MTLNOVEL 31
”For beasts that look like this, you should boil them thoroughly before eating. It takes a long time, but it’s much better in terms of nutrition and taste.”
The maids and knights gathered in a circle, diligently taking notes on my words.
Luckily, despite my clumsy explanation, they nodded enthusiastically, discussing how any beast could be cooked this way, what kind of stuffing would work best, and sharing various ideas with each other.
‘That should be enough. The duck stew is almost done, too.’
I tapped my shoulder lightly with my fist and checked the system window floating in front of me.
[Reload will be lifted in 5 minutes.]
‘Guess I won’t get to taste it before I go.’
I bid farewell to the castle folks I had grown close to and headed toward a secluded storage room. As soon as I stepped inside and closed the door, I heard Kyle’s voice calling from a little distance away.
“You’re late, you brat.”
A smile spread across my face as white light engulfed my body. I could hear him searching for me.
***
Living an hour as if it were a full day was exhausting. I yawned lazily, picking sawdust out of my hair.
I wasn’t sure how long I had slept after ‘Reload’ ended, but when I opened my eyes, Kyle was tearing apart the freshly made duck stew and placing chunks into my bowl.
—Squeak. (What are you doing?)
“Apologies if I woke you. But it’s just as well. They say it’s best eaten while warm.”
Kyle set the bowl in front of me, where I sat slumped like a lump. My messy reflection stared back at the steaming stew I had prepared earlier.
‘Hmm. It’s well-cooked.’
Stews definitely need to be simmered thoroughly.
Grabbing the shredded meat with both paws, I nibbled on it from the edges.
The tender flesh, slick with glistening juices, melted in my mouth. It tasted even better than regular duck—maybe because magical beasts exercised more?
As I devoured the meat without pause, Kyle gently brushed his index finger against my forehead, a pleased smile on his face.
“That fellow invented this dish. I wonder how someone like him ended up here.”
—Squeak squeak. (I died, dumbass.)
“I should give him a proper reward. But I’m not sure what would be best.”
—Squeak squeak, squeak. (Just give me money. Money is the best.)
Ignoring Kyle as he seriously pondered his words, I licked my bowl clean, finishing off even the last grains of rice.
Maybe it was because of my small body, but even after eating just a handful, I felt ready to burst.
I leaned back with my arms stretched behind me, basking in the satisfaction of a full belly. Kyle, meanwhile, stared at me with an utterly smitten expression, his gaze practically licking me. Eventually, he picked me up in his palm and carried me out of the study.
“I feel like I haven’t paid enough attention to you lately, so let’s sleep together tonight.”
He spread a delicately embroidered handkerchief and placed me on it. Then, lying down at an angle beside me, he gazed at me with honeyed eyes, petting me for what felt like forever.
Just as I thought my back fur was going to get rubbed clean off, he finally closed his eyes.
‘He must be really tired.’
Speaking of which, is his arm okay?
I sat up and examined Kyle’s arm. It was still wrapped in bandages, but from what I’d seen earlier, it didn’t seem to be hindering him much.
Tracing the calloused fingers, I pressed on the numerous scars dotting his skin, massaging them gently in hopes of a quicker recovery.
Stay healthy.
Because if you’re healthy, I can rest easy, too.
***
As expected of seasoned veterans who thrived in barren lands, the people of the North were quick learners.
Their adaptability was astounding. The duck stew I had taught them yesterday was already being made flawlessly, and they had even mastered sewing quilted garments. It felt rewarding to teach them.
Today, I stood before the knights who had brought in another batch of duck beasts and, following up on yesterday’s stew, I demonstrated how to make porridge. As the kitchen filled with the savory aroma, servants from other tasks gathered around, making the place even livelier.
“Oh… ohh! This is absolutely delicious!”
“Why didn’t we think of eating it this way? It’s so much better than frying!”
“From now on, cook it like this. And here, if you toast rice into nurungji (scorched rice) and heat it up with the porridge, it’ll taste even better.”
This was a dish my old landlady loved. I had once made it for her as thanks, and after that, she constantly asked me to cook it for her.
It’s bound to be delicious. I worked in food service for years—there’s hardly a dish I can’t make decently.
“The leftover meat can be turned into jerky. Oh, and as for the duck feathers, sew them together like yesterday to make quilted garments.”
I filled a basket with beast feathers and sat beside the maids who were busy sewing. The people greeted me warmly, their faces alight with energy.
Being among them made me feel inexplicably happy.
‘How long has it been since I last worked on something with others?’
I had developed games mostly on my own. After graduating, I immediately moved out of my uncle’s house, living independently. Ever since my parents passed away, I had no meaningful memories of being part of a group. Even in university, I was too busy with part-time jobs to do anything beyond attending classes.
‘I really lived such a boring life.’
Threading the feathers between layers of fabric, I diligently stitched them into place.
The thickly padded cloth could be turned into clothing, cushions, or even blankets. From the looks of it, someone in the distance was already making quilts.
I smiled contentedly as I looked around at the people.
At that moment, a system window flickered into view before my eyes.
[Reload will be lifted in 3 minutes.]
“…….”
Wait, already?
I shot up from my seat. The people, who had been chatting in a friendly atmosphere, suddenly turned their attention to me.
Awkwardly smiling, I started to inch backward.
“Something urgent came up, so I have to get going.”
“Already? Stay a bit longer!”
“I have an important appointment.”
I turned around and was about to leave the dining hall when—
[You have opened the possibility of a prosperous life for the people of Blake Territory.]
[Hidden Quest ‘Godfather of the North’ achieved!]
[Miracle Rate has increased.]
[Current Miracle Rate: 21.0%]
[Passive Effect: Anyone who belongs to the North will feel favorable toward you.]
[Reload duration has increased.]
[Reload will be lifted in 62 minutes.]
The system windows popped up all at once and disappeared before I even had a chance to react.
Grinning with satisfaction, I turned around and sat back down.
“……Didn’t you just say you were leaving?”
“Oh. I got bonus time.”
One of the servants gave me a puzzled look before suddenly whipping their head around.
Raising a questioning eyebrow, I threaded another stitch.
But… wait, was it just my imagination?
The lively conversation from before had completely died down. It was as if a teacher had walked into a classroom during study hall, catching students who had been secretly chatting.
And then, a long shadow fell over me.
“You all seem to be having fun.”
It was Kyle. So you were the reason, huh.
Tilting my head back, I held up the cloth I was sewing and spoke in an indifferent tone.
“Would Your Highness like to join? Or do you lack such dexterity?”
The room remained dead silent.
Kyle chuckled lowly, supporting my back with one hand while slipping his other arm under my knees, effortlessly lifting me up.
“Sure.”
“……Wait. Why are you picking me up?”
“I’m borrowing you for a moment.”
“Where are you taking me!?”
Kyle didn’t even bother replying.
I stared at him in frustration before quickly realizing where we were headed.
…Are you kidding me? The study? Again? What, do you have honey smeared all over the damn place!?
‘System! Open the shop! The shop!’
[☆:.｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:☆]
[!Nut Shop!]
With a gaudy neon sign flashing in the background, I frantically pounded the LoveLove Corner button, sweat pouring down my forehead.
[╰（‵□′）╯]
Okay, okay, I get it! I’ll only press it once next time, so just show it to me already!
[LoveLove Corner~❤]
As Kyle carried me closer and closer to the study, I anxiously alternated between glancing at the system window and biting my nails.
‘…Wait a sec, how many hearts do I even have left?’
Hadn’t I used up a lot of them before?
[Current Balance ｜ ❤×52]
“…….”
I wiped my face with both hands.
If I remembered correctly, the Replica Hamster lasted 30 minutes and cost 100 hearts.
Yeah. This is all my own damn fault. I should never have wasted my hearts on that cursed hamster outfit and yarn. This is why people need to save money! Instead of spending it as soon as I got it, I should’ve set some aside for emergencies!
Cursing my past self, I trembled in despair.
Kyle glanced down at me with a puzzled expression. “Are you feeling unwell?” he asked.
I simply shook my head a few times in response.
Stay calm.
Even if the sky falls, there’s always a way out.
[Loneliness-Easing Replica Hamster (Duration: 30 minutes) ｜ ❤×100]
Items that could be purchased were in blue, while those that couldn’t were grayed out.
Naturally, the Replica Hamster was grayed out.
Alright. Just for today, let’s do a special half-price deal. 15 minutes for 50 hearts. How about it? That’s a reasonable adjustment, right?
[ಠ﹏ಠ]
The system’s reaction screamed, “Do you think it’s that easy?”
Forcing a friendly smile, I began negotiating.
‘Think about it. If I get caught, that’s bad for you too, isn’t it?’
I still didn’t know why the system was helping me, but there had to be some benefit in it. Miracle Rate, hearts—whatever the system gained, it must be tied to me using more of them, right?
[￣へ￣]
It gave a completely uninterested response.
Well then.
Time to change my approach.
I licked my lips and flashed a smooth, easygoing smile.
When persuading someone, first impressions were everything. After all, no one spits on a smiling face.
So, with the most radiant smile I could muster, I clasped my hands together in a solemn gesture and murmured quietly to myself.
‘What do you think will be faster—me spamming the shop button, or you giving me a discount?’
[(°▽°)]
The system froze for a moment before displaying a [……Loading……] window. Shortly after, it begrudgingly reopened the shop.
A string of disgruntled emoticons appeared, but I swiped them away without a second thought. That wasn’t important right now. I was in a hurry.
As I frantically searched for the Replica Hamster, Kyle had already reached the study. Fortunately, the timing was impeccable—down to the second.
[‘Loneliness-Easing Replica Hamster’ has been added to your inventory!]
Suppressing a victorious cheer, I lifted my head—only to lock eyes with Kyle.
“……Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You had such a colorful range of expressions just now. I was wondering what could be running through that little head of yours.”
“…….”
I opened and closed my mouth a few times, but no decent excuse came to mind. So, I just cleared my throat.
Kyle seemed about to say something when, right on cue, someone passed by and gave him a respectful nod. Judging by the book in his hand and his robes, he was a mage.
“I will see you in the study tomorrow afternoon, Your Highness.”
“Alright.”
Huh? Why is he seeing you tomorrow? For what? A mage?
I looked up at Kyle with questioning eyes. He pushed the study door open with his shoulder and explained,
“Cashew Nut isn’t growing as much as I expected, so I decided to have some magic infused into it. I can use magic myself, but I lack the precision and the ability to perceive another’s mana. It’s better to leave these things to an expert.”
“……Oh. Ohhh.”
If my life were a rollercoaster, it would only go downhill.
No, scratch that—this wasn’t even a rollercoaster. It was bungee jumping with a snapped cord.
Why is my fate so tragic?
I should’ve told him earlier not to mess with it, that the tree would grow just fine on its own. …Should I tell him now? No, at this point, that’d just seem suspicious.
‘Hey, system. Is it safe to infuse magic into the tree? Nothing bad will happen, right?’
[¯(‘0’)/¯]
…Great. You don’t know either.
Sighing, I climbed out of Kyle’s arms and carefully placed the Replica Hamster into its nesting house.
I give up. Whatever happens, happens. I have enough misfortunes to deal with right now.
“Alright, where’s my magical beast?”
I muttered absently while pretending to search for the hamster, but before I could rummage too much, Kyle gently caught my hand.
“You said sudden movements would startle it, didn’t you?”
“Oh, uh… yeah.”
Kyle carefully picked up the squeaking Replica Hamster, cradling it in his palm as he gazed at it for an uncomfortably long time.
Damn, he’s way too sharp for his own good.
To distract him, I showered the hamster with excessive praise, dramatically cooing over it.
“Oh my! My precious little beast! Ohhh, what a good little creature! So lively, so cute!”
After an absurd amount of gushing, Kyle finally seemed satisfied.
Thankfully, before the 15-minute timer ran out, I managed to get him to sit down and have tea with me.
Taking the opportunity, I shoved a needle and some fabric into his hands and taught him how to quilt.
“If you ever feel bored, use this to pass the time. Just… stop harassing innocent hamsters.”