Chapter 116. Cafe (3)
[Poo......]
I turned at the strange sound and saw Aqua puffing out her cheeks, staring at me. Her face mixed sulkiness, hurt feelings, and a hint of longing.
She must have gotten jealous because I only petted Terra's head.
"Here, Aqua too."
I reached out and stroked Aqua's head as well. Smooth, springy texture wrapped around my fingers, like touching seaweed underwater.
[Hee hee hee!]
Aqua giggled, shrinking her neck as my touch tickled her.
Watching her enjoy it brought back memories from just last month.
'Aqua used to hate anyone touching her head.'
It was because of her dignity as the Water Spirit King's successor.
Respecting her wishes, I'd avoided touching her head as much as possible.
'I'd only pet her occasionally when no one was watching, or in front of my parents......'
Now, Aqua was the one demanding my hand first.
'Does that mean she likes me even more now?'
I didn't hide the smile bubbling up.
Terra was the same.
[Chit?]
Mandu tilted his head at us once, then quickly gobbled down the cake in big bites.
Petting time over, we dove into coffee and snacks for real.
[Slurp-]
Terra took a big sip of coffee. No danger of a dirt spirit getting burned by hot liquid.
Gulp. She swallowed, closed her eyes, and savored it with a serene expression.
[Water boiled from heated fruit beans. Mm. Grown in good soil.]
Like Aqua discerning origins from drinks or veggies, coffee beans grew in soil too—so Terra could see their history.
[Mm......]
Terra smiled, lingering on the aftertaste.
"Tasty?"
She slowly opened her eyes at my question.
[Feels like warm sunlight and careful hands. Heard most Earth soil is polluted, but this one's delicious soil.]
I asked about taste, got soil talk instead. But gnomes—earth spirits—were like that by nature.
'When gnomes first come to the human world, they usually eat dirt.'
Earth spirits had an especially strong attachment to soil and land.
[Slurp-]
Terra sipped again. Watching her hold the warm mug and savor made me think:
'Terra might like tea.'
She had that vibe—traditional tea over coffee, temple over church.
While I mused, she took a few more sips.
[The aroma is wonderful.]
I sipped my Americano too. Bitter, a bit sour, filling my mouth.
'Still not sure what this tastes like.'
But college students buried in studies and assignments inevitably got hooked.
Terra set down her mug, picked up a fork. She held the plate to her mouth, scooped cake like sweeping it in.
[Nom.]
Her tiny mouth barely fit a third of a third of the cake piece—stuffed full.
She chewed slowly, set the plate down. Chocolate smeared on her mouth and cheeks—adorable.
Gulp. Swallowing, she pursed her lips round.
[Oh. Sweet.]
"Try a sip of Americano with it."
She did. Her eyes widened big.
[Ooh!]
Sweet-bitter harmony. No slouch against sweet-salty—pure sweet-bitter bliss.
Terra grabbed the cake plate again. Her fork hand moved faster now.
'Different fun from Aqua or Mandu.'
Aqua only ate moisture; Mandu loved everything. Stoic usually, but Terra's clear reactions to good food? Pure joy.
'Is this why grandmas always feed grandkids?'
Mandu finished one cake slice, onto the next. Aqua nearly emptied her iced chocolate already.
"Heh heh heh......"
Just sipping Americano, my belly felt full. But a hunger gnawed too—a desire to feed them more delicious things.
'Maybe pull that out after so long.'
I opened the Spirit Shop.
[Ooh! What're you buying!]
The spirits watched curiously.
[Chur?]
Terra's eyes widened a bit.
[Ooooh!]
Aqua and Mandu lit up too.
[Chur after so long!]
[Chit!]
Chur was spirit tree sap, but rare even in the Spirit Realm. Spirits revered the trees—no harvesting sap by wounding them.
I bought three.
But a problem: I had two hands.
'How to feed three?'
While I pondered, Terra snatched one pack.
[Spirit tree sap.]
She sniffed through the plastic, nodded.
[Spirit Shop has this too.]
Then popped it in her mouth.
"Ah."
Too late to stop her. Chur's plastic made it tricky.
[Hm?]
As expected, she pulled it out.
[What's this?]
"Packaged in plastic. Give it here, I'll open it."
[It's fine.]
She folded it in half, rolled tight, shoved it in. Then—pop!
'Burst the chur.'
Gnomes loved hard nuts. Tough earth spirit mouth could crush rock—plastic was nothing.
[Mm.]
Her eyes crinkled softly. Savoring the flavor flooding her mouth.
Terra was independent—did everything herself. Admirable, but a tad disappointing.
[Me too!]
[Chit!]
"Got it. Hold on."
I tore the other two, held one per hand.
Like waiting, Aqua and Mandu lunged.
[Nom!]
[Chit!]
They slurped eagerly. Spirits' texture on both hands, satisfying pull—my face muscles went numb, out of control.
Midday outdoor cafe, passersby stared curiously. Some recognized me.
"That's the guy from the water park ad!"
"The spirit user model."
"Isn't that the Spirit King contractor?"
After autographs, spirits dematerialized. Still, I was that famous.
Then—
"There he is!"
Reporters—fleeing security youth squad?—rushed me.
Bodyguards slyly formed a barricade.
Watching, I wondered if I was troubling folks unnecessarily.
'Interviews aren't hard. Just share some info.'
I glanced at the spirits. Aqua, Terra, Mandu—chur gone—eyed me: what now?
I grinned. "Shall we run?"
Aqua widened eyes, covered mouth, giggled softly.
[Hee hee hee! Let's!]
Mandu flapped wings to my shoulder.
Aqua stretched arms for a hug.
Seeing, Terra did too.
I scooped one per arm.
"Ready?"
[Let's go!]
[Go.]
[Chit!]
We moved. Barricaded reporters groaned in regret.
Hearing, I burst laughing too.
"Hahaha!"
[Hee hee hee!]
No big reason to dodge reporters. Just—this escape with spirits was pure fun.
Back at the guesthouse, I helped Mom and Dad with chores.
Checking phone: vacation had just three weeks left.
'Three weeks...... What to do before it ends.'
First: promotional ambassador ceremony.
Use Phoenix Resort restaurant vouchers from Jeong Ri-on.
'Take parents once.'
Spirit Shop quests too. One to sate Terra's thirst for knowledge—library trip. Books galore would thrill her.
'Plus, find new digs.'
Three billion from resort ad. Ditch dorms for new place.
Kazami Akira: check at Academy. Professors there for better intel.
Musing while sweeping yard, spotted Terra crouched in corner.
Watching something.
"Something fun?"
Crouching beside: ant line carrying crumbs single-file.
Ants fascinating her? Then she reached, snatched a crumb.
Popped it in mouth.
[Nom.]
I yelped, grabbed her hand. Too late—gone.
"Terra. That's dirty, dirty."
[Dirty?]
Her unexpected move slipped baby-talk out.
"I mean...... Don't eat stuff off the ground."
[Why not?]
"Well......"
Dirty. But words stuck.
'Say dirt's dirty to an earth spirit?'
Earth spirits ate soil daily. Natural as humans eating or Aqua drinking.
"......"
[Why not?]
Her "why" left me speechless.
"......Nothing."
She tilted head once, resumed picking crumbs.
"......"
Guilt-tinged unease silenced me.
Then—smack!
"You rascal! Stop her eating off the ground—don't just watch!"
Mom's back-smack special.
I writhed in pain. Awakeners toughened bodies, not pain tolerance.
Beach-life Mom's hands stung fierce.
"Terra, come. Granny's got fresh snacks."
[Okay.]
Terra took Mom's hand to kitchen.
Pain fading, I trailed.
"Mom. Snacks for me too."
"You eat dirt then!"
[Dirt's tasty though......]
Terra's sincere mutter.