Even If I'm Reborn as a Cute Dragon Girl, I Will Still Make a Harem-Chapter 95Book 6: : The Transformation Begins

The simple bowl of beef noodles was a delicacy in her eyes. She took one small bite after another, savoring the taste in her mouth.

She even separated the clumpy noodles carefully before slurping the strands.

Watching her eat from the side, the owner began to wonder if her noodles were really that good.

She quietly returned to the kitchen and ate a spoonful of the meat sauce curiously.

A bit too salty.

Too greasy.

The low-grade beef had a rather poor texture.

And the noodles had clearly clumped together.

Even she could quickly point out a few flaws with ease.

Yet that young lady outside was eating it with tears streaming down her face. Just how delicious could it truly be to move her like that?

Maybe she was one of those sheltered noble girls from the stories, kept locked away in her bedroom, fed with nothing but fruits and salad her whole life…?

The owner would never know the truth.

All she knew was that this strange young lady adored her cooking.

So she stepped back out and asked the girl, who was sipping spoonful after spoonful of meat sauce, “Would you like some more?”

The girl froze.

She stared at the owner, then at the wall clock. Her expression flickered with disbelief, as if asking, *”Am I really allowed to be this happy?”*

The look on her face made the owner’s heart ache.

Without another word, she returned to the kitchen, filled the bowl with another generous helping of noodles, and topped it with more beef sauce.

“Eat up. Don’t waste it,” she insisted. “My old man always said wasting food is a shame!”

The girl stared at the bowl silently. Then, as if making up her mind, she nodded and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before leaning forward to dig in.

This time, she took big, eager bites.

She didn’t bother savoring each mouthful. Although she couldn’t taste it as well as she did, the experience was extremely satisfying.

The owner smiled.

That was how one should eat.

This wasn’t some five-star restaurant serving tiny portions of food that were as expensive as gold.

This was a bowl of beef noodles.

Noodles should be eaten with gusto!

Before long, the second bowl was empty.

The owner asked, “Do you want more?”

Before she even finished asking, the girl raised her bowl.

“Yes, please.”

Although the owner couldn’t quite understand this dainty girl’s enormous appetite, it didn’t matter. Making her customers happy had always been her greatest mission.

“Now that’s more like it. Food’s meant to be eaten with a smile.”

“With a smile…”

The girl touched her own cheek and realized that her tears had dried at some point. Her lips curled into a soft, contented smile.

“How wonderful.”

She tried her best to smile, as if trying to engrave this moment into her heart.

“How wonderful this cup of tea is.

How wonderful food is.

How wonderful it is to be free.

How wonderful it is to be alive.

How wonderful it is to be in a world this kind.”

And then she let herself go completely. She devoured every bite of the noodles that brought her long-forgotten joy.

By the time the owner slumped against the counter, drenched in sweat and on the verge of collapse, the girl finally set her bowl down on the table.

“I’m full!” she declared loudly in satisfaction.

“I’m glad to hear that…” The owner wiped her sweat, looking at the young lady before her. Although she was dressed lavishly, the owner couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of pity for her.

After hesitating for a moment, she said, “If you ever feel like eating noodles again… you can always come back here. Don’t get me wrong… I’m not trying to guilt you into it. It’s just that… if you like my noodles, I’ll try to make them better for you…”

“I’m sorry, but I won’t be coming back again,” the girl declined solemnly.

“Figured…” The light in the owner’s eyes dimmed. “This is just a small eatery, after all…”

“Your noodles were really delicious, though.”

The owner looked up in surprise. The girl was staring straight at her with her clear, sincere azure eyes.

“It’d be wonderful if more people could taste your noodles…” she said.

“…I-I’ll work hard!” The owner’s chubby cheeks trembled as she straightened up. “I’ll let more people try them!”

“Do your best then.” The girl gave her a little wave, smiling without the slightest trace of lingering regret. “I’ll get going now.”

And with that, the girl who had come under the sunlight stepped back into its warmth. The gentle midday breeze carried her final words.

“I left the money for the noodles on the table.”

The owner blinked, then turned around to find a single shiny gold coin on the table.

“This much?”

She gritted her teeth, grabbed the gold coin, and sprinted outside.

“Hey! Young lady, you didn’t have to leave this much— Huh, where is she?”

The street in front of the eatery was empty, save for a few old cats grooming themselves under the shade of a tree.

It seemed that a certain mischievous girl had stroked them mercilessly before leaving in satisfaction.

◆◇◆◇◆

The Dragon Eater made her way to a secluded spot, then suddenly bent over and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

“So… the time’s finally come?”

A look of resignation crossed her face.

This body that had once been hers could only hold her soul for a few hours before the inevitable rejection set in.

“Happy moments really are fleeting,” she sighed softly, tilting her head back to gaze at the gentle sun above.

In her final moment, she lay down on the grass beneath the open sky.

The scent of wildflowers tickled her nose, and a warm breeze whispered past her ears.

She listened to the sounds of nature, breathed in the fresh air, and took in the scenery for as long as she could… before finally drifting into sleep.

◆◇◆◇◆

When she opened her eyes again, Lilith was staring down at her with disappointment.

“Look at you, acting like some tragic heroine.” She made no effort to hide her contempt. “All that drama… just for a bowl of noodles! What’s so great about noodles anyway?!”

The Dragon Eater smiled wryly. “For me, it was delicious enough.”

“But there’s better food out there!”

“It was enough.” She shook her head. “I’m satisfied.”

“Tch.” Lilith clicked her tongue in irritation. “If it were me, I’d head straight for the best restaurant, order the most extravagant dishes on the menu!

…But whatever. I guess you’ll have more chances in the future. When that time comes, I’ll take you somewhere good. I know a few amazing places.”

“Really? Thank you, then.” The Dragon Eater smiled, but it was one with profound sadness hidden within.

*There probably won’t be a next time, Lilith.*

She shook her head, searching for something lighthearted to say, but then noticed something was wrong with Lilith.

Her nagging had stopped and her eyes were locked forward.

All of a sudden, her spirit form began trembling violently, as though she were having a seizure.

“Lilith?! What’s going on? Lilith!” The Dragon Eater lunged forward and caught her. She began to panic, wondering what was wrong with Lilith.

*Is this another soul rejection?*

*No… it doesn’t feel like that. Soul rejection doesn’t look like this.*

“I…” Lilith curled up into a ball, her expression twisting into fear, confusion, and agony all at once.

“Something’s wrong with my body.”

“Your body?”

The Dragon Eater scanned her spirit form and froze.

Golden, worm-like patterns had begun surfacing on Lilith’s fair skin, burrowing and writhing beneath it.

“Is this… a curse?”