Chirp Chirp Chirp~ Bug Breakfast and Shocking News
"Groooaaan~!! Haaah...."
Bathed in the warm morning sunlight, I woke up feeling absolutely fantastic. God, it's been forever since I had a morning this refreshing. My body's in top shape, sure, but with all my worries lifted and my head clear as day, sleep hits like a dream and I snap awake feeling amazing.
"Fuck, though... ain't shit to do."
Normally, I'd be prepping breakfast by now, then heading to the guild with Giena. Light morning workout there, back home for chow, clean the place, prep lunch.
"Wait a sec... this is straight-up full-time housewife vibes?"
Waiting at home for the wives to roll in, handling all the domestic shit. Kinda nice, actually.
"Might as well grab a quick shower."
I rolled out of bed and headed for the bathroom when—clunk. The door creaked open slowly. There stood the holy knight from yesterday, eyeing my awkward stance with a blank look.
"I've come to escort you, so I'll see you out."
"Ah, roger that."
I pivoted hard from the bathroom door. We walked the now-familiar temple corridors together. Floor by floor, she led me to the entrance.
Waiting there was Siron, looking all downcast and worried as she stared at me.
"You're free to go."
"Ah, thanks a ton."
I bowed to the holy knight, then hurried over to Siron, who was still eyeing me.
"Siron, babe. Why the long face again?"
Last time I crashed at the temple, she was moping hard too. To show her I was fine, I playfully scooped her waist in a hug.
"Siron?"
"......"
But instead of melting into me like usual, Siron just pursed her lips like a kid who'd fucked up big time, dodging my gaze.
I stared at her profile—she nestled in my arms but kept her face turned away—then gently set her down.
"What the hell? What's up?"
"......Nah, it's... you eat yet?"
She snuck peeks at me sideways.
Weirdly, post-temple treatment left me not super hungry, but I always make sure to grab breakfast anyway, so I shook my head.
"Nah, not yet."
"Then... let's head home first."
"......? Sure."
I followed Siron to Kernax's place up on North Street. She stayed dead silent the whole way.
"Welcome back. We were so worried."
"Ah, Giena...?"
I started to greet her warmly—she was waiting right at the front door—but then tilted my head.
"That bruise on your face...?"
"I insisted on staying by your side, and their high priestess or whatever punched me."
Giena said it flatly, sporting a nasty blue shiner over her left eye.
"Didn't expect a priest—not even a knight—to pack such a fast, hard punch."
She shook her head, half-impressed, half-lamenting.
"Anyway, you can still make the bows, right?"
"Ah... yeah. No problem."
"Phew~ Thank goodness."
Her genuine relief made me burst out laughing. Classic one-track elf. That's why I dig her.
"Kitchen first. I whipped up something simple."
"Ooh, you made this, Giena?"
"Been on my own a bit long, picked up a few tricks."
Elf cooking? Hell yeah. I headed to the kitchen with her and Siron, low-key hyped.
Then I froze at the table: a feast of green.
"Uh... Giena?"
"Yes?"
I glanced at Siron for backup on how to say this, but she just sat there, face still gloomy, no help.
I swallowed hard and forced an awkward grin.
"Ah, nyo—er, nothing. Haha!"
"Sit down quick. Best when fresh for max effect."
"Fresh......"
Plates of various greens topped with wriggling mini-caterpillars. I freaked internally.
'Fresh has limits, lady.'
But those sparkling innocent eyes? Couldn't say it. I plopped down at the table.
Giena set a fork in front of me.
"Picked 'em fresh at dawn myself."
Wriggle wriggle. A thumb-sized white grub thrashed in her grip.
"Each one's a stamina powerhouse. Perfect for energy boosts."
"......Stamina?"
"Yep. Warriors dashing through vast forests need it. Got lucky spotting these."
She shook the grub with a smile. I eyed it. What was gross a sec ago now looked... cute? Gray sauce over green leaves? Kinda appetizing.
Screw it—ain't about taste. It's for stamina. I grabbed the fork and stabbed the squirming white thing.
Squiiiish—!!
A chilling sensation shot up my arm! And that baby animal squeal? Goosebumps everywhere.
I stared at the impaled grub, oozing blue goo. Appetite? Tanked.
Do I gotta shove this in for my unruly dick? Sadly, yeah.
Eyes squeezed shut, I popped it in my mouth. Wanted to swallow whole, but it was huge, so I chewed—and pop! Splurt! Juices exploded.
"......?"
"Tastier than expected, right?"
"......Whoa?"
Texture sucked ass, but the flavor? Shockingly good. Like... super unexpected soda? Chewy soda jelly vibes.
"Try these too."
"Eek...?"
Giena added more to the table. I recoiled.
Fist-sized bug fry like a turtle. Steamed snake-lookin' thing. Purple stew of unknown origins. Looked like nightmare fuel.
"All super healthy."
"......Gulp."
Hellspawn aesthetics, but... the grub was a win. These might be too. Plus, health benefits.
Eyes shut, I reached for the bug fry. Icky texture. Shoved it in anyway.
Crunch—the shell shattered satisfyingly.
"......Ooh. Shrimp crackers."
Expected it packed, but hollow inside. Straight shrimp snack flavor. Conclusion: tasty. I demolished them.
"Glad you're enjoying. Made 'em happy. Oh, this has bones—peel like so... here."
Giena kindly deboned some snake-thing for my plate. I chowed down, no hesitation.
"Ohhh yeah."
Melted like cotton candy. And delicious. Reminded me of flower sirloin I scarfed ages ago.
Last up: bubbling purple stew. Looked foul, but now I was curious.
Spoon in—sssss. Smoke, and the spoon head vanished.
"Hiiik?!"
What the fuck?! I glared at the stew-melting spoon and Giena for answers.
"Sip straight from the bowl. Spoon melts otherwise. Fresh one coming."
She calmly swapped it out. Now I saw: wooden pot, not my iron one.
"Down it in one go."
"......This safe?"
"Of course. You have no idea how freaked I was hearing you collapsed. Won't let it happen again—I'll back you up. Chug."
That vibe screamed "eat or else," so I gripped the bowl.
Fuck it. Worst case, nasty—but deadly? Nah. I dumped the bubbling purple mess in my mouth.
"Urk...."
"Bitter, but swallow it all."
Bitter as hell. Tongue-curling bitter.
"Urk......"
"Good job."
She patted me like a kid and took the empty bowl. I fought the reflux, forcing it down to my gut.
"Sit and digest an hour—head upstairs and rest more."
"...Yeah."
I obeyed. Siron, who'd been glued to my side, stood too. Her gloomy face since morning bugged me, but I zipped it and headed to the bedroom.
I sat on the bed. Normally she'd plop beside me or pillow my lap, but she just stood there, peeking nervously.
Couldn't take it. "Siron, babe. What's with the mopey shit since morning? Not like you."
"......I ain't... "
"Gonna stand there all day?"
"......"
Arms wide open, but she just eyed me, no hug. Brutal hit.
"......Your love for me cooled off?"
"What the fuck, you moron!!"
Her yell, full of fire, eased me. Still got it.
Arms out: "Then why no hug?"
"Th-that's... fuck!!"
She ruffled her pretty red hair in frustration, then finally met my eyes.
"Not hugging?"
"Ah... shit!! Shut up a sec!"
"......Kay."
"...Haa. For real......"
I drooped my arms; she scratched her head furiously, then dove into my chest.
Face beet-red, I scooped her ass, sat her princess-style between my thighs. She grimaced but didn't fight.
Rubbed my cheek on her hair. "So, what's the deal?"
"......"
She peeked up. Too cute—wanted to nibble her cheek—but vibe was off, so I waited.
"Haa...."
She sighed.
"......You dumbass."
"Yeah?"
"Wh-what I say next... don't freak."
"The hell?"
Her dead-serious vibe made me stop nuzzling and stare.
She held my gaze. "......You were out cold for three days."
"Whoa... three?"
"Yeah. Three."
"Damn, out forever."
Figured half a day like last time. Big miss.
Three days? Holy shit.
"Three days?!"
"......"
She flinched, then nodded faintly.
"Th-then Kernax?"
"Left... yesterday."
"Oh."
My head spun for the first time in ages.