Chapter 80 “Home Visit!”

This Translation is hosted on bcatranslation.com

Before the final hints of twilight disappeared from the vast horizon, Duncan caught sight of the familiar frontage of the old antique shop.

The street’s gas lamps were already ablaze at regular intervals, casting their soft yellowish light. It painted the antique shop’s sign above its entrance in a warm hue and highlighted the store’s muted gray brick walls. The window displays on either side of the main entrance was lit up, signaling someone’s presence inside. It was clear that Nina was at home—she had illuminated the ground-floor rooms, possibly in anticipation of Duncan’s return.

From Duncan’s perspective, he and Nina were relative strangers, having met not too long ago. Yet, upon seeing the lights on the first floor, a mysterious pang of regret settled in his heart.

Could it be guilt for being out so long without informing her?

With resolve, Duncan took a step forward and gently pushed the antique shop’s door open. As he did so, the door’s bell chimed softly, its tinkling sound quickly followed by a series of hurried footsteps. From the direction of the staircase came a young lady, dressed in a simple, long dress. She dashed down as if she were a whirlwind in human form.

“Uncle Duncan!” Exclaimed Nina, pausing midway down the staircase, her face a mix of surprise and delight upon seeing Duncan at the entrance. However, a hint of bewilderment shadowed her eyes as she added, “I was under the impression you’d be out again today.”

Duncan responded with a shake of his head, “I headed into town and, before I realized, night had fallen. My apologies, Nina. My original plan was to fetch you from school at the Crossroad. But some unforeseen circumstances came up.”

“The Crossroad?” Nina’s surprise was evident. She looked him over, checking if perhaps he had indulged in some drink or was in a state due to medication. “To pick me up… from school?”

Duncan’s recent actions seemed both recognizable and oddly out of character, leaving Nina feeling a touch disoriented.

“Just wanted to check in on how things are going for you at school,” Duncan replied nonchalantly. “But let’s set that aside. You need not be concerned about me spending my time at taverns or getting lost amidst dubious company. If I ever return late, you can bet it’s because I’m dealing with matters of importance, alright?”

As Duncan proceeded inside and shut the door behind him, Nina stood rooted to the spot, her gaze following him. There was a kind of unspoken energy in his movements that had her silently nodding in acknowledgment.

Recognizing the late hour, Duncan, while making his way upstairs, turned to Nina, who was still by the stairs, and asked, “Have you had your dinner?”

Caught somewhat off-guard, Nina answered hesitantly, “No, not yet. I saw the house was empty when I returned. I wasn’t sure if you’d be joining us tonight, so I didn’t prepare a meal. However, I did get some bread. I was thinking of…”

“Just sustaining on bread isn’t sufficiently nutritious. Let’s make our way to the kitchen; I’ve got something special in store,” Duncan said, poised to ascend the staircase. He paused, glancing back at Nina with a warm smile, “Tonight, I’ll be the chef.”

“Uncle is going to cook?”

To Nina, it felt like she’d been told a fairy tale. But before she could voice any of her swirling thoughts, she observed Duncan confidently moving upstairs. Without hesitation, she quickly trailed behind him. As they climbed, she caught sight of Ai, a graceful dove contentedly resting on Duncan’s shoulder. “Uncle, has this dove been accompanying you the entire time?” she inquired, a hint of astonishment lacing her voice.

Duncan responded with a casual tone, “Indeed, she’s grown rather attached to me. I’ve christened it ‘Ai.'”

“‘Ai’? It’s an unusual choice for a dove’s name,” Nina remarked, a bit puzzled, scratching her head. As they reached the second floor and she noticed Duncan’s trajectory towards the kitchen, her curiosity got the better of her. “Did you happen to bring anything special?”

“Actually, I’ve secured a piece of salted fish,” Duncan said, rummaging through the kitchen cabinet to retrieve the fish he had stashed earlier. With a hint of pride, he held up the well-preserved fish for Nina’s inspection, “It may not look like much, but trust me, it’s the perfect base for a hearty soup.”

“Fish?!” The word escaped Nina’s lips, her eyes widening in astonishment. “What’s the occasion? Fish is such a luxury; we don’t typically have…”

As she looked closer at the dried fish in Duncan’s grasp, a cloud of perplexity enveloped her. She took a moment to process what she was seeing. “This fish… I’ve never encountered one of its kind before. What is it?”

Duncan wasn’t surprised by Nina’s dubious reaction. Of course, the inhabitants of their city-state were no strangers to fish. The Boundless Sea, while perilous due to the fearsome creatures known as the offspring heirs of the deep, wasn’t entirely inaccessible. With the divine protection of the gods and the robust defenses of the city-state, certain patches of shallow waters near the islands, along with a handful of god-blessed routes, remained relatively secure. These locations supplied invaluable resources vital to sustaining the city-state’s populace.

Within these areas, residents sourced seafood and minerals. The sacred routes were popular spots for hunting whales and other aquatic creatures of significant value. These resources not only provided sustenance but also fueled the city-state’s industrial evolution.

This world, though teeming with fish, differed vastly from Earth. Here, even “safe” waters presented considerable threats. As such, even in safer territories, fishing demanded specialized knowledge and a warrior’s prowess.

Given this context, Nina’s astonishment was understandable. It had been years since she’d tasted fish. Even in the days before her uncle’s ailment, the likes of her – ordinary citizens – rarely enjoyed the privilege of savoring this delicacy at their dining tables.

Fish from common waters were already considered a luxury, but one from the mysterious abyss? That was practically unheard of.

Duncan even hypothesized that the deep sea fish he’d secured from the abandoned vessel was potentially the first of its species to have made its way to Pland. It wasn’t just the everyday folks like Nina who were strangers to this sea treasure; even the city-state’s elite, from the ruling aristocrats to the revered high priests of the church, likely hadn’t savored such a rarity.

Tonight, Nina was poised for a culinary adventure.

“Nevermind its origin. Just anticipate the meal,” Duncan declared, aware that some mysteries are best left unsolved. He then pivoted back to the kitchen, rolling up his sleeves to commence dinner preparations.

The unusual fish was impressive in size. Even in its preserved state, it was substantial. Duncan discerned that a single preparation wouldn’t do it justice. Thus, he decided to portion the fish, opting to use the head first. The remainder, he reckoned, could be hung in the cabinet for additional drying, potentially intensifying its flavor over time.

To Nina, it was almost surreal seeing her uncle genuinely invested in cooking.

Observing Duncan’s familiar silhouette energetically maneuvering in the kitchen evoked in her a sense of nostalgia.

She wasn’t fixated on the exotic fish Duncan had presented, nor was her mind on the impending meal. Instead, she was engrossed by the transformation she witnessed in her uncle – a change that both perplexed and intrigued her.

The rhythmic chopping of vegetables resonated in the background, accompanied by the hissing gas stove and the gentle simmering of the soup.

A feeling of déjà vu washed over Nina. Just how long had it been since she’d experienced this comforting scene?

A hint of hesitation crossed her face. But after a brief internal debate, she mustered the courage to voice her concerns. “Uncle,” she began, directing her words towards the engrossed figure in the kitchen, “Tomorrow, Mr. Morris will be dropping by for a home visit.”

Caught off guard, Duncan inquired as he continued to stir, “A home visit? Is Mr. Morris the history teacher you mentioned?”

She nodded in affirmation, “Indeed, he is.”

“Are home visits a norm in your school?” Duncan paused to deposit the fish into the bubbling pot. Turning to face her, he asked with genuine curiosity, “I was under the impression such practices were exclusive to those prestigious schools in the upper city.”

Nina elaborated, carefully gauging Duncan’s response, “The institution doesn’t particularly endorse such visits. However, Mr. Morris is an exception. He tends to invest added interest in his students.”

A contemplative silence ensued.

The revelation had thrown Duncan slightly off balance.

Never in his wildest imaginations did he anticipate navigating such domestic intricacies when he assumed his role as “Captain Duncan”. While he was prepared to interact with influential entities like the church, law enforcement, the city-state’s maritime forces, and even the local constables, this was uncharted territory for him. He was expecting high-stakes strategies filled with divine interventions, swordplay, and the echoing booms from the ship’s cannons. This, however, was a new challenge altogether.

Duncan had mapped out multiple scenarios in his mind, but a rendezvous with a history teacher from a local school wasn’t one of them.

Isn’t life’s unpredictability its most consistent trait?

“Uncle?” Nina’s voice, tinted with concern, broke his chain of thoughts. Observing Duncan’s prolonged silence, her worry deepened. “Is it a problem? I can explain things to Mr. Morris. Actually, I already mentioned to him earlier that due to your frail health, it might not be the best time for a home visit. He remained silent after I said that…”

By reading between the lines of Nina’s slightly anxious demeanor, Duncan deduced that this wasn’t Mr. Morris’s first attempt at scheduling a home visit.

How often had Nina found herself turning him down, always citing her uncle’s health as the reason?

“…He’s a history teacher, you mentioned?” Duncan reiterated, his curiosity piqued.

Although uncertain about the reason behind her uncle’s repeated query, Nina nodded in affirmation, “Yes, he is.”

“That’s good,” Duncan responded with a chuckle, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes, “I’ve been meaning to engage in some enlightening discussions with someone well-versed in history. When exactly is Mr. Morris planning his visit tomorrow?”

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