Songstress of Schwarzwald: The Secret of Zoe, the Exiled Music Mage Chapter 36 : Cooking for Some Reason

The sumr festival dance practice is so much fun.

As for playing the flute? It should be fine after I’ve used up lots of magical power, right?

But Selina doesn’t seem too thrilled about going to Lang Village every day.

“You should focus on learning to control your magic instead of just playing with the village kids. Besides, your harp still isn’t brimming with magic, is it?”

I get what she’s saying, but... this is my first sumr festival!

“I’ll work hard on magical control after the festival’s over! But I can only practice the dances right now.”

Since the festival’s just around the corner, they’re letting us kids practice during the day.

In Lang Village, even children count as part of the workforce. Well, not babies or toddlers, but it’s totally normal for older kids to look after the younger ones.

Maggie’s family has two older sisters who married and moved to Carlton or other villages.

When I asked why they didn’t take over the general store, Maggie just shrugged and laughed, saying they were bad at math.

On the other hand, the village chief’s family doesn’t just have Matthew—there’s an older sister and a younger brother too. The older sister works as a maid and etiquette student at Viscount Carlton’s estate.

According to Maggie, “They probably want her to marry a knight or sothing.”

From village chief’s daughter to knight’s wife? I wonder if that counts as marrying up?

Well, I don’t know if the village chief’s plans will work out.

Anyway, even though they’re kids, they’re busy with housework, watching younger siblings, and farm work.

That’s why only Maggie and Matthew co every day. The other kids show up here and there.

The slightly older kids? Well, fifteen is technically adult age here, but so beco independent at twelve.

Kids like Maggie and Matthew are from the wealthier families in Lang Village, so their parents probably support them until fifteen.

As for ... I’ll probably be on my own at twelve.

As a mage? I’m not really sure, but I plan to beco a Troubadour and register as an adventurer.

Since Selina says there aren’t any Troubadours around now, maybe it’d be better to avoid standing out and just call myself a mage?

Finally, after pouring so magic into my harp and pestering Selina into letting go, I made it to Lang Village—only to find sothing felt… off?

Well, first things first—I’m gonna find Maggie at the general store.

But when I got there, the place was packed! Usually it’s empty around midday. It felt more like Carlton than sleepy little Lang Village.

“Good afternoon!” I call out as I enter the general store.

There’s no one minding the shop. Even when Maggie isn’t here, the shopkeeper lady is usually around...

I can hear voices coming from the kitchen in back.

“Welco... oh, it’s just Zoe,” ca a voice.

Geez, what a greeting. But I’m not a custor today, so I guess it’s fine.

“Maggie, did sothing happen?”

She looks surprised at first, then breaks into a grin.

“The festival prep’s started! People are coming in from other towns, so we’ve gotta get a big feast ready!”

Huh, that does sound like a lot of work.

“So no dance practice today?”

I wish she’d told yesterday.

“My married sisters are coming to stay the night—we got their letter last night. So we had to start preparing on short notice!”

“Oh, that makes sense!” I say, heading for the door. But the shopkeeper lady catches .

“Zoe, Selina asked to teach you cooking. We’re making lots of feast food now, so co along!”

Ehhh, I did wanna learn cooking, but this is so sudden!

Besides, cooking for guests seems too hard for a beginner, doesn’t it?

The kitchen table is piled high with ingredients.

Not just that—there are boxes of potatoes on the floor, baskets of dirt-covered vegetables... I can’t use Purification to clean those, right?

“Maggie and Zoe, wash the vegetables clean and peel them!”

Just what I expected! But washing vegetables with Maggie is actually fun.

Plus, I can still sing while working with my hands.

At the well, I wash the leafy vegetables thoroughly and put them in a colander.

I wash the dirt-covered potatoes, let them dry, then peel them and put them in a bowl of water.

When I bring the prepped vegetables back to the kitchen, the shopkeeper lady is kneading flour.

“Ah, just set those vegetables over there.”

Thump, thump! The flour quickly turns into a lump, then into bread dough.

She puts it all in a bowl and covers it with a cloth.

“If you let it rest like this, it’ll puff up nice and fluffy.”

From there, we make soup, at pies, salad, stewed vegetables... all in huge quantities.

“Is this the festival feast for the whole village?”

I’m pretty tired and flop down in a chair. Maggie laughs at .

“This is just for dinner tonight with my sisters’ families. Tomorrow, my sisters will help make the festival feast too.”

And just like that, I decided I was not coming back tomorrow.