Chapter 11: The Best Seasoning is Indeed Hunger
“Delicious!”
As I savored the meal, tears streamed down my face alongside Yuzuki-san. I had often scoffed at protagonists in otherworldly novels who cried while eating, thinking it was all a fabrication… but this time, it was no lie. I apologize for my doubts. The food was truly delicious, enough to bring tears of joy.
Having gone over a full day without eating, attacked by beasts, and nearly perishing in that extreme state, I could finally feel the essence of life coursing through me.
“It’s so good!”
“Come on, that’s a bit over the top.”
The steak before us was unidentifiable in terms of meat, but it was bursting with juices and flavor. While it wasn’t exceptionally tender, the chewy texture was more than satisfying. The soup contained the same meat and vegetables, its light flavor refreshing the palate and cutting through the richness of the meat.
“Ahh, thank you for the meal!”
“I’m glad to hear that. You both have quite the appetite.”
Once we had settled down, Mr. Welter served us herbal tea.
“Thank you so much. You’ve truly saved us. I don’t know how to express my gratitude…”
At that moment, all we could do was offer our heartfelt thanks. We genuinely had nothing to offer in return. We had a bit of money, but it was hardly enough to repay a life saved.
“Hmph, that’s why I told you not to worry about it.”
With a wry smile, he took a sip of his herbal tea. The refreshing aroma wafted through the air, creating a pleasant atmosphere. Despite his brusque demeanor, my first impression was that he was a caring individual who noticed the little things.
“Allow me to introduce myself… I am Mizumoto Shu.”
“I-I’m Yuzuki Rio.”
We awkwardly squeezed three people around a two-person dining table. There were only two chairs, and currently, Mr. Welter was the only one sitting on a wooden crate. Apparently, he couldn’t let guests sit there.
“Hmm. Mizumoto Shu, that’s quite a mouthful.”
“Ah, Shu is my first name, and Mizumoto is my family name.”
“Oh, so you have a family name. Are you of noble blood, boy?”
“Not exactly…”
“Our country grants family names to all its citizens.”
“That’s impressive.”
Mr. Welter seemed genuinely impressed, but he was soon informed that only nobles held family names. It seemed that this was true for both the Demon Tribe and the human race.
“Is that so…?”
Yuzuki-san and I exchanged glances, wondering just how much Mr. Welter, being a member of the Demon Tribe, knew about the human kingdom.
“The Demon Tribe excels in magic. Many of us conceal our horns with magic and live among humans.”
As he spoke, the horns on his forehead gradually faded away.
“Wow… that’s amazing.”
“Then that means your name is also a bit of a disguise, huh?”
“Ah, yes. Rio is my first name.”
Mr. Welter appeared to be deep in thought, but suddenly his expression darkened.
“Still, who would throw a child into the Forest of Enchantment?”
It seemed he was angered by the fact that we had been sent into the forest, despite being a member of the Demon Tribe.
“Huh? What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen something strange…”
“Ah, well… I heard that a Demon King led the Demon Tribe to invade the human kingdom…”
At my words, Mr. Welter’s eyebrows twitched, and his expression turned sour.
“Who did you hear that from?”
With the atmosphere growing heavy, we decided to speak honestly. We couldn’t bring ourselves to hide anything from the person who had saved our lives. We recounted our story from the moment we were summoned to this world, hoping it would convey that we were different from the humans who were at odds with this world.
“I see…”
Mr. Welter, who had been listening silently, crossed his arms and nodded gravely.
“At sixteen, you’re a bit small for your age, aren’t you? Or is that just a characteristic of otherworlders?”
“That’s what you’re focusing on?!”
Yuzuki-san immediately interjected. Hadn’t we grown a bit closer while I was unconscious? Well, I was indeed on the shorter side… but I was a bit sensitive about being shorter than Yuzuki-san, so I wished she hadn’t pointed it out.
“Ha ha ha, don’t get so worked up. …Well, it seems you both have had a rough time.”
Though he spoke lightly, it didn’t bother me since he was the one who had actually helped us. However, the information he shared about the situation with the Demon Tribe was entirely different from what we had heard from the summoned princess.
“The Demon King does exist, but he’s merely the king of the Demon Tribe’s territory. He isn’t the aggressive type who invades human lands.”
“Really…? So then…”
“Ah, just as you suspected, the summoned Hero? They might just want to turn him into a soldier to invade the Demon Tribe’s territory.”
Mr. Welter added that if my story was believable, then it was indeed a possibility. If asked which was more credible, I would undoubtedly choose Mr. Welter.
“Well, that’s nice to hear.”
He shrugged and took another sip of his herbal tea.
“Anyway, I’ve got the gist of the situation. …So, shall we discuss the main topic?”
With Mr. Welter’s direct gaze upon us, Yuzuki-san and I straightened up, ready to face him. This was the crucial moment, as it concerned our future.
“You two probably have nowhere to go, right?”
With that straightforward remark, we began to consult him about our next steps.