As lunchtime rolls around, everyone gathers in the dining room to another lavish spread.
The table is covered with dishes I've never seen before. Roasted bird with golden-crisp skin, stuffed with fragrant herbs and what looks like crystallized fruit. A platter of grilled fish arranged in a spiral, each piece glazed with a shimmering amber sauce. Steamed dumplings the size of my fist, their translucent skins revealing colorful fillings inside. A whole roasted beast—some kind of horned deer—carved into perfect slices and garnished with edible flowers. Bowls of creamy soup that changes color as you stir it, shifting from pale green to soft purple. Skewers of vegetables and meat, charred on the outside and dripping with juices. Fresh bread shaped like twisted braids, still warm and releasing steam when broken open. And in the center, a towering cake layered with cream and berries, decorated with what appears to be spun sugar shaped like delicate butterflies.
The heroes stare at the spread with wide eyes.
[Daichi] "This is insane. Is every meal like this?"
[Yuki] "I've never seen food like this before!"
[Aiko] "It's so pretty I almost don't want to eat it."
[Takeshi] "Almost being the key word."
They dig in with enthusiasm, their earlier tension completely gone as they enjoy the meal.
Seraphina and Lucien are already at the table, and predictably, they're bickering.
[Seraphina] "You're using the wrong fork."
[Lucien] "It's a fork. It does the same thing."
[Seraphina] "There's an order to these things."
[Lucien] "There's also such a thing as overthinking."
[Seraphina] "You wouldn't understand refinement if it hit you in the face."
[Lucien] "I understand that food tastes the same regardless of which fork I use."
Daichi watches them argue and leans toward me.
[Daichi] "I guess vampires and angels are too different and don't get along, huh?"
[Wright] "Actually, they're married."
The entire table goes silent.
All five heroes turn to stare at Seraphina and Lucien.
[Takeshi] "Wait, what?"
[Yuki] "They're married?!"
[Aiko] "But they're always fighting!"
[Kenji] "That explains a lot, actually."
Seraphina and Lucien exchange glances.
[Seraphina] "Unfortunately."
[Lucien] "Regrettably."
Then they go back to eating.
The heroes look at each other, clearly trying to process this information.
Yuki turns to Vesper, who's sitting nearby.
[Yuki] "So, um, what do you do? Are you a mage?"
[Vesper] "I'm an arcane artificer."
[Yuki] "What's that?"
[Vesper] "I make artifacts. Magical items, enchanted tools, that sort of thing."
Seraphina's attention immediately shifts.
[Seraphina] "Oh? You're an artificer? I dabble in that as well. What's your specialty?"
[Vesper] "Utility enchantments, mostly. Storage items, preservation magic, things like that."
[Seraphina] "Fascinating. Have you worked with temporal stasis fields? I've been experimenting with applying them to wine storage."
[Vesper] "I haven't tried that yet, but the theory is interesting. You'd need to stabilize the mana flow to prevent degradation..."
[Seraphina] "Exactly! The key is maintaining consistent—"
They dive into a complicated conversation about enchantment theory, magical resonance, and arcane formulas that goes completely over my head.
Daichi nudges Yuki.
[Daichi] "You're such a nerd. Getting all excited about this other world stuff."
Yuki's face turns red, and she looks down at her plate.
[Yuki] "Sorry..."
[Wright] "Don't apologize. I'm also very into the other world thing. I love reading those types of manga."
All five heroes turn to stare at me.
[Takeshi] "Wait, were you also summoned to this world too?"
[Wright] "No. I chose to be reincarnated into this world. I'm retired, and I wanted to live the slow life that I read about in manga."
Silence.
[Daichi] "You... chose to come here?"
[Wright] "Yeah. Best decision I ever made."
[Yuki] "You read manga?!"
Her eyes are bright with excitement again.
[Wright] "All the time."
[Yuki] "What's your favorite? I love the ones where the protagonist starts a business in another world!"
[Wright] "Those are good. I'm partial to the farming ones. There's one about a guy who reincarnates to a forest and just grows vegetables."
[Takeshi] "Oh, I know that one! The one where he's given a super powerful farming tool and builds a massive farm with dragons?"
[Wright] "Exactly."
[Aiko] "I like the romance ones. The ones where the villainess gets reincarnated and has to avoid her bad ending."
[Yuki] "Those are great! Especially when she ends up changing the whole story."
[Daichi] "I prefer the strategy ones. Where the hero has some kind of tactical skill and outsmarts everyone."
We spend the next several minutes discussing manga. It's surprisingly fun. I haven't had a chance to talk about this with anyone since arriving here. It's times like these that I really miss Nyx.
Then Yuki's expression grows serious.
[Yuki] "I... I want to stay in this world."
Everyone looks at her.
[Yuki] "I don't like my world. My parents are never around. They are always traveling to other parts of the world having fun and leaving me alone with the maid to look after me. I grew up reading manga because it was all I had. Being in this world... it's like a dream come true."
Takeshi nods slowly.
[Takeshi] "I want to stay too. I don't have any parents or family. I grew up in an orphanage. This world seems interesting, aside from this kingdom. I want to explore it."
Aiko smiles and reaches over to take Takeshi's hand.
[Aiko] "I want to stay as well. I'm also from the orphanage—we grew up together. And I can't leave Takeshi alone in this world. He gets into too much trouble."
[Takeshi] "I do not."
[Aiko] "You absolutely do."
Kenji speaks up, his voice quiet but firm.
[Kenji] "I want to leave. I have a girlfriend back home. I miss her, and I need to get back to her as quickly as possible."
Daichi nods in agreement.
[Daichi] "Same. I can't handle being in a world where there's fighting and battles. I'd rather go back to my peaceful world without monsters and shady nobles."
He pauses.
[Daichi] "Besides, this world doesn't have video games."
[Wright] "We don't need to make a decision now. It's also not certain if there's even a way to send you back. For now, just eat and enjoy. We'll sort this out later with Jyne."
They nod, and the conversation shifts to lighter topics.
Takeshi and Aiko ask Sylphaeris and me about the forest and the farm. I tell them about the Voidleaf Wilderness, the strange plants, the monsters that avoid me, and the simple life I've been building there.
Yuki continues talking with Vesper about artifacts and magic theory, both of them completely absorbed in the conversation.
Daichi strikes up a conversation with Seraphina and Lucien about strategy and tactics, surprisingly engaged despite his earlier comments about not wanting to fight.
Kenji doesn't say much, but he enjoys the food, occasionally nodding along to the conversations around him.
It's a fun and relaxing lunch.
---
After the meal, the heroes approach me with eager expressions.
[Yuki] "Can we try using our magic and skills? We haven't really had a chance to practice."
[Wright] "Sure. Let's head outside."
We walk to the courtyard. The vampires and angels have cleared out most of the aftermath from the battle, leaving a large open space.
[Wright] "Alright. Show me what you can do."
Takeshi steps forward first.
[Takeshi] "My blessing is Enhanced Physical Abilities. Strength, speed, endurance—that kind of thing."
He takes a deep breath, and I can see mana flowing through his body. His movements become sharper, faster. He picks up a nearby training dummy—one of those heavy wooden ones—and lifts it over his head with one hand.
[Takeshi] "It's weird. I can feel the power, but it's like it's waiting for me to get stronger. Like there's more I can't access yet."
[Wright] "That's normal for blessings. They grow with you."
He sets the dummy down and steps back, looking satisfied.
Yuki steps forward next, adjusting her glasses nervously.
[Yuki] "Mine is Elemental Magic Mastery. I'm supposed to have an affinity for all elements."
She holds out her hand, and a small flame appears in her palm. It flickers for a moment, then shifts into water, then earth, then wind. Each element flows into the next seamlessly.
[Yuki] "I can feel them all. It's like they're just... there, waiting for me to call on them."
[Wright] "Impressive control for someone who just got their blessing."
She beams at the compliment and steps back.
Aiko steps forward, looking a bit uncertain.
[Aiko] "Mine is Healing Light. I can heal injuries and purify curses. I can also sense emotional states."
She holds out her hands, and a soft golden light emanates from them. It's warm, gentle, and soothing just to look at.
[Aiko] "I haven't tried healing anyone yet, but I can feel it working. And the emotional sensing... it's strange. I can tell how everyone's feeling right now."
[Wright] "What do you sense?"
[Aiko] "Takeshi is excited. Yuki is nervous but happy. Kenji is... calm. Focused. Daichi is anxious but trying to hide it."
Kenji raises an eyebrow but doesn't comment.
Daichi sighs.
[Daichi] "Called out. Alright, my turn."
He steps forward.
[Daichi] "Strategic Mind. I can analyze situations, predict enemy movements, and formulate battle plans."
He looks around the courtyard, his eyes moving rapidly as if taking in every detail.
[Daichi] "It's like... I can see patterns. Weak points. If we were fighting right now, I could tell you exactly where to position everyone for maximum efficiency."
[Wright] "That's a powerful blessing for someone who doesn't want to fight."
[Daichi] "I know. The irony isn't lost on me."
Finally, Kenji steps forward.
[Kenji] "Shadow Step. I can move through shadows and sense danger or hostile intent."
He walks toward the shadow cast by the mansion wall—and disappears.
A second later, he reappears from a shadow on the opposite side of the courtyard.
[Kenji] "It's disorienting, but useful. And the danger sense... it's like an instinct. I can feel when something's wrong."
[Wright] "That'll keep you alive."
[Kenji] "That's the plan."
They continue practicing for the next few hours. Takeshi tests his strength against various objects. Yuki experiments with combining elements. Aiko practices channeling her healing light. Daichi analyzes mock battle scenarios. Kenji moves through shadows, appearing and disappearing around the courtyard.
I watch them carefully. They're raw, untrained, but the potential is there. Given time and proper guidance, they could become formidable.
The sun begins to set, casting long shadows across the courtyard.
[Wright] "Alright, that's enough for today. Let's head back inside. Dinner should be ready soon."
They follow me back into the mansion, tired but satisfied.
It's been a good day.