Re:START/If {Book 1.0}
Chapter 54 : Aswad 1 of 15 “Self-awareness” (Part 03)

Looking back at Odo with a purely curious gaze, the brown-haired youth asked, “You processed it for the nugget material? Eng ..., it's still confusing. Why does bread make such a crunchy texture? Bread ... fried?”

“Arca, have you ever eaten cheap bread in the store?” Odo began to seem reluctant to explain, then with a flat gaze again asked, “Have you ever baked bread? Did you ever accidentally bake bread but it was too ripe and so hard?”

“Why are you asking like that?” The statue frowned at hearing a question that felt nothing to do with the conversation. Turning a look of annoyance, the eldest son of the Rein family said, “This indeed sounds arrogant, but I was born in a noble family. The top! How could I have ever done something like that! You alone, how?”

“I've done it, I've also messed up and even spent the dough because of trial and error.” Odo briefly looked away, remembering his behavior as a very young boy who often messed up in the kitchen and ate food without permission.

Sighing lightly with a flat gaze towards Arca, the young man in black hair momentarily raised both sides of his shoulders and said, “Well, in the past besides magic I was also quite interested in the kitchen because I like to be picky food, anyway.”

“Keep what's the connection?”

“You know, the surface of the overripe bread will be very rough even hard. The concept is like that, using breadcrumbs. But, getting those breadcrumbs cost a lot. Looking for alternatives, I chose cheap fresh bread to cope with it.”

“You ... can process bread so that it can be flour?” The statue looks so curious. He got up from his seat, stood in front of Odo and straightly asked, “How?!”

“Easy ...” Odo pointed his index finger forward, then in a slightly lazy tone replied, “First small cut, then mashed with manual blender—”

“Wait!” Sculpture interrupted, with curiosity he again asked, “Blender? What else is it?”

“Trapping tools.” Odo put both his hands to his waist, slightly staring flat and his cornea briefly turned green. Knowing that Arca would continue to ask during the assessment to select the menu, Odo sighed and lazily replied, “It can also be used to smooth the seasoning. Well, just think of it like a chopping tool or a practical cut.”

“Hmm ...” While turning his face and holding his chin, the young man remembered something. Arca looked back at Odo and asked, “So those new tools are said to be Dwarf from the artisan union?”

“You've heard that?”

“Yes, Dwarves of the Red Dwarf Union when bringing furniture orders said like that.”

Stop holding the chin, Arca stepped foot past Odo and wanted to see directly the tools. The eldest son of the Rein family's shoulders were quickly held by Odo and his steps were stopped. Realizing that the young man with black hair was a little upset, Arca undoes her intentions and returns to face her interlocutor.

“Sorry .... We're back to the topic, Odo. Once smoothed, what are you doing again? I guess that fine bread is not much different from wheat flour.”

Odo stared flatly as Arca continued to ask after being stared at sharply. Sighing in agitatedly, the young man in black hair replied, “After being coarse grains, the panir is mixed with some secret spices, then baked. When it is completely dry and becomes crispy, the panir can already be used or stored in jars.”

“Seasoning ... secret?” The statue again looks curious, bring the face closer and make Odo step back.

“That's a kitchen secret, where might I tell.”

The eldest son of the Rein family gasped, aware that he was asking too many questions and immediately took one step back to keep his distance. “Truely too,” he said slowly.

At first glance Odo gave a flat expression realizing the awkwardness that existed. Taking a deep breath, the young man in black hair asked, “Is that all you want to ask?”

“Still there ...” Although understanding that Odo already looks reluctant, Arca still can not resist his curiosity. The brunette youth returned to the table, taking the crispy flour-coated fillet chicken that had been bitten. Showing that with a curious look, the brunette youth again asked, “For this crispy chicken ..., how to make it? What use flour again?”

“For the coating is yes, it is from wheat flour and maizena. Of course there is an additional egg yolk material.”

“Tigues? Maizena?” The statue looks confused.

“Corn flour and wheat flour!” snarled Odo with annoyance. “You are very public about the kitchen, yes ..”

“You know too well!” Arca snapped back. “Which nobleman also wants to bother learning how to cook.”

“Nobles in front of you, loh.”

“Tch!” The statue gritted its teeth with an annoyed expression hearing such an argument. He quickly forgot the awkwardness in his mind, then loudly said, “I think it's just you!”

Odo briefly smiled seeing Arca no longer hesitant or reluctant to express the contents of his mind. Slightly turning away from the young man, in a slightly lazy tone Odo said, “Well, we put that aside. Is there anything else that confuses you?”

“Ada ..” Arca put back the chicken she carried onto the plate, then in a firm voice said, “Her chicken, how come there is no bone?”

“Eeeeh? That too you ask? Don't you think chicken bones can be taken before cooking? That's fillet, loh. Chicken Fillet ...”

“Ouh, true also.” Arca nodded in understanding, catching it seriously as if it was indeed very interesting for him. Staring at his interlocutor in surprise, the young man again said, “If the chicken bones are removed first before processing, when eaten it can add to the flavor of the seasoning. It can also make it easier when eaten, especially for parents or children.”

Odo did not care about the analytical opinion. Taking a deep breath and getting lazy, the young man in black hair asked, “So, it's all, ‘kan? I want to continue this assessment.”

“Still ...” The statue holds the chin, gazes a little suspiciously and in a slightly haughty tone asks, “For that snail house-like one ...what food?” The eldest son of the Rein family pointed to the food the Demi-human family was eating with their forks.

It made Sittara and his brothers and sisters stall, staring in wonder at the young man in black hair. Plainly Sittara lifted Rolade who was still a little with a fork, then said, “Silver brat, this is beef! Time don't know?”

The slightly jolted statue heard that, staring flatly at the little girl with a twitching left eyebrow. Sighing and looking back at Odo, the brown-haired young man waited for his answer.

Odo turned both eyeballs to the side, looking a little bored with the conversation and nonchalantly replied, “You know snails but don't know the most common type of flour used in the kitchen, which is the most common, nobles are strange. Haaa  .... You don't even know about food like. Just so you know, the food is not too foreign, you know. There are some of that kind for the upper class.”

“Damn it, you're weird too!” Arca pointed with annoyance at the young man before her, then with emotion said, “Basic nobility cook!!”

“Hah! Whatever ....” The young man with black hair stared unconcernedly at the words. Taking a deep breath, he again said, “So, that was about Rolade?”

“That's his name Rolade?” said Arca while looking at the cuisine.

“Yes .... As the name suggests, it's rolled. Just a flat piece of beef rolled lengthwise and boiled, then cut into pieces again before frying.”

“Only that?” The statue looked at him suspiciously, put his hand back on his chin and asked, “Then what is this piece that holds him together? Egg?”

“Iya, egg.”

“Keep the green-green what?”

“That celery leaf.”

“For its additional seasoning? Which tastes refreshing, unique and the color is white and a little wry what is it?”

“Mayones ..”

“What else is that? Why does it taste a little wry but fresh?”

“It is made from chicken eggs, vegetable oil, and vinegar put in a blender to stir until thick.”

“Like? Acidic substance made from alcohol?”

“I don't use alcohol, it's just the fermentation process of ripe apples. I got it from the Workshop in the craftsman district.”

“Oooh, slightly different, yes.”

“If you are next to mayo— Mayo .... Mayonnaise! Which color is a little red what?”

“It was just mayonnaise mixed with red chili powder and pepper. I roasted the chili in the oven to dry, then mashed it with blender.”

“So you also said Oven. What is it, anyway? Some kind of roasting tool?”

“....”

Odo was silent with a really lazy expression following all the questions that were thrown as if there was no such stop. Odo's patience is to the limit and his complete vulnerability is intolerable. Clenching his right hand and raising his fist towards Arca, the young man in black hair said, “A lot of you say this, what do I want to beat?”

“E—Eh?” Sculpture immediately trembled and stepped back to see the face of Odo's wrath, the trauma of having been defeated embedded clearly in his mind. With a stutter the young man asked, “Ke-Why angry?”

“No, coke. It's just ...” Odo stared at the dark, at first glance emitting a murderous lust and making the atmosphere in the room change drastically. Everyone gasped, stopped moving, shaking in place except for Suigin and Sittara who were unaffected. The statue that was clearly directed at such an aura instantly died lice, speechless and cold sweat poured down profusely until it seeped out of his suit.

Sighing and stopping the aura of intimidation, Odo again said, “Honestly this is annoying if asked in such a row. Anyway, you don't have anyone asking?”

“A-Adab?”

“If people ask for something or ask at least add a word please or sorry, then be polite a little.”

“Ma-Sorry ...”

At first glance the atmosphere turned awkward because of this, everyone also broke out in a cold sweat to feel the deadly air that glimpsed, except Suigin and Sittara. Aware of their slightly frightened gazes, Odo took a deep breath and said, “After eating, you too must be thirsty. Please drink your drinks ...”

No one dared to raise a wooden glass because the atmosphere still felt awkward. Immediately staring flat at Arca, Odo coded the family's eldest son Rein to sit down and start tasting drinks first.

“Uwah~! What's this! So fresh! What is this—?”

As soon as Arca's words stopped, she was afraid to ask Odo after what had happened. Turning his gaze and gazing towards Logi next to him, the brunette youth said, “Try you also taste, it tastes good, loh!”

Odo clearly knew that Arca intended to ask through his subordinates. Allowing that and just sighing, the young man in black hair let everyone first taste the drink.

They show a reaction that is not much different from Arca, though, surprised by the freshness of the drink even though there should be no fresh ingredients sold in the market because the season is still mid-spring and new fruits can be harvested early summer or near autumn.

“Tu-Tuan Odo, what ingredients did you use to make this drink? It feels like an apple, doesn't it?” ask Logi tremblingly as he continued to be suppressed by the Arca who looked very curious.

“It's just apple and Prem dried blender, then made into tea and brewed hot water. After the temperature drops, it is cooled to the refrigerator.”

“Lemari ... es?” Logi looked confused hearing that, but the sharp gaze from the statue made his body break out in cold sweat.

“Cooling cabinet.” Odo slightly enjoyed the ridiculous situation of the two of them, with a faint smile he said, “Tools that can also make blocks of ice...”

“Ouh, magic tool?”

“Ya ..” The young man of black hair briefly looked away, then in a slightly indifferent tone explained, “Due to the limitations of the ingredients, I can only make one type. Fresh fruit can not compromise the season, anyway.”

After all the food and drink menu was finished tasting them all, Odo stood as the center of attention of everyone in the place. Folding both his hands to the front of his chest, the young man in black hair said, “So, after eating all that, which one is the most delicious? It will come out later tomorrow the day after our store opens.”

“Besok ... the day after tomorrow? Not tomorrow?” nanra asked with a slightly astonished look at the decision.

Odo looked at the silvery-white whipped girl, then pointed his right index finger forward and replied, “Ya, tomorrow the day after.”

“What do you need tomorrow?” ask Arca in surprise.

Staring at the family's eldest son Rein, Odo replied, “There are still many things to take care of, I will explain later.”

Odo let out a light sigh, one by one looking at those in the room to confirm something. Understanding with dismay all those who felt that there was nothing to do despite joining the company, the young man in black hair clapped his hands once and said, For tomorrow, for tomorrow, you guys just prepare the ingredients. That's why I tell the menu now and make such an assessment. So, what menu is the most delicious?”

“Nugget chicken!” answer Logi.

“Nugget cow!!” answer Ligh.

“Rolade!” answer Sittara.

“Ayam Fille!” reply Arca.

“Nugget chicken ...,” replied Arca.

“Nugget cow,” replied Matthew.

“Rolade ...,” Reply Isla.

“Nugget .. chicken,” Totto replied.

“Nugget fish ...,” replied Ritta.

“Nugget chicken,” replied Mattari.

Of all the people in the room, only Mavis did not cast her vote. Using the majority system, the initial menu from where they were decided would make chicken nuggets as the main menu and apple juice for drinks.

After the assessment was completed, Odo gave each of them tasks such as buying chicken meat again for the main ingredient, apples and several other things to prepare for their restaurant operations tomorrow after tomorrow. All of it was delegated to Elulu as the head of the kitchen, then the other in charge of helping and at the end would be recorded his financial statements by Nanra.

After discussing this, then they discussed the Arca report that was last afternoon lobbying with the Lorian Trade Union. From the bargaining activity, clearly a green light was open from the beginning. Odo sends Arca to Aprilo's place only to confirm the cooperation they had in fact done long before the Rein family's eldest son came to the city of Mylta.

The agreement is a division of shares between two companies, buying and selling assets from each other to establish cooperation. Knowing that from the beginning there was an agreement between the Trade Union and Odo from the beginning, Arca found it useless because the lobbying he was doing was going quickly. In other words, Arca came only in charge of ushering in the payment of the share purchase from the Lorian Trade Union.

Because of this, Arca looked upset from the beginning and pressured Odo to immediately hear his protest. But after what happened earlier and being bullied, the brown-haired youth did not protest and just handed over some stock papers to Odo.

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After he finished discussing some other things, Odo took off the apron and placed it on one of the chairs just like that. The young man rolled his shirt arm up to the elbow, momentarily sighed and put on a saturated expression full of mind on something that was stupendous. Frowns, eyes look empty and lips are slightly inserted into the mouth.

After the dishes were cleared by Elulu and the others, they all returned to their seats to hear the additional notice from Odo Luke. Walking towards one of the chairs where he had placed the black robe, the black-haired youth put it back on and directly faced towards Nanra.

“Nanra, you're back in the orphanage tomorrow...”

“Eh?” Nanra looked confused to hear the sudden speech, her eyes opened wide and her mouth was about to say something but was back together.

Staring with an empty glare, a glimpse of Odo's cornea turned green and he said, “Mbak Siska must be worried if you stay outside, go back there first. All change clothes, you haven't changed since yesterday, ‘kan?”

“Ta-But ...” Nanra got up from the seat, walked over to Odo and with a slightly anxious face said, “Don't you just say I have to take care of the finances of this company? You ordered Mbak Elulu to buy raw materials and all looking for clothes that are more appropriate for Sittara and the others, ‘kan? Then, it's my job to—”

“There is a receipt or stain, you can use it for bookkeeping. No need you always have to follow them.”

Nanra fell silent, looked away and felt that it was indeed true. In the silvery-white hair girl's mind, being in the store was more comfortable than constantly sleeping in an Inkara orphanage without doing anything productive there. In a place that he already considered the house, only Nanra had no definite activities and felt like she had completely abandoned the others.

“Why moody?” tanya Odo looked at the expression of the girl.

“If it's in that place .. it feels like I'm empty.” Raising her face reluctantly, the girl said, “Daniel often goes to the barracks to practice being the Tammama there, Nesta is busy practicing to become a nun, she said, Firkaf has been out a lot lately and he says he is training to be a forger .... In fact, Mila and Erial more often follow Sister Siska to the Main Church because there is busy .... Me ...”

Odo understands the feelings of Nanra, those who live in orphanages almost all have started to step forward to reach their respective ideals. Strive within limitations, take advantage of existing opportunities and continue to grow. Living in such an environment without doing anything is very heavy, Odo best understands it because in his previous life he also felt things that are not far away.

Putting his right hand over the girl's head, Odo Luke said, “I understand what you feel, it sucks to see others work hard to achieve dreams but themselves do not have something to do. It felt like in the chest someone appeared, as if pushing you to move and said, ‘What have you done until now? Does your life mean anything in this world? What are you doing in this place for?’ or something like that.”

Raising his face and looking at Odo, Nanra's eyes slightly glazed over and she asked, “What .... Have you ever felt that too?”

“Ever, even often ..., even now I still question it.”

Odo glimpsed, looked at the girl shorter than him and put on a smile. While stroking his head, the young man again said, “Have I done my best for myself? For the time I have and for the sake of others. You know, Nanra .... I assume every thing I have there is a ration of each.”

“Jatah?” nanra asked confusedly.

“Ya, rations. You can call it right.” Odo briefly looked away from the girl's innocent eyes, then lightly said, “Number I can blink, number I can inhale and exhale, and then lightly said, the amount I can sleep and wake up to, all of it has rations. When it's all over, it'll be accounted for. What we can do now is just do our best, no need to worry about others. They are trying themselves in their ability.”

“Abilities .... they?”

At first glance Nanra thought about it, the orphanage children were indeed only trying in their abilities and did not ask for more. Whether it was Nesta even Firkaf, they all only expected what they could want to achieve and were not greedy to master many things at once. Gazing towards Odo, Nanra felt different things. The young man before him seemed not to expect all the skills that exist, but the skills that exist in him only exist to achieve a certain goal.

“Ya, their capabilities.”

Odo raised his hand from Nanra's head, then turned around and walked towards Mavis who was sitting at the table near the exit. The blonde-haired lady immediately got up from the seat, and the two of them went towards the door together.

When he was about to open the door and get out, Arca asked, “Where are you going? These nights ...” That question represented everyone's curiosity. Odo did explain everything that had to be done tomorrow, but the young man in black hair did not explain where he was going now.

“Hmm?” Odo turned and looked at Arca, then with a faint smile he replied, “Of course look for other appendages for this place. You guys just do what we talked about, I'll be back tomorrow afternoon or afternoon. Remember yes, Arca. Don't get on the blackboard and mess up, you know. Aprilo pretty much hates you, if he boarded apitam and decided cooperation can runyam later.”

“Hah!” Sculpture sniffed, got up from the seat and folded his hands forward. With a haughty tone the brunette youth said, “Then we just do it ourselves! The capital on our side is bigger! If necessary, I also get out of the fund!”

Hearing such an answer, Odo felt that Arca did not understand. Odo understood that such a mindset was indeed very natural for nobles who were always at the top, even his father also often acted arrogantly in deciding a policy. Not wanting to argue about nature, Odo simply said, “Yes, it can indeed. But it's gonna take some time, and I don't want that ...”

“It is very urgent, yes?” Sculpture walked closer towards Odo and Mavis who were standing at the door, then wonderfully asked, “Isn't there still a few months left?”

Odo was silent, glancing at Mavis and not wanting to say the reason clearly. Taking a deep breath, the young man looked at Arca and implicitly replied, “I ... don't have any more time.”

“Do not have time?”

“Yah ...” Odo turned around, opened the door and said, “You will know. At that time, I left everything to you and Nanra.”

With those puzzling words, the young man walked out of the room with the blonde woman who came with him. The statue only remains silent, he will understand the words later in the future and surely the understanding will come in the form of regret.

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