Chapter 84
The interior of the restaurant had been completely transformed.
I marveled inwardly at how beautiful it had become, much like the exterior.
There was only a single table placed in the restaurant.
Sitting in my chair, I looked up at Dominic, who sat opposite me.
He had adjusted the size of only his own chair, while lowering the table to a height suitable for me.
At this rate, it would be quite uncomfortable for Dominic to eat anything.
"Mr. Dominic. You don’t have to adjust everything for me."
The problem could be solved if I simply sat in a higher chair. As I hurried to stand up, something occurred to me.
"Oh... now that I think about it, I was supposed to treat you to a meal, Mr. Dominic.
The Fire Dragon!"
I had decided to cook for Dominic using the Fire Dragon.
To think I had forgotten something so important. I felt a cold sweat breaking out.
’Where did the Fire Dragon go? Did it run away? That can’t be.!’
As I scrambled to get out of my chair, Dominic stopped me with a smile.
"Please stay seated, Roasted Chestnut."
"But I received a quest from you, Mr. Dominic.."
"There is no need to worry. Such things are merely formalities."
He explained calmly that it was already enough, and that the cooking could be left to someone else.
"I will still give you the quest reward, so you needn’t worry."
I felt terribly sorry for him.
Throughout my stay in S2P, I had coaxed him with the excuse that I would cook for him, yet here I was, unable to do anything.
Dominic, seeing my guilt, comforted me instead.
"Right now, I have simply come to this restaurant to enjoy delicious food with you, Roasted Chestnut."
A waiter approached the table.
The person dressed in a neat waiter’s uniform was made of black metal.
Dominic, having removed his gloves, ordered something unfamiliar.
"A glass of Amontillado."
The waiter returned with wine.
The waiter poured the wine into a very small glass placed before me. A dish of oysters to accompany it was served as well.
’Is wine usually drunk from such a small glass?’
I gazed at the golden liquid with curiosity.
I didn’t particularly want to drink alcohol.
However, since it was an aperitif and Dominic had ordered it for me, I brought the glass to my lips.
I drained the glass of the liquor, which had a nutty aroma.
It tasted better than I expected. Perhaps because of the alcohol, I felt a slight lift in my mood.
The waiter refilled my glass.
I stole a glance at the waiter.
Seeing the smooth metal face without eyes reminded me of the butlers at 3Clean.
’I miss the butlers.’
While I was thinking of those I missed, Dominic spoke to me.
"It is not a formal full-course dinner, but it should be sufficient for a light enjoyment."
At his words that it was prepared simply, I smiled and replied that it was fine.
Then, for some reason, Dominic stared at me silently.
"Oh dear, Roasted Chestnut..."
He then frowned slightly and smiled as if troubled.
"As I thought, the adjustment isn’t working well."
After saying something for which I couldn’t find the reason, Dominic tapped the table with his fingertip.
His straight, long fingers produced a very small, light sound.
Yet, strangely, it hit me with such force that it felt as if someone were tapping directly on my brain.
A short, intense burst of pain flashed through me.
I let out a gasp and clutched my head with both hands.
Then, I slowly lowered my hands.
I couldn’t understand why I had suddenly performed such a strange action of grabbing my head.
As I looked at my hands in bewilderment, Dominic called me.
"Roasted Chestnut."
"Yes, Mr. Dominic."
"That is a relief. This level should be appropriate from now on."
"Pardon?"
"It is nothing. Shall we have some more Sherry?"
While waiting for the food, Dominic and I exchanged conversation.
It was mostly a beneficial time where he gave me appropriate advice.
"You are too lenient with your subordinates, Roasted Chestnut. I fully understand your desire to be kind to them, but you must not accept everything. In the end, they are merely your possessions. You must teach them the heart of serving their master."
I simply nodded while eating the consommé soup.
"There is no need to be unnecessarily generous with humans either. You must show coldness to those who try to manipulate a young god at their whim."
Listening loosely, it seemed Dominic was under the impression that a naive young god was being abused on Earth.
I wondered if he was being kind to me because I was his contractor, but it seemed this was also a reason.
I should have told him from the start that Earth wasn’t my possession, but the root of the misunderstanding was too deep to easily correct.
For now, I just replied that I understood and let it pass.
"How did you come to know the person you received help from this time?"
"Oh, you mean Mr. Black Block?"
Dominic laughed immediately upon hearing my words.
"You’ve given him a cute nickname."
I told him why I called him Black Block and how I had come to know him.
Dominic was an attentive listener, which made talking to him pleasant.
He listened carefully, reacting appropriately to my story.
"So that was the situation. However, you must be cautious. Beings of that caliber tend to become bothersome once they take an interest."
Dominic spoke playfully, his blue eyes gleaming.
*You must not contract with another god without my permission, Roasted Chestnut."
I replied that I would absolutely never contract with anyone else.
One alien-Dominic-was more than enough for my life.
After talking about various other things, the flounder dish arrived.
Dominic waited quietly until I had eaten the last piece of fish.
"Actually, there is something I wish to ask."
Why had he waited and not asked sooner?
"Were you upset earlier?"
Not knowing what the question meant, I waited for the next words. A low-toned voice followed.
"Because I did not help you."
I had asked him to find the Fire Dragon’s horn, and he had politely refused.
Did I not say that I wanted you to treat me entirely with your own power, Roasted Chestnut?"
I thought I had managed my expression well at the time, but it seemed Dominic had seen right through me.
It wasn’t... exactly that I was hurt.
I was just a bit surprised to encounter an unexpected refusal.
It was entirely my fault as well.
I had arbitrarily rejected his help, yet I had assumed he would naturally grant my request the moment I asked.
But honestly, it was also Dominic’s fault that I had come to have such expectations.
Dominic had always wanted to help me.
He often asked if it wasn’t the moment for him to step in.
Of course, I wasn’t so out of my mind that I would tell Dominic these inner thoughts verbatim.
However, as I remained silent, not knowing how to make an excuse, Dominic let out a faint sigh.
"It is difficult. Knowing when I should help."
’That’s...if Mr. Dominic helps...’
I shouldn’t say it.
"Please speak honestly, Roasted Chestnut."
To my hesitating self, Dominic whispered as if sharing a secret.
"Everything is fine here."
Then, the words I had been suppressing burst out immediately.
As if someone had reached a giant hand inside me and pulled out my inner thoughts.
"Because there are times when I’m afraid."
"Aha, you were afraid."
"Yes.. it’s always too much."
"Hmm, too much."
"Because you don’t even help me just as much as I ask for."
I wanted to stop talking. But for some reason, I couldn’t.
"So I tried to solve things with my own strength as much as possible, but then I worried that you might be in a bad mood because I was being too distant."
"I understand, Roasted Chestnut. I should have realized sooner; I am sorry. It must have been very difficult for you."
The tone in which he offered his polite apology was so warm that I felt embarrassed.
"No, not at all. It’s not something for you to apologize for, Mr. Dominic; it’s my fault."
Was I just being scared for no reason?
Dominic only had the intention to help.
If I had shared an honest conversation with him sooner, we might have found a better solution.
I felt an impulse to pour everything out to him, but I resisted.
Right now, I was clearly distinguishing between what I could say and what I must not.
For instance, I didn’t say at all that I was terrified Dominic might regain his memories if he kept using his power.
"Actually, helping only as much as you desire is not an easy task."
Dominic explained why he couldn’t act exactly as I wanted.
I could understand it sufficiently.
To put it in a metaphor, it was like holding a pin so thin it felt as if it would snap at any moment and trying to prick a single speck of dust.
Realizing how rude my request to use only a tiny fraction of his power had been, I apologized once more.
Dominic accepted my apology with a smile and then asked a completely unexpected question.
"Roasted Chestnut. How would you like me to act from now on?"
My eyes widened. It was a question I hadn’t anticipated at all.
The man before me seemed as if he would grant whatever I asked.
Under that generous gaze, my lips moved without passing through my reason.
’I’ll ask for help only when I truly need it, so could you help me only at those times?"
Using Dominic’s power was scary.
It was because of the prices that had to be paid when his power was used.
Results that deviated far beyond the common sense I expected.
And the fear that Dominic might approach his essence and regain his memories.
I intended to try my best not to borrow his power in the future.
But in a moment of true crisis.
When it felt like I might die, it would be better to ask for help.
I had already run through the hypotheses alone.
1. I die, and Dominic is left alone.
2. I survive, but Dominic regains his memories.
Option 1 was the absolute worst.
There was no possibility that a left-behind Dominic would live quietly as a pudding slime.
Option 2 was better.
Because...in the case of Option 2, at least I could be the target of his venting.
And if I were truly lucky, it might end with just me.
"Roasted Chestnut."
Dominic called me softly.
I looked at Dominic with trembling eyes.
"Do not worry. It is fine. From now on, I will do as you wish, Roasted Chestnut."
"Mr. Dominic..."
Just as I was moved by his kindness.
The waiter appeared with the main course and placed a plate in front of me.
"Today’s main dish is a dish made from the eyes and heart of a ■■■ ■."
The explanation continued in a clear voice.
"To fully preserve the abundant flames possessed by the ■■■■, it was cooked while keeping the original shapes intact. It has been seared crisp to lock in the juices, and the flavor has been enhanced by grinding the horns of the ■■■ into the garnish. I hope you have a satisfying feast."
After watching the waiter bow politely and disappear, I looked down at the plate placed only before me.
The red meat sparkled on the surface like rubies, as if jewels had been served.
It looked as beautiful as a poisonous mushroom, making me feel like I shouldn’t eat it.
Since it wasn’t polite for only me to eat, I tried to push the plate toward Dominic.
But Dominic refused.
"I would like you to eat it, Roasted Chestnut."
"But for me to be the only one eating..."
Dominic’s lips formed a strange shape.
He urged me.
"Now, Roasted Chestnut. Please eat. When I looked inside last time, you were still too small. And you have many injuries. You must have been wounded again during the forced registration this time, so this will be helpful."
What was small? Injuries? I had no idea what he meant by looking inside.
As I hesitated with the cutlery in hand, Dominic spoke as if coaxing me.
"During the growth period, one must eat a balanced diet."
I didn’t want to eat it.
I felt that eating this now would be dangerous.
An instinctive repulsion blocked my mouth. As I kept looking at it, I felt a surge of nausea.
I looked up at Dominic with desperate eyes.
I hadn’t even managed to say I didn’t want to eat it, but he spoke decisively.
"It is not dangerous."
But....
"And if you eat this, speaking as a god will become a bit easier. Right now, it puts a strain on you every time you speak."
"Roasted Chestnut."
A stern voice fell.
Inevitably, I picked up the fork.
And I pierced the food....
Contrary to its flamboyant appearance, the sensation felt through the cutlery was ordinary.
Gaining a bit of confidence, I cut the meat into a very small piece and put it in my mouth.
As I chewed carefully, the taste was also ordinary. It felt like a well-cooked meat dish.
I slowly ate the dish.
The sensation of the food passing down my esophagus was vivid.
Dominic did not take his eyes off me until I had emptied the plate.
Only after confirming everything, down to the movement of my Adam’s apple as I swallowed the last bite, did he show a satisfied expression.
"You worked hard, Roasted Chestnut."
Since all I had done was eat diligently, the praise was somewhat embarrassing.
Just as I was about to smile awkwardly and say that it was delicious and that I was looking forward to dessert.
I clutched my chest with my hand and collapsed.