Even though Grey was okay with anything normal to eat, upon Viola's sincere offer for her brother's sake, he had to accept.
The kitchen was, apparently, not far away anyway. After closing up the shop and after the little brother had eaten his food, they left together.
Grey also didn't mind having someone who knew the village to accompany him. He could ask questions like which inn to stay at or what was good around here.
Apart from the 30 gold coins he was keeping for the academy, he decided to spend the rest of the money, namely the 53 silver and 22 copper coins.
Even if he kept that money, it wouldn't help him much. So, he was already in need of finding more before he reached the capital, or at least before the academy started.
So, it didn't matter if he kept it or not. Instead, he wanted to have fun with that money on his way to the capital. Grey wasn't too good at saving money.
On the other hand, this money was enough for him to live like a rich commoner. The silver coins were enough to feed a commoner in his village for two years.
While he was thinking that, they arrived at a shabby-looking building. Grey's stomach churned when he saw the building from the outside.
If they were making food in this kind of place, he didn't want to eat it. Even though this world wasn't as developed as Earth technologically, hygiene was hygiene everywhere.
However, his thoughts changed when he entered the building after Viola and her brother. The inside was clean. Not just clean, but really clean.
The walls shone as if they were built just yesterday. There wasn't even a speck of dust on the ground. There were many shelves, making it possible to store things apart from each other.
Even though he couldn't see the real kitchen in another room, he knew that if the outside of the kitchen was this clean, the kitchen would be cleaner.
Seeing his surprised face, Viola smiled. "Did you think we would make food in a dirty place? It is just to keep thieves away. My father would kill me if there were as much as a particle of flour. Ah!" Upon saying that, Viola closed her mouth with her hands.
She probably shouldn't say flour since it was the secret ingredient to the pasta dough. Also, the thing she said about the thieves was just as dangerous as the secret ingredient.
Grey acted like he didn't notice that she had blurted out a big secret.
Instead, he wondered where his father was.
"Viola, you mentioned your father's cooking was better. Where is he?"
"Heh? Ah, you are new here in this village. The stall you saw belonged to me," she said with a proud face. "My father works in his own store."
Ah, so that is how it is.
It was a common thing in this world. While the parents had their own store, they gave their children a chance with a smaller store or a stall.
Ray would probably have a small "repair shop" before taking over his father's smithy, for example.
Viola must be the same. But if her stall had that much attraction, he wondered how good her father's shop was.
Of course, since he was here for Viola's cooking, he didn't mention anything regarding his curiosity. He had time, so he could check it later.
In the meantime, Viola took some ingredients from the shelves and entered the kitchen. Obviously, she wouldn't prepare anything in front of Grey.
When she left for the kitchen, the boy instantly looked at Grey's face. "Thank you..."
"Sigh... It is okay. What is your name?" Grey asked as he sat on a chair beside the table.
"It is Luca," Luca answered and followed Grey to the next chair.
"Luca, why did you pay for your own sister's cooking? Won't she cook for you if you requested?"
"That is the problem... I want to pay for her efforts."
Even though he was young, Luca seemed like a good kid.
"Also," he waited and deliberated whether to tell something or not. But, probably after deciding it was okay, he continued, "She only makes those ones with her Art and not making food for me."
What? Does she have an Art? Grey thought for a second.
He wondered if it was okay to pry, but since he was the one who told him first, he thought this wasn't a big secret.
"Does she have an Art?"
Luca started thinking again. This probably wasn't a topic he was supposed to talk about. Maybe his father warned him before.
Still, Grey wasn't as honorable as to turn down Luca's childish blubbering. He had a lot of things he didn't know about both the Arts and his Art of Creation.
Every little thing could help, so he waited until Luca reached a conclusion by himself. "She has the Art of Cooking, like my father, but I can't tell you anymore."
It didn't give him too much, but it was enough. In the meantime, Viola entered with a pot in her hand.
There was definitely more than one serving there.
It must be for herself.
As she put the pot on the table and prepared some utensils, she also started talking, "Sir, can I also learn your name? I don't normally make food for customers in my kitchen. But I want to thank you properly."
"It is Grey. But it is alright, I didn't do anything."
"Sure. Still, thank you, once again. I don't know why he insists on buying when I can just cook for him." She sent a sideways glance to Luca. But Luca evaded her eyes and looked down.
She put pasta on three different plates. Luca would probably eat again.
"So, are you here for the festival?" Viola asked.
"Huh? What festival?"
"Ah, I guess you are not. Then, you are just in time. Since there are a lot of people in Mila, the ceremony here doesn't bring enough fun to everyone. So, one month after the new year, we also held a festival. Are you from far away?"
"No, I came from the southwest."
"Ah, I heard there was a village there. What was its name..." she started thinking.
But Grey wouldn't wait for her. "What do people do at this festival?" It wasn't guaranteed he would stay unless it was fun.
"Hmm... They eat food, some showcase their arts, there are some competitions, and dance. Except for hunting, there is everything you can find in a village. It will start in three days."
Isn't that similar to festivals on Earth? Will there also be a fireworks show at the end like in those manga?
"I see. I think I will join, then."
Viola smiled with pride since it was her village's festival. So, she felt like it was a big achievement.
On the other hand, Grey was mostly interested in the Arts. But it wouldn't hurt to have some fun also while he was there.