NOVEL NEXT Chapter 350
“That sounded like a bell.”
“Did it ring?”
“No, this is an irresistible force!”
Karem was genuinely flustered by the teasing tone, while the Kikimora working in the kitchen were taken aback as well.
“Wait, are the Kikimora getting kicked out?”
“Th-That can’t be! Surely, the esteemed Contractor must—!”
“Everyone! Calm down! This must be a misunderstanding!”
“Nascha! Ryuva! Marsha! Everyone! Take a deep breath!!!”
“Hiiiii!”
Karem regretted it. The large, blinking eyes of the gathered kitchen Kikimora began to wobble with anxiety.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Trying to take work from House Fairies, are we?”
Mary, who had stepped back three paces behind Catherine, clicked her tongue audibly for emphasis.
“Isn’t this Contractor a rather hopeless case?”
“If you’re not going to help, step back! Who’s making this situation worse? Where do I even start—”
As if pouring oil on a fire atop a hot head, Karem resolutely ignored Mary’s murmured remarks.
“The solution is simple.”
“You should have said that earlier! The kids are about to cry—hurry up with the answer!”
“Karem, all you have to do is politely resign from labor.”
It was a rather awkward conclusion to the vacation that had ended for various reasons.
Why did he volunteer to work, saying he was going to finish enjoying the rest of his break?
While it wasn’t incorrect, Karem couldn’t help but feel suspicion toward Mary when she said it that way.
That habit of his had arisen because of Mary.
‘She’s probably thinking that way.’
Mary’s eyes flitted to capture Karem’s hesitant figure, caught between options.
‘No matter how much you love cooking…’
It truly was a pleasure for House Fairies to take on tasks for others.
It’s only natural for them to be cautious around each other, as they cannot even share with their own relatives, not to mention within parent-child relationships.
Naturally, Mary also warily eyed the Kikimora group.
Wasn’t it true that they had entered the Kikimora’s territory on their own volition?
But if one worried about such things, they’re not a House Fairy. Originally, she had followed Catherine without knowing there would be Kikimora present.
However.
‘What if I have that feeling? Should I help just a little?’
Mary’s gaze, charged with trepidation, turned toward the hugging Kikimora.
The fear of potentially losing their jobs.
Mary understood that better than anyone.
When Catherine had introduced Karem as her personal cook at ten years old, she had instinctively radiated her intentions not to let the brat take her position.
Of course, if other House Fairies had heard of Mary’s fixation, they’d call it excessive. No matter how infatuated one is with work, her intent to kill was too much; they would deny it. But Mary was that much sincere.
It is said that an adult elephant, even as a herbivore, might attack the source of its fear when threatened.
Mary’s fixation was no different.
Just recalling that moment still sent chills down her spine.
“Wasn’t the reason for your visit for rest as well?”
“Ugh. That’s right. Rest.”
“You did the same at the Bolton territory. Why are you trying to work again during your break?”
“Well, it’s because that side keeps trying to steal work from me. Even in a situation like this—”
“I love cooking,” Karem interjected, “but I wouldn’t dream of offending another brownie by invading their territory.”
“Excuse me?”
Karem was flabbergasted by the unbelievable remark, but Catherine tapped her staff on the ground.
“It’s nice to share camaraderie among your kind, but you should probably start considering the other side’s feelings too, don’t you think?”
Oops, I momentarily forgot.
It was all because of Mary’s provocation. Still, Karem needed to defuse the ticking time bomb that had started ticking.
“Wuuuuhh—sniff—I’m not crying!”
“A-Are we getting kicked out again?”
“Did not Captain Nascha say? The Captain has never been wrong. We believe in the Captain!”
The eyes of the frightened Kikimora, huddled together like frightened rabbits, began to shimmer with tears, ready to burst at any moment.
There was no choice.
With divine power enhancing his body, Karem quickly lifted the nearest Kikimora into the air with both hands.
*
*
*
Just as everyone has different preferences for food, each brownie also has its own food preferences.
Of course, what brownies loved most was obvious.
Dairy products like cream, milk, cheese.
And all flour-based dishes including bread.
Among these, Mary adored sweet desserts the most, but she wouldn’t refuse other dishes even if they were in front of her, meaning her preference survey held little actual significance.
In contrast, the Kikimora’s preferences were much simpler.
Their tastes strictly followed appearance.
They preferred sweets over freshly baked bread and milk.
Nom nom nom nom nom!!!!
“Comrades, is this really delicious? It tastes burnt…”
“Not at all! It’s sweet!”
“I want to eat more, comrade!”
“I-Is it really okay for us to eat this, blessed one?”
“There’s plenty, so we’ll share fairly!”
The mountain of dark brown nuggets piled on trays and bowls.
With ears pricked up in excitement, the Kikimora scrambled to grab the pieces, each the size of a finger joint.
Perhaps distracted by the sweetness in their mouths, the tearful Kikimora’s eyes sparkled as they focused on the dessert before them.
“Wow, you really managed to fix things.”
Catherine was a bit surprised as she watched the munching Kikimora.
It started with lifting one Kikimora.
Within moments, all the Kikimora were seated at the table.
Karem didn’t stop there.
Using his body-enhancing divine magic, the very divine power, and the magic tool Felwinter’s deception, he quickly whipped up a dessert and served it to the Kikimora.
At first, she thought he might be making, at best, a nut confection, but it seemed he had created Amadeus. That looked delicious.
“Almond Amadeus, huh?”
“Originally, it’s called Almond Chocolat, but given the ingredients, it’s referred to as Almond Amadeus.”
“Well, the name’s straightforward.”
The method was simple for a dessert.
Take boiled syrup, add butter and almonds for coating.
After hardening for a moment to prevent sticking, cover with melted chocolate and harden again.
Having casually laid it all out, Catherine pointed toward Mary, who had grabbed an Almond Chocolat, and took a bite.
Crunchy, crispy, with a rich flavor.
It tasted just as she had anticipated.
“So, what now?”
Catherine asked while cheerfully crunching with her teeth.
“What do you mean?”
“It feels like the house fairies who got caught up in the dessert are suddenly realizing whose attention they need to avoid.”
“Oh, right.”
Caught up in the repairs, she had momentarily forgotten.
At Catherine’s words, Karem turned to see the Kikimora hastily shoveling Almond Chocolat with both hands while casting furtive glances in their direction.
Is it something to feel guilty about, really?
“Hoo, good.”
Kicking the table lightly and standing up, Karem’s movement startled the Kikimora, who, in the mix of eating, were left unsure about what to do.
“It’s alright; you don’t need to wipe your hands.”
“Are you not about to say something important?”
“Regardless, it’s still prepared for you to eat, so let’s speak while you enjoy.”
The Kikimora who had paused their hands took Karem’s words as a signal and stepped in, hoping to sit and enjoy their meal while listening.
“First, let’s clarify something. I never intended to drive you out. How could I, with House Fairies around, hire a regular groundskeeper in their place?”
“But, esteemed Contractor, you’re taking the kitchen work from us—”
“No. Think back carefully. I never told you I was firing you.”
The Kikimora blinked, processing the fact, looking at one another with expressions that seemed to question, “Did he really say that?”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’m only interested in preparing the meals for Catherine here, this lady.”
With Karem’s gesture, the Kikimora’s heads snapped up!
Their eyes focused on him like kittens staring at a laser pointer.
“Ho, you’re planning to shove this onto me…?”
“Of course not.”
Catherine chuckled lightly at Karem’s pleading expression not to tease him.
“Right, I was just teasing.”
“That said, this is a bit strange.”
Mary, who had been observing the situation silently, stepped forward.
“Contractor. Karem junior said he came to enjoy his unfinished vacation.”
“That’s right.”
“Then why continues to cling to kitchen work without any respite? This is unfair.”
“…I feel like I know where this is going.”
“I assert that it’s ethically right for the meal Karem junior will make to be crafted by me.”
Mary spoke with a composed demeanor, throwing out her ludicrous assertion.
“That’s unacceptable!”
It seemed the Kikimora shared the same sentiment, even one of them struck the table in outrage.
“How could a guest invited to Fellow Mansion be made to wash their hands???”
“Indeed, brownies look down upon Kikimora, don’t they!?”
“The meal for the Contractor and guest must certainly be prepared by us! Right, comrades!?”
With one Kikimora voicing an adorable protest, the others momentarily paused their munching on Almond Chocolat to stand and enthusiastically clap with little hands stained by Amadeus.
“How about you quietly give up?”
Catherine, chin resting on her hand, turned her head slightly to smile at Karem.
“Cooking, right?”
“Just as those two House Fairies suggest. After all, you came here for a vacation. So, resting would be the right thing to do.”
Catherine’s gaze shifted toward the still squabbling Kikimora and brownie.
The argument among the two House Fairies continued. To an outside observer, it honestly resembled a dispute between little girls, it was rather unseemly for Mary to bicker with them.
“From appearances alone, you trying to take their playthings isn’t much different from Mary, you realize?”
“What? How could you say something so harsh—”
Catherine sneered, as if inviting him to retort as much as he liked.
“-Does it really seem that way?”
“How would you like me to put it? Honestly? Indirectly?”
“Please say it directly.”
“It appears you’re confiscating toys from the likes of Princess Alicia’s peers.”
Catherine shrugged nonchalantly.
“Hmm. They say house fairies feel happiest when working.”
While it was true she didn’t obsess over work as fiercely as Mary with burning eyes, Karem couldn’t deny that she certainly loved working when she glared back at Mary.
But ultimately, what struck Karem most deeply was how much he seemed just as pitiful as Mary.
Hearing it from someone else, especially Catherine, he began to reflect on his previous actions.
Was he truly letting his obsession with cooking take over under the pretense of cooking for others?
Of course, he would never let it pass to Mary.
“Hmm. Then maybe it would be good to take a break, as some say.”
“I expected you to resist more, but you are surprisingly accepting. Is it that distasteful to seem like Mary?”
“It just seems shameful to see myself genuinely squabbling with those who appear to be Princess Alicia’s age.”
At this moment, even as Karem reached a conclusion, filled with lingering regrets, Mary continued to tussle with the Kikimora.
Before long, the subject matter had shifted, and the house fairies were engaged in what was almost a heated discussion about how far Catherine’s service should go while they resided in the mansion.
Bang-!
“Comrades! The new Contractor says he’s firing us—what’s this about—ooh?”
“….The kitchen crew is sharing snacks without telling us! Captain Nascha!”
“To toy with the concerns we worried about like this!”
With their conical hats bouncing, Nascha and the Kikimora burst into the room.
Fearing how their comrades might be affected by the shocking news conveyed through telepathy, they had come together, only to find that it had been a lie about delicious-looking, glossy snacks.
“No, I made those Almond Amadeus to cheer them up.”
“Amadeus! To think it would only be for comrades!?”
“Uh, um. Don’t cry. I’ll make some for you, too!”
With that, the Kikimora, who had been murmuring gloomily, calmed a bit.
“So, what does it mean that the new Contractor says we’re getting fired?”
“The snacks the kitchen crew is eating look so tempting!”
“More importantly, did the kitchen crew force the new Contractor to work!?!?”
As the previously subdued atmosphere began to erupt again, Karem couldn’t help but slap his forehead.
Good grief, I’m really losing it.