Chapter 919 918: Surprise 'Dessert'
"Go on and eat up! Don't let it get cold!"
My shout caught the attention of the entire camp, and they all rushed over and began to 'fight' over the plates so that they could get to the giant mountain of meat first, before heading to the loaves of bread and tearing off chunks for themselves.
Of course, I also watched as they scooped a small amount of vegetables onto their plates before skittering away, knowing that I would berate them for not eating any but not wanting to be forced to eat too many of them, so they ran before I could say something.
A vat of simple stew was also steadily drained as the Demons grabbed a bowl of that too to wash down the meat, alongside the various pots of tea and water that were sitting out, ensuring that everyone had something to drink as well.
All in all, it was actually kind of saddening to see the sheer amount of food I had just cooked be devoured so quickly, but it was also nice seeing everyone being so ravenous and semi primitive with their actions, something that only made me sigh and roll my eyes as I grabbed my own plate and joined Anput, Leone and Jahi to eat.
"So the wand turned out well?"
I took a bite from the venison and nodded, chewing on the tender, herb roasted meat and basking in its wonderful flavor for just a few moments before I turned to Leone and answered "It turned our really well. I think you'll like the staff you eventually get too, especially if we can manage to acquire some high level materials for it. Imagine the power waiting to be harnessed with that... and honestly, I bet it won't be too hard to find those materials either. Not with the sheer amount of ores we have available to us at the moment. Trades will be easy, and we have some coin too to fill the pot. Maybe some decent enchanted items as well?"
"Yeah, I hope that whatever is waiting for us back at the Empire isn't too big, y'know? All this stuff about the Fiends returning... sounds like a lot of fun, but it also just means we have less time to ourselves... and I wanted to get started on a couple of things..."
Jahi shook her head and let out a sigh as she mopped up the last of her stew with her bread, the Demoness cleaning out the bowl before doing the same to the plate, which was almost licked completely clean.
In only a few seconds, she had devoured everything she had grabbed, and now she was walking back to grab seconds... Anput, Leone and I all exchanged glances, before the Jackalkin shoveled everything down and swiftly followed behind Jahi, not wanting to lose out on the possibility of getting seconds if she actually took the time to savor what she was eating...
The Vampire and I just rolled our eyes at the actions of our more fight oriented lovers, though I rolled my eyes again when Leone took the spot beside me and gently rubbed my arm, waiting for me to offer her my wrist so that she could supplement some of the food for blood instead, which I did after a moment.
With her fangs sliding into my flesh, I watched the other two return and begin scarfing down their plates again, and I asked "What were the plans you had exactly, Jahi? Was it what we've been discussing loosely for a little while now? Investing, networking, purchasing land... all of that?"
She just grunted and nodded in response, taking another giant bite from the venison and grinding it down into a paste that she could swallow with her powerful jaws, all while ignoring the way I shook my head at her actions.
Despite being a member of the Nobility, I never really got that impression from her, though my overall view of what the Nobility were meant to be has changed drastically ever since I arrived here... something that happened courtesy of the Marquess and Jahi, who were both more honorable than I could have ever imagined, as well as the overall actions of the Empress and her wives.
"Well... I wouldn't mind the idea of getting started making our own place... find a plot of land, build it up, make it into something suitable for our needs... it'd cost a damn lot, but if we pick the right location, we could earn money in many different ways. Of course, that's assuming the Countess wants us out or not; I have a feeling your Mother would be more adamant about us remaining at the manor instead of moving out completely on our own..?"
That made Jahi pause for a brief moment as she got to a point that she could ask "What makes you say that?" to Anput, who just raised a brow and replied "Your two new sisters for one? I doubt the Countess likes the idea of you being elsewhere when your siblings are growing up. Wouldn't want them to think your distant or something..."
Now it was my turn to blink as I stared at Anput for a few moments, before Jahi and I shared a look as we realized that most likely, the ONLY plot of land we could buy and move into would be one that was right next to the Asmodia Manor... or somewhere at the Capital, and only because the Marquess and Countess would be there often as well as time moved on.
It was a surprise wrench in the immediate plans, but a welcome one as we both smiled and nodded, knowing that we'd rather give up a tad of our privacy and independence if it meant being closer to Alessandra and Lakshmi, who felt like they had been just born yesterday whilst at the same time feeling like its been years since we had last seen them...
Removing her fangs from my lips, Leone licked the two puncture wounds and smacked her lips together briefly before adding "Family will always be important, which is also why I think - if we ever have the time - we should go and travel to the Sultanate? It's been a long time since you last saw your parents Anput..."
That made the Jackalkin pause for a moment as she blinked a few times, only to chuckle as she shrugged and said "It's been awhile, yes, but it's fine. I've 'changed hands' after all. It's expected for me to be here, and not there."
"That's besides the point, Anput. Don't use your culture to deflect it either! You can just admit that you miss the desert and Sultanate!"
We all stared at the Jackalkin, who just smiled wryly as she shrugged again, though it was clear she agreed with how her eyes grew distant for just a moment, as well as the twinge of sadness that permeated her expression.
I was about to say something - as was Jahi - when a fifth voice sounded out in our group, one that we were familiar with at this point and understood that whenever we heard it, we should listen first before deciding if her words were to be taken seriously or not, and now...
"You might want to grab your weapons and armor. It would seem that the Ka Fiend is tired of waiting around and is making its way straight here... in around thirty seconds, perhaps?"
Cali appeared in the center of our group, and as soon as her words entered our ears and registered in our minds, we stood up - our plates discarded and forgotten, clattering to the ground and drawing the attention of the others - and began to rush towards the tent, all while Jahi shouted "Gear up! Fiend approaching!"
The other Demons followed suit, their own plates dropping to the ground as they began to rush around the camp and grab their gear, armoring up and unsheathing their weapons before returning to the center, where Belian stood calmly as he looked towards Cali, who was still drifting around languidly despite what she had just said.
"Where from?"
"Thata way~!"
Smiling, she pointed her long, slender finger over towards one of the lower entrances of our grotto, and we all turned and stared in that direction for a few moments, continuing to strap on our armor and toss away what we couldn't get on as we prepared for this sudden attack, which was announced properly by a reverberating roar that filled the grotto and shook the earth a moment later.
"Out of the camp. Orderly; shields up front. Jahi, take the center. Mages, remain inside the camp. Ammit, Leone, begin amassing some mana, but don't shape it. Quickly!"
Belian's orders were calm and smooth, the red skinned Demon clasping his hands behind his back and walking straight out of the camp, looking like he was taking a stroll and not going out to face an unknown strenght Fiend in the middle of a Dungeon, with too many other unknowns taking up the world around us.
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m