NOVEL NEXT Chapter 92
It was a chaotic underground space, reminiscent of a war zone, yet the area where the cook prepared food felt impeccably clean, just like a restaurant.
Perhaps that was why, despite the eerie atmosphere, it felt a bit more comforting.
“Should I make the broth slightly thick, or more watery?”
“Just a little broth, please.”
I loved scooping up the meat and mixing the remaining rice into that broth. It felt like a proper meal only when I did it that way.
It was an old habit.
“Yes.”
Even though it was an ambiguous request, the cook smiled as if she understood and returned to her cooking.
She seemed to be in the finishing stages, sprinkling seasonings here and there, turning off the heat.
Soon, a small plate and a bowl were placed in front of Lia and me—one large and one small.
Stir-fried pork that looked delicious and perfectly moist rice grains were visible.
My mouth watered.
It was hard to resist.
“Thank you for the meal.”
“Yes, enjoy!”
After seeing the cook smile and say that, I picked up my utensils and began to eat.
#
Looking at the now-empty bowl brought a slight happiness.
Lia seemed happy too, lying on the floor with a melt-in-your-mouth expression for the first time in a while.
Since the last time the elite outsiders ate the cook’s food together, I realized I hadn’t had it myself until now.
Originally, I had planned to get three meals a day, but the phrase “there’s no time” made me realize how terrifying it was.
“Thank you for the meal.”
“Was it delicious?”
“Yes! Really.”
“Hehe, I’m glad.”
The cook rested her arms on the kitchen table, propping her chin with both hands, smiling brightly.
Even though I was asking without any return, the cook always smiled while cooking for me.
And a single compliment about how tasty the food was seemed to bring her immense joy.
Was it just my imagination that it felt like I was receiving too much compared to what I had done?
The other outsiders felt the same way.
The gardener was prickly, but she always provided helpful information whenever I needed to do something.
Bell was sulking right now, but she quickly perked up and barked with joy after just one round of play.
The dragon slayer liked me simply for helping her, and without any other reason, offered assistance without hesitation.
Why was that?
What had I done to deserve this?
As I pondered this, the cook finished washing the dishes and quietly sat beside me.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
“Well… Haa, what should I say?”
Seeing the cook smile warmly, I felt a lump in my throat.
With the interrogator’s intrusion and so many tasks yet to be accomplished, I must have hit an indestructible wall all of a sudden.
Everything just felt so unfair.
“Why do you take care of me like this? I’ve listened to some of your worries, but I don’t feel like I’ve done anything to warrant receiving so much.”
“Why do you think that?”
The cook asked back instead.
I looked at her face, trying to gauge her intentions, and before I knew it, my mouth opened in surprise.
She was simply smiling.
It seemed like just listening to me made her happy as she turned her head towards me and quietly listened.
“Well, I only helped you get to where you could accomplish what you were bound to do anyway.”
“But what you shared with me is the truth, right?”
“That may be so… but compared to the dedication you’ve shown me, it’s nothing.”
I was curious.
Why were they so good to me, why did they like me so much?
So I asked.
I thought that perhaps understanding what they were thinking would allow me to know them a little better.
Was I really worthy of such treatment?
“Hehe, trying to dig too deep isn’t good, you know.”
Saying this, the cook gently closed her eyes.
When I realized this, her hands had suddenly grasped the back of my neck and pulled me close.
Poof.
“I knew that would happen…!”
Hoo~ I see, this record-keeping fellow isn’t so bad after all… What kind of situation is this?
My face unintentionally got buried in the cook’s chest.
With the gardener’s reprimands and the cold voice of the dragon slayer echoing in my head, I hurriedly tried to escape the cook’s embrace.
“Can’t we just think of it as that?”
But at the sound of the cook’s sweet voice in my ear, my body froze.
What to say…
This warm sensation that felt like she was comforting me made me feel good.
I just wanted to stay like this.
As her hand slowly stroked the back of my head.
Even that touch felt gentle and made me want to remain like this.
“Don’t think so lightly of your contributions. The seeds you plant can grow into plants, providing homes for little creatures, food for cute kids. We’re the same. No, it’s more than that. You put your life on the line to help us. How could we not know that? We can’t help but get pulled in deeper.”
The cook spoke as she patted me gently.
I had indeed put my life on the line.
The gardener had initially hated humans, trying to kill me.
Eating the cook’s food could have been lethal for a human’s body.
The dragon slayer, due to her despair from the white mask, had avoided humans completely.
Nutricha had sought to keep her mind tied to the void.
But that was merely a human perspective. For the outsiders, the concept of ‘death’ didn’t hold such profound meaning.
It could simply be brushed aside with a light ‘I see.’
“See, you’re distorting your thoughts again.”
The cook poked my cheek with her finger.
Ouch.
When her finger pressed against my cheek, I let out a quiet sound, and the cook’s expression changed momentarily before she smiled again.
“We don’t help each other out that easily. Just that alone can create significant ripples. So we have to live through sadness and hardship even when we’re in trouble. And yet, you’re resolving these issues for us. If it weren’t for you, our dog friend wouldn’t have found her bones and would still be wandering the underground prison, our plant friend would have lost her buddy, I would be in despair, and the dragon friend would have been doing nothing but playing with the dragons and dolls forever.”
Outsiders don’t interfere with each other.
Especially the elite outsiders symbolize certain concepts, making their movements delicate.
So they were isolated.
And it was because of your help that they were grateful and drawn to you like this.
“Or perhaps you think it’s because you’re handsome?”
Cough.
Handsome, huh?
I guess my white hair and bright eyes are somewhat attractive.
But whether the outsider’s sense of beauty is the same as a human’s is a whole different issue.
I don’t know; it might just be that I’ve been working non-stop for Rondan’s sake.
I felt a bit exhausted.
“… Can I take a short break?”
“Of course. Take a good rest.”
The cook said this, laying my head on her lap and gently stroking my hair.
With the cozy atmosphere, my eyes began to close.
#
On the way back to the branch.
I recalled the ‘mess’ I had made while nagging the cook and wanted to tear my hair out over it, but it was in the past, so I had to let it go.
I must have been crazy.
It seemed I had indeed been under a lot of stress.
Truly, people need to have a good rest to clear their minds.
After eating the cook’s meal, it felt like the near-death fatigue in my body had completely vanished.
In fact, it seemed I felt much better than I did before, so maybe the training was showing results.
At this rate, I might be able to get stronger in just 14 days.
I thought I would need to rely on the cook a bit more for the next 14 days.
‘Hmm. I see.‘
‘…Haha, of course! But make sure to eat with your other friends another time too, okay?”‘
‘I’m looking forward to when my husband can recognize our names.‘
…Cough.
‘Could you please stop staring at me like that? ‘
Anyway.
I need to hurry back to the branch.
I ran out quickly, as the branch manager was taking care of Asti while I was away.
But concerning Asti’s collapsed state, I couldn’t shake my worry.
As soon as I returned to the branch, I intended to head straight to my room, but I spotted a knight wandering around near the branch entrance.
As soon as he saw me, his face lit up, and he rushed over, wearing a pained expression.
“Tanton! Please help! The kid you saved…!”
“…?”
His urgency indicated that the situation was serious.
I hurried inside the branch, where the branch manager was having a standoff with Asti outside my room.
“Wait! Are you trying to act on your own without your master?!”
“No, before he arrives….”
Both noticed me at the same time and their expressions shifted starkly.
“Oh, Tanton! You finally arrived!”
“Aah…”
“Ugh.”
The branch manager suddenly froze as Asti collapsed.
She fell down with her head hung low.
“Asti…?”
I approached cautiously and lifted her face, shocked to find tears brimming in her usually expressionless eyes.
“Master.”
Asti said, her voice filled with distress.
“I can’t… stay here.”