I play with the trim of my pointy hat, a present I received after finishing my education in magic from my teacher. It not only a fashionable accessory, but also a symbol of my status and profession as a master of arcane arts. It is made of a salamander’s hide, so it is also has a very strong heat-resistance, keeping my head cold all the time.

“Are you going to enter? I am hungry, you know”

Alan’s voice sounds from behind, and I finally manage to compose myself. It’s a nervous habit I picked from the teacher, and the reason I am so flustered is the resident of the house we are standing before. It would be hard to call this place luxurious or well-decorated: it’s mostly made of wood and stone, and also looks quite humble. As I expected from Percival-san’s household.

I try to knock at the oaken door, but Alan manages to beat me to it: he violently opens the door with a loud thud and shouts at the top of his lungs. His annoying voice reverberates through the whole place.

“I am home! Is the dinner ready?”

Damn, you are too loud! My ears are this big for a reason: they are very sensitive to vibrations and various noises. It is as if a drill pierced my eardrums, and then was turned on. Alan can be quite scary, but he is even scarier when hungry.

“Hey, watch your volume. Were you trying to bust my ears on purpose, dolt? I almost got deaf from that. Should I train you with a water bottle again?”

Yes, I trained him how to act normally with a water bottle. If it works on cats, it works on humans, too. It even showed some results: Alan started to chew when eating, and he also started to use a fork! Alas, it doesn’t work when he accidentally makes girl fall for him since he can’t realize when exactly he did wrong. He simply looks at me with those stupid puppy eyes.

“Anything but that! No bottles! I am sorry!”

Have I scared him this much? Alan, stop prostrating yourself like that: something horrible starts to raise within me. I am not a damn sadist. Well, I don’t think I am one. As I try to placate him, a kind lady appears at the doorframe.

“Oh, here are you, children. Every time I see you, you grew only closer and closer”

Of course, we would grow close. We share seven years of friendship built upon problems, incidents and misunderstanding: you can’t get a sturdier foundation for relationships anywhere else.

Her name is Martha Muller. She is Percival-san’s wife, and Alan’s grandmother. She is a woman with plump body and graying hair with purple streaks. I saw the portrait of her when she younger, and Martha-san was quite a beauty. Nowadays, she takes care of Alan and me, teaching me how to sew and cook.

What? It’s interesting. Also, mages can engrave various runes on objects to improve their capabilities: usually they use it to enchant swords or armor, but sewed runes work as well. Alan’s coat is the testament of my skills as a seamstress.

I took cooking because I wanted to try this world’s cuisine. However, Alan started to abuse my skills to make him lunches all the time. Make them yourself, lazy dolt!

“My, I wonder when Marie-chan will become my granddaughter? I am still waiting”

Huh, how strange: I always thought it’s impossible to do a spit-take without drinking anything before. Is this an abnormality if the other world, too? Naturally, Martha-san assumed my reaction was a sign of embarrassment, but it’s not quite that. I never thought she didn’t know that Alan was, well, romantically-challenged.

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“What do you mean, grandma? Marie was adopted by Klausel-san. In fact, weren’t you the one who presented the idea? Do you want to adopt Klausel-san, so Marie can become your granddaughter?”

See? That’s what I am talking about. He is hopeless. I can see Marth-san putting her face into her hands, while muttering something about “grandchildren that need some work”. Sorry, but I am not interested in any man, especially Alan.

“So, what about the dinner? Is it done yet?”

“Ah, yes, it is. I need Marie to add some finishing touches, but you can set the table”

I enter the house with an “excuse me” and march to the kitchen. There’s no need for directions since I actually spend here more time than in my own house. My adopted father, Karl Klausel, is currently has some urgent business in the capital, so he won’t be here for a month.

I see the soup on the fire and take a first taste with a wooden spoon. It is good, as I expected, but also needs some seasoning. Something like…

“Here, Marie-chan. Those are spices you always use”

Right! It’s good that Martha-san is this sharp. She puts a hand on my shoulder and whispers.

“It’s okay. You have my full support, Marie-chan. I am sure you will crack through my grandson’s thick skull sooner than later. Fight!”

You don’t need to cheer for me, Martha-san: I am not a competitor and I don’t even want that “prize” of yours. I am not sure Alan can be called so. He is a pain in the ass, and a horrible womanizer, even though he doesn’t realize this himself. Also, he snores and acts like an animal.

His face might be pretty, but he attitude is the worst. It’s an out there. Completely.

Honestly, even if I wanted to marry someone, I have a mob of potential grooms knocking at my door. Granted, I don’t want to marry someone. Either as Satoru Yamada or Marie Klausel, I will always be in love with my work!

However, I do not wish to trouble Marth-san even more, so I refrain from speaking my mind. Instead, I say that the food is ready and start to serve it in bowls.

After some time, Percival-san comes and we start to eat. Alan, as always, does so with the grace of a swine. I wonder if he was one in his previous life. That said, I can’t help but enjoy simple meals like this. Truly, it’s a good thing that this place is away from all the hustle and bustle of the center. I hope peaceful days will never end.

Suddenly, the door was violently opened second time today, and this time it wasn’t Alan, which was very surprising. I see the form a local shepherd, Marcus-san. His eyes are incredibly scared.

“A dragon! I have seen a dragon nearby! It took away my sheep, my sweet Dolly!”

Oh, come on….