Kondo lay on his bed, slowly opening his eyes. He sat up and looked around, only to find himself alone.
"Looks like I slept for a long time. That's why I'm the only one still in bed."
He stood up and immediately noticed something strange—every trace of pain in his body had vanished. In fact, he felt overflowing with energy.
"Maybe a good night's sleep really got rid of all my aches."
Excited, Kondo jumped.
To his surprise, he shot much higher into the air than expected.
"Huh?"
He landed on the bed and stared at his hands.
"I must still be dreaming."
He tried again.
This time, the result was the same. His jump was unusually high.
"What's going on? Why am I jumping so high? Is gravity not working on me anymore?"
Just then, the bedroom door opened and Lawine stepped inside.
"Oh, so you're awake. And you're still stuck on the bed? Go freshen up. I'll prepare breakfast."
Kondo smiled.
"I'll be there in a minute."
After washing up, he carefully folded the shirt Kim had given him and put on a different outfit before heading downstairs.
He sat at the dining table while Lawine brought him an omelet.
He finished one.
Then another.
But his hunger remained.
"Mom, can I have more?"
Lawine returned to the kitchen and made more.
One after another, Kondo ended up eating ten omelets.
Lawine stared at him in surprise.
"It seems you're especially hungry today. Wait, I'll make more."
Kondo quickly stopped her.
"No, Mom. I'm full now. I don't know why, but I was really hungry today."
He climbed down from the chair.
"Then I'll go outside for a bit."
Lawine immediately narrowed her eyes.
"No. You're not going outside."
Kondo blinked.
"Huh? Why, Mom?"
"Why?" Lawine crossed her arms. "Was what happened yesterday not enough? Did you forget how you ended up lying unconscious in bed? You're not allowed outside today."
Kondo tried to negotiate.
"But Mom, I'll get bored sitting at home. What am I supposed to do all day?"
"I don't know. But you're staying inside."
Kondo put on his most innocent expression.
Lawine remained unmoved.
"That trick won't work anymore. Now go sit in your room."
Defeated, Kondo returned upstairs.
Flopping onto his bed, he sighed.
"How is any of this my fault? It's not like I deliberately run into trouble. I wanted to go exploring today..."
After a while, boredom set in.
"What should I do? I don't feel like reading books. I can't even use magic properly. I still don't know how I managed to enchant that sword back then."
He stretched out his hand.
"Let's try again."
"O great spirit of water who gives life to all things... hear my call. Water Magic."
Nothing happened.
Kondo frowned.
"I'm trying, but it's not working at all. How did it work that time?"
He tried again.
This time he closed his eyes and focused.
Still nothing.
Now he was genuinely annoyed.
Leaving his room, he wandered toward the staircase and peeked downstairs.
Lawine sat on the sofa with her eyes closed, one hand resting against her forehead.
Kondo quietly descended the stairs.
"Mom?"
No response.
He spoke louder.
"Mom?"
Still nothing.
Finally, he shouted.
"MOM!"
Lawine snapped back to reality and looked up.
"What is it, Kondo?"
Concern filled Kondo's voice.
"Mom... are you okay?"
Lawine smiled.
"What happened to me? I'm perfectly fine."
"No. You've been sitting like that for a long time. I've been calling you."
Realizing he was worried about her, Lawine softened.
"I was just lost in some old memories."
She reached out and pinched his cheek.
"Ouch! Mom! What are you doing?"
"What? Am I not allowed to pinch my own son's cheeks?"
"But it hurts!"
Laughing, she finally let go.
"Fine, I won't."
Pouting, Kondo turned toward the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm just going for a walk in the garden."
Lawine smiled faintly.
"Alright. Come back if you get hungry."
"Okay, Mom."
---
Outside, the garden was quiet.
Kondo wandered around until he spotted a maid hanging laundry behind the house.
Without hesitation, he grabbed a cloth and started helping.
The maid panicked.
"Young Master, please don't do that! This is my job."
"So what? I'm just helping."
"If Madam sees me making you work, she'll fire me!"
Kondo reluctantly stopped.
"Fine. Then at least give me something I can help with."
The maid hesitated before nodding.
"Then hand me the clothes, and I'll hang them."
"Deal."
For the next few minutes, they worked together.
---
Meanwhile, Lawine stepped outside.
Rubbing her temple, she muttered,
"I wonder why old memories keep coming back today..."
As she walked behind the house, she noticed Kondo helping the maid.
A gentle smile appeared on Lawine's lips as she watched them. Without disturbing them, she turned around and returned inside, sitting down on the sofa once again.
Resting a hand against her forehead, she called out,
"Hina, could you come here for a moment?"
"Yes, ma'am. Is something wrong?"
Lawine looked at her and replied,
"I don't know why, but my head has been hurting all day. Could you make me a nice cup of tea?"
Hina nodded and headed toward the kitchen.
A few moments later, Kondo and the maid who had been hanging the laundry entered through the back door together, laughing about something.
Seeing them, Lawine asked,
"What happened, Kondo? You seem awfully happy."
Kondo immediately avoided eye contact.
"It's nothing, Mom. I was just laughing at one of her jokes."
"Really?"
Lawine's sharp gaze made him straighten up.
"Y-Yes, Mom. Really."
He quickly glanced toward the kitchen.
"I'll be right back."
As soon as Kondo disappeared into the kitchen, the maid quietly excused herself and left as well.
Suddenly—
Crash!
The sound of something falling echoed through the house.
Lawine quickly stood and hurried into the kitchen.
There she found several pots and bowls scattered across the floor, while dried chickpeas had rolled everywhere.
Hina stood nearby, startled.
"P-Please forgive me, ma'am. I'll clean everything up immediately."
Before she could continue, Kondo stepped forward.
"Mom, don't blame Hina. It was my fault. I didn't listen to what she said."
Lawine pressed a hand against her aching forehead and sighed.
"Hina, if the tea is ready, bring it to me."
Then she turned to Kondo.
"And you. Until every single thing you've scattered is cleaned up, you're not going anywhere. Do you understand?"
Kondo lowered his head.
"Yes, Mom."
Lawine left the kitchen, while Hina followed behind carrying the tea.
Once seated on the sofa, Hina carefully handed her the cup.
"Ma'am, about the kitchen—"
"No."
Lawine cut her off immediately.
"There's no need. Kondo will clean everything himself."
"But—"
"No buts."
Lawine took a sip of her tea.
"Come with me instead. I need your help with something upstairs."
Hina obediently followed her.
Meanwhile, Kondo remained in the kitchen, cleaning up the mess he had made.
After putting everything back in its proper place, he stepped outside and noticed that his mother was no longer sitting in the living room.
Curious, he wandered into the garden.
There he spotted another maid standing beside a patch of flowers.
Walking over, he asked,
"What are you doing?"
The maid jumped in surprise.
"Y-Young Master!"
"What? Did I scare you?"
She puffed out her cheeks.
"That's none of your business. I'm not telling you."
Kondo quickly raised his hands.
"Alright, alright. Sorry, Shila. Now tell me—what are you doing?"
Satisfied with the apology, Shila nodded.
"Fine. I forgive you. I was just looking at these flowers."
Kondo turned his gaze toward them.
"They're beautiful."
Seeing his interest, Shila smiled.
"Did you know these are lilies? They're small, but they're really pretty."
Kondo smiled softly.
"You really know a lot about flowers."
Shila puffed up proudly at the compliment.
After a moment, Kondo sighed.
"I wanted to play something."
Shila immediately brightened.
"Then why don't we play catch?"
Kondo's eyes sparkled.
"Really? I'd love to! But where's the ball?"
Without a word, Shila reached into her pocket and pulled one out.
Kondo blinked.
"You were carrying a ball around in your pocket?"
"Of course. I wanted to play."
The two spent the next while tossing the ball back and forth, laughing as they played.
Sometimes Shila threw it.
Sometimes Kondo did.
The quiet garden soon filled with cheerful voices.
Eventually, Lawine's voice called out from the house.
"Kondo! Lunch is ready! Come inside!"
Kondo looked toward the house.
"Okay, Mom!"
He tossed the ball back to Shila.
"I'll see you later."
"Alright!"
Kondo hurried inside and took a seat at the dining table.
Lawine placed a meal in front of him.
The moment he saw it, his shoulders drooped.
"Mom... it's just bread and lentils? Isn't there something better?"
Lawine folded her arms.
"No. This is very nutritious for a growing boy. Now eat."
Having no choice, Kondo obediently began eating.
After lunch, he returned to his room and stood beside the window, gazing outside.
He still wanted to go out.
From the garden below, Lawine noticed him staring longingly into the distance.
"Kondo! Come downstairs for a moment."
Kondo sighed dramatically.
"Okay... I'm coming."
A short while later, he arrived beside her.
"What is it, Mom?"
Lawine smiled knowingly.
"Kondo, you want to go outside, don't you?"
His face immediately lit up.
"Yes!"
"But if you want to go out, you'll have to agree to one condition."
Kondo nodded eagerly.
A triumphant smile spread across Lawine's face.
"You're coming shopping with me."
Kondo froze.
"...Huh?"