Volume 1. Chapter 66

Evening wrapped the forest in a soft golden light. Ken and Lily sat by their improvised campfire. In front of them was a large wooden plate filled with fragrant dishes. Lily had truly outdone herself, preparing a real feast: perfectly seared meat, juicy vegetables, something resembling rustic-style potatoes, and a basket of fresh fruits. The air was filled with a delightful aroma that awakened the appetite.

Ken bit into a piece of meat with satisfaction, savoring the taste, and smiled contentedly.

— Lily, this is simply incredible, — he said, licking his fingers. — Honestly, I’m starting to think this reward was worth sweating it out with the demon.

Lily, sitting across from him, shot him a playful look, her lips curling into a soft smile.

— Sweating a little? — she repeated, raising an eyebrow. — I’d say you put in quite a bit more effort than that.

Ken chuckled, waving a hand.

— Maybe, but now I see it was all worth it. You know, if you cook like this every time, I’m ready to fight a demon one-on-one every day. Tomorrow we need to find another suitable demon so we can have another dinner just as delicious!

Lily giggled, covering her mouth with her hand.

— You’re impossible, Ken, — she replied, her smile growing wider. — Always turning everything into a joke. Can’t you be serious just once?

Ken pretended to think, then nodded his head solemnly.

— Alright, — he said, lifting a piece of potato. — This is the best dinner I’ve had in a long time. Your cooking skills deserve a round of applause.

Lily blushed, her cheeks reddening.

— Thank you… — she whispered, glancing away slightly.

Ken smiled and continued eating. After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Lily’s voice broke the quiet.

— Ken, what’s your favorite food? — she asked, looking at him with curiosity.

Ken froze for a moment, then a sly grin spread across his face.

— Now? Anything Lily cooks, — he said with a serious tone, but there was a sparkle of amusement in his eyes.

Lily blushed even deeper, but frowned, trying to stay serious.

— Ken! I’m being serious! — she exclaimed almost sternly.

Ken laughed, clearly enjoying her reaction.

— Alright, alright, — he said, waving it off. — Honestly, in my world I loved pizza, burgers, fries… and popcorn.

— Pizza? — Lily repeated, leaning forward with interest. — Is that something like a flatbread with toppings?

Ken nodded.

— Yeah, pretty much. A flatbread covered with tomato sauce, cheese, and then whatever you want on top: meat, vegetables, mushrooms… — he began explaining, and Lily listened wide-eyed.

— That sounds amazing, — she murmured.

— Oh, that’s just the start, — Ken continued. — In my world, we have restaurants and cafes with cuisines from all over the world. Italian, French, Chinese… Each one offers something unique.

Lily looked thoughtful, her face filled with wonder.

— And each cuisine tastes different? — she asked.

— Exactly, — Ken replied, biting into a piece of potato. — Each has its own spices, its own recipes. It’s like little journeys without leaving the city.

Lily smiled, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

— That sounds… so unusual. Here everything is much simpler. Meat, vegetables, bread. I guess in your world, food is more than just a necessity.

Ken nodded.

— Exactly, — he agreed. — Food is a whole culture. People love trying new things, sharing experiences.

Lily stared at the starry sky, a dreamy look on her face.

— I’d love to try all of that one day, — she said softly.

— Well, maybe one day you will, — Ken replied, winking at her.

Lily smiled, but then her face turned thoughtful again.

— What other unusual things do you have in your world? — she asked. — Like… devices. You said you had things that help with daily life?

Ken wiped his hands with a grin, already anticipating how her reaction would amuse him again.

— Of course, — he began, looking at her. — We have vacuum cleaners, for example. They clean dust off the floor so you don’t have to bend down with a rag.

Lily squinted, trying to imagine such a device.

— And we have microwaves that heat up food in seconds. Toasters — for crispy bread. There are also hairdryers that dry your hair faster than you can finish a conversation.

Lily giggled, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

— In our village, we use the sun for that, — she replied. — Everything you’re saying sounds like some kind of magic.

— Not magic — technology, — Ken corrected her with a smile. — Although… isn’t everything we don’t understand a little like magic?

Lily thought about it, then laughed again.

— I guess it is, — she agreed. — You make my world sound so simple compared to yours.

— Well, — Ken began, shrugging, — that doesn’t mean your world is worse. There are things here that are far more beautiful and important than technology.

Lily looked up at him, her cheeks tinting pink.

— Like what? — she asked.

Ken smiled, his voice turning gentle.

— Like the people who live in it, — he said.

Lily fell silent, her heart beating faster. She looked at him, then turned her gaze away, flustered.

— Ken, you really know how to make me blush, — she mumbled, smiling.

— It’s my new superpower, — he replied, winking at her.

And so, their evening passed in conversation and laughter. Their voices filled the forest with warmth, a reminder that even after the darkest days, joy could be found in the simplest things.