The clinking of utensils echoed through the silent living room, the only sound breaking the heavy silence. The air was so thick it felt hard to breathe. I couldn’t even tell if the food was going into my mouth or my nose.
This morning, it was my turn to cook, so I made a simple bacalhau soup with dried cod. Boiling soup with dried fish turned it into something resembling a slightly salty North Korean fish stew. If I added some soy sauce and noodles, even a ramen critic like Aris would smile like Buddha and praise the umami of the dried cod!
The reason for making this soup was simple: it was easy to make, Airi liked it, and Camellia needed something to cure her hangover. A perfect trifecta—everyone wins, like catching fish and shrimp in one go.
“Master, your cooking skills have really improved. After 12 years of ‘living together,’ you only made terrible food… but today, you’ve outdone yourself.”
Look, even Airi is complimenting my cooking. Though I’m not sure why she emphasized the “12 years of living together.”
Camellia kept bringing the soup to her mouth and then gave her verdict.
“Not bad, Werner. Compared to the pie you made when you were 10, promising to marry me when you grew up, this is pretty good.”
Why bring up Werner’s dark past and that gag scene from *Draghinty Fantasy 1*? Was it really that bad? That pie was a monstrosity made with freshwater fish, cherries, and dried plums. Saying this is better than that is basically calling it disgusting.
“Anyway, if you’re done eating, hurry up and leave, ma’am.”
Airi’s words were sharp—no, not sharp, more like a lance. Camellia, unfazed, calmly replied.
“I was asked by your father to stay and watch over Werner if I couldn’t bring him back.”
Oh, was that it? I don’t know every detail of the game’s story, so I might have missed that. But something feels off. Let’s just move on.
“Master, I’ll protect Werner, so tell my father not to worry.”
“You, who still looks weak, protecting Werner… Aren’t you the one being protected by him?”
I don’t know the details, but I can tell the atmosphere is tense. Plus, my disciple is sitting next to me, and Camellia is blocking the exit.
The only way out is to fly away… Wait, Werner’s attributes are fire, wind, ice, water, lightning, light, darkness, earth, wood, and steel. That’s just like *Digimon Frontier*.
I imagined using Hyper Spirit Evolution to combine fire, wind, ice, earth, and wood. A clear image of KaiserGreymon transforming and flying away came to mind. Of course, MagnaGarurumon, which combines light, darkness, lightning, steel, and water, is out of the question. That guy’s a total idiot and might just crash.
Anyway, Airi and Camellia’s eyes were locked in a fierce stare. You know how in anime, sparks fly when characters’ eyes meet? I never knew that could happen in real life.
“Master, didn’t I tell you not to meet any women without my permission?”
“Werner, I’ve raised you poorly. To treat your master like this… You’ve always had a soft spot, though.”
Was Werner really soft? The guy who wiped out the leadership of a small nation for kidnapping his disciple? Well, maybe by elf standards, that’s soft. Who knows? Maybe by elf standards, you have to wipe out the entire population to not be considered soft.
“Hey, Sister Camellia and Airi… both of you, calm down… Sister, just go home for today. Let’s meet tomorrow. I’m tired today…”
“Sigh… Alright, you should rest too. I was out of line yesterday, Werner.”
Camellia adjusted her clothes and returned to her usual cool, rational self. Her drunken behavior yesterday made her seem like a completely different person.
Camellia headed straight for the door, and Airi saw her off.
Good. At least she’s polite to her father’s and master’s acquaintance. Airi really is a good kid. I should stamp a “Good job!” on her forehead.
As soon as Camellia stepped outside, Airi said this:
“Getting drunk, carried by a man, and asking to sleep together… You must be quite used to that, huh? Don’t do it again.”
Well, that wasn’t a polite farewell.
Camellia’s face turned red at Airi’s mockery, and she turned back.
“I can still tell right from wrong even when I’m drunk. If it weren’t for Werner, I wouldn’t have even called…”
Before Camellia could finish, Airi slammed the door shut.
The sound of the lock clicking echoed.
“Finally, that damn elf is gone.”
Even in the game, they didn’t get along. Even without Werner’s death, they just don’t click. I don’t know what it is about each other that they dislike so much.
Airi is a bit of a troublemaker but kind, smart, and more considerate than anyone. Camellia, though cold and blunt, is deeply caring and just. Personality-wise, they might even be better than Werner, who’s pessimistic and avoids trouble.
One of them approached me with a dangerous aura. Why do I see a red aura rising around Airi?
“…Master?”
“Yes, Airi… You’re on dish duty today, right?”
“Master…?”
Her face was smiling, but her attitude and aura weren’t. It felt like she was about to stab me in the gut.
“Ah, I’ll do it. Suddenly, I really want to do the dishes.”
I tried to leave in a hurry, but Airi stopped me with her hand.
“Stop with the lame jokes and sit down. Before I really get angry.”
An angry Airi is scary. An angry Airi is terrifying, and if I write any lies in a letter to her father, I’m dead.
“Alright, I’m sitting. What’s wrong?”
“Do you really not know why I’m like this, Master?”
“No, you told me not to meet other women, but Sister Camellia is someone I trust. When I was young…”
“Master, when you were young doesn’t matter. What matters is that you broke your promise not to meet other women.”
Wait, thinking about it, she’s not my wife. Whether I meet women or not, is she telling me to die a virgin? That’s kind of annoying.
“No, Airi, Sister Camellia said she had something to talk about…”
“Is that damn elf woman more important than the promise you made to me?”
Airi even crossed her arms. There’s only one way out of this situation.
“Airi, I’ve been watching you for a while now… I’m really disappointed in you.”
Airi’s pupils shook. In the original story, Airi would get somber when Werner said he was disappointed in her.
“…What?”
“Sister Camellia, your father, your mother… they’re all like family to me.”
“But Master!”
“Especially Sister Camellia. She took care of me along with your mother. To me, she’s like a sister and a mother.”
It was official that Werner saw Airi’s mother and Camellia that way.
“You insulted someone who’s like a sister and mother to me. I’m really… disappointed, Airi.”
“But Master, I…”
“You don’t have to learn magic. You don’t have to learn swordsmanship. No one will say anything. But you should know basic manners.”
“But Master…”
“I’m really disappointed. I need some time to think. I’ll go for a walk.”
The tactic of pointing out the other person’s mistake when they’re angry. This can fluster them and buy you time.
I turned the doorknob and stepped outside. Camellia was gone. She must have left. Good, it would’ve been awkward if she were still here.
“Have dinner on your own. I’ll be back late.”
“Master!”
“Don’t follow me. Unless you want to see your master truly angry.”
I slammed the door shut. This method should be effective. After all, Werner always had dinner with Airi, no matter what.
That’s why, after losing Werner, Airi never had dinner again.
“Was I too harsh…?”
I thought that for a moment, but today, Airi was in the wrong. Werner would’ve been angry too. Insulting someone who’s like family to him.
I pushed the small things aside and decided to enjoy the rare free time I had.