Hot Pot

My stiff body creaked as I stood up out of bed and my adrenaline began to rush at the thought of food. It was telling me I had to get some no matter what. Luckily, I had a plan for that. I was already wearing every piece of clothing I had to try and stay warm, so it wasn't like I needed to get ready or anything, I just needed to walk out the door. Finding the energy for that was hard… But it was manageable.

It creaked open, and as I took a step outside I was greeted with the warm sun shining down against my skin, and a biting wind that felt like it gnawed at my bones, which were the only thing left of me.

"Wo… He's alive." A nearby kid said cheekily.

"You owe me your grapes."

I didn't have the energy to bother with them. Just some brats from the orphanage that ran down to the slums to play and cause trouble.

I just kept trudging along, making sure I kept a hand on my hatchet, and another on my dagger, just in case someone tried something… Although it was unlikely, it was hard not to be paranoid after what happened the last time I walked those streets.

Before I knew it people were giving me cautious glances, and that was when I realized I had been out of the slums for some time, having moved into an area we called the commons. In other words, everyone there was middle class.

I relaxed a bit, but my heart didn't stop pounding, as if my body was thrown into a panic by suddenly spending even more energy, despite not having any left. Thankfully, I found the restaurant I was looking for just another block away.

[The Hot Pot]

I read the sign stopping for a moment before I walked in. 'I actually survived the winter… I really almost did starve myself to death.'

The bell rang as I entered, nearly collapsing the moment I stepped inside.

"Can I take you're order, sir?" A girl I didn't recognize asked. She was wearing a… Less than modest outfit, that consisted of black stockings and a skin-tight top that just barely hung down past her hips, and even then only did so in the front and back.

I opened my mouth, but I hadn't said a word in so long that I almost nearly forgot how. 'This is a pain… Where is he?'

See, I had a deal with the restaurant owner. He'd let me eat one meal for free before a job, and if I survived I'd pay him double for it. Not a good deal… But not a bad one either. After all the chances of survival went up quite a bit if I could run without collapsing.

"Is there… Anything you want?"

I took a deep breath. The scent of food brought pain back to my stomach. 

"Everything…" I finally muttered, bringing my eyes over to hers. The more I looked at her outfit, the more disappointed in the owner I was if I was being honest. Of course, there were other reasons It made me uncomfortable. Unlike me, she certainly wasn't lacking in terms of the "female form." If anything she had too much of it…

I paused, staring at her for a moment. 'Is… that what a girl is supposed to look like?'

She nervously looked to the side, clearly embarrassed. "U-uhm… Sir?"

I sighed. "Tell the chef I'm here for the double or nothing. He should know what that means." Timidly folding her hands in front of her waist, she bowed slightly and left for the kitchen in the back. 'I guess it's good the old man hired some help… But I'm going to have to talk with him… She doesn't look very comfortable either..'

Before long the owner-slash chef came out himself and set two bowls on the table, sitting down and taking one of them for himself. "Well well, if it isn't the little adventurer brat. You survived another winter! good to see you Chika."

After he scooted his chair in he took out his chopsticks and started stirring his bowl, but when he looked up at me he nearly froze. "You uh… You did survive right?"

I slowly lifted my head, "This will be the first bite of food I've had in… Something like, maybe 40 days I think? Good thing I know enough magic to at least slow down my metabolism a bit and keep my body warm… Even that only lasts so long without food though" I awkwardly smiled at his blank stare. "My mana tanked after week three, then I really ate it, or well, didn't eat it I guess."

He slowly turned his head with a small snort and set down his chopsticks "Just take one bite for now… Then wait a few minutes for your stomach to settle."

I lowered my head back down to the bowl and took out my own chopsticks, stirring the pot and taking the biggest bite that I could.

"Make sure you chew it all the way before you swallow."

"Yes Mother…" I groaned back.