Upstart Pastry Chef ~Territory Management of a Genius Pâtisserie~ - Chapter 15

Chapter 15: A New Weapon and a Promise with Tina

“Today’s sandwiches are delicious, Tina. It’s rare to have sandwiches made with fish.”

“Yes, I exchanged dried meat and smoked fish when I went to the main village.”

“The salty fish pairs perfectly with the sauce.”

Tina’s sandwiches were made by spreading butter on bread, adding cabbage I chopped, and sandwiching smoked red fish, all coated with her homemade sauce.

The smoked fish had been soaked in water to soften it while removing some of the saltiness.

Thanks to that, it had a good balance of flavors, and Tina’s homemade sauce, made from vegetable scraps and bits of meat, was both sweet and savory, stimulating the appetite.

“This sauce is even tastier than usual. Ah, you used honey, didn’t you?”

“Yes, after eating the monjayaki you made yesterday, I thought adding a bit more sweetness to the sauce would make it tastier. It turned out to be a big hit.”

The sweet and savory sauce complemented the salty smoked fish well.

“Can you make it again sometime?”

“Of course! Kurt-sama.”

Tina smiled happily. Seeing her like that made the meal even more enjoyable.

And so, the blissful lunchtime passed.

◇

After lunch, I firmly gripped the spear.

I was about to transform the spear into a new weapon.

Earth magic can interfere with minerals. It can change the form of iron.

“Answer me, Earth Spirit.”

Attribute magic utilizes the power inherent in nature.

I borrow the power of the Earth Spirit to empower the spear.

But…

“Indeed, it seems like iron is out of reach for now.”

Despite acquiring the Earth attribute magic with difficulty, it appears that I cannot manipulate iron with my newly acquired Earth attribute magic just yet.

Metal manipulation is still beyond my current abilities.

I need to train my magic and skills further. This is something that requires diligent effort.

“Kurt-sama, is it hopeless?”

“It seems that iron was a bit too much for now. If it were a bit softer, I might have managed somehow.”

“If it needs to be softer… then perhaps there’s a solution.”

Tina’s expression is one of deep concentration.

“Kurt-sama, may I take care of your precious spear? I may ruin it, but I’ve thought of a way to make it softer.”

Tina looks straight into my eyes as she asks.

This spear has never been touched by anyone other than me.

But with Tina, I don’t mind. Besides, even if she messes up, I can forgive her.

“Either way, it’s not working as it is now. I’ll trust you, Tina.”

“I’ll take care of Kurt-sama’s spear. I’ve received it for sure.”

Tina accepts my spear with both hands and hugs it tightly.

What exactly is she planning?

As I watch Tina, I sense a significant surge in magical power.

She grips the handle with both hands and closes her eyes.

“I’ll warm Kurt-sama’s spear with my flames.”

Flames surge up, being absorbed into the spear.

The iron spear glows red-hot, distorting the surrounding air.

Tina’s flames heat the iron almost to the point of melting.

Attribute magic borrows power from the spirits filling the atmosphere. Tina must be deeply loved by the fire spirits to wield such incredible power without any inherent skill.

If the iron is softened by the heat, I can reshape it with my Earth attribute magic.

“Thank you, Tina.”

As I don’t possess the attribute of flames, I can’t directly touch the red-hot spear.

So, I place my hand over Tina’s.

“With the spear softened by the heat of flames, I can reshape it with my power. Tina, you never cease to amaze me. I love you.”

“Kurt-sama, please, not now. I’m so happy I feel like I’m losing control.”

Though I can’t see her face, I can tell her neck is flushed from behind.

“Let’s begin. Tina, continue with the flames at the current intensity.”

“Yes, Kurt-sama!”

Borrowing power from the earth spirits, I exert my Earth attribute magic on the spear.

And then, the red-hot spear begins to move and bend.

I envision a new shape for it.

The spear transforms according to my vision.

But it’s not just about changing its shape. I apply pressure to reshape it, removing impurities and adding elasticity and sharpness. Tina melted it for us, so it’s the perfect opportunity to enhance its basic performance.

The spear is reborn. Alongside the rebirth of myself.

“Partner… lend me your strength from now on.”

With that wish in mind, I continue the task without compromise.

“Tina, it’s enough now. Let’s slowly cool down the spear.”

Flame attribute magic involves manipulation of heat energy. It’s not just about raising the temperature; it can also cool things down.

“Yes, Kurt-sama.”

Rapid cooling can damage the iron, so caution is required.

With beads of sweat on her forehead, Tina gradually removes the heat.

And finally, it’s completed. My new partner.

“Thank you, Tina. It’s done. My new spear.”

“Is that… Your new spear?… Wait, are you leaving it as a spear?”

“Yeah, I’m sure it’ll be fine. This is both a spear and a sword. A weapon with two faces.”

Let’s put it to the test.

I hold up the spear in its new form and swing it.

The spear accelerates. The unreasonable power of this world, the power of the Sword Skill, is working perfectly.

Good. It’s acknowledged as both a spear and a sword.

“Amazing, I’ve never seen such a sharp strike before. It’s faster than Kurt-sama and Jorg-sama… and even faster than I’ve ever seen your father, Kurt-sama.”

“I agree.”

The power of swinging the spear isn’t just addition of skill and my martial abilities; it’s multiplication.

Without the skill, it’s impossible, but the martial ability still holds significance.

The sharper the original technique, the more enhanced the strike becomes with the skill, increasing both power and speed.

With ten years of training, enhanced by Sword Skill Level III, this is the result.

“But, Kurt-sama, you can’t win with just the spear.”

“So, I made this. This is a spear, but it’s not just a spear.”

I show Tina the spear that has transformed into a new shape.

“The curved blade at the tip… is this a weapon designed for slashing attacks even though it’s a spear?”

“Yes, this is a naginata. Also known as a longsword.”

It’s not an ordinary sword that I transformed the spear into. It’s a naginata.

Unlike a spear, it has a blade at the tip similar to a Japanese sword. In other words, it has a long reach and can both thrust like a spear and cut like a sword.

Probably one of the most excellent weapons among melee weapons.

“It looks like a spear, but it’s a sword, isn’t it?”

“More accurately, it has both the face of a sword and a spear. So, it can utilize both the spear techniques I’ve been accumulating and the newly awakened talent for swordsmanship. That’s the kind of weapon it is.”

The shape has changed. My spear.

It still fits perfectly in my hand.

With this, there’s no need to train sword techniques from scratch. I just need to add slashing attacks to the spear techniques I’ve been using.

“With this, I’m sure we can win!”

“Yeah, I’m sure we can win.”

I was confident of victory. With the unreasonable power of the Sword Skill and the ten years of training I’ve accumulated, I have a weapon that can utilize both. There’s no way I can lose.

“Also, Tina. Thank you. You’re the best, Tina.”

I tightly grip Tina’s hand.

“Kurt-sama…”

Tina’s face turns bright red as she responds with a flustered voice.

“This naginata couldn’t have been made without you, Tina. Thank you so much. Once again, you have saved me. You’re my goddess of fortune, Tina.”

When I’m lost and facing a wall I can’t overcome alone, Tina is always there to help me.

At times like these, I start to believe in things that seem occult-like.

Tina is my goddess of fortune, and I can’t help but think she’s my destiny.

“Th-that’s not it, Kurt-sama. I just wanted to be useful to you. It’s because you gave me magic power that I can use fire. But if I can be of help to you, I’ll use this power for you, always, forever.”

Stumbling over her words, Tina gives me a resolute answer.

“Always, huh? That sounds wonderful.”

This time we made a naginata, but eventually, I want to make various tools together with Tina, like a frother or a cake knife, tools necessary for making different kinds of sweets.

“I’m glad you said that, Tina. I want to be with you forever too.”

Tina shyly returns the grip on my hand.

It’s not just because she can use fire attribute magic.

I genuinely like Tina as a girl.

“I want to give you something as thanks, but I’m not sure what you’d like.”

Tina ponders for a while, then hesitantly speaks up.

“In that case, Kurt-sama’s sweets… Um, I want a special treat just for me. I want something only you and I know about, something special like that.”

I chuckle.

What a difficult request.

I can’t just make some ordinary treat for Tina. It has to be a special treat just for her.

I imagine the treat in my mind, something that reflects Tina. A treat that looks like it has layers of thin veils stacked on top of each other with a gemstone at the center, all in silver. That’s the kind of treat I want to make for her.

“Got it. I’ll make a treat just for you, Tina. With all my might… No, even more than that. But I’ll need some time. Creating a treat worthy of you takes time. I’ll start with the treat I imagined based on you and refine it until it’s perfect.”

Tina beams like a blooming flower.

“Yes, I’ll wait! I’ll wait ten years, twenty years if I have to!”

“I won’t make you wait that long. I swear it here and now. I’ll make a one-of-a-kind treat just for you, Tina.”

I won’t resort to bringing a recipe from Earth. I’ll create my own recipe, no matter how much time it takes, to give Tina the best treat possible.

I extend my pinky finger.

“Kurt-sama, I absolutely believe you.”

“I know. Absolutely, without a doubt.”

Tina nods repeatedly, deeply moved, and intertwines her pinky with mine.

This is the ritual of oath in this world.

We laugh together and release our fingers.