Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Delicious
You couldn’t just pull them out. To harvest a single stalk of Moonlight Grass intact, you had to use a trowel to sever all its fine roots.
While Zelir was busy with his head down, Bev had started to play around.
A few glowing butterflies were fluttering about, and they had captured Bev’s attention.
"Bev, could you give me a hand?" Zelir said, a little exasperated.
"You can handle it on your own."
Bev’s voice was cheerful as she chased the butterflies flitting up and down. "Look, aren’t they beautiful!"
The butterflies danced in the air for a few moments before flying off into the deeper darkness of the forest.
"Come back! Be careful, there might be Demons over there," Zelir warned.
Seeing how gloomy the path ahead looked, Bev had no choice but to curb her enthusiasm.
"Alright..."
She obediently returned to Zelir’s side, gathered her skirt, and crouched down to watch him intently as he collected the herbs.
"Do you normally do your quests in places like this?"
"It’s not usually this easy. This is just the outskirts of the Gray Wood Forest, so it’s not very dangerous."
Zelir continued digging at the roots. "The quests I usually take on involve fighting Demons. You have to be on your guard at all times. If you get careless, you might just see a repeat of that old story where the hunter becomes the hunted."
As he spoke, Zelir jutted his chin toward a dense thicket nearby. "Like over there, for example. There could very well be something hiding in there."
"Huh? You think so?" Bev turned her head to look.
"Of course..."
Zelir deliberately lowered his voice, trying to scare her. "What would you do if a goblin suddenly leaped out of there and charged at you right now?"
"I’d turn and run!" Bev answered without a second thought.
"Wrong."
A mischievous grin spread across Zelir’s face. "You should do what I would do: blast it in the face with Magic."
As he spoke, Zelir raised his hand, gathered his energy, and flung a Wind Blade Technique toward it.
WHOOSH!
The sharp Wind Blade instantly sliced the thicket clean through.
SCREEE!!!
A shrill cry immediately rang out from the brush.
Both Zelir and Bev froze.
There was actually something in there?
The two of them cautiously approached to take a look.
A plump rabbit lay on the ground. Its hind leg had been severed by the Wind Blade Technique. Its body twitched a couple of times, and then it fell still.
"Oh..."
Bev’s brow furrowed slightly. "Oh, the poor bunny."
...
「Half an hour later.」
The campfire crackled. Bev took a bite of the firm, roasted rabbit leg, her eyes closing in bliss as she exclaimed with heartfelt admiration.
"This bunny is delicious!"
Zelir grabbed the other leg and also dug in with gusto.
It couldn’t be helped. It was an accident, but since the rabbit was already dead, they might as well roast it.
’Can’t let it go to waste.’
"Slow down, no one’s going to steal it from you," Zelir said, handing her another piece of roasted rabbit meat he had carved off.
"Mmm-hmm..." Bev mumbled indistinctly, her table manners a far cry from those of a proper young lady.
It was strange. She had grown up in a privileged environment and had long grown tired of all sorts of gourmet delicacies.
Yet this roasted rabbit, cooked without a single spice, tasted exceptionally delicious to her.
’Is it because I was hungry... or is it just because this atmosphere feels so new?’
Soon enough, Bev and Zelir had devoured the entire rabbit.
Content, Bev took a silk handkerchief from her small leather pouch and carefully wiped her mouth and fingers. She then took out another one and offered it to Zelir, who was wiping his mouth on his sleeve.
"Here, for you."
Zelir hesitated for a moment before taking it. "Thanks."
The handkerchief carried a faint floral scent. Zelir felt that using such fine fabric just to wipe his mouth was a bit of a waste.
The two sat side-by-side on the soft grass, enjoying a rare moment of peace in the Fluorescent Forest.
The bonfire before them gradually died down until only a few scattered sparks were left to POP and fade.
"Coming out with you today was really fun," Bev said, hugging her knees and turning her head to look at Zelir.
"I thought you’d find it exhausting."
"It was a little tiring, yeah, but it was also a lot of fun."
Bev’s gaze drifted back to the floating motes of light, her voice tinged with melancholy.
"The sons of the Nobility I grew up with are all so arrogant. They only learn Magic out of vanity, just so they can say they do. It sounds more respectable and distinguished."
"Every day, they’re either discussing which family’s party was more extravagant or who just bought a new Magic Wand for several hundred Gold Coins. It’s dreadfully boring. After years of study, the only use they have for their Magic is as a fancy title to introduce themselves with when asking a lady to dance at a ball."
"But you’re different. You go on adventures, you fight, and you’re stronger than any of them!"
"To be honest, I just don’t have any other choice," Zelir said with a self-deprecating laugh.
"But that’s what makes you so unique—the fact that you had no other choice," Bev said earnestly.
"Is that so..."
As Zelir’s gaze fell on Bev’s face, he suddenly felt a certain charm in the air.
He didn’t reply, and the two of them just sat quietly side-by-side.
...
After collecting the Moonlight Grass and finishing their roasted rabbit, the two took the carriage back to Black Stone Town.
The evening afterglow bathed the entire town in a warm, golden light. After waving goodbye to Bev, Zelir pushed open the doors to the Night Flower Inn.
"You’re back! I was starting to think I wouldn’t see you before my shift ended."
Aurora, who had been slumped listlessly over the counter, immediately perked up and greeted him cheerfully.
But the smile on her face quickly froze, replaced by a look of surprise.
"Y-Y-You... your leg is better?"
The Zelir standing before her was walking steadily, with none of the awkward limp from that morning. Even his crutch was nowhere to be seen.
Zelir just smiled, offering no further explanation.
"A very powerful Mage helped me heal it."
"A Mage..."
Aurora blinked, as if a thought had struck her. She studied Zelir carefully, then asked, "You... you’re not a Mage too, are you?"
"I am," Zelir admitted directly.
"That’s amazing... I saw you carrying that Foil at your waist, Zelir, so I thought you were a Swordsman or something," Aurora said admiringly.
"What would you like for dinner? The beef shank in red wine sauce again? The kitchen just got in a shipment of fresh veal today, and the quality is excellent."
"No thanks, I already ate," Zelir said, waving his hand dismissively.
"Oh?"
Aurora’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Which restaurant’s cooking could possibly be better than the Night Flower Inn’s?"
"Er..."
Zelir was at a loss for words.
He couldn’t exactly say that he’d been eating roasted rabbit in the woods with a young noble lady, so he just laughed awkwardly and scurried upstairs while Aurora was busy with other guests.
