Raise Me, So That I Can Eat You Up - Chapter 23

“Ari. I’m hungry.”

These were the first words Oscar uttered as soon as he opened his eyes.

The relief that his fever had subsided was short-lived, as the system gave me another task.

[System: ‘Black Dragon’ is hungry.] [System: Mission! Make food to replenish ‘Black Dragon’s’ energy!

• Success: Normal health recovery
• Failure: Abnormal status continues]

So, it means I should make ‘nourishing food’, right? ‘I’ll talk to the chef and get lots of meat he likes…’ I thought it would be simple, but the system window immediately corrected me, saying it wasn’t such a simple matter.

[System: ‘Black Dragon’ is starved for affection. Make food to replenish energy YOURSELF. (Important!!)] [System: Ignoring the ‘important condition’ of the quest will result in ‘Black Dragon’s’ abnormal status stacking.

• Predicted abnormal status: Will become twisted. (Delinquent hatchling)]

‘What? Will become twisted?’ I’ve been nursing him all night without sleep. Delinquent hatchling? ‘Wait, does that mean he’s been a good hatchling until now?’ He did tend to follow my words well, but he wasn’t exactly an easy child to handle.

[System: ‘Oscar (Black Dragon, Psychopath Hatchling)’ likes you.]

Recalling the content of the system window I saw in the cave on the first day I found Oscar, it wasn’t unreasonable.

‘So what should I feed him.’

I was at a loss. My mother must have had the same worry at every meal.

‘More importantly, how should I cook it.’

Moreover, I had never cooked anything before or after the possession.

Should I look at a cookbook? If I ask the chef, he’ll think it’s strange.

Just thinking about it made my head throb.

I decided to ask Oscar’s opinion first.

“Oscar.”

“Yes.”

“What would you like to eat?”

“Meat.”

As expected, his taste was consistent. Since ‘meat’ was vague, I gave him some options.

“Among moo, oink, or cluck, which one?”

“Cluck.”

Cluck means chicken.

‘What did mom make for me when I was sick?’

If it’s a high fever, it’s probably a cold, so hot soup would be good, and he said he wanted chicken.

‘Right. Something like samgyetang would work!’

T/n: Samgyetang is a traditional Korean dish that consists of a whole young chicken stuffed with garlic, rice, jujube (Korean dates), and ginseng, and then slow-cooked in a flavorful broth. The name “samgyetang” literally means “ginseng chicken soup.”

Having reached a quick conclusion, I left Oscar with the maids and headed to the kitchen.

***

I received a large pot, a live chicken, and ingredients that seemed tasty like garlic, onions, and mushrooms from the chef.

Everyone, including the chef, showed reluctance, but what could they do? I had to prevent the hatchling from becoming delinquent at all costs.

‘Samgyetang is simple, right? Just throw everything in and boil it?’

I put all the ingredients in one place and boiled them thoroughly.

‘Well, it looks a bit clumsy.’

I even added various herbs that were supposed to be good for energy replenishment.

It couldn’t be exactly the same in a romance fantasy world, but it was completely different from the samgyetang I knew.

‘The smell seems somewhat decent.’

Who cares about the appearance! As long as it tastes good. I boiled chicken, so it couldn’t taste bad with this smell.

I transferred it to a large bowl and presented it to Oscar.

And I decided to serve it to Viscount Hayworth and Leon who had helped with the nursing.

“It’s a dish I’ve never seen in my life.”

Leon had a very disgruntled expression.

“Shut up and eat. Or starve.”

I narrowed my eyes and delivered a refreshing retort.

Leon stirred his spoon reluctantly while keeping quiet.

There was nothing else to eat anyway. I had given the chef who had been struggling to provide Oscar’s meals a special break.

“Father, you must have been tired yesterday too. Please eat.”

“Y-yes. Ari. I’m really looking forward to it? Ch-chicken dish, it must be delicious!”

“Yes. I added lots of herbs that are good for energy replenishment.”

I was concerned about Viscount Hayworth’s strange stuttering, but he must be too moved.

Viscount Hayworth, after taking a spoonful with hesitation, his eyes welled up, and he coughed repeatedly.

“Father, are you alright?”

“N-no. I’m just so touched and proud that our Ari cooked for her father.”

He looked more like he was choking rather than overwhelmed with tears. I quickly handed Viscount Hayworth a glass of water.

‘Why are they all reacting like this.’

I took a spoonful of my portion and tasted it.

“……”

It was an unfamiliar taste I had never experienced before. If I had to describe it, it was more on the bizarre side. I dropped my spoon in shock.

‘I think I messed up.’

‘It’s just boiling chicken. Did I need to taste it?’ Was it my downfall to be so arrogant?

Especially, the combination with the herbs I added at the end for energy replenishment was terrible.

‘I boiled so much in a large pot, what should I do.’

I made a lot to give to Oscar. It was completely unsalvageable.

‘I should tell them not to eat it.’

As I looked at Oscar with a gloomy face, Oscar tore off a chicken leg with his small hand.

“D-don’t eat it, Oscar.”

“Why? It’s cooled down now. It’s not hot.”

And he started eating it ravenously.

‘Oh no, what if he gets an abnormal status from getting upset while eating.’

This is like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. My head was throbbing.

“It’s really delicious, Ari!”

Oscar, who had already emptied a bowl, showed me the empty bowl.

“What?”

“Give me more.”

Is he serious? I widened my eyes in disbelief.

Could he be eating it for my sake?

‘What if he gets an upset stomach!’

This wouldn’t do. Oscar’s well-being was more important than my pride.

“Um, you don’t have to force yourself to eat it, Oscar.”

“It’s delicious.”

Ignoring my protests, he started eyeing Leon’s plate greedily.

“Thanks for taking care of it.”

As Leon very willingly handed over his plate, Oscar devoured it hastily again.

It really didn’t seem like he was forcing himself to eat.

‘Could it be? Are the tastes of humans and dragons different?’

Maybe thanks to the imprinting, I might have accidentally made a dish that perfectly suited Oscar’s taste.

As that thought occurred to me, my heart swelled with joy.

[System: Mission! Make food to replenish ‘Black Dragon’s’ energy! Success!

As a reward, Oscar’s health is restored.]

I was bewildered, but anyway, I had completed the quest. It was a load off my mind.

[System: Having reached a certain score, ‘Black Dragon’s’ growth level increases.

-Lv. 2 Stormy Hatchling]

‘Stormy?’

It’s a somewhat unsettling word, but at least the growth level has increased. He seems to have grown a lot after being sick.

[System: With your ‘Bizarre Nourishing Food’ full of affection, ‘Black Dragon’ develops food tolerance.

Food Tolerance (Weird Food)

Can enjoy even unpleasant food for survival.

Examples: Fried insect antennae, Stir-fried frog webbing.]

No, what’s with those examples!

My cooking isn’t that bad!

I felt like I was going to die from frustration.

But with no way to express it, I swallowed a scream of ‘Argh!’ internally.

***

After eating, Oscar tugged on Leon’s clothes and trained in swordsmanship at the training ground.

‘Looks like his strength has recovered. I’m glad he seems okay.’

I sighed in relief as I looked down at Oscar and Leon in the training ground.

“Ari!”

Oscar, spotting me at the window, shouted with a bright smile.

“Are you not focusing? I’m going easy on you because you were sick!”

I could also hear Leon’s voice scolding Oscar, acting like a proper teacher.

Regardless, Oscar kept staring up at me intently.

‘Really. He’s hopeless.’

But that’s what makes him even cuter.

I cheerfully waved back at Oscar, who was greeting me brightly.

It’s fine even if he eats a lot.

It’s fine even if he doesn’t listen.

I just hope he doesn’t get sick.

No, even if he does get sick, I wish I could be sick in his place.

As I was having such sentimental thoughts, the system window chimed.

[System: Quest! The due date for the borrowed book is today. Please return it within the time limit.

(Time remaining until library closes: 2 hours)]

Ah right, I had forgotten. Is today Wednesday?

Come to think of it, I had to stop by the library to meet Benedict and extend the loan.

It seemed good to study a bit more as there was still a lot I didn’t know about Oscar.

‘Going out again. I’m anxious about leaving him.’

I need to explain it well to Oscar before I go. Since problems tend to occur with Oscar every time I go out, I felt unnecessarily anxious even for this very short outing.

‘It would be too much to take him along, right?’

Although he’s recovered enough to train in swordsmanship, his condition might suddenly worsen outside.

‘Above all, it would be a disaster if he turns into a dragon.’

It would be nice if I could carry him in my pocket. I chuckled at such a silly thought.

‘I should take the book with me in case Benedict refuses to extend the loan.’

Thinking I should read a bit more in the remaining time just in case, I opened the book.

“Aaaah!”

After opening the book, I couldn’t help but scream.

‘It’s ruined. What should I do?’

It was an unbelievable sight even as I looked at it.

I stared at the tattered pages in dismay.

So, Oscar had drawn pictures.

What’s the problem with drawing pictures, you ask?

To be precise, the problem was that he had used the notoriously eccentric archmage’s ancient book as a sketchbook for his artistic activities.

‘Doodling in the Dragon Encyclopedia. Sigh.’

After learning to write, Oscar had shown a keen interest in writing things, so I had gifted him a sketchbook and crayons.

“Here, if Oscar wants to draw anything, feel free to draw with these!”

No, I meant…!

I meant to draw in the sketchbook!

And when on earth did he draw this?

I don’t think I saw it when I was searching for first aid supplies yesterday. Was I too distracted to notice?

‘I should have put it away out of sight earlier.’

It was largely my fault for leaving such an important book within reach of a young dragon(?).

I should have made it clear that doodling anywhere else would be a big problem, but now wasn’t the time for that.

‘I can’t scold him when he’s just recovered.’

I pressed my temples as my head throbbed.

I realized anew that raising a child was no ordinary task.

‘What should I do? Benedict will be furious if he sees this.’

What excuse should I make?

There’s a young child at home.

He likes drawing and made a mistake.

If he asks who the young child is, what should I say?

‘It’s entirely my fault, with no room for excuses.’

It was terrifying. I felt as if my non-existent mana core was being crushed, and I got goosebumps.

‘Should I just apologize profusely?’

I wondered how Benedict would react.

It worried me more because he was the type whose true feelings were hard to read.

I had decided to go with Leon from this time, but how he would act was also a concern.

My mind was in a haze.

‘Why can’t even a single day pass without incident?’

I just wanted to disappear into cosmic dust.

I flopped onto the bed with the Dragon Encyclopedia covering my face.