The elves were in pure bliss. The mont they took their first bites of Luca’s grilled chicken, a wave of amazent spread through the clearing.
They had already thought fried chicken was the pinnacle of all flavor—that nothing in the world could ever surpass that golden, crispy delight.
But then ca the grilled chicken. Its charred surface glistening, the smoky aroma so rich it made their mouths water all over again.
The first chew revealed a burst of juicy tenderness, the flavor sinking deep into their tongues with that perfectly roasted, fiery taste.
One elf practically moaned. "Oh my goddess...this is heaven."
Another nodded rapidly, eyes wide. "It’s so...juicy! And that char taste—oh, it’s divine!"
"How is this even possible? I didn’t think chicken could taste this good!"
Within minutes, everyone was convinced—chicken was not just good.
Chicken was a gift from the gods.
Fried, grilled, roasted, smoked—it didn’t matter.
Chicken was life.
By the ti the last tray was scraped clean, every elf looked blissfully satisfied, so sprawled on the grass with full bellies, others still licking sauce off their fingers.
But their love for chicken had now reached a dangerous level—an obsession.
"Hero!" Shouted one elf, raising her hand eagerly. "Can you please teach us how to make this?"
"Yeah! The fried one too!" Another added. "We need to know everything!"
Luca chuckled, crossing his arms. "You really want to learn that much, huh?"
"YES!" They all chorused in perfect unison.
"Alright then. I’ll share a few recipes." He said before turning to Luna. "Luna, you’ll handle the teaching. You’ve got the patience for it."
Luna blinked in surprise. "?!"
"Of course." Luca said casually. "You’re good with details. Just follow the notes I’ll give you."
He got out so pieces of paper and filled it with simple recipes—crispy fried chicken, smoky grilled chicken, garlic butter chicken, and even a simple broth stew.
The elves imdiately crowded around Luna, eagerly trying to peek at the recipes.
anwhile, Nyx was already busy teaching a group of elves how to butcher chickens properly.
She was surprisingly patient about it—except that she used live examples.
"Alright, so first you hold the neck like this." She explained, demonstrating with firm hands.
Several elves nodded seriously, but Lulu, who had been watching from the corner, suddenly went pale.
"Auntie Nyx! Stop, stop, stop!" She squeaked, covering her eyes. "I can’t watch that! That’s Henrietta’s cousin!"
Nyx just laughed. "Don’t be dramatic, Lulu. Henrietta’s cousin’s up there floating with a balloon. She’s fine. This one’s different."
But Lulu whimpered anyway and turned away, muttering, "You’re all monsters..."
While Luna and Nyx taught the others, Luca went over to the mini-hospital at the top of the village.
He had brought several plates of grilled chicken for the patients there, and the mont the aroma filled the room, everyone’s faces brightened.
Even the weakest elves, who could barely move, smiled as the warmth and flavor filled the air.
And right now, after distributing the chicken to everyone, Luca was sitting beside Es’s bed, who now looked much better than before—her pale complexion had regained a little color, and her eyes no longer seed so dull.
She still couldn’t move much, but she was clearly stronger. Beside her, little Lisa sat happily on Luca’s lap, munching on a drumstick.
"Here." Luca said gently, holding up a forkful of chicken for Es. "Try this. It’s softer than the fried one."
Es blushed, trying to protest.
"P-Please, Hero...there’s no need. My hands can still move, and I can feed myself."
"Oh really?" Luca raised an eyebrow, smirking faintly. "Because I heard from Lisa that when you tried to eat soup yesterday, you ended up wearing most of it."
"W-What?!" Es’s cheeks turned bright red.
"Yep." Luca said cheerfully. "She also ntioned the vegetables that kept falling off your spoon. Onto your chest, specifically."
"Lisa!" She gasped, mortified. "You shouldn’t say things like that!"
"But’s true, Mother!" Lisa giggled mischievously from his lap. "You dropped everything yesterday! So just let Big Brother feed you! You’re always saying we should accept help, rember?"
Luca chuckled at how well spoken she was.
"See? Even your daughter agrees. So, no argunts. I’m feeding you."
Before Es could protest again, he picked up a grilled leg piece and said teasingly,
"Now, open up. Say ah."
Her face glowed pink as she hesitated, looking utterly embarrassed. But finally, she opened her mouth just slightly.
"Ah..."
"Good girl." Luca said, placing the piece near her lips.
She took a small, shy bite, chewing slowly, her embarrassnt deepening.
Just then, one of the younger elves in the other bed called out teasingly.
"Hey, Hero! That’s not fair! You’re spoiling Es too much! Why don’t you feed us too?"
Another laughed. "Yeah! Co feed ! I want to be spoiled by the Hero!"
They were joking, but to their horror and amusent Luca smirked and said,
"You know what? That’s actually a great idea."
He got up, walked over, and one by one began feeding the rest of the patients too.
"Alright, open up. Say ’ah.’ Co on, don’t be shy."
Even though they’d been joking, none of them had the heart to refuse him now. They opened their mouths shyly, blushing as he fed them each a piece.
The other elves watching laughed fondly. "He’s like a nursemaid and a Hero at the sa ti!"
When he reached one of the older elves—a regal, silver-haired woman—she tried to protest.
"There’s no need, Hero. I’m not a child. I’m already 250 years old."
Luca smirked. "Then you’re even more of a child in my eyes. Co on, open your mouth, old flower, or I’ll be here all night."
The elder blushed and turned her head away.
"...Fine. Just one bite."
She opened her mouth reluctantly, and he gently placed the food in.
The room burst into laughter again, and the elder hid her face in embarrassnt.
And before long, every plate of chicken was gone.
The patients were smiling, the nurses were giggling, and the warm glow of satisfaction filled the whole place.
—
After spending quite a bit of ti with everyone, the three moons had risen high above the forest canopy, casting a soft silver light across the village.
Luca looked around the now peaceful room, then at Es and Lisa, who both looked drowsy and content.
"I think I’ll be going now, Es." He said gently. "It’s already quite late."
Es’s face fell.
She had been enjoying their quiet talk—his patience with her slow, weak speech, his kindness despite her frailty, how he managed to make her giggle with every sentence he uttered.
So, hearing him say he was leaving made her chest ache.
"Do you...really have to go, Luca?" She asked softly. "Can’t you...stay a little longer? With us? With Lisa?"
"Yeah! Big brother, stay here!" Lisa instantly perked up. "You can sleep next to Mommy! I’ll sleep between you two, and we can cuddle like a family!"
"Lisa!" Es exclaid, her face turning scarlet. "Don’t say such things!"
Luca laughed quietly, ruffling Lisa’s hair.
"Sorry, Es, but I really should go. You both need to sleep."
Es looked down sadly. "I see..."
Lisa noticed her mother’s sorrowful expression and suddenly whispered to Luca, tugging on his sleeve.
"Big brother, co here! I’ll tell you a secret!"
Luca crouched down curiously, leaning close as Lisa whispered sothing into his ear.
Whatever she said made a slow smile spread across his face.
He turned toward Es again and said,
"Es, I have a secret to tell you too."
She blinked, surprised. "A...secret?"
He leaned closer to her ear.
She expected a whisper—but instead, she felt the soft, sudden warmth of his lips on her ear.
Kiss!
A deep, gentle kiss that sent shivers down her spine.
When he pulled back, her entire face was flushed red.
"W-What...What was that, Luca?" She stamred.
"Lisa told that whenever you’re sad, she kisses you on the ear and you feel better. So I thought I’d do the sa." He grinned teasingly. "Judging by your face, I’d say it worked."
Es was speechless, her heart pounding so loud she was sure everyone could hear it.
"Well then." Luca said cheerfully. "Since you’re feeling better now, I’ll take my leave. Sleep well, Es. Good night, Lisa."
He waved and left the treehouse.
And the mont he was gone, the room erupted in laughter, cheers, and teasing.
"Es! You sly little thing!" One elf shouted. "Acting all weak and innocent, and now you’ve got the Hero kissing you?!"
Another giggled. "You definitely planned that! You told Lisa to say it, didn’t you?"
"N-No! That’s not—" Es stamred "That’s not what happened!"
"Oh, it’s fine!" Soone teased. "Honestly, good for you! I’d have done the sa if I could."
Es groaned and hid her face in her pillow, her ears burning red.
"P-Please stop talking about it!"
But the teasing didn’t stop. The laughter filled the room, and through it all, Lisa just giggled, happily finishing the last of her grilled chicken while glancing at her flustered mother.
In her tiny heart, she made one innocent little wish—that soday, the Hero would beco her new father.
—
Inside his quiet tree house, Luca sat on a sturdy wooden chair before his small dining table.
In front of him sat a single plate. And on that plate—a lonely, glorious leg piece of fried chicken.
He stared at it with both amusent and despair.
"So this is all that’s left for the great Hero huh?...A soggy piece of chicken." He muttered, chuckling to himself.
Earlier, he’d tried to secretly save a few pieces for later, since he hadn’t eaten much himself.
But after seeing how much everyone adored the chicken—the way the elves fought, begged, and nearly cried for it—he’d given it all away.
All but this one leg.
He sighed, smiling helplessly. "Guess it’s better than nothing."
Sure, he could have just gone ho and brought more chicken from his world.
But this wasn’t ordinary chicken—it was made right here in the elf village, from their own poultry, fried by Luna and Nyx themselves.
It carried the spirit of the day. The chaos. The love.
That made it special.
So he picked up the leg piece, holding it reverently like so artifact, and was just about to take his first bite when—
"Luca, can I co in?"
He froze mid-bite, blinking in surprise. That voice—he knew it instantly.
"Lulu?" He called back, half-surprised, half-curious.
The door creaked open, and there she was—standing in the doorway, her golden hair faintly lit by the moonlight, her usual confident smirk nowhere to be seen.
Instead, she looked...timid. Awkwardly so.
Her hands were clasped behind her back, and she shuffled her feet like a child caught sneaking out past curfew.
"Uh...h-hi."
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