The dungeon smells like chicken. - CHAPTER 2

Michael stood there, hair damp, dressed in a stark white bathrobe. The robe was so short it barely reached his knees.

Sena had to force herself to stop staring at his thighs.

“Thank you for letting me use your bathroom. But the clothes you lent me are too small,” Michael said, blushing in embarrassment as he held out the clothes. Sena, flustered, took them from him.

“Please eat first. I’ll find you something else to wear once you’ve finished.”

“It’s alright, I have my own clothes, so I can just wear those…”

“They were in such bad shape that I went ahead and washed them.”

Michael blinked in surprise. Sena awkwardly pushed him to sit at the table.

“They’ll dry quickly in the dryer. Don’t worry and eat before it gets cold.”

Sena placed a bowl of soup and a plate in front of Michael.

He looked at the plate with an almost mesmerized expression, his brown eyes shining.

Sena chuckled softly to herself and spooned some jam and sauce into small dishes for him.

“Enjoy your meal.”

To avoid feeling awkward watching him eat, she turned and began making pancakes.

She mixed the batter with milk and eggs, then poured it onto a heated pan. A satisfying sizzle filled the air, along with a sweet aroma.

“I should have one too,” she thought, swallowing her saliva as she carefully watched the bubbles forming on the pancake.

Timing is crucial with pancakes. She flipped it at just the right moment, revealing a perfectly cooked golden brown surface.

Sena praised herself and stacked the beautifully cooked pancakes into a towering pile.

“Is this a dream?” Michael was still in a daze.

He might have thought he was hallucinating when he opened the door, or perhaps he was dying. It wouldn’t have been surprising since he had gone three days without food, and two of those without water.

“If this is a dream, it’s a very good one.”

When the ceiling suddenly brightened and Sena appeared, he initially thought she was a monster.

Her strange clothes, long black hair, and innocent face were all out of place in the dungeon. She looked like a succubus, luring men to their doom. But when he saw her fall, he instinctively moved to help her. If it had been a trap, he would have lost his head.

“But it wasn’t.”

Sena had saved his life.

She handed him a clean glass filled with water that looked impossibly pure.

“Drink slowly.”

Michael tried to follow her instructions.

The water tasted incredibly sweet. Water this pure could only be found in the springs deep in the mountains.

But Sena poured him more water without hesitation. He felt like his dying body was coming back to life.

“First, take a bath. Then, I’ll give you something to eat.”

Sena led him to a room decorated with pristine white tiles.

The room was small, but he had never seen walls tiled all the way up. Even the floors in a lord’s dining room didn’t look this nice. The most astonishing feature was the mirror covering an entire wall.

Michael stared at it, transfixed. His own bewildered face stared back at him, reflected without any distortion.

It was an amazing treasure, but Sena showed no sign of pride as she explained how to use the facilities.

“Like this, water comes out.”

When she lifted the silver spout, water gushed out. Michael stepped back in surprise.

Sena calmly explained how to get warm water, wash his face and hands, and how to brush his teeth.

Michael quickly learned how to use the toothbrush. Sena, looking slightly guilty, applied pink cream to his toothbrush.

“This is actually for kids, but it’s all my brother can use.”

Michael couldn’t understand why she was apologizing. The pink cream, ‘strawberry toothpaste,’ was incredibly sweet and smooth. It was hard not to swallow the foam.

Next was the shower. He flinched at the snake-like hose spraying water, but managed to handle it this time. The faucet operated similarly, so he got used to it quickly.

Sena didn’t scold him for confusing shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. She lined them up in the right order and handed him a towel and a change of clothes.

“Use as much water and towels as you need. If you have any questions, put on this robe and call me. Don’t be embarrassed.”

“…Yes.”

Surprised by the soft towel, Michael responded a beat late. Sena reminded him again to call if he needed anything before leaving.

Alone, he experimented with turning the water on and off. Feeling the warm water running through his fingers, he wondered if he was in heaven.

“She must be an angel.”

Michael smiled unconsciously.

Sena was the most unique lady he had ever met.

Her courteous and intelligent speech indicated she had received strict education. She was undoubtedly born and raised in a good family.

Yet, she lacked the shyness typical of a lady. She looked him straight in the eye and taught him without any hesitation. If he made a mistake, she would correct him immediately and scold him.

Sena exuded an air of confidence and intelligence. She was a very capable and clever lady.

“Surprisingly innocent, though.”

Among mercenaries, there were many rough and dangerous people. Showing unnecessary sympathy could lead to terrible outcomes.

Michael was grateful for Sena’s kindness but also worried about her.

“I have to repay her somehow.”

Someone so kind was bound to attract trouble.

Michael decided to sort out any problems she might have before leaving. That was how a mercenary repaid a debt.

“Is she really an angel?”

That thought crossed Michael’s mind when he saw the beautifully set table.

Sena had prepared all this food and even done laundry while he took a short bath. She had done it all by herself.

Michael thought she might not be human.

The delicious smells distracted him from his thoughts. He picked up a spoon with trembling hands.

The bright yellow soup was unidentifiable. As soon as he cautiously took a sip, his eyes widened.

It was incredibly smooth and sweet. It felt like his tongue was melting. His stomach growled for more.

By the time he regained his senses, the bowl was empty.

Still feeling unsatisfied, he turned his attention to the plate. Everything looked so delicious that he didn’t know where to start.

He reached for the closest item. The eggs were incredibly savory, the plump sausages and jam were rich in flavor, and the crispy bacon was fantastic. The unknown white cream melted in his mouth like snow.

The bread was the most surprising. Michael had never tasted bread so soft and crispy. Even the crust was delicious. It was so good he ate it all without even thinking of adding jam.

“Aren’t you going to use a fork?”

Michael only came back to his senses when he heard Sena’s voice. Seeing his dazed expression, she smiled and placed a four-pronged utensil in his hand.

“This is a fork. You use it to spear your food.”

Michael hesitated, unsure how to use it.

Meanwhile, Sena placed a plate stacked high with round, flat bread in front of him. The heat was making the butter on top melt.

“Let me pour some syrup.”

Smiling like an angel, she tilted a small bottle. A golden liquid flowed out, soaking the bread and releasing a sweet fragrance.

“Looks delicious.”

Sena, her voice excited, sat across from him with a plate holding just one piece of bread. She added butter and poured syrup generously, then cut it with her fork. Her face lit up as she took a bite.

Michael watched her, entranced. Noticing his gaze, Sena tilted her head.

“Try it. It’s delicious.”

Startled, Michael quickly mimicked her actions. The bread was so soft it cut easily even with his clumsy fork handling. He carefully took a bite.

It tasted heavenly. The fluffy sweetness enveloped his tongue and vanished without a trace.

Without realizing it, Michael had closed his eyes in delight.

“It’s delicious,” he said, feeling overwhelmed.

“I’m glad.”

Sena smiled in response. She wanted to say more but felt shy. Bowing his head, he continued eating quietly.

“If it weren’t for the pancakes, there wouldn’t have been enough.”

Sena thought as she watched the plates empty quickly.

Michael ate very well. Each time she glanced at him, large chunks of food had disappeared.

“People who eat well are good people.”

Unlike her ex-boyfriend, he didn’t make unpleasant noises while eating, which she appreciated the most. His reactions were clear; his face lit up or he sat up straight in focus, making it fun to watch.

Michael devoured six pancakes in no time and looked satisfied. He seemed finally full.

Sena silently marveled at his appetite.

“Would you like something to drink?”

“…No, thank you.”

Michael’s face turned red. He seemed embarrassed by how much he had eaten.

“Sorry for not minding my manners. It’s been so long since I had a proper meal.”

“Come to think of it, you mentioned running out of food. How long has it been since you ate?”

“About three days, I think.”

“Three days? Are you okay?”

Sena jumped up, looking pale, and checked on him. Although she knew he had been hungry, she assumed it was just a meal or two.

Feeding rich food to someone who hadn’t eaten for three days was a huge mistake.

“Why wouldn’t I be…?”

Michael looked puzzled, not understanding why she asked about his stomach.

“When you eat rich food after starving, it can upset your stomach.”

“I see. I think I’m alright.”

His stomach seemed incredibly resilient. Sena nodded, envious of his endurance.

Michael stood and placed a hand over his chest.

“That was really delicious. Thank you.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Even though she was happy to hear he liked it, Sena didn’t want to show it. She began cleaning up as

he watched.

“I feel bad for making you do everything.”

He followed her into the kitchen. Sena smiled softly.

“Why don’t you rest for a bit?”

“I should help with something.”

Seeing him insist, Sena nodded reluctantly.

“Okay. You can help.”

She handed him a cloth and instructed him to wipe the table and chairs. She expected him to refuse because it was women’s work, but he accepted the cloth without hesitation.

Sena found his compliance unexpected and somehow amusing.