Now that's balance

He had been so focused on cooking that he hadn't even noticed how far their fight had gone.

It seemed to be over now.

He turned his head and glanced over.

Vinnie was tidying herself up.

Compared with Feeny, she didn't look much better. Her noble-lady air was gone, and Feeny had clawed her once-lavish curls into an afro.

She looked like a refugee.

Vinnie brightened when she met Lord Chaos's gaze, a reserved smile appearing on her flushed, delicate little face.

She couldn't help feeling smug.

Just as I thought. Lord Chaos cares more about me than that wild girl.

His dragon jaws parted in a polite smile, and Chaos looked away.

Good. Mission accomplished.

He had underestimated Vinnie. As she was now, she was perfectly qualified to serve as Feeny's rival.

His dragon jaws spread into a grin.

Now that's balance.

Bubble, bubble~!

The ingredients had only just gone into the pot and needed a little longer to cook.

He lowered his dragon head over the Stone Pot and sniffed.

A spicy fragrance with a hint of heat filled his nostrils.

It smells good. So good.

Anticipation rose within him. The meat would surely taste delicious once he cooked it in the broth.

He stood upright and walked to the ingredient pool by the riverbank, scooping up a pile of sliced meat along with a few pebbles.

Carrying the pile of meat back, he sat down in front of the Stone Pot, placed the meat on its ingredient ledge, and picked up a pebble to start carving.

Since he had nothing else to do, he might as well make the two little fairies some stools and tableware.

The two little fairies would surely be overwhelmed with gratitude, making them easier to order around later.

His dragon jaws spread into a grin as he looked down at the pebble in his claw and began carving.

His sharp dragon claws were the finest carving tools. Before them, the pebble was like a block of tofu, ready to be shaped however he pleased.

"Lord Chaos, what are you doing?"

Vinnie came closer.

"This? You'll find out in a moment."

"You're not allowed to get that close to Chaos."

Feeny flew over, glaring at Vinnie with her little cheeks puffed up, looking ready for another fight.

Vinnie stared back at Feeny without giving an inch.

Listen to this wild girl? Not a chance.

I'm the most suitable contracted fairy for Lord Chaos. He's a Green Dragon, naturally more gifted with the life element than with any other element.

If this mere wild girl knows what's good for her, she should back off herself!

Their gazes clashed.

Another fight? His emerald slit pupils narrowed slightly, and his dragon jaws parted a fraction.

Stop them? Not a chance. This dragon loves watching!

Agatha, who was lying on the ground, suddenly raised her head and looked at Chaos.

Feeling Agatha's gaze on him, Chaos tensed almost instinctively.

Strange. Why is that inexplicable air of authority around this big little girl getting stronger and stronger?

Being stared at by the big little girl made Chaos deeply uncomfortable.

He raised a claw to block the two little fairies' view of each other.

"All right, all right. We're about to eat, so settle down for now. We're all friends here."

Snap~

Vinnie opened her exquisite little folding fan, concealing half her face.

But with that afro on her head, she no longer had her earlier aristocratic air.

"For Lord Chaos's sake, I'll let you off this time, you wild girl."

"Hmph! If Chaos hadn't stopped me, I'd have ripped that hateful mouth of yours apart!"

"Hmph!" ×2.

After exchanging one last angry glare, the two little fairies looked away and fluttered their wings.

One on each side, they landed on Chaos's shoulders.

The two little fairies settled down, leaving only the sound of the hot pot broth boiling by the riverbank.

Chaos glanced at the big little girl, who had somehow already lain back down to resume her nap.

How strange. What's with that inexplicable air of authority around her?

I... no, there's no way I'm afraid of her. Sooner or later, I'll definitely beat her.

After all, I'm a dragon who commands the power of time.

Confidence appeared in his emerald slit pupils.

He looked away and lowered his head to continue carving the pebbles.

With the help of his dragon claws, he soon carved two little chairs. They had no legs, just flat bases, because that saved him the trouble.

Next came the tableware.

With his dragon claws, that was quickly finished too. He held everything in his claw and dipped it into the nearby river to rinse it.

"Feeny, Vinnie."

"I'm here, Lord Chaos."

"Did you call me, Chaos?"

The two little fairies flew in front of him.

Looking at them, Chaos opened his claw.

Two reasonably well-crafted little stools rested quietly in his open dragon claw, with stone bowls, chopsticks, and other tableware sitting on top.

"I don't have anything special to give you. I made these myself, and I hope you like them."

[Hmm, surely this will raise these two little fairies' affection by thirty to fifty points?]

"I want this one!"

Fluttering her little wings, Feeny threw herself at the stool made from a white pebble.

Compared with Feeny's directness, Vinnie was much more composed.

"Thank you, Lord Chaos. Vinnie will treasure this gift forever." With that, she gracefully lifted her skirt and curtsied.

"It's nothing. As long as you like them."

Chaos's dragon jaws spread into a grin.

Good. Judging by their excited expressions, their affection must have shot up.

"Let me set them down for you."

"Sorry for the trouble, Lord Chaos."

"I want mine over there."

Feeny pointed at a relatively large pebble on the riverbank.

Chaos glanced in the direction she was pointing and nodded his dragon head slightly. He set her stool down first, then looked at Vinnie.

Fluttering her little wings, Vinnie landed on a smooth, flat pebble.

"Right here, Lord Chaos."

Nodding his dragon head, Chaos placed the stool in his claw beside Vinnie.

"Thank you, Lord Chaos."

"It's nothing, nothing."

He waved his claw and looked at the hot pot. The broth was bubbling away, its contents looking thoroughly cooked, and the fragrance had grown even richer.

All right, time to put the meat in.

He raised a claw, grabbed a handful of sliced heart meat, and dropped it straight into the pot.

The meat rolled through the boiling broth. After about two or three minutes, Chaos felt it was ready and reached a claw directly into the Stone Pot to fish some out.

He picked up a slice of meat and put it in his mouth.

The meaty aroma, the numbing heat, and the fragrant spices blended into a delicious flavor that spread through his dragon jaws.

Delicious!

His emerald slit pupils lit up.

Shame it isn't quite salty enough. If only I had salt...

Just then, a plump black claw reached toward the broth.

Before it could touch the broth, a claw covered in emerald dragon scales knocked it aside.

With her claw knocked away, An raised her head to look at the Big Jerk sitting opposite her, her black slit pupils narrowing sharply.

What's this Big Jerk playing at? Did he invite me to eat just to toy with me?

Chaos looked with distaste at the Black Coal Ball staring silently at him.

This is the only trick she's got. Can't she come up with anything new?

"Wash your claws in the river before you reach into the pot for food."

He had just seen this Black Coal Ball walking on all fours. Her claws were bound to have dirt and sand on them now.

She really doesn't know the first thing about hygiene.