Chapter 10 - Riverside Lunch
Dahlia made her way to the carriage and prepared water and purple grapes for the sleipnir.
The sleipnir eats both vegetables and meat. It was said that water alone would be fine for lunch, but if she gave it a snack, it would work more cheerfully.
When asked what it preferred, she was told, "This one particularly likes purple grapes," so she bought extra from the shop.
As soon as the horse saw the purple grapes, its black eyes opened wide, and it followed them with its gaze, which was so cute.
Since the horse had not only been her escort but had also, in the end, saved a life, she decided to give it everything here.
When she set the water and purple grapes in front of the horse, its happy neigh echoed loudly.
After bringing the luggage from the carriage, she started a campfire by the river.
The firewood was already piled up, and she had a fire-starting magical tool, so it didn’t take long.
She checked the wind direction and set up a spot for herself and Volf to sit diagonally across from the fire.
On the opposite side, she drove two wooden sticks into the ground at a distance from the fire and stretched a rope between them. It was a simple clothesline to dry Volf’s clothes.
While listening to the sound of the flowing river and the birds chirping, Dahlia began preparing lunch.
She cut the hard, round bread she had brought, topped it with goat cheese, and placed it near the fire. The sausages, which could be eaten as they were, were stuck on a wooden branch and placed closer to the fire.
Since there were no extra containers, she quickly looked around for large leaves and placed the dried fruits and nuts she had in a leather bag onto them.
Fortunately, she had brought plenty of food and wine, so there was no shortage. Though it was only a small portion for herself, she made sure to serve Volf as much as possible.
Even though it was spring, taking a bath in the river would still be cold. Thinking of this, she added a little honey to the red wine and heated it in a small pot.
Just as the wine began to bubble, Volf came out of the river.
Dahlia confirmed this by the sound and, without turning around, spoke.
"Please hang your clothes on that branch. Also, while they dry, feel free to use that coat. It’s my father’s, so it might be a little small."
After hearing some rustling behind her, Volf, wearing the coat, sat down next to the campfire.
Since he was tall, the hem was quite short, but it was an emergency, so she hoped he wouldn’t mind.
"I’m truly sorry for all the trouble."
"It’s nothing, really."
She poured the red wine into a cup and set out the bread and sausages.
"It’s just what I had on hand, but please help yourself."
"Thank you. I'll happily take it."
Dahlia thought that if she didn’t start eating first, this noble young man would probably try to be considerate. So, she deliberately began eating without looking at Volf.
Biting into the rye bread, the cheese on top had melted beautifully and paired well with the hot wine. The cheese had a slightly strong flavor, but it went well with the rye bread.
She bit into the sausage without removing it from the wooden branch. The crispy texture, the juicy meat that oozed out, and the combination of spices that changed flavor with each bite was incredibly delicious. It was the kind of flavor that made her want ale.
Looking secretly at Volf, she saw that he was eating with a big smile, silently enjoying the food. Fortunately, it seemed to suit his taste.
The food was gone in no time, but the way he ate it was truly satisfying to watch.
"It might have been a long time since I’ve found a meal this delicious..."
After finishing his meal and taking a breath, Volf spoke softly.
It was understandable, since it had been two days since his last meal.
By the river, in the breeze, with the sound of the river and the crackling fire, Dahlia offered Volf a second cup of red wine.
The young man thanked her and took it, but while drinking, he blinked frequently.
"How are your eyes?"
"The pain has gone. Both eyes still feel a bit blurry, though."
"You should see a doctor when you get back to the castle."
"Right, I’ll do that."
When the wind changed direction and the smoke shifted, Dahlia glanced over at the makeshift clothesline. Fortunately, the smoke didn’t blow that way. Volf’s dark gray clothes swayed gently in the breeze.
If only she could use wind magic, the drying would be faster, but unfortunately, Dahlia didn’t have wind attributes.
As she tried to look away, she noticed the tattered armor on the ground. The shoulder part was already gone, but the chest plate appeared to be a deep red. It seemed that it wasn’t stained with blood.
"...Volf-san, are you, by any chance, a 'Scarlet Armor'?"
"Yes."
He nodded casually.
She had heard that the people wearing "Scarlet Armor" in the Monster Subjugation Force were the ones who charged at the monsters first.
Their red armor stood out the most, making it a prime target for monsters, and they are often used as bait. Even when retreating without completely subjugating the monsters, they were the first to be targeted.
As a result, those who wore the Scarlet Armor were known to be among the most likely to die even among the Monster Subjugation Force that faces a lot of dangers.
"I’m not particularly strong, but I’m quick on my feet. I’m good at drawing the monsters' attention away."
"That’s..."
There was no trace of despair in his quiet smile.
Still, Dahlia was at a loss for words.
Suddenly, she recalled the day her father had died.
It was last year, during the slightly greener, more vibrant season. After having lunch together, her father had gone alone to the Merchant Guild.
When she hurried to the guild after hearing he had collapsed, he was already a lifeless body.
He had been chatting cheerfully until noon—it was a completely unexpected farewell.
Why was she remembering such a thing now, here, of all places?
Dahlia averted her gaze from the bitter memory and stared at the cup of red wine.
"...This black coat reminds me of the trend from last spring."
"...trend?"
Volf said this quietly, and Dahlia mechanically responded as she took a sip of the wine.
"Yes. If I forgot about this and accidentally took the coat off in front of a woman in the street, I’d probably be treated like a pervert and have the guards called on me."
"Pff!"
Dahlia impressively spat out the wine she had been drinking.
"Why would you say something like that while someone’s drinking?!"
She couldn’t help but raise her voice.
"Sorry. It just came to mind, and I couldn’t help it..."
The young man in front of her laughed with a tone that was a bit too cheerful.
The image she had of Volf as a knight and nobleman shattered completely with the sound of his laughter.
"I’m grateful you’re concerned about the Scarlet Armor, but it’s not as dangerous as the rumors say. You just looked so sad that I didn’t know what to say, so... I’m sorry, I ended up saying something stupid."
"I should be the one apologizing…"
"I speak like this naturally, so is it okay if I continue? I’d be happy if you could speak more casually, too, Dahli-san."
"...Got it."
Dahlia deliberately replied in a blunt tone.
It seemed that his earlier bad joke was his way of being considerate of her.
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