Chapter 34 (1/2)

Translator: Luk2048

Editor: Ghost Ape

When I reunited with Rēko again, I was fed vegetables to my heart's content. Unlike the children it was a bit vexing, since she was offering the leaves one by one, but it was tasty nonetheless.

”How is the taste, Evil Dragon Lord?”

”Delicious. Thanks for going out of your way to get them for me, Rēko.”

”It's my natural obligation as kin.”

Rēko was also satisfied, puffing out her chest a little. There was scant difference to the time when the children had been feeding me, but maybe it was about the visual composition of Rēko holding out the vegetables by herself. Her standards of what was safe and what was out were difficult to grasp.

”Rēvendia, an offering from me too.”

When I was eating with relish, Ariante called out to me. I turned back answering with ”What's up?”, and petrified.

What she was holding in her hand was definitely meat.

It was a well roasted, fat meat chop. Was it pork or beef―― No, in these circ.u.mstances it didn't matter what the meat was.

”I asked for a little favour and came back with this top-quality meat. If it's the Evil Dragon Lord Rēvendia the amount might be nothing more than one bite, but this town's people would surely be delighted if you were to taste it.”

What is she saying? Didn't I thoroughly explain how I'm a herbivore?

Ariante nodded her head slightly as if she was reading my inner thoughts, and let out her aim with her gaze.

'No matter how I look at it, the image of you eating vegetables can't be seen as acting like anything else but a herbivorous goat. Even if it's a large piece of meat, eat it and show some dignity.'

'You know that telling me to eat meat would be like if I told you to eat a rock?'

'I'll eat anything, even a stone, if you'll eat that. Hurry up and eat, just try to think that the world will be ruined if you don't. Besides, even herbivores living in the wild eat a little meat.'

'In my youth, it wasn't like I couldn't eat it at all, but recently it's really hopeless. Especially fat, I cannot do fat. My stomach will disagree with it right away.'

Incidentally, this was only my a.s.sumption of the conversation's contents. Whether Ariante had the same imagined dialogue was exceedingly doubtful. Or rather, I think we had failed in our mutual understanding somewhere in the middle.

That was because she brought the meat right before my eyes with a vigorous expression, as though saying ”You finally prepared yourself”. If we had shared the same conversation just now, she wouldn't have resorted to such a violent act. As expected, there was a limit to using only eyes.

It couldn't be helped.

”Rēko.”

”Yes?”

”Want to split it in half? You also had it rough, protecting the town while I was away. Think of it as a reward.”

”How could I―― such a trivial matter, I haven't put in any effort.”

”Don't hold back and eat half.”

I was fervent. If I had to eat it, I wanted to at least reduce the amount.

”That's right. Ariante, you went to the trouble of bringing it here, just looking would be dull. You can eat half of my share.”

”… Right.”

I felt her kindness, since she gave up and cut up the meat.

”Ah! You're here――! Lady Rēko――!”

Then with great timing came the water demon, or rather Lady Saintess, who as a demon respected and put Rēko far above herself. She was sulking in bed for some time, but it seemed she had regained her spirits.

”Ah, Lady Saintess. We're right in the middle of having a meal, how about you have some of this?”

”Just the townspeople's wors.h.i.+p is enough for my stomach though?”

”Don't say that. Once you eat the feast prepared by the people of this town, you'll surely feel much better.”

”Hmm… Then I'll have some!”