Chapter 13

“Like I said, the fish just wouldn’t bite… Think about it, I used so much bait for fishing! If they won’t bite, how am I supposed to catch anything? These fish are just… ah, ouch…!”

“I haven’t even hit you yet.”

Xiarette merely raised her hand in a symbolic knifehand strike, and Sheffy was already pitifully covering her head.

So, when the fish didn’t bite, it was the fish’s fault?!

Sheffy frantically observed Xiarette, only regaining her righteous tone once she noticed Xiarette lowering her hand—danger averted.

The matter about the “fish” had already been explained. Now, it was time to clarify the matter about the “lake.”

“So when the fish wouldn’t bite, things went bad. So I… I just used a strategy that tackles the root of the problem! Solved it from the ground up, made fishing an efficient endeavor.”

“Such as…?”

“Such as draining the entire lake, leaving only the fish, and then catching them all.”

“!”

Xiarette’s worldview took a massive hit!

Eh…? So that’s what fishing was about? But the fishing I know isn’t… huh?

She was stunned for a long while.

Only then did Xiarette dazedly ask the most fundamental question.

“Then the fish you caught… I mean… what about the lake?”

“Oh, oh! I was just getting to that. I stored everything using Storage Magic so I could show you the results when you got back! Look!”

“?”

Sheffy suddenly leapt up, dark purple light swirling between her palms, one hand aimed at the wide open area near the lake.

What Xiarette saw next… left her dumbfounded.

It was raining on a sunny day…

No, it was raining fish on a sunny day!

From the massive purple magic circle, an array of big fish descended like raindrops, plopping onto the lakeshore one by one.

Each fish landed flopping with all its might, each one seemingly determined to leap toward the silver-haired girl and slap her square in the face with a divine fish-tail strike!

What a scene straight out of hell…!

And Sheffy? She scratched the back of her head and laughed heartily, still wearing an expression of blissful satisfaction.

“See, Xiarette? Didn’t I tell you? When it comes to fishing, I’m rock solid!”

“Ugh… Sheffy, just stop talking.”

“Right?!”

“But what are we going to do with all these fish…? If we just leave them here, won’t the whole mansion reek of fish tomorrow?”

“Huh? No, no! I was only showing you the results. I’ll send them back right away. Can’t eat them all, so we’ve got to release the extras—that’s just basic fishing etiquette. I get that much!”

“Release them? Where to?”

The school of fish now exceeded the mansion’s grounds, and the lake was completely dried up.

The horses nearby quickly guarded their water troughs, afraid their food would vanish along with their water supply.

Sheffy then redirected her hand casting the [Storage Magic].

This time, she pointed it at the desiccated lakebed.

Rumble rumble…

“Hmm?”

Xiarette let out a cute little murmur upon hearing a strange noise.

Rumble…

Boom!!!

“Hmm?!!!”

The cute murmur finally turned into a panicked shout!

What did they mean by “the Milky Way falls from the Ninth Heaven”?!

In an instant, the magic circle extended across the entire area parallel to the lakebed.

What followed was a torrent of lake water that instantly refilled the previously dried-up lake!

The splashing droplets rained over Xiarette’s face, her golden hair clinging to her exquisite profile.

She no longer had the heart to wipe it away.

After all, her soul-drained eyes had no energy left to bother with such trivial matters.

Within moments, the vast lake surged as though it had never dried up, its depths unfathomable.

And that wasn’t the end—guided by Sheffy’s magic, the fish on the lakeshore seemed to sprout wings, leaping back into the lake one after another with resounding splashes. The lakeshore cleared once again, vast and empty, a majestic sight to behold.

Sheffy even strode to the lakeside, gave a small wave, and the withered water plants sprang back to life with renewed vigor.

Alright then, even the whinnying horses quieted down instantly.

Xiarette was left completely speechless…

She gazed at the rolling lake before her, her mood as calm as the bright moon hanging high above.

Only when Sheffy came running over, hugging a big fish larger than her own head, did Xiarette barely snap back to reality.

“Sheffy, this fish is…?”

“I saved one! We’ll cook it for dinner! Oof—it’s still feisty!”

The big fish mustered all its strength to slap Sheffy across the face with its tail—its final act of defiance before going into the pot.

But who could’ve known Sheffy was even more stubborn!

She rammed her head straight into the fish’s head!!

Her iron-like forehead knocked the fish out cold on the spot.

It never flopped again.

Xiarette looked down at the fish, then looked at the smiling Sheffy.

Finally, Xiarette patted her own head, tilted her face upward, and let out a soft sigh.

“Ah… this really… completely defies all my common sense.”

“Are you mad…?”

“I’m not exactly mad… it’s just so absurd.”

As Xiarette finished speaking, all the energy seemed to drain from the little loli named Sheffy.

She gently placed the fish down on the ground, and the smile faded quickly from her cute face.

“Sorry… actually… actually, I was thinking since it’s my first day staying at your place, I’d prepare dinner ingredients myself, be self-sufficient, so you wouldn’t have to go buy anything… I wanted you to come back tonight and have fish ready to eat.”

“Sheffy… so you did all this because of me…”

“Well, not entirely… but, yeah, kind of. I just wanted us both to eat some good fish.”

“I…”

In Xiarette’s sapphire eyes, light trembled wildly.

Driven by emotion, she suddenly stepped forward, knelt down, and hugged Sheffy tightly!

“I’m so sorry, Sheffy… I thought you were just goofing around… I didn’t realize it was for me… please don’t think that way, okay? Now that you’re staying with me, I’ll take care of everything. You don’t have to gather your own ingredients! I’ll… I’ll steam the fish for you later, alright?”

“Ahem, too close, too close…! Well, since Xiarette understands now… then I forgive you! Oh right.”

“Hm? Sheffy, is there something else?”

“No steaming, can we do braised instead?”

“Deal!”

13. Mindset!

Sssshh… sssshh…

As the Flame Magic Crystal was ignited and scalding oil poured into the bottom of the pot, the valiant big fish met its boiling, blood-stirring end.

Sheffy sat at the front end of the antique-style dining table, her feet dangling in the air due to her short stature.

Precisely because of that, when Xiarette brought out the sizzling braised fish and set it on the table, Sheffy began swinging her little feet back and forth with excitement—her eyes glowing brightly, making her look even more mischievously adorable!

Everything in Xiarette’s villa was furnished to the kingdom’s highest standards.

After all, it was a reward from the king—there was no way it could be anything but lavish.

The arched ceiling light, powered by Light Magic Crystals, was a rare sight in this world.

Xiarette had already changed into a cozy pink nightgown. She placed the large dish of braised fish in front of Sheffy.

Watching Sheffy scoop up a piece of fish with a spoon, eagerly pop it into her mouth, and then press her fingers to her cheek as her face lit up with bliss—Xiarette, as the cook, felt nothing but joy in return.

“It’s so good… so delicious, Xiarette! I didn’t expect your cooking to improve so much!!”

“Hmm? But isn’t this the first time I’ve ever cooked for you?”

“Hmph hmph hmph, don’t forget our past life—I’ve had your braised fish before!”

“Pfft… you’re actually counting the previous life too, huh? Well, if you like it, then eat as much as you want—we’ve still got tons of ingredients.”

“Exactly, there’s still a whole lake full of fish outside. Mmm, so tasty… but don’t just stare at me, Xiarette, you try some too?”

“Alright, I will.”

Compared to the food… what Xiarette truly wanted was to indulge in watching her Sheffy just a little longer.

Back in their past life, dining together had always been heartwarming.

But now, in addition to the warmth… why did it also come with an inexplicable fluttering in her chest?

Looking at Sheffy, Xiarette felt a deep sense of contentment.

Xiarette could only temporarily attribute this subtle excitement to the nostalgia of reunion—and Sheffy’s adorably animal-like way of eating.

After staring blankly for a while, Xiarette finally picked up her spoon and reached toward the dish, intending to taste a bite of fish.

But…

“Sheffy… I remember this fish being pretty big earlier, wasn’t it…?”

“Y-yeah, it was. It couldn’t even fit in one pot.”

“Then why… after just two minutes… is there only that little piece clinging to the edge of the plate left?”

“Hahaha…! Maybe it’s the heat—it shrank! Quick, eat it… I saved that part for you… otherwise I might not be able to stop myself from…”

“Shrank, really now…”

Xiarette realized she had underestimated Sheffy’s appetite.

Don’t be fooled by her small frame—her stomach might as well be a black hole!

Well, if she could eat that fast, it at least meant she liked Xiarette’s cooking.

Xiarette didn’t have a big appetite. After a few bites, she was already full, but her heart was overflowing with satisfaction.

After all, one of the happiest moments in a girl’s life is being praised for her cooking by someone she cherishes.

And conveniently, Sheffy had a sweet tongue!

Stuffed and content, Sheffy slumped back in her chair, chuckled a few times, and gave Xiarette a big thumbs-up.

“That was really great, really great. Honestly, I was worried you might burn the fish… I even had a backup fish stored with Storage Magic.”

—《Sweet Talker》。

As Xiarette gathered the empty dishes, her figure swayed slightly, and she put on a rather “pleasant” smile as she asked:

“Sheffy, why did you assume my cooking skills would’ve dropped that much?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep