It’s a certainty. This is definitely a sure win.

Siel. That’s the name of the protagonist’s companion mentioned in the spoiler post I read before getting absorbed into this world.

I recall that she was a young half-elf abandoned by her own kind.

Wait… Elf?

As I thought of her race, I closely examined the area around Siel’s ears.

Sure enough, hidden beneath her hair, they were somewhat pointed compared to a regular person’s. Her skin was also remarkably pale.

Her black hair might not scream “elf,” but since she’s a half-elf, it makes sense if we consider it a mix of traits from different races.

“…?”

Maybe my blatant staring seemed a bit weird; Siel shot me a curious look.

Feeling a bit awkward, I quickly averted my gaze and pretended nothing had happened.

Given her personality, she didn’t seem inclined to ask me anything. Without further thought, she simply turned her head back and continued toward the mining area.

In any case, I confirmed that this girl was indeed the Siel from the spoilers.

I scrambled to remember the details from that spoiler post I’d read.

Siel’s backstory was… something about elves exiling her due to some bizarre superstition, deeming her an ominous child.

Ominous, her?

I couldn’t help but question the intelligence of those elves.

She looks just pretty, doesn’t she? With her slightly dopey and blank expression, there’s nothing about her that screams “evil.”

What kind of ludicrous superstition could compel an entire race to abandon a child?

I couldn’t make sense of it, but that wasn’t the pressing issue at hand.

Now that I was here, what I had to do was clear.

An opportunity had practically rolled in, and there was no way I could let it pass.

Somehow, I had to make this girl my ally. That became a top priority, even more urgent than escaping.

‘I need to become friends with her quickly…’

Just as I sat there thinking about that, my mind suddenly hit a brick wall.

Come to think of it… how do you become friends with a little girl?

In an instant, my mind went blank.

Well, it’s kind of to be expected.

Being overly knowledgeable about how to befriend kids would be downright creepy. No, it would involve criminal intent!

Even how I made friends back in elementary school was hazy in my memory.

The ideas that popped into my head, like offering candy to foster friendship, seemed not only uncreative but outright pathetic.

‘…This is driving me insane.’

A sigh slipped out naturally.

And to make things even worse, her stony demeanor left no room for swinging open the gate of friendship.

But what can I do? Pondering how to get this girl’s cooperation was a million times better than brooding over how to escape on my own, like before.

Whether it ends up being a “success” or “failure,” I just have to give it a shot!

*

I was wrong. This kid isn’t a human; she’s a block of wood, a block of wood!

Over these two weeks, I’ve done everything imaginable to build some affection with her.

I’ve shared food, taught her various things, defended her from bullies.

I’ve done practically everything one could do.

Yet, the results are as stale as day-old bread!

Usually, after this level of kindness, you’d expect some sort of greeting when we meet, or at least hanging out together naturally, right?

But nope! This kid acts exactly the same as she did when we first met. The only reason we’re together now is that I approached her, not the other way around.

And the problems don’t end there.

“Eat faster! You won’t even eat halfway before mealtime ends!”

Despite my persistent nagging, Siel continues to nibble on her bread like a rabbit with that blank expression still plastered on her face.

It’s become so routine for me to scold her like this that it’s now just another part of my daily life.

In other words, I’ve completely attached myself to this little brat.

I know it sounds ridiculous, but I can’t help it.

These kids seem to have dozens of snakes hidden in their hearts. They’re way sneakier and more conniving than most adults I know.

But Siel is the opposite.

She’s as transparent as a window. Totally empty-headed.

If left to her own devices, she’d get whipped or have her food stolen.

What’s even more frustrating is that she’s just taking it without putting up a fight!

It’s as if I’ve ended up caring for her like a pet, thinking she’d just wither away if I didn’t.

‘Is she really an elf?’

Looking at her strange senses and inhuman reactions, she’s definitely an elf, no doubt about it.

But it doesn’t make sense for even an abandoned half-elf to be this weak, to just be taken advantage of like this.

Considering how elves were portrayed in the last story, she should at least possess the skills to escape from here.

So, why on earth is she sticking around?

“……”

While I was lost in thought about this incomprehensible girl, Siel suddenly turned her gaze toward me.

Having been at this for a while, I feel like I’m starting to grasp this creature’s language.

It’s the kind of look someone gives when they want to ask something.

“Is there something you want to say?”

“Aren’t you eating?”

Hearing that, I looked back at my own tray.

Indeed, there’s still one piece of bread left.

It was the only food I desperately sought to preserve during the early days of my possession.

But now… I just can’t bring myself to eat it.

Is this what they mean by the curse of knowledge?

I wish I could be like the other kids and just pick off the moldy bits.

Why did I have to learn that mold is like the flag bacteria plant after conquering food?

And it’s not just about hygiene; it tastes awful. No, it goes beyond awful—it tortures my tongue!

“…You eat. I’m just not in the mood today.”

So, once again, I offered the bread to Siel.

I don’t want to be picky about food to the point of risking starvation. But I’m just not feeling hungry yet.

Probably due to how robust this healthy body is.

I could probably survive without food for a week or so.

‘Besides, I’ve saved up some supplies; I can just eat them if I get hungry.’

It’s better to pass it on to Siel here.

As for winning her affection… well, I’ve already written that off long ago. But still, feeding her feels surprisingly fulfilling, like caring for a pet. Just watching her seems to offer some comfort.

After handing the bread to Siel, I intended to spend the remaining mealtime thinking about future plans.

Or so I thought.

“…? What are you doing?”

But the sensation of the bread I offered to Siel didn’t leave my hand. She seemed completely uninterested in taking the piece I gave her.

Our eyes met once more. And unusual for her, Siel asked a question this time.

“Why?”

Usually, I’d lecture this elf about providing more details or explaining the context to make her questions understandable.

But strangely, I felt overwhelmed by the atmosphere she was radiating.

“Why are you doing this for me?”

Her tone was neither accusatory nor scolding.

Just pure curiosity. An emotion that conveyed she couldn’t comprehend my actions at all.

“Is there something wrong with the bread you ate earlier? Take this quickly; my arm’s getting tired.”

That was my response to Siel. However, what she said next made no sense at all.

“You should be the one eating this.”

When you look at the words alone, they seem normal.

It’s the sentiment that she felt guilty for always receiving while insisting I should take it instead.

But her expression?

That’s completely baffling.

Throughout these two weeks…

Even when she was whipped or when other kids stole her food and left her hungry, she never looked as sorrowful as she did now.

“You haven’t eaten anything for days.”

…That’s when I finally understood her reaction.

Well, I had been relying on my abilities and opted not to eat. But how did that appear to her?

And the more I thought about it, more pieces began to click into place.

Being an elf, she might not be susceptible to mana addiction, but since I’m totally immune, it made more sense for me to handle the mining and cover her share.

Since I feel minimal pain due to my abilities and heal quickly, I’ve even received some of her whippings.

Once I connected the dots, it made a little more sense.

It’s somehow comforting to realize she hasn’t completely ignored my efforts. It’s reassuring to think the attachment isn’t one-sided after all.

But still…

There’s something slightly off about this.

‘Is this such a sad situation?’

If she’s thankful, why not just say “thank you”?

“Why?”

Siel asks again, and even though her question is still lacking context, I understood her intent.

So, I pondered.

Why did I help her?

Because she is the protagonist in the game, so she must be strong.

Because I wanted her to be my ally and help me in return.

Because the more I watched her, the more it felt like she would just fade away if left alone, so I wanted to take care of her.

Because, somehow, I’ve become attached to her.

There are way too many reasons. But how on earth do I explain that?

Ding, ding!

As I mulled over this, the bell rang.

It’s a signal to gather.

Considering there’s still time left for the meal, this sudden announcement likely means some fool broke the rules and is about to face public execution.

Regardless, I need to hurry to the assembly area.

So I ended up voicing the first answer that came to mind.

“Because, it’s just you.”

But why?

At that moment, I wondered why Siel made such a strange face?

There’s absolutely no way for me to know.