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Chapter 70.5

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Renn’s spoon clanked as she scraped up the last bit of her food in the bowl.

The cat had eaten her fill, and it had made me full just watching her do so.

How did someone so thin eat so much? She was a non-human, sure, but there was still a limit. It wasn’t like her physical body broke the laws of physics.

Renn licked her lips as she sighed in relief after finishing her last bite. “That was great,” she said happily.

“It wasn’t bad,” I said with a glance to my own bowl. I hadn’t finished mine, but I had not left much. Unlike her I had never refilled it. The small pot in the center of the table that the waiter had placed for us to share was now empty.

There was no doubt when the waiter girl next came by, and found the pot empty, that she’d not believe it had been Renn’s doing and not my own. In a normal situation, there was no way such a thin and young woman could out eat a full grown man such as myself.

I was likely the weird one.

I wonder how much food I’d need to eat if I hadn’t been blessed by my parents. It took energy to do the things I did. My strength. My speed. My endurance and regenerative abilities all required unknown amounts of energy… so it was likely a disgusting amount.

Maybe if not for my parent’s blessings, I’d be a fat man instead.

“What’s your favorite meal, Vim?” Renn asked as she focused on her lips and tongue. She looked like she was scrubbing at her teeth with her tongue. Likely was, the meat that had been simmered in the stew had been very soft but the kind that got stuck between teeth sometimes.

Such a question was surprising to me. It shouldn’t have been, since it was what I’d consider a very common question to ask during moments like this… especially when amongst friends, but… well…

How long had it been since someone had asked something like that? To me? I couldn’t even remember the last time someone had even bothered to ask if I was hungry or not.

“I like stuff from the ocean. Fish and shellfish. But I like meat too, like you,” I said gently. To be honest I didn’t have any particular favorite dish. If I did I’d long forgotten it.

I’ve basically tasted everything this world had to offer, after all. There weren’t any creatures, plants, spices or mixture of any of them that could shock me anymore. So all the joy and entertainment from eating had long since disappeared. It wasn’t like I really ever needed to eat, anyway.

“Hm… I like good meat too. I don’t care much for deer and stuff though, to be honest,” Renn said.

Oh…? I had thought she did. “Too lean?” I asked.

“I don’t know. What was this stuff?” she asked with a glance into the pot, and I noticed the way her eyes softened upon finding it empty.

No way…

Grabbing my bowl I held it out to her. She perked up and gave me a mighty grin as she took it, thankful.

I sighed as I watched her without hesitation spoon up some of the stew, what was likely now cold, and take a bite.

I’ll order her something else the next time that waiter girl comes over. Maybe not another entire pot of stew, but something lighter. An after-dinner snack, maybe. Something with bread. Bread was filling and tasty.

“You didn’t like it?” Renn asked between mouthfuls.

“I don’t eat as much as normal people. I don’t need to,” I told her.

Renn paused a moment and studied me… and then she frowned and nodded. “I’ve… noticed that. Why? Is it because of what you are?” she asked.

I nodded. “Basically.”

“Huh…” she mumbled softly as she slowly took another bite.

I couldn’t help but smile at her. She was genuinely interested. In me. How strangely comforting.

If I wasn’t careful she’d likely start to ask a lot of questions. The type I didn’t answer. Which would in turn make that happy gleeful smile of hers die, and then I’d feel like an absolute ass. Even if I was one, that didn’t mean I wanted to be one to her.

“What’s your favorite then?” I asked her, to both get her off me as a topic but also to keep enjoying this strangely comforting atmosphere between us.

“I’ve found a new one. Those berry smoothies I had while waiting for you in Ruvindale. Ah…” Renn slurped a little. “The mere thought of them makes me salivate,” she said as she went to wipe her mouth with her sleeve.

Unable to believe it, I chuckled at her. “Should I order you some then?” I asked.

“What…? They have them here?” she asked excitedly as she looked around. We were in the corner of a busy tavern. One that didn’t seem to be the type of place to have her fruity drinks. There was more alcohol here than not.

The waiter girl walked nearby and I gently waved at her. She nodded at me, but continued away towards her original destination. I knew she’d come after.

“I had thought they were something special. Since that shop sold just them. Like they were some kind of special thing or something,” Renn said with a giddily happy voice.

“They kind of are. That had been a noble district. They like shopping at places that cater to a single product, or specialty. It’s seen as fancy. Here though? This port town? I bet they have access to nearly anything we’d want, for a price,” I said.

That was what made these little port taverns so profitable and well-liked. They didn’t have a specific menu. They simply tried to make anything that was requested of them, if it was feasible.

Renn was about to say something but went quiet as the waiter girl stepped up to our table. “Oh my, finished already?” she asked, genuinely shocked to find we were done.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Actually, could we get some desert? You wouldn’t happen to have any fruit drinks, do you? The thick kind,” I asked.

“Those smoothie things? Yes, but only strawberries I think. They’re the only thing we have extras of and I don’t know if the chef will be willing to use anything else,” the girl nodded as she smiled.

“A large pitcher of that stuff, then, please. And whatever kind of warm bread you got too, to go with it,” I ordered.

“Sure…!” the girl happily nodded as she went to gather up the bowls and pot. Renn hadn’t seemed done with my bowl but she handed it off all the same. Likely was now worried wouldn’t have room for her favored new drink otherwise.

“Will be a moment, that okay?” the girl asked before stepping away.

“All good. Thanks,” I said.

She happily nodded and stepped away, hurrying off to head to the backrooms of the tavern.

“She’s cute,” Renn noted as she watched her go.

I frowned as I glanced to the girl. She was younger, likely the daughter of someone who either worked here or own this place. She was a hustler; I’d noticed that more than half the tables here had been served by her. And it was busy, thanks to the festival of lanterns. Though it was starting to calm down and had quieted. It was getting later, and those who had been festive were now tired or drunk.

I’ll make sure to leave the young girl a nice little tip.

“Is there anything you can’t eat, Renn?” I asked.

“Can’t…?” she asked back, not understanding me.

“You allergic to anything?” I asked.

“What’s that mean?” she asked.

I hesitated a moment, and then had to calm down. Right. She was old, but had grown up sheltered. Maybe not on purpose, but still…

“Is there anything you eat that makes you sick? Or itchy? Or unable to breathe or sleep well?” I asked.

“Oh. No. Lujic had that problem though. He couldn’t eat honey or drink anything with it. His face got all puffy and he became wheezy,” Renn said as she reached up to squish her cheeks, as if to replicate what the lad had likely looked like when inflamed and inflated.

“Honey. That’s a rare one,” I said.

“Is it…?” she asked.

I nodded. “Honey actually has a lot of good properties. It’s a very healthy thing. So to be allergic to it…” I frowned and shrugged.

“Hm… he had been a unique boy, so it’s only right he’d have something rare like that too,” Renn said warmly.

She looked down to her hands, and smiled in a very gentle way. She was likely now reminiscing about this boy.

For some reason that made me jealous. Don’t think about other men while I was trying to woo you with food.

I blinked as I realized what I had just thought, and felt.

Unable to believe I had just thought I’d been flirting with her, I smirked at myself. Me. Flirting. Funny.

“Here ya go!” the waiter girl showed up as I pondered my own strangeness and placed a large tin pitcher on the table. She placed down a few other cups, and then a large circular plate full of bread joined them.

“Thank you very much!” Renn immediately went to filling a cup for herself.

“Enjoy!” the girl placed down two new towels before hurrying off to another table.

As Renn filled her cup with a happy hum, I couldn’t help but smirk at her. She was adorable, wasn’t she? No wonder I had been jealous.

“I’m good Renn,” I told her before she could waste any of her favored drink on me. She hesitated a moment, holding the empty cup she had been about to fill for me.

“You sure…?” she asked.

I nodded. “I’d likely just take a few sips then give the rest to you anyway,” I said.

“I’m okay with that!” she said as she went to filling the cup anyway.

A little stunned, I couldn’t help but accept the cup dutifully when she finished and handed it off to me.

Sighing softly as Renn put aside the pitcher, closely to her, she went to take a drink of her own cup.

Watching her enjoy the drink, I felt strangely out of place all of a sudden.

How long had it been since I’d seen someone her age act so childish? The pure emotion, the pure happiness and joy, was so readily visible on her face as she drank her juice that I was almost in disbelief.

To be so happy over something so simple…

Glancing down at my cup, I decided to take a drink and see if I could somehow share her moment of joy.

As I drank the thick juice, I decided to end it after a single gulp.

Yeah. Not able to.

Oh well.

I put the cup down and smiled at her, and instead chose to bask in her joy instead. If I couldn’t enjoy the food and drinks myself… then I could instead just enjoy her joy in place of it.

It made sense, after all. She was so happy, so jubilant… surely she wouldn’t notice if she shared just a little with me.

The mighty sun never noticed the tiny animals lazing in its glory, after all. So it should be fine.

“Is it good?” I asked her.

“Very! It’s the one I liked. The red one,” she said with a huge grin.

I smiled at the sight of her red lips, thanks to the drink. I grabbed one of the towels the girl had left for us and held it out to her.

She took it, but didn’t use it. Instead she went to take another deep drink.

Yes… I could enjoy this. I found myself enjoying it. I couldn’t deny that.

Which was why it was a good thing we were almost to Telmik.

I needed her to go. To separate from me. Or else I’d become too enraptured. Too enthralled.

She herself. Her presence. Her joy and smiles… Hell, even her sorrows and tears. Her weeping, her sad expressions, even those had been things I hadn’t been able to get my eyes to look away from. It was strange, since although she was indeed beautiful… she wasn’t so pretty that it explained my fascination with her.

Her expressive faces. Her blushing. Her tears. I found myself strangely spellbound by them.

They were far too potent. Too special. I was usually very good at not allowing myself to notice, or get too interested, in our members. No matter how pretty, or how interesting.

Yet here I was… unable to take my eyes off her. Unable to resist.

I wanted to keep offering her different foods and drinks. A tiny thought about taking her along the coast instead slithered into my mind. Taking a ship to Telmik instead of the easier and quicker road we were on. It’d add months to our journey, but along the way I could let her taste the whole world. To drink all the different juices from all the different plants that existed. And all along the way we could have fun. I could buy her the clothes I’ve been wanting to get her, and doing all I could to resist, too.

I could teach her about the world.

I could teach her about the Society…

About me.

Not only would she enjoy every moment of it… so would I.

Which was why I couldn’t allow it to happen.

I killed that thought. That fantasy. I slaughtered it as I had done the gods and their pets. I burnt its corpse, and scattered the ashes.

Or at least I tried my best to.

“I really like this,” Renn mumbled softly as she closed her eyes and basked in the moment. I was glad she couldn’t tell how stressed I was.

“Me too,” I whispered as I went to take another drink. Maybe I could empty my cup before she finished that pitcher… I needed to, after all.

If I saw her happily accept my leftovers so readily again, I might end up handing her my heart instead of my cup and that was not allowed. At all.

Not at all.