Capitulo 38
Chapter 38 – The longer the tail, the more likely it is to be stepped on.
Oh!
Indeed, you have to be nice to everyone.
You never know what connection might become valuable.
And when a shooting star falls, it is universally accepted that one should make a wish.
I hope my culinary journey goes smoothly’.
Less than a day after making that wish, a book fell into my hands that contained the national map of the monster cuisine I had been so desperately seeking.
What’s more, it was on indefinite loan.
In essence, it would not be wrong to declare that «this book is now mine.»
In the medieval era, without visual aids, there is no better source of knowledge than books.
I received a great kindness from a young woman with tousled hair whom I had met by chance.
I asked her.
«Don’t you want anything? I feel bad about just receiving.»
Even though I’m a declining county, I’m not penniless.
If there’s anything she wants, I promised myself to talk to Rendler and arrange it no matter what.
The unexpected response came with a chuckle.
«Me? I’m happy to be gifted things. You don’t have to feel burdened. Just being able to recommend a book makes me happy.»
Ariel replied with a pure smile.
Is she the reincarnation of Mother Teresa?
The arrival of a tree that gives without limit?
I don’t know how to reward Ariel, who just gives endlessly.
Someday, when the opportunity arises, I must repay her for this kindness, I thought, as I continued my meal with the book [National Monster Cuisine Tour] open.
I don’t know who the author of this fantastic book is, but it was a perfect repository of knowledge.
From a national map with top culinary destinations to detailed recommendations by region, priority preferences and recommended travel routes.
In addition, the indispensable restaurant maps include reviews and star ratings.
Even «hidden gems» are included…!
This book was like a bible for food tourists, and as Ariel said, with this one book, all preparations were complete.
«Wow…, is the village of Horis, in the Duchy of Langgren, famous for its Red Dragon cuisine?».
A masterpiece of fantasy, using dragons as ingredients in the kitchen….
And contrary to expectations of toughness, the sirloin is tender and exquisite?
The chewy but moist tail meat skewers are a delicacy?
Cleaned viscera and finely crushed bones stewed for two days make a delicious bone marrow soup?
I can’t resist.
Despite dining in the Great Hall, my mouth is watering at the thought of this monstrous cuisine.
The place is 10 km west of Winterfell, in the North.
If I manage to escape, it will be my first destination, I muttered to myself, but Ariel spoke to me.
«Are you planning to go to the Duchy of Langgren? I hear there’s a great library there, too.»
Oh.
«Shall we go together?»
I asked jokingly.
As a noble son of a declining county, an only child who lost his parents and is expected to take over as head of the family, I am free to travel.
After informing old Rendler to pay adequate compensation to the household staff and keep only the necessary staff, I asked Ariel lightly, out of politeness.
She too, as a free-spirited third child, would not be able to live as freely as I did.
But the fact that there is a «big» library there, too, seemed to hint at the possibility of her company.
Then.
«Really?»
Ariel asked eagerly.
It was my pleasure.
Ariel Elrond, a young woman who had become my first friend since I incarnated in another world and to whom I owed a great kindness.
However.
My planned culinary journey was no ordinary one, it promised the freshest trip straight from the source.
To that end, I was receiving special training from Rachel.
And while one wonders if I need a book like [National Monster Cuisine Tour] if I’m training hard, even if I’m going on a crusade, I can’t hunt monsters every day.
The essence of a culinary journey is [healing], after all.
I don’t intend to be so impulsive as to mess that up, so a guidebook with restaurant reviews is essential for me.
Anyway.
Such a trip doesn’t seem to suit a lady raised in luxury.
«It’s fine with me, but since we’ll be hunting monsters directly, couldn’t it be dangerous?».
Ariel, who had probably only animated with her fists and had never wielded a sword, asked this.
Her answer was innocent and pure.
«It’s all right. I won’t be the one to hunt. Besides, I have a knight for an escort!»
«…»
Well…
True, but it was still hard to rashly accept.
Taking the unworldly lady on a direct culinary trip could bring her unnecessary criticism from the House of Elrond.
«Maybe you should ask your parents for permission first? They might worry.»
Again, came a naively pure response.
«That’s okay too!»
«…Huh?»
«My parents have told me to do what I want and live my own way!».
…
…….
I thought it would not be easy for the young lady of the county to travel alone to the harsh Northlands for a reading trip.
Our young lady bookworm…
Even at the academy, reading novels constantly….
«She’s looking forward to hunting monsters she’s only read about in books!»
Was she free from her family’s expectations…?
Whoosh!
Boom!
After lunch and dinner with young Ariel, Rachel was training Elden in the outdoor training area.
Today was [Straight Sword Training], and she was teaching him the basic grip and stance using a wooden training sword she had brought along.
«If you hold it like that, you’ll hurt your wrist. It’s better to hold it more upright.»
«If you lower your stance too much by widening your legs, you lose strength when swinging the sword.»
All were tips gleaned from real combat experience.
Having never received professional training, he had learned by getting hurt and making mistakes, and naturally, his instructions might not have been very clear.
However, he quickly adapted to the straight sword, wielding it as if it were his own.
Indeed, he is a natural.
As the training continued, his conviction grew.
He regretted not being able to provide professional training, given Elden Rapellion’s talent.
Despite the harsh instruction, teaching one thing led him to discover ten others, and learning one thing led him to apply it in ten ways.
He had never taught anyone, so he had no standard to compare to, but if this kept up, becoming a monster hunter wouldn’t take him long.
‘If he mastered magic quickly, maybe he could hunt mid-level monsters, like dragons.’
After the formal meeting tomorrow, Rachel thought about teaching him the workings of mana.
The woman who found teaching and training annoying was now planning tomorrow’s training in her head.
She was setting up a sequence for teaching, something she had never done before.
The strange desire for someone else to grow, the joy of someone else absorbing her teachings, these feelings of being a teacher were still unfamiliar to her.
Anyway.
«Well done.»
And so ended the third training session.
Night had fallen, darkening the surroundings.
Rachel, engrossed in training, was amazed at how time had flown.
She picked up Elden’s wooden training sword.
«Phew, sword training is so much more fun.»
«Well done.»
«Yes. Let’s go back to the annex now.
Gotta wash off the sweat before it cools down to freshen up more.
Elden took the lead, and Rachel followed silently.
«…?»
He looked back puzzled when Rachel whispered something.
«Go ahead. I need to check something.»
«Check? What for?»
«If it’s confirmed, I’ll tell you then.»
«…?»
Why so much whispering all of a sudden.
It was mysterious, but knowing Rachel didn’t act or speak frivolously, Elden nodded.
«Then I’ll go ahead.»
Further.
«I’ll return the wooden sword and then I’ll go.»
Unlike his previous whispers, his last statement was spoken aloud.
The reason was unclear, but Elden pressed on, given Rachel’s serious demeanor.
On the contrary, Rachel turned around and started walking towards the rental service.
‘…….’
Plod, plod.
Rachel, who was initially heading towards the rental service, changed direction.
‘…As expected.’
She had felt a strange presence since yesterday.
At first, she thought it was her imagination, but today she was convinced it was not.
Surviving on a battlefield filled with flying spears, arrows and all manner of weaponry depended largely on her heightened senses.
Sensitivity.
That had saved his life dozens of times.
Spears and arrows coming from all directions, enemies attacking her from behind, allies betraying her for a morsel of food, men trying to assault her lusting after her body… she had survived them all and became known as [The Purple Knight] thanks to her keen senses.
And those senses.
For the past few days, they had been alerting her to something suspicious.
It wasn’t malicious.
It wasn’t hostile.
It simply focused on her employer and showed no dangerous signs.
So, after distancing herself from him at the rental service, she was now following from afar.
He is transparent.
Even when he approached, he was undetectable.
Were it not for his sensitive senses, recognizing him would have been impossible.
She held her breath to erase her own presence.
And soon, as she approached…
Rachel tossed the sand she had been holding since the training camp into the air.
Click.
Although there was nothing visible, the sand bounced as if it had hit something, and Rachel quickly pointed her wooden sword at it.
Something small and transparent hovered in the air.
«Move and you die.»