Volume 1 Chapter 76 Dinner In The Forest
It had been half a day since we departed from Trasverum, and the sky was beginning to be dyed in the evening darkness.
The carriage slowly deviated from the road and came to a stop just to the left of the main road.
We were currently making good progress towards Metis and had entered a large forest area along the way.
The forest on both sides of the road was dense with trees, and visibility was poor. There were no landmarks in sight, so if we were to inadvertently enter, we would likely get lost right away.
"Well, this seems like a good spot for today."
Edward said as he descended from the coachman's seat, and we followed suit by getting off the carriage.
"In that case, I'll start preparing for camping."
Fatina said as she began unloading a wooden box containing the necessary items for spending the night, such as food. We were grateful that Mel's [Water Attribute Magic] skill could produce water at any time.
"..."
Meanwhile, Mel was repeatedly examining a map that she held open with both hands, looking frustrated. This has been her demeanor since she got on the carriage. I wonder if there's something bothering her.
"Is something wrong? Is it a problem?"
"It may sound suspicious, but this man named Edward truly possesses exceptional skills in handling horses... It's frustrating."
I'm not entirely sure what Mel means by "suspicious" and "frustrating," but it's true that Edward's carriage was astonishingly fast, just as Mel described.
It raced through the air, causing other carriage we passed to look back in surprise. What's more, despite running for a long time, the two black horses didn't show any signs of fatigue.
Additionally, for some reason, the carriage's cargo bed had an unusually minimal amount of shaking, so it didn't put much strain on the body even after a long ride.
Maybe it's because Chester arranged for this carriage, and skilled craftsmen made it with a solid structure and well-maintained conditions. Nevertheless, it was still quite mysterious.
"Why can the horses run so fast? Is it because of some kind of skill?"
Mel asked quietly, but I didn't really know either. I've never heard of a skill that makes a horse's legs move faster. But right now, it didn't seem like an important topic to dwell on too much.
"I don't know, but isn't it fine if we reach Metis quickly?"
"Yeah, but..."
Mel seemed really curious and started to worry with her arms crossed.
Usually, it's expected to take 12 days to reach Metis. However, we've already passed the point we were supposed to reach on the first day a long time ago. At this rate, we might really be able to shorten the journey by many days, just like Chester said.
"I'll let the horses rest with me."
Edward untied the reins of the carriage from the horses, and the horses stayed in place to rest. He himself sat on the ground, leaning against a big tree trunk.
Well, the horses have been running without a single break until now. It's no wonder they're tired.
"Can we keep running at the same speed as today?"
"It's not a big deal. I'm in great shape."
Edward replied, facing this way.
"Your name is Ark, right? I've heard most of the story. You're an adventurer who conquered the Trasverum dungeon. If that's the case, I can relax even if a fierce monster comes. I get paid, and I'm safe. No complaints."
"Yeah, if a monster attacks, I'll fight."
"Please do. I know you understand, but I have no fighting skills. I'm just a coachman. It's a give and take relationship."
"Understood."
After finishing the conversation with Edward, I immediately start preparing for camping. There's only a little time left until it gets dark.
"I'll go collect firewood. Fatina, can you prepare dinner?"
"Um...yes. Okay, I'll cook. Oh, Mel-san, can you help...can we cook together?"
"Huh? Uh, yes. That sounds good...let's do that..."
I felt like there was a weird tension between Fatina and Mel.
"Are we going to have Sword Saint and the princess's homemade cooking? I wonder what they're going to make."
When Edward said this, Mel glanced at him and then turned her face away, and both Fatina and Mel started taking out the ingredients for the cooking from a wooden box. She still seemed angry about almost getting her butt touched.
As I watched Mel while thinking if it was something to get so angry about, for some reason, she glared back at me with an annoyed face. It seemed like she could read my thoughts.
I gave Fatina some things that could be used as firewood that I found nearby, and then I started looking around.
"...I think this is it."
"I feel like I've seen it somewhere. Probably."
While gathering materials for the bonfire and dropping them on the ground, Fatina and Mel took various ingredients in their hands and looked at them closely.
While feeling a bit uneasy about their unsettling comments like "I think this is it" or "I feel like I've seen it before," I gathered branches and grass.
Unlike the safe town, monsters attack day and night in the forest. Therefore, we take turns to keep watch. It's not that cold, but just to be safe, I decided to gather a bit more.
A little while later, the two of them decided to have a meal as they had finished cooking.
We used large rocks and fallen trees nearby as chairs, and all sat around the iron pot.
"Hey, what is this... is this really food?"
The pot hanging from the assembled iron rod contained a thick black soup, with unpeeled vegetables and unprepared meat floating around.
"We kind of messed up."
"Kind of? This is..."
In response to Edward's words, Fatina and Mel were visibly irritated.
Seeing that the individuals didn't offer any arguments, it seemed that the result was not satisfactory.
Come to think of it, I hadn't asked the two if they were good at cooking. Well, Mel is a princess, so she wouldn't be expected to cook.
Still, it would have been better if they had told us that from the beginning.
Well, I don't really care too much about the taste of the food. As long as my stomach is full enough to keep going tomorrow, it doesn't really matter.
I start eating by putting the soup and ingredients into a bowl. Overall, it has a slightly burnt taste, and the vegetables are a bit hard to swallow and the meat is unusually tough. But other than that, it's not a problem.
"Wh-what do you think?"
"It's good, isn't it?"
Fatina asks for my opinion, and I reply while chewing on the ingredients.
As soon as I do, Fatina's worried face suddenly turns into a smile.
"R-Really! Um, there's more if you want!"
"Yeah, let's have some more. Everyone should eat."
"Umm... I'll have it."
When I call out to them, both Mel and Edward start putting the food into their bowls hesitantly.
"Do you know what my dream is?"
Edward suddenly says that while staring at the pitch-black soup in his bowl.
"I don't know, what kind of your dream?"
"Living a long life."
After finishing dinner like this, we started to prepare for the night.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)