(Erza's POV)
The soft morning light crept through the half-open window, casting faint golden lines across the floor. I lay there, still. Awake, but unmoving.
Yesterday's dinner still lingered in my mind.
Steak. Juicy, tender, perfectly seared—without a single rune, enchantment, or flame spell.
How could a mere human cook like that?
In my world, food was ceremonial. Magical. Crafted by elite dragon chefs who spent decades perfecting a single dish. And yet… that mortal, with nothing but iron pans and spices, created something that warmed my soul.
I used to eat alone in my castle.
A long golden dining table, the kind that echoed when you set your spoon down. Polished plates, embroidered tablecloths, chandeliers brighter than stars.
And silence.
Always silence.
But here—
In this tiny apartment with mismatched chairs and a cracked dining table—I laughed. I tasted joy.
And I wasn't alone.
Tch. I hate how that thought makes my chest feel... light.
I slowly sat up, brushing my long hair over one shoulder. Beside me, Yuuta was still asleep—face smushed against the pillow, blanket half-kicked off, snoring like a baby bear who lost a fight with a wind spirit.
Honestly, how does someone sleep like that?
I stood up quietly, careful not to wake him, and walked toward the living room. The air was cooler out here. A gentle hum came from the fridge—still such a strange, boxy magicless device, yet it kept things cold with impressive consistency.
There was still so much I didn't understand about this world.
And if I was going to stay here—even for a while—I needed to learn.
Thankfully, dragons are quick to adapt.
We were born in fire, raised in war, and trained to read entire tomes in a single night. We don't fear change—we dominate it.
I picked up the remote and turned on the television.
This strange box… it was absurd how much information it held. One channel spoke of world news, another showed culinary competitions, another broadcast the rise and fall of kingdoms—governments, as they call them here.
It was fascinating.
If Yuuta truly applied himself, he could learn so much from this world. He could rise to power, influence leaders, shape this era in ways no king or dragon ever could.
He could be a conqueror.
And you know what?
I might even be proud of him.
…But no.
He just wants to cook.
I sighed and leaned back on the couch. "What a waste of potential…"
Tch. Typical Human as expected.
To be continued…