Chapter 14: From Battle’s Breath to Bread’s Comfort

I closed my eyes, inhaling the iron tang of blood-laden wind.

Wind carrying the scent of blood.

Green grass matted with crimson blood.

Three bodies lay sprawled across the earth.

One was garbed in the uniform of the carriage guards; the other two wore ragged leathers of bandits.

"WHO ARE YOU?" a deep voice thundered from my right.

I opened my eyes and turned right, spotting the bandits standing in formation.

They didn't look like random weaklings.

They stood in a tight formation: two archers—one woman, one man—and a mage crouched behind them. Two soldiers led the front: a swordsman and a woman wielding twin blades.

At the front stood a brute: a hulking mass of muscle, rough brown hair, scars crisscrossing his arms; his chest bare except for a leather vest, with metal pauldrons on his shoulders, hefting a massive battle-axe.

'Wait another axe? Is it that efficient?'

[ Master, no weapon imbued with magical damage has been detected. ]

[ Also, There is no skill of defense penetration or defense ignore. ]

'Show me their information, Sebas', I ordered.

After a quick scan, I made my decision.

They are murderers. No need to go easy.

The bandits on guard were recovering their composure.

"OI, ANSWER ME!" the brute screamed.

I raised my hand; wind changed into chains that lashed out, binding arms, legs, torsos. One coil wrapped around each mouth, muffling any filthy curses before they could reach Liora's ears.

I glanced at Liora nestled in the pelt on my left arm, her tiny hands clutching my shirt. She stared at me, eyes wide—waiting, perhaps, to see if I would keep my promise.

'Should I just cut their bodies into so many pieces that only blood remains? Or send wind inside them and make their hearts explode? Maybe slice their insides as easily as air, or draw every drop of moisture from their bones…?' I wonder if I can do that.

[ Master, you may extract moisture from their bodies, but such a feat will demand considerable concentration, as you have yet to attempt it. ]

As the bandits remained immobilized, a voice called out from the carriage.

"Please help us, adventurer. I'll pay whatever you ask." ,came the frightened but determined plea.

I heard it, but my mind was elsewhere.

'This might be ideal, but I need perfect timing; I'm unsure how long it will take.'

[ Master, if you wish, simply count down from three to one after ten seconds elapsed; I shall time it for you. ]

I nodded.

"Liora, come out. See? Papa will not harm them." I said softly.

Liora clutched the pelt with both hands and slowly peeked out, her voice a whisper.

"Really?"

"Yes. Didn't Papa promise you?" I replied.

"Yes. You promised, Papa…" She echoed.

"Here—look."

Liora gazed at the bound bandits, their expressions hidden behind wind‑slicked chains. Their faces were blank, but their eyes told stories: fear, shock… and in the leader's glare, raw fury. One set of lids fluttered—and then closed.

[ Master, I have cleansed the weapons and the ground of bloodstains to spare Little Miss any distress. ]

Thank you Sebas, I should not let her see anything bad that can trigger her trauma.

"Why are they not moving, Papa?" she asked in her sweet voice.

"Liora, do you know how to count?" I asked.

"Cownting?" she made a confused face.

"Do you know numbers? Like one, two, three?" I tried gauging her knowledge.

Again, Liora shook her head in confusion.

"Then Papa will teach you numbers, okay?"

Liora nodded.

"Repeat after me. Three."

"Thwee" ,she echoed softly.

She's soooo adorable.

"Two."

"Two" she repeated.

"One."

"Won" she finished—and I snapped my fingers.

At my command, the wind uncoiled and swept the bandits into unconscious slumber, bodies collapsing like puppets with cut strings.

Liora's eyes widened.

"What happened, Papa?"

"Papa made them sleep. Now I'll hand them over to the shiny people, and they'll… help them become good." I explained.

Liora looked puzzled.

'Maybe it is too unbelievable for a child too.'

Her stomach grumbled.

"Are you hungry? Shall we eat?" I asked, diverting the topic.

"Yesh" Liora replied.

"W-what happened to them?" the carriage voice stammered again.

I turned toward the carriage and pressed a finger to my lips, signaling silence. He noticed Liora's head peeking out of the pelt and nodded.

"P-Please, sit in the carriage. We have food—you can feed your daughter."

I walked to the carriage and took a seat inside.

Outside, one wounded soldier helped another hobble toward the carriage wheel.

"Here—use the potion" I heard one soldier instructing the other.

'Why didn't they use the potions before?'

A small hand tapped at my chest.

"Papa, Papa" Liora called.

"Ah, yes—let's eat," I replied.

"Is Liora going to eat that sweet red thing again?" she asked, eyes bright with excitement and a drool‑slicked grin.

"Yes, we're going to eat bread with jam again," I replied.

'Should I let her eat this much sweet stuff? Will it affect her health badly? Ugh… the carriage man is still helping the soldiers outside, so I can't just take his supplies—I don't know what he can spare and what he can't', I thought, feeling conflicted.

Suddenly, a translucent blue panel appeared before me.

[ All items sold in Daily Essentials are prepared exclusively from natural ingredients, free of chemicals or preservatives, and use only natural sugars with no additives. ]

I blinked in confusion, but Liora was waiting impatiently for her food, so I set aside my doubts.

I settled Liora on my lap, ready to begin our meal.

"Sebas, commence lunch service" ,I ordered.

First, two crystal-clear water flasks materialized, beads of condensation rolling down their sides.

Then the loaf of bread appeared, sliced into uniform pieces that hovered in midair.

Jam coalesced above them—a single, ruby-red orb suspended like a planet.

The bread pieces lifted on gentle currents, each dipping its edge into the jam before drifting toward Liora.

Sunlight filtered through the carriage's canopy, reflecting off the jam's glossy surface as the pieces moved in synchronized arcs.

"Papa, look—bread is dancing" she exclaimed, pointing with wide eyes.

She watched in awe, then reached out to catch a piece and bit into it eagerly.

The jam's sweet-tart aroma mingled with the earthy scent of freshly baked bread.

'Wow… excellent presentation, Sebas, I thought appreciatively.'

[ The pleasure is mine, Master. ]

"Papa, here." Liora offered a jam-coated morsel, holding it out with both hands.

'She cares so much about me. I feel such joy from her thoughtfulness' I reflected, my chest warming.

I opened my mouth and swallowed the piece whole, tasting the sticky sweetness burst against my tongue.

'It is delicious.'

"Is it gwood?" Liora asked, her lisp making the word endearing.

"Yes, it was delicious" I replied with a smile.

Liora continued eating, polishing off nearly half the pieces, then rubbed her eyes and yawned.

"Are you tired?" I asked gently.

She nodded, her eyelids drooping.

"You can sleep. Papa will wake you when we reach the city." I assured her.

She gave me a sleepy smile, burrowed back into the soft pelt on my arm, and drifted off.

I stroked her hair thoughtfully.

'I guess she really loves this pelt… but why is she so tired again? She just woke up.'

[ Master, her constitution remains fragile. The rapid assimilation of nutrients often induces both hunger and drowsiness. ]

'Is that so? I'll get you stronger soon. Don't worry' I thought, gently patting her head.

Footsteps approached.

The carriage man returned, bowing slightly.

"Thank you for saving us again. My name is Korin Bellis. I'm a merchant" he said, his voice steady but grateful.

I just nodded in agreement.

"Um—would it be all right if we place the fallen soldier's body in the back? They need to return him to his family." ,the merchant asked politely.

"It's fine." ,I replied calmly.

'I'll just keep the odor and sounds away from Liora.' ,I thought, planning how to spare her discomfort.

"Thank you." The merchant glanced around, then smiled.

"Please feel free to help yourselves to anything in these boxes. Fresh fruit—harvested this morning."

I nodded in gratitude.

He returned to the soldiers and relayed his instructions.

Moments later, the guards gently carried their comrade onto the carriage.

"Thank you for saving us." both soldiers said in unison, bowing deeply.

I simply nodded again.

It took a few minutes, but they eventually loaded the unconscious bandits onto the carriage as well.

With a low creak of wood and leather, the carriage finally began to move.

"That's the last one." one soldier announced.

After a stretch of road

"What did you do to them, Mister?" the other asked, curiosity in his voice.

"I simply placed them under a sleeping spell" I replied, fabricating smoothly.

"Is that a new spell? It could help countless people—insomniacs, those plagued by nightmares…" the merchant mused.

"It has side effects—potential harm to the body—so it isn't suitable for casual use." I cautioned.

"Oh. Which magic tower are you affiliated with?" one soilder inquired.

"None. I've been living alone in the woods, researching magic. It's been a long time since I've ventured out. Do I need money to enter?" I improvised.

'I need to confirm a few things common to isekai—tolls, fees. Maybe I can sell the merchant some jam for money.' I thought.

"If you don't have an adventurer's ID card, yes—a toll is required. But don't worry. I'll cover your fees since you saved my life. It's the least I can do." the merchant replied

I thanked the merchant.

"Look—we're here."

to be continued...