Chapter 84

The interior design of the restaurant had also completely changed.

Seeing how it had become as beautiful as the exterior, I admired it inwardly.

There was only a single table placed inside the restaurant.

Sitting on the chair, I looked up at Dominic sitting across from me.

He had adjusted only the chair he would sit on to fit his size, while lowering the table to a height suitable for me.

At this rate, it would be difficult for Dominic to eat comfortably.

“Dominic-ssi. You don’t have to accommodate me.”

It could be solved by having me sit on a taller chair. While I was hurriedly getting up, something came to mind.

“Uh…. Come to think of it, I was supposed to prepare a dish for you, Dominic-ssi…?”

The Flame Dragon!

I had promised Dominic that I would make a dish using the Flame Dragon.

I couldn’t believe I had forgotten something so important. I was practically breaking out in a cold sweat.

‘Where did the Flame Dragon go? Don’t tell me it ran away? That can’t happen.’

As I hurriedly tried to get up from my chair, Dominic stopped me with a smile.

“Please remain seated, Roasted Chestnut.”

“But I also received a quest from you, Dominic-ssi….”

“There is no need to worry. Things like that are merely a formality.”

He calmly explained to me that things were sufficient now, and that the cooking could be left to someone else.

“I will also give you the quest reward, Roasted Chestnut, so you do not need to worry.”

I felt extremely sorry toward him.

Throughout my stay in Sla2Plate, I had coaxed him along with the excuse that I would make him food, yet now I wasn’t able to do anything for him.

Dominic instead comforted me, who was feeling apologetic.

“For now, I have only come to the restaurant to enjoy delicious food with Roasted Chestnut.”

A waiter approached the side of the table.

The one wearing a neat waiter uniform was made entirely of black metal.

Dominic removed his gloves and ordered something unfamiliar.

“One glass of Amontillado.”

The waiter who received the order brought out wine.

The waiter poured wine into the very small glass placed in front of me. An oyster dish to accompany it was also placed down.

‘Do people normally drink wine from glasses this small?’

I looked at the golden alcohol with curiosity.

I didn’t particularly want to drink.

However, since it was an apéritif, and Dominic had ordered it for me, I brought the glass to my lips.

I emptied the entire glass of alcohol with a savory nutty aroma.

It tasted better than I expected. Perhaps because of the alcohol, I felt a little excited.

The waiter filled my glass again.

I glanced at the waiter from the corner of my eye.

Seeing the smooth metal face without eyes reminded me of the butlers at Clean3.

‘I miss the butlers.’

While thinking of the people I missed, the Master spoke to me.

“It is not a formal full-course meal, but it should be more than enough for something to enjoy lightly.”

Hearing that it had been prepared simply and casually, I smiled and replied that it sounded good.

Then, for some reason, the Master stared at me quietly.

“Oh my, Roasted Chestnut….”

Then he smiled while narrowing his eyes as if troubled.

“Just as expected, it is difficult to control.”

The Master said something I couldn’t understand and tapped the table lightly with his fingertips.

His long, straight fingers made a very small and light sound.

Yet strangely, to me, it felt as if someone was directly pounding on my brain.

A brief but intense pain flashed through me.

I let out a gasp and grabbed my head with both hands.

Then, after a moment, I slowly lowered my hands.

I couldn’t understand why I had suddenly done something so strange as grabbing my head.

As I stared at my hands in confusion, Dominic called out to me.

“Roasted Chestnut.”

“Yes, Dominic-ssi.”

“Fortunately. From now on, this amount should be appropriate.”

“Pardon?”

“It is nothing. Shall we drink a little more sherry?”

While waiting for the food to arrive, Dominic continued conversing with me.

It was mostly a beneficial time where he gave me appropriate advice.

“Roasted Chestnut is too lenient with your subordinates. I fully understand wanting to treat them well, but you should not accept everything they do. They are ultimately nothing more than possessions belonging to Roasted Chestnut. You must teach them to have the heart of serving their master.”

I only nodded while eating the consommé soup.

“There is also no need to be unnecessarily generous toward humans. You must show coldness toward those who try to handle a young god however they please.”

From what I roughly gathered, Dominic seemed to be misunderstanding the situation as me, a naive young god, being abused on Earth…

I had thought he was treating me well because he was my contractor, but it seemed there was also this reason.

I should have told him from the beginning that Earth was not my possession, but the roots of this misunderstanding had grown too deep, making it difficult to correct.

For now, I simply replied that I understood and moved on.

“How did you come to know the one you received help from this time?”

“Ah, Black Block-ssi?”

The moment Dominic heard my words, he immediately laughed.

“You gave him a cute nickname.”

I told him why I called him Black Block, and how I came to know him.

Dominic was an attentive listener, so it was enjoyable telling him the story.

He reacted appropriately to my words and listened carefully.

“So there were such circumstances. However, you need to be careful. Beings of that level tend to become troublesome once they develop an interest.”

Dominic’s blue eyes shone as he spoke playfully.

“You must not make a contract with another god without my permission, Roasted Chestnut.”

I replied that I would absolutely never make a contract.

One alien in my life, Dominic, was already enough.

After talking about various other things, the flatfish dish arrived.

Dominic quietly waited until I finished the final piece of fish.

“Actually, there is something I want to ask.”

Why had he waited instead of asking earlier?

When I looked at him curiously, Dominic met my gaze and asked quietly.

“Were you upset earlier?”

I didn’t understand what he meant by the question, so I waited for what he would say next. His low voice reached me.

“Because I did not help you.”

I had asked him to find the Flame Dragon’s horn, and he had politely refused.

“Did you not say you would serve me using only your own strength, Roasted Chestnut?”

At that moment, I thought I had managed my expression well, but it seemed Dominic had seen everything.

That wasn’t… exactly disappointment.

I had only been a little surprised when I encountered an unexpected refusal.

It was entirely my own fault as well.

I had casually refused his help whenever he offered it, yet when I asked for something, I had assumed he would naturally accept.

But honestly, the reason I had come to have such expectations was partly Dominic’s fault too.

Because Dominic had always wanted to help me.

He often asked if this was the moment he should step in and help.

Of course, I wasn’t so out of it that I would tell Dominic these thoughts exactly as they were.

However, when I stayed silent because I didn’t know how to make an excuse, Dominic let out a faint sigh.

“It is difficult. Knowing when I should help.”

“That’s… if Dominic-ssi helps me.”

I shouldn’t say it.

“Please speak honestly, Roasted Chestnut.”

To my hesitation, Dominic whispered as if revealing a secret.

“Everything is all right here.”

Then the words I had been suppressing immediately spilled out.

As if someone had reached a large hand inside me and pulled out my true feelings.

“…There are times when I am afraid.”

“Ah, you were afraid.”

“Yes…. Because it is always too much.”

“Hmm, too much.”

“You don’t only help me as much as I ask.”

I wanted to stop talking. But for some reason, I couldn’t.

“So I tried to solve things with my own strength whenever possible, but then because I kept doing that too much, I worried that Dominic-ssi seemed upset.”

“I understand, Roasted Chestnut. I should have realized sooner. I am sorry. It must have been very difficult.”

His polite apology carried such warmth that I felt embarrassed.

“No, it’s not that. It’s not something Dominic-ssi needs to apologize for. It’s my fault.”

Was I just needlessly scared?

Dominic only wanted to help me.

If I had talked honestly with him from the beginning, perhaps we could have found a better solution.

I felt an urge to tell him everything, but I held myself back.

Right now, I clearly distinguished between things I could say and things I could not.

I never mentioned that I was afraid Dominic might regain his memories if he kept using his power.

“Actually, only helping as much as Roasted Chestnut wants is not an easy thing.”

Dominic explained why he was unable to act exactly as I wanted.

I could understand completely.

To put it in an analogy, it was like holding an extremely thin pin that could snap at any moment and trying to poke a single speck of dust.

Realizing how rude it had been to ask him to use only a tiny portion of his power, I apologized again.

Dominic accepted my apology with a smile and then asked something I never expected.

“Roasted Chestnut. What would you like me to do from now on?”

I widened my eyes. It was a completely unexpected question.

The person in front of me seemed like he would accept anything I said.

Under his gentle gaze, my lips moved before my thoughts could catch up.

“Since I’ll ask you to help when I truly need it, could you only help me at those times?”

Using Dominic’s power was frightening.

Because of the prices that had to be paid when his power was used.

The results that far exceeded the limits of what I considered common sense.

And the fear that Dominic might become closer to his true nature and regain his memories.

I intended to continue trying my best not to rely on his power.

But in a truly dangerous moment.

When it felt like I was going to die, it would probably be better to ask him for help.

I had already made assumptions about it by myself.

1. I die, and Dominic is left alone.

2. I survive, but Dominic regains his memories.

The first option was the worst.

There was no way Dominic, left alone, would quietly continue living as a pudding slime.

The second option was better.

Because… in the second case, at least I could become the target of his anger.

If I was truly lucky, maybe it would end with just me.

“Roasted Chestnut.”

Dominic called my name gently.

I looked at Dominic with trembling eyes.

“Do not worry. It is all right. From now on, I will do as Roasted Chestnut wishes.”

“Dominic-ssi….”

It was at that moment when I was moved by his kindness.

The waiter appeared carrying the main dish and placed the plate in front of me.

“Today’s main course is a dish made from the eyes and heart of ■■■■.”

The explanation continued in a clear voice.

“To preserve the abundant flames possessed by ■■■■ completely, it has been cooked in its original form. It has been seared until crisp to lock in the juices, and as a garnish, ■■■■’s horns have been ground and added to enhance the flavor. We hope this will become a satisfying feast.”

I watched the waiter politely bow and disappear, then looked down at the plate placed only in front of me.

The red meat’s surface sparkled like rubies, making it look as though jewels had been served.

Its beautiful appearance, like a poisonous mushroom, made me feel as though I shouldn’t eat it.

First of all, it wasn’t polite for me to eat alone, so I tried pushing the plate toward Dominic.

However, Dominic refused.

“I would like Roasted Chestnut to eat it.”

“But for only me to eat….”

Dominic’s lips formed a strange curve. He urged me.

“Come, Roasted Chestnut. Please eat. Last time when I looked inside, you were still far too small. There were many injured places as well. You must have been hurt again when you were forcibly registered this time, so this should help.”

What was small? Injuries? What did he mean by saying he looked inside?

As I hesitated while holding the utensils, Dominic spoke as if advising me.

“During a period of growth, one must eat a balanced diet.”

I didn’t want to eat it.

An instinctive resistance blocked my throat. The longer I looked at it, the more I felt like I might vomit.

I looked up at Dominic with pleading eyes.

I hadn’t even said that I didn’t want to eat it, but he firmly said.

“It is not dangerous.”

“And if you eat this, speaking as a god will also become a little easier. Right now, every time Roasted Chestnut speaks, it puts a strain on you.”

…….

“Roasted Chestnut.”

A stern voice fell.

I had no choice but to pick up the fork.

And I stabbed the food….

Despite its flashy appearance, the texture I felt through the utensil was ordinary.

Gaining a little confidence, I cut the meat into a very small piece and put it into my mouth.

Carefully chewing, the taste was ordinary as well. 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 completely emptied the plate.

Only after confirming even the final swallow, the movement of my throat, did he show a satisfied expression.

“You did well, Roasted Chestnut.”

Since all I had done was diligently eat, the praise felt somewhat embarrassing.

I smiled awkwardly and was about to say that it was delicious and that I was looking forward to dessert.

“…!”

I grabbed my chest with my hand and collapsed.