"Dirt Dirt, how is it? Is it tasty?" [Hmm! It doesn’t taste very good! What on earth is this supposed to taste like!?] "Really? Then the rest is just for us..." [Leave it! Since I made it, I might as well eat some!] "Hehe! Eat a lot, Dirt Dirt!"

Charlotte cheerfully smiled as she handed over the tray piled high with donuts. Dirt Dirt sat in the field, gulping down the donuts one by one. Soon, his eyes squinted with happiness.

Even though his words were prickly, it seemed to suit his palate. Charlotte had grown accustomed to Dirt Dirt's way of speaking.

"I made these! What do you think?" "I-I helped too! I was in charge of the dough." "I was in charge of dunking the donuts in sugar cream!"

And frying was all the maids' responsibility. ...But I conveniently omitted that part.

The difficult, labor-intensive, and dangerous tasks were all handled by the maids. They even took the risk of blocking Aslan’s approach, knowing they might get scolded later. When I tried to thank them, they insisted that just existing in this mansion was already a huge help to us. They turned down my offer with some incomprehensible excuse.

[Is this the delicacy of humans? Their finest food is nothing special.] "It's not the finest food! There are plenty of things tastier than donuts!" [...What!?]

Charlotte puffed out her chest as she spoke. Just a few months ago, the most delicious thing she had tasted was the dry pastries brought by the orphanage director during visits from the sponsors, but since coming to this mansion, that pastry had fallen far behind.

Now, for Charlotte and Yulia, food was no longer just a means of getting energy. Food was something to be savored. Every day, as new menus appeared, it was a continuous journey of discovering new flavors.

[Ugh! Don’t tell me lies! Are humans eating delicacies like this every day? Three times a day?] "If you include snacks, we eat them even more often." [This can't be...!]

The humans who needed to consume nutrients for survival were considered dull and inferior. To think that meals are not shackles but blessings...! In that moment, Dirt Dirt’s world, which he had known for 1,000 years, crumbled around him.

[What! Why is it that only you humans get to eat such delicacies!!!] "I didn’t ask for it..." [From now on, give it to me!] "Alright. But it feels a bit wrong to share every meal. I’ll share snacks!" [Hahaha! The negotiation is settled!]

Tightly. Dirt Dirt clasped hands with Yulia and Charlotte.

The thought that humans were enjoying such delicious things alone is infuriating! It’s truly a pity that he’s been holed up for 1,000 years, accumulating power without knowing this kind of thing! As a creature with a lifespan akin to that of a mayfly, one should enjoy life to the fullest. While preparing for his next hibernation, he thought he should enjoy himself for a little while. Just... about 100 years? He’d enjoy just that long, then start gathering strength again.

Dirt Dirt resolved in his heart. To accept the tributes brought by those little brats, he felt he needed to stay here for a while.

This time it was because I wanted to! Not because I was forced to be tied down by that annoying little brat and that noisy one! Because I wanted to! Thinking that, Dirt Dirt found this place he so desperately wanted to escape from to be a little better.

"I'm glad to see you all made up."

Aslan looked down from the window, a smirk on his lips.

That Dirt Dirt. Were the donuts really that tasty? I had donuts made with the full effort of Charlotte and Yulia, who decorated them with sweat. And he would only get to eat some casually cream-covered donuts.

Aslan chuckled, basking in his superiority.

"Master... The donuts are going to go stale... You should eat them quickly..." "I’ll eat them when I want to."

The maids looked at Aslan with concern. That smile was always so unsettling...

How long did he plan to leave a bitten donut sitting there? If left alone, it would spoil quickly, and bugs would swarm! Yet, Aslan still showed no intention of eating the donuts.

"Are they not to your taste?" "I don’t know. I don’t think I’ve seen you eat anything sweet much..." "Ugh. What should I do? Charlotte and Yulia worked hard to make them."

The maids whispered to each other with worried looks. Aslan glanced down at the donuts, grinding his teeth. This shocked the maids. Is he really feeling that upset?

'Damn it. I can’t just eat it, it feels too wasteful.'

How am I supposed to eat this? This isn’t just a simple donut; it’s a work of art. Can’t you see this fantastic decoration crafted just for me?

A one-of-a-kind donut, unique to this world, meant only for me. The moment I took a bite, I realized. If I eat it all, I would achieve immense satisfaction.

But how would I cope with the emptiness that follows? What about the guilt of having destroyed a work of art with my own hands? Aslan’s clenched fist trembled.

'Should I store it in the fridge? No, no...'

There was the option to store it in the fridge to prevent spoilage. But Aslan quickly shook his head in denial. The fridge is a place that Charlotte and Yulia often access. The shock of seeing the donuts, which he painstakingly made, being left there would be something he could not bear. In reality, it would be too painful to eat it all, but it would certainly appear as though it were neglected.

If only time could stop. If only this moment wouldn’t flow away. Why must all beautiful things eventually decay? With tears brimming in his eyes, Aslan picked up the donut with his trembling hand.

"You’re eating while crying...?" "Is it that bad...?" "It’s strange. It shouldn’t be..."

Regardless, I have to eat before they spoil. With tears streaming down, Aslan savored the donut. Yulia’s donut wasn’t just beautiful in appearance; it was overwhelmingly delicious. And Charlotte’s donut, seemingly haphazardly topped, had a harmony that surpassed expectations.

"Haah..."

The donuts vanished. But the satisfaction surpassed all expectations. It was the moment Aslan was engulfed in ecstasy, swallowing his tears.

"Master. Have you finished the samples?" "...What did you say?" "Since I made a bit too many while cooking... All of these were made by Charlotte and Yulia for you." "..."

At that moment, clatter. Maid rushed in, pushing a mobile tray. The tray was filled with plates of donuts on the first, second, and third layers.

Ah.

"Um... If you can’t finish them, shall we throw them away?" "No. Leave them here. Whether you throw them away or not, I’ll handle it." "Understood, Master."

Am I crazy? Why would I throw away something the kids worked hard on? If it’s to be discarded, it should go into my stomach.

Ah, but how am I supposed to eat all that? If I want to eat it all before it spoils, I have to finish it by tomorrow. It looks like I’ll have to fix the menu to donuts until dinner tomorrow.

...Just the thought makes my stomach churn.

...

"Delicious..."

Chomp chomp. As I stuffed the warm bacon and bread from the tray into my mouth, Yulia’s eyes widened.

The dining hall of the Mage Academy? I couldn’t use it because it was uncomfortable. Whenever I entered, everyone would run away, so I could never visit without feeling guilty. I didn’t know how tasty it was, but the meals provided by Vermont Security were a true feast.

Certainly, they were made from nothing extravagant or grand, but it had been ages since I had eaten something this warm and delicious.

'I thought it was a shady company that took on Vermont’s dirty work, but isn’t it a place filled with human warmth...?'

I had thought this was naturally a place to raise the warriors who would risk their lives for Vermont. But the only thing that was demanding was occasional training. The quality and quantity of the gear provided were excellent, and every meal was fulfilling. They even ensured ample sleep time and days off, making it an incredibly stable job.

Moreover, just the other day, we successfully carried out an operation to evacuate the residents of the Arient region from the monsters. The morale of the staff was sky-high. Before I knew it, bonds had begun to form among my peers.

'I thought they would teach me how to quickly gain strong techniques, but there seems to be none...'

How to become stronger? Practice swinging my sword without resting. That was the mindset of Instructor Sylvia. Who doesn’t know such basic methods! I want to become stronger quickly!

Yulia felt as if she was going to go crazy from the frustration.

'Ah. By the way, the exam period is approaching. What should I do...?'

To make matters worse, next week is exam week. If I want to study, there’s simply not enough time to dedicate to training. Fortunately, Vermont Security had implemented a flexible work schedule, where I received a salary based on how many days I came to work.

Ugh. If I pass this exam, I’ll have vacation. During the vacation, I’ll train with Instructor Sylvia the whole time.

'I feel like I can see a way forward now.'

Until now, I had only thought magic was the path. Surprisingly, holding a sword has allowed me to discover my aptitude. What can I say? As soon as I grab a sword, my body moves on its own. In fact, Yulia was showing exceptional growth in sword training, outpacing anyone else.

'Even the instructor trains a lot...'

After finishing my meal, Yulia’s mouth fell shut as she headed toward the storage in the back. I had heard that she was a mountain of strength, and I thought it would be impossible to bring her down during sparring. She had once served in a knight order, right?

An elite among elites. A human weapon. A living tactical weapon. Was there really a place where such a person aimed for even greater heights?

In that moment, I felt ashamed of my former self, who only wished to gain power quickly.

"Ah. Yulia... what is it?" "It’s nothing. I was just curious about what you’re looking at while training..." "I look at what I want to protect. When I think of precious things and people, I cannot be lax in training." "Ah..." "But I suppose that’s not the answer you wanted, huh? More honestly, I’m aiming for the realm above Sword Expert." "Sword Expert? Is that a thing?" "Yes. It's called Swordmaster, not simply in the realm of humans, but also in the realm of the divine, hence it’s sometimes referred to as the domain of demigods." "Swordmaster...!"

So that’s a thing! I thought that the instructor being a Sword Expert meant she was the strongest, but there was a realm beyond that. Someday, I must surpass Instructor Sylvia, Vermont's bodyguard, and my goal from now on is to become a Swordmaster.

At that moment, Yulia’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

"Instructor! I have a message from the mansion!" "Let me see."

A staff member rushed in, breathlessly handing over a letter. Sylvia tore open the seal, and her expression froze.

"Is work coming in?"

Isn’t that a good thing? Why does she look so frightened?

"From His Majesty the Emperor...?"

Ah.