Chapter 65
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: 17. Flu (2)
Good morning, Team Leader. It's quite chilly out—hope you slept comfortably last night. Just letting you know, I seem to have come down with the flu today, so I'd like to take a sick day. I'll head to the hospital this morning for a check-up, get plenty of rest, and be back at work normally tomorrow. I'll get a doctor's note then, but if there's any other paperwork you need, please let me know.
Oh, caught the flu?
It must've been because it was so cold on the way home yesterday.
I really should've made sure to get you home properly...
I'm sorry. I'll manage my health more carefully so this doesn't happen again.
No need to be so formal about it. Everyone gets sick sometimes.
Even I'm on edge every change of season.
Anyway, sick day approved.
I'm the boss here—what's the big deal?
Besides, if we're splitting hairs, this is from 'non-work activities.'
[Photo: Casual home selfie with a V-sign; freshly dried bedsheets visible below her fingers]
So, it's okay if I just rest at home today?
Of course!
You've gotta rest properly when you're sick to work harder later.
Oh, but you should probably let Neria know first.
Want me to do it for you?
No, I think it'll look better if I apologize directly.
Thank you for the consideration, Team Leader.
As it turned out, Team Leader kindly told me to take the day off and rest easy, putting my mind at ease.
Being my first sick day, I'd been a little nervous, but from the vibe, it seemed fine to just relax at home without worry.
...Meanwhile, somewhere out there, people with the same flu were probably dragging their heavy bodies to work like zombies.
I felt lucky to have such a soft-hearted boss like Team Leader as I threw on my coat.
Fortunately, the doctor diagnosed it as just a simple flu.
After getting a shot in the arm, I felt a bit better.
Not fully recovered, of course—just the muscle aches and chills had eased up some.
Still, would I really be back to normal by tomorrow?
A twinge of anxiety lingered, but modern medicine could only do so much.
The rest was up to bed rest and time.
Grabbing my meds, I headed home, changed clothes without delay, and burrowed into my soft blankets like a mole.
Propping a fluffy pillow under my ankles completed the setup.
Time for some good old Korean-style winter hibernation.
—Bzzz...
Then, a faint vibration hummed from the entrance where dim light seeped in.
Someone messaging me, maybe?
Perhaps they needed the doctor's note after all.
I stretched out an arm, fumbled for my smartphone, and pulled it into my cozy nest to check.
House address.
I told you to send it three times.
Four? Whatever.
It was Neria.
The girl whose every mood swung with her whims...
...and surprisingly kind-hearted enough to worry about a human guy being sick.
You'll catch it too.
Even witches get minor ailments, right?
What're you saying? You ever see me moaning in bed?
Witches don't catch crap like colds.
They do.
I confirmed it directly with my Team Leader.
Apparently, some witches even specialize in healing magic for it.
Ugh, pulling sneaky tricks...
I'd messaged Neria before heading to the hospital: Got the flu—won't be able to make it today.
Her response was that.
She insisted on visiting to nurse me, and I was still trying to talk her out of it.
If she actually caught it, I'd be the one in trouble.
Just bringing porridge, okay?
Everyone knows you gotta eat when you're sick to get better fast, idiot.
You slut, you hiding a stash of porn at home or something?!
It's not that.
I'm just worried you'll catch it from me, Neria.
Then you can nurse me back.
We swap if needed—what's so hard about that?
She saw passing the illness as something to feel sorry about.
But her idea of taking turns nursing each other? What kind of logic was that?
...If common sense worked here, we'd have wrapped this up ages ago.
Before the hospital, on the way there, after arriving, heading home, and now under the covers.
She was this persistent, so maybe it was time for me to give in.
I typed "blockhead" and deleted it, then sent a polite message instead.
When will you arrive?
How should I know till you send the address?
Sick in the head too?
Thinking back to when I rushed to you last time, it'll take a bit over an hour.
...I'll jot down directions too, so follow those.
And don't stay too long once you're here.
I'll handle it.
About two hours later.
A little late due to unfamiliar roads, Neria pounded on my front door.
I'd warned her from the building entrance, so no need for that racket.
My headache, which had almost gone, throbbed faintly again.
"...You've arrived, Neria."
"Yep."
Through the cracked door, her signature light purple hair poked in first.
...Not some eager pup driven by conquest. Couldn't even wait properly?
Finally, Neria threw her strength into shoving the door open and stood before me.
White breath puffed from her pure white coat, perfectly suited to her.
"Typical single guy's place—drab colors from the start."
"Old house. Lights are off too."
"Huh."
"Besides, I like a calm atmosphere."
"Hmm... Anyway, how's the flu? Voice sounds like you're not dying."
"It hurt earlier, but the shot helped. I can walk around okay now."
"Sh-shot, huh. Ahem."
"......"
"Looks pretty clean too. Annoying."
Seemed she feared needles.
That explained why she scanned my place instead of prying more, eyes darting around.
I stuck close, wary of mischief, but then noticed something missing and asked carefully.
"Neria."
"Yeah?"
"Didn't you say you were bringing porridge... My eyes work fine despite the flu."
"Coming soon. Ordered delivery here."
"Ah..."
"Easier than buying from a shop. Why?"
"Nothing. I half-thought you'd make it yourself."
Given my frozen fried rice diet, it wasn't impossible.
Not that I was any chef to judge.
I was about to change the subject when...
"......?"
Neria stared at my face.
Before I could ask why, she stepped back, averting her gaze awkwardly.
"If I made it, it'd... taste bad or something..."
"......"
But that lasted a moment.
Clearing her throat, she lifted her chin slightly, resuming her usual confident look, and pressed on firmly.
"Gotta eat something tasty for the flu. Right? Delivery food's so good these days."
"...True."
"Better than risking weird experiments... Oh, it's here."
Firm, but her words tumbled out a bit fast.
Right on cue, the doorbell rang.
Probably delivery.
She'd paid already, so just grab it.
But sending her to the door worried me, so I went instead.
It was porridge, as discussed.
Unlike standard white plastic bags, it came in an angular maroon shopping bag—fancy brand, apparently.
Erzel had footed the bill, but I skipped mentioning that.
"Didn't know what you'd like, so beef veggie porridge. Crazy expensive for porridge though? It's just simmered rice at the end of the day. Could buy frozen fried rice five or six times for that price."
"They add margins since it's for sale."
"Still too much! So, pay me back later with free fried rice. Load it with Vienna sausages."
"Sure, that's fine... Anyway, thanks for the porridge. I'll enjoy it, Neria."
"Y-yeah. Good if you do."
"Have you eaten, Neria?"
"I'm good. Not hungry."
More important than that minor detail: devour the porridge she'd gotten so she'd feel satisfied and leave.
Heading to the table with that plan, she naturally followed, pulling out a chair.
Gripping a spoon tightly, that is.
"...? You said you're not hungry."
"Yeah. Why?"
"Then why the spoon..."
"Why ask something obvious?"
Tilting her head, she poked the porridge with the spoon's tip and answered.
"To feed you."