"No, that's absolutely not it."
Spending time flirting with a beautiful girl is definitely charming and wonderful.
I can say that with confidence because right now, I'm being pampered by Rozaria in full-on mega-dere mode in real time.
I mean, it's such an insanely awesome situation that just imagining it is enough—do I even need to explain?
To be honest, during that week when I was supposed to be recovering, Rozaria took the initiative to look after me.
She brought me everything I needed and cared for me like a baby.
At this level, the convenience here in this other world matches modern quality pretty well, doesn't it?
Who needs modern gadgets when our Rozaria can handle everything by hand?
'I did feel a bit guilty, though...'
So I told her not to worry too much and that if she really wanted me to do something for her, I'd be happy to return the favor.
It felt weird, like I was treating her more like a servant than a friend helping out.
But Rozaria just smiled brightly and said it was only natural for her to take responsibility since it was her fault I ended up like this.
She even said she was so happy just being by my side that she didn't need anything else, dropping lines that made my heart race.
Yeah, and from how much I'm praising Rozaria here...
She was taking incredibly good care of me.
Honestly, any more care than this would be theoretically impossible.
"This isn't Rozaria's problem—it's mine."
I gave up the computer and tablet and chose Rozaria instead.
Normally, anyone would pick her; she's providing me with perfect care.
She's even giving me heartwarming love on top of that.
But the moment that week was up, withdrawal symptoms from not drawing hit me like a ghost.
There was no escaping it; my personality is basically a curse at this point.
Sorry, Rozaria. It seems I've become someone who can't live without drawing...
"Huh? Kali, why are you in the kitchen?"
"Making breakfast?"
"What? Your body's still... You need more rest!"
No, how long do you plan on treating me like an invalid?
I've recovered a lot overall, and with Rozaria's periodic healing magic, I basically feel fully healed.
So today, I took over meal prep from Rozaria, who'd been handling it every day.
"Just eat."
"You stole my job..."
"I have a conscience, you know. I can't keep making you do servant work now that I'm better."
We weren't using the household staff in the first place to avoid reports back to my parents.
In the end, it's my fault a high-class talent like Rozaria is stuck with chores, and my conscience can't allow that.
Better if I do it myself.
"Is it good?"
"Yeah, decently tasty."
But Rozaria wasn't touching the soup I'd told her to eat; she was just staring at me intently.
I asked what was up, and she said she couldn't even feed me anymore, looking all sad.
"Want me to say 'ahh'?"
"Yeah! I want to feed you! But you keep saying you're fine and doing everything alone..."
"Having you feed me every time would be a bit much... But maybe a few spoonfuls? I hear couples do it sometimes."
"Ah, yeah...!"
She perks up the second I mention 'couple.' So cute.
Man, she's nothing like the prickly tsundere Rozaria from my memories. It's weirding me out.
How did that sharp-tongued girl turn into this mega-dere who lights up just seeing me?
Not that I mind the gap—in fact, I love it.
"Hehe, tasty?"
"Yeah. My turn to feed you now."
"Eh? Whoa...!"
Why's she so flustered?
If you're getting, you gotta give sometimes.
She acts like she never expected anything from me in return, so every little thing I do touches her deeply. Kinda weird feeling.
Though it's a happy weird, knowing someone like her likes me.
"Ahm... Hehe, somehow it tastes even better being fed like this."
"Really? Should I feed you more then?"
"Th-that's okay?"
"It's not hard or anything... You've been doing this for days."
All while insisting I rest for recovery and freaking out if I moved.
I've seen her indulge her selfish desire to feed me plenty of times.
Of course, I happily let her since it made me feel good too.
"Kinda disappointing."
"Huh?"
"It'd be nice to keep this up longer, but you'll be heading to the academy soon. Won't see you for a while."
"That's..."
She stopped eating, clung to me, and whined with an unfairly aggrieved look, saying she should've confessed sooner if she'd known it'd be this happy.
Even so, her shy personality kept her from asking for anything too intense.
She's mega-dere for me now, but that doesn't rewrite her core personality.
"K-Kali... Um, d-do you maybe want a k..."
"Grown taller lately? Dunno."
Of course, I knew she meant a kiss.
She's trying to nudge things further but too embarrassed to say it.
Unaware I'm teasing on purpose, she muttered to herself about what an idiot she was for not speaking up.
Ah, she's too adorable...
"Oh, where can I buy pens or paper? Brushes, paints, canvas—anything like that."
This is a medieval-based world, but magic means clean white paper and printing should be advanced, right?
Actually, magic brings life quality close to Earth's modern era.
Lucky break in this mess.
So I figured basic drawing supplies should be available and asked.
No computer or tablet means no digital art, which sucks.
But going without drawing entirely? Impossible for me. Gotta use whatever tools I can.
"Paints and canvas...? You're gonna learn magic!?"
"Huh? Why's magic suddenly come up?"
I gave her a genuinely confused look.
She stared back like I was the weird one, amazed.
Like, how do you not know this basic stuff?
'Nah, I've only cared about swordsmanship.'
If I'd had Kim Siwoo's memories from childhood, maybe I'd have been into magic.
But Kali? Lived solely to master the sword and uphold the family name.
Magic knowledge? Only tips for dueling mages.
"To cast magic, you have to draw a magic circle."
"...Right?"
Unlike some fantasy novels with chants or spinning circles...
Here, you must draw the magic circle in midair to activate spells.
That's why Rozaria always carries her magic pen or wand.
"So what would you do with a brush and canvas?"
"Draw pictures?"
"And if you can draw pictures that well, what else could you draw?"
"...Magic?"
Her spot-on explanation hit me, and I got it instantly.
Because of the shared act of 'drawing,' painters and mages are lumped together here.
I asked if I had it right, and she nodded, continuing.
"Drawing is basically a hobby for mages in this world."
That's the perception here.
Learning to draw is like an intro to magic.
Conversely, masterful artwork always comes from skilled mages as a pastime.
In this merit-based society with guaranteed minimum status...
Drawing is...
'A hobby exclusive to nobles. Someone skilled enough might even rise from commoner to noble...'
Obviously, art holds massive value here.
Beyond aesthetics, it's the legacy of great archmages, adding extra worth.
Rozaria added that within the empire, especially noble circles, painting is a highly refined hobby.
"I can draw decently myself. Want me to do your portrait sometime?"
"Sure, hit me up later."
Curious what a genius like her paints.
And what art styles developed here.
Wait, didn't she say it's a major hobby?
"Are there exhibitions or anything?"
"Of course. Works by famous mages or anonymous masters regularly hit exhibitions and auctions."
"Whoa..."
I really wanna check that out.