After Maiol’s greeting, the two guests were invited into the house, and now they were sitting together, drinking the tea that Yulia had made.

  "Seneca, Maiol, would you like to stay for dinner tonight?"

  Both of them had felt a little hesitant after the extravagant meal at Maiol's home the day before, so it had been decided that they would dine out today.

  "Please, we’d love to!"

  Maiol still retained a somewhat formal air.

  "Good, then it's settled! My husband will be home shortly, so I’ll go out to get the ingredients.

  Oh, Seneca, do you remember Kanon? She’s moved to Lusitania and is running a shop nearby."

  "Eh! Kanon is here too? Then…"

  "Yes, she’s selling mb marinated in her special sauce! We’ll definitely have mb today! It’s a celebration!"

  Seneca was expined to by Maiol. Kanon was a master at marinating meat in sauces, and her mb was exquisite. The vilge chief’s family often enjoyed this mb on special occasions. It was one of Seneca’s favourite dishes.

  The marinade was made by combining grated vegetables and fruits, salt, vinegar, and a small amount of beer, and then the fresh mb was marinated in it. The exact recipe was unknown, but it was said that even if someone tried to make it the same way, it would never taste quite like Kanon’s. Some skill must have been involved.

  The meat was then grilled on an iron pte over the hearth, along with vegetables. Lucia, who had the Cooking skill, was the one to do the grilling. There was no doubt it would be delicious.

  As the meal progressed, the marinade would thicken, intensifying the fvours. Vilge chief Andar would often drink a little more than usual, decring, “This is irresistible!”

  The thought that Seneca would be eating this exquisite dish today made her unconsciously sway with excitement.

  ...

  Before long, Andar returned.

  When Andar spoke to Lucia, he quickly dashed over to Seneca, embracing her tightly. The scene was very simir to earlier.

  Lucia watched this, tears welling up in her eyes once more.

  After a moment, Lucia excused herself to go shopping, and the two of them were left to talk with Andar.

  Summoning her courage, Seneca decided to ask Andar about her parents.

  "You didn’t know much about your parents, did you? Well, let me tell you what I know."

  Andar, scratching his short-cropped hair, continued speaking.

  "Eus and Anna were Silver-ranked adventurers, part of a party called 'The Golden Branch.' They decided to take a break from adventuring after the death of one of their comrades, and they wanted to start a family."

  Seneca was eager to hear more, having never even known the name of the party her parents had belonged to.

  "They were promising adventurers, so everyone around them opposed the idea of them taking a break. But they grew tired of all the pressure, and they wished to live in a quiet vilge, away from prying eyes. I heard about their decision, and I begged them to come here and help with the vilge's defence in case of an emergency."

  "Were you already the vilge chief by then?"

  "No, my father was still alive. But the doctor had said he wouldn’t st much longer, so in practice, it didn’t make much of a difference. With that, Eus and Anna came to Cordoba Vilge in secret, and shortly after, you were born, Seneca. You probably know the rest of the story without me needing to expin it in detail."

  "Uncle Andar, do your parents' old comrades still exist somewhere?"

  "Yes, they do. But since they left without telling their comrades, they probably resent them for it. They used to say that if you ever looked into it, it would be best to do so quietly."

  "I see..."

  Andar scratched the back of his head and, after pausing, sat up straighter, looking at Seneca seriously.

  "Seneca, you may have understood something from what I just told you, but the truth is, it was I who brought your parents to Cordoba. And it was because of that decision they stayed here to defend the vilge and lost their lives. In other words, it’s my fault. If I hadn’t taken advantage of their kindness to beg them, your parents wouldn't have died."

  Andar averted his eyes, his face full of awkwardness and guilt.

  "I enjoyed looking after you and Lucius, but it wasn’t just that. I’ve always carried this sense of guilt. I’m the one who caused your parents' deaths. I’m truly sorry."

  Andar bowed his head deeply.

  Seeing this, Seneca immediately responded.

  "Uncle Andar, please don’t say that. I don’t think like that at all. Living in Cordoba was really wonderful, both when my parents were there and after they were gone. I used to talk with Lucius about how lucky we were.

  Even if we hadn't lived in Cordoba, this might have happened eventually. My father wasn’t the kind of person who would run away just because the enemy was strong. He would have fought to protect me and the others. So none of this is anyone’s fault."

  Seneca spoke firmly, with conviction.

  Maiol, sitting beside Seneca, listened carefully to her words. Seneca was a girl with strong convictions, and there was a strange allure in the way she held on to her beliefs. Maiol, while recognising that she too had strong convictions, saw them as somewhat whimsical and cking in substance. In contrast, Seneca's beliefs were grounded, unshakable, and sincere.

  Later, Maiol came to realise that Seneca’s convictions were something that could only be described as a 'sense of purpose.'

  "Cordoba Vilge is gone now. I can’t see my parents anymore. Uncle Unius became my second father, and Aunt Helwia became my second mother. But all four of them are no longer in this world... The only pces I can return to are the orphanage or your home, Uncle Andar. You’re my third father."

  Seneca hesitated, but she kept her gaze on Andar, who was still bowed.

  "I know. You ran all over Baetica to find the best orphanage for me and Lucius. You begged all sorts of people so we could live together in the same pce. I can smile and ugh with Maiol now because of everything you and Lucia have done for us."

  Still not raising his head, Andar remained silent. Seneca took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly.

  "Neither Lucius nor I have ever resented you. We’ve only ever been grateful. So please, stop bming yourself!"

  For the first time, Seneca raised her voice, wrapping her arms around Andar in a tight embrace.

  Maiol thought she saw a tear fall from Andar’s eye, but her own vision had become blurry, so she couldn’t confirm it.

  ...

  After that, the three of them talked about more recent events.

  Before long, Lucia returned, and the preparations for dinner began.

  The mood had been quite somber, but with Maiol’s efforts, the atmosphere soon lightened, and they were able to enjoy the evening.

  Lucia grilled a huge amount of meat and vegetables, making sure to cook them to perfection.

  The ingredients were steamed with the marinade and vegetables' moisture, enhancing the sweetness.

  First, the two children were served their portions. Seneca’s nose swelled in anticipation.

  The mouth-watering aroma had been drifting through the air for a while, and even Maiol’s mouth was watering.

  Maiol took a piece of the tender-looking meat and pced it in her mouth.

  "Mm, delicious!"

  The meat was thick, yet tender, with the fvours fully absorbed.

  The marinade—perhaps from the vegetables and tangy sweetness—made it exceptionally easy to eat. There was garlic and ginger in there too, no doubt. The more she ate, the more her appetite was whetted.

  This was adult mb meat, rich with a unique fragrance and depth of fvour. Maiol liked it just the right amount of mby, and the combination of the mb’s scent and the marinade’s taste harmonised perfectly.

  Even someone who wasn’t fond of mb would find this easier to eat, yet those who enjoyed the taste would find it satisfying.

  Looking over at Seneca, she was devouring the meal without restraint. Normally, she ate very neatly, but today, she was shovelling a surprising amount into her mouth.

  Maiol, not wanting to be outdone, asked for a second helping.

  Before long, Maiol found her belly full. She couldn’t eat another bite.

  Before the meal, Seneca had cheerfully decred, "Today, I think I could eat an entire sheep!" Maiol had thought it was a strange thing to say, but after tasting the food, she understood why. It was so delicious, it made one feel that way.

  To be honest, it was far more delicious than the extravagant meals at her own home that she could never finish.

  Maiol still loved her family’s food, but perhaps the life of an adventurer had already influenced her tastes, and she chuckled at herself.

  That day, they had eaten so much that they didn’t feel like moving, so Maiol sent a message to her family and, with Seneca, spent the night at Andar’s home.