Another new day arrived.
“Ugh.”
Celia rolled over and habitually reached toward the side of the bed.
“Elent, Happy Water.”
Her palm met only empty, dry air.
There was no sensation of a cold glass bottle, nor was there that steady, responding voice that always spoke up immediately.
“Elent?”
Celia opened her eyes dizzily and sat up in bed.
The room was empty.
Only the insects outside the window chirped tirelessly; otherwise, it was excessively quiet.
Normally at this time, that over-energized idiot would already be out in the backyard huffing and puffing as he chopped wood, or making all sorts of clattering noises in the kitchen.
‘Did he oversleep?’
Celia scratched her messy hair and grumbled with a hint of dissatisfaction.
That idiot who only knew how to train was actually sleeping in? The sun must have risen from the west today.
The young girl got out of bed and pushed open the door.
The heat wave still rushed against her face, but this heat was missing a familiar hint of domestic life —
There was no scent of breakfast.
“Elent?”
Celia raised her voice and called out.
No one.
There was no one in the backyard, either.
Although the woodpile was neatly stacked, the axe was leaning against the wall, and the soil in the vegetable garden was moist — clearly having been watered early in the morning.
But the person was gone.
Celia walked to the dining table. On the table were two fried eggs, a few slices of bacon, and a glass of Happy Water that was no longer emitting a cold mist.
And next to the plate, a piece of parchment was weighed down.
A stone sat atop the note, which featured only a few crooked, large characters:
“Priestess, yesterday’s ointment didn’t seem to work very well. I’m going to the Black Forest to look for Ice Spirit Grass. I heard ointment made from Ice Spirit Grass is very effective. Also, breakfast is on the table! Don’t eat it cold! If I’m not back by lunch, I’ll… well, I’ll definitely be back by lunch!”
Huh? He ran off to the Black Forest?
Celia’s gaze lingered on the note for a few seconds.
“Idiot,” the girl cursed softly, tossing the note back onto the table.
“It’s just a mosquito bite. Is it really worth running off to a place like that?”
The depths of the Black Forest were a forbidden zone that even the Old Hunter didn’t dare set foot in lightly.
Was it worth it for a mere blade of grass to stop an itch?
Celia sat down, picked up the lukewarm fried egg, and took a bite.
It was a bit greasy, and the edges were no longer crispy.
As for the Happy Water, because the ice had melted, the flavor had become watery and the carbonation had vanished. It tasted like a glass of sugary dishwater.
“Disgusting.”
Celia only ate half before setting down her fork.
She didn’t know if it was because the food itself had lost its flavor, or because the silly face that usually looked at her expectantly, waiting for praise, was missing from the other side of the table.
“It’s fine that he’s gone.”
Celia leaned back, slumped in her chair, and stared at the empty ceiling.
“At least no one is managing me, and no one is nagging in my ear about training.”
“I’m going to rot completely today. Nobody better expect me to move an inch.”
Wasn’t this peaceful life, undisturbed by anyone, exactly the retirement life she had always dreamed of?
It should be, right?
Celia reached toward her back. The spot where she had been bitten by the mosquito yesterday seemed to be itching again.
Without the relief provided by those rough, large hands, the itch that felt like it came from her very bones seemed to become even more unbearable.
“Tch.”
Celia clicked her tongue irritably and then sat in her chair, dazed.
The scorching sun hung high in the sky, and the seeds in the fields had already begun to sprout under careful cultivation.
A moment later, Iris poked her head out from the hallway.
She was still wearing that shameful maid outfit today, though she hadn’t bothered to straighten the cat-ear headband that sat crookedly on her head.
The Former Demon Lord Candidate first scanned the hall warily. After confirming that the terrifying man was nowhere to be seen, she finally approached.
“Lady Witch?” Iris asked cautiously.
“That man is gone? I didn’t see him.”
“Yeah, he went out,” Celia replied.
“Went out?”
Iris’s heterochromatic eyes narrowed slightly as she constructed a grand drama in her mind.
‘As I thought!’
‘After that high-intensity “exploitation” last night, even a Hero’s constitution couldn’t hold up, could it? “Went out” must be the Witch’s cover-up for tossing his dried-out husk into the wilderness after she was done with him!’
‘So cruel! So heartless!’
‘But also… so exciting!’
Iris clenched her small fists, the corners of her mouth curling up uncontrollably.
Now, she was the only servant left in the Church!
As long as she performed excellently and demonstrated higher value than that brute who only knew how to swing a sword, then wouldn’t the Lady Witch’s resources, her protection, and even her leftovers belong to her alone?
This was a perfect opportunity to rise in rank! If she could make the Witch useful to her, she would be the greatest contributor when she eventually reclaimed the Demon Realm!
“Lady Witch!”
Thinking of her glorious future, Iris suddenly straightened her back and stopped trembling. She took the initiative to step in front of Celia.
“Since that man isn’t here, please leave today’s lunch and the cleaning duties to Iris!”
The girl patted her flat chest and guaranteed with conviction:
“I might not know that crude swordsmanship, but I have… cough, I have also studied some high-level magic!”
“Whether it’s cooking or cooling things down, I can definitely do a better job than that guy who only uses brute force!”
Celia opened one eye and looked at the mascot in front of her, who had inexplicably ignited with fighting spirit.
“Are you sure?”
“Very sure! Please give me a chance to demonstrate!”
‘Demonstrate what? How to wipe a window until it becomes a black hole?’
However, Celia rubbed her neck, which had started to sweat again.
Since the Hero was away, someone had to do the work. Originally, Celia had planned to have Lynn do it.
Since this child was being so proactive, she might as well let her try.
Anyway, the worst-case scenario was just a few broken plates and then another Offal Feast.
“Fine then,” Celia said, waving her hand at Iris.
“I want cold noodles for lunch. Remember to rinse them in cold water. Also, mop the floor. It’s too dirty.”
“Yes! Leave it to me!”
Watching Iris’s cheerful departing figure, Celia shook her head.
For some reason, the irritability in her heart didn’t decrease just because someone had taken over the chores.
Instead, as she watched the sun rise higher and higher outside, it grew even heavier.
“Back by lunch, huh?”
There were still 3 hours until lunchtime.
Usually, during this kind of unsupervised time, she should have been sleeping or spacing out.
But Celia couldn’t stop herself from repeatedly glancing toward the small path leading to the forest.
‘Did that idiot get lost in the woods?’
Awww, she lonely.