Chapter 76
The first to taste the Budae Jjigae—or rather, the stew—was, of course, Darwin.
“Hmm? This is a flavor I’ve never had before, but it’s excellent.”
When he took the first bite, he furrowed his eyebrows, and I thought it might not suit his taste…
“Darwin!”
But now he was practiCarlly about to drink from the pot itself.
Watching the stew rapidly disappear, I was left with no choice but to smack Darwin on the back.
Darwin, now looking dejected, quietly set the pot down.
“Captain, why do you keep tickling my back?”
“Tickling?”
Darwin’s comment made me tilt my head in confusion as I looked at him.
“Yes, tickling. My back keeps itching—why is that?”
Darwin, who was now vigorously scratching his back, took the last sip of the stew.
Wait, I thought I hit him hard enough…
‘I even worried that it might hurt a bit.’
And yet, he says it just tickled? Honestly, I was a little shocked.
I guess the world of the strong is indeed different.
To someone like Darwin, who’s built like a tank, a slap from a weakling like me probably feels like nothing more than a feather.
“…Right, sure, it tickles. Should I make it tickle even more?”
For some reason, I felt a surge of determination. I stood up and walked toward Darwin’s back.
“Captain, what are you—”
Darwin, looking flustered, started backing away.
“Prepare yourself for an all-out tickle attack!”
Stretching my hand out toward Darwin’s back, I delivered a confident punch.
[Slightly Revitalizing Bonk (E)]
My very first self-developed skill.
Originally Carlled [Weak and Petty Punch (F)], it had been upgraded after I disciplined Eden.
Taste the special skill of Wendy Porcelain!
“Ahh! Stop!”
After a few consecutive strikes of my original skill to his back, Darwin scratched his back and ran away.
“Phew… Phew… I’ve defeated him.”
It seemed less like pain and more like he couldn’t handle the tickling.
In truth, the one in pain was me.
‘Ugh, why did I let my pride get the better of me…?’
Having slammed my fist several times into Darwin’s steel-like back, my hand was now swollen and red.
As I massaged my aching hand and regretted my foolish determination, Winfred approached me.
“Truly a marvelous dish. I am impressed, Captain!”
Winfred held a bowl of the stew in his hands, giving me a thumbs-up with his other hand.
Seeing this, I forced a smile, suppressing any sign of pain.
“My skills are lacking, but I’m glad you liked it.”
“Modest as always. Truly, our captain is remarkable. Even though my body’s eyes are blind, my ability to see people is clear.”
Winfred’s hearty laugh made me give an embarrassed smile, just as a soft, pale hand wrapped gently around my neck.
“Our captain looks troubled because of the old man. Should this big sister help you?”
A voice, almost like a song, whispered softly, with a strangely alluring and sweet tone like wine.
“Ah, Chrissy.”
“Oh my, is our captain trying to keep their distance from me? This big sister is so sad~ Don’t do that, and Carll me sister!”
Her half-lidded eyes, slightly flushed cheeks, and elevated energy made it clear…
“Did you drink, Chrissy?”
“Well, just a little? How about you join this big sister for a drink?”
“Ah, yes! Teaching the younger generation about drinking is one of the joys of being an elder!”
Chrissy chuckled and patted my head gently, while Winfred watched with an approving smile.
I felt like a child stuck between a tipsy eldest aunt and a mischievous youngest aunt.
If this kept up, I was sure to be dragged into a drinking party with these heavy drinkers.
I quickly looked around, trying to find an excuse to escape.
“Haha. It seems like you’re really enjoying the party. Oh, Celestine! Sorry, I have something to discuss with her, so I’ll have to learn about drinking some other time!”
Just then, I spotted Celestine sitting alone in the distance.
Freeing myself from Chrissy’s arm, I hurried toward her.
“Does it suit your taste, Celestine?”
“Oh, sister.”
Celestine was picking at the stew I had made, sitting quietly in a corner of the base camp.
I sat down beside her, matching her gaze and lowering my head slightly.
“You seem to have a lot on your mind.”
Celestine was just a girl in her mid-teens.
She had seen someone die while trying to save her. Being unaffected would have been stranger.
“I don’t know. Honestly, I really resented him.”
The person who had saved her, Carl, was the same one who had abandoned her in the previous trial—and nearly killed her.
For someone like that to sacrifice himself for her… it was no wonder her feelings were complicated.
“I thought I’d never forgive him. But then, even in his final moments, he begged for my forgiveness…”
Large tears rolled down Celestine’s pale cheeks.
Without saying a word, I pulled her into a tight embrace.
These were emotions too complex for a child to sort through on her own.
Fragments of past hatred, gratitude for being saved, sorrow, and guilt for the sacrifice all tangled together.
No one could sort these emotions out for her.
The best I could do was be there for her.
‘Pat, pat.’
All I could do was provide a sturdy wall so she could take her time sorting through her thoughts.
“Thank you, sister.”
“I didn’t really do anything helpful.”
Celestine sniffled quietly for a moment before looking up at me with red, tear-filled eyes.
“Just letting me lean on you was enough.”
Her soft, trembling voice brought a bittersweet smile to my face.
A child who had grown up far too quickly.
And a reality that had forced her into premature maturity—it was unbearably painful.
“If I ever feel like throwing a tantrum, can I come to you?”
“Of course, anytime.”
I hoped to at least be someone she could turn to for comfort in this world.
“Thank you.”
Celestine gave me a small smile, her eyes still red.
After looking at her for a moment, I noticed Sylvester approaching from a distance.
Talking with someone her age—especially family—might offer her another layer of comfort.
For now, it seemed like a good idea to step aside.
As I stood up and glanced around, I heard a familiar deep voice call out from behind me.
“…Wendy Porcelain?”
I turned my head toward the voice.
“Xenon?”
There stood Xenon, drenched in sweat and clutching a sword.
“Where were you this whole time?”
He always seemed to disappear when I needed him the most.
Then, just as the table was set, he showed up, reminding me of my dad.
…Judging by his damp hair and dirt-covered clothes, he didn’t seem to have just been wandering around.
‘Was he training alone?’
“The others are eating. Go grab some before it gets cold.”
At my words, he glanced over at the group of people gathered around the food and gave a small nod.
“Alright.”
I thought he would go straight to join them without hesitation, but then…
“…By the way.”
Xenon suddenly stopped, turned his head slightly, and looked at me.
“Did you prepare all of that on your own?”
“Huh…?”
For some reason, he seemed slightly angry.
His expression, colder than usual, left me puzzled as I tilted my head in confusion.
“No? If I had to prepare all of that alone, I’d need at least a hundred hands. Everyone helped. Why?”
As soon as I said that, the tension in Xenon’s face eased.
‘…What’s up with him, really?’
Did he expect me to cook just for him or something?
In any case, whatever the reason, Xenon’s expression gradually softened, returning to his usual stoic look.
Meeting my wide-eyed, curious gaze, he spoke quietly.
“Be generous, but take care of yourself first. You didn’t overdo it or get hurt, did you?”
The way he said it made it sound like I shouldn’t spread my kindness too thinly.
‘Maybe I’m just overthinking it…’
Still, I understood what he meant.
It was a warning not to show kindness recklessly, especially to the wrong people.
While that hadn’t happened yet, it was possible someone might take advantage of my goodwill in the future.
“I get it.”
My straightforward response seemed to surprise him, as one of his eyebrows twitched slightly.
“As long as you understand.”
With that, he turned away and disappeared into the distance.
—
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