Chapter 11: The Mage Who Already Knew

Time really flies when you’re busy.

Before I knew it, a full month had already passed since I started staying at Inas’s house.

The month I spent in the imperial palace felt like hell, so every day dragged on forever. It felt like I had lived there for nearly a year.

But time here had passed quickly.

Which probably meant I was much more comfortable now.

The results of the past month were brilliant.

[Comprehensive Housework Skill Level: 7]

My overall housework skill, which includes cleaning, dishwashing, cooking, and all sorts of household abilities, had reached level 7.

For reference: Cleaning is level 9, dishwashing is level 5, and cooking is level 7.

Cleaning being the highest… well, that’s obvious.

I didn’t know what the maximum level was, but this was definitely high.

It was clear evidence of how fiercely I had battled this garbage house for the past month.

‘It really does make a difference.’

As the skills increased, several things changed.

Dust that I could barely see before now stood out clearly.

Even with dish soap that barely foamed and rough, stiff scrubbers, I could make dishes squeak-clean.

And cooking? That went without saying.

To exaggerate a little…

I had practically reached the stage of creating something from nothing.

At the same time, my taste buds had become more refined.

When I returned home, I might not even touch convenience store food anymore.

“…I want cup ramen.”

No.

Ramen was still necessary.

I wouldn’t live on cup noodles every meal anymore, but whenever that rich MSG flavor called to me, I wouldn’t be able to resist.

“Ah… cup ramen.”

Just thinking about it made my mouth water.

I could almost imagine the smell of ramen drifting somewhere nearby.

“What’s cup ramen?”

That was when Inas suddenly appeared.

“It’s ramen in a cup.”

By now I was used to him popping up unexpectedly, so I answered without even flinching.

“So ramen is… well, noodles. A little spicy… chewy… and full of that addictive seasoning flavor.”

“…”

“Anyway, it’s delicious.”

“Make it.”

Over the past month, the relationship between Inas and me had become a bit closer.

After all, Inas had reached the stage where he would sit across from me just to talk.

Of course, the topic was usually food.

Other conversations included things like telling him which area I’d be cleaning that day, listing items for potion trades, or calling him when bathwater was ready.

‘A perfect housekeeper.’

I had volunteered for the role myself, but it was still impressive that those were basically all our conversations for a month.

“Your hair’s gotten pretty long.”

“…Give me ramen.”

“…”

“I’m curious.”

Thanks to Inas, I suppose.

Maybe because his messy hair had grown out again, but his beauty was reaching new legendary levels every day.

Inas was still Inas, of course.

But getting used to that face wasn’t easy, so sometimes when we ran into each other I’d still flinch.

At least my heart didn’t pound wildly or my hands shake anymore.

So it was manageable.

“I can’t make that.”

“Why?”

“Well…”

Because it doesn’t exist in this world.

The recipes the System provided were limited to foods from this world.

Even if I somehow had a recipe, I probably couldn’t recreate the taste without the right seasonings.

“I want to try it…”

Inas muttered regretfully.

“If I could make it, I would.”

“Why can’t you?”

“…Because it’s food that doesn’t exist here.”

Thinking about it, I had wasted the past month.

My goal was clear, but I still hadn’t even mentioned it to Inas.

I hadn’t even told him that I came from another world.

If he was a former imperial mage, he should know that black hair and black eyes were the sign of a Hero.

“Hmm….”

But this was Inas.

He might easily have zero interest in what traits a Hero was supposed to have.

Besides, they said it had been nearly a hundred years since the last Hero was summoned.

Considering Inas looked about my age, it wouldn’t be strange if he didn’t know.

‘Come to think of it, I don’t even know how old he is.’

We’d only recently started talking like this outside of mealtimes…

But still.

I even knew the age and family situation of Damon, that jerk who used to serve me.

And yet I didn’t know Inas’s age?

“Is it something that only exists in Seongyeon’s world?”

“…What?”

Just as I decided I might as well dig into personal details, Inas suddenly asked that question.

“…Couldn’t you bring it here…”

He started thinking about it seriously.

I stared blankly at him before finally speaking.

“Mr. Inas… um… when you say my world, I mean… wait. Did you know I’m from another world?”

“Yeah.”

“…You knew?”

“How could I not?”

“…”

I genuinely thought Inas wouldn’t notice.

“You’re a Hero, Seongyeon.”

It felt like getting hit on the back of the head.

Actually, not lightly.

More like getting smacked really hard.

“No, but… you knew…”

It wasn’t awkward because I had tried to hide it.

It was just…

“Didn’t you think it was strange that a Hero suddenly showed up asking to live with you? I’m supposed to be in the imperial palace!”

“Yeah, it was strange. You ran away, right?”

“Yeah, I ran- wait, you knew that too? Then you knew I was being chased? And you still let me stay here?!”

Letting a fugitive into your house, what kind of confidence was that?

“Yeah. Why?”

“Why?! Didn’t you think it was dangerous? You don’t even know what I might do to you!”

If he thought I was just an ordinary person, I could understand.

Inas was a magician after all.

But if the other person was a Hero, that was different.

“You’re really something, Mr. Inas…”

The thing Inas lacked wasn’t just life skills.

Honestly, it was easier to list what he was good at.

Magic.

Specifically magical research.

‘At first I thought he was strong…’

Because he was a magician.

And not just any magician, a genius one.

So I assumed someone like me could be erased from existence without effort.

But after observing him for a month, I came to one conclusion.

He had absolutely zero talent for combat.

I should’ve known from the first time he failed to control fire.

There were no lighters here, so he had to use magic to start fires.

But every time he tried, he lost control and nearly burned the whole house down.

Actually, there had already been several close calls this past month.

That’s why I always kept a small flame going and carefully managed it so it wouldn’t go out.

Sure, I had seen him restore a burned house before.

But what if he restored it to its state before I cleaned it?

That would be a disaster.

‘And that fruit… he didn’t just choose not to pick it.’

He couldn’t.

The trap near the fruit tree, the one that tastes best when grilled, could only hold one creature at a time.

So Inas simply waited endlessly for something to get caught.

Meaning he had no ability to fight magical beasts himself.

He could’ve escaped the vines by cutting them with a knife, but he didn’t even try.

“Mr. Inas, it’s a little late to say this, but you shouldn’t bring just anyone into your house. It’s dangerous.”

He might be a genius, but he wasn’t a battle mage.

And he had a slightly absent-minded personality too.

It wouldn’t be surprising if he ended up in danger someday.

If the person who approached him that day had been someone bad instead of me…

“Ugh, just imagining it gives me chills.”

Who knew what could happen if this weak genius magician got dragged out of Enns?

He could end up as a s*ave.

Locked somewhere and forced to do magical research day and night.

Actually… he might like that part.

At least they’d feed him.

No, wait.

Inas liked sleeping when he wanted and eating when he wanted.

So he’d probably feel suffocated.

Which meant it absolutely couldn’t happen.

“…Why would I be in danger? What would Seongyeon even do?”

Even though I could imagine ten tragic scenarios in seconds, Inas looked completely innocent.

He genuinely didn’t understand.

“I’m not saying I would do anything. But Heroes aren’t summoned after a personality test or anything. Whoever gets summoned would still be stronger than you.”

“…”

“So if I had been a bad person, wouldn’t that be a big problem? You’re lucky it was me.”

Even though Enns was full of monsters, this house itself had no problems.

Because there was a barrier around it.

A barrier that prevented any creature from entering unless Inas permitted it.

Inside the barrier, even someone with poor combat ability could live safely.

But that also meant something else.

If Inas allowed it, anything could enter.

If someone malicious deceived him…!

“Mr. Inas, listen carefully. Don’t bring just anyone into the house. I’m saying this because I’m genuinely worried.”

“…”

“You heard me, right?”

“Seongyeon is…”

Inas looked at me strangely and then closed his mouth.

Normally I might’ve asked why he stopped talking.

But since it was Inas, I wasn’t very curious.

At first I used to ask him whenever he stopped mid-sentence.

But after he once answered, “Because talking further is annoying,” I lost interest.

Even when I pressed him before, it was always pointless anyway.

“Oh right! I was supposed to do laundry today!”

“…”

“Mr. Inas, did you take out the clothes that need washing? I told you to get them ready.”

“…”

“Right, silly question. I’ll just go dig them out myself.”

One warning wouldn’t fix anything.

As long as I stayed here, I’d have to drill it into his head constantly.

Actually, these days I’d been trying to teach Inas various things.

He looked somewhat like a proper human now, but I had a feeling that the moment I returned to my original world, he’d go back to his old lifestyle.

After all the suffering I went through fixing this place, that would be unacceptable.

Even if I never saw it again.

I planned to make sure he could at least live like a proper person before I left.

I hadn’t even asked him my favor yet…

But if he succeeded, I should repay the kindness somehow.

Still, more important right now was the weather.

The sunlight was warm today.

And in Enns, days like this were rare.

Which meant laundry had to be done today, no matter what.

“Yeah… Seongyeon should just do laundry…”

“Huh?”

“No… nothing.”

There was a sigh in Inas’s voice.

Was he already tired just because I nagged him a little?

If he didn’t want to hear complaints, he should learn some caution.

At this rate, he probably needed a full course in safety training.

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