Chapter 86 - Crimson Cattle and Wyvern
"Sorry to keep you waiting. The crimson cattle steak may look red, but I assure you it’s cooked through. Feel free to add some ginger to the oxtail soup if you like.”
The assistant manager, pushing a wagon laden with dishes, continued with a cheerful demeanor. After swiftly arranging the food on the table, he placed two small plates neatly at the edge.
"These are on the house. Black pepper crackers for you, Volf, and a crimson cattle cheesecake for the young lady."
"Thanks. I’ll save it for dessert."
"Thank you. It’s adorable—this is my first time seeing a pink cheesecake."
"If we can secure a larger supply of crimson cattle, we might add it to the menu. Enjoy your time here at 'The Black Pot.'"
They watched the assistant manager leave with a polite bow, then raised their glasses—a carbonated whiskey with a slice of lemon and a cider garnished with thinly sliced apples—for a toast.
She tilted her glasses, the fizz grew slightly more pronounced, and a faint aroma of apples wafted up.
As she sipped, the unexpectedly sharp taste of the alcohol and the carbonation pricked her tongues. Soon after, the sweet aroma of apples subtly emerged. It seemed to be a dry cider.
"He's right, even though it’s cooked, the meat still looks remarkably red. Must be the natural color of the meat."
Volf already began cutting into his steak.
The meat’s vibrant red hue was far more striking than regular beef. Yet, the cut surface subtly shifted in tone toward the center, clearly indicating it had been cooked thoroughly.
"Can crimson cattle use fire magic?"
"No, it’s only capable of body enhancement. But I’ve heard it’ll charge at you with everything it’s got if you trespass into its territory—extremely dangerous."
A creature that enhanced its body and charged head-on at full force sounded less like a cow and more like getting hit by a car. Even raising one must be a life-threatening task.
"How do they even capture such creatures?"
"They spread sleeping agents across the plains, apparently. Once subdued, they capture them, provide a safe environment, and feed them delicious food. It took several generations to domesticate them, but even now, they say raising them is incredibly challenging."
Considering ordinary cows already existed, the effort to rear crimson cattles seemed excessive. It was no wonder the neighboring country was known as the "Land of Livestock."
Incidentally, the Kingdom of Ordine was often referred to as the "Land of Magic Stones," given its unparalleled export volume.
It might not be called the "Land of Magic" because each nation held a deep sense of pride and sentiment toward their own magic.
"Thanks for the meal..."
Dahlia murmured softly, spearing a piece of the crimson meat with her fork and bringing it to her mouth.
The meat’s vibrant red hue had been misleading, but it turned out to be perfectly marbled. Tender yet pleasantly springy, the steak released an abundance of juices with every bite.
Its flavor resembled beef sirloin but felt slightly lighter, almost akin to chicken.
Surprisingly, the meat of the crimson cattle might actually be quite healthy.
After a couple of bites, she poured some crimson cattle cheese sauce over the steak. The sauce was just as vividly red as the meat.
Taking a sip of cider to cleanse her palate, she tried the meat with the rich cheese sauce. The flavor was intense and satisfying.
The pairing must have worked so well because they both came from the same crimson cattle. The sauce coated the steak generously, creating a delicious combination.
Any fleeting concern about calories was quickly dismissed—tonight, she decided not to think about it.
"This cheese sauce is amazing. Makes me want another steak. How about you, Dahlia?"
"No, this portion is more than enough for me. You should order more if you like."
The steak was slightly larger than usual, possibly as a sort of service. She didn’t think she could manage two. Besides, there were still grilled vegetables and a plate of sliced fruits to enjoy.
"You really don’t eat much, Dahlia."
"That’s not true. I eat and drink more than most women."
Dahlia never held back during meals with Volf, whether it came to eating or drinking. If this was considered a small appetite, then what would that mean for other women?
After Volf placed an order for another steak, they both turned their attention to the oxtail soup.
At first glance, the oxtail soup seemed easy to enjoy. The meat had already been removed from the tailbone and rested at the bottom of the soup. Its salt-based flavor was rich with fat and paired wonderfully with the aromatic vegetables added to it.
The soup was so delicious that it made one want to lift the bowl and drink every last drop. The thought that it might pair well with noodles crossed her mind—a lingering influence from her past life.
"Crimson cattle tail would probably make an excellent wine-braised dish."
"Indeed, it would."
With such a rich flavor, even a sweet red wine wouldn’t "overwhelm" the dish. If crimson cattle ever becomes widely available on the common market, she resolved to give it a try someday.
"Dahlia, have you ever been to a restaurant that specializes in monster cuisine?"
"No, I haven’t. I’ve eaten the ones commonly available, though."
"If you’re not uncomfortable eating monsters, how about visiting one sometime? When I went before, they had grilled basilisk and kraken mousse on the menu."
"I don’t mind at all, so I’d love to go. How was the basilisk? Was it tasty?"
"It was a bit tough, but it tasted like chicken. The kraken mousse, though... let’s just say it was unique..."
The kraken mousse, it seemed, was not to his liking. The slight furrow in his brow said more than words could.
His restraint from outright calling it "awful" showed how much of a gentleman he was.
However, considering that Kraken was reasonably tasty even when simply grilled, Dahlia couldn’t help but wonder if they had added sugar when turning it into mousse. It was a curious detail.
As they leisurely enjoyed their meal, the conversation drifted toward monsters and magical tools.
Though she had learned about them at the academy and read various monster encyclopedias, hearing first hand stories of actual encounters painted a very different picture.
Particularly regarding "mutant species," there was a wide variety of them, with only a handful mentioned as examples in books. The stories about them were undeniably fascinating.
Mutant species often differed from their original forms in traits and the types of magic they used. Perhaps they could even offer unique effects as materials for magical tools.
Volf explained that even the Monster Subjugation Force collected rare and highly valuable materials from mutant species.
However, due to strict management of the royal castle and the high costs involved, obtaining such materials required considerable wealth and status. Dahlia could only hope for the day when such resources would become more accessible to the general public.
As they talked and she enjoyed the cheesecake, she noticed the starry night through the window. Somewhere along the way, night had fallen.
Volf, meanwhile, had polished off yet another glass of carbonated whiskey and seemed to pause for a moment to relax.
"Um, there’s something I’d like to ask..."
It wasn’t a question she wanted to ask, but it had been weighing on her mind.
Depending on his answer, she might even need to apologize.
"Go ahead. Is it about monsters? Or the unit?"
"No, it’s... Have you ever felt like I’ve 'helped you out of pity' or 'looked down on you' in any way?"
"Never. I’ve always thought of it as being 'helped,' not pitied. Did someone say something to you?"
Volf shook off the lingering effects of the alcohol and narrowed his eyes as he turned his gaze toward her.
As a friend and the guarantor for her company, he deserved the truth. Dahlia straightened her posture and recounted the conversation she had with Ivano a few days prior.
Volf rested an arm on the table, nodding occasionally as he listened.
"...That’s when I realized I was being too 'naive.'"
Though Ivano’s words had made perfect sense to her at the time, she couldn’t help but feel disheartened after returning to her tower.
Even though she knew the words were true, she couldn't help but feel she was childish.
"From a business perspective, Ivano’s approach is probably the right one. But for what it’s worth, Dahlia, there are people, myself included, who’ve been saved by your kindness. So I don’t think your way was wrong either."
"Maybe it wasn’t 'kindness' so much as just wanting to be the kind of 'good girl' my family would praise."
Dahlia clasped her hands together and replied in a voice that sounded like a confession.
Her family had consisted only of her father, with a maid to assist her until she entered the academy. Beyond that, her relationships had been limited to her senior apprentice, Tobias, and a small circle of friends.
Her world had been small and sheltered.
She had been protected, and indulged in that protection. It was something she only recently came to understand.
"Still, it’s been invaluable to me. I believe I’ve been 'saved' by you, from the forest to today, all this time."
"I feel the same way. There’s been a lot going on, but you’ve made it so I don’t even have time to mope. I’ve been having fun."
"There’s still a few days left, but it’s only been a month so far. We’ll have to make it even more enjoyable from here on."
"As long as it doesn’t strain my stomach too much... but yes, let’s continue making the most of it. There are magical tools I still want to make, and your magic sword is far from complete."
"Same here. There are more places I want to take you, drinks I want to share, and stories I want to tell."
"I’m looking forward to all of it."
Volf smiled faintly at her reply, then he suddenly closed his eyes.
"Maybe I should be thanking the wyvern that carried me away that day. I suppose I should pray for its peace... though I was the one who took it down."
"Yes, let’s pray together for it."
She clasped her hands in front of her chest and closed her eyes. Her prayers for the wyvern were heartfelt.
Meeting Volf had been a stroke of good fortune for her.
But both humans and monsters alike feared death. She hoped the wyvern would find peace in its next life and, in that new world, enjoy a tranquil and happy existence.
Perhaps it was Dahlia’s unique perspective as a reincarnated soul that allowed her to pray for the monster so sincerely.
"......"
Volf watched her intently as she prayed, unable to call her name aloud.
He had expected her to laugh or make a playful remark, but her prayer was too earnest for him to interrupt.
As Dahlia’s quiet prayer continued, Volf could do nothing but sit in silence, gazing at her face.
Comments
Post a Comment