Four days passed Norax remained focused in the lab, working alone outside the mansion gates, meticulously preparing the medicine.
A soft knock echoed "Master… please, at least eat something," Celstia said, her voice gentle but firm.
Norax didn't look up "I'm fine. Live food outside is enough."
Celstia knocked harder this time.
"You haven't even eaten your snacks yet! How can I trust a cheater like you?" she scolded.
Norax raised an eyebrow.
"Are you done with your training as I ordered?"
Celstia huffed. "Ahh… I'll do it."
"Good. Now go. Train, i will eat " he said, his tone sharp.
Celstia pouted slightly but nodded. "Okay… but please, at least eat something, and take rest" she muttered as she left.
Alone again, Norax returned to his work.
He rubbed his temples.
He leaned back, sighing.
"Elwood Steeljaw is clever… using moves like this on us."
"But I've planned for the most difficult path."
He glanced at the scattered herbs and vials.
Hours passed, and night fell.
Another knock came at the lab door "Master… please, at least sleep now,it's already night" Celstia said again.
Norax slowly opened the gate, his hair disheveled.
"Oh… you're right. But I think I need a little sugar for energy first," he said, reaching for a snack.
Celstia's eyes widened in concern.
"What have you done to yourself?" she whispered. His condition was clearly worsening.
Norax sank into his chair, exhausted, and looked at her.
"What do you mean?" he said, a faint smile on his lips.
"I… succeeded," he muttered, and promptly fell asleep in the chair.
Celstia pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Gross…" she muttered under her breath.
"Who's going to take care of this mess he made?"
With a soft sigh, she tucked him in with a blanket, making sure he was at least warm.
The lab grew quiet, the faint glow of candlelight flickering across the scattered herbs and vials—a silent witness to the genius and chaos of Norax Duskgale.
Morning light peeked through the curtains, brushing across the messy lab.
Norax slowly stirred, groaning. His body ached from overwork, and his hair was a wild mess.
"Ugh… why do I even need to do this to myself?" he muttered, rubbing his eyes.
Celstia was crouched beside him, her expression a mix of worry and exasperation.
"Master! Finally… you're awake! You create a mess in the lab " she exclaimed, bouncing slightly.
Norax blinked at her, still half-asleep. "Huh… morning already? When did I fall in sleep"
"Yes! And you—you didn't eat anything last night! Do you know how worried I was?!" She wagged her finger at him, eyes wide.
Norax groaned again, flopping back into the chair. "I ate… nothing but you can count on me I'm fine."
Celstia pinched her nose. "Don't give me that look! You look like a mess! Hair everywhere, clothes wrinkled… master, I can't even! Talk about lab condition "
He slowly sat up, realizing she was frowning and fussing over him.
±…This is actually kind of cute,> he thought, rubbing the back of his neck.
Celstia huffed and adjusted the blanket around him. "I swear, if anything happened to you… I'd—"
A loud clatter, bang, and sizzling sound erupted from the kitchen.
Both of them jumped.
"What in the world…?" Norax muttered.
Celstia's ears twitched. "Sounds like… Elsie."
They both run and peeked toward the kitchen doorway. There she was, standing on a stool, arms flailing, smoke rising from the pan.
"Ugly man! Celstia! I… I'm cooking breakfast!" she shouted, waving a spatula like a sword.
Norax raised an eyebrow. "Cooking? You call this…? And what is this charcol"
Elsie turned around, smoke curling around her pink hair. "Of course! It's breakfast! See? Pancakes… maybe."
Celstia covered her mouth to suppress a laugh. "Master… I think 'maybe' is the key word there."
Norax rubbed his temples.< Of course, the one morning I try to get some rest…>
Elsie glanced at him. "You're awake! Now it's Great! You can taste-test!" She plopped a burnt pancake onto a plate and held it out like a trophy.
Norax took one look at it. The pancake was blackened on one side, lopsided, and slightly smoking.
"…Delicious, " he said flatly, trying not to gag.
Celstia burst into laughter, covering her mouth. "Master, don't lie! That's… well, it's… cooking, in a very Elsie way."
Elsie puffed her cheeks. "Hey! I tried my best! If you don't eat it, I'll cry! And it's your fault you left me alone"
Norax sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose Of course… no peace in this mansion ever.
He carefully took a bite, chewing slowly, pretending to enjoy it, while Celstia watched, trying not to giggle at his struggle.
Norax looked at Elsie and sighed. "Why did you even try cooking? You're a guest here."
Elsie crossed her arms and pouted. "It's your fault, ugly man! Mama sent me here, and you both were busy. I was bored!"
Norax pinched the bridge of his nose.
He turned to Celstia. "Clean this mess and put Elsie in my office. She was bored anyway—might as well let her do some work."
Elsie's eyes widened. "Wait… what? No! Please! I don't even know math! I'm bad at studying!"
Norax smirked. "Don't worry. Our teacher is good. He even taught me and celstia"
Celstia stepped behind Elsie, holding her firmly. "Come on, young lady. Let's move."
Elsie struggled for a moment, huffing and stamping her foot, but Celstia guided her along.
Celstia watched and turned to Norax "Master … you also go back to your room now."
Celstia shot him a scary glare, her pink eyes glowing faintly.
He decided it was better to quietly leave. "Okay… bye," he said, retreating to his room.
Norax lay down on his bed, staring up at the ceiling.
He rolled onto his side and picked up the letter from Ark. Let's see what this says…
> Leader, as you wish. I've sent some people to the underworld with Lei—they will arrive at the Blue Crescent mansion soon. Currently, Snaya and I have found that person's name: Zen. Details included. I will send soon I hope you are ready. I know we both don't leave Neko Cafe unless it's an emergency, but if you need any support, please use the communication stone.
Norax frowned, reading carefully. "Hmm… Ark and Snaya. Better if they don't interfere this time".
"Master… what are you doing?"
Norax jumped slightly. Celstia was standing behind him, her eyes narrowed in that cute-but-scary way that made his stomach twist.
"When did you come back?" he asked, trying to act casual.
Celstia scowled. "Master, focus on your work again, not lying on the bed like this! When i told you rest"
Norax rubbed the back of his neck and muttered under his breath,
Celstia crossed her arms, tilting her head. "Yes, ma'am," he added quickly, smirking to himself at how obedient he suddenly sounded.
Celstia's eyes narrowed as she stomped closer. "Master Norax! I'm saying Again lying on the bed doing nothing? Do you know you did not even eat properly this past day ? Or sleep?!"
Norax blinked, raising his hands defensively. "I… I'm thinking… very hard…"
"Thinking? What?" Celstia's voice rose, hands on her hips. "Do you look like someone thinking? You look like a fragile flower right now you stealing my patience!"
Norax tried to mutter an excuse, but Celstia leaned down, poking his forehead with her finger. "Nope. You are going to bed. Right now."
"But—"
"No buts!" She scooped up the letter he was reading and tossed it onto the table. "Plans can wait! Your body cannot!"
Norax groaned as she roughly tucked him under the blanket. Cute… but scary… why is this little vampire commander so terrifying? He thought
Celstia straightened, hands on her hips, and gave him one last glare. "If I find you awake in five minutes, I swear I'll—"
"Y-yes, yes! I get it, I'll sleep!"
Satisfied, Celstia turned on her heel and left the room, muttering, "Master,Humans and bosses… both hopeless."
Norax stared at the ceiling, feeling unusually pampered.< Huh… maybe resting isn't so bad when someone nags you this much…>
And for the first time that night, he actually closed his eyes.