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

Thanks to the two gluttons, our hot pot became empty as it was finally time for the main dish. Phil began pouring the rice into the empty pot as the rice began to swell with the boiling soup. As the soup continued to boil, it gradually grew thicker as its delicious smell became even stronger.

The sound of someone swallowing their saliva could be heard as we were finally able to have a porridge made with Paradise Meat.

Without anyone saying anything, Phil began pouring several bowls of porridge and handed them out as everyone began their second rounds.

No one said a single word as everyone was relentlessly gobbling up their food and in no time at all, everyone’s bowls became empty.

[Fuu, so this is the porridge with Paradise Meat.. It’s even better than I expected.] (Yuuya)

Just this one dish was filled with all sorts of flavours.

Even if it was just a normal soup, it was still a perfect match for the freshly harvested rice from Grannel that I couldn’t get away from.

[It was delicious! Luna is going to paradise!] (Luna)

[Me too! Heading to paradise isn’t just a saying. It’s so delicious that it feels so good as if I’m in heaven.] (Til)

[This makes me wonder just what kind of cook prepared the soup I’ve eaten till now.] (Selene)

[It’s a shame that we don’t have seconds. However we do have some meat left in stock so we’ll be able to enjoy it tomorrow.] (Phil)

We’ll be able to enjoy ourselves tomorrow too.

However, there are still other dishes I plan to eat tomorrow as this soup was capable of drawing out the hidden flavours of the Paradise Meat. The true charm of this soup has yet to be seen as it has hidden a lot of different dishes.

After eating such delicious porridge, the atmosphere felt lighter as everyone became excited.

Furthermore, even though Phil said that we had extra meat leftovers for tomorrow, she proceeded to present a lean cut of meat from the Paradise Bird that she secretly prepared. It was presented as a steak cooked rare with a special sauce which caused me to crave for sake.

It was going to be an enjoyable supper although people avoided late night food while camping out.

This was the luxury of a safe zone in the dungeon.

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Since a squall was going to arrive, we proceeded to enjoy the supper in our tent.

With the Paradise Meat which could be eaten raw, when cooked rare with a delicious sauce it’s delicious meat presented a taste that could only be tasted with a high quality of meat.

Currently, the two girls were asleep as they both had a weak alcohol tolerance.

They each had extremely blissful sleeping faces while Phil began preparing another tent for Luna and the girls tonight, leaving me alone with Selene.

[Selene, there’s something I want to ask. Is your elder brother strong?] (Yuuya)

If possible I would like to know about my enemy before the actual battle begins.

[He’s very strong. He too received training with the stone from a young age and his level might even be higher than mine currently. Furthermore he had a good battle sense with smart intellect. He was someone I had idolized after in the past.] (Selene)

It was surprising to hear that Selene had idolized her brother in the past. According to her, if her brother was to gain control over the Laluzulu Kingdom, the people would definitely suffer and thus she planned to challenge him for the right to the throne in order to pass it to her sister.

[If its someone that you had idolised someone in the past, then wouldn’t it be fine to leave the kingdom to him? That way you’ll be able to leave your kingdom in good hands while remaining in our party. For most likely the rest of your life? The Selene I’m seeing now looks much better than Princess Lutra from before.] (Yuuya)

[Fuu, that sounds plausible. I would definitely be happy if I could do that. However, my brother who was kind-hearted to everyone including me, has changed. Several years ago, rumors about his self-centered shenanigans had spread throughout the kingdom, replacing his initial reputation. Then, he began keeping his distance from me. My brother who was filled with greed and an obsession for power, began to respite me, who was born as the splitting image of Renoir-sama with her silver hair.] (Selene)

Selene looked into the distance with melancholic eyes as she began talking about her brother.

[For better or for worse, people change. I’m sure you’re still harboring hope that he’ll return to his old self. If that’s the case, then I’m sure he will return one day. However, there’s something strange. Is his level really higher than your current level? Furthermore isn’t the training he received the same training you did?] (Yuuya)

Ever since Selene joined our party, we began raising our levels several times faster than an ordinary adventurers which was why it’s surprising that her level was still inferior to his.

[Me and my brother are the same and yet we’re different. My mother was a concubine. After my brother left me, my brother who could access the dungeon and proceeded to receive training from the royal knights. On the other hand, I could only rely on my mother’s side for training and the only dungeons I had access to were the public dungeons.] (Selene)

I hadn’t realise that Selene had such a complicated family situation. This explained why she was found hunting inside Greenwood. Just as she mentioned, it was known that the royal family had an exclusive dungeon which could let you hunt to your heart’s content without dealing with other adventurers. In terms of efficiency it was an excellent dungeon as well. Furthermore, he was taught by the royal knights which was a family specialized in their sword skills that was refined over several generations.

[He definitely sounds formidable. The other party has so many advantages over our side. However, there’s something else I want to ask, is this instructor, the royal knight better than me?] (Yuuya)

[Fufu that’s not true at all. Yuuya-ojisama is the number one instructor in the world.] (Selene)

Selene let out a small laugh in response, displaying her beauty and her charm as a woman. Luna and Til were both cute girls however, in her case she was the definition of beauty.

[I pray for Selene’s victory. Selene will win the succession ceremony, and I’ll win the knight’s tournament and become the strongest knight. That is the reason why we’re heading towards the Laluzulu Kingdom.] (Yuuya)

That was what I decided. And I will do everything in my power to make that happen.

[… Ever since I decided to fight my brother, I’ve never been able to sleep. Regardless of how exhausted I was, just thinking about the future makes me anxious. But the moment I met Yuuya-ojisama again, I’ve started to sleep again. My anxiety seemed to just melt away.] (Selene)

[That is the confidence having a good teacher can give you.] (Yuuya)

[It isn’t just from a teacher. It isn’t just that. It’s because it’s Yuuya-ojisama that I can rest easy. Yuuya-ojisama. If I were to say my true feelings after everything is over, would you answer me?] (Selene)

Selene closed the distance between us as a sweet smell wafted past my nose, it was also a smell of reason.

[I..] (Yuuya)

At that moment, the sound of footsteps began to approach as Phil was done setting up the tent for Luna and Til.

[Half of it was a joke. Half of it was serious, and the other half… was serious too. However, I don’t have the intention of troubling Yuuya-ojisama. It’s about time for me to head to the other tent.] (Selene)

Selene and Phil grabbed Luna and Til respectively and carried the two of them to the other tent.

… Sigh this is bad for my heart. That small princess Lutra has become a fully grown woman. I must be becoming too old as I emptied another cup of sake.

It’s about time for us to head to bed. I should focus on everything I can do right now and focus on raising our levels by hunting tomorrow.

That is all that is on my mind now.