Chapter 850: Dinner Dates (1)
Aethisia PoV
When the younger Bearkin returned with a vase I happily took it from her and began to ensure the flowers were situated just right inside of it, going as far as to trim them down myself so that they fit perfectly.
Gertrude finished her own work with the bull and whispered sothing to her daughter, who nodded and went into the back to clean up before heading out of the butchery completely, but not before giving
a quizzical look over when she thought I couldn't see her.
The mont that we were left alone Gertrude clenched the handle of her heavy, very sharp cleaver and stared
straight on, making
grin as I laid the vase on the table between us and looked at her from over the beautiful array.
"What is it that you want, Aethisia?"
I made my way over to the keg of beer and leaned on it, listening to the wonderful liquid inside slosh around as it shifted beneath my weight and collecting my thoughts before saying "What I want, Gertrude, is a way to make money doing sothing I'm both good at and sothing I want to do. I like hunting, and I like supporting people. Soone at the market wished
luck when I took this offer of yours, did you know that? And it wasn't a friendly 'good luck' either..."
The Bearkin grit her teeth a little at that and continued to stare at , confirming that sothing had happened between her and one of the last adventurers slash rcenaries that had accepted her offer of work, sothing that made
a bit sad even if I knew that was how any world was going to work.
"You needed soone to hunt the monsters so that you could break them down into their respective parts to then sell to the normal people of the city. I needed sothing to make coin and feel good about doing it. Hunting is nice, providing is nice. You also happen to be a fascinating woman too."
That got her stare to sharpen, and I smiled at her as I added "And yes, there is a part of
that would love~ to have a taste of this person I think is so fascinating, but at the sa ti I am not an idiot. All that muscle ain't just for show, now is it? And even if it was, that cleaver is damn sharp; I killed the bull, after all, and I know what it takes to cut it as cleanly as you did."
"So then-"
"I am not doing all of this because I just want to get in your pants, Gertrude. I wasn't lying when I said I just want soone to prepare those ribs for
to eat. Back ho for
involves almost a dozen people who have bottomless stomachs so I'd be lucky to get a single rib for myself..."
Giving her another sincere smile, I gave her a few seconds to ask sothing if she wanted to, but she remained quiet after that first interruption, so I added "I won't deny that I am attracted to you, Gertrude, but that isn't what motivates
entirely for this. I have an excuse to hunt, my prey is efficiently taken apart and then sold to the people on my behalf, and I get to help this woman I am attracted to make money to support herself and her daughter? Sounds like a win to ."
The Bearkin remained silent even after that, and so after the seconds ticked by a sighed and asked "If you would rather I could just take the ribs and go, Gertrude. I simply suggested sothing that would get the hard working woman a break and so company."
Those brown eyes were as steady as ever, with her prolonged silence drawing another sigh out of
as I pushed myself off of the keg and prepared to take the ribs back ho, only for her to finally speak as she said "You want to give
a break... by asking
to cook for you?"
"I can see how that is a bit... counterintuitive, but I brought drinks as well~! Surely that makes this a little~ bit more relaxing, hm~?"
Since her tone wasn't heavy and making it overly clear that she wanted
to go, I leaned against the keg once more and watched as she relaxed her grip on that cleaver, her gaze turning back down towards the carcass as she appraised the ribs that had started this whole thing.
"I suppose it does. Very well then. Don't get your hopes up, buck; it's dinner and drinks, that's it. You're heading ho afterwards, got that?"
"Whatever the lady desires~!"
She let out a soft snort at that, and I continued to watch as she began to prepare the ribs for however it was that she was going to cook them... which made
worry a little bit since they should need a few hours to get tender and executed perfectly...
"Finally realizing that ribs aren't a 'simple' and 'relaxing' al to ask
to make? If you weren't forgoing the rest of the carcass I would have asked you to pay
for this..."
That got a wry smile from , and soon we were chatting quietly as she got what she needed for right now before storing the rest of it inside of a fascinating discovery: this world had a freezer, which of course made sense since magic existed and all that, but still, seeing her open up a door that led into a very cold room where she stored everything else was certainly sothing.
Mother truly did spoil
so much with her insane abilities that I just kinda forgot that there were going to be technical marvels made real via magic in this world... but after a few monts I returned to chatting with the muscle mommy as I slowly chipped away at her rather reserved self, getting her to talk about why she started a butchery and all that so that I could learn about her.
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