Chapter 6: The Floating Island’s Blessing

“Wait just a moment. I’ll bring you a bowl of soup right away.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“I’m not charging you, so don’t refuse. I want to treat you.”

Unable to decline further, I nodded, and she hurried off to the kitchen.

She returned with a plate piled high with potato soup.

“Here, eat up.”

“Thank you for the meal.”

I took a spoonful of the potato soup.

Slurp.

“Wow!”

It was richer than any potato soup I’d ever tasted.

The sweet Potatoes blended with creamy milk, doubling the savory flavor. 

The onions harmonized perfectly, creating a balanced taste.

“This is amazing! No wonder you have so many customers.”

“Eat plenty. If it’s not enough, I’ll get you more.”

As expected, the innkeeper was a skilled cook.

I should try adding vegetables when I make potato soup next time.

“Did you bring the Potatoes?”

“Oh, right! I left the Potatoes by the back door. And carrots and onions too.”

“Oh my! I’d better get them into the storage before someone takes them!”

“They’re heavy. Let me help.”

“No need. My staff and I can handle it. Don’t worry, just eat slowly.”

She stopped me from getting up and rushed to the back door with excitement, as if retrieving a gift.

Slurp.

“Ah… this is really delicious.”

As I ate, I overheard chatter from another table.

“The food here has always been good, but hasn’t it gotten even better lately?”

“You think so too? I heard nearby restaurants are losing customers because everyone’s coming here.”

“With food this tasty, it’s no surprise.”

“That’s not all. The weird thing is, eating this potato soup makes me feel full of energy.”

“No way…”

“Look around. Everyone’s skipping home-cooked meals to eat breakfast here.”

“You’re probably imagining things.”

“Imagining? Look at that blacksmith over there, the stingy one. Why’s he paying for breakfast?”

“Huh? Really? That cheapskate’s buying breakfast?”

“They say after eating this potato soup, he can hammer iron twice as much in a day. There’s definitely something special in the ingredients.”

“That’s pretty amazing. Maybe I’ll feel full of energy today too.”

Murmur murmur.

A warm smile spread across my face. 

Hearing that the crops I grew were giving people strength felt good.

Chefs often say they feel full just watching people enjoy their food. 

I understood that now.

Though I didn’t cook the dishes, seeing people savor meals made from my crops filled my heart with something overwhelming.

This must be what pride feels like.

While lost in thought, the inn lady returned, her face beaming with excitement.

“The onions and carrots are so fresh~ You can tell they were grown with care!”

“Th-thank you. Haha.”

I felt shy. 

Grown with care? 

It only took three days.

“Here, this is for the crops.”

“Isn’t this a silver coin?”

She handed me a single silver coin. 

I brought the same amount as last time, but she paid double.

“No need to be surprised. They’re worth it.”

“Still… this is too much.”

“Look around the inn. Since we started using your crops, business has been so good we can barely keep up!”

“It’s because of your amazing cooking.”

“Hohoho. My cooking is pretty good~”

She gave my shoulder a thump, and it actually hurt a bit.

“But in all my years running this inn, I’ve never seen such an explosive response.”

“Explosive?”

“Customers know good food. They can tell we’re using quality ingredients.”

“Is that so? Haha.”

I didn’t know where to look under her lavish praise.

“Bring more next time. I’ll buy as much as you’ve got.”

“Really? That’d be great!”

“I’ve kept you too long. Finish your meal. Let me know if you need more.”

“If it’s not too much trouble, could I take some potato soup home? I’ve got family waiting.”

“Of course! Just wait a moment.”

Eating such delicious food made me think of the kids. 

They must be starving since I skipped breakfast to come here.

“Here, take this.”

She handed me a pot brimming with potato soup.

***

Back on the Floating Island, I shook the pot I’d brought from the inn.

“Hungry? I brought potato soup! Let’s have it with bread for lunch.”

“Wow! That looks delicious!”

“Chirp!”

“Just wait a sec. I’ll serve it up.”

I poured the still-warm potato soup into bowls.

“Here, Elenia first.”

“Thank you! What’s this bowl?”

“I got it at the market. A regular bowl would be too big for you.”

I’d bought a teaspoon and a small bowl just for Elenia.

“You’re kinder than you look.”

“What kind of person did you think I was?”

“Ahem. I won’t answer that.”

I could guess even without her saying.

Fairies don’t usually get along with humans, especially those who harm nature. 

If nature is destroyed, the fairies born from it disappear too.

“Try it. The inn lady’s cooking is amazing.”

“Thank you for the meal!”

Slurp.

“Wow!”

Elenia’s eyes sparkled.

“It’s really delicious!”

“Right?”

Slurp slurp.

Elenia moved her spoon frantically.

“You’ll choke. Eat slowly.”

“It’s too good to stop!”

Dorori stomped its feet, chirping that it wanted to eat too.

“Chirp!”

“Oh, sorry. I’ll give you a big serving for waiting.”

I ladled a generous portion of soup for Dorori, who dove into the bowl eagerly.

Being omnivorous, it ate anything happily.

“Tasty?”

“Chiiirp!”

Dorori flapped its wings.

I was glad I brought the soup. 

Seeing them so happy brought a warm smile to my face.

After feeding them, I started working the fields.

“Dragon Dung is the best~”

A song slipped from my lips. Thanks to Dragon Dung, my farming was thriving.

I planted Potato, onion, and carrot seeds all over.

The small plot I started with had grown quite large.

The fields were now filled with Potatoes, onions, and carrots yet to be harvested.

“Is lunch ready yet?”

“What? You ate so much this morning and you’re hungry again?”

“Ahem, growing kids need to eat well.”

“How old are you again?”

“Hmm… 500, maybe? Teehee!”

Elenia suddenly made a cute face and spoke in a childish tone.

I frowned for a moment but hid it so as not to hurt her feelings.

Well, 500 years old or not, she’s still a kid.

“Fine. While I cook, go dig up all the Potatoes in that field. I’m planting new ones.”

“What?”

“You know the saying: no work, no food.”

“That’s unfair!”

“Don’t like it? Then don’t eat. Your loss.”

“Ugh…”

Elenia pouted and flew off to the Potato field with a whoosh, grumbling like a kid sent on an errand.

“Alright, time to make lunch.”

A meal after sweating is worth more than any delicacy. Not that I’ve ever had a delicacy.

“Dorori, go down to the ground and pick up some good stones.”

Cooking over a campfire was inconvenient.

“Chirp!”

Dorori flew off with powerful wingbeats, brimming with energy.

While Dorori was gone, I washed and peeled Potatoes, carrots, and onions. 

The crops were so hearty that just a few filled a large pot.

“Chirp!”

“Back already?”

Dorori returned with handfuls of stones.

I stacked them to make a makeshift oven, placed the pot on it, and lit a fire.

Crackle crackle.

I sautéed the chopped vegetables in a pan, seasoning them with a pinch of salt.

Sizzle.

Then I cracked three eggs and fried them.

Soon, I had egg pancakes and stir-fried vegetables.

“Elenia, wash your hands and come eat.”

I shouted toward the Potato field, and Elenia flew to the well with a whoosh, her face lit with excitement.

“Thank you for the meal!”

“Chirp!”

Nom nom. Smack smack.

“Oh!”

“Tasty?”

“Your cooking’s pretty good. Where’d you learn?”

“I didn’t exactly learn. I picked it up naturally while taking kitchen duty at the orphanage.”

Looking after the younger kids at the orphanage must’ve improved my cooking without me noticing.

They always ate whatever I made happily.

“More!”

“Eat up and grow strong.”

“Just you wait. I’ll grow taller than you.”

“…Sure.”

She didn’t mean that seriously, right?

Pfft.

I let out a small chuckle.

Eating together like this felt peaceful.

It’s been five days since I was kicked out of the orphanage and came to the Floating Island.

Everything has changed 180 degrees.

No more worrying about where to sleep, and the fields are overflowing with food.

Best of all, I have family to share delicious meals with.

This is as happy a life as I could ask for.

As I savored this happiness—

Ding.

[The Floating Island is pleased with the heartwarming scene.]

[The Floating Island’s affinity increases by 10.]

[The Novice Caretaker is granted the authority to build a home.]

[Complete a house: 0/1]

An unexpected alert made my eyes widen.

“…A house?!”

At my shout, Elenia, who was engrossed in her soup, raised an eyebrow.

“The Floating Island told you to build a house? That means it’s accepting you!”

“Accepting me? It sounds like the Floating Island has feelings.”

“Why wouldn’t it? Like forests and seas, the Floating Island is alive.”

A smile spread across my face. Being acknowledged felt good.

“A house…”

Come to think of it, I should build one before winter. I can’t sleep outside forever.

“Hmm… what kind of house would be good?”

A wooden cabin? 

A brick house made of stone? 

Or maybe one made of clay?

Why not a two-story one? 

What should I put inside to make it cozy? 

Furniture, carpets…

Thump thump.

My heart raced at the thought of having my own house, something I’d always dreamed of.