Chapter 309: Dragon Liver
“I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry…!”
“Well… it’s fine, really. You don’t have to apologize so much.”
Rest and Yuri had returned to the village at the foot of the Southern Mountain Range, only to be met with a flurry of apologies from their guide, Libery.
From what they gathered, Libery had spotted a Wyvern and immediately chose to retreat, abandoning Rest and the others to descend the mountain alone. Afterward, she assumed they must have perished when they didn’t come down. It seemed a ceremony to mourn the dead would be held the following day.
“Isn’t that a bit hasty? There’s no need to assume someone is dead so quickly.”
As for her fleeing… well, that was acceptable. They had agreed beforehand that it was fine to escape if things got dangerous. Still, her decision to abandon them felt rather rash. Alpha Mountain was known to be a Wyvern’s nest, after all. One needed a certain level of awareness of danger to survive in such a place. The timing of the funeral was also rather swift—perhaps the people of this village were just impatient.
“I’ll return the guide fee… I truly apologize.”
“That’s really not necessary… I’m not angry, so please don’t worry about it. More importantly, I need to transport the Wyvern, so could you arrange for a carriage?”
Waving off Libery’s excessive apologies, Rest issued his instructions. He and Yuri had carried the Wyvern’s corpse this far, but it was a long journey back, and he was keen to avoid doing so any longer. Even if they could levitate it with magic, they would attract unwanted attention from passersby.
“Of course… if you’d like, I can also help with the butchering? I’ll do it for free as a service.”
“That’s really not necessary…”
“It’s better to process it quickly, you know? Although it’s been magically frozen, the Dragon Liver will spoil quickly regardless.”
“Dragon Liver…?”
Rest tilted his head, unfamiliar with the term.
“Dragon Liver refers to the organ found within a dragon’s body. It’s packed with magical power and is considered extremely delicious. There’s even a rumor that eating it can extend your lifespan, but it spoils almost immediately. Strangely enough, even if you salt it or smoke it, it won’t preserve well.”
“Wow… I didn’t know such a thing existed.”
“Yes. Because it doesn’t keep, it’s said that only those who have slain a dragon can enjoy Dragon Liver.”
“Rest, that sounds delicious! We should definitely have some!”
Yuri interjected, her eyes sparkling with excitement. If that was the case, Rest decided to go ahead and request the butchering.
“Then please do. But in exchange, would it be alright if we were present during the butchering?”
“Of course. You can rest assured that we won’t steal any materials.”
Libery called over several villagers, and they began the process of butchering the Wyvern. The villagers skillfully wielded large machetes, expertly dismantling the creature.
“Alright, cut the meat into manageable sizes. Pack the scales into that bag!”
“Don’t waste the bones either. There’s nothing on a dragon’s body that should be discarded!”
“Wow… this is quite fascinating.”
As Rest watched the butchering, he found it intriguing. The sight of a large magical beast being processed was quite a spectacle, reminiscent of a tuna cutting show. The villagers worked with practiced ease, portioning the meat into easily transportable sizes while packing the frozen blood, entrails, bones, and scales into jars and bags.
“This is the Dragon Liver. It’s been a day since it was hunted, so it’s slightly degraded, but it still looks edible.”
Eventually, Libery presented a plate piled with the entrails. It was raw sashimi, uncooked and glistening. Was it really safe to eat?
“There’s no poison in it. Go ahead and try some.”
“Rest, it seems fine. I don’t smell any toxins.”
Yuri picked up a piece and sniffed it cautiously. When it came to food, her discerning palate was reliable. If she deemed something edible, it was usually safe and delicious.
(Even if it were poisoned, I know the detoxification healing magic… I think I’ll give it a try.)
“Here goes.”
Rest brought the sashimi to his mouth. As the vibrant pink piece of meat touched his tongue, it instantly dissolved, releasing its essence.
“…!”
His heart raced. It wasn’t about being delicious or disgusting; it was an energizing sensation that surged through his veins. Though he had never tasted it before, it felt as if he had consumed the flesh and blood of a soft-shelled turtle, filling him with vitality.
“Oh… this flavor is invigorating! I feel like I could run at full speed right now!”
“I’ve heard that dragon blood and flesh grant the power of immortality… eating this makes me believe it.”
“Oh? Rest, you’re leaning forward a bit. Is something wrong?”
“…”
Please, just understand. It was merely a physiological reaction similar to what happened with the Worm meat.
“I’m still underage here… give me a break.”
If possible, he wanted to save this Dragon Liver dish for the night before their wedding. Rest was determined to sleep apart from Yuri tonight.