In the kitchen of the tower, after finishing everything, I sat down with Zoe and Celes for dinner.
Packing took a while, but I now had everything I needed or would need in the future.
There were abundant resources in this endless tower and even with the help of both of them, I could not even take one percent of that with me.
But all the things I took with me would be more than enough to get by before I would have to come back here.
Well, I will have to come back after five years for the training circle anyway so, I would be ok until then.
After that and talking with Lucy and Zoe, there was now nothing else to do.
Sitting with them, I was eating some normal noodles with meatballs and deep-fried fish and chips.
This was Zoe's first time eating something and even though she can live without anything, I knew she was a foodie, just like my grandma.
But, I knew she would be a far better cook that can at least make something edible... unlike a certain someone I loved dearly.
Well… Zoe was going to eat for the first time and seeing this was fun in itself.
Staring at this round thing with a weird but anticipation-filled expression, she took her first bite.
She was cute and that small face of hers eating those meatballs with that fork was… just adorable.
Her small mouth and cherry lips were painted red by the sauce as her eyes widened in surprise at the amazing taste.
"Biv butter! This ish amashing~!" she shouted with her mouth full of food, and I couldn't help but smile at this.
She was enjoying her dinner while Celes was eating her favorite purple flower's light.
I had taken many flowers and seeds with me so I knew she will be ok there as well.
Lucy was amazing and the ability of the question she had was more amazing than I had thought.
I asked for how to use the [Gate] on the first floor for today and now; I had detailed knowledge about that one.
I did ask Zoe first, but she didn't have much knowledge of things in this tower.
She knew what each floor was, the hidden things I never knew about, and all the knowledge of the divine library, but she didn't know how to use most of the things properly.
In the case of this gate, she knew how much energy, input, and resources we would need but, she did not know how to actually channel all that energy through those complicated runes and use it.
It was understandable, as operating a machine properly required experience for perfect results and she was just a newborn in this world.
How could someone who was overjoyed for their first meal operate a machine needing (1000 Units) of energy just for one exit?
Thankfully, Lucy gave me all the knowledge I would need to operate and the more amazing thing was the fact that I could come here anytime I wanted with the ring grandma gave me.
And more than that, I found many of these rings just lying around in the artifact room.
I didn't know why she left them for me, but I knew she knew that I would find them like this.
So, now, we were ready to go back tomorrow morning.
I decided to go to the main city first and gather some information about the unknown capital.
I also needed some money to use the things there and going directly to the capital would be no fun, too.
We should see this new world for the first time so, those things were decided already.
I will contact mom from there so that would be after we reach there but, I was hoping things go out properly this time.
There was nothing to worry about, anyway.
I was almost grown up, and I was strong, so nothing like in novels should happen to us.
"What's wrong, big brother?" she asked with a worried expression, and I came back from my train of thoughts.
"Oh... I'm just thinking about tomorrow. Don't worry, I'm ok~."
I could feel her worried emotions and she could also feel that I was fine.
Smiling at her big blue eyes, I patted her head.
She was a different person, but she would have similar powers grandma had.
Even though there were restrictions, she can tell me about herself as I was her guardian, so I knew everything she can tell me.
And she was relieved to have someone who knew all about her.
I could feel how she felt, and that was a special thing between us.
She smiled, and that made me smile, too.
And as always, Celes was laughing at us while eating her flower light.
'Haaa...' this sure was a quiet, warm and lovely atmosphere.
Grandma and I used to eat just like this, but now, her place was mine, while mine was Zoe's.
They were two different people, and I knew that, but still, looking at Zoe, I can't help but remember my marvelous grandma.
Zoe knew it too, but she did not mind it at all.
She understood the emotions as best as grandma so she just smiled at me every time that happened.
Just like right now.
"I have never met my mother, big brother. But, I know, she was definitely someone you loved dearly.
I know nothing could take her place and I can't help it either.
You are the only one I know in this world and Celes, and that's also thanks to my mother.
I don't know if I will be someone you like, but I promise I will stay with you forever.
You are my beloved big brother and even if we go out into a world I have never seen, I will follow you with all my heart.
So, don't worry. I know mom would like it too." she smiled warmly and grabbed my free hand.
Smiling at her, I also grabbed her hand back.
"Finish eating, you cute little birdie," I stroked her cheeks with a smile and resumed eating.
She was a good girl, and she knew how to to comfort others... or at least me.
I had to put this little girl to her first sleep too, so there was no time to think about that useless stuff.
Grandma was gone now, and thinking too much about that would not be good for me either.
I had to accept that truth and move on with our memories.
She would like that too...
"Haaa... how about some ice cream, Zoe?" I asked with a fresh expression and she smiled joyously.
"Yes~. I would love to have that sweet, cool thing~!"
That answer was quite unique but, thankfully, I understood her deep urge to eat the thing her mom and I loved endlessly.
Grandma's favorite flavor was chocolate mint.
I wonder what flavor she will like.
'Hmmm... we already have a great appetite. Let's make all the flavors we don't have in the cooling room.' I thought and smiled at that thought.
The first time I made ice cream here, grandma was so happy with just the normal one that she made me make every flavor I can.
We loved ice cream, and we would try making our 'special' original flavors here.
And so, she ended up with the chocolate mint, which was a special one in itself.
The ingredients in that one can't even be processed by me, so I had no way of making a new batch of that flavor for the time being.
I knew the processes, thankfully, so I can make it after I become strong enough, but god... the flavors she made were incomparable to anything.
And on happy nights like these, those delicacies were just the thing everyone would like.
But this talk was pointless at this moment.
This was our first dinner and tomorrow morning would be the day... we depart from here.
It has been a long time since I had been in this place and even longer that I have been away from them.
Almost six years...
How would they react when they actually see me?
It would be fun, and I was really excited to finally meet everyone.
I will have to tell them what happened first, and after that, we can have some crying.
I knew they all will like Zoe and if I was the one to be her guardian, we definitely will live happily together.
I will have many things there to do and I knew things would be perfect if I were with them.
And... have the spars my dear cousins so much wanted.
That would be a fun thing and if I can actually fight grandfather, it would be even better.
Patting her head out of the blue, I smiled.
"Tomorrow will be long you, two. Let's finish up and have a good sleep~."
"Yes~!"
[[ Yes~! ]]
These two were quite cheerful at the thought of finally going to the human city for the first time, not that I had been to any big city.
I was even more excited than these two.
'Let's see what a main city and capital are like...' I smiled excitedly and ate another one of these special meatballs.
Quite tasty if I praise myself...
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