I didn't know how long I had been unconscious when my awareness finally returned.
(Right… I…)
I remembered why I fainted—the side effects of the enhancement magic. My body no longer felt pain, but there was a soft sensation behind my head.
(Wait… am I lying on Lina's lap?!)
Sure enough, she had placed my head on her lap. That should've made me happy, but I must've been out cold for a long time. Keeping the same position that long had to be tiring, and her legs must be numb.
But something still didn't feel right. I could feel a soft sensation on my back too. If I were lying on the ground, it shouldn't feel like this.
(Thinking won't help. I should wake up, or Lina will worry.)
Since I had regained my senses, that meant I could move.
I raised my hand to my face. Freshly awakened, I had no strength at all—and I was starving. "Nutrient Recovery" must've consumed a lot of my nutrients.
"Karen! Are you awake!? Karen!"
A familiar sweet voice, trembling with joy and worry. I forced my heavy eyelids open, and the first thing I saw was my unbelievably cute childhood friend.
"...Lina."
I meant to call her name like usual, but it came out weak and breathless.
"Mm. You finally woke up."
I tried to sit up, but my arms gave out. Understanding what I wanted, Lina gently helped me up.
I looked around. The room looked exactly like the inn's. How did I get back? There was no way Lina carried me back alone.
Outside the window, the sky was orange-red, close to dusk. Evening was coming. I turned back to Lina.
"Let's… go eat. Did you eat yet?"
"I haven't."
"Then let's go."
"I'll help you."
"Thanks."
I leaned my arm against her shoulder as we left the room. Going down the stairs, I held the wall with my free hand. It looked like I had an injured leg, but honestly, I was just too hungry to walk normally.
We slowly reached the dining hall and sat down. Lina went to speak with a staff member and soon returned.
"I asked the lady to bring us two meals."
I slowly took out my wallet and handed her ten copper coins.
"Pay for it later."
"Mm."
Then I slumped over the table. I was starving. Why wasn't the food here yet? Please hurry—I'm starving to death.
The same staff lady approached with two bowls of food, placing them in front of us. Lina paid her.
I picked up the spoon, flipped aside the fried egg on top, revealing rice beneath, along with meat and vegetables unfamiliar to me.
I was too hungry to care what they were. Scooping up a mouthful, I shoved it into my mouth—and then I devoured the rest like a beast.
I didn't care whether it tasted good, whether it had flavor. I only wanted to fill my stomach. The bowl left no impression at all—it felt like eating plain rice with nothing on it.
I finished quickly. Strength returned to my body, though I was still a bit hungry, so I ordered another bowl.
After paying again, I studied the ingredients. The vegetables had thin stems and leafy parts—probably some kind of leafy greens. The meat looked like stir-fried pork belly marinated in soy sauce and various spices.
This time, I slowly savored it. The combination of spices excited my tongue, and I kept eating bite after bite until I finished the second bowl.
Lina had already finished her meal and waited patiently. I put my spoon down and turned to her.
"Alright… how did I get back?"
It was impossible to think straight while starving. Now that I was full, I could finally process things.
"It happened like this…"
Lina began explaining everything, and I listened quietly.
After healing me, she used a detection magic to keep watch for nearby creatures. After lunch, three signatures began approaching slowly. Lina stood up, alert, hand raised, ready to cast. But then she heard voices. She listened carefully—they were talking about us. Had we encountered half-orcs? Had we acted recklessly and died? Were we still not in the forest?
When they spotted Lina, they rushed over. Lina recognized them—the Digoman trio. They asked if she was alright, then saw my body lying motionless. They immediately assumed I was dead and began talking among themselves, trying to comfort her. Lina desperately explained the situation, and after a very long time, they finally understood I had just fainted.
The Digoman member we spoke to at the guild that morning explained that Wiley had asked them to look for us. Apparently, Sylvie approving our request made Willey furious—he didn't believe we were capable of handling the quest.
After that, one of the Digoman members carried me back to the inn, and I slept on the bed until I woke up just now.
"I see."
"But… they don't seem to believe you hunted the Orc King down alone."
"It's fine. They'll believe it tomorrow. And it wasn't me alone—we hunted it down."
Once we showed the proof at the guild tomorrow, they'd have no choice but to believe. But Lina claiming I defeated it alone… I wasn't accepting that.
"But you were the one fighting. I just stood there."
She shook her head, refusing my words. Though she wasn't wrong on the surface, that wasn't the whole truth. I turned my chair toward her, straightened my posture, and spoke seriously.
"Lina, I couldn't have used a spell that knocks me unconscious if you weren't there. I only dared to use it because I knew you were behind me. So we defeated the Orc King. Understood?"
I smiled after finishing. Sitting up straight was to show sincerity—but honestly, I was dying of embarrassment. I never want to say that again!
Lina looked stunned for a moment, then nodded strongly, smiling adorably.
"Mm!"
After we bathed and returned to the room, Lina fidgeted, rubbing her fingers together.
"K-Karen…"
"What is it?"
"C-could I borrow your towel again? I'll sleep quietly…"
So she wanted to sleep hugging my towel again. Well, I also needed her help drying it.
"Sure. Could you dry mine too?"
"Of course!"
She happily agreed and took out her own towel to dry alongside mine.
Later, we went to bed. I slept with my back to her. Even though she said she'd sleep quietly, I could still feel faint movements behind me. But it didn't bother me, so I ignored it.