Chapter 10 The Winter Come
It's almost winter again, Ilya and Erwin are discussing what to sell in the store when the winter comes soon, they want to come up with something new for winter.
"Sir Erwin, have any new idea what should we sell in the store?"
Ilya looks serious, Erwin is crossing his hand on his chest and giggling after that.
"What is it, sir Erwin?"
Ilya surprised when Erwin starts laughing out of nowhere.
Erwin gets down from his chair and starts walking towards the stove, it's the stove light up using magic and one Ilya uses to cook every day.
Erwin places a soup pan and asks Ilya to light up the stove.
"Big sis, I want to make something people can eat when the weather starts to feel cold"
Ilya move from her chair and light up the stove for Erwin.
"Big sis, can I have a radish, potato, some beef meat or maybe fish and eggs?"
When Ilya starts looking for the stuff his little brother asks for, she steals a glance at Erwin and it looks like he's making some kind of soup in the pan.
"We don't have meats but we still have some fish left, is it okay Erwin?"
Ilya bringing over the stuff her little brother ask and place it next to the stove.
"It's okay, big sis you can sit and relax, leave it to Erwin"
Erwin looks so confidence to himself, he puffs out his chest and continues making the soup.
Ilya just smiles and sits back again, she's not worried because Erwin always helping in the kitchen when Ilya cook for their meal, she looks relieved her little brother is always full of energy.
"Ah, I remember Alto-san want to come over today, it's starting to cold recently isn't it Erwin? maybe make some for Alto-san to try"
"Uncle Alto wanted to come over? yeiy…"
Erwin looks so happy after hearing that uncle Alto will come over today, he looks excited and continues to cook and humming in a good mood, Ilya really enjoyed it when Erwin acts so cute like a spoiled kid, she just keeps giggling while watching Erwin.
After a while, the store door bell's ringing and someone come inside using a jacket on.
"Oii… Anybody here?"
Ilya moves from her seat to welcome the guest.
"Ah… Alto-san Welcome"
Alto took off his jacket and place it on the chair behind the storefront.
"Where's that boy"
"Erwin is in the kitchen right now"
Ilya leads the way to the kitchen and Alto follows her from behind.
"Oi.. boy how are you doing?"
"Uncle Alto, welcome"
Erwin's still busy with his cooking, Alto doesn't seem to be surprised such a little kid cooking on his own.
"I brought some groceries, here"
Alto handover two bags of groceries in it, he's been helping Ilya and Erwin all this time after their mother passed away.
"Ah it's too much Alto-san, you've been helping us way too much, I can't accept this much"
Ilya tries to refuse the gift, she would feel bad to accept such kindness from Alto, she doesn't want to be a burden for Alto.
"It's okay, here, I will just leave it on the table"
Alto took the bag and place it on the table, he insisted and keep pushing Ilya to accept the gift.
Alto walks back to the store in the front and takes a seat behind the storefront to relax a bit.
"Come here Ilya"
Alto moves another chair and places it near him for Ilya to sit, he looks like he wanted to have chat with Ilya, Ilya takes a seat and pays attention to Alto, he make a serious face right now gazing at Ilya, it makes Ilya a bit uncomfortable and confused.
"Ahahaha.. don't be so stiff, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, so how you are guys doing?"
Alto laughs after he saw Ilya looks troubled when he pretends to act serious, Ilya pouted and throw face away for a moment there and cross her hand.
"Sigh.. we are doing good, I and Erwin are discussing what to sell in the store when winter aside from bread"
"So this is Erwin's idea again?"
Alto doesn't really surprised after hearing that, he knew that when it comes to Erwin, he can't just simply use common sense to describe what he did, he's simply amazed at first and always praises Erwin because he's still a kid.
"That kid sure is amazing huh, he surprised me when he told me he wanted to learn magic and in just a week after I gave you guys the book about magic, Erwin already got used to magic"
Alto scratch his head, he realized it's stupid to think about what Erwin does because it's simply just amazing for a kid to be able to do it.
"Ah about that, to be honest, I forgot to tell you, he mastered a beginner class magic and some intermediate class after you gave us the book, he studied it with me and Yuika though"
"Well I'm not really surprised anymore"
Alto just shook his head and smile.
"You guys live without any problem right? after Elduke family lost their authority here and there"
Alto concerned with the kids, they live without parents for almost 8 years, tax and stuff the noble demands from the people who lived under their territory sometimes makes people troubled.
"Gaisras family taxing is quite high, It's sad to lose a noble family like Elduke family honestly, they always kind to people here too"
Ilya looked down, but they can't really do anything because the Elduke family who used to have rights on this land in the south was destroyed by the kingdom itself, it's an old story that whoever against the kingdom will be seen as an enemy by the kingdom.