Since there was no mention of monster cooking in the original work, I had thought that when Lumia presented her monster dish during the unveiling ceremony and claimed she “prepared it herself,” it was just a facade.
After all, feeding grotesque dishes to candidates eager for victory could lead to an unwelcome surge of vomit.
And indeed, it had an effect.
However, the roasted hind leg of the red longor I had just consumed was undoubtedly identical in taste to what I had reluctantly tasted at the unveiling ceremony. That revelation hit me like a bolt: she truly had prepared it herself.
I realized how foolish it was to consider hiring a chef from the Grand Ducal Palace, assuming them to be a master of monster cuisine.
[Thank you all for enjoying the meal.]
As soon as we had devoured the dishes, Lumia scribbled a note to express her gratitude.
We should have been the ones expressing our appreciation.
Wiping my mouth with a napkin, I attempted a semblance of decorum as I spoke. “I had no idea the Grand Duchess possessed such culinary skills. If you were to sell this in town, it would dominate the market.”
Ariel’s eyes, wide with amazement, mirrored her delight. She finished her meal with an expression that was an amalgam of wonderment and satisfaction.
“I can confidently say this is the best monster dish I’ve ever had…! It feels like a monumental barrier!”
A monumental barrier.
From Ariel’s perspective, it likely felt that way.
For a diligent chef who had been practicing and agonizing over their craft for months, this unparalleled flavor would indeed appear as an insurmountable wall.
What if the magnificent taste left her disheartened, feeling that her own efforts were rendered insignificant? Fortunately, Ariel’s bright smile was laced with admiration rather than discouragement.
“….”
Rachel also seemed to savor the meal, and even Rendler, with a look of admiration, applauded Lumia.
[I’m glad you all liked it. I want to repay your kindness in whatever small way I can… Would it be alright if I continued cooking while we’re together?]
At Lumia’s words, our gazes shifted in unison to Ariel.
One meal had already demonstrated the incredible talent on display.
No.
To put it subjectively, it was the pinnacle of monster dishes I had tasted while traversing the western parts of the Northern Regions, and it was the flavor I had long sought after.
I had no idea how long we would be together or what events might unfold, but it was clear that during our time together, I wanted to relish her exquisite cooking.
With our collective gaze directed towards one spot, it seemed we were all sharing the same thought. However, Ariel’s opinion was crucial, as she was struggling to fill the temporary position of our culinary chef amidst a shortage of monster cooks.
If she insisted on assuming her role, it would be somewhat disappointing, but I resolved to respect her decision entirely.
I didn’t want to disrupt the joy she felt in cooking.
Fortunately (?).
“I’m totally fine with that! I’ve been worried about how sluggish my writing has become. While the Grand Duchess handles the cooking, I can devote myself to my writing!”
Ariel clapped her hands excitedly and readily accepted, allowing us the delightful chance to work with a brilliant monster chef, even if it was just for a short while.
*
Three days had passed since Lumia took on the role of chef.
She seemed genuinely happy to help in this way, appearing not to notice the fatigue as she expressed her joy. And after three days of movement and with consistent meals, the pallor in her face began to fade, bringing back some color, and her once gaunt frame was gaining a little weight.
From time to time, memories of past pain would unexpectedly surface, causing Lumia to zone out with a gloomy expression, occasionally mumbling something as if trapped in a nightmare. However, considering our reunion, she was recovering rapidly.
It wasn’t something I intended or wished for, but watching the female protagonist, who was withering and dying from the damage caused by my decisions, was heart-wrenching. Thus, I was genuinely glad to see I could help in Lumia’s recovery.
For that reason, I was more than willing to protect her from Deron’s threats.
It had been nearly a week since we arrived in Rugen Village. Throughout this time, Lumia had silently prepared monster dishes for us without mentioning anything about returning home or what needed to be done.
I had a sense of what that meant, so it was time to ask.
It was time to leave Rugen Village.
If there were pursuers, we needed to avoid staying in one location for too long. We had already lingered longer than expected, and we needed to move eastward into relatively milder territory before the harsh winter began.
So, on the seventh day, I addressed Lumia.
“Your Grace,” I began.
[?]
“I intend to depart for the Eris Marquisate tomorrow morning.”
[Oh…?]
“What do you plan to do, Your Grace?”
[…?]
Lumia’s hand, holding the pen, hesitated awkwardly above the paper. At a loss for words, she gazed at me intently. Then, after a moment’s thought, she wrote down a single response to show me.
[I don’t know…]
I smiled at that answer. I thought it was the best reply she could give at that moment. It reflected how complicated her circumstances and thoughts were.
After all, it was the best answer for me, and so I responded with a warm smile.
After all, I had no intention of leaving Lumia behind as we set off. It would be more hurtful to take off and leave the female protagonist, who had lost her purpose in life, merely alive without aiding her.
So, I had been worried that she might refuse to accompany us, but her answer quelled that worry.
“Then that’s good to hear.”
Lumia looked somewhat surprised and wrote down another message.
[What do you mean?]
“Why don’t you stay with us until you figure things out?”
I had already consulted the rest of our party. The decision was unanimous. There was no need for persuasion or lengthy discussions; the matter had been settled.
Ignoring the threat of Deron meant abandoning one’s humanity in the face of the weak.
Lumia wore a faint smile, but it soon gave way to a sullen expression, as if clouds had gathered again.
[But… I’ve already incurred an unpayable debt… I don’t want to be a burden to you because of someone like me.]
I had lived too resiliently to forsake my principles merely because it would be hard. My previous life had been about enduring responsibilities even while feeling like I was in the depths of a hellfire—and it had forced me to survive against jagged rocks.
I lacked the luxury of untangling the complexities of life and had suffered injustice without the strength to break free, but now, in this moment of comfort and power, Deron’s threat seemed trivial compared to the villains of my past life.
Moreover, there were no constraints on me at this moment. The Grand Ducal Betrothal Contest wasn’t in progress, nor did I need to consider the whims of the formidable Logan Duke.
Lumia’s concern was, quite surprisingly, a welcome sight for me as I smiled warmly and assured her not to worry.
“You haven’t incurred any debts, but if you truly feel you need to repay one, there’s really no need to stress about it.”
[Huh…?]
“You did say, didn’t you?”
[What did I.. say…?]
“That you wanted to cook for us while we’re together.”
‘Ah.’
That single exclamation was something Lumia couldn’t quite bring herself to put into words, letting it out as a silent expression instead. Thus, a new member joined our culinary expedition.
During our time together.
How long that time would last was still uncertain, but…
The next morning.
After packing our respective belongings, we loaded them onto the cart borrowed from Elder Rendler.
It wasn’t large, but it was spacious enough to fit one person besides the cargo, and the black tarp set up over it made it easy to conceal something if need be.
A donkey that would take charge of the transport was pawing the ground in place.
Even though Lumia was recovering quickly, it would still be too overwhelming for her to traverse a rugged path.
To outmaneuver potential pursuers, we needed to pass through larger towns or cities with checkpoints; thus, renting the cart was essential for hiding Lumia.
“Please, go ahead and get in the cart.”
[Thank you.]
Lumia, having climbed aboard, pulled out a bundle of papers she had fastened around her waist.
It was a collection of twenty notes with simple greetings and frequently used phrases pre-written.
She mentioned that it was made out of consideration, so as not to waste others’ time writing while communicating, making our exchanges smoother and easier.
However, since she had standardized her handwriting as ‘medium’ for all, it inevitably came off a bit stiff.
“If you feel uncomfortable or need help, just shake the tofu-shaped paper.”
[Sure.]
[Don’t worry.]
[It’s fine.]
After revealing her intent with three consecutive papers and finding her seat settled, Elder Rendler took hold of the reins.
“Then, we shall set off.”
With the reins pulled forward, the donkey began to move, pulling the cart behind us.
Our destination was the Eris Marquisate, but having borrowed a cart meant we couldn’t cross the high mountain ranges. Thus, we could only approach the eastern edge of the Marquisate by passing through the Duchy of Winterfell.
Passing quietly through the southern gate, the most distant exit from the Grand Ducal Palace, should pose no problem since it was the largest landmass in the northern regions.
However…
For some inexplicable reason, I felt that our passage wouldn’t be quiet, a baseless worry perhaps, but still on my mind.
“I should’ve borrowed the cart sooner! I feel like my steps would be soaring without carrying any loads! Don’t you think so? Rachel?”
“I don’t have any luggage since I’m just here for the escort.”
“Oh.”
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