Chapter 453: What to Eat
“Where did you even get the idea of eating a Dragon—hey, isn’t your [Appraisal] a bit off?”
Haulon, who was about to ask me that, seemed to conclude it was my [Appraisal] that was to blame.
But sadly, even without [Appraisal], any Japanese person would dream of Dragon Steak.
“I’ve heard that bathing in the blood of a Dragon’s heart grants you a body that needs no armor! That’s a legendary tale!”
Chris said, his eyes sparkling more than usual.
I’ve heard that one too. The weakness was that the leaves stuck to it, and it didn’t bathe in blood, right? It was about someone named Siegfried.
“…The habit of eating Dragons already existed only in legends during the time I lived as a human.”
Karn’s tone was heavy.
“So there were some who actually ate them…”
Retze folded a slice of roasted duck with his fork, making it easier to eat. His gaze was on the duck, but I sensed he was thinking about something else.
“The period when the Sacred Beast of Dragons existed was long, so humans had to be cautious. The Era of Fire I lived in came after that, but the Wind Spirits, who are the guardians of Dragons, had begun to grow in power. The disparity in strength must have widened, and above all, the increase in flying species made things troublesome.”
Karn switched to red wine, as it seemed he wasn’t fond of carbonated drinks.
“I’ve never seen the Dragons of old, but… the flying species especially owe a lot to the assistance of the Wind Spirits. It’s not just that the sky and ground are unfavorable for those who can’t fly; many of them are simply strong.”
Haulon frowned.
It seems like Haulon has some unpleasant memories regarding Dragons.
“There was a legend that said a Sacred Beast still sleeps in the land of the people who worship Dragons…”
Karn gazed off into the distance. When he said “now,” it must have been a story from when he was human.
“The land has changed significantly due to the change of the main spirits. The number of people who worship Dragons has greatly decreased, making it difficult to find them.”
Haulon, only when speaking to Karn, took a break from his usual flamboyant manner.
“The thought that a Sacred Beast of Dragons might be sleeping somewhere is romantic…”
Chris tilted his glass with a dreamy expression.
As I began to feel a bit tipsy, the Jaw Spirit started to nudge at my jawline. I wondered why, but it seemed to be in response to Dean’s scent-loving spirit. Or was it copying him? The scent-loving spirit tends to sweat when warmed by alcohol.
“So, things are quite different now compared to the past? Well, if the weather’s good, I was thinking of dismantling it tomorrow.”
Can I eat it?
“…”
“…”
“…”
“As long as it’s not harmful, it should be fine. If it’s already been caught and is edible, meat is meat, whether it’s duck or Dragon.”
Retze said while eating the duck.
“Isn’t that a bit too decisive?!”
“Alright! Dragon Steak!”
I struck a victory pose next to Haulon, who was screaming in despair.
“I never thought of it, but if Gene wants to eat it that much, it must be delicious… Your excitement is contagious, making me want to eat it too!”
Chris, who had a different kind of admiration for Dragons, was now converted to the eating side!
“Eh…?”
Haulon looked flustered.
“Majority rules! If we can dismantle it safely, tomorrow will be Dragon Steak!”
It’s meat, so Rishu will probably be happy too.
“Wait, does that mean everyone here is included in the eating?”
Karn muttered, looking somewhat dazed.
“I can take requests for parts.”
Loin or fillet? I’m not sure what kind of flavor differences there are, and not all loins are fatty.
“…”
Karn fell silent, pressing his forehead.
“Hey, you. Is it really safe for an ordinary human to eat? It means the meat is heavily influenced by the Wind Spirits, right?”
Retze stopped bringing the glass to his mouth and asked.
“Eh?”
Huh?
“Don’t ‘eh’ me. I said it was okay to eat, but I never said I would eat it. If Gene’s [Appraisal] says it’s delicious, then it probably is, but it’s definitely too much for an ordinary human. Only someone like Dinoss or those two over there could handle it.”
“Eh—?”
But I want everyone to eat together.
“Hey! If that’s the case, then Retze should definitely eat it, get stronger, and stick with Gene!”
“Bathed in the blood of a Dragon’s heart!”
Haulon and Chris chimed in.
It seems Chris is more of a blood pool romantic than a foodie. Retze looked a bit annoyed as he dealt with the excited Haulon and Chris.
“Welcome back! I thought it was noisy, but it’s a feast. Can I join?”
Dean returned just then.
“Welcome back!”
Instead of answering if he could join, I placed a mug in front of the empty seat for Dean. He’s a mug kind of guy, whether it’s wine or anything else.
“Tomorrow, if the weather’s good, we’ll have Dragon meat for dinner. You in?”
“I’m in!”
Dean took a big gulp, and when I asked, he gave a good response.
“Hm? —Dragon?”
Dean tilted his mug to his lips, still holding it.