episode_0014

“Hmm…?”

I was sleeping as usual when suddenly a tremendous light engulfed me.

Forced awake by the light, I shielded my eyes with my hands.

Fortunately, the light gradually diminished, and I quickly realized the cause of the light.

“Huh…?”

“Camilla?”

There stood Camilla, clad entirely in red from her hair to her eyes, lips, and dress, advertising herself as the Red Dragon. She exuded dignity and strength, just like in the illustrations.

But why had she suddenly appeared here…? Surely, I was supposed to awaken Mana at age 10 and find the person who would mentor Lily.

No, I kept mistaking this for reality. Perhaps she noticed Lily’s talent first and came…

“Lily!”

“Over here.”

Camilla was holding someone, making me wonder if there was a daughter I didn’t know about. But the person she held was none other than Lily.

Though I didn’t understand why Lily had come with Camilla or why she looked so unwell, I quickly took Lily from Camilla’s arms and laid her on the bed.

“Wow. Is all of this sweat?”

Lily was drenched in sweat, clearly running a high fever.

Whatever had happened to make Lily come with Camilla and be in such pain, I couldn’t wrap my head around it.

At that moment, Camilla approached from behind.

She sniffed like an animal, as if checking for a scent. Even when she came right next to me, I couldn’t sense her presence until I was startled by a sound in my ear.

“T-The…”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Camilla. Just call me Camilla.”

As I turned to look at Camilla, she was smiling, akin to a child presented with delicious food.

I quickly inquired about Lily’s condition. Seeing Lily in such pain, including in the game, was unprecedented.

While I didn’t know how Lily ended up with Camilla, the fact that Camilla brought Lily here meant she likely knew about Lily’s state.

“Well…”

After a brief pause, Camilla calmly explained, “I met this kid on the street, and she collapsed during our conversation. It seemed like she was awakening her Mana, so I brought her here.”

“M-Mana awakening?”

“Yes, Mana awakening.”

Lily awakening her Mana at eight instead of ten, when I arrived and she awakened hers, suggested my influence played a significant role.

“At her young age, it’ll take time for her body to adapt to awakening her Mana. Just feed her well, give her plenty of water, and she’ll be up in no time.”

Camilla’s response indicated that it wasn’t a major issue. How a dragon like her knew where Lily lived and found her remained a mystery.

Nevertheless, I felt relieved. Incredibly relieved.

I quickly fetched a dry towel and carefully wiped away Lily’s sweat.

Despite Camilla’s reassurances, my inability to do anything made me increasingly frustrated.

Still, I meticulously wiped Lily’s sweat, trying to do what little I could. Then, I heard a faint sound from behind.

Turning around, I saw Camilla looking away, seemingly lost in thought.

‘What’s going on? Oh…!’

I promptly bowed to Camilla and thanked her.

“Thank you, Camilla. For saving Lily. I am Lily’s maid, Amelia.”

“Uh, yeah! Hello. I have things to attend to, so I’ll be off quickly. Take care.”

-Poof.

After acknowledging my gratitude, Camilla vanished in a burst of light, disappearing as suddenly as a downpour after a thunderstorm.

“Ah… Mel… lia…”

“Lily-nim!”

I quickly shifted my gaze back to Lily, who was struggling to raise her arm.

Without surprise, I slowly embraced Lily. Concerned that Lily’s arms might be uncomfortable, I lay down on the bed, occasionally positioning Lily on top of me as if she were sleeping on me.

Resting her face against my chest, I soon felt Lily’s breathing stabilize.

– Rustle, rustle.

And so, we fell asleep once again.

Even in the morning, Lily seemed unable to muster the strength to get up. Is she really okay?

But I have no choice but to trust the dragon’s words.

Each time Lily sweated, I wiped her body and changed her nightgown.

The main issue was her meals.

Camilla had instructed to ensure Lily consumed enough food and water, but it seemed challenging in her current state.

Gently lifting Lily up and leaning her against me, I spoon-fed her water, trickling it slowly through her lips.

Thankfully, Lily’s throat moved slightly after drinking the water. Water was sorted; now onto the meal.

I prepared a soup for easy consumption. Cooling it adequately, I fed Lily small amounts without startling her.

“What a relief…”

Thankfully, we managed to finish Lily’s breakfast smoothly. Thus began Lily’s care.

The problem arose after lunch. She had managed the soup well during lunchtime. However, at dinner, she couldn’t swallow the soup; it just dribbled out of her mouth.

For a moment, I worried Lily might be in pain, but seeing her drink water well, she probably found the soup unappetizing.

After all, who would want to eat soup for every meal? But with Lily barely conscious, I wasn’t sure if she could consume other foods.

==

When I came to my senses, it was late afternoon, with the sun beginning to set. I could hear Amelia’s breathing beside me. Thankfully, it seemed the mana awakening had gone well.

*Sigh…!*

It was Amelia’s voice.

Stretching, I got up from bed as Amelia stroked my forehead before leaving the room.

She returned with something in hand. It was soup.

‘What’s this? Is she worried about me and trying to feed me by watching?’

Such thoughts quickly dissipated as she cautiously helped me sit up, then turned around to hug me tightly.

She pulled me close, wrapping her arms around my waist, completely supporting my body against hers.

Feeling Amelia’s heart from behind my head was softer than anything, making me feel good. Her warm body made mine relax like melting liquid.

To not lose this feeling, Amelia held me even tighter.

Then, she gently scooped the soup, humming softly, and brought the spoon filled with soup to my lips to feed me.

I spat it out.

“Oops.”

Amelia hurriedly wiped the spilled soup with a handkerchief. I understand her intentions, but… I’m in a lot of pain right now.

This is not something I can accept.

Surely, Amelia had done something similar for me in the past when I was in pain.

I must repay that. Since I underwent mana awakening solely for Amelia’s sake, I must accept it unconditionally.

With that rationalization, I decided.

“Just a moment, Lily-nim.”

Amelia laid me back down and left with the soup. The room now empty.

The atmosphere, lonely and immediately becoming desolate in the abandoned room, but imagining what would happen next, I could endure it.

*Creak.*

Amelia entered.

This time, she brought a proper dish. Meatballs.

Meatballs are clearly not suitable for a patient who cannot chew. So, Amelia must have a plan…!

Raising myself cautiously, Amelia embraced me from behind.

The loneliness and solitude I felt earlier melted away like snow, replaced by a comforting sensation at the back of my head that felt like heaven.

But the highlight was right there.

“Please wait just a moment. *Heup*.”

Instead of cutting the meatball into small pieces and checking the temperature as she always did with her lips, Amelia put it directly into her mouth.

This is it. This is what I’ve been waiting for.

Though I couldn’t see Amelia behind me, I could tell from the sound coming from above.

“Um… Um. Hoo…”

After some time passed, Amelia raised the spoon. Before me, there was a tiny, tenderized meatball, easier to eat than ever before. Its appearance had completely transformed, but it looked more delicious than any meatball I had ever seen.

As my lips parted, the meatball entered. While it was still difficult to move my jaw, my tongue could manage, allowing me to savor Amelia’s special meatball as much as possible.

“Why aren’t you swallowing? Is the meatball too tough after all?”

Seeing Amelia flustered by my inability to swallow even after some time, I quickly and exaggeratedly swallowed the meatball to reassure her, patting my back to make me cough it out.

It’s a bit of a waste to swallow so quickly, but since there are still many meatballs left, it seems fine.

The meal that began this way was incredibly satisfying. Amelia’s meatballs were already delicious, but with her special sauce, they were elevated to perfection.

The last remaining meatball. It’s already the last one. It’s so regrettable. Perhaps this won’t be the last time I eat like this until I become an adult.

I’d love to continue like this, but it would undoubtedly strain Amelia. If I get sick, Amelia feels the pain too, so I am determined not to get sick anymore.

Besides, now that I’ve awakened my mana, there’s no chance of falling ill. I’ll save the special Amelia sauce for when I become an adult and eat it myself.

Definitely.

For now, I hid half of the meatball in my mouth and swallowed the other half loudly, easing Amelia’s worries.

After finishing the meatball, Amelia turned my body to face her, allowing me to finally see her face.

Taking care of me constantly must have been exhausting, yet she smiled without a hint of difficulty, gently patting my back to aid digestion.

“Amelia…”

*Swish.*

Without swallowing the meatball, I felt Amelia’s hand as it rolled around in my mouth.

==

“Huh? Where did my underwear go? Did it fly off while on the drying rack?”