Chapter 20
The entire journey back to the inn, Izumi never stopped apologizing to Berin.
"Berin... I'm sorry..."
"Hmph."
But Berin was still upset and continued ignoring her.
Every time Izumi tried to speak, Berin simply turned her face away.
Once they arrived at the inn, they immediately entered the first floor.
Coincidentally, Nera was there.
"Eh? What's going on?" Nera asked in confusion.
Izumi immediately ran toward her.
"Neraaa..."
Nera blinked.
Then Izumi explained everything from the beginning.
"Ooh, I see."
Nera nodded slowly.
"Then this time it's definitely your fault, Rumi."
"Ehh..."
Izumi immediately looked betrayed.
"Do you all seriously not know what ice cream is?"
"What they sold was shaved ice, not ice cream..."
Berin and Nera exchanged glances.
Neither of them understood what Izumi was so upset about.
Not long afterward, Welly arrived.
"Hm? Why is everyone gathered downstairs?"
"Wellyyyy..."
"Eh? Yes?"
For the umpteenth time, Izumi explained what had happened.
"Hmm... I see."
Welly nodded.
"The ice cream in this kingdom is indeed like that."
Instantly, Izumi froze.
Inside her head, she screamed.
You people are seriously treating shaved ice and ice cream as the same thing... this world is hopeless.
"But..." Welly continued.
"If you trace the origin of ice cream."
Everyone immediately paid attention.
Welly began her story.
"Ice cream was originally created by the elves. Long ago, when humans were allied with the elf race, a human accidentally saw an elf eating ice cream."
"That human then asked about the food."
"Out of curiosity, humans tried to imitate it."
"But the result was different."
"That is why even today, human-made ice cream is very different from elf-made ice cream."
"Ooooh..."
Even Berin and Nera were hearing this story for the first time.
"So..." Welly said.
"Could the ice cream you're talking about be elf-made ice cream?"
"Maybe."
Welly nodded.
"According to historical records, elf-made ice cream had a much smoother and softer texture, almost like cotton."
"Eh?"
Izumi was surprised.
"Really?"
Berin, who had still been upset earlier, was now becoming interested.
"That's what was written in a history book from two hundred years ago."
Nera looked at Welly.
Inside her heart, she wondered.
Just how many history books has she read...?
Berin looked at Welly excitedly.
"I want to try it!"
Meanwhile, Izumi started thinking.
What if elf ice cream is just shaved ice ground even finer...? Wouldn't that still be the same thing?
"No, no..."
"Something's wrong."
"Hm?" asked Welly.
"Wrong?" asked Nera.
"See? Rumi's doing it again," said Berin.
"Wait!"
Izumi pointed at all three of them.
"You seriously don't know what real ice cream looks like!"
She suddenly fell silent.
"If only I could make it..."
The three girls stared at her.
"Make it?"
Slowly, a smile appeared on Izumi's face.
A few seconds later, she burst into laughter.
"Hahahahahahaaa!"
"Rumi... are you okay?" Nera asked worriedly.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to NovelFire for the genuine story.
"Does your stomach hurt again?" Berin asked.
But Izumi didn't answer.
She immediately activated her Creation Skill.
A flash of light appeared in the air.
The next second, three elegant glasses materialized on the table.
Three Ice Cream Floats.
The desserts were served in beautiful transparent glasses.
On top sat soft white vanilla ice cream.
Beneath it was a layer of sweet but not overwhelming chocolate.
Two chocolate wafer rolls leaned against the side.
And at the very top rested a glossy red cherry.
Welly, Nera, and Berin immediately fell silent.
They had no idea what was sitting in front of them.
But the sweet aroma instantly filled the room.
"THIS!"
Izumi proudly pointed at the three glasses.
"This is ice cream!"
"This...?" Welly murmured.
"Ice cream..." Nera whispered.
Berin simply stared at its beauty.
"This is what should be called ice cream!"
"Not that shaved ice nonsense!"
Izumi crossed her arms.
"I made three."
"For the three of you."
"Go ahead and eat."
"Can this really be eaten?" Welly asked hesitantly.
"Yes."
Nera picked up her glass with trembling hands.
Welly, meanwhile, examined the long spoon that came with it.
"Is this spoon made of silver?"
"No."
"It feels like a waste to eat something this beautiful..." Berin muttered.
"If you don't want it, I'll eat it."
Instantly, all three of them prepared themselves.
Nera raised her spoon.
"Aah! I'm eating it!"
Then they took their first bite.
The room immediately became silent.
Several seconds passed without a single sound.
Then—
"WHAT IS THIS?!"
Nera shot up from her chair.
"It's so sweet... but not too sweet..." Welly said.
"Waaah..."
Berin stared at her spoon.
"The texture is so soft, like cotton..."
"No..."
"Like a cloud!"
"I've never eaten anything like this in my entire life..." Nera said.
Berin then bit into one of the wafer rolls.
Her eyes widened instantly.
"Waaahhh!"
"There's chocolate inside!"
"But it's different from any chocolate I've ever eaten!"
"It tastes completely different!"
Welly was equally shocked.
"I've never read about this food in any book."
"Neither history books nor cookbooks."
For the first time in a very long while, Welly felt both amazed and disappointed in herself.
She had read tens of thousands of books.
Yet something this incredible had never even been mentioned.
Izumi smiled proudly.
"Well?"
"That's what real ice cream is."
But nobody answered.
The three of them were far too busy enjoying their desserts.
Nera ate hers with tears in her eyes.
Berin wore the happiest smile Izumi had ever seen on her face.
Meanwhile, Welly was already recording the taste and texture in her little notebook.
Izumi could only stare blankly.
They're all focusing on their own thing...
This isn't what I wanted...
What she wanted was only a single sentence.
Recognition.
Someone admitting that she had been right all along.
At that moment, Uncle Zix, who had just finished organizing the storage room, walked over.
Izumi's eyes immediately lit up.
"Waaah... why are there four beautiful girls gathered here?"
Izumi immediately approached him.
"Eh?"
"Sit."
Zix blinked in confusion.
"W-Why?"
But he still obeyed and sat at an empty table not far from Nera, Berin, and Welly.
Izumi then stared at him seriously.
"What do you think ice cream is?"
"Ice cream?"
Zix thought for a moment.
"Oh, that's just shaved ice with sweet syrup."
"It's very easy to make."
Instantly, disappointment appeared on Izumi's face.
Zix immediately became nervous.
"Eh... did I say something wrong?"
Without answering, Izumi activated her Creation Skill.
A flash of light appeared.
An identical Ice Cream Float appeared on the table.
Izumi pushed it toward him.
"Try eating this."
"Hm?"
Zix picked up the glass.
"Wow..."
"This glass is really beautiful."
He then smelled it.
"Hmm... it smells sweet too."
Then his eyes landed on the long spoon inside.
"Eh? Is this made of silver?"
"No."
"I see."
Without hesitation, Zix scooped up the white ice cream on top.
"Hmmm..."
He froze.
Then took another spoonful.
And another.
And another.
"What is this..."
"Even royal cuisine doesn't have anything like this."
Afterward, he ate the cherry on top.
His eyes widened.
"Seriously..."
"It's sweet, sour, and refreshing."
"Is this food from heaven?"
"No."
Izumi answered immediately.
"This is ice cream."
"Real ice cream!"
"Oh, I see."
Zix took another spoonful.
A few minutes later, the glass was completely empty.
"So this is what ice cream is."
Izumi immediately stood up enthusiastically.
"Exactly!"
"This is what ice cream is called!"
"Hm."
Zix nodded casually.
"Yeah, it was good."
Finally.
Finally, Izumi got what she wanted.
Someone had acknowledged that she was right.
The empty ice cream glass in front of Zix suddenly vanished.
"Hmm?"
Zix looked at his empty hands.
"Ah, that's normal. Just ignore it."
"Ooh."
Zix accepted the explanation without asking any further questions.
"Alright then, I'll get back to work."
Izumi nodded.
Then she returned to her friends' table.
"You still haven't finished?"
Nera hugged her glass tightly.
"Aaaa..."
"I don't want to finish ittt..."
"This ice cream is so good."
"I want to keep it forever!"
Berin nodded as well.
"I want to eat it slowly and savor every bite."
Meanwhile, Welly kept writing.
"I want to record all the flavors and textures."
"Or..."
"Should I write a book about this?"
Izumi could only let out a long sigh.
"Ice cream only lasts around twenty minutes."
"After that, it'll melt."
"And it won't taste as good anymore."
...
Instantly, all three of them froze.
Then—
They immediately devoured the rest of their ice cream.
"Huaaaaaaa..."
Nera looked like she was about to cry.
"At least this will be an experience I'll never forget."
Berin smiled contentedly.
Welly raised her notebook.
"I managed to write everything down."
Izumi simply shook her head.
"Why are you all acting like this?"
"It's just ice cream."
The three of them immediately turned toward her.
"Just?"
Izumi shrugged.
"I can make it anytime."
"Look."
She snapped her fingers.
Dozens of different kinds of ice cream appeared in the air.
Ice cream bars.
Ice cream cones.
Ice cream floats.
Chocolate ice cream.
Strawberry ice cream.
Vanilla ice cream.
All kinds of shapes and colors floated around them.
Nera, Berin, and Welly could only stare with their mouths hanging open.
Then Izumi waved her hand.
All the ice cream fell.
And disappeared.
...
Silence.
The three girls were petrified.
"S-So..."
Welly swallowed nervously.
"There are still many other kinds of ice cream?"
"Yes."
Izumi answered casually.
Then she created a popsicle for herself.
"Ice cream tastes best on a hot day."
Welly pointed at the object in Izumi's hand.
"That's ice cream too?"
"Yes."
"It's called a popsicle."
Welly's eyes immediately sparkled.
She stepped forward.
Izumi instantly stepped back.
"Hey! No."
But suddenly—
Someone grabbed Izumi from behind.
"Eh?"
Izumi turned around.
It was Nera.
"Nera, you too?!"
"You two, stop it!"
"You already had ice cream earlier!"
"But we haven't eaten that one yet!" Welly protested.
"That's right!" Nera shouted.
"We want more ice cream!"
"Hey, eating too much ice cream isn't good for your health."
"Don't careeee..."
Izumi could only stare at the ceiling.
Why are they being so pushy...?
Yet amid all the chaos, nobody noticed something.
The popsicle in Izumi's hand had disappeared.
"Hmmm..."
"Yummm..."
Someone's voice came from near the entrance.
Everyone turned.
Berin was eating the popsicle with a face full of happiness.
"This chocolate ice cream is really delicious."
Then she ran outside.
...
Izumi.
Welly.
And Nera.
Froze.
"Since when..."
"Did she..."
Izumi looked at her hand.
What she was holding was now nothing more than an ordinary wooden stick.
"Scroll of Change."
Berin must have used one of her scrolls.
Inside her heart, Izumi could only sigh.
I still really don't understand this world.
Welly and Nera immediately released Izumi.
"Runnn!"
"Let's catch Berin!"
The two girls dashed out of the inn.
Izumi simply watched their backs.
"It's only ice cream."
"They're going this far over it."
She thought for a moment.
"Hmm?"
"Come to think of it..."
"Women really do love desserts like this."
Izumi activated her Creation Skill once more.
This time, however, it wasn't ice cream.
A small carton of milk appeared in her hand.
She took the straw already attached to it.
Then began drinking it while casually walking toward her room.
Far away on the western side of the world.
A vast desert stretched endlessly beneath the scorching sun.
Hot winds blew between countless dunes.
In the middle of that desert stood three figures.
Two Demons.
And one Nymph.
One of the Demons was named Daki.
"Hahaha!"
"We did it!"
"These humans will be our next toys!"
In front of them stood hundreds of captured humans.
Their hands were chained.
Their faces were filled with fear.
Daki grinned with satisfaction.
"Good work, kid."
Standing between the two Demons was a young Nymph girl.
She had light green hair.
Her eyes were swollen from crying.
A slave collar was fastened around her neck.
She was not their subordinate.
She was their victim.
Her name was Tevina.
She had been kidnapped by the two Demons.
Tevina lowered her head.
Tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.
Inside her heart, she continued praying.
I want to go home...
Please...
Anyone...
Please save me...
Beneath the endless desert sky, no one heard her prayer.