Chapter 230
Chapter 230
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 230
Chapter Title: Those Who Departed, Those Who Returned (5)
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“It's a celebration cake.”
「Theo. Cake? Celebrate?」
“Yeah. Celebration cake. People eat cake when they want to celebrate something.”
「Theo. Us. Celebrate?」
“Yeah.”
I pulled out a single match, struck it, and stuck the lit matchstick right into the center of the cake. It would be nice if I had cute candles like back in my old world, but for now, a matchstick would have to do.
“On birthdays or when something good happens, we celebrate together like this and eat cake.”
「Wow……」
The flame from the matchstick reflected in Legion's clear eyes, sparkling brightly.
“It's to celebrate that we made it back safely.”
「Theo! Celebrate!」
“Yeah. Celebrate.”
I carefully lifted Legion up to bring its eyes level with the match flame.
“Alright, now blow on it—huff.”
「Huff?」
“Huff.”
「Huff!」
-Whoosh!!!
Legion's “huff” was nothing like mine. Right, this guy's a dragon. The intense black flame shot out perilously close to the cake, so I hurriedly pulled Legion away.
“Not like that—gently. Like blowing a breeze.”
「あha!」
“Again—huff.”
「Hooo.」
This time, it worked perfectly. A gentle breeze puffed out, extinguishing the flame on the matchstick just before it fell over. A thin trail of smoke rose up.
“Good job, Legion.”
I stroked its head, then set it back on the table and pulled the charred matchstick out of the cake.
“Alright, shall we eat?”
「Theo. Me. Wanna eat. Me. Hungry. Me.」
Legion started wagging its tail and whining. I cut the cake into quarters, transferred a piece onto a small plate, and placed it in front of Legion. Bread, cream, banana, cream, bread, cream, banana, cream again. The cross-section looked perfectly packed—pretty impressive. This has gotta taste good.
“Eat up, Legion.”
「Nom. Chomp. Nom. Nom. Chomp.」
Legion flicked out its pink tongue and started devouring the cake. I was a bit worried since it was my first cake, but it seemed fine. I watched contentedly, then transferred a piece to my own plate.
“Let's eat.”
Between the nicely browned bread layers, generous cream and sweet bananas were stacked high. Just looking at it made my mouth water. Who knew I had a talent for baking? I scooped up a bite with my fork.
“Whew……”
Delicious. So delicious. The nutty buttery bread, smooth vanilla cream, and perfectly ripe bananas oozing with sweet honey— the harmony was perfection. It was light and satisfying, not heavy at all.
「Theo. Theo.」
Legion's call made me set down my fork and look at it. Wait, it finished a whole piece while I took one bite? Must've been starving.
“Got it, Legion. Hold on a sec……”
「Theo! Theo!」
“You'll choke. Drink some milk first.”
I poured some milk first, then added another piece to its plate. Legion gulped it down noisily, then scrambled back onto the plate and opened its mouth wide for more cake.
“Wait, Legion.”
「Eeng?」
“Let's wipe your mouth first.”
Cream smeared Legion's mouth, making a total mess. I pulled out its dedicated handkerchief, gently wiped around its mouth, then slid the plate back. It'd get messy again after eating, but……
‘Is this what being a parent feels like……’
「Nom. Chomp. Chomp. Nom.」
Legion dove back in and demolished the cake. How could such a tiny mouth eat so fast? Every blink, the cake shrank—poof, poof.
In the end, Legion ate three pieces while I finished one. Not a speck of cream left!
「……」
It licked the plate clean, then stared at me—or rather, my cake.
“……”
「……」
“……W-Wanna finish it?”
「Theo. Wanna eat. Me.」
“Y-Yeah……”
「Theo. Good. Theo.」
“Thanks……. Eat up.”
I pushed my half-eaten plate toward Legion. It immediately started nom-chomp-chomping away again.
“……That good, huh?”
「Theo. Yeah.」
Yeah, watching you eat filled me up too. Must be a parent thing. I gently stroked Legion's head as it face-planted into the cake. It purred happily in its unique rumbling way while scarfing it down.
「Theo. Yaaawn.」
“All done?”
After polishing off my plate too, Legion let out a big yawn, pushed the plate aside, and waddled toward me. Aww, belly full, now sleepy? I wiped the cream from its mouth again with the handkerchief, then carefully picked it up.
“Time for bed?”
「Theo. Yeah. Wanna sleep. Me. Yaaawn……」
I tucked the curled-up Legion back into my inner pocket and cleared the plates. After cleaning the kitchen, I headed to my room……
‘……Eh, no mood to check skills now.’
Of course. Bath made me languid, sweets brought on that food coma drowsiness. Plus, Pippy, Isla, Blacky—even Legion—were all snoring away……
“Yaaawn……”
How could I not be sleepy? I stretched and headed to bed. Sure, with my items, I don't need sleep, but……
‘That refreshed feeling after a good night's rest? Can't give that up.’
That lazy, languid yet invigorated sensation. Not sleeping's fine, but it's different. I laid Legion by the pillow, got into bed, and closed my eyes. Soon, Legion climbed onto the pillow, rustled around finding a spot, pressed its face to my cheek, and started snoring softly.
‘……Finally feels like rest.’
Feeling an inexplicable warmth, I drifted off.
* * *
-Peep!
「Theo! Theo!」
Sun barely up, and Pippy and Legion were going nuts, scampering all over the bed. I groaned like a dad on weekend morning and opened my eyes. Only then did they stop jumping on me and hopped onto the pillow.
“Why are you two like this first thing……”
I rolled over, buried my face in the pillow, and mumbled. Then Pippy jumped on my head and pecked away. Legion went further, grabbing my earlobe and tugging—ow! Fine, fine, I'm up! I shook my head and sat up.
-Peep peep!
「Theo! Theo! Theo!」
Now Pippy flew circles over my head, Legion bounced between my shoulders—total racket. Ah, this is like cousins at grandma's during holidays. Exactly. I scratched my neck and grabbed my clothes.
-Peep peep!
「Theo! Hungry! Us!」
“Yeah, yeah……”
Knew it. Yaaawn…… I yawned hugely, opened the door, and stepped out.
“……!”
Whoa—an insanely, insanely delicious smell hit me right away! Coming from the kitchen downstairs, assaulting my nose.
-Grrrumble……
「Theo! Smell! Amazing! Amazing!」
“Y-Yeah. It really is amazing.”
What could it be? Grilling meat? The savory, salty, oily aroma made my stomach clench with hunger. Wait, I ate a huge dinner last night, plus cake before bed…… Saliva's pooling anyway.
-Bang!
Then the door across opened roughly. It was El, nose up, sniffing blindly—eyes half-shut. Wait, woken by breakfast smell? Impressive willpower.
“……Hah! Master!”
El, savoring the appetizing aroma from downstairs, finally noticed me and jolted back. He looked freshly woken, messy hair and all—embarrassed, he covered his face and sputtered.
“J-Just overslept! Woke up like two seconds ago!”
“It's fine, it's fine. I just woke up too.”
“Ah, ah, I see……”
“Smells amazing, right? The kids are rioting since dawn……”
I pointed to Legion and Pippy on my shoulder. El got it, giggled, and nodded.
“Well, Legion didn't eat dinner last night, huh?”
“Nah, not quite. I made cake for it late last night.”
“C-Cake?!”
“Yeah.”
El gawked at me and Legion alternately, then pouted with furrowed brows.
“……N-No fair! Why only Legion!”
“Huh?”
“I like cake too……”
Wait! He's seriously sulking—that classic El pout……!
“No, Legion was starving last night and we had nothing, so…… It wasn't that great anyway……”
「Theo. Delicious! Super! Delicious!」
“Ah……”
「Delicious! Cake! Delicious! Celebrate!」
Legion taunted El with a little song, tail wagging. El bit his lip and glared.
“Calm down. Calm down. We can make more cake.”
“But!”
「Yay! Cake! Theo! Cake! Whee!」
“Let's head down for breakfast first. Something amazing's waiting.”
I patted El's shoulder and headed downstairs. Door opened behind—Lloyd this time.
“Oh, perfect timing. Let's go eat.”
“Sure.”
Phew, Lloyd to the rescue. We went down together. Callisto was already at our usual table—clean, so hadn't eaten yet.
“Peaceful night, Sir Theodor?”
This guy, so polite even in the morning…… I smiled awkwardly and nodded. Still not used to it.
“Good morning, Cal.”
We sat like yesterday. Sizzle. Tsss! Noisy sounds from the kitchen—innkeeper poked his head out.
“Breakfast ready?!”