Ch.71Addiction.

The warmth of the sun had faded as it set, and as the moon rose, the world was gradually cooling down.

The early evening air was chilly because of that.

But it didn’t really matter.

My body, once heated up, hadn’t cooled down yet.

The cool air actually felt refreshing and pleasant.

When I left the inn to return to the workshop, Elin and Derin came out to see me off.

“Crow, see you next time.”

Derin waved her hand shyly as she said goodbye.

“Take care on your way back.”

Elin bowed her head politely as she said farewell.

Though they acted differently, they had one thing in common.

Their cheeks were flushed bright red.

They must be in a similar state as me.

Bodies still warm from kisses, emotions of love ignited.

Excited in many ways.

I waved my hand toward them.

“See you both next time.”

Though “next time” would surely be within a few days.

After that brief farewell with them, I started walking toward the workshop.

Since the inn was located near the bustling area of the Royal Capital, the walk back wasn’t boring.

Various scenes unfolded before me: adventurer parties having drinking parties, families out for dinner, and all sorts of different sights.

Among them, what caught my attention most was…

“Is… is it delicious?”

“Y-yes, it’s delicious!”

A young couple with flushed faces dining in a rather upscale restaurant.

Looking at the handsome man and beautiful woman made even my heart flutter for some reason.

I’ve really changed a lot…

In the past, I would have frowned and immediately looked away.

In an adventurer party, love was nothing but a disaster that could destroy the party.

Yet I always found it strange.

How could feelings of love that developed in just a few days take precedence over the camaraderie built over years of overcoming life-threatening situations together?

But now that I’ve been experiencing it vaguely myself, I understand.

The stimulation that love brings is so immense that one can’t help but make such choices.

Well, I’m not an adventurer anymore, so honestly, whatever I do is my own business.

As I was thinking this, the young couple disappeared from the corner of my vision, and I quickened my pace.

Riano must be waiting, so I should hurry.

Not long after, when I arrived at the workshop, light was seeping through the cracks in the door.

It was natural for Riano to be awake since it wasn’t that late, but…

What’s this smell?

A delicious aroma wafted gently through the air, stimulating my nose and making my mouth water.

Moreover, I’d only eaten once today in the morning when I was choosing a bow with Elin, so I was quite hungry.

Growl—

My stomach made a sound demanding food.

I flung open the door and entered the workshop, heading straight for the source of the smell.

As I got closer, the aroma became more distinct, enough to tell it was stew.

When I arrived at the kitchen, Riano was stirring a pot with a ladle.

“Hmm-hmm~”

She was humming a tune with a smile, seeming to enjoy cooking quite a bit.

I quietly approached her side and examined the contents of the stew.

Hmm…

It looks pretty normal?

The vegetables and meat were cut into bite-sized pieces, and the color looked good too.

Of course, I couldn’t tell what kind of meat she used…

Surely she wouldn’t have put in anything inedible.

As I was thinking this, the ladle suddenly stopped moving.

Since the dish seemed to need a bit more simmering to be complete, I was about to feel puzzled.

But then I felt a gaze from beside me, and when I turned my head, our eyes met.

There was bewilderment in her eyes.

We just stood there for a moment, silently looking at each other.

After a slightly awkward silence that I couldn’t bear any longer, I spoke first.

“I’m back.”

“Ah, yes. Welcome back.”

After her brief response, she turned her gaze back to the pot and started moving the ladle again.

Her long hair swayed, looking like it might touch the fire at any moment.

I should tell her to tie her hair back when cooking next time.

Thinking that, I reached out my hand, and Riano flinched slightly. She must have been startled by my sudden movement.

But I paid no mind and tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing her ear which had turned red.

Is she embarrassed that I’m watching her cook?

It was refreshing to see Riano cooking, and I was somewhat worried about her using fire, so I wanted to keep an eye on her…

But I shouldn’t make her uncomfortable.

She might get hurt because of that.

With that thought, I was about to leave the kitchen.

But Riano seemed to have different thoughts.

“Crow, wait a moment.”

She stopped me.

When I turned around to look at Riano, she was blowing gently on a spoonful of stew she had scooped up with the ladle.

Then she held it out toward me.

As if asking me to taste it.

At her gesture, I gulped.

It’s true that the sandwiches Riano has been making lately have been getting better bit by bit.

But that’s limited to sandwiches.

The only hot thing she’s made for me recently was tea, so I couldn’t imagine what the stew would taste like.

If it tastes exactly like the last time I had it, five years ago…

I might want to run away.

With such nervous feelings, I approached her and tasted the stew from the ladle.

“Hmm…”

After a moment of savoring it.

What? It’s ordinary?

The taste of the stew she made was just the commonly known flavor.

But given how low my expectations had been, that ordinariness came as a surprise.

“It’s delicious.”

“Thank goodness…”

Riano, who had been biting her lip nervously until I gave my answer, seemed relieved and smiled.

Then she turned back and started stirring the stew slowly with the ladle.

“Crow, wait a little bit. It’ll be done soon.”

“Alright. Then I’ll take out the plates and spoons.”

“Yes, thank you.”

I took out two plates and two spoons from the cupboard and left the kitchen, leaving Riano to her cooking. I placed everything on the dining table and sat down in a chair to wait for her.

This is boring…

Waiting for someone was surprisingly hard.

Even though it was just a short time, it felt tedious.

I found myself absentmindedly tapping my fingers on the innocent table.

Plus, I was looking forward to eating a dish she made that wasn’t a sandwich, something I hadn’t had in a very long time.

That brief moment felt incredibly long.

I was staring so intently at the thin cloth covering the kitchen entrance that I could have burned a hole through it.

After what felt like a long time but was actually quite short, the thin cloth fluttered, and Riano emerged from the kitchen carrying the pot.

She placed the pot on the table and took off her thick gloves, setting them aside on one corner.

“Give me your plate.”

As Riano extended her fair hand toward me, I handed her a plate.

She then scooped up a generous amount of stew with the ladle and handed it back to me.

I pushed the plate I had received first to the opposite side and handed her a new plate. She again filled it with stew and returned it.

The slight difference was…

The second plate had a lot more meat in it.

“That’s too much meat.”

“Hm? You like meat, don’t you? Eat up.”

Well, of course I like it…

But the difference between the two plates was so great that I honestly felt uncomfortable.

And I’d rather she ate more than me.

She must have worked hard cooking something she wasn’t familiar with.

Besides…

I just want to take care of her more.

That feeling had remained unchanged from when I was her disciple to now, when I’ve become a man.

“Here, ah—”

As soon as she sat down, I held out a spoonful to her, and she opened her eyes wide as if surprised.

“I’m fine, really…”

Even as she said that, she shyly opened her mouth slightly and ate the stew.

Riano’s expression as she chewed the large piece of meat, her mouth working, looked happier than ever before.

Now, as I was about to pick up my spoon to eat…

Riano beat me to it.

There was a spoon in front of my mouth, and since she still had meat in her mouth, she couldn’t tell me to eat.

Well, I didn’t need to be told to understand her meaning, so I accepted it.

The fresh tomato flavor spread first, followed by the heavy aroma of meat, which had deepened slightly since I had tasted it earlier.

Throughout the meal, we continued feeding each other.

I ate much more than usual, and the pot quickly revealed its bottom.

My stomach became slightly bulging, and breathing felt a bit laborious.

“I really enjoyed that. It was completely delicious.”

I made sure to include praise along with my thanks.

After all, when I cook, there’s nothing that feels better than receiving someone’s praise.

“Thank you for eating it so well. If you want to eat it again, just let me know.”

Riano, sitting across from me, said with a smile.