The Munchkin Disciple Wants To Stop Being Obsessed Over

7 – Year of the Priest (2)

“I… Made… a mistake… Ah, Ah!”

I screamed with my eyes closed, but Daphne swung her sword at me without blinking an eye, hesitating.

-Seokguk.

An eerie sound was inserted into my ear.

And so my head was cut off.

“Why are you crying?”

Not the head on my neck, but the hair.

When I opened my eyes, I saw my long black hair on the floor and Daphne with a surprisingly excited expression.

“I cut it because it seemed to bother you.”

“…”

The intangible force that had bound me disappeared, and my strengthless body collapsed onto the chair.

‘This damn girl…’

She had probably been teasing me, as I noticed her chuckling while sheathing her sword.

Just as I was about to release my anger with some words.

[Daphne’s favorability has increased by 20! (Favorability: 50/100)]

A notification came. Why?

“From the look of it, you would think I threatened to kill you.”

You did.

“Still, you’re quite the baby to cry of fear.”

“I…didn’t cry.”

“What’s this moisture then? Perhaps it’s just dew?”

Daphne, who was wiping my tear ducts with his finger asked. Looking into her eyes, the corners of her eyes were shaped like a crescent moon.

“…”

My face flushed with embarrassment, and my head drooped down automatically.

I can’t believe I got teased by a girl.

It’s a serious blow to a man’s pride.

‘I’ll see.’

With my dignity already hurt, I made a promise while my hands were shaking.

Although I need to look good for now, I’ll definitely turn the tables on her someday.

“Oh my, your apron is ruined.”

In the midst of it all, Daphne lifted my apron to look.

“That could have ended badly,” she said.

With an innocent laugh, Daphne threw aside my black apron that I had been wearing.

Upon seeing this, I gulped.

Why? Because the apron Daphne threw was not intact but in a ragged state.

‘Did she cut my hair in that brief moment and even cut my apron to surprise me?’

As I understood the situation, my mouth gaped.

I can’t figure it out.

How outstanding must her swordplay be, to pull off such a stunt.

And how bad her character might be, to perform such a gruesome act just to surprise a child.

“See.”

While I was floundering on my own, something was placed on the floor.

“···?”

Seeing my questioning gaze, Daphne replied with a smirk,

“It’s an apron. I thought black was too gloomy, so I prepared this.”

“This is…”

As I held up the apron, a symphony of pink unfolded.

I felt a reflexive aversion.

It was understandable.

No, not just for me, any man would have felt the same.

‘Even the gays would hate this.’

Against the pink background, were innocent-eyed baby animals.

The apron Daphne handed me was, to someone born with XY chromosomes like me, something I absolutely could not accept.

“Miss Daphne, I think I will just go without an apron…”

“Put it on.”

“Pardon?”

“I said, put it on.”

Amidst my gentle refusal, came a cold voice.

“···.”

Daphne was looking at me, colder than the first day we met.

It was a lamentable situation. I, a man, couldn’t even voice a proper refusal. I was in a state of surrender.

‘Damn it.’

I really didn’t want to wear it, but in the end, I had no choice but to put on the apron.

Then a notification arrived.

[Your favorability with Daphne increased by 20! (Favorability: 70/100)]

Thanks to that, I learned what I have to do to clear this quest.

‘So this was her taste.’

All I had to do was comply with Daphne’s taste.

Look now. Daphne’s previously cold face had changed completely to a very pleased expression.

“Let’s think positively.”

My male pride was hurt, but this was better.

Better than eating an ash-colored sandwich seven times.

Ah, now that it has come to this, I should say it now.

I’ll cook.

This, if done well, could complete the quest today, right?

“Such a pre…tty… an apron, thank you.”

“Yeah. Quite cute… no, it’s manageable.”

“Ah, Daphne! Since I’ve put on an apron like this, would it be alright if I returned the favor?”

“Return the favor?”

As I spoke, Daphne asked back with a look full of curiosity.

A nice expression. The kind that’ll be moved once I declare that I’ll cook, surely appreciating me.

“I can cook a little bit!”

“Cooking?”

“Yes. If you show me where the ingredients are, I am thinking of preparing the meal…”

“Daphne…”

As I confidently spoke, Daphne trailed off her words and bowed her head.

“She can’t help but be moved.”

I’d feel the same. I can’t cook, but I’m graciously offering to do so.

From Daphne’s point of view, I’d surely appear admirable.

As I thought, it didn’t take long for a notification to arrive.

[Daphne’s affection has dropped by 10! (Affection: 60/100)]

“Eh?”

Why did it decrease?

Could she have been aware I was staring at her with bewilderment? Daphne soon lifted her head and asked me.

“Did the food I prepared taste bad to you?”

Multiple emotions were seeping into Daphne’s expression.

Despair and resentment, and even anger and madness.

I swallow a futile sigh, feeling like I’ve made a major error.

“…”

How long did we look at each other?

After some thought, I made a big decision and opened my lips to answer with difficulty.

From noble mtl dot com

“Yes.”

****

Although I had invested more than 10,000 hours in the game, this was a first.

One word… no, just one word had dropped the affection by 20.

[Progressing linked quest ‘Win Daphne’s Affection!’ (Affection: 40/100)]

Despite the inevitably infuriating situation, I had no regrets.

No, I think I did really well.

“Do as you want.”

Even though Daphne stuck out her lips and flippantly pushed me into the kitchen, there was no avoiding the hum of a song that softly played in my mind.

” heheheh.”

Having bought myself a chance to live like a human by trading 30 Likability Points, how could I not be happy? It feels like I’ve bagged a real bargain.

‘Well, I can always earn more likability points.’

From what I’ve observed, Daphne has quite a whimsical character.

So, if I adapt to her tempo a bit, surely I’ll gradually complete the quest.

No matter how much I think about it, my choice was not wrong.

“heheheh.”

After all, it has allowed me to maintain my precious sense of taste.

The moment the meat hits the pan, the sizzling sound and tantalizing aroma start to fill the kitchen.

Surprisingly, the pantry was well-stocked with fresh ingredients, enabling me to prepare various dishes.

‘Will this raise her likability towards me?’

From tomato pasta and chicken stew to the pork shoulder steak I’m grilling right now.

Any woman would be crazy not to appreciate such dishes, especially if a man cooked them, it could stimulate non-existing fondness.

‘I never thought it’d come in handy like this.’

In my previous life, I picked up cooking as a hobby, to entertain my girlfriend when she came over to my place.

“…”

Suddenly, I felt a pang of bitterness.

After all, in my previous life, no one ever got to taste these dishes.

‘It’s okay.’

Now, at least this skill proves to be helpful.

It proves that the time I spent was not wasted.

‘Damn.’

It really was okay.

****

As I finished cooking and called for Daphne, she was still pouting.

“…You worked hard.”

I didn’t just work hard, I gave my very best.

‘So petty yet.’

Her sulking expression ticked me off, but I held my emotions under control and handed her a spoon.

‘Compared to the grace that Miss Daphne has shown me, this is nothing at all.’

‘ That’s true.’

‘Please try it before it cools down.’

‘Okay. You’ve put in the effort, so I should at least try it.’

” heheheh…”

Although I managed a smile on the outside, I felt miserable on the inside.

Even though I, a man, had cooked for her, this is the treatment I received.

‘Dad, I’m sorry.’

A sudden sense of guilt washed over me.

“In my past life, my father always told me to die like a man, even in death.

‘I need to survive.’

For the record, my father staked his entire fortune on Dogecoin, a manly bet, and met with a manly end…

“It tastes… No, it’s quite edible.”

As these thoughts were crossing my mind, I heard Daphne mumbling and lifted my head.

‘You’ve got a good appetite.’

Daphne was concentrating on her meal, munching away with her tiny mouth.

Looking at her just like that, I felt a peculiar sensation.

‘She really is pretty.’

Her chomping as she eats is kind of cute.

‘Would’ve been great if only she had a good personality.’

As I was contemplating such wasteful thoughts and about to join her in eating, alerts began to pour in.

[Your affinity with Daphne increased by 20! (Affinity: 60/100)]

[Your affinity with Daphne increased by 20! (Affinity: 80/100)]

[Your affinity with Daphne increased by 20! (Affinity: 100/100)]

[You’ve completed the linked quest, ‘Gain Daphne’s Favor!’ ]

The quest was completed in an instant.

Left with a blank expression, I saw Daphne looking extremely pleased, chomping away.

“…”

Looking at her like that made me feel hollow.

I had worried about breaking the quest.

But it had been so easy.

‘Oh.’

But that emptiness faded just like melting snow with the incoming alert.

[Please choose a reward.]

The rewards list that arrived was extraordinary.