The Elf Cooks Are the Best

Although it was still my first day in Limbo, unlike when the police caught me, it was now night-time. I don't usually sleep much, and staying up late into the early hours was normal for me before I died. Even so, I realise that people with good sleep schedules don't have as much stamina. What I don't understand is my current situation.

I was lying in a bed covered by a glass dome, with my hands submerged in a somewhat viscous liquid.

Although I knew that the people here were not the same as those in my past life, I realise now that I trusted too much.

As I questioned my situation, I remembered Aixa's words.

“Since you're a newcomer, you should register at the civil registry. Follow me!”

This was completely different to Japan, where I came from.

After about two hours, some slender figures in nurse uniforms and masks finally guided me to the exit.

Aixa was waiting for me outside, leaning against a pole and looking up at the stars.

“You're finally out. That took you long enough. Look at the time.”

She had the nerve to say that to me when she was the one who had dragged me to this place.

“Yeah, yeah... Hey! Wait.”

“Is something wrong, Okan-kun?”

I hadn't thought about it until now, but the police officer told me that I can choose whether to be reincarnated or go to Heaven. But if I think about it, I died and ended up in a different world to the one I lived in. That's what reincarnation is supposed to be like!

"Aixa!"

“You don't have to shout; we're the only ones here.”

“What's the time system like here?”

“Time system? Ah, I know what you mean. It took me a while to get used to it. Time is measured differently here.”

I knew it! When you're in a different world, everything is different. It's best to find out about these things as soon as possible.

“Hours are still used here, but there are 24 of them in a day.”

“I see, I see... Wait a minute 24 hours is normal!”

“So in your world, 24 hours is normal? How interesting. In mine, it was 48.”

“Wait a minute, Aixa. What do you mean by "normal in my world"?”

“Well, we come from different worlds. I thought you were smart, Okan.”

I should have questioned this much earlier. Her name should have given me a clue. How could I have been so clueless?'

This is where we end up after we die. They also told me that Heaven and Hell exist. It should be obvious that there are other beings here besides humans, but Aixa says that 48 hours was normal in her world, which implies that she died and then appeared here. This means that she's not human, an angel or a demon.

“It's hot, don't you think?”

Aixa took a hair tie out of her pocket and tied her hair back with it.

“Aixa...No way... could it be…”

“What 's wrong? Are you feeling dizzy?”

“Are you an elf?!”

※ ※ ※

“Buahahahaha!”

“How long are you going to keep laughing?”

“Sorry, sorry, it's just hilarious that you didn't realise it all day.”

There are clearly many more things for me to discover in this world. But if elves exist, then perhaps goddesses do too.

“Changing the subject, your apartment is quite large.”

“This is normal in Limbo. In fact, I'd say it's a bit small.”

This comfort is priceless. I can't remember the last time I properly rested under a roof and four walls.

“Wait a moment, I'll bring some tea. Would you like green or red?”

“Red, please.”

Aixa went out onto her patio through the double glass doors and returned a few minutes later carrying what looked like dried leaves.

“Are you going to make tea with those?”

“Yes, they're fermented tea leaves.”

The leaves were good quality and didn't come in fancy packaging.

“Do you grow them yourself?”

“Yes! My hobbies are cooking and growing the ingredients I cook with.”

“That's amazing.”

“Hehehe, thank you.”

Limbo is undoubtedly a very interesting place, home to humans and other species. I still have a lot to discover, but what I was about to witness would leave anyone from my world speechless.

Aixa took a teapot from a cabinet near us and put fermented leaves into the infuser.

I'm pretty sure Aixa knew what she was doing. Sometimes I wonder just how intelligent this woman really is.

The blue-haired elf placed the teapot on the table, opened the lid and placed her hands side by side with her palms facing inside the teapot. I was clearly confused, and she let me know with a mocking laugh that she knew it.

“Hehehe.”

As she teased me, a small sphere of water began to form in front of her hands. From this, a small waterfall flowed until the teapot was filled.

“What?!”

Magic. Something I could only have fantasised about in my previous world was possible here.

“Surprised?”

“Totally.”

Wait a minute. According to my limited knowledge of manga and light novels, magic can only work if it is directly related to the world you inhabit. Following that logic, Limbo is a place where magic can be used.

I slowly raised my arms and pointed my hands towards the table where Aixa was serving tea.

“What are you doing?”

“Wait a moment, Aixa. Be careful.”

“Mmh?”

I waited a few seconds, but nothing happened.

Conjuring elements is generally one of the most basic spells, especially in such small quantities, so this shouldn't be difficult.

“You make it look so easy…”

“Were you trying to copy me?”

“...Yes.”

I was very embarrassed internally; it was like trying to imitate anime movements in real life.

“Bwahahahaha! You really are very funny.”

“I feel like you're making fun of me.”

“You tried to use magic, didn't you?”

“What about it?”

“I'm sorry to burst your dream, but you won't be able to.”

She said it in the same way that you tell a child that the tooth fairy doesn't exist.

I know I said I would trust her, but I want at least an explanation for such a definitive refusal.

“Is it ‘you won't be able to now’ or ‘you won't ever be able to’?”

“You won't ever be able to.”

When I received that answer, the last glimmer of hope I had disappeared.

“But why?”

“Could you use magic before you died?”

“Uh, no.”

“There's your answer.”

“But if magic can be used in Limbo, everyone should be able to use it, shouldn't they?”

“Well, no. My magic, and probably that of almost everyone else here in Limbo, is still linked to our past worlds. So, if you couldn't use magic before you died, you won't be able to here either.”

“I think I understand…”

“Well, cheer up! Here.”

She handed me a ceramic mug with a cat on it, filled with hot red tea.

“Thank you very much.”

“You're welcome.”

I took a sip and it was delicious.

“Oh, I forgot to offer you some. Help yourself if you want.”

Aixa began shaking a small bowl of animal-shaped biscuits, although I didn't recognise some of them.

“They're so pretty; it's a shame to eat them.”

“Remember, they're meant to be eaten. They'll be happy if you eat them.”

“If you say so.”

I picked up a cat-shaped biscuit and took a bite; it was very sweet.

“You're a good cook, Aixa.”

“You flatter me, you flatter me.”

I ate a few more biscuits and was surprised to find that each animal had a different flavour.

After tidying up, Aixa showed me that each apartment in this metropolis has rooms for new arrivals to Limbo. She explained that the collars and data collected by the civil registry help building administrators to know if anyone is breaking the rules and staying longer than they should.

“Well, see you tomorrow, Aixa.”

“See you tomorrow.”

I closed the door and walked through the small apartment until I fell onto the bed. How many years had it been since I slept in one? Finally, I could allow myself to rest.