121 Even if i have to become a monster...

John had to be fast, he wasted around 30 seconds and didn't want to waste any more time. He created water, and put them in cups and poured one cup of wine.

He then poured 3 cups of water and 1 more cup of wine

John didn't have any leaves to put in so he just went straight to boiling the liquid. He increased the temperature of the flames and the liquid started boiling

After that, he decreased it back to normal to let it simmer

After that, john walked away from it and leaned over on the wall, he was panting heavily

"Ahhhh... I'm exhausted, using magic with that much precision is a mentally tiring." John muttered

"Is it done!?" Asked Ariel excitedly

"Nope, now we have to wait an hour" muttered john

John discovered this over a year ago but time in this world was similar to the one in his, seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years they were all similar. Except for the date.

"What an entire hour...?" Said Ariel with a saddened expression

"Mhm" Replied John

"Wake me up when it's ready" Muttered Serena

"Okay" Replied John

John looked towards Ariel and she looked like she was dozing off, next to serena

"Ariel you should sleep too" Said john

"But-"

Serena was interrupted by john who said

"It's fine, I'll keep watch and take care of the rest" said john

"Fufu... John really is like a house wife"

"Where's this house wife idea coming from" John asked

"Nowhere~ , Alright, I'll let john handle the rest, if you sit here" Said Ariel as she pointed at the spot in between her and serena on the blanket

The blanket was surprisingly big enough to fit 3 people, so there wouldn't be any problem if john hopped on

"Why?" John asked

"Because you're also tired" Ariel replied

"What if I fall asleep?"

"Then I'll wake you up" Said master's brother

"You'd do that for me?" John asked

"No, for my life. I'm not letting that food spoil after I put some of my sister's precious wine in." Said master's brother

He was serious, there was no room to laugh it off as a joke, so without saying anything else. John bowed his head as thanks, and sat in between the two.

Seeing this Ariel layed down as well, and john moved the blanket which was covering serena over his legs and Ariel

You could still feel the rock hard ground under the warm blanket, but it was bearable. It was also warm being on it

"Hey, Ariel, you're a bit too close..." Muttered john

There was no reply, both Ariel and Serena were already fast asleep.

John didn't know how to feel and just simply stared at the cooking pot which was cooking. It was very warm under the blankets, and due to that warmness, he let his consciousness float

He killed someone and felt nothing

'You'll be just like us! We'll haunt you!'

Those were the very last words the guy he killed said, john was thinking back on those words. Was he really a monster? Was he really just like them?

As he wondered that, he looked towards serena and Ariel. And got his answer

"I don't mind if I become a monster... If it it's what it takes to keep people like you safe." John muttered

He had already made up his mind, his spiritual age was now 15, he had no time to be acting like a cry-baby, in the end everyone meets their maker. There's no use regretting and fretting over the past.

For the very first time, john had truly believed, that he had matured.

***

"Carefully..." John muttered as he got up from the blanket.

He put on his boots and walked towards the stew which was cooking up

"It's been an hour so now I can add... the diced carrots and potatoes" John muttered

He cutup 3 carrots and 4 potatoes into large dice using wind magic before adding them to the pot. After that, he put the lid on and walked back over to the blanket. He made sure to take his shoes off before going in

"Yeah, it's a lot warmer in here" John muttered as he laid down

Before he was sitting up, but now he felt like laying down

Serena and Ariel were still asleep, but even in their sleep, they were still as beautiful as ever.

"Fantasy... It's really not that bad" John muttered as he turned to the ceiling

"It's been an hour, how much longer?" Master's brother asked

"Another hour" John replied

Master's brother nodded.

"Why didn't you add a lid on before and only now?" He asked

"By adding a lid on, it'll create a moist heat environment inside of the pot to stop the stew from drying out and keeping the meat more tender" John replied

��I see..." He muttered

***

"Hey, Serena, Ariel, Wake up" Said John

"Hm? That smell... is it ready?" Asked Ariel as she got up and stretched out her arms

"Yep" John replied with a smile

He walked up to her and handed her the bowl filled with rabbit stew and a spoon

Ariel who saw this made a very happy gasp as she looked at it

"It's shining!" Said Ariel

"Haha, your words are too kind"

Serena got up and also stretched out her arms, her face wasn't ready anymore and she looked like she was better

"How are you feeling?" Asked john as handed her, her bowl

For a moment serena's face turned slightly red after she got the bowl from john. She avoided eye contact as she muttered

"Yeah..."

"That's good" Replied John with a smile

John then went to get another bowl and served it to master's brother, he also seemed rather happy. Seeing everyone look happy from receiving his food, gave john a nice warm feeling inside

However no one had started eating yet, they were all waiting for john.

Seeing this, he quickly served himself a bowl and went back to his seat, and at the same time, everyone took a bite

"Delicous~!!" Said Ariel with a dreamy expression as she placed her hand over her cheek

"It's good!!" Serena unintentionally let out

John smiled as he looked towards the two

"I-I mean it's alright..." Said serena, slightly embarrassed

"Haha, that's good to know" Said john as he let out a laugh

"I-It's not funny!" complained Serena

Seeing this we all started to chuckle

"Hey, john." Master's brother called out to him

"Yeah?" John replied

"You would make a good house wife" He said with a smile

"Not you too..." Said john