About the Story I Dreamed Of (2)
"How's the room? Is it uncomfortable at all?"
"It's perfect...!"
Elia, who had been looking around the room where she'd be staying for the next few days, turned to face me and flashed a smile, giving me a thumbs-up.
"Phew, glad to hear it."
I'd been worried she might find it uncomfortable in a house where a guy had been living alone, left untouched for weeks. Her positive reaction put my mind at ease.
"Then I'll go check on a few other things, so make yourself comfortable and rest."
"U-Um, Mr. Karl?"
"Yes?"
Just as I was about to step out and handle some chores while she settled in, Elia called me back.
"Well, um..."
She fidgeted with her hands and eyes, then rummaged in her pocket and held something out to me.
"What's this?"
"The ring I promised you..."
What Elia offered was Goddess Adelia's Ring, the item I'd been diligently hunting down for that commission.
"I felt like I should give it to you."
"Ah."
She looked down like she'd committed a crime, her trembling hands clutching the ring.
"It's fine."
"No, this is something I have to give you..."
I knelt down, took her shaking hand, and placed the ring back in her palm.
"I failed to keep my promise to make you A-Class, so I can't accept it."
"That's... because of my mistake—"
"So, Elia."
She tried to hand it back once it returned to her hand, but...
"This belongs on you."
Instead, I slipped the ring onto her right ring finger.
There wasn't any special reason. I simply no longer needed it.
With the commission canceled, the ring was nothing more than useless jewelry to me now.
That's why I'd decided to give it to Elia.
"You're the one who needs this the most, after all."
For a mage, mana capacity was the most fundamental and essential element. It had to be one of the most crucial tools for Elia.
"Still... still... I..."
"I like seeing you with it better."
"Ugh..."
Staring at the ring on her finger, tears welled up in her eyes again, but she finally lowered her hand and accepted it.
"Aren't you hungry?"
"A little..."
I stood up and looked at her, forcing back her sniffles.
"I'll make dinner for you."
Next, I decided to cook something for Elia, who must have been starving after the long journey.
**
A little later.
'Whew.'
I let out a deep breath as I surveyed the ingredients chopped and ready on the cutting board.
Various vegetables, abalone, rice—all sorts of ingredients covered the table.
The thought of stir-frying, boiling, and battling through it all made the road ahead feel daunting.
"Not easy."
It was something I'd realized over and over since my past life: food was best bought and eaten out, not cooked at home.
"What are you doing, Mr. Karl?"
Just as I finished prepping and was about to start cooking, Elia wheeled herself out.
"Oh, making abalone porridge."
"Abalone porridge?"
Hearing the unfamiliar dish for the first time, she tilted her head and wheeled closer to the kitchen.
"Eek—! What's that?"
"This?"
Spotting the uncut abalone, which must have looked grotesque, she hid behind my arm and glared at it.
"It's abalone."
"Eek! Don't bring it close!"
A mischievous impulse struck, and I held the abalone out toward her. She flailed her hands and squeezed her eyes shut like she'd seen something she shouldn't.
"Haha, it might look weird, but it tastes great."
"Really?"
She cracked one eye open to scan the abalone.
People in this world really didn't eat much seafood, it seemed. Back home, we'd cook and eat all sorts of poisonous plants just to survive.
"Just wait at the table for a bit, and it'll be ready soon."
"Okaay~!"
Setting aside the chit-chat, I sent Elia to the table and got to work boiling the abalone porridge.
The porridge bubbled vigorously, foaming away.
'Easier than I thought.'
Things were going more smoothly than I'd imagined. I hadn't burned anything yet, and the seasoning was spot on.
"Hehe."
As the fragrant aroma spread from the kitchen, Elia started giggling happily.
"Something good happen?"
"It all feels like a dream."
I turned to look at the table where she sat, staring intently into the kitchen. She was definitely starving.
"Want me to pinch your cheek to check?"
"No—!"
She didn't even play along with my joke, so it had to be serious.
"Here, your porridge."
"Ooh..."
Sensing the urgency, I hurriedly finished up, ladled it into a bowl, and set it in front of Elia.
"It looks kinda like oatmeal!"
"Similar dish."
She examined the porridge curiously before picking up her spoon and taking a bite.
"Careful, it's hot."
"Fwoo—! Fwoo—!"
Her cheeks puffed out with air as she blew furiously on the porridge. It felt heartwarming, like watching a little cousin—though I never had one in my past life.
"How's the taste? Good?"
"Delicious!"
She beamed at my question and dug in eagerly, her slender frame belying her appetite.
'She likes it.'
Good call going with porridge instead of something else.
Scraaaape!
After watching her eat for a bit, I got up and headed to the kitchen. The sink was piled mountain-high with dishes.
"Huh? You're not eating?"
"Dishes first, then I'll eat."
"I could do those..."
Elia offered to wash them herself, but...
"Your thought is enough."
Her suggestion was promptly shot down by my stubbornness.
"Mm, umm..."
Still, something seemed to bother her, as she kept glancing my way while eating.
Good thing she didn't take after her vicious senior. If she were like Hans, she'd be whining nonstop.
Just then, as I scrubbed away...
Crash!
"Kyaa!"
A shattering glass sound from behind, followed by Elia's scream.
"You okay!?"
I whipped around to see the broken bowl on the floor and Elia frozen, hands raised in shock, speechless.
"I-It... um..."
"Any cuts?"
I rushed over, checking for shards or scalding porridge burns.
"Phew."
Thankfully, she'd finished eating, so aside from a few stains on her clothes, she seemed unharmed.
"I accidentally knocked it over..."
"No injuries, so it's fine."
She kept apologizing profusely while staring at the shards, trying to pick them up. I barely stopped her, quickly cleaned up, and took her back to her room.
"Uwaaa..."
Back in her room, she'd calmed down, showing no odd symptoms beyond embarrassment.
That said...
'Gotta suck out that stain.'
The spilled porridge had splattered, dirtying the clothes she was wearing.
"No other clothes?"
"Clothes? Oh."
Only then did she notice the stains, frantically trying to wipe them with a handkerchief.
"Ugh, this is my only outfit..."
The problem was she had nothing else to wear.
"For now, I'll lend you something. Take a bath first."
"U... Thank you."
So we settled on her borrowing my clothes until hers dried.
"Um, Mr. Karl?"
But then...
"Could you help me a bit?"
I'd forgotten her legs were still an issue.
'Right.'
With her condition, I'd have to assist with everything.
'Well...'
Good things stay good.
"Coming!"
Deciding to think about the details later, I headed to the bathroom where she was.
"Elia, I'm coming in."
"Yes! Come on in!"
After a few deep breaths at the door, I entered to find her seated in her wheelchair, wrapped in a towel.
"Hehe, I figured I couldn't manage alone."
Yeah, probably.
"Hold on, I'll help right away."
I approached, carefully lifted her from the wheelchair, and lowered her into the tub.
"Huh?"
Then...
The towel around her body wasn't secured properly and started coming loose.
"Kyaa! Close your eyes! Eyes! Close your eyes!"
Embarrassed, Elia splashed water to block my view.
"They're closed! Eyes closed!"