CHAPTER 100: PROLOGUE

~3rd Person Perspective~

　A boy was lying at the bottom of a cliff in a huge cave.

　Blood does not stop from flowing from his head which was broken by the impact of his fall. The ground is now dyed red.

　The boy no longer had the strength to stand up. Blood poured out, and his body became colder and colder.

　Tears began to well up in the boy’s eyes.

　The parents who gave birth to the boy probably never imagined that their son would die like this in the future. However, those parents are no longer with him. The three men who pushed him down the cliff have killed them as well.

　—somebody help me, please.

　The boy’s mouth moved slightly. But that was all. No sound of a cry for help.

　—I do not want to die.

　—I don’t want to die yet!

　He wished to experience more things. He wanted to see more of the world. He wanted to know what possibilities he had.

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　—I wanted to have friends. I want a warm home.

　—I want to eat until I’m full…

　But there was no more time left for him.

　His wish will never come true.

　—Just a little more. I wanted to live just a little longer.

　The boy shed a single tear.

　The next moment.

“I will make you wish will come true.” (Nesis)

　A girl suddenly appeared before the boy’s eyes. She had white hair and was dressed in a white robe.

“In exchange, will you lend me your body?” (Nesis)

　—My body?

“That’s right.” (Nesis)

　—Will I live?

“I can’t do that. Because you’re already dead.” (Nesis)

　—Is that so…

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“Don’t be discouraged. You can’t come back to life as you are, but your body will live on.” (Nesis)

　—What do you mean?

“Another soul will use your body.”

　—In other words, I will have no consciousness, only my body…?

“Yes, but don’t worry. But don’t worry. Your body remembers your thoughts. Your wishes will remain in this world.” (Nesis)

　The girl gently lowered the boy’s eyelids.

“Do not worry. I’m sure that serious child will take good care of your body. So, go on and rest.” (Nesis)

　With these words, the soul of the boy, Lid, left his body.

~Toru’s Perspective~

“Woah…” (Toru)

　Toru, who returned home from the royal city of Yuster, was speechless at the disastrous scene before his eyes.

　The living room, which had been clean and tidy before he left for Yuster, now had no place to step.

　Occupying the living room floor was a large quantity of paper.

“Welcome back.” (Lily)

　The culprit’s tone of voice is extremely carefree as if she has no awareness of what she’s doing.

“Lily-dono, this is a shared space. We can’t have you making such a mess!” (Esther)

“Hmm. I’ll clean it up later.” (Lily)

　Lily answered without looking at us.

　Her eyes never left the paper in front of her. The paper had the same pattern on it as the ones scattered on the floor.

“Lily-san, what is that?” (Toru)

“Grimoire.” (Lily)

“Oh, I see.” (Toru)

　Lily used to run a magic bookstore. The recent monster attack caused her to lose both her store and her magic books.

　It is difficult to restore the store immediately. The demand for building houses in Finlis is increasing, and there are no craftsmen available wherever she looks.

　Therefore, Lily seems to have started with the production of goods–grimoires.

“Did you just make grimoires the whole time we were in the Royal Capital?” (Toru)

“Hmm.” (Lily)

　During that time, it seems she never tidied up.

　I’ve had a similar experience. I was so absorbed in my work that I left the tools I had used to do the work all over the place.

　When I lost concentration and returned to my normal state, I was almost heartbroken at the disastrous state of my room.

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“Toru you should tell her to clean up her room. We can’t eat dinner with this.” (Esther)

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“Food!?” (Lily)

　*Kyu-pin!* Lily’s eyes changed color. She immediately picks up the magic books scattered all over the place.

　In no time at all, nine stacks of papers were piled up on the table.

“Toru. Food.” (Lily)

“Oh, sure. I’ll make it now.” (Toru)

“Make it extra delicious, please.” (Lily)

“Of course.”

　Laughing at Lily’s quick change of pace, Toru headed for the kitchen.

　He had just returned from the Royal Capital and there was almost no food in the house except for meat. It is now past sunset and the usual stores are already closed.

　If he looked around a little, he might be able to find a place that is still open. However, Toru ran all the way back to Finlis from the Royal Capital. He didn’t have enough energy left to bother.

“I feel sorry for Lily…” (Toru)

　Toru decided to cook dinner with only orc meat and the ingredients left at home. Still, he did not want to disappoint Lily, who was looking forward to a delicious meal, so he started cooking with all his might.

　The result is an orc steak. It was placed on a hot griddle and served.

　In addition to the meat, he also arranges cooked potatoes, carrots, and onions on the griddle. The sauce is a secret salty sauce.

“”Wow…!”” (Esther & Lilly)

　Estelle and Lily’s eyes lit up at the dish Toru had prepared.

　Lily’s body is shaking like she’s just barely able to contain herself from eating the food in front of her.

“Well then–” (Toru)

　When all the food had been served, Toru clasped his hands together.

“””Thank you for the food!””” (Everyone)

　When I placed the steak in my mouth, the juices flooded my mouth. Once I started chewing, the meat just melted away.

　Lily was chewing on the steak while crying, probably because she missed my cooking so much.

　Perhaps it was because she had been stingy with her lodging expenses, but the food in the Royal Capital of Yuster was not very good. So, I missed good food as well.

　Everyone proceeded with their meals in silence. In the midst of it all, Lily pushes the carrots to the edge of the griddle.

“Huh? Lily-dono, you can’t just like or dislike something.” (Esther)

“This is a root. It’s not food.” (Lily)

“No, it’s food…” (Esther)

　Esther’s shoulders drop at Lily’s adorable sophistry.

　While holding back his laughter at the funny scene, I open my mouth.

“Lily-san, carrots contain a lot of nutrition. You won’t grow up if you don’t eat it, you know?” (Toru)

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“Muu…” (Lily)

　Lily’s lips pouted, but she seemed to have made up her mind and threw the carrot into her mouth. She must have hated it so much that she swallowed it without chewing most of it.

　With tears in her eyes, she looked at me as if to say, “Are we good?”

“…I ate it. I am already good.” (Lily)

“There are still two left.” (Toru)

“Monster!” (Lily)

　Lily glares at Toru.

　But her gaze changed to something gentler.

“I have told the same thing a long time ago, that I should eat carrots.” (Lily)

“Heh. Is it your parents, by any chance?” (Toru)

“Hmm, my friends. Adventurers’ party.” (Lily)

“Oh, members of Lily-dono’s party. Who were they?” (Esther)

“They were people who taught me something important.” (Lily)