"Baum, Albert-san, it's ready~"
Baum and I were playing together- waiting for the meal to get cooked, when Daidalian, who had cooking duty, called out to us .
Seems like the food was ready .
Baum and I immediately headed towards the bonfire .
The well-roasted wyvern meat was waiting for us there .
Uwaaa, look at that amount of meat juice .
The meat grease shined as it was illuminated by fire .
I could only drool at such a sight .
"It would have been better if there was salt, though . "
"No not at all, this is already appetizing as is . "
I was going to chew the poisoned meat raw, along with the skin, after all .
There's no way I'd complain just because it was a little bland!
Well then, I want to get a taste of real food, that's fine right?
This time, you can't stop me, Daidalian boy .
When I glanced at him for confirmation, he assented it with a nod .
"We-well then, itadakimasu . "
"Itadakimasu . "
I couldn't hold it any longer, and hastily bit my first morsel of food in 1500 years .
Ah...
The juices overflowed inside my mouth with every bite .
That's right, this is what eating is really meant to be like; this is satisfaction .
Memories of the past struck me .
The chopped up meat had simply been roasted, without any seasoning .
People might think it low, considering this as unfit to be called a proper meal .
But, for me this was a supreme feast .
I had long doubted I would ever get a chance to eat like this again .
Crap! I was crying a little back there .
"W-what's wrong? Perhaps, this does not suit your tastes?"
Daidalian worriedly called out to the silent me .
"No… it's just… it's truly delicious . "
That was a common answer, even by me .
But, such an answer was all I was capable of muttering .
I greedily devoured the meat as if I wanted to make up for all the meals I couldn't eat these past years .
Ah, that's right, I need to take out some drinks .
Since there was no cup, I could only use my hands directly... .
"Do you need water? Since there is also no river around here, you must be thirsty . Because we don't have cups, you'll probably have to use your hands to drink . "
"Aa, well then, pardon me . "
Daidalian placed his meat skewer in something like a stone plate he had washed clean using water magic, then held out both his hands .
Daidalian drank the water which was poured into his hand with extreme vigour .
As expected, he was quite thirsty .
"T-This water is delicious!"
Glad you like it .
After enjoying my first meal in 1500 years, I had a chat with my brother Daidalian .
"Aa~ I'm full~, Daidalian and Baum, what are you guys going to do now?"
"I think I'll go back to my native village in the western part of the forest . "
"Is your village around here?"
"Going by foot from here will take about half a day, three months ago my village was burned down by Larne's subordinates, I want to least make a graves for those who died... Besides, since Larne is now dead, there is a chance some of my people might come back to the village . "
Daidalian spoke with a saddened expression .
It's not an unusual things these days, but it's still depressing... .
Dwelling in the western forest, Daidalian's village was suddenly raided by Larne's subordinates, who burnt it to the ground, catching and enslaving all who survived .
As one of many ordinary tribal villages, they never thought they would get attacked, the attack might as well have been called a surprise attack . Somehow, most women and children managed to get away, but the males were either caught or killed, Daidalian among them .
"Baum is tagging along as well?"
Baum was also similar to us, his state had weakened under the effect of Larne's slave magic but he'd received help from Daidalian .
"Yes, seems like he will come with me . "
"Bigi bigi . "
"Oh, is that so…thanks, I'm relying on you . "
Baum's body jiggled *puru puru*... so adorable .
Like usual, I had no idea what he was saying .
"Albert-san, where will you go from here?"
"For the time being, I'm planning on heading to the Falla town in the south, after that I'll do whatever I feel like . "
"Then you'll cross the mountain range right? umm... Albert-san, your... wings . "
"Aa, unfortunately they were burnt during the castle's defensive battle . "
Some time has passed, but as expected, I was still a bit unreconciled .
But hey, without her I wouldn't have even been freed .
That was also the main reason those gargoyles threw me away, but well yeah, I can understand .
I wonder what those guys are doing right now...
Eh, this is so not like me at all?
Oi oi, who do you think I am?
I'm an endurant man who concealed himself for 1500 years .
Even I understand to a detestable point, that strife is a very sad thing .
If I got mad due to every small thing, it would just go on forever .
Therefore, if by any chance we meet again .
I will absolutely have my revenge!
After all, I never said I would forgive them .
I will make them pay for their lack of respect for their elders .
I could understand their reason, but my conscience couldn't .
No good, no good, Daidalian would get scared if I kept up such an expression .
I still want to stomp them so hard they eat dirt though .
"W-well, at least I'm still alive, feeling down won't change anything . You're also the same, worrying about it will only bring you nothing . "
Since the mood had suddenly become heavy, I decided to forcibly direct our discussion back to the last topic .
After all, it's such a waste to feel down after eating the long awaited meal .
"Then will you cross the mountain range by foot? You'll inevitably encounter demons but you can use 『Search Magic』 right?"
"More or less . The usual range is about 10 meter, maximum range will be 100 meter . "
"Eeh! 100 meters? That is… quite wide . "
Well, using my maximum range of 100 meters would leave me dead tired .
『Search Magic』 allows me to sense the magical power of any creature that exists within a specified range .
If the range is overly widened, there will be too much information and my brain would overload .
That's why I usually maintain a range of 10 meters .
But at a short 10 meter range, the enemy might notice me first .
『Search Magic』 is only useful for preventing surprise attacks at close ranges .
Even with that being the case, I continuously cast 『Search Magic』 inside the forest for precaution .
"Rather than monster, I'm more afraid of being lost in the mountain . "
It would be the first time I'd cross the mountain by foot, but encountering monsters isn't something unusual .
"Ahaha… I don't think you have to worry about losing your way in the Falla mountain range . "
"Nn? Why?"
"The summit of Falla's mountain is the dwelling of a thunder dragon; when night comes, the summit shines brightly . It can't be seen from here, but at night, you can easily use the light to confirm your way . "
"Hee, I didn't know about this as I've never crossed the mountain range at night . "
"The mountain range also has gentle slopes, I believe you don't have to worry even if you're traveling by foot . "
"That's pretty helpful, by the way, is there a possibility of being attacked by the thunder dragon?"
I had wondered if those gargoyles that threw me away were attacked by that dragon .
"Up until now I've never heard of any case of the Lighting Dragon coming down to attack someone . Just don't get too close and you'll be alright . "
"Then that's fine . By the way, why does he shine at night? Is he trying to show off or something?"
"Who knows? It has been happening for 200 years now, actually . I heard he's lived on Falla mountain for even longer . Though he wasn't shining then . "
"Fu~n, then, so around 200 years ago, something happened, causing such a change . "
"It might be so . "
As the forest leaves were rustled by night winds, Daidalian and I resumed our conversation inside a hollowed tree .
"Hoooaahm, I feel tired, shall we sleep?"
"That's right, then I will keep watch, please be at ease and go to sleep . "
Daidalian offered to keep watch and was about to stand up, but…
"No, that won't be necessary . "
"He?"
Daidalian made a blank expression at my answer . I invoked『Water Barrier』 under my palm, the same water magic I used earlier .
With the bonfire remnants at the center, a membrane of water about 20 meters in diameter appeared .
"Now, let's leave the guarding task to the Water Barrier . I'll instantly know if the water film gets damaged . The spell should last until morning . "
"M-Magic is really convenient… . . "
"Well you can't completely rely on it though… . But I'm sure monster at the wyvern level won't be able to break through it, but just in case, I will cast Water Barrier once more . "
"Is it alright to touch it?"
Maybe because he rarely saw magic? Daidalian seemed to have a keen interest in the barrier .
I assented to his question with a nod .
"The acid barrier and flame barrier will melt and burn your hand respectively, but this is only water so this is safe . "
With my affirmation, Daidalian began to touch the barrier with his hand . The barrier went *boyon* as it repelled him .
Daidalian seemed unable to endure his raging curiosity anymore, so before long, he took a posture and punched the water barrier without reservation .
"You can get out from it but it's impossible to enter from the outside, so be careful . "
"Eh," surprised, Daidalian's posture broke .
Somehow he seemed to have so much fun, fufu…how young .
I hope I'm already helpful enough to make up for my lack of utility when it comes to cooking .
Right now, he was innocently playing with water barrier to his heart's content, just like a little kid .
I think he was a gentle boy .
Having his comrades killed, being turned into a slave, and yet still remaining so kind .
Even though he's such a young goblin .
This is what you call a good-natured person .
Daidalian stopped me from eating poisonous wyvern meat .
If he'd just let me be, he could've stolen the meat and had it all for himself after I died .
I was indeed necessary for Baum's recovery, but still .
His honest character is really likeable .
Although it might be a little difficult for him to live in this cruel world .
I don't want him to die .
This is really out of character for me .
"Well whatever... I'll sleep first~"
I gave the playing Bright-eyed Daidalian a sidelong glance, and fell asleep .
**************************************************************************************************
The sun rose up, morning had come .
When I woke up, I found Daidalian and Baum both wearing slightly troubled expressions next to me .
Err, not sure about Baum's though…
"Good morning, what's with that face? Did you not sleep well?"
"Good morning, no it's not that, because of you I could have a nice sleep . I wanted to gather twigs and prepare breakfast as I was already fully awake, but since the barrier is still intact I can't go outside…"
"Aa…I see, I hadn't considered that, as I've always been by myself, sorry . "
Having said that, I cancelled Water Barrier as per his request .
"Since I have been provided with a safe place, I'll prepare breakfast at once, but it will be using the wyvern meat from yesterday… . "
"Yeah, I'll leave it to you . "
Getting spoiled by his kindness, I entrusted the breakfast preparation to Daidalian, while I leisurely waited .
After a while the meal was ready, I ate the roasted wyvern meat, then got up, dusted myself off, and gradually prepared to depart .
"Ah, that's right, Albert-san please have this . "
"Nn, what is this? A bag?"
Daidalian presented a bag made of wyvern skin to me .
"I made this while I was free earlier this morning, I thought it would be hard to carry wyvern meat as it is, please consider this a small token of my gratitude for the meal, even though I acted on my own . "
"…"
He is really… .
Fine, yup…I've decided .
"Aa~~ umm . "
"Yes?"
"Is it fine if I tag along until Daidalian's village?"
"Umm, isn't Albert-san heading towards Falla town? "
"That was my plan, but since I've secured my food with the wyverns, I don't need to be in such a hurry anymore . Since we're already together now, why don't we stay that way for a while longer . "
I'm also slightly worried .
The forest's condition is strange .
So far, besides the wyverns, I couldn't find any other monsters .
Just a bit more, I wanted to help this kind-hearted boy .
"Albert-san…"
"I can't?"
"Bigii . "
"N-No, Nothing like that! Albert-san is very welcomed to do so, Baum also said please by all means . "
"Is that so, then please take care of me for a bit longer . "
"Yes! Likewise . "
Thus I decided to take a detour on my journey . I ended up following Daidalian until he reached his village .