Notice: I advice you not to read while eating. A little(maybe not) icky, this chapter. But it depends on what you find gross. (BTW, I put this warning here because I was eating a snack while translating this chapter and I didn’t feel good and some of you might be as sensitive as me.)
１１I take a bath with the remaining bath water. Taking out the futon from the storage room, I hesitate.
No matter how I think about it, I’m sleeping in an obstructive location, aren’t I? He must go through me if he wants to go to the toilet, but with that said, I don’t want to be kicked every morning. I also don’t like my futon to be stepped on with his shoes.
I’m going to sleep in the kitchen tonight. Although I don’t want to wake up in the dark, it’s much better than being stepped on.
Tomorrow, let’s discuss with Saine so I can use the storage room. It’s full of miscellaneous things, but he might not need every single thing in there. I will clean it and once I can secure a space to lay my futon down, I’ll be content.
Besides, there’s a window in the storage room. Because it’s made the same way as Saine’s bedroom, it’s a normal window. From that window, I can see the tree in the garden. Instead of the hallway door’s window, that room’s is absolutely more preferable.
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of Saine walking in the hallway. But it’s still dark even if I open my eyes.
I really hate things like this. It’s dark whether I open or close my eyes, it’s as if I’m about to be given birth.
That’s why I want to sleep in a room with a window.
I crawl out from the futon and go out to the hallway. Sunshine shines in from the small window and I feel relieved. When I go to the garden, Saine’s upper body is naked as he washes his face.
While waiting for my turn, I was staring at Saine’s back.
It’s big. Although his height is also tall, his body is massive. His neck is thick and his shoulders are wide. Every time Saine moves, the bulging muscles in his back smoothly moves. There were countless scars on that wide back. This is the back of someone who has survived as a Hero for 10 years.
Saine gives the space to me. I wash my face and with the usual flow, I pour the remaining water to the smelly rock on the side.
Upon seeing it, Saine asked me with a suspicious voice.
[What are you doing?]
[Nothing, it’s just that this rock stinks.]
When I told him so, Saine scratched his head.
[That’s a “perspiration rock”.]
[……..What’s that?]
[It’s what we call the rocks of sweat that we perspire overnight. They dry into salt early in the morning.]
[……………..Ugehh]
I took a long hard look at the rock.
[Is this smell from sweat? So, it can’t be, that we use that sweat as salt?]
Uwaah, so what’s inside that small bottle in the kitchen was this guy’s sweat? Uwaah, so gross. I ate some sweat. It was sprinkled over the lamb meat. (TN: Someone…. help this poor guy.)
[That’s right. The very first chore in the morning is to take the salt from that rock.]
Do I have to use the salt from sweat on this stinky rock? Tht’s kind of disgusting. I look down at the rock by my feet.
When it comes to cooking, it’s the Grannies. I must not ask the Men’s Club even by mistake.
[You’re asking about cooking?]
[Sharing chores, huh. Your husband said something nice.]
[But in the end, you’re doing all the housework, right?]
[Because I don’t earn anything, isn’t it natural?]
When I said that, the ladies look at me with lukewarm eyes.
[Even though that’s what all men say, housework is hard, you know? It’s not enough to just be a homemaker. In order for your family to live enjoyably and soundly, you must think a lot of things while moving.]
[That’s right. It’s a big mistake to think you can just use a housewife for free. Do you know how much it would cost to hire someone to do what we do? And yet men act all self-important just because their work makes money. We’re not some kind of maid that work for free.]
[It’s like I always say: ‘Who’s to thank for the meal you’re eating?’ Those are my words to live by.]
Did I step on a landmine? The ladies just keep on talking.
At times like this, all I have to do is keep my mouth shut and wait for the agitation to cool down.
I listen to all their ramblings throughout the morning. The cooking lesson started from the afternoon.
I wander around the market. Since I wouldn’t be able to remember even if they will teach a lot of recipes all at once, I only learned how to stir-fry vegetables. With this, I will only cut the ingredients and fry them in the meantime. However, I groan at the high hurdle before I can fry them.
I half-cryingly buy the intended stuff. The store keeper uncle stuffed a bunch of wiggling white worms inside the bag. Closing the opening of the bag, he passed it to me. I hold the tip of the cord tying the mouth of the bag with my fingertips while paying some gold. The pouch was moving creepily.
I buy something that looks like a turnip. It has an orange color, one is about the size of my head. I decided on chicken for the meat.
Even though that world and this world are slightly different, I’m thankful that the meat and fish are the same. The lamb meat at the ranch was also normal. The vegetables are strangely different, but well, it doesn’t matter. Better that than the meat.
Arriving home, I first light the lamp. I’ve also gotten pretty used with the flint stones. I can surely light a fire by striking it twice.
Putting fire on the fireplace and lighting the candle, I look at the squirming bag I placed on the table. Will I be able to get used to this as well eventually?
I go to the garden and draw water from the well. I put the water on the earthenware pot placed in the kitchen and carry it back. I searched the kitchen and found a small mortar and pestle. Or rather, I managed discover it. ‘So they have really it’, I sigh and look down on the squirming bag.
I really don’t want to. But I must do it or I can’t start. Almost all cooking start with this.
I strengthen my resolve and undid the cord. The lively bugs energetically fall out.
[Ugeeh]
I unintentionally end up groaning. I don’t wannaaa. I wonder if there are no other alternatives. No matter how many times I ask the ladies, it was always strongly denied. There’s none, they said. It’s apparently only this.
I found a spoon from the drawer after searching the kitchen. What a relief. I don’t want to touch them with my bare hands.
I scoop the wriggling worms and place them in the mortar. The mortar is slightly bigger than my fist. I put two worms in it. The worms are so lively that I feel like they will get out if I add any more.
I don’t have the courage to retie the cord of the bag. Ignoring the wriggling worms on top of the table temporarily, I start on the mortar. Holding the pestle, I tightly close my eyes and pushed it down into mortar.
Gon.
Squish.
[Ugehh!]
I don’t want to see what’s going on. Overcoming the chill crawling up my spine, I once again drop the pestle.
Kon.
Squish.
Ugeeh]
I don’t like the sound. But because both of my hands are occupied, I can’t cover my ears. Not wanting to see the strange outcome of its remains, I continuously pounded it 2-3 more times.
Kon.
Squish.
Kon.
Squelch.
The sound chaaanged…… No wayy. What’s happening? Keeping my eyes shut because I don’t want to see it, I grind it repeatedly.
Korikori korikori.
Nchunechunuchunuru.
Oh, it, became liquidy. Wondering if it’s already fine, I half-open my eyes.
[Gyoehhh]
I close my eyes in panic upon finding the bodies amidst the white liquid. So it was still too early, I thought as I grind it at high speed.
Korikori korikori korikori korikori.
Nchyu~nurunuchunyurunyuchonuryunurunuru.
The slippery feeling increased. Without feeling comfortable here, I grind it some more. Uoo~, let’s go with high speed rotation*! (TN: It’s supposed to sound more lively… I’m sorry TT_TT)
[What are you doing?]
When I open my eyes from the low voice, Saine was looking down at me with an astounded face.
[O….. I’m….. making some oil.]
As I dazedly mutter while looking down, the golden oil has been finished.
[That’s not enough, is it?]
Yes. It’s not enough. The oil made from the 2 worms don’t even amount to half of the spoon. Since I’m stir-frying vegetables, I need a lot more oil. But I don’t want to do any more than this, it probably showed on my face. Saine breathed through his nose and took the mortar from me.
He casually grabs a big handful of worms wiggling on top of the table and tosses them into the mortar. He covers it with his hand so the worms don’t try to crawl out, place the pestle between his fingers, and then angularly started pounding. Without any hesitation, Saine was mashing the worms.
[Ugehh! Uwaah! Ukyaa!]
The sound of the pestle knocking and the sound of the worms being crushed, and my strange voice resound inside the room.