Chapter 21: Pudding
Translator: Soafp
The day of darkness ———-
Today is a day off, but El went to the market with Marl.
It seems there are some great finds, but it’s clear that Marl is the main reason.
I thought about going to the church and approached Roland.
“Roland, I want to go to the town. Can I ask someone for an escort?”
“Garl is off today, and Berett is already out as a bodyguard for Elphus-sama.”
“I see, so maybe I’ll go alone…”
“Aldo-sama, an escort is arranged by Joshua-sama and Rafina-sama…”
“Understood. I get it, it’s about the escort.”
“Would you consider spending the day at the mansion?”
“What about Ashera?”
“Ashera-sama also has some household matters to attend to today.”
“So, El, Ashera, and Marl are all not here.”
“How about reading a book on a day like this?”
“……”
“……”
“Well… maybe I’ll try playing the standard part 2.”
“The standard?”
“Roland, can I use the kitchen?”
“The kitchen… I’ll have to ask the head chef.”
“Then let’s go ask together.”
“Go together?”
“I’m quite bored. I feel like I might escape from the mansion.”
“Let’s head to the kitchen right away.”
We headed to the kitchen.
“Head Chef, I want to make pudding, can you lend me the space?”
“Hmm?”
“Aldo, can you keep quiet for a moment?”
I felt a mysterious pressure from Roland and stayed silent.
“Head Chef, Aldo is having one of his usual episodes. Can he use the kitchen?”
“Oh, an episode, huh? You can use a corner if you want.”
“Alright, then I’ll take a corner.”
Roland nodded in satisfaction and walked away.
I tried to recall the steps for making pudding.
“If I remember correctly, you mix milk, eggs, and sugar, and then steam it. Well, let’s give it a try.”
“Head Chef, do you have milk, eggs, and sugar?”
“Aldo-sama, we have milk, eggs, and sugar… we have them…”
“I’m not a fan of being formal, so you can speak casually.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m not good with formalities.”
The head chef’s face showed relief.
“Alright, then I’ll need some milk in this container, about this much. Two eggs, and a bit of sugar.”
“Understood. By the way, what are you making?”
“Like I said earlier, I’m making pudding.”
“What’s pudding?”
“Pudding is a dangerous food that can ignite sibling rivalry.”
“I see, so it’s a scary food…”
Ignoring the strange things he said about pudding, I continued with the preparations.
“Mix, mix, mix, mix, mix~♪ Today, I am making pudding~”
“First, I’ll beat the eggs. I’ll beat them really well.”
“Then, I’ll add milk to the eggs. The amount is approximate; I’ll add it by eye, judging by the color.”
“Next is sugar. I’ll add this while tasting.”
“Now, the batter is ready. All that’s left is to steam it.”
“However, I don’t have a steamer, so I’ll place a plate in a pot.”
“I’ll add water to the pot so that it doesn’t reach the top of the plate.”
“Now, I’m almost done! I’ll pour the batter into the molds.”
“I made six of them. I’ll arrange them on the plate.”
“Now, I’ll put the pot on the heat and cover it.”
—10 minutes later—
“Ah, this is getting kind of tedious. Should I just do it the regular way?”
“Is that okay?”
“Yeah, I think it’s about time.”
I opened the lid, and steam billowed out.
I checked the molds. They looked good, but…
I decided to poke one with a spoon.
It jiggled.
I think this is a success.
Now, I’ll take the molds out to cool.
—Another 10 minutes later—
It’s cooled down quite a bit. Let’s put it in the refrigerator.
Wait, do we even have a refrigerator?
“Head Chef, do we have a refrigerator?”
“Refrigerator? What’s that?”
I raised my gaze to the heavens and struck an angelic pose.
“Wait a minute… we have it! We have a refrigerator.”
I placed the pudding on a tray and headed to the living room.
As I entered the living room, I shouted.
“Refrigerator-san, please chill the pudding!”
“…”
I suddenly received an Iron Claw attack.
“I may not understand the meaning, but I know I’m being ridiculed…”
“I-I’m so sorry, Mom…”
Attacking your son with an Iron Claw out of nowhere! This is domestic violence!
“Mom, I’d like this pudding to be chilled.”
“This? What is it?”
“It’s pudding.”
“Again, what is pudding?”
“I don’t want to say because you’ll take it away.”
“Then I won’t chill it.”
“I created this snack…”
“Oh, a snack made by Aldo… looks delicious.”
“Fine, I understand… I’ll give you one.”
As I tried to hand her a pudding, “Ice Witch” started talking with a mischievous look.
“Just one? There are six of them, so you should give me at least two, right?”
“Guuu, fine… I’ll give you two.”
“Okay, I’ll chill them.”
“Chill them until snack time, please.”
“Got it. Since it’s just you, me, and Clara today, let’s eat together.”
“Alright.”
So, I entrusted the puddings to the newly dubbed Refrigerator-san, and I headed to the library to read a book.
Snack Time
(I’m going to the living room to eat pudding!)
I walked happily toward the living room. However, in the living room were El, Marl, Ashera, and my father, who shouldn’t be here today…
There are six puddings, and I’m the one who made them, so there’s no mistake. Someone in this room won’t get to eat pudding.
To establish dominance in this situation, I spoke up.
“It’s a game of Reversi! Let’s settle this with Reversi!”
“”””””Reversi?””””””
Everyone but me questioned.
“The winner of Reversi gets to eat pudding first! It’s a Pudding Showdown!”
Everyone’s eyes seemed puzzled.
Looking at the table, there were pudding containers in front of everyone.
I, with my father’s inherited narrow eyes, opened one of the containers and looked inside…
It was empty…
When I looked at everyone, they all averted their gaze.
I took a step back… then another…
I turned around and started running, tears in my eyes…
When I was sulking at the top of the garden tree, El and Ashera came to get me.
Ashera’s first words were,
“The pudding that Aldo couldn’t eat was delicious.”
I’ll get back at her someday.
Marl was genuinely apologetic and expressed her regret.
I told her not to worry and said,
“I can make more.”
Ashera in response, said,
“Could you make some for me too?”
She’s quite brazen.
Refrigerator-san and Clara also asked me to make more.
It seems the ladies really liked it.
I’ll make it again when I feel like it. Next time, I’ll definitely make sure to save some for myself…