Seirei Gensouki's
Chapter 64: Celia Reminiscence
The stone house where Rio and his companion lived could accommodate more than 10 people, the dining table located in the kitchen.
Furthermore, with Miharu cooking together, various cuisines flourished.
Perhaps in consideration of Celia, today's menu is mainly western style consisting of rice, bread, boiled tomato rolls, terrines, and salads.
「Uwaa, the aroma is really appetizing. Did Miharu make all this？ 」
Celia asked as her nose twitched and enjoyed the aroma of the dish.
「Yes, since cooking is one of Miharu-san's skills, she shared the cooking ration with me. For today, I submit the menu decision to Miharu-san 」
「Hee, maybe I should learn to cook too？ I want to quickly get familiar with Miharu」
Celia said that while smiling broadly to the many dishes lined up on the table.
「That's great then」
Rio replied while smiling lightly.
Teaching how to cook will also serve as Miharu's practice for conversation.
Maybe he should be an intermediary when they need a translator.
「Haruto-anchan. Let's eat fast！ 」
Masato who was already sitting in his chair seemed to be unable to take it anymore.
Rio smiled lightly.
「Ah, sorry to keep you waiting」
Then he apologized to Masato.
「Please sit here Celia-sensei」
He offered Celia by pulling the seat to her left.
Coincidentally, to his right was Miharu's chair, in front of him being Aki and Masato's chair.
"Thank you very much"
After saying thank you in a pleasant mood, Celia sat down in her chair. [TL: Flowers on both hands]
The ones who came last were Aki and Miharu who then sat in their seats after returning from the Kitchen.
「Itadakimasu」
Eating began.
「Itadakimasu?」
Celia asked Rio.
Perhaps he was confused as to why they were all except for him saying the same thing.
「This is similar to the words respecting eating, it is to thank all who give this food such as ingredients and cook cook
Rio taught the meaning of those words to Celia who tilted her head.
Then .
「Dia ~, me too. Itadakimasu 」
Celia also said it by imitating them.
Miharu who saw that was smiling happily.
「Then, should we eat terrine first」
Celia skillfully used a fork and knife to put the terrine inside her mouth.
「There are flavors from raw materials that enhance the good taste. Maybe lightly baked like this lukewarm salad 」
And gave her an impression with a beautiful smile.
As expected of Celia who was a noble, perhaps more people in the area were enemies.
Miharu's dishes could make Celia sing that praise.
「Then next, how about this boiled cabbage」
After saying that and tasting the col scroll, Celia stiffened while her eyes opened wide.
「S-Very delicious！ What kind of taste is rich Kaya sooo！ Cheese that melts in meat is the best!」
Celia gave a very high compliment.
Rio didn't even need to translate it, Miharu timidly found out that Celia was praising her cooking.
「What is this red thing?」
「It's a kind of ingrendient called tomato. Although this ingrendient does not exist in this region, it can be collected in the center of the continent 」
「Hee, this stew is also very tasty. The flesh was soft and tender, the taste also permeated within it. Any noble would be happy with this！ 」
Celia said that and gave him the stamp of approval.
Miharu was happy to be showered with such praise, Rio face also involuntarily formed a smile.
「Yeah！ Now I want booze!」
"In that case …… . I have a good one. 『ReleaseDischarge』 」
The space next to Rio distorted and a drinking vessel made of metal appeared out of thin air.
Celia's eyes shone brightly when she heard the word "loud drink".
Rio line of sight shifted to Miharu line.
「Although I want to treat Celia-sensei with liquor, what about Miharu also tasting it?」
He turned the liquor into three.
When people eat in the Strahl region, many people prefer to have liquor rather than water to accompany their meal.
Or rather, basically the possibility of natural boiled water being used as a beverage does not exist.
Although recently Rio avoided drinking liquor to match Miharu, if Celia was there, she would not be stingy.
「EH? The liquor？ 」
"Yes nih . Since even underage drinks drink liquor in this world. Well, drinking too much is not good, but I thought, how about trying to consume it 」
Rio easily recommended to Miharu as if not looking after her.
「E-Eh, then, just a mouthful of please」
Although Miharu seems to be a little worried, maybe because she felt bad for rejecting such a sprecial recommendation, she accepted Rio's invitation.
「Ah, I also want to taste it!」
「I too then ……. 」
After which, Aki and Masato also followed him.
Seemingly lured by the metal-drinking ship brought by Rio, the two were also curious.
Section 2
"Good . Then just a little 」
While saying that, he poured the cold drink into the five metal karaffes.
Although the parts and Celia are normal parts, Miharu's parts are really only a few.
「Let's have a drink. Baked bread"
After all the glasses were distributed to the members, they toasted with their glasses.
Miharu brought the liquor glass to their lips in a timid motion.
「Waa ....」
「S-Very delicious!」
「Excellent, this so-called liquor is tasty」
Miharu's saying their impression with a dumbfounded face.
Following after that, Celia who was mesmerized by the aroma of inhaling liquor.
「!!!!! What is this liquor！ Too delicious！ 」
He shouted with his expression that turned into astonishment.
The best liquor among the liquor stored by Rio was of course spirit liquor but, the amount was not much either.
With Celia's liquor tolerance, it might be best if they didn't drink too much of this liquor.
The ones they were drinking at the moment were the most famous liquor brands made in the Seirei no Tami village, but, not even including spirit liquor, it was, it felt in a different quality compared to those made by the human tribe.
Celia's reaction is natural.
「Although it is easy to drink, the liquor itself is strong, so please do not drink too much」
「Something like this, from where do you get the famous brand liquor！ If you sell it, some gold coins are not too much!」
The best liquor that appeared in the human tribal society rewarded some gold coins.
But, after drinking the spirit liquor, Celia stated that it cost more than that.
「Because this liquor is not made by human tribe」
「Aah, I understand」
Rio briefly explained about his exchange with Seirei no Tami until they arrived at the stone house.
Maybe that's where Celia guessed where she got the item.
After he inhaled the sweet and soft aroma of liquor with his nose.
「The nobles who enjoy liquor will have a changed expression for negotiation when they find out this. Uhhn, no doubt, many people will want it 」
After saying that with an enchanted face.
「But, I have no plans to introduce it to dunia」
「Aah, to think that we are the only ones drinking this delicious liquor, is truly an unthinkable luxury ……. . 」
Celia sighed as if regretting that fact.
The delicious liquor at this level had not come out, to the point that he did not think that there would be a more delicious drink than this.
Rio ate the beef soup made by Miharu in silence.
The beef soup is well boiled and tends to come out with a delicious taste, ear to ear smiling Rio.
「Nah, now we have to enjoy the food that Miharu made. What white grains are served on this plate? This…. . Not true wheat？ 」
「It's rice. Although I cannot say unconditionally many of its types, its features are that it has no taste. But other flavors will stick to it, a popular way to eat this is to eat together with other dishes 」
「Hee, then, let's taste it as it is ……. . Uhn, you're right, there's no taste. I wonder which dish is better suited. Ah, it's good I ate it with this cabbage. It also goes well with meat soup 」
He enjoyed the food with a full smile.
From beginning to end, Celia ate the dish made by Miharu with such feeling.
It's time to take a shower after dinner.
「This is the dressing room. Bathroom is on the other side of that door 」
Rio guided Celia who did not know the bath culture to teach her how to bathe.
「Excellent changing room. At this rate, the bathroom may be larger as well. That's what I was thinking but, this house doesn't seem that wide？ 」
Celia asked that while looking restlessly into the dressing room.
「Yes, that's because space magic is used to enlarge the inside. Looking at it from a construction perspective, although there is a limit to how much I can enlarge it, this is very useful 」
And, Rio answered her with a calm tone.
「S-Space magic's. Is that also something you get from people called Seirei no Tami? Now I feel the reality of how many human tribes are left behind 」
Celia's face cramp.
「At first, I was also very touched by such comfort. Then, let's move to the bathroom 」
She gestured for Celia to follow her to enter as she opened the bathroom door.
"Thank you very much"
After entering the bathroom, she thanked him in a low voice.
「A-What is this？ A WAAAAOW！ Is this the bathroom? 」
Celia unintentionally shouted out loudly.
「This is what we call the bathroom, after washing our body, we warm our body by soaking it in hot water it」
「This is completely different from bathing the human tribe right
Upon seeing the bath surrounded by stones, Celia took a deep breath emotionally.
There is no culture of immersing yourself in the bathroom except for a few unexplored areas with hot springs in the Strahl region.
Although Celia also found out about the hot spring, she practically never immersed herself in it, that was why she was really interested in her first time to try it.
「I think you'll be hooked when you try it」
Rio said that while grinning widely.
He turned his gaze towards the indoor open space as it was.
「Please wash your body and hair there. The hot water will come out if you touch the Crystal Magic Tool attached with your hands. There are 5 kinds of soap, each with different function―― 」
Section 3
「How to use the place. Since cypress hinoki and stone bathtubs have different temperatures, you can include whichever you like. Please try later. Because I will return to my room 」
「Ya, thank you very much」
The two returned to the dressing room, Rio returned to his room, leaving Celia alone.
After locking the dressing room, he took off the clothes he was wearing and left only simple underwear.
After taking off her underwear, her straight white hair that stretched until her back spread out with a thud.
Although there was no one in the dressing room, she could not calm her heart when she was alone and naked in the spacious bathroom.
Celia hurriedly entered the bathroom.
「There is no doubt that soaking yourself in hot water feels good」
Although she accidentally had the urge of wanting to jump with a "clap" into the bathtub that increased the white steam, she first had to wash her body and hair following Rio's instructions.
「Uwaa, this is the first time I've seen liquid soap. But it smells so good 」
Celia was astonished by the high quality of the soap.
Right, first, it smells different.
Soap that appears in human society is a soft object called soft soap, the smell is also not too good.
But, the soap prepared by Rio had a delicate floral scent until he accidentally sniffed it with his nose,
This is definitely even better than the hard soap that Rikka company recently discovered.
「Rio said that he made all of the five types, the amount of his income would be unthinkable just by teaching the recipe for this [soap]. Well, the kid won't do it though
Rio is the type who prefers a quiet and quiet life rather than something like fame or social position. [TL: All that stuff]
Even if he taught the recipe, he felt that he absolutely would not let his name be published.
Incidentally because the soap provided in this house used an ingrendient that could not be found anywhere except for the Seirei no Tami village, it could not be made even if the recipe was taught to the human tribe.
That quality with that certified by Seirei no Tami is superior to the absurd point even if comparing it to the soap made in the Strahl region.
In addition, the recipe he had dropped into the Yuba village in Karasuki kingdom had a lower value than the one made in Seirei no Tami, it was an easy recipe to make.
「Well, maybe it's okay with this level of hygiene」
By the way, he gently washed up the corner of his body with bubble soap and then poured it with hot water from a hot water tap magic tool to wash the bubbles.
He realized at this point that his skin had become more shiny than usual.
「Next is the face. Uhhm, maybe this one's 」
After pouring warm water into the bucket to her face, she took out a container with the inscription "For the face" and took the appropriate amount of soap.
Applying bubble soap to her face while gently massaging her face without rubbing it.
「Uwaa. It feels good 」
The dirt stuck to his face was washed clean, there was only a chewy and moist feeling left on his skin.
「Then, next is the head. Uhm, start with shampoo then use next treatment 」
After carefully washing her hair with shampoo at the beginning, she actually applied the next treatment from the middle hair of her head all the way to the tip.
「Maybe this is enough?」
After wrapping her head and her long hair in a warm towel following Rio's instructions, she immersed herself in the bathtub.
「Uwaa .......」.
A suffering coive came out from Celia's lips.
「It feels like ~ ce ~. I may be addicted to this 」
He languished with a comfortable feeling that wrapped around his body.
After immersing himself in hot water until his lips while closing his eyes, his entire body relaxed.
When she raised her face, beautiful stars reflected in her eyes.
A smile floated on his face.
"It's so pretty . It seems that the feeling that the world will end half a day ago is a lie 」
Suddenly, Celia recalled the time that was the trigger for getting along with Rio.
It was the library of the Bertram royal institution.
It was about a month after Rio enrolled at the institute.
+++
[Last Scene]
（Ara, the child ……. . He still does it）
Although Celia had always been confined within her library, she often went out like this to the library in search of books.
At that place, Celia watched Rio who was reading a book alone.
Thus Celia caught a glimpse of Rio reading a book in the library.
Though at that moment Celia had a little interaction with Rio.
But, Celia remembered about Rio because it was she who taught him the arithmetic symbol right after the entrance ceremony and was impressed by the way she solved the problem using mental arithmetic at an unusual speed at that time.
（She always piles up books but, I wonder what kind of books she reads?）
As expected, she became a little anxious after seeing him there often.
Although she always looked at him from afar, Celia slowly approached Rio.
（Does he sleep?）
When he approached, Rio was breathing calmly in his sleep while holding the book.
There were so many papers written with overcrowded letters on the table.
（Could he try to learn about letters while reading book）
Celia guess.
The book he read was a book aimed at children but, he also put picture books, and literal textbooks on the table.
Maybe he was reading a book while trying to find something with what he didn't know.
（That reminds me, she said that she was an orphan）
He recalled Rio's state.
At first there was hardly anyone who was originally an orphan who knew common sense.
Although the book was intended for children, reading it was quite troublesome.
（Although that's the case, this brat shouldn't be able to read the letters properly. He didn't even know the arithmetic symbol a month ago. Don't say .. ）
Could it be that he studied the letters to read in just one month.
Especially with self-study.
Celia noticed that fact.
（But, the lesson will not be able to go forward ……. ）
Section 4
Royal institutions are schools where noble children go, teachers also will not have free time.
And they will not just delay the lesson move just because the former orphan did not do it, or rather they will not even take their time outside of the lesson to teach a former orphan.
That's why, as the lesson continued to advance, Rio was left behind because he couldn't keep up with it.
Although Celia herself was unaware of that because she was quite busy, she could imagine what it would be like if she only thought a little.
（Although so, this is only by self-study for one month ……. This kid is too brilliant. If it is at this level, maybe that's why he also has knowledge of arithmetic?）
Picked up the one note left on the table, then he looked at it.
The handwriting was beautiful without any futile movement from its tracks.
Moreover, this would make it easy to read, the detailed explanation he wrote was incomprehensible.
There are even handmade flash cards in between.
（He may be tired. Well it's only natural that he continued to read books in this place after the lesson was finished
Although her calm face was asleep well, she seemed completely innocent.
Celia's face involuntarily formed a smile.
「Hey, You will catch a cold if you sleep in a place like this that you know」
He shook Rio's shoulder.
「……. . Uhn ……. . Celia …………. A sensei？ 」
「Ara, so you remember my name. You're called Rio, right？ 」
Celia showed an attractive smile to Rio who was still half asleep.
"Yes nih . You are right but ………. . 」
Rio turned his gaze to Celia as if wanting to ask, "What can I help you with?".
「Do you not want to drink tea for a little rest?」
「Eh, but. …… 」
「It's okay, now follow me」
Celia pulled Rio's still confused hand.
She avoided Rio's eyes because she was a little embarrassed.
(I wonder why I took such a bold action)
he was now wondering in his memories.
But, now he was glad he chose to do that.
That's his real feeling.
Because he wouldn't be on good terms with Rio if he didn't do that.
With that as a trigger, Celia prepared to have tea with Rio.
When she noticed, she met with Rio almost every day, and talked about many things.
Time passed in the blink of an eye, Rio received a false accusation and he was very surprised by the fact that Rio was missing, as he would die unless he fled the country.
After she left, even though Celia and Rio's connection was cut off, Celia kept her memories with Rio in her mind.
Coincidentally, she always carried the letter she got from Rio without leaving it too far away, she read the letter as a change of pace whenever she felt sad.
[Late of Reminiscense]
「I want to know what kind of face he will make if I tell him that I always bring his letter」
Celia smile “fufu”.
For Celia, Rio was not just one of her students.
Perhaps because he became a lecturer of the royal institution at such a young age and out of envy, to Celia, there was hardly anyone he could call a friend.
Rio was the only friend he had left in such an environment.
There was also a day where he bemoaned his own helplessness that could do nothing but escort him after being expelled from the country on false charges.
There was even one day where he thought that they might never be able to meet again for the second time.
Even so, he could not throw away Rio's letter that became their only connection.
They might meet again someday.
Because Celia wants it.
Because to Celia, Rio was an important person similar to a friend, or younger brother.
But, it might be a little different now.
No, even though she was still that kind of existence for him even now, a hint of different emotions began to grow in her heart.
Although she could not explain it, Celia could feel those emotions.
Even now, his heart rate increased every time he thought about Rio.
To the extent that he wanted to laugh at his past self who thought that he didn't need something like marriage.
To the extent that he wondered about himself being immersed in his research, what kind of girl he was currently.
「In reality, this is not just a thank you to Rio」
For the sake of reuniting with her, she returns to Bertram kingdom that has nothing but unpleasant memories.
Although he may make enemies of a country, he is ready to save her knowing that she is in a dangerous situation.
Though the relationship between Celia and Rio was no more than five years.
「..... Probably almost time」
He probably immersed himself in the bath for too long.
After washing her body and washing the treatment she applied to her in the end, Celia left the bathroom.
「Rio, hot water is good. Thank you"
When she returned to the living room after changing clothes, Celia said thanks with a little flushed cheek to Rio who was chatting with Miharu-tachi while drinking black tea.