Chapter 6 - I - Eris loves to eat

 

Ahh…finally, I’m all healed and recovered!

 

Well, now that I survived my first-ever sickness in Chersea, I went back to my usual ‘daily’ routine, which was looking for some odd jobs, and go reading at the library when I had nothing else to do.

 

“…”

 

And, uh, I guess that maid, Eris, was from the Housekeeping Department.  If so, it was her duty to clean the areas given to her every change of season.  If I remember correctly, this current season, her duty was at the library.

 

“…”

 

Well, for such a maid, being assigned to the library was kind of a…how do I say it, ‘punishment’ perhaps?  I mean, this place was enormous, and there were a lot of corners and shelves to clean.  Not to mention, the building itself was six stories high.

 

Honestly, I don’t know, and I thought I should just keep my reservations to myself.

 

“…”

 

I went back to reading some books while Eris kept on cleaning the library room.  She would shift the tall piles of books back and forth and then wipe the dust off some top shelves.  The maid kept on repeating this all the while I silently watch—I mean, read.

 

God, I think she’s utterly tired.

 

“Hey.”

 

“!!!”

 

I immediately grabbed the pile of books that Eris was carrying.  I guess I surprised her when I called out to her, and she fell with all the books, almost crushing her.

 

“M-Mister Kuro!” Eris uttered in-between her labored breaths, “Eris thought that you’re reading over there!”

 

“Well, I’m not anymore, as you can see.  Here, why don’t you let me carry those for you?”

 

“Err…uh, it’s heavy…”

 

“I know.  That’s why I’m helping you.” I took the books she was carrying.  And—

 

Fuck!  This is heavy!  How did a kid like her even carried this?

 

“A-are you alright, Mister Kuro?” a worried Eris asked, “Y-your face is blue…”

 

“I…am…okay!  Hnnngggghhhh!” I carried those books with all my might.  Damn, I can’t lose to a kid!  “Where do I put these?”

 

“Ah!  Over there, Mister Kuro!” I sprinted to the place she showed and dropped the pile before putting the books back on their proper shelves.

 

And honestly, I think I broke a couple of bones carrying that single tower of books.

 

 

We finally finished sorting the books that were piling up in that certain part of the library.

 

“Haa…haa…haa…”

 

“Are you alright?”

 

“Y-yeah…haa…haa…” I barely answered Eris’ question, “L-let me…catch my breath…for a bit.”

 

I laid down on the library’s carpeted floor, spreading my arms and legs like that Vitruvian drawing.  I’m utterly exhausted; I guess we fixed about a thousand books scattered around that room alone.  

 

Well, the act of carrying books was quite easy; just get the right numbers you could take.  However, the next thing that you should do—putting those back in their proper shelves…that’s pretty tiring.  And for someone who wasn’t exactly that athletic, climbing up and down the ladders for a duration had taken a toll on my body.

 

I need to do some exercises soon.

 

Eris sat beside me.  She’s tired as well, but that took some load off her work.

 

“So, what’s next?”

 

“Eh?” Eris’ eyes almost popped from their sockets, “You’ll help Eris again, Mister Kuro?”

 

“Well, I guess I can take a few more beatings.” I replied while showing her my muscles—if there’s anything to show, “Just let me rest for a bit.”

 

Eris fell quiet.  She just looked at me with a dumb expression.

 

“You fine?” I tapped her shoulder, afraid she might’ve fainted from exhaustion.

 

“Ah, yes!”

 

“I see…”,

 

“Uh…Mister Kuro…”

 

“Yep?”

 

“Why are you so kind to Eris?”

 

“Seriously, you’re asking me that?” I couldn’t help but chuckle at her question, “Isn’t it because you’re tired?”

 

“Oh…”

 

“What, were you expecting something else?”

 

“N-nothing.” Eris shook her head.  But then, she continued, “Is Mister Kuro alright with this?”

 

“Alright with what?”

 

“Eris has nothing to give you…”

 

“It’s not bad to accept kindness from people from time to time, you know.”

 

“But…you’re a boy…”

 

Hoh…I almost forgot the fact that Eris was a maid at this place, which hated men to a certain degree thinking we were all rabid perverts.  I’m getting where this conversation was going…

 

“Ahem.” I cleared my throat, “If you’re thinking I’d ask something ‘difficult’ from you because I helped you, you’re mistaken, Miss Maid.  I just wanted to help, so let’s leave it at that, okay?”

 

Eris went quiet once again.  So, I guess I hit the target?

 

“I’ll tell them they’re wrong.” I heard Eris muttered those words.  Could she be referring to the other maids?  Well, it’d be a great help if she told them I’m just a harmless idiot from another world…

 

But well, I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear that.

 

“!!!”

 

I think I heard another loud grumbling stomach once again.  I turned to Eris, and her face was bright red.

 

“Uhh…want to grab something to eat first before going back to work?” I knew she’d be embarrassed to admit she’s hungry, so instead, I offered her a face-saving question.

 

 

“What do you mean you’re out of food?” I couldn’t help but raise my voice when I learned that the Kitchen Department had no food left.

 

“Well, it can’t be helped.”  The head of the Kitchen Department—I think her name’s Jessica—replied with equal aggressiveness, “We issued the call for lunch, but you guys didn’t hear it.”

 

“We didn’t hear it alright.” I admitted, “Eris and I were too busy with work that we might haven’t noticed it.”

 

“So then, it’s your loss.”  From her voice and manners, this Jessica was provoking us.

 

“Come on, isn’t there anything left?” I asked, lowering my tone to keep the situation calm, “Can’t you set aside something for us, at least?”

 

“Are you trying to give orders to me?”

 

“Uh, no.  Sorry about that.”

 

“Well, as long as you know your place here, boy, that’s fine with me.” Jessica smiled; her eyes had that haughty look.

 

This bitch…

 

“M-mister Kuro, Eris thinks we should just g-go…” Eris pulled my sleeves.

 

However, I got something else on my mind.

 

“Uhh…Kitchen Head Maid…” Well, I didn’t know what to call this bitch, Jessica.  If I used her name, she might go ballistic once again, and I’d like to avoid that.  “Could it be possible if I asked for some ingredients to cook?”

 

“What?  You’re cooking?” the bitch asked, as if I said the most outrageous statement she heard.  Well, isn’t it obvious, bitch?  But, of course, I didn’t say that.  If there’s a saying ‘beggars can’t be choosers’, I had that ‘beggars can’t be fighters’.  I’d just went along with her in the meantime…

 

“Uh, I guess I’m confident with my cooking skills.” I took care of my words, “However, it’s worst compared to yours, Kitchen Head Maid.”

 

“Well, of course!” the bitch replied with her usual arrogance, “Don’t compare trash with gold, boy.”

 

This girl’s getting into my nerves…

 

“And don’t you dare touch my utensils.  You might get me pregnant.”

 

Err…seriously?  You believe in that, bitch?

 

“Uh, if I may speak, science has proven that touching your utensils—and even our skins—won’t get you pregnant…”

 

“Huh?  Sayans?  What’s that?”

 

“Uhh…it’s something that runs the entire world.  Err…well, at least in my old land.”

 

“I don’t care about your land.” the bitch then turned her back on me, “Use those old kitchen utensils at the back, I don’t want you touching any of my exquisite tools.”

 

Yes, don’t worry, the feeling is mutual, bitch.

 

But yeah, Jessica gave me something to cook in the end.

 

 

Now prepare to be amazed!

 

I finally finished cooking the ingredients the Kitchen Head Bitch—ahem, I mean Maid—Jessica gave me.  It’s a pretty simple dish; something that I always cook back in my old world.

 

“…”

 

“Uh…what’s this garbage?” the Bitch had a horrified expression, “It doesn’t have an attractive color, smells terrible, and it’s only chicken meat and some seasonings.”

 

Eris also had the same anxious face when she saw the food that I prepared.  Of course, to the rich and diverse cuisine of this world, my cooking paled in comparison.  Well, sorry it turned out like that, but hey, it’s a popular food back in my country.

 

“Ahem.” I tried to save face, insisting that, “It’s a famous food back in my country, you know.”

 

“Your country is trash then.”

 

Bitch, don’t just spout whatever nonsense you come up with.

 

I kept quiet about it, and instead talked to the one I originally cooked this for, “Well, if you’re not eating this Eris, then I’ll go ahead.”

 

“Uh, oh!  Eris would also like to eat that!” she tried to smile at me to appear enthusiastic; however, I could see that she’s just pushing herself.  But yeah, I still gave her some portions of my food.

 

“Ugh, I can’t stand both of you eating that garbage.” the Bitch declared, shaking her head as she headed for the door, “I’m leaving!  Just don’t forget to clean after yourselves!”

 

Fine with me!  No one invited you to eat anyway, Bitch!  Shoo!

 

“Oh!”

 

“!!!”

 

It was Eris who exclaimed.  The Bitch and I turned to see what’s wrong.

 

“Hawawawawawa…” Eris’ expression seemed to be on ‘cloud nine’.  She kept on putting spoonfuls of my dish in her mouth.

 

“I’m glad that you like it!” I couldn’t help but smile when I looked at her.  At least someone appreciated my skills.

 

“Mister Kuro!” Eris’ eyes were sparkling, “The saltiness, sweetness, and sourness of the seasonings you used blended well with the slightly roasted chicken meat!”

 

The Bitch had her ears perked up now, her full attention fell on me.  I thought you’re leaving?

 

“What do you call this dish?” Eris happily asked.

 

“Oh, that?” I chuckled, “It’s called ‘Adobo’.”