The Reason for a Supporter's Existence (2)
"Why would the angels create my body? I fell from the sky, didn't I?"
"...Huh? What are you talking about? Didn't the Celestials summon you through a summoning circle? Then how did you join us?"
"Excuse me..? I just fell from the sky into the middle of the battlefield..."
"What..?"
Merlin asked back, clearly flustered by an answer that didn't match her expectations, as I stood there with a look of utter confusion, having never heard of such a thing.
"The Celestials didn't call you from the center of a circular formation?"
"A circular formation? There was nothing like that... I just fell from the sky... And then I ran into something called Diablo, and barely managed to escape with the help of the Celestials...?"
"What..? Why from the sky...? Wait, you met that monster?"
"Monster..? She didn't look like a monster at all...?"
At that, Merlin shook her head from side to side and said.
"Get a grip! She hides immense power beneath that appearance! We all attacked her together and still lost. Do you understand? Why we call her a monster?"
"...I will understand it with my head, at least."
"Hmm... Anyway... When I came here, the Archangel told me they had replaced our bodies with ones that eliminated all physiological needs except for sexual desire, so we could focus solely on battle."
"..Is that even possible?"
"How should I know.. It was done by angels, who are more intelligent beings than us.."
"Eh.. I thought a 9th-circle Archmage could do anything..."
"..."
The bodies of the heroes Merlin described were optimized for combat, having shed all physiological needs—meaning they were free from the need to use the bathroom or eat.
But why didn't they get rid of the sexual desire..?
More importantly...
In short, this body is a blessed one...
It means no matter how much I stuff my face, I won't gain weight...
For the women back on Earth, this would be the ultimate physical ability..
Hm?
Wait a second..
Ah~ So that's why there was no weight listed on the status window.
Then that means I can eat an unlimited amount.
And eating doesn't put any burden on the body at all..
Wow.. bring on the food. I'll eat it all without a second thought.
But wait, I definitely saw ramen and canned beer in my inventory earlier, right?
It's a bit awkward to eat alone.. I should at least ask.
"Eh.. so, do you heroes not eat?"
"Us? We don't. Why? Are you planning to?"
"Yes. I'm still going to have dinner."
"Hmm~ I'm good.. How about you guys?"
When I turned my head to look at the heroes huddled together, they raised their hands and waved them side to side, signaling their refusal to Merlin.
Merlin nodded once and looked at me, saying.
"They said no. It's a shame, but.. it looks like you'll have to eat alone..."
Ugh..
Eating alone...
That's... quite a shame.
Leaving behind my disappointment at the heroes' reactions, I put the Gacha machine back into my inventory and took out a cauldron and the ramen.
"Then, I'll eat by myself. Oh, and would it be possible to get some of that water you gave me earlier?"
"Water? Alright. Where should I fill it? In... that cauldron?"
"Yes."
Merlin tilted the round, luxuriously decorated water bottle she had handed me earlier over the summoned cauldron.
Splosh, splosh, splosh.
??????
What is this?
It's not filling with water through magic, but water is being generated from the cup?
"Hey."
Caught off guard by the magical sight, I jumped at Merlin's soft call and answered.
"Yes?"
"Is this your first time seeing an artifact?"
"Ah~ So this is an artifact? Whoa~ No wonder the way the water just poured out seemed extraordinary..."
"..I'll show you other artifacts later."
"Oh my~ Thank you."
I expressed my gratitude for Merlin's promise to show me more artifacts later, then gathered dry twigs and leaves from the surroundings to pile under the cauldron to cook the ramen.
After picking up some stones to create a level stand so the twigs and leaves under the cauldron would catch fire well, I sought out Merlin to ask her the most important favor.
"Ah, Merlin."
"Yes?"
"Um... I'm sorry, but could you please light a fire here?"
"Ah~ I suppose so.. You need the water to boil to cook food. Alright. *Fire*."
Whoosh.
After Merlin lit the fire I requested, she was so curious about what I was doing that she came close to watch me.
I felt a bit pressured by Merlin's presence, but soon the water in the cauldron began to bubble, and the thought of eating ramen made me forget all about her.
Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble.
Thinking of ramen in my palm, six familiar packets labeled *Poo-Ramen* and wooden chopsticks for the number of people appeared before my eyes.
"Wow.. the foundation of ramen is definitely *Poo-Ramen*. The system knows what's up."
Rustle, rustle.
Crinkle, crinkle.
I tore open the packets and dumped all the ramen noodles into the cauldron.
It's not like there's a limit to how much I can eat anyway.. might as well boil it all.
Come to think of it, they all said they wouldn't eat, right?
..
....
I wonder...
In the middle of the night...
Will they be able to resist after smelling ramen boiled in the middle of the mountains?
After smelling this ramen, dare they?
Not even asking for one bite..
Ah, well, the point is they don't feel hunger..
And since they're heroes, superhuman patience is probably a default option, so maybe they really can resist...
But do I care?
As long as I eat it deliciously, that's all that matters.
I waited for the noodles and the soup to reach a perfect harmony.
..
...
Bubble, bubble.
"Sniff! Ooh~ yum!"
The spicy aroma whetted my appetite; the smell alone was a signal that the ramen was cooked to perfection.
Sniff, sniff.
Sniff, sniff.
The heroes around me began to sniff the air, following my lead.
I tried my best to ignore the heroes' gazes, snapped the wooden chopsticks perfectly in half, and reached toward the cauldron.
*Hoo-hoo-*
I picked up the noodles with the chopsticks, lifted them to eye level, blew on them twice, and brought them to my mouth.
Slurp, slurp, slurp!
Slurp, slurp, slurp!
Having eaten so much ramen in the military, I naturally mastered the art of *myeon-chigi* (slurping noodles), the most delicious way to eat it.
"Kyah! This is what ramen is all about!"
"..."
As I was praising my own cooking, I saw Merlin's golden eyes, filled with curiosity, staring intently at the ramen in the cauldron.
Ah, look at me and my absent-mindedness..
Leaving the benefactor who provided the water and fire to cook the ramen standing there like that!
Is this how someone born and raised in the Land of Eastern Courtesy should act!
When you receive help!
You must treat them!
"Hm? Ah~ I made a mistake. You helped me from the side, so of course I should have offered.. I'm sorry, Merlin. Would you like to have a bite of ramen?"
"..A.. bite?"
"Ah~ I was asking if you wanted to try a mouthful."
"..C, can I? I.. is this... ramen?"
"Ah, yes. It's one of the foods I enjoyed eating where I lived. It just so happened to come out of the Gacha."
Seeing that she didn't know what "a bite of ramen" meant, I figured she had never used chopsticks before, so I scooped up a mouthful from the cauldron and brought it to Merlin's mouth.
"Eh?"
"Ah~"
"Ah..ah?"
"It'll be hot, so blow on it twice before you eat."
*Hoo-hoo-*
*Slurp-*
Chew, chew.
..
I watched Merlin with a nervous heart, wondering if her taste buds might be different from mine, but she put the ramen in her mouth and looked at me, chewing and savoring the taste.
*Gulp-*
".... W, water! Give me water! Quickly!"
I spoke quietly to Merlin, who was fanning her tongue and looking for water, wondering how spicy she found it.
"You're holding the water bottle tightly in your hand..."
"..Ah."
Merlin, who gulped down the water from the bottle she was holding, opened her mouth wide and let out a breath.
She probably rarely eats spicy food.. I offered an apology to prevent any misunderstanding that I might have been trying to play a prank on her.
"It probably doesn't suit your palate.. I'm sorry."
"No.. it's spicy.. but the smell keeps making me want to eat more. By any chance.. can I have some too?"
Gotcha!
I knew it!
She fell for it!
This is the skill of Corporal Kim, who used to boil unforgettable ramen for his officers and juniors to warm their frozen bodies after night guard duty in the winter!
"W, well then, let me show you how to use the chopsticks..."
"No. Just give me those chopsticks. I'll get the hang of it soon."
After trying to hold the chopsticks a few times, Merlin seemed to think she would get used to them quickly and reached straight into the cauldron.
"Mmm~ It's spicy but delicious! You, you're good at cooking?"
"Ah~ Not really. I'll let you know if I get something else to eat later."
"Really? Okay. I'll look forward to it?"
"Yes. No, but as expected, a Great Mage is different. Using chopsticks isn't easy..."
"Nyahahahat. Why do you think I'm a Great Mage? Something like this is easy."
I was watching Merlin continue to praise herself with a faint, satisfied smile when a hand suddenly appeared in front of my face.
Following the hand, I turned my head and saw Lancelot.
And behind her, all the other heroes were gathered.
"...?"
"..."
"Give me some too."
"Young master. I request some as well."
"Hmm, could I ask for some as well?"
"I'll take some."
I knew this would happen, which is why I boiled all six packets of ramen.
No, more than that, I didn't expect even you to come, Lancelot? I remember you being the first one to return to your spot..
Why are you at the very front..?
Emphasizing that they should eat in moderation, I handed out chopsticks to the heroes and said.
"Ah, there isn't much, so please eat in moderation."
..
...
The heroes huddled around the cauldron and made a fuss while eating the ramen.
"..."
"It's spicy but delicious.."
"..I didn't know noodles could taste like this too.."
"Wait, monk! Why are you using your chopsticks more times than others?"
"Do you have proof!?"
"Monk! I swear to Buddha, not just me, but all the heroes here..! No, are you all just going to keep eating while I'm talking!"
"...If you're jealous, you should use your chopsticks more too. I'm busy, so don't talk to me."
"Grrr!"
Seeing the heroes becoming noisy in an instant over the ramen, I realized my share wouldn't be left, so I quietly stepped aside and, while watching the scene, took a canned beer out of my sub-space.
*Sssss-click!*
At the sound of the canned beer opening, the heroes stopped everything and focused on me.
*Gulp, gulp, gulp.*
"Kyah-!"
"Young master, what is that?"
"Ah, this? It's alcohol."
"A... al... alcohol!?"
"Look at her eyes light up at the word 'alcohol'."
Despite Cheonma's harsh criticism, the monk Judang approached me with eyes sparkling at the mention of alcohol, as if to prove her name was indeed 'Judang' (Alcohol Lover).
"Y...young... young master... by any chance... could this monk have a glass too?"
"Alcohol? Just a moment."
While I was taking the canned beer out of my sub-space, I heard the monk Judang muttering to herself while looking at her own hands.
"Al-al-alcohol... alcohol... how long has it been since I had alcohol..? Alcohol... my lifeblood, alcohol... *haak*.. *haa*... alcohol... to think I could drink alcohol here..."
If I say I'll give it to her and then don't, she might beat me to death with those giant prayer beads on her back..
When I handed the canned beer summoned from my sub-space to the monk Judang, she took it with both hands and began to tremble all over.
"...? A, are you okay?"
Looking down slightly, I could see the obsession with alcohol in the monk Judang's eyes.
"I, I'm fine... young master. Ah, by any chance, could I ask how to drink this?"
"Ah, you have to open it like this to drink it."
I held the monk Judang's hand with one hand and opened the can lid with the other.
*Sssss-click!*
*Whack-*
The monk Judang roughly shook off my hand, her gaze fixed solely on the canned beer.
"Alcohol... alcohol... sniff, sniff.. *haa*.. is this alcohol..?"
"Um... drink carefully.."
Perhaps she was already in a trance where my voice couldn't reach her, as the monk Judang stared at the canned beer for a moment before bringing it to her mouth.
*Gulp, gulp, gulp.*
"...!"
After taking a sip of the canned beer and putting it down, the monk Judang's eyes were unfocused.
She's drunk already?
This shouldn't be that high-proof of an alcohol, should it?
"Haaaaaaa... it's alcohol.. this is alcohol..."
"...!?"
The monk Judang staggered slightly and approached me step by step.
"Youuuung maaaaster.... alcohol... *hiccup!* Is there... moooore?"
..Is this what they call 'gap moe'?
I can't get used to this..?
"Ah... there isn't any right now..."
"Hing... is that... so..."
Her shoulders, wrapped in bandages, slumped down.
"I'll give you more alcohol if I find some later."
"Hehe.. that promise! You must keep it, youuuung maaaaster!"
I couldn't get used to the sight of the monk Judang rejoicing in an adorable tone at my words that I would give her alcohol.
I'll have to keep it a secret that I have plenty of alcohol left in my inventory.
If she finds out, she'll definitely beat me to death with those prayer beads...
No, why do the secrets I have to hide keep increasing as time goes on...
Sigh-
Hm..? Wait a second..
Then what about sleeping...?