Volume 4 Chapter 11 - The old man is requested. (1/2)

My initial plan was to set up camp in the jungle next to the cliff, waiting for the rain in order to overcome the cliff using a gimmick. I had zero intention of turning back and returning home, especially when the hunting ground was right in front of our eyes.

A large number of Paradise Birds lived in this area and their meat tasted so good that you’ll be sent straight to paradise,and their experience value was in the same league.

Just defeating one of them provided a large amount of experience.

This was the league of the area dubbed the Bonus Stage in the game, it may even be possible for us to raise our levels sometime today or tomorrow.

In terms of camping grounds, there isn’t a place any better than this deeper into the dungeon as there weren’t any monsters here apart from the Paradise Bird. Furthermore, we were the only few people who currently had access to this area.

Trying to solve a mystery in the midst of a harsh squall when you could barely see anything in front of you, especially one hidden on the cliff which would likely be discovered only if you had prior information about it. It’s not surprising that nobody else was here right now.

…. Although this time, the gimmick was bypassed by Phil’s ridiculous archery skills. No other party was capable of repeating this feat.

[Meat! Meat!] (Luna)

[Onee-chan. Hurry hurry!] (Til)

Luna and Til were making a ruckus while watching Phil begin her cooking. Phil began unwrapping the Paradise Meat covered in bamboo skins as item drops are usually covered by bamboo skins. As she started to unwrap the meat, a delicious smell began spreading through the area. A strange smell that was uniquely delicious, as if the blood itself was sweet but there was no smell of decay in it at all.

[Meat looks so beautiful! Luna, wants to eat it now.] (Luna)

The colour of the meat was a beautiful ruby red, the skin extremely glossy while the fat was thick and appetizing.

[Please wait for a moment. I’ll begin cooking it right away. I’ll prepare it the way Yuuya taught me to.. However I don’t have much confidence if it’ll be that good, making a broth without any stock.] (Phil)

Phil placed the Paradise Meat into a pan, lightly frying it as she filled a pot with water and began boiling it. Then, she placed several wild herbs into the pot before cutting the meat into bite-sized chunks and throwing them into the pot. Normally, Phil would prepare her broth by using several dried mushrooms. However, since we were using the Paradise Meat this time, she had skipped over this step.

It’s said that the delicious soup made from the Paradise Meat would be ruined and turn cloudy if other soup stocks were added in excessively. Phil continued to watch the fire while carefully removing the skum from the soup.

[Yuuya, Yuuya. The delicious smell is getting stronger!] (Luna)

[I know right. I can’t wait to eat it.] (Til)

Luna and Til continued staring into the pot as they smelled the fragrance of the soup. Luna’s fox tails were rapidly wagging back and forth while the tip of Til’s elven ears began turning red. Just the fragrance of the soup alone were making these two children go crazy. After the meat was cooked, Phil tested the taste of the meat. Phil’s entire body stiffened as she touched her lips with the tip of her finger. Just watching her actions felt strangely erotic.

After awhile, Phil’s consciousness returned as she continued to test the taste of the soup.

Luna and Til became even more curious about the taste but Phil merely smiled playfully in response. The only thing I could decipher was that it tasted extremely delicious. Above all, the fact that the food-loving Phil had only added salt after her taste-test was a testament that the soup was perfect on its own.

Our expectations for the soup had risen to its peak.

[It’s ready now. Please take out the kitchenware.] (Phil)

It was finally time for dinner. We can finally taste the Paradise Meat.

.

.

.

Dinner had finally begun as a large bowl filled with mountain vegetables and Paradise Meat with another bowl of soup was placed on the table.

[My stomach has been starving!] (Luna)

[Uhn uhn, my stomach is running empty now too. I wonder if we’ll actually go to paradise?] (Til)

[Let’s start our meal before it turns cold.] (Selene)

[Please do so while it’s hot. You’ll be surprised once you taste it.] (Phil)

The girls began to chat as I decided to start the meal drinking the soup.

The soup made from the meat of the Paradise Bird and mountain herbs produced a rich taste as the flavour of the meat and melted fat in the soup spread throughout my mouth.

Not only was it delicious, but it was an amazing tonic for the human body as well. As I was resisting the temptation to drink the soup in one go, a piece of meat accidentally entered my mouth. I felt the tenderness of the meat as more of the meat’s juices flowed out with each bite, spreading the taste of the skin and fat throughout my entire mouth.

I couldn’t help but agree with the ingredient’s ridiculously high price as this taste was something the wealthy would travel just to have a taste.

[Delicious!. Luna thought that beef and pork were more delicious than chicken but, this chicken is special!] (Luna)

[I know right. Meat was delicious too but its my first time drinking such a delicious soup! I wanna drink more!] (Til)

Luna and Til had stuck together as they emptied their bowls and presenting it to Phil.

[Seconds! More soup please!] (Luna & Til)

They were perfectly in sync as they asked for seconds. Their large appetites wasn’t anything new as they were two growing children.

[I’m fine with seconds, however remember that there won’t be enough soup for later if we drink it all now. We won’t be able to try the delicious porridge that Yuuya told us about.] (Phil)

[Uuwuu, lesser soup then.] (Luna)

[Even though I would like more soup, I’ll endure it for more delicious food!] (Til)

Phil let out a wry smile as she took out a large serving of vegetables and meat.

However, the food didn’t last long as Til and Luna began gobbling down the food once more.

Would they even be able to try the porridge after this?

As I turned to the other side of the table, Selene was done with her first serving although she hadn’t asked for a second serving since the porridge was mentioned earlier.

I wonder if it was okay to make the porridge.

[This soup is superb. Although the Paradise Meat was served to the royal family several times.. It tastes much more delicious.] (Selene)

[Of course, compared to a suffocating meal in the palace, it’s much more enjoyable to eat it with your friends. Plus I’m sure the cooks were stressed preparing meals for the royal family. They wouldn’t be able to make a dish as plain as this. For this dish especially, it’ll taste much better without any excess preparations.] (Yuuya)

[It’s just as Yuuya said. As a chef this dish induces anxiety into me as it’s unsettling to serve a dish with minimum preparation. Even now I have the feeling that I should have done more for the dish.] (Phil)

Regardless, even the sauce for a normal hot pot is excessive when dealing with this dish.