Training time flew by.
The session, starting around 9 a.m., was halted by Aesc's arrival at noon. They'd spent a full three hours on evasion and endurance drills.
Seeing Uther covered in pebble marks from Naoki's throws, Aesc narrowed her eyes and stared silently at Naoki.
(Killing intent!)
In an instant, Naoki felt a knife at his throat.
"I didn't hit hard. I used normal human strength." Naoki raised both hands in explanation.
"I know."
Otherwise, she wouldn't just glare.
Sighing softly, Aesc placed her hand on Uther. After tracing a few runes with her fingers, Uther—once filthy—became spotless, as if Naoki's training never happened.
"That's enough. Go rest. I brought roasted potatoes and water from the dining hall. Eat well, rest, then we'll start Magecraft training."
"Yes, Master!"
Bowing slightly to Aesc and Naoki, Uther ran to the training ground's rest area.
Then Aesc turned to Naoki. "How's Uther?"
"Well, in four or five years, he'll be fine."
"That long?"
"You handed me a complete novice who doesn't know how to fight. His foundation is solid—no worries there—but Uther has zero combat sense and experience. I have to teach from scratch."
Naoki explained, "In one morning, his movements got a bit sharper. I only used human-level strength. To make him strong enough to lead humans against fairies, there's a long road ahead."
"Thank you for your help."
"No problem—it's your request. By the way, have you had lunch?"
Aesc nodded. "Yes, before coming here."
"What did you eat?"
*GRR—*
Hearing no answer and the growl from her stomach, Naoki knew she hadn't eaten at all.
No—she probably nibbled. Aesc said she went to the dining hall. With her reputation among humans, they'd prepare food for her. She must've taken one or two bites, right?
But after a proper breakfast, switching back to livestock feed would be hard to swallow.
"You… Come on, let's head back for a bit. I'll make you something. I'm hungry too, conveniently."
"Is that okay? …No, no—it's too much trouble. Besides, I'm a fairy. Eating isn't that important. I can hold out—"
Before Aesc finished, Naoki grabbed her wrist and pulled her through his room's door.
Meanwhile, nearby, Uther—eating during his break—looked up.
"Huh? Where'd Master and Brother Merlin go?"
Why did they vanish so fast?
Back at Aesc, Naoki, and Totorot's house, after half-forcing Aesc to sit at the table, Naoki rolled up his sleeves. "Wait there. I'll make something simple."
"Naoki, really—you don't have to go through this trouble…"
"Just think I made too much and can't finish it alone, so you're helping me eat some."
"Hmm…"
With Naoki putting it that way, Aesc couldn't argue—and it made sense.
Human food—basically livestock feed—was hard for Naoki to stomach. He could only cook if he wanted to eat, and leftovers couldn't be wasted.
Aesc felt she could help prevent that.
"Then… I'll trouble you, Naoki. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
As he spoke, Naoki handled the morning's leftover ingredients and started cooking. With limited supplies, options were few.
(Since Aesc teaches Uther this afternoon, I should go out for more ingredients then. I remember wild animals in this Fairy Nation, right?)
Though they might be Phantasmal Species like Divine Beasts, meat was still meat. He'd also need edible plants.
(Why am I turning into Shennong?)
Naoki thought, stirring the pot.
Meanwhile, watching Naoki's back, Aesc recalled some of Morgan's memories.
She received them 3,600 years ago. So much time blurred the details, but seeing Naoki brought the hazy parts back.
At the same time, Aesc realized something she hadn't felt in ages.
She was being taken care of by Naoki.
The last time was her childhood, lovingly cared for by the long-gone Rain Clan. After their annihilation, Aesc—starting her journey as Savior and pilgrimage—never had anyone care for her again.
Instead, she always cared for others—fairies, Britain, this world.
Her status and power as Savior meant no one needed to care for her, and no one thought to.
But before Naoki…
"Naoki."
"Yes? What's up?"
"This might be sudden… How do you see me?"
His hands paused. Naoki turned. "Why ask that all of a sudden?"
"Your attitude toward me is something I've never experienced. For someone meeting you for the first time, I want to know why you trust me unconditionally and do all this. It must be because of your impression of me, right?"
"Ah, that…"
Naoki turned back.
"The person who needs my help."
"Just that?"
"How else do you want me to see you?" Naoki counted on his fingers. "When we met, you asked for my help. I carried you home drunk last night. I made you breakfast, and now lunch—Basically, I'm always helping you."
"To others, you might be the worshiped Savior, the invincible strongest Paradise Fairy—but to me, you're just a woman who needs my help."
*PLAK!*
Placing a rice bowl before Aesc, Naoki sat across from her. "There, eat. This afternoon I'll scout for more ingredients. Look forward to dinner."
Aesc was certain.
In Naoki's eyes, she wasn't the Savior or the mission-bearing Paradise Fairy.
To him, she was just an ordinary woman who needed his help.
"Yes. I'm looking forward to it. Thank you, Naoki."