“In short, you wish to use this ‘skill’ of yours to keep my belly full on the condition that I do not eat you?” the dragon asked. Its neck swung around gently.
“Essentially, yes,” I replied, puffing out my chest.
If I were to allow myself to show fear, the dragon might start to doubt my claims. And there was nothing false about the claim that I could “order” food from another world!
Whether the dragon had seen through me or not, the coiled black mass beyond the altar started to slither. I barely had time to blink before the enormous creature was standing before me in its entirety. While its wings had been visible all this time, I could now see that they were even larger than I had thought. Its golden eyes seemed to flicker like flames. The jet-black scales that covered its body shone like they were wet, and while they seemed rock-hard at first glance, they rippled with the dragon’s movements without hindering them whatsoever. This dragon was a gorgeous creature indeed, too gorgeous to believe that it had smote the world with a curse.
Craning its neck forward, the dragon held its head just in front of me. “In that case, child, you will provide for me milk, honey, and spices.”
I repeated those ingredients aloud.
“They say that those three items have constituted the divine offerings of the shrine maidens since time immemorial. If it is clemency you wish for, you will offer them to me also.”
I hesitated for just a heartbeat. “Of course. If you would spare me a moment...”
Those sharp white fangs set against the striking red of its mouth hungered for a traditional offering, and there was a real basis to the creature’s request. Perhaps I ought to have studied theology a little more...
Regardless, I wondered whether I would find an item that comprised all three ingredients. It would certainly be convenient if I could.
“Ah, wait a moment,” the dragon said. “You are not suitably dressed to make an offering, child.”
“Oh! I’m terribly sorry...”
The dragon’s full moon-shaped eyes narrowed, sending a shard of ice running down my spine.
Have I provoked its wrath?!
I ducked my head at once, only to find myself surrounded by soft orbs of light. I could only watch as each one came into contact with my dress and restored the material to its former glory. By the time the lights vanished, my once-ravaged dress was as perfect as it had ever been.
“Consider that to be a parting gift. However, if you do not wish for it to be so, you will procure that offering immediately.” The dragon then chortled, swaying its head from side to side again.
“Th-Thank you!” I stammered. “I promise your gift was not given in vain!”
I dipped my head as low as I could and activated my skill. The black tablet immediately appeared before me. Fingers flying, I looked through what was available, and a certain dessert caught my eye.
Milk, honey, and spices...
“Perfect!”
I firmly pressed the button to order, and a paper carton that was neither particularly large nor particularly small appeared in my hand. The square box had a small handle on top. It made for a unique shape indeed.
The dragon’s golden eyes widened in surprise, and I could again feel its intense gaze on me as I carefully opened the box. As soon as I did so, a sweet scent wafted into the air.
“I have here your desired milk, honey, and spice: honey and milk doughnuts!” I announced.
“Is that truly what I requested?”
“A batter made of vanilla-scented milk and ample amounts of honey has been fried in oil and topped with a sugar coating. It fulfills all three of your requirements.”
The dragon frowned at the box, so I pulled the lid back even further and held it up to give the creature a good view of the inside. There were a dozen ring doughnuts inside, each one wrapped in a glossy, milky-white sugar coating. The sweet scents of honey and vanilla were coming together to slowly turn my brain to mush. This seemed like the type of dessert you would eat to bring you happiness when you were at your most exhausted. The scent of sugar was even more overwhelmingly irresistible after having run so hard. I placed the box on the altar before I could give in and take one of the treats for myself, but the dragon’s head just continued to sway.
“Are you perhaps concerned that I have poisoned them?” I asked. “If so, I would be happy to eat one to reassure you that isn’t the case.”
“There exists no poison that would be effective against me. However, if they are poisoned, I would rather we are both exposed to it... You eat first. The fourth one down in the right column.” The dragon’s tone showed a severe lack of enthusiasm.
“My, how generous of you to select one for me! Very well.”
I didn’t see why the dragon wanted me to test them for it if poison wouldn’t affect it anyway. I was also rather offended that the dragon thought I would try to poison it in the first place. But, if the dragon insisted, I supposed I could be convinced to eat one...or two.
Still indignant, I threw all decorum to the wind and picked up the doughnut the dragon had assigned to me. Then, I hesitated. Following Teiren’s memories, I was holding the doughnut with a thin sheet of paper. However, it felt uncouth, if not outright improper, to eat something this way. Even so, it was too late not to eat it at this point.
From the very moment I leaned closer to the fried treat, its sweet scent started to tease the tip of my nose. Then, making sure the dragon could see me, I took a bite.
My teeth broke through the crisp layer of sugar on the outside and sank into the soft, fluffy dough beneath. The rich sweetness of milk and honey coated my tongue. Meanwhile, my mouth was filled with a rush of fragrant vanilla. The golden-brown dough, fattened up with something called yeast, already had a natural sweetness to it that went particularly well with the intense sugary coating! The entire thing had been fried in a high-quality oil. I had learned all of this from the advertising when I had selected these doughnuts, but I was indeed surprised to find that these treats weren’t at all heavy or overwhelming in their flavor—something that was all too common with fried foods. As much as I wanted to take another bite, I was also hesitant to open my mouth and deprive myself of the wondrous tastes I was currently experiencing.
I brought my hand to my lips unconsciously. “It is perfectly fine by me if you do not wish to eat them!” I said. “I can eat them all.”
“A-Are they truly that delectable?” the dragon stammered.
The creature had doubted the doughnuts’ perfection, and it would be a waste to let it eat these.