Chapter 163: The Monster Meat Was Delicious
“It was truly delicious… No, seriously…”
After finishing the meal, Rest let out a deep sigh. It was delicious—exceedingly so. Though he had never tasted it before, it was as delectable as an A5-ranked Wagyu steak.
“I never expected that monster to taste so good… I’m amazed,” he said.
He had already heard from Yuri, the one who provided the meat, about its origins. He never thought that the Corrupted Beast, a minion of Sabnock, could transform into such a mouthwatering steak.
“Monster meat… I’ve heard that some gourmet enthusiasts enjoy it, but I’m surprised,” Viola remarked.
“Yes… it was so good that I could easily become addicted,” Primula added, sighing in admiration.
Both Viola and Primula, who had been quite noisy during the cooking, were now left speechless by the exquisite meat.
In this world, the culture of eating monster meat was not widespread. While it wasn’t entirely absent, many monsters were known to be poisonous, making it generally unpopular. Still, Rest had heard of a few connoisseurs who relished monster meat. He himself had tasted it during his time at the Evern Honorary Viscount House when he was struggling to find food.
(There were some delicious ones, but I also had my fair share of stomachaches. Thanks to that, I got plenty of practice with Detoxification magic…)
Savoring the bitter memories, he took a sip of the black tea that Primula had brewed for him.
“By the way… I’m surprised Yuri thought to eat that meat. That caught me off guard,” Rest said.
“Really? I don’t think it’s that strange,” Yuri replied, tilting her head in confusion.
“I’ve always had a knack for finding delicious things. While I was at the Cattleya Marquis Family, I wasn’t allowed much freedom, so my options were limited… but I often ate flowers from the garden and insects from the roots of trees,” she explained.
“Um… is that really appropriate for a marquis daughter?” Viola said, her face contorting in disbelief. Primula nodded along, agreeing with her.
“The minion of the Evil Lion Sabnock… the ‘Corrupted Beast,’ right? The moment I laid eyes on that monster, I thought to myself, ‘This is edible.'”
“……”
“So, I cut off a manageable amount of meat to bring back, but if it’s this delicious, I should have taken it all. I regret it a little,” she admitted.
“Yeah… I feel the same way…” Rest replied.
It was truly a mystery how such a poisonous monster could taste so good. The world was indeed a strange place.
(Well, I’ve heard that some people eat snakes… and even eels and konjac can be poisonous if not cooked properly. Maybe it’s wrong to judge based on appearances…)
The Corrupted Beast was a nuisance in their efforts to develop the land. Ideally, they would want to eradicate such monsters, but with a flavor that good, it felt wasteful to exterminate them.
“Just to be safe, I’ll cast Detoxification magic on everyone. There’s always a chance of delayed poison, after all,” Rest decided.
As they enjoyed their tea time, he used healing magic on everyone.
“By the way… Rest, how is the development going?” Viola changed the subject, shifting the conversation to their work on the plains.
“I heard you were assigned to investigate the center of the plains. Isn’t that where the Demon Realm’s lord used to reside?” she asked.
“Isn’t it dangerous? I’m really worried…” Primula chimed in, her voice filled with concern.
After taking a sip of his tea, Rest shrugged. “There’s not a single problem. I’m almost surprised at how easy it’s been.”
It wasn’t bravado. While he wouldn’t say the monsters were on par with Sabnock, he had expected to encounter some reasonably strong creatures. However, what appeared were only Corrupted Beasts and other monsters that Rest and his companions could easily handle.
“Since it’s only the first day, I can’t let my guard down, but at this rate, the overgrown grass might be the tougher opponent. Unless we get overly complacent, I think we’ll be just fine, so there’s no need to worry.”
“Really? That’s a relief…” Viola replied.
“If there’s anything we can help with, just let us know,” Primula offered.
“Thank you. I’ll reach out if anything comes up,” Rest said, appreciating the sisters’ kindness as he gazed down at the dying campfire.
“Shall we head to the tent soon? I’m quite tired today,” he suggested.
“Yes, that sounds good. If you’re feeling tense, I could give you a massage,” Viola offered.
“I-I’ll do it too! Rest-sama’s massage…!” Primula exclaimed eagerly.
“Oh? That sounds fun. Should I join in as well?” Yuri teased.
“Ugh, please no, Yuri. I’d feel like my shoulders would be crushed,” Rest replied, chuckling as the four of them stood up, ready to move to the tent.
“Good evening… Count Clover…”
However, just then, a voice called out to them. Turning around, they saw a girl standing there with a few attendants.
“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m sorry for coming so late…” she said, her tone shaky.
She seemed nervous, speaking hesitantly. The girl had purple hair cut in a bob and was quite petite, her slight build making her appear almost like a child.
“Oh, good evening. Um… who might you be?” Rest asked.
“I apologize for the delay…”
The girl placed her hand on her chest and looked up at Rest with a doll-like expression.
“I am Ula Lavender, the granddaughter of Baron Lavender…”
“Baron Lavender…?”
Rest’s eyes widened in surprise at the name of the great noble who guarded the eastern border.