」

 

Well, obviously. You can tell from the fact that she’s out shopping, and besides, there’s no way Ashley could cover the kids’ food expenses if she can’t cook in the first place.

 

「It’s unthinkable for people who can cook to use salt without first checking with each other. Salt can drastically change the flavor, even in small amounts—enough to ruin the whole dish. Anyone who’s cooked with salt even once should understand that.」

 

Sybilla closed her eyes as if trying to remember something, raised a finger, and traced each seasoning jar one by one on the back of her eyelids.

 

「Sugar, salt, white pepper, rosemary, cloves, cumin, cinnamon, and the dried, chopped ingredients are either basil, marjoram, or tarragon… but judging from yesterday’s pesto, it’s probably basil. What an impressive collection, I’m amazed that Frecchi has gathered so much for an orphan.」

 

I’m amazed you can remember everything on the shelf, even though you’re not the one cooking.

 

「——But that was a mistake from the very start.」

 

However, Sybilla immediately denied her own statement.

 

「Frecchi’s signature cooking style. That is grinding pink rock salt in a mill. That’s why every orphanage keeps rock salt on hand instead of powdered salt. I suppose it’s her particular preference.」

 

「……!」

 

「Looks like you realized it too, huh, Russell.」

 

She’s right.

My assumptions completely blinded me.

 

I had assumed that any two white seasonings side by side must be sugar and salt.

…But I was wrong.

Since the orphanage grinds all the rock salt in a mill, the other white powder can’t be salt.

This leads to one question.

 

——Just what did Ashley put in our meals?

 

「Sybilla.」

 

「Let’s go. We need to confirm this ourselves. Emmy, stay by Frecchi’s side. It’s unlikely, but if any humans try to target us, don’t hesitate to use your 『Shield』 power.」

 

Once we’d decided on our course of action, we stood up and left the room.

 

When we went downstairs, Frederica was already preparing dinner while reading a book.

It looked like she was marinating something. If that was the case, it seemed unlikely she would be touching the seasonings anytime soon.

 

「If you’re looking for Ashley, she went out shopping earlier.」

 

She’s out shopping? That works out nicely for us.

Sybilla and I exchange a nod, then grab two bottles from the spice rack.

Emmy, on the other hand, sat beside Frederica and started reading a book next to her… then I followed Sybilla as she left for the room—or not, but rather the outside.

 

What greeted us was the sight of a deserted town during the day.

Sybilla came to the orphanage’s backyard and picked up a wooden stick.

 

「The children were full of energy.」

 

「I see.」

 

「Today, you see…」

 

She’s pausing with every sentence.

…No, judging from the flow of the conversation so far, I think I’m starting to understand what Sybilla is trying to say.

 

Oh, right. She told me on the way back, didn’t she?

The cause of the illness plaguing this town was 『the food』.

 

「Life dwells in all things. In animals, in plants. Without sugarcoating it, every living creature eats other life, gives birth to life, and continues the cycle of life as it races through existence. …That’s why I really hate it when people waste food.」

 

So that’s why her face was so full of anger.

To keep the cycle of life, huh…

Sybilla must have seen things like that all her life.

 

Sybilla looks at the two jars. Both contain white powder.

She opens one, tilts it, and licks it.

 

「As I expected, this one feels a bit moist—this one must be the sugar.」

 

Then she looked at the fine, powdery substance.

As far as I can tell, it looks like nothing but salt.

 

「Russell, get ready to cast Cure.」

 

「You don’t have to tell me, I already am.」

 

The cause of the illness afflicting this town’s residents lies right there in her hand.

Even for a goddess, she can’t push this one too hard, since her physical limits are on par with ordinary human. If anything goes wrong, I’ll neutralize the poison immediately.

 

Sybilla opened the bottle and poured out the powder.

She sniffed it, but merely furrowed her brow without reacting.

 

 And then, hesitantly… she put it in her mouth.

The instant she did, her eyes shot wide open, and she flung her hand sideways!

 

(——《Cure》!)

 

Seeing this unusual reaction, I reflexively used my healing magic.

The powder stains disappeared, and Sybilla was back to normal…or so I thought.

 

「Are you okay?」

 

「……」

 

Sybilla’s face visibly darkens as she looks at the bottle.

Her reaction clearly shows she knows exactly what it is.

 

「Hey, just what’s inside that bottle?」

 

「Once upon a time, there was a seasoning that took the world by storm. Its name was Taste Awakening Powder.」

 

「……」

 

「It’s this white powder extracted from the red berries that greatly enhances flavor. …However, this powder had a side effect. It induces fatigue and lethargy. This was one of the reasons Ashley looked so worn out when we first arrived.」

[*TL Note: Flavor-enhancing white powder that allegedly causes side effects? Is this a jab toward MSG??]

 

「How did you know about this powder?」

 

「The man whom we handed over to the guards said he’d received the powder of the gods. …To think they’d let themselves be deceived by something like this… I don’t know if he truly believed it, or if there was some other reason…」

 

Sybilla made her way toward the orphanage.

Her face wore a complex expression, a mix of irritation and frustration.

 

「Russell, we’ll wait for the night.」

 

「Yeah.」

 

I’ll follow Sybilla’s plan.

We’ll watch what happens next while trying to anticipate what’s coming.

 

I watch Sybilla’s back as we return to the orphanage in silence.

Right now… I wonder if I’m wearing the same expression as Sybilla.

 

The sun dips low, and the crimson sky envelops the city.

It’s a soothing color.

I never imagined I’d come to feel such hatred for the color red in such a short time…

 

I told Emmy to stay close to Frederica. 

And told Frederica that we went to the backyard.

 

Sybilla and I silently came to the backyard of the orphanage.

There was no one around. I couldn’t imagine that Sybilla would be neglecting her search magic.

There was only one reason we came here.

Because we heard Ashley’s cheerful voice returning home.

 

…I wonder how much time has passed since we were waiting.

 

I’ve been standing with my back to the orphanage, staring at the sky.

The deep, crimson sky.

Suddenly, Sybilla called out to me softly.

 

「On our six.」

 

「…I see」

 

The moment she uttered those words… the sound of magic being cast echoed from behind!

 

「——Giii…!」

 

「《Stone Wall》」

 

「Gaahhhh—!」

 

The moment Sybila cast her spell, a shadow slammed their back against the stone wall and dropped to their knees.

I then immediately thrust the tip of my sword against their neck.

 

「It was no good after all. No matter how you look at it, there’s no way someone with a Saint and a Holy Knight in tow can be an ordinary person. …Ah, but if it has come to this… that girl will…」

 

There stood Ashley, with her nun’s uniform in tatters.

Beneath the black cloth of the nun’s robe, we could see the red clothing she wears.

 

And then, at her feet… lies a single knife.