Chapter 31 - Lunch that turned to Dinner

After a few minutes Ryuji went back with the branches that he had cut earlier. He hid that bundle of branches that he will be using for the cooking pit. It was ast midday, though it was bright but watching how the sun had been setting for the past few days, he knew its afternoon already. He quickly used for a cooking pit. He wanted some camping fire pit but very different from what he imagined. It looked like it was built from a low-resolution software and everything looked blocks. He then ordered Pyun-Pyun to store the wolf carcasses for now as he went to fetch some more firewood and sticks to skewer meat.

Pyun-Pyun seemed to be conflicted about the orders. He was not willing to part farther from the meat slices that he was guarding earlier. Conflicted with what to do with the littered corpses of the dead wolves, he tried to stretch himself. The goblin saw this and snickered. The pet slime seemed to be attached to the meat. It stretched itself to the first wolf carcass that was nearest, and it engulfed it like it was some 1980's horror movie flick (1).

Ryuji found it funny as he prepares the firewood. Pyun-Pyun looked more like a melted sugar caramel candy that is being stretched. He then wondered how slimes do it. To store things larger than them is like a cheat already. Having owned a slime is really a wonder and his pet slime seemed to be much more than that. His pet can use simple magic and store a lot of stuff. But his thoughts were cut short as his stomach seemed to remind him that he has not eaten breakfast or lunch and quickly fetched some remaining wood that he can carry. He left the slime reaching to the second wolf carcass.

Ryuji was almost running like he was on a game show picking up as many firewood that he can. By the time he got back the third carcass was gone, and the slime looked like it never budged at all. He casted to the wood he arranged to get the fire going. He asked Pyun-Pyun to put out several herbs that he thought were good for cooking that he already tasted earlier. Better to start cooking before it gets totally dark. He asked the slime to bring him the slabs of meat. Each slab looked like a big stake piece and started to sprinkle some herbs. The sun-dried meat slabs that Pyun-Pyun was guarding earlier were the first one to be cooked and seasoned. He picked up , , but there was other stuff like and which he would like to try to taste. "When i get to a town, i should get some frying pan, butter and a proper kitchen." Ryuji muttered to himself. It should be a must so he can cook properly. There are no convenience stores here in Zariya, so he could not order take outs or so like when he was back on earth.

Pyun-Pyun jiggled as if he understood and jiggled to the idea of cooking. Ryuji smiled with his crooked teeth as if he found a kindred spirit who loved food. When he was back on earth, there was a time that he cooked for them whenever he had time. His brother was too young to cook after they were orphaned so he was well acquainted with cooking. Thinking about food, his stomach grumbled for the nth time that he could not remember. There were lots of pieces of meat from the first rabivore so he tried a lot of combinations by seasoning two pieces of each, one for him and Pyun-Pyun. After he prepared the seasoned meat, he looked at the rabivore that was at the side which the pack pounced on. "Should we still get some meat from that?" He wondered. It was a complete waste to leave it lying, and the blood was drained on it earlier. Pyun-Pyun seemed to agree that it was a waste.

Ryuji got up and told Pyun-Pyun to keep turning the meat kebabs that they experimented with the flavor. He decided to still prepare the second rabivore. He was thinking if he will get rabies or any other sickness here since it was "spoiled" by an animal already. Supposedly as humans, the second rabivore should be discarded but then he is a goblin in this reincarnation and probably his disease and poison resistance should be sufficient. He is not in the position to throw away food at this point. He was wary of eating the wolves as well. As the first batch of meat was cooked, he was teaching Pyun-Pyun to watch the meat cook. He then casted to make a makeshift table and let the meat rest. After the second batch of meat was being cooked and the first batch was resting, the goblin quickly put the second rabivore meat and did attempt to salvage whatever was left of it and make similar cuts of meat. The first one was sun-dried and this one was still intact and both meats were not good for consumption probably, but since he was testing flavor as of now, it would be best to make use of this.

The wolf brothers did not bother to escape with the previous pack as the elder brother wolf stood its ground protecting his younger wolf brother who was still unconscious. He looked at his injured brother and gave a concerned whine, he gave a lick to his brother's wounds. His brother is never much of a fighter and usually that weak one, but he had been gifted to use a small magic. He watched how the goblin and slime pair fought the rest of the hunting pack. Hearing that the goblin tamed the slime. Usually, goblins are unruly and uses berserk to smash and pound against anything that moves. Alone, a goblin is the weakest among the demi-human races in the Valley of Ono. They are usually considered nuance by other demi-humans. In groups, goblins fare much better but still weak. They have limited movements and tribes that have hobgoblins fared a bit better than ones that do not have one. Seeing the confrontation earlier, his brother was right, these two creatures are not to be offended. This goblin seemed to be a bigshot, usually the goblins do communicate with the monster language which was very limited and because of their limited understanding, even the Southern Onorian wolves can bully goblin communities. This goblin was very different, even though he looks like one. Having a slime that can kill wolves and use magic is also another thing that he needs to be considered how dangerous this pair is. He was wary of what the next thing that they need to do is escape. He could not carry his brother because it was knocked out cold.

But his fears were all for naught, he was dumbfounded that after a while they were completely ignored. His jaw further dropped as this goblin used magic and acts more human, especially seasoning and cutting the meat. While he has awareness of demi-humans with preference to their diet, he never saw goblin cook such things, they usually dump meat whole on a pot along with the rest of ingredients and use only sharp weapons to defend themselves not to cook meat. This was an eccentric pair, all his life or even if he added his ancestor's lives about this, they never heard a goblin cook like humans. Even human or demi-human adventurers would be this weird to cook. Usually, humans and demi-humans use ingredients unlike these two who had been spreading some plants on the meat. He even saw herbs that they usually eat for regaining health. This completely shattered that fearful and dangerous image of these two.

"Pyun-pyun! Taste this!" Ryuji was completely immersed in food tasting. Ryuji just put the third batch which had more of the unknown herbs that they have gotten earlier, and he has not tried or tested yet. He did use and checked which one is poisonous among them or not fit for food consumption. Some of the first batch that they were tasting were the safer choices with herbs and ingredients. He was trying to search for some things that he can use for everyday cooking. He and the slime develop a sense of agreement about the food tasting, if Pyun-pyun agrees, which was all the time, he would wave his tentacles. He was taking mental notes of what to use. The safest things to pair were the , , which were regular herbs. The and the which he can use as salt replacement for now. Ryuji would like to get to a town right now but cannot. He should make a trip soon to see what this world has to offer, especially with food. If not, he should probably start a barbeque and grilling business. They continued to taste several meats that were rubbed with different herbs. He had just sent the fourth batch as Pyun-Pyun kept turning the skewers and with vigilance he made sure that the skewered meat was cooked as his master instructed him.