Chương 64: Chapter 64: Dinner and Doubts
Cherry tomatoes, washed and halved, were placed into a white porcelain bowl. Red peppers and shallots were diced and added, followed by slices of Italian salami. Chickpeas and strips of Edam cheese were mixed in, with a dash of chicory for a slight bitterness. Oh, and chopped romaine lettuce. Then came the dressing—minced garlic, Spanish sherry vinegar, hot sauce, white sugar, and olive oil mixed together. After tossing the dressing into the salad, a delicious starter was ready.
At the same time, fresh salmon was being filleted and scaled by invisible servants. The bones and pin bones were removed before seasoning the tender salmon with salt and black pepper. The fish was placed skin-side down in a sizzling pan with a small amount of hot, melted butter, along with whole garlic cloves and sprigs of rosemary. The moment the fish hit the pan, the kitchen was filled with a rich aroma. A simple dish, perfect for dinner. Solomon cut a few lemon wedges and placed the now perfectly cooked salmon onto the serving plate.
Along with the salmon, there was lobster—small but tender. Solomon prepared it with minced garlic, chili, salt, parsley, and softened butter. He pressed the mixture onto the halved lobster, then used a freezing spell to harden the butter before placing the lobster, cut-side down, into a hot pan.
These delicious dishes promised a delightful dinner.
It was Solomon's first time cooking, and he found the experience strangely amusing. While he had memorized the steps after reading the recipe, when it came time to cook, he was a bit overwhelmed. Luckily, the spell "Unseen Servant" was quite helpful. With just a command, his invisible helpers handled tasks like cooking, ensuring that Solomon didn't mess anything up.
For the sorcerer, cooking felt much like a magical experiment—control the variables, adjust the parameters, like the position of the spices, the quality of the ingredients, and the placement of the dishes, and you could end up with a perfect meal.
Bayonetta and Cereza stayed in the bathroom long enough for Solomon to finish preparing dinner.
He hadn't expected it, but despite the witch constantly hunting angels, her main residence was in New York. Because of this, Solomon had access to all the ingredients needed for the meal. As he worked in the kitchen, listening to the sounds of laughter coming from the bathroom, Solomon realized he was smiling. It felt… homely, in a way.
At Kamar-Taj, meals were eaten in silence, a rule set by some old master. At Athena's residence, everything felt like a high-end restaurant—exquisite, delicious, but foreign. Kamar-Taj was home to many, but here, it felt like his home.
Everything, from the placement of the dishes to the arrangement of the chairs, felt familiar. He could sit in the soft chair, open a lamp, and read a book he'd never seen before, yet it felt as though he'd always done it.
This long-abandoned house now felt warm and alive again with the return of its residents.
After setting the table with the dishes and utensils, Solomon called out, "Dinner's ready!" Moments later, Bayonetta and Cereza emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in towels and dripping water on the wooden floor as they made their way to the dining room.
"It smells amazing, boya. I didn't expect you to be this skilled at cooking. I thought we'd be stuck with spaghetti tonight," Bayonetta said approvingly. Cereza, clinging to her leg, lifted her head and sniffed the air excitedly. Solomon slipped on his Sling Ring and muttered a spell, enveloping Bayonetta and Cereza in a warm wind. In seconds, their wet hair was dry.
"Hurry up and eat," Solomon said, taking off his Sling Ring and pocketing it. "Don't catch a cold. I'm not that skilled at brewing potions."
Cereza sat between Bayonetta and Solomon, and both of them helped her with the salad, lobster, and fish. Naturally, there was also ice cream. Dinner was a pleasant affair, and after Cereza had eaten until her belly was round, she began to yawn. Bayonetta excused herself to put her to bed, but before leaving, she motioned for Solomon to stay—she had something to discuss.
During this time, Solomon washed the dishes. After all, even the most skilled still had to clean up. By the time Bayonetta returned, Solomon was sitting on the living room couch, flipping through a fashion magazine, clearly bored.
"What's this? A brass pocket watch?" Solomon asked suspiciously, glancing at the item in Bayonetta's hand. "But why does this watch look so familiar? Did you take yours apart? I can't fix these things, you know."
"This watch is identical to mine, but it's not mine. It belongs to the little one," Bayonetta said as she sat next to him, stretching out her long legs and resting her feet on Solomon's lap. "As much as I hate to suspect the little girl, she could very well be a trap meant for me."
"Did you check her while you were bathing? Any magical markings or hidden spells on her? Like runes or something?" Solomon asked. "Or do you think she's lying? What could a little girl even do?"
"I'm curious myself, but I'm sure she's not lying." Bayonetta lazily played with the silver chain on Solomon's outfit, sounding bored. "She's almost asleep now. That kid refuses to close her eyes unless I'm next to her. Honestly, I'm not her mother. Later, you can check her body for any hidden spells—I'm not good at that sort of thing."
Solomon immediately caught the underlying meaning in her words: I don't want anything on the little one that could harm her. I may not be her mother, but I can't just watch a child go to her death.
When Solomon finished his examination, his findings aligned with Bayonetta's intuition. The little girl, now wearing new pajamas, lay in bed, softly snoring. No magical markings or traces were left on her body, at least none visible to Solomon's arcane sight. However, the fact that Cereza could see into Purgatorio and witness angels indicated she was no ordinary child. But these mysteries would have to be solved later.
"At least I don't have to worry about her exploding now," Solomon said quietly to Bayonetta, who was standing nearby. "But I have another question. What's the purpose of the pocket watch you carry?"
Solomon had a hunch, but he kept it to himself for now, continuing to ask, "Cereza's watch is exactly the same as yours?"
"Exactly the same," Bayonetta replied with a frown. "Though there aren't any scratches on hers, I still think they're identical."
"How are you so sure?"
"Boya, it's a woman's intuition."
"Fine, let's go with your intuition then," Solomon nodded in resignation. He glanced at Cereza, feeling his suspicions grow stronger. Bayonetta continued, "I suspect Cereza was sent by Balder, the Lumen Sage. The 'daddy' she keeps mentioning could very well be Balder."
"!!!!"
"Why the shocked face?" Bayonetta asked. "It's one possibility, isn't it?"
Solomon, still a bit taken aback, led Bayonetta into the living room. After pausing several times, he finally took a deep breath and began explaining the connection between Balder and her. Bayonetta's reaction wasn't as intense as Solomon had anticipated. She sat on the couch, deep in thought, before finally asking, "Did the Supreme Sorcerer tell you this?"
"Yes," Solomon nodded, admitting the truth. While the Sorcerer Supreme had handled the situation poorly, Solomon could understand the reasoning behind it and was ready to face Bayonetta's criticism. But the witch simply gave him a disdainful look and said, "Boya, don't grow up to be as cold-hearted as your teacher, okay? Big sis here is a delicate woman who can't fight back, you know."
"That'll be hard, Bayonetta, but I'll try," Solomon sighed. "For now, let's focus on Cereza. Kamar-Taj will compensate you for this later—I will too. You'll be satisfied, I promise."
"Boya, are you so concerned about big sis?" Bayonetta teased, smiling, though she agreed to Solomon's plan.
"Do you remember anything?" Solomon asked.
"No, it's still the same as before. Fire, a tower, angels, and Balder floating in the sky. Though that guy looked covered in feathers, almost like those monsters."
"Even if Cereza was sent by Balder, it doesn't necessarily mean she's his daughter. And even if she is, why would he send his daughter to you? Did he think he could turn his enemy into an ally by sending a little girl? Even ancient Greek dramas weren't this absurd," Solomon couldn't help but joke. "So, if Cereza ends up being your sister, what will you do?"
"No matter what Balder's plan is, my destination is still Vigrid," Bayonetta said, lounging lazily on the couch. "As for the little one… you're a decent cook, so she's your responsibility! Tomorrow, take her shopping for clothes. I'll be continuing my exploration of Vigrid. Those two statues from today gave too obvious of a hint, and I'm not about to pass up this opportunity."
"Aren't you worried that it's another trap set by Balder?" Solomon asked, concerned. "What if your journey to
Vigrid is part of his plan?"
"Does it matter when I have someone to back me up?" Bayonetta winked at Solomon. "I'll be counting on you."
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