We start to set up camp as the sun falls on the horizon. Fin and I were given a tent we could share, while the other soldiers remained outside to rest and guard.
The smell of meat being roasted in hot flames started to spread to the air as the soldier cooks started to prepare food. I volunteered to help them, and they did not hesitate to allow me.
"Not enough spice," I complained.
"Is that so? Hm... You're right! Then..."
"Eria-sama! How about this?"
"Not cooked enough!"
"This, Eria-sama?"
"Umu, let me help you with that!"
There were a lot of food being prepared for almost a hundred men, so I went all around instructing them. I wasn't sure how they could trust me so much, when they haven't even seen how good I was yet, but I didn't question it that much and helped them anyway.
On the sidelines, I can see Fin and Jonah talking, watching me all the while.
"I didn't want them to bother Eria-sama... but she's indeed needed in things like this."
"Oh, you trusts her that much with her cooking? So she's not only an adventurer who knows swordsmanship and magic, but also a cook worth trusting? I can see she's an ideal wife," Jonah answers with a curious stare.
"Wife? Don't you even try thinking of doing anything funny... like courting her to be your wife..."
"Of course not, I'm merely complimenting her. Besides, I have a wife of my own."
"Hmph..."
I can see Fin glaring at him as they talk. Fin really is too over protective, if left alone, he might even start threatening people who goes anywhere near me. At this rate, he wouldn't be able to find a girlfriend. Hmm? Now that I think about it, Fin is old enough to be married, so he must have a fiancee or two already. I'm just going to ask him about it later.
"So... are you really sure about having a match with Eria-sama? You can still take your words back, you're being a bother to her."
"It's just a sparring match, nothing serious. I'm sure miss elf understands that too."
"Compared to Eria-sama, you're just a pebble on the road."
"Hm? Bwahaha... are you trying to fire me up?"
Finral? I don't really want you to insult people in my name... I wanted to smack him in the head right away, but I was too busy at the moment.
"Eria-sama! Please! Have a taste of this!" one of the soldier cooks called out to me and handed me a spoon of soup.
"Good, let me take over for while and I'll add my own secret mix!"
"Yes, Eria-sama!"
An hour later, everything was prepared. I helped the soldier cooks hand everyone their portions.
"Oh! This is nothing like we get to eat in the army!"
"I can't believe I get to taste something like this on a mission!"
"What? Even my wife can't cook anything as tasteful as this!"
I couldn't help but blush a little at their compliments. Still, I puffed my prideful chest out, satisfied. What can I say, I'm confident about my hobby of cooking. I can safely say that I'm at a level at it that won't lose to gourmet chefs.
I watched all the soldiers eat with satisfaction as I start to eat myself. I couldn't see Fin and Jonah anymore, but they also must be eating with the other soldiers.
"So what I'm saying is..."
Suddenly, my ears twitched to a weird conversation nearby.
"Guys... I think I just found the best woman," one soldier boldly declared.
"What? What are you saying?"
"I mean, can't you see it?"
"Umu... I can understand, but I still think that my wife is the best woman there is," another soldier comments.
"No, you don't understand it, man! Can't you see? She's so kind and sweet and cute! And look at that body! Even that beats the goddess'!"
"I-I can't argue with that..."
"Plus, she cooked this food! This high-class food... Can you imagine going home to a cute busty wife, offering you her delicious food! Then at night... Just imagining it is..."
"Gulp..." all of them swallowed in unison.
"And... AND!"
"And...?" they all repeated.
"And... she's an elf..."
As if time stopped at that revelation, they all went quiet and turned serious. At that moment, I wanted to go back to my tent and cover my ears up.
"I can't believe it... You convinced me, she truly is!"
"I'm sorry, wife!"
"Please forgive me for thinking of such indecent things, goddess-sama!"
"Please forgive me for thinking of doing such an evil thing, goddess-sama! I won't do it! I won't do it!"
I was a bit worried about what the last guy was saying... but, oh well...
"Now I'm having second thoughts about it too... I'm sorry, Erin! Please be understanding of the predicament I'm having."
I heard Jonah murmur somewhere, but I'm sure Fin is there to check on him.