Chapter 28: The Automata’s Story 2/6
After a few more days, it was finally time to cook.
Celine was worried that Misti might cut through the cutting board with the knife. However, Misti had learned to control her strength, so she wouldn’t make such a basic mistake. It was just a little difficult for her to cut carrots into small pieces. Peeling potatoes was even more difficult.
“For now, if you put meat and vegetables in a pot and stew them, it’ll be edible.”
Misti’s body, like a human’s, can eat.
But she doesn’t excrete.
It seems that everything she eats is converted into Magical Power. And even if she doesn’t eat anything at all, she gathers Magical Power from her surroundings, so she doesn’t become incapacitated.
It’s a strange story. Even when magic is explained, I don’t understand it at all.
“Um, Master. I’d like to learn more than just meat and vegetable soup…”
“Hmm? It’s delicious because I seasoned it with salt, right?”
“Yes, that’s certainly true, but… wouldn’t you get tired of eating the same thing every day…?”
“Then, you should use this Magic Pot I made. Just put the ingredients in, put the lid on, and wait thirty minutes. Then you’ll have a delicious stew.”
I tried using the pot.
Indeed, a delicious stew came out. But it’s hard to say that this was a dish made by Misti. After all, she didn’t even cut the vegetables. Just put them whole into the pot, put the lid on, and wait thirty minutes.
Even when Celine praised it as “delicious,” I just felt “hmm.”
“Master. There are many books in this house.”
“I’m a book lover, you see. Although, there are still many books I haven’t read yet.”
“Even though there are thousands of books, there aren’t any cookbooks?”
“No.”
“…I want one.”
“I see. Then let’s go to town. While we’re at it, let’s buy some clothes for Misti. She only has pajamas and a Maid Outfit, after all.”
“Clothes? Is that okay? My body doesn’t produce waste, so there’s no need to change, right?”
The Maid Outfit gets dirty from daily housework, so she can’t just crawl into bed with it on.
If she has pajamas for sleeping and a Maid Outfit for everyday use, that should be enough.
By the way, sleep was necessary.
Her body is an Automata, but her soul is human, so if she doesn’t sleep, it seems to become clouded.
Even without the soul thing, continuous operation isn’t good for the body.
“Yeah. There’s no need to change. I certainly said that. But I’ve changed my mind. It’s boring to always wear the same clothes.”
“I don’t really mind…”
“I’m saying it’s boring. Misti is my doll. It’s only natural to dress her up and play with her.”
“Haa… If that’s what Master desires, it’s not for me to interfere.”
“Besides, it doesn’t make sense to ask for books but refuse clothes.”
“…?”
Misti didn’t know that books were very expensive.
Books only became cheaper much later, after the invention of the printing press. At this time, books were made by hand-copying manuscripts. Therefore, they were more valuable than any ordinary clothes.
It was her first outing since becoming a doll.
After walking for about an hour, we came out of the forest. After walking for another hour, we reached the town.
Even when I was at my parents’ house, I had the freedom to go out.
But I don’t remember going out with anyone. My father made me run through the mountains to train my legs, but that doesn’t feel like an outing.
There were more people in this town than in the town where Misti’s parents lived.
I felt like I might get lost in the crowd.
“Master. Please wait… Master!”
“Ah, sorry. I didn’t calculate Misti’s stride. At that height, it would be difficult to find you if we got separated… Okay, let’s hold hands.”
Holding hands. It was truly the first time.
Misti hesitantly touched the hand that was offered.
“…Master’s hand is warm.”
“Is that so? Misti’s hand is cute.”
“My body was made by Master. Is that self-praise?”
“Fufu, that’s right. However, it’s cuter because Misti is the one moving it.”
“…Master, you’re an engineer, so please don’t say things that aren’t logical.”
“Why are you looking away?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Do you know? Your body has a function to blush. So if I look at your face, I can tell you’re embarrassed.”
“Eh!? Please tell me things like that sooner!”
“Haha. Your angry face is cute too.”
Misti was seriously angry.
But when she got a cookbook, her anger subsided. She thought to herself that she had a simple mental structure.
Then, when we went to the clothing store, she had so much fun trying on various outfits that she forgot all about being angry.
“Everything looks good on you. Let’s buy all the blouses, skirts, dresses, and hats you tried on. And then…”
Celine handed a sketchbook to the shop assistant. It had a design for a Maid Outfit that Celine seemed to have drawn herself.
“I want you to make this Maid Outfit to fit this child. And this, and this, and this too.”
“Master. What are you going to do with so many Maid Outfits?”
“Misti will wear various Maid Outfits and entertain me.”
“But, aren’t there too many frills on this Maid Outfit in the sketch?”
“Isn’t that cuter?”
“…This one has a skirt that’s too short.”
“Mini-skirts are popular these days. It’s becoming a more open-minded world.”
“Even so, I think it’s too short…”
“I’m not saying you should go out in this. Is that okay?”
“Even so, it’s embarrassing…”
“Yes, yes. I know.”
Celine didn’t care about Misti’s opinion.
Well, she got a lot of beautiful clothes. It would be fun to wear a different Maid Outfit every day. I guess I have to put up with occasionally exposing my thighs in the house—Misti convinced herself of that.