Paradise on Earth
"Is that your dad...?"
"Yeah, you know. You can just keep staying here."
After Monte Cardia said that, I started living in the Cardia family mansion.
It had been about five days now. Honestly, staying in someone else's house felt a little awkward, but I ended up stuck here for a while.
Because this place was undoubtedly paradise on earth.
"Little lady, this is my own invention. Cloud candy?"
I never imagined I'd get to eat cotton candy after falling into this other world. I carefully nibbled on the small puff, and it was so fluffy.
"Whoa..."
When I tore off a piece and popped it in my mouth, it melted away smooth and sweet. How on earth did cotton candy taste like chocolate? I had to stop before my belly pooched out, but... I couldn't.
What can you do when it's this delicious?
I was about to tear off another piece when I noticed Monte Cardia watching me with a pleased smile.
Good thing I let myself get convinced.
Truth be told, I didn't like freeloading in someone else's house. It was awkward, so I'd planned to slip out midway. But Monte Cardia's logic was too ironclad.
—Where would you even go if you leave now?
—I hate to say it, but... your magic talent's gonna get out no matter what, and the Collodics won't leave you alone.
I didn't know much, but going back to the Collodics? Hard pass, absolutely.
And his next words were a real shock.
—Besides, a kid your size? I could handle hundreds of thousands easy.
Monte, pulling out a whopping ten thousand rirus with a grin, was the picture of filthy rich. No wonder people say money's the best.
Experiencing it firsthand felt different. Dishes kept coming no matter how much I ate. And I didn't have to do the dishes.
This was cooler than magic.
"Here, have some."
In gratitude to Monte for all this, I tore off a twelfth of my cloud candy and offered it to him. The soft, fluffy puff landed in front of him on my tiny hand.
"...Now I get why people have kids."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Thanks?"
Monte wore an expression like he'd unlocked the mysteries of the universe, then muttered something weird. Do all nobles talk like that?
I decided not to worry about it. I toddled back to my seat, plopped down, and kept eating the cloud candy. It was so sweet my cheeks nearly floated to heaven.
"Umhuhu... The best in Cardia is undoubtedly me..."
"Little miss. Want to try this too?"
As I savored the cloud candy, someone else butted in. It was another kitchen uncle. I opened my mouth to greet him, but it just hung open.
Thud!
What the heck was this size? One layer, two, three... whoaaa. A pancake almost as big as my whole body, slathered in whipped cream and fresh cream, made its entrance.
The uncle's forearm bulged with veins from the sheer weight of that massive pancake.
Another cook stared at its immense mass, veins popping in his neck.
"N-No! Bringing something that vulgarly huge cheapens the competition!!"
"Our little miss is at that growing age. What good's a puny cloud pastry? Dear me."
Why did these two fight the second their eyes met? I glanced nervously between the Cardia kitchen staff, then pulled out a knife toward the giant, squishy-looking pancake.
I cleared my throat a bit so everyone could hear and said,
"Let's all eat together. It's tastier that way."
I didn't want to eat alone. The days of sitting cold and lonely in that room, picking at hard bread and watery soup? I never wanted that again.
I grunted and sliced the monstrous pancake, passing pieces to everyone. Short legs made it a hassle transporting it on plates, but I powered through with grit.
Climbing onto a chair, slicing diligently, plating it up, handing it out. Every time, my stubby legs meant I had to plop down once more, kick my feet till they touched, then safely hop to the floor.
The Cardia chairs were way too big and tall.
Anyway, after all that effort, I successfully distributed pancake to the eight or so people in the room. I wiped the sweat beading on my forehead with my sleeve and looked around.
"......Yeah, this is why people have kids."
"Baby angel... Baby archangel..."
"Sniff, waaah..."
From top to bottom: Monte Cardia and the two head cooks' reactions.
What's with them?
I ignored their dazed faces and eyed my own plate. An indecently huge, luscious pancake welcomed me.
I couldn't hold back anymore. Fork and knife sliced a big chunk, and I shoved it into my mouth. My small mouth kept it at the edges for a while before it all fit.
"Haum."
The pancake I'd delivered myself was fluffy with perfect texture. The last one was honestly tough and heavy, but this was insanely delicious and soft.
My hands went to my cheeks on instinct. I savored it, chewing away. The classy batter filling my cheeks felt divine.
I munched contentedly for a good while.
"So good. This is really good."
"Nngh... Have to admit it, even if it's the enemy."
"Everyone eating so happily... I don't know where to put myself."
They all ate with blissful, drooling expressions. Seeing them happy made me happy too.
When was the last time we shared food like this? I couldn't even remember.
I soaked in the joy and finished snack time.
"Thanks for the meal."
True to my Korean roots, I didn't forget the post-meal thanks. The cooks' shoulders lifted a good ten centimeters.
I hopped down from the chair and headed out, but for some reason, my head got bombarded with petting requests after that.
"Nuuu... Uu!"
I barely shook off the hands ruffling my hair and made for the door. Still a bit hungry, but it was time for my next task.
Monte Cardia sidled up beside me.
"Ready?"
And so, I headed to the quietest, most peaceful spot in the mansion.
"So, where'd we leave off yesterday?"
I was learning magic in the room Monte Cardia had set up just for me. More accurately, he called it researching me.
"We learned pushing."
I sat on the little chair made for me and stretched my hand toward Monte.
Light poured from my palm, and countless mana particles burst out like wind.
"Oh, right. You're ten times faster than normal, so I keep forgetting."
Monte went to the blackboard set up for me. He cleared his throat and began the lesson, drawing on the board.
He said he preferred pictures over equations.
He drew a big circle and a large triangle.
"Magic's built on basics: pushing and pulling."
He erased the circle bit by bit, closing it in with the triangle until it hit the sharp tip and burst.
"Depending on which particles you push or pull, you get defense or offense matchups."
Mana changes shape and size by the user's will, he said. Monte drew countless small circles.
"If you want to protect someone, cast with that intent."
The circles packed tight like a honeycomb without overlapping. He wrote "Barrier" below.
"A 2nd Circle spell, foundation of all defenses."
Likewise, he packed sharp triangles like arrows.
"Foundation of all attacks. Arrow."
I learned two 2nd Circle spells. I nodded, raising both hands.
Protect...
The pitch-black children who'd naturally shielded me came to mind. Pure hearts—the good kids I had to protect.
A red film formed on one hand. Monte stared, chuckling in disbelief.
He reached for a candy to give me, but his eyes widened.
And... revenge.
Because my other hand began forming another spell.
Rage at the Collodics. At all the families who'd abandoned me and the other kids.
The wish for payback condensed and sharpened into a massive spear.
"The more I see, the less sense it makes. Academy kids don't handle two at once till third year."
Monte sounded half-mad with shock. I glared at the spear in fury for a moment, then bitterly dispersed the spells.
Monte handed me the candy.
"Genius like you don't even need chants."
Chants aid casting spells. He plopped beside me, beaming like a clapping seal.
"No incantation begging mana for help either."
Incantations input commands to mana. They let you borrow ambient or subconscious mana for stronger spells.
"Kinda jealous, but awesome! You're incredible!"
All the praise embarrassed me, so I unwrapped and ate the candy. Still, hearing compliments felt nice. Collodics never gave me any.
Perfectly in sync with Riru...
I calmed my excitement and focused on the lesson. Monte meticulously noted my mana. Four days in, and he already had three notebooks stacked.
His childlike glee while recording made me happy too.
Wanna show off a bit.
I itched to tease Monte—show something huge and see his reaction. He took it so well.
But I held back. If I was doing it, it'd be something amazing.
He feeds me every day; wanna surprise him back.
I pondered the ultimate student surprise. Then a good idea hit.
He seems close to Rudmila. Maybe make her face with magic?
Unlike my past life without a big sis, Monte had one. Conjuring a magic Rudmila for him would thrill him.
Of course, I learned later: never do that to siblings. You might not survive the killing intent.
That was... for another time.
Can I draw with mana particles?
I finished class thinking that. Planned to practice secretly in the garden—no one there.
Chomping rottenly sweet candy, two days passed.
Munching a cream puff alone in the garden, lost in magic practice. Rudmila's face was getting easier to sketch.
Still rough and tricky, but progress was surprisingly quick.
"Her jaw's more angular."
I was deep in it—time flew. So fun.
One more, then library.
I spread mana in the air, unconsciously shaping trees, weird snowflake patterns.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over me.
"??"
I looked up at the person in front of me. Up, up, uuuup.
What was this? No matter how high, endless height. Taller than Rudmila... What the heck?
I stepped back and finally met her eyes.
Purple eyes, soft brown hair with a gentle aura. Middle-aged woman in a decorated uniform.
But her insane charisma overshadowed it all. My hands clasped on instinct.
"...Who are you?"
I hesitated, then asked the giant before me. She paused, then spoke in a voice that made me tremble just hearing it.
"Matriarch of the Cardia family, Yurshil Cardia."
She bowed low, crouching her long legs—still two heads taller than me. We locked eyes in silence for a long moment.
"......"
Then she sighed deeply, straightening up with a mutter.
"Having a cute daughter like this would be amazing... Sigh."
Her quiet voice barely reached me. She bent down again, offering her pinky.
I hesitated, then took it, seeing her kind expression.
"How'd our cute little miss end up here? Hmm?"
I puzzled over how to explain. Freeloading after getting kicked out? As I wrinkled up,
Someone came running from afar. Un-noble-like posture, frivolous sprint.
"Waaah! You two already met!? Where's that idiot Rudmila?!"
And a booming voice. Yurshil watched her son charge over, her face turning cold—or terrified?
Because.
"Is that... your dad?"
Like Rudmila, she seemed to be kicking off a massive misunderstanding.