Chapter 5
“Callius-nim! What are those eggs in the food storage?”
“They’re from an old research project.”
“Are they safe to eat?”
“Yeah.”
“There’s no poison or anything?”
“They’re not particularly dangerous.”
Even with the unenthusiastic reply, Daisy clenched her fist in triumph.
“Alright! So I really can use them freely?”
“Yeah.”
“I thought we’d starve because the storage was empty, but thank goodness we have ingredients!”
With her worries lifted, Daisy returned to the kitchen.
On the counter sat an egg about the size of a fist. Out of all the eggs, it looked the most ordinary.
“For today’s lunch… I’ll make sweet French toast to suit the baby taste of our baby mage!”
Since he said he liked sweet things, sweet food seemed like the best strategy.
‘And I’ve got just the right ingredients.’
Daisy moved quickly.
She cracked the egg into a large bowl and mixed it with honey and water.
“It would be better with milk… but we don’t have that here.”
She sliced a large chunk of bread from the cupboard and soaked it in the mixture. Prep complete.
An hour later, Daisy took out the bowl to check. The bread slices were nestled close together.
“Let’s see… is it ready?”
She poked the bread with a fork. The inside was soft and squishy, and a bit of egg mixture oozed out.
Daisy smiled in satisfaction.
“It’s soaked enough. Prep work: passed!”
All that was left was to cook the bread slowly over medium heat until golden brown.
The result would be soft French toast that would melt in your mouth.
Unlike ordinary French toast made with sugar, using honey gave it a richer flavor.
‘I hope he grows quickly after eating this and heals my illness.’
With that heartfelt wish, Daisy plated the two plump slices of bread.
A sweet honey scent gently wafted through the air, making her mouth water.
“Callius-nim, you have to eat this before it gets cold! Hurry up!”
She went to the lab where Callius was mumbling something ominous again and dragged him out.
“You dare interrupt my research?”
Callius flailed his short legs in anger, but Daisy didn’t even flinch.
“You’ll faint again if you skip meals. Just eat while you work.”
“….”
He had a history, so Callius shut up like he had honey stuck to his lips.
Daisy gently sat him down in a chair and coaxed him.
“This is sweet egg-soaked bread. I bet you’ll really like it.”
“If it’s not good… there will be consequences.”
“Just try it first before saying that.”
“…Fine.”
Callius picked up his fork with a terrifying expression, took a small piece of toast, and popped it in his mouth.
His chubby cheeks moved as he chewed—surprisingly cute.
After swallowing, Callius said:
“Hm. Not bad.”
Daisy smiled to herself.
‘As expected, no one can hate sweet French toast.’
Especially someone with a childish palate like Callius!
She was grinning when—pop!—a faint sound came from Callius’s direction.
Daisy looked at him and gasped.
“Huh? Callius-nim, I think you grew taller again!”
Callius mumbled, a little surprised too.
“My magic power increased a little. Seems your food really is effective.”
“Really? Then eat more. Finish everything I gave you!”
Daisy eagerly encouraged him, and Callius quietly emptied his plate…
…until only the vegetables were left.
“I’m done.”
“No, you’re not. There’s still carrot and lettuce. I worked hard to find those, so you have to eat them.”
Callius replied firmly.
“Those were in my storage? No way. They’re probably not edible.”
“What are you talking about? Carrots and lettuce are definitely edible. Vegetables are important for your health.”
“Eating things that make you feel bad is worse for your health.”
That was nonsense. A child refusing to eat vegetables was unacceptable for Daisy.
“No way! You have to eat green vegetables every meal! That’s how you grow!”
Callius made a disgusted face at Daisy’s lecture.
“Don’t even talk about green vegetables. I don’t want them!”
“But—”
“No veggies!”
His tongue must’ve grown too, because he was now talking back clearly. Daisy’s jaw nearly dropped.
“Oh my god.”
One of the continent’s greatest mages… throwing a toddler-style food tantrum?
‘Did his brain regress too when his body got younger? He’s totally a brat now!’
Just as that thought crossed her mind—
POP!
Another little explosion erupted from Callius’s seat.
And then…
“I tink I gotted sh’maller. Daisy, how do I look now?”
At his baby-talk question, Daisy slowly answered:
“…Yeah. You definitely look younger. Way more than before.”
Callius now looked like a three-year-old toddler.
“What is happenning to meee?”
“I don’t know either.”
“Noooo! I’m younger again! My magic power decreased toooo!”
Callius threw down the fork he’d been struggling to hold with his now tiny hands.
Maybe because of his younger body, his emotions surged more easily.
Tears welled up in his eyes, full of rage at his own helplessness.
“There, there, don’t cry. A great and terrible mage doesn’t cry.”
Daisy quickly ran over and gently patted him.
“I’m not cwying! I’m just angwy!”
“Of course, of course. You didn’t cry. You were just roaring like a lion.”
As Daisy comforted the raging baby mage and sighed inwardly, Callius gritted his tiny teeth.
“Food swave! What did you do to me?!”
“If I knew, I’d be a mage, not Daisy!”
“Still, you need to give me a hypophesis! I don’t have any ideas right now!”
Daisy grumbled.
“I don’t know! Maybe it’s because you threw a tantrum about food! Vegetables are important for growth!”
“There’s no way that’s why I shrank—”
He didn’t even finish the sentence before—
POP!
Another burst of smoke.
“Kyaaa!”
She could feel him shrinking in her arms again.
Callius screamed in shock too.
“Goo goo gaa gaa?”
Daisy shouted,
“See?! Every time you whine about food, this happens again!”
“Waaah!”
“Don’t argue! If you keep shrinking, you’ll turn into a newborn!”
The last thing Daisy wanted was to bottle-feed a baby Callius.
‘Being a housekeeper is fine, but I am not becoming his nanny!’
With that firm resolve, she rushed back to her seat carrying the baby.
Then she…
“Waaah!”
“Callius-nim. I’m telling you nicely—just chew and swallow.”
…stuffed lettuce into his mouth and held it shut so he couldn’t spit it out.
“Mm! Mmmph! Mmm!”
In a terrifying tone, Daisy threatened him.
“If you keep being picky, you’ll just keep getting smaller. But if you eat evenly… who knows? Maybe you’ll grow again?”
“Mm! Mmm!”
Whatever he was muttering, Daisy didn’t back down.
“You better eat while you still have teeth! If you get smaller again, I’ll have to make baby food!”
Maybe it was the terrifying image that finally got through—
“Ughhh!”
At last, Callius let out a whiny cry and swallowed the vegetables.
And then—surprisingly—a bright light burst from his body.
SHAAAA!
Moments later, Daisy cheered.
“See! You’re back!”
Callius had returned to his pre-lunch size.
