Breakfast Steak

I was being talked about like I wasn't in the room—sorry, realm with them.

"So . . . Junpei was from another world?"

"Yes, darling."

"And my Lord summoned him?"

"More or less. The Tower of Wysa can take credit for summoning his soul, but I gave him the power to become the Salvator!"

The Saint's disbelieving eyes finally turned to me, making me shift in my seat, oddly feeling exposed. Not surprising since Raede told her everything. "And you didn't want it?"

At her look, I sighed and nodded. "I didn't. I only agreed to it when they promised to let me retire as soon as I can. It's not my intention to rush things, but your god thought it'd be more fun if their plans start when I reveal myself."

"Hey, that's mean. I'm your god too!" Raede complained. "And I do think it is fun, but—" their expression turned serious— "the Demon King needs to be suppressed now. They're growing stronger, and more desperate. Their legion's attacks have increased, and you'll have to fight your way to your companions before reaching the final boss. They must've sensed strong power within you two, but it's expected of them."

The Saint and I looked at each other then, understanding passing between us. We'll have to work together to defeat the Demon King, and then . . .

I looked away first. Saints have always died when they tried to fight their way to the Demon King.

Will that happen to Estelle too?

A clap diffused the tense atmosphere. "Oh well!" Raede leaned over the table, propping their elbows on it and putting their head on their hands, as if they're not aware of our thoughts. "It's time for you two to go back. The sun is about to rise, and you still have more traveling to do. Hehe, I'll see you again tonight. May god's luck be with you!"

Wait, I had more I wanted to ask them, but with a light flick of their dainty hand and a knowing sparkle in their gaze, Raede's realm slowly dissipated before our very eyes, leaving us in the dark.

When we returned to our bodies, we were still sitting in my tent, facing each other just as we did before our meeting with Raede. I looked away from her questioning gaze, reaching for our food bag.

"Saint, go back to your tent," I told her. "Unless you want to help me prepare our meal."

The sky was lightening up with the coming sun like Raede said, so breakfast was in order. Of course, she insisted on talking to me about my previous life, still confused and curious. Raede didn't really make the information digestible for her, and it was up to me to explain things. I decided to indulge her while we were cooking.

"What was your name? In your old world."

I stared at her until she flushed pink.

"I was just curious!"

I handed over the ingredients she needed to work with. "It's still Junpei."

Today's menu was venesun steak marinated in mashed garlic, lemon, and wine vinegar. I let the Saint take out her frustrations on the garleek and let her massage the marinade into the meat while I prepared our side dishes, potato gnocchi and vegetable stir fry with snow peas and green beans.

"What about your . . . parents?"

"They won't miss me. I was never a son to them."

"Oh . . ."

They were relatively easy. After I boiled and mashed the potatoes really finely, I added flour, eggs, some salt and pepper, and kneaded everything until they’re fully mixed. Formed them into thin logs, cut them into 1-inch pieces, and rolled them across the back of a fork.

"What is it like, in your world?"

"There were machines that helped us live comfortably. Instead of horses, we have cars. They're like carriages, but no horses, and they're run on . . . hmm, you can say magic."

"Oh! It sounds familiar. The Tower had been inventing such things too, but they're not too successful yet."

"Did they lack a power source?"

"How did you know?"

"The cars I was talking about also needed another power source: it's called the battery. It stores energy for a long time so the car can run smoothly. It doesn't have to run purely on magic."

As the gnocchi were boiling in salted water, I told the Saint to watch over them and take the gnocchi out when they float to the top before reserving a teacup of the water. I also told her to grate some of the cheese we had on hand, as much as she wanted but no more than three teacups.

I left her to her task and started on the stir-fry with the safe mushrooms we foraged on the way, adding some thinly sliced ginger, garleek, flat peas and green beans. I seasoned them with fermented soy sauce and sweet rice wine, and let them cook a few minutes more, agitating them with my cooking spoon.

I felt a tap on my shoulder. "Junpei, they're done. What are these called? Are they from your world too?"

"They're called gnocchi. Ni-yo-kee," I taught her while I finished the stir-fry to set aside and work on the gnocchi this time. "The spelling doesn't matter, you'll end up being confused. They're considered dumplings in my world."

I melted butter on a pan and tossed the gnocchi in, seasoned it with pepper, the majority of the cheese, and some of the pasta water. I stirred while the Saint looked over my shoulder, marveling at the food.

When I was satisfied with the sauce, I stabbed one piece with the fork earlier, blew on it, and offered it for the Saint to taste. The glee in her face told me everything I needed to know.

That, and the way she quickly patted my arm. Even here, girls liked to smack people when they're excited.

"Good?" I still decided to ask.

"The best." She grinned at me, earnest and honest.

Cute.

Pleased, I turned away and hummed, topping the gnocchi with the leftover cheese and setting it aside. Side dishes done. "Keep these warm for me, Saint. I'm going to start on the meat."

While I cooked the steaks, the Saint asked more questions. "How about communication? Do you send letters?"

"We have tiny devices called cellphones." Humming, I thought about how to explain it. "They're handheld, and they let you send letters you write in it and talk to people. To do that, you have to put the cellphone on your ear and speak to it, and it lets you hear someone's voice. It's also like a scrying glass sometimes, but both people can see and hear."

"Oh! That sounds so useful!"

"How it works is a little complicated, but yes, it was very useful," I sighed. I missed cellphones.

Seeing that, the Saint patted my shoulder. "I'll tell the Tower to invent that for you!"

"You don't have to do that, Saint. Letters are fine."

"But se—cellphones are really convenient. We'd have a use for it too."

"Then sure, but cellphones are really complicated, and I don't have the knowledge to make one."

We finished preparing our food in record time. In contrast to our conversations during preparation, breakfast was a silent affair. I could feel Adeline's and Rita's stares burning through my head as I sat beside the Saint, who also ignored them and just ate the food we made together.

There's nothing to explain. The Saint had also helped me with lunch and dinner the day before, so why are they acting like we did something?

"Estelle didn't return to the tent last night," Adeline commented, feigning innocence while the Saint choked on her peas. "Junpei, did you know?"

I glanced at the Saint who reached for the water given by a grinning Rita, but before she could speak, I answered. "She was with me. We were talking to the Star of Polare."

"Oh?" Adeline's eyes widened a fraction. "I know she could, but you . . ."

"I am the chosen Salvator. Of course, I can do that too." They better get their heads out of the gutter.

Rita leaned in. "You sure nothing happened?"

The Saint decided to interject this time, saving me from the girls' prying gazes. "Nothing!"

While she entertained them, I got lost in my thoughts again, frowning. The Saint asked me a lot of questions and demanded to know everything of everything, which stumped me, even though I expected it.

If she was like me, why did it seem like she couldn't remember anything? If she was like me, surely she would've remembered cellphones?

But the awestruck glint in her eyes looked genuine as she learned what they were, and my speculations seemed so desperate now.

Like I was yearning for something, like a companion.

I hate to admit it, but being alone and lonely is the worst.