Volume 2 Chapter 2 (1/2)

Volume 2 Chapter 2 Carrier’s Meal

After finishing the food we resumed our journey.

Because we had a meal the pace of our travel became a little higher, but—

「Well, it’s been a while since I last had Master’s outdoor cooking, but it was as delicious as before.」

「Umu! To think you one can taste dishes from such fresh ingredients while on the road. I almost want Axel-san to accompany me on all of my business for the merchants guild.」

「Honestly. After eating something so delicious you even move differently.」

Everyone seemed to be energetic enough to walk while chatting like that.

「I’m honored to receive such praise. Though my job was different back then, I often used to cook for my friends during the travel, and looks like this experience proved to be useful.」

「Eh, Axel-san was cooking since a long time ago?　Even though you were a dragon knight?」

「Yup, that’s right. Since the old days my Master is good at cooking and took care of us.」「It also should be said that no one else among us knew how to cook.」

In the first place, many of our comrades had ideas like you can eat it as long as you fry it or you can eat it if you smoke it, all without any seasoning, so the skills just came to me naturally.

Honestly, there is no telling where they might become of use, it’s a good thing that I got familiar with this stuff.

「So that’s the reason why you looked so experienced with a frying pan. You looked very skilled at handling it.」

「That’s because it’s the pan that we received from an old dwarf back in the days. We were told that it would serve even for hundreds of years with proper maintenance, so I’m using it with much appreciation.」

「A pan that can be used for hundreds of years… And an old dwarf? Judging by the color of that pan it’s obviously not iron, and as a member of the merchants’ guild, I’m interested in what kind of metal was used there, but… Umu, let’s just ignore it this time. It’s not the timing for negotiations after all.」

Talking like that, we spend a few minutes walking along the highway.

「There is something that bothers me a bit. Am I the only one who feels this strange surge of power?」

Suddenly, Marion said, puzzled.

「Eh? A surge of power? What do you mean?」

「Well, since a while ago. Despite us walking while laughing and chatting, I don’t sense any disruptions in breathing and my movement stays sharp.」

Hearing Marion’s words, Dort and Berzelia who were walking nearby, nod positively.

「Aah, yes, I feel like my body is very light!」

「Same for me.」

「Since Berzelia-san and Kaufmann-san also say so, I’m not alone in this. Axel-san, did you put some performance-enhancing potion or herb into the food?」

Indeed, depending on the ingredients, it was possible to boost abilities via the cooking. However—

「I didn’t use anything of that sort this time.」

Only normal vegetables and meat.

I didn’t use any potions or medicinal herbs.

However, I can feel some subtle warmth spreading throughout the body as well.

It was a somewhat different warmth from the one you can feel after a meal. Or rather, I have a faint recollection of this feeling.

……This is similar to the feeling when I received magical support.

It’s an old story, but when the hero of magic put some weak buff on me, I felt the same feeling of warmth.

It’s quite a nostalgic story, and as I reminiscence on it—

「Ah, Master. The usual thing. The pocket on your butt is glowing again.」

Berzelia pointed her finger at my rear pocket.