By the time I arrived at the soup shop Morgan taught me, Almark's story was largely over.
Wendy, whose cheeks and nose had turned red, took a breath of relief when she entered the warm shop from outside, where the cold wind was blowing.
It's warm.
"Yeah."
Almark nodded.
When two people came in wearing the Academy uniform robe, the customers in the shop didn't show any particular reaction.
I wonder if this is a shop that students often come to.
Sit down and have a pair of Morgan's winter vegetable soups.
"Winter vegetable soup."
Almark whispers as he waits to cook.
"It's warm, so you can pick vegetables in the winter."
"Depends on the place."
Wendy said.
Besides, some of them grow in warm places.
Ah.
Almark nodded.
"The one I learned in class. It's called magic to warm the ground."
Yes, that's it.
Wendy nodded and looked at Almark.
"What about winter food in the north?"
"In the old days, I couldn't pick anything in winter, so I had to save my food until autumn."
Almark answers.
"Now, there are yukikaburi fruits."
"Yukikaburi fruit"
"You know what?"
Wendy shakes her head when Almark asks.
"I've never seen it. I've heard his name before."
I see.
Almark broke his mouth.
"Yukikaburi are actually fruitful plants even in winter snow. I used to grow secretly in the back of the mountain, but now I can see anywhere in the North."
Precious food for the northern winter.
Yukikaburi fruit.
The discovery significantly reduced harsh northern winter deaths, but also brought unexpected by-products.
When it comes to winter, it used to mean a truce in the north, but even in the winter, it was possible to fight with yukikaburi nuts as food.
With poor food, the mercenaries ran around the battlefield all year long.
"How do you eat?"
Wendy looks at Almark.
Almark also looks back at the gentle eyes illuminated by the lamp.
"I can't eat it as it is. It's going to be crushed and powdered."
"Along with wheat."
"Yeah, but it's not good anyway."
"Isn't it delicious?
Wendy opens her eyes.
"Yeah."
Almark nodded.
"No matter how you eat it, it doesn't taste good."
"What kind of flavor?"
Well...
Almark put his arms together.
"Whatever you say, it's hard. But I'm sure they won't be able to eat us."
"That much?"
"I don't think that's good enough for me."
That's what Almark said and smiled.
I'm used to it.
"Yes, it is."
Wendy nodded with a serious face.
"Maybe I should practice eating too."
"Why not?"
Almark laughs.
"It's not here, and even if it does, you don't have to eat it."
That's where the soup came in.
In front of both of them are lined up juice vessels with hot air.
Good smell
Wendy shouted joyfully.
"That's Morgan."
It's a lot of stuff in there.
Almark peeked into the vessel.
"Potatoes and beans. There are also leaves. We can pick leaves in the winter."
Sujiune, huh? It's very nourishing. "
Wendy answers.
"Let's eat before it gets cold."
"Yeah."
They each carry soup to their mouths.
"Delicious"
Wendy smiles.
Yeah, it's warm.
Almark nodded.
"This leaf, Sujiune, has a unique flavor."
"The magic is concentrated."
Wendy answers.
"Summer and autumn food is delicious of course, but winter food is special."
"Special?"
Almark stops carrying the soup to his mouth and looks at Wendy.
"Yeah."
Wendy nodded.
"Winter food grows in harsh environments, so we're all crooks. Look, this bean too."
Wendy laughs and raises a snoring bean.
"It's true."
Almark also puts a spoon in the soup to look for unusual beans.
There it is.
That's what I'm going to show Wendy the beans.
It's like Morgan in the corner of a classroom with a buyer.
"What, that?"
Wendy blows it out.
"But they look alike."
"Wendy's is like Nelson sitting around fighting Norish."
"Stop it."
Wendy shakes her head with a smile.
"I can't eat anymore."
After that, they ate the soup ingredients while talking about it for a while.
"When you grow up in a tough environment, it's a curve."
Wendy said.
"For that, there's plenty of nutrition."
"Sure."
Almark nodded.
Yukikaburi fruit also contained perhaps nutrients in the abdomen, contrary to its quality.
Its vitality will allow it to bear fruit in the northern winter cold.
"Just like everybody else."
Almark said.
"Difficulties and hardships drive growth."
That's what Dr. Ilmis said. To say so, Almark kept his mouth shut.
Ilmis certainly said something similar.
But I remembered the person who said that more directly.
Wendy glanced at the silent Almark and smiled.
"We've been struggling lately, so I guess we're full of nutrients."
"It could be soup."
Almark smiled.
We need to make sure Morgan doesn't eat it.
"That's how Zap thought about Fita."
After drinking the soup.
The two were back to Zap.
Wendy looks up at the ceiling and says.
"Ever since I practiced herbal hunting, I thought I was getting along."
"Yeah."
Almark nodded.
"I'm surprised."
"I was surprised."
Wendy smiles.
"But I want you to do your best."
"Yeah."
"That's fine."
Wendy glances lightly at Almark.
"Don't eavesdrop on girls."
"Sorry."
Almark nodded.
"When I saw Zap's serious eyes, I wanted to help him somehow."
"I know Almark's not offended."
Wendy said.
"But I don't think we should do that."
"Okay."
Almark nods with a serious face.
"Not anymore."
"But I think Zap is a good medicine."
Wendy said.
"I'm not sure I can hear what I want to hear."
"You're right."
Almark nodded.
There's something you don't need to know.
Then I glanced at Wendy.
"But what about Fita from your eyes? I wonder what you think of Zap."
"I don't hate it."
Wendy answered with a gentle expression.
"I think I trust you very much."
"Yeah."
Almark nodded.
"I know that, too. But I don't know what that means."
Almark searches for words.
"Is Fita thinking about Zap as much as Zap thinks about Fita?"
Fufu, Wendy laughed.
"That's a very gentle way to put it."
I guess so.
Almark twisted his neck.
Wendy stood up, saying it was time to go home.
"There's something I feel when I see both of you, but I'm sure you shouldn't say that. It's not like I don't trust Almark."
"It's okay."
Almark stood up after that.
"If you don't think you need to tell me, that's what I don't need to hear."
When the time comes to say so.
"It's okay."
Almark smiled.
"I will continue to cheer Zap irresponsibly."