Chapter 3

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on March 8, 2025

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Having shared warmth in the arms of the outsider for quite some time, I suddenly heard a sound and jumped in surprise, pulling myself away.

-Grumble

That sound came from right in front of me.

“Oh, how embarrassing.”

Although she said that, there was no trace of embarrassment in the outsider’s attitude.

If anything, she was smiling slightly.

“Ah… If you’re hungry, I can go prepare something—”

-Grumble

“…”

This time, the sound came from my side.

I realized I hadn’t eaten anything for nearly half a day and quickly got up.

“I’ll go get something!”

As I abruptly stood up, the outsider held me back.

“Stay seated. I’ll go prepare it for you.”

“No, I can do it—”

The outsider’s long fingers gently covered my mouth.

“Shh, wait here comfortably. I’ll take care of everything.”

Then, in the blink of an eye, the outsider vanished without a trace.

Dumbfounded, I stared at the spot where she had been and felt my face growing warm.

“Ugh…”

I must be losing it. There’s no doubt about it.

Here I am, acting like a child, snuggling into a woman’s arms like a grown man.

Tossed about by the belated surge of embarrassment, I squirmed in discomfort.

Then I stopped, halting mid-motion.

Recollecting her compassionate smile and the warmth of her embrace, my heart began to race on its own.

“…It was good, wasn’t it?”

There’s no denying it.

If she were to open her arms right now, I think I’d instinctively run right into them.

I was captivated by that initial warmth, an irresistible, inescapable force.

I rose slightly and stared at the spot where she had stood.

‘It wasn’t a dream, was it?’

I hope it wasn’t.

Because if it were with her—even leaving the Academy—life would feel blissful.

I looked around the room after standing up completely.

The dormitories of the Academy vary greatly depending on rank and grades. Mine scored low in both.

Still, as an institution supported by the royal family, even the smallest accommodations boast considerable size.

The attached small kitchen allows for basic cooking.

Though I didn’t own much and had always been tidy, I began cleaning again anyway.

Even if the outsider were a deity, deities don’t dislike cleanliness, do they?

Even if she didn’t notice upon returning, I hoped she might compliment the effort.

—

“…”

-Creak creak

The wooden chair was wobbling.

Of course, it wasn’t moving on its own—my legs, trembling and shaking atop the seat, were causing it.

“…Why isn’t she back yet?”

The thorough cleaning was over.

I grew restless waiting, visited the restroom, and fiddled with the kitchenware for no reason.

Yet still…

The outsider hasn’t returned.

-Dal-dal-dal… Pause.

A sudden thought stiffened my body.

“…Was it really a dream?”

The story seemed too surreal, sparking doubts if it had been nothing more than a dream.

Anxiety made my heart beat irregularly.

Unconsciously, I brought my hand to my lips.

The soft touch I felt when waking from the dream, the warm breath, and even the detailed texture of each finger lingered in memory.

“…It couldn’t all have been a dream.”

Though I tried to calm myself, my heart continued to race.

Originally, the dorm was meant for solitary living, spacious enough for one person.

Yet now, the room feels strangely empty.

In the short while she was here, someone had taken up a space in my heart.

And now, with that space empty, I feel colder than ever before.

-Creak creak creak

The chair swayed precariously with groaning sounds, when—

“I’m back~”

Reappearing just as suddenly as she had vanished, the outsider stood where she had been before.

“Did you wait… long?”

Something heavy filled both her hands, but upon seeing me, her eyes widened in surprise.

“Huh? Why the shock?”

At that moment, I felt something warm trickle down my face.

Unconsciously brushing my fingers over it, I discovered it was a transparent liquid.

“…Tears?”

I must have been crying. Me?

Dropping what she had been holding, the outsider rushed toward me, her face pale.

“Are you alright? Is anything hurting? Where? Where?”

Seeing her genuinely worried about me evoked an unfamiliar, but warming sensation.

She who I thought I’d never see show such concern in my lifetime…

“No… I’m just relieved that…”

“Hm?”

“…I’m glad it wasn’t a dream.”

“…”

The outsider silently stared at me for a moment, then wrapped me in her warm embrace once again.

She quietly whispered, gently stroking the back of my head.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll always be by your side. That’s… ”

Her hand moved from my head to gently lift my chin, making me meet her gaze as she continued.

“Because you’re family.”

The single word “family” brought a warmth to my chest.

Finally, it hit me: this outsider wasn’t just in a dream—it was real. She truly was here now, and we were family.

“Hungry? Let’s eat.”

Begrudgingly pulling back from her embrace, my eyes fell on the ‘ingredients’ she had brought.

And they were…

“…What are these?”

“Huh? They’re food ingredients. Do they not suit your taste?”

No, this wasn’t a matter of preference…

The objects writhing on the floor were clearly not ‘normal’ meat or ‘normal’ vegetables used for ordinary food.

These forms, which I’d never seen before in my life, were inexplicably squirming.

“Oh, don’t worry, they’re just in rigor mortis. They’re such sturdy creatures that they can traverse the cosmos, and they’ve got tenacious life forces.”

“…”

Traverse the cosmos? And you killed them?

“…Then how do we eat these?”

“Just cook them.”

“…”

“Hm?”

Didn’t you just say they traversed the cosmos?

“Sit down and watch. I’ll take care of it.”

“Oh, if you need the kitchen, it’s over there—”

-Whoosh

At the wave of the outsider’s hand, flames appeared in mid-air.

They were unmistakably pitch black yet radiated light like the vision I had in my dream.

The fire flickered hungrily like a starving beast’s tongue.

“Don’t worry about the furniture. My fire only burns what I want.”

As she said, the flames occasionally touched the ceiling or walls but left no charring.

“Hmm, hmm…”

The outsider hummed a little tune as she reached toward the ingredients.

Her hair stretched out, picking up the materials and throwing them into the flames.

Though I don’t know the temperature, anything that can cook a cosmic creature would likely reduce me, a mere human, into nothing but molten bone.

“Alright, here’s your Old One Grill~”

So, that’s what it’s called.

The enormous body, about two meters in size, covered by a steel-like (probably even tougher) outer shell, had cracked open under the fire, revealing the flesh beneath.

The large, bat-like wings on either side had dried and crispy, while the mass of tentacles I presumed to be its lower body…

“Ew!”

The outsider tore them off completely, burning them in the fire.

Then, she placed a knife and fork in front of me.

“You just eat the meat exposed between the outer layers.”

“…”

Is this really edible?

The outsider, catching my glance, smiled, eagerly awaiting my first bite.

…There surely isn’t any poison, right?

As I hesitated, the outsider’s expression gradually dimmed.

“…Don’t you like it?”

“Not exactly that…but…”

“Hmm?”

The outsider, alternating her gaze between me and the Old One Grill, snapped her fingers as if realizing something.

“Aha! You want me to feed you, right?”

“…Huh?”

With a bright face, the outsider ignored the utensils and stuck her hand straight into the Old One’s outer layer.

She tore off a large piece of red flesh and held it up to my mouth.

“Here, Aaaah~”

Looking between the expectant face of the outsider and the raw piece of flesh, I closed my eyes and opened my mouth.

Her fingers slipped in along with the large bite.

I took a big chew, filling my mouth.

“!!!”

“How is it? Is it okay?”

The taste of the cosmic creature, which I tried for the first time…

“…Wow!”

It was exquisite.

The meat, cooked to perfection with the right intensity of heat, had a tender texture, its juice (…) releasing a tantalizing aroma that made me hunger for more.

The aftertaste was slightly fishy, but it didn’t diminish the overall deliciousness.

Upon seeing my reaction, the outsider chuckled happily.

“Hehe, I’m glad it suits your taste.”

Indeed, it might just be the best food I’ve ever had in my life.

“It’s amazing! I’ve never tasted anything like this.”

“Hehe, there’s plenty, so help yourself.”

“Got it!”

From then on, I actively participated with my knife, digging into the food.

Already extremely hungry, there seemed to be no end to the food I could consume.

When I started to feel a dry throat from eating, the outsider, somehow catching it, handed me something.

The liquid in the crystal glass clearly wasn’t water.

It certainly wasn’t wine either.

“…”

Instead, its radiant golden liquid reflected light from every angle.

I looked at it skeptically, to which the outsider insisted it was highly nutritious and safe to consume.

“Wanna let me feed you this one too?”

…I briefly considered asking but decided against it, lifting the glass myself.

The moment the liquid touched my tongue, I mentally cursed my past self for ever doubting her.

A sweet aroma filled my mouth, its slight fizz stimulating my tongue.

“Ah~”

Though drinks this sweet usually leave a bitter aftertaste, this one was smooth and refreshing, purifying my palate.

“What is this drink?”

“It’s called the Golden Honey Liquor… It’s great for building strength.”

Not only delicious but healthful too?

Could this truly be a drink of the gods?

I definitely felt invigorated after it slid down my throat.

Distracted by tearing into the meat, I didn’t pay attention until my stomach was full enough to finally turn to her.

“…Won’t you have some?”

“Huh? Oh—I don’t usually eat this kind of food.”

Something feels off. It’s like I kept eating while she didn’t.

Although her stomach growled earlier, indicating hunger.

“Then what do you eat?”

“That’s—”

Suddenly, the atmosphere around the outsider changed.

Earlier, she radiated boundless compassion and a familial warmth, but now she approached me with a peculiar, flirtatious aura.

‘Huh? Did I touch a nerve?’

“Are you done? My turn now… can I eat too?”

“…Eat… what?”

Her slightly drunken expression as she came near sent shivers down my spine.

Instinctively, I tried to back away, but…

“Nope. You can’t go anywhere.”

Her hair blocked my path like a wall behind my back, sealing any escape.

“…Excuse me, Miss Outsider?”

Finally, her face drew close enough that our breath mingled.

In a low voice, she whispered…

“Call me by my name… Lily.”

“Lil… Lily? Could you just tell me what you’re planning to do?”

With a small laugh, as if amused by my cuteness, Lily grabbed my face with both hands.

“Ah, I’m so starving. I’ve been holding back, you know…”