Even though my heart was troubled, I had to prepare for the housewarming party.
No matter how complicated my feelings were, I couldn’t just dig a tunnel and procrastinate on what I needed to do.
I trudged out of the study.
‘…It’s spacious.’
The kitchen of this grand mansion? It was more fitting to call it a cooking room.
This was no average small cooking area.
This was the largest, best-equipped kitchen I had ever seen.
How much would this room be worth in cash? The thought of that price terrified me.
‘The condition is… it could be used right away.’
I meticulously examined it using observation magic, but there wasn’t a flaw in sight.
‘What’s this? For cooking steak? A broiler that cooks the top side quickly?’
There were many unique cooking tools that I had never seen before. I quickly figured out how to use them by observing their internal structure and spells.
The cleanliness was perfect, and the tools were even more varied and high-quality than what I had brought.
Most facilities in this mansion were like that.
From what I gathered, there hadn’t been a resident here for decades, yet everything was more than up-to-date and high-end. The condition and cleanliness were excellent.
‘…Sigh.’
After a brief survey and tidying up, I set the kitchen up for cooking.
– Chop chop chop chop!
With a rhythmic sound, vegetables and meat were chopped in chunks.
I wasn’t holding a knife.
As always, thanks to one of life’s best choices, the feathers of Heaven took over.
The sharpened feathers of Heaven trimmed the ingredients, while another set neatly placed the cut materials into cooking tools.
Trimming and organizing both the cooking tools and ingredients was also done by the feathers of Heaven.
Such a scene was unfolding in this spacious kitchen, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Through countless simultaneous tasks, the food was quickly prepared, enchanted with simple preservation magic, before the feathers of Heaven gently transferred it to the dining table.
One by one, plates and bowls found their places on the table.
The types of food emanating warm steam seemed to be diverse.
Taste is a world where preferences can starkly differ. I broadly knew the tastes of this housewarming participants, but just in case, I made a variety.
‘Above all, everyone eats a lot.’
Superhuman bodies require a significant amount of energy. Since their physical capabilities were different, the calories they consumed were vastly dissimilar.
To meet such energy needs, one must eat a lot.
‘The guests for the housewarming… my teacher, Professor Liana, Baek Ahrin, and… Senior Ji-yeon.’
There were 8 participants total, including me. Among them, 6 were high-level superhumans, and one was a fairy knight in the prime of growth. I was a hybrid, caught between human and fairy.
No matter how much I prepared, it might still not be enough.
Even the relatively inactive Professor Eliana Liana would easily consume several servings.
The physically active folks… Hong Yeon-hwa, my teacher, Baek Ahrin, and Ji-yeon would eat even more.
Now I understood why these superhumans had such impressive physiques — their appetites didn’t lie.
Without those massive appetites, they likely couldn’t maintain their well-toned figures or sizable bodies at all.
Thus, for this housewarming feast, I needed to prepare an even larger quantity.
To assist my two hands, I summoned the feathers of Heaven as well.
My true hands weren’t idle either.
I gathered magic into the hands resting in front of my chest. Pure white magic oozed thickly from my palms.
‘Manifest, Gop-hwa.’
– Whoosh…!
As I mixed in my uniqueness at that moment, the magic ignited into flames like firewood.
This was not the Gop-hwa that resulted from imitation through assimilation. This was my own unique Gop-hwa.
Though it was declared to be a hereditary ability, differences existed among manifestors.
The Gop-hwa that had transformed through trials bore such distinctions more vividly.
Once poured, this flame could easily roast a person to a crisp, yet it appeared incredibly beautiful on the surface.
Its lighter orange flame, which was also less intense than its original scarlet hue, flickered as if dancing, making it all the more enchanting.
‘My output has risen, and manipulation has become easier…’
Manipulating Gop-hwa had also become smoother.
Where it used to be a ferocious monster ready to spring forth anytime, it now felt more like a gentle puppy rolling over and wagging its tail.
Thanks to that transformation, I could effortlessly employ this unique flame even for cooking.
‘They say food cooked with Gop-hwa is tastier, right?’
It’s said that using Gop-hwa enhances flavor.
Especially foods that need a charred taste… meat dishes are deemed much tastier when prepared that way.
Ever since I witnessed how much Hong Yeon-hwa raved about the flavor, I had been cooking with Gop-hwa every time.
‘Speaking of which, I think I remember something about ramen made with Sea of Creation being tastier.’
I recalled a similar line from the source material.
Was it in the first round? While moving in a party and adventuring in a dungeon, I remember an effect notification about how ramen made from the Sea of Creation increased satisfaction.
‘I should ask Baek Ahrin for a taste test later.’
– Whoosh…
Right as I was getting into the groove of cooking, the Gop-hwa, no matter how gentle, stirred my emotions and nudged at past memories.
Of course, there was a difference from before.
Previously, it felt as if I was dragging up the filthy memories by their hair harshly.
Now it felt as though good memories were coaxed gently out to share.
▶ Agapanthus: Hello? “The Best Idiot in the Corner”?
▶ Me: Why are you cursing?
▶ Agapanthus: Huh?
Good memories indeed. But they weren’t exactly what I wanted to remember right now.
Suddenly, my movements halted.
– …tap tap tap tap
The bubbling water and cooking meat resumed my actions.
The dim light of the room brought back a flash of the monitor screen into my mind.
▶ Agapanthus: Did you sleep well last night?
▶ Me: Yes.
…
▶ Agapanthus: Don’t skip meals for your health.
▶ Me: Yes.
…
▶ Agapanthus: [Super Easy Meal Kit Fried Rice 10 Packs] This one is cheap and delicious.
▶ Agapanthus: If you’re too lazy to cook, just buy something like this.
▶ Me: Thanks.
…
▶ Agapanthus: Make sure to periodically open the windows.
▶ Agapanthus: If you don’t like that, at least get an air purifier.
▶ Me: Thank you for your concern.
…
[Contact change Agapanthus▷ Flower Goddess]
…
▶ Flower Goddess: Seriously, you haven’t eaten again?
▶ Flower Goddess: Please, just eat some breakfast.
▶ Flower Goddess: You’re going to collapse and die at this rate.
▶ Me: I’m already full.
▶ Me: (an emoji of a dog sprawled out and panting on the floor)
▶ Flower Goddess: I might just come find you and break in.
▶ Flower Goddess: Quickly warm up what I recommended last time.
▶ Me: Huh…
▶ Me: Can’t we just continue playing Othello?
▶ Flower Goddess: No, hurry!
‘Flower Goddess…’
An internet friend.
One day, out of nowhere, they started messaging me and for some reason, pretended to be friendly.
At first, I found it suspicious and ignored them or responded half-heartedly, but… before I knew it, we had become close.
‘Agapanthus.’
I heard it’s a type of flower. Depending on categorization, it can be divided into 6 to 10 types.
Most bloom in the summer. Its flowers are funnel-shaped, predominantly purple, but white or blue variations can also occur.
I raised some in my house’s balcony, and they weren’t too difficult to care for, so I managed to grow quite a few.
They bloomed extensively in this mansion’s garden as well. I didn’t pay much attention to it, as many other flowers bloomed there too. There was no reason to fixate solely on Agapanthus.
In the vice president’s office, I saw an Agapanthus flower. It bloomed beautifully in a pot, well-kept.
In the study where the president lived, an Agapanthus flower also bloomed. The subtle magic applied to it meant it was a vibrant living flower.
The person I observed in that study looked just like the person I saved in my previous world.
‘……’
My head was all tangled up.
A few words floated around my mind, colliding irregularly and leading to various hypotheses.
Though they were still mere hypotheses and nothing was confirmed, I didn’t feel particularly pleasant.
‘How foolish…’
Even I felt like my hypotheses were idiotic.
What if they approached me on purpose? So what?
Isn’t that how it goes for everyone? After all, I recently tried to get close to Baize with intent, didn’t I?
If my hypothesis was true… the Flower Goddess would just be acting in a similar manner.
Feeling upset about that was like accusing myself of double standards.
Realizing that made my mood drop even lower. The Gop-hwa that was once soaring deflated as well.
“Why are you sulking again?”
“Gah…!”
Just when I was spacing out and finishing cooking, a hand rested on my waist.
*
“Huh?”
Suddenly halting in the mansion, Hong Yeon-hwa froze in place.
An intense aroma wafted past her nose.
Spicy and sweet… the smell of meat.
“Oh, someone’s cooking.”
Lee Ha-yul had invited everyone for the housewarming and dinner together.
He’d said to prepare a lot of food and asked for a moment to wait before disappearing.
‘I’m hungry…’
Perhaps it was the enticing aroma, but Hong Yeon-hwa suddenly felt a pang of hunger.
Holding her rumbling stomach, she scanned her surroundings.
Indeed, it was about dinner time, when she would normally be grabbing her cutlery.
‘Should I have just gone to help…? No, but if I followed, I’d just get in the way.’
Hong Yeon-hwa had no skill in cooking.
Her culinary abilities barely stretched to rudimentary field cooking.
And that wasn’t about making tasty food; it was just cooking food so that humans could eat it.
She wouldn’t be of any help to Lee Ha-yul, who was trying to make delicious meals.
If you removed that, all Hong Yeon-hwa could do was set down cutlery or chop ingredients…
– Chop chop chop chop!
– “…What is that?”
– “Ah, that’s an artifact. It makes everything so much faster.”
That was clearly one of Lee Ha-yul’s artifacts which was doing a superior job.
The winged outfit split like tentacles and executed the roles of ladles, knives, and everything else — it was utterly ridiculous.
I already knew his magic manipulation was beyond the norm… but I never expected he could wield artifacts like that…
“Sigh.”
Ultimately, Hong Yeon-hwa, who was outperformed even by the artifact, needed to step aside as she realized she’d just be a hindrance.
Yet right now, her stomach was rumbling.
Rubbing her hungry belly, Hong Yeon-hwa moved toward the source of the delicious smell.
– Whoosh…
“Huh?”
In the kitchen, she spotted Lee Ha-yul.
The gigantic kitchen matched the mansion’s status and was bustling with activity.
The winged artifact busily moved about, cooking and transferring dishes.
A sight that was hardly something you could buy with money came into view.
Instead, it was Lee Ha-yul’s silhouette wrapped in an inexplicable bittersweet aura that caught her eye.
“……”
She stepped closer, standing behind him.
Even with the noticeable presence she exuded, Lee Ha-yul seemed lost in his own world, making food only with the artifact while his hands remained idly in the air.
The artifact floated just a little away from him.
“Why are you sulking again?”
“Gah…!”
“What’s that about?”
Taking advantage of his lack of attention, I hugged him from behind, causing Lee Ha-yul to tremble in surprise.
It was as if he had just been shocked by electricity; he turned his head to meet Hong Yeon-hwa’s eyes.
His face, trying to hide something, showed a strange mix of disappointment and loneliness, wrapped beneath a pristine apron that fully caught her attention.
“Y-Yeon-hwa? Wait… I’m in the middle of cooking…”
As Hong Yeon-hwa remained silent, Lee Ha-yul replied awkwardly, his eyes drooping in concern.
After switching off the cooking tool still operating, he gently patted Hong Yeon-hwa’s immersive embrace.
Then, as if suddenly reminded, he broke into a soft smile.
“I’ve made plenty of your favorite meat dishes. Just a moment longer…?!”
Was this an attempt to lure her in?
One hand still hugging Lee Ha-yul, she raised her other hand to cup his chin, lifting it gently.
With that, she leaned down to press her lips against his.
“Um, um…!”
Taken aback by the sudden action, Lee Ha-yul opened his eyes wide for a brief moment before comfortably leaning into Hong Yeon-hwa’s embrace.
He even stood on his toes to reach out for her lips, as if to say it was fine.
“Peck, peck…”
The loneliness she felt from him gradually washed away, revealing the affection blooming across Lee Ha-yul’s face.
“Hmph.”
‘How delightful.’
Finally breaking into a satisfied smile, Hong Yeon-hwa tightened her hold around him.
*
[Player Buff System: Affection Level]
Lee Ha-yul → Hong Yeon-hwa
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡(91▷92/100)
“Affection” “Guilt” “Gratitude” “Warmth” “Security”
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