episode_0079

Preparing the meal wasn’t as difficult as I thought.

Even I, who hadn’t learned anything about cooking, could easily follow the instructions.

Simplifying the recipe helped a lot.

I had prepared everything by pre-cooking the ingredients and just throwing them all into a pot and putting it on the fire.

“This is like…”

Instant ramen?

The recipe itself must have only contained instructions for the original menu.

It was entirely Yuri’s idea to simplify the preparation process this much.

I wondered… maybe she had invented the very first instant meal.

A culinary culture centuries ahead of its time, starting from her small act of love to satisfy my palate.

Regardless of that swelling feeling, I was genuinely very much looking forward to it.

And I wasn’t the only one.

“Gulp-”

Bubble bubble-

The pot intensely stimulated our sight and smell.

Eight grown adults sat in a circle, their gazes fixed on that pot.

Adding the prepared spices to the boiling water, then the cooked vegetables.

Finally, adding the almost fully cooked chicken to soak up the broth as it gently warmed, and it was done.

“…” “Wipe your chin.” “Uh- uh- No, this is…”

Joey, the mage who always looked at us like monkeys when explaining the ruins, showing off her knowledge, was now, unbelievably, drooling with her mouth wide open like a monkey.

I cautiously offered her a handkerchief.

I gestured towards Yuri, shrugged my shoulders.

“……!!”

Her face turning red, Joey snatched the handkerchief, wiping her mouth vigorously until it swelled, then returned it to me.

Even in the dimly lit room, the damp handkerchief, glistening with drool, was clearly visible.

As I stared at it with a hardened gaze, Terrance quietly took her hand.

“…Joey. Let’s maintain basic manners.” “Ah- no- that’s…”

Joey’s cheeks, already slightly flushed, were now as scarlet as Ms. Rumo (31)’s hair, making it seem like she needed to go to the hospital.

Her flustered appearance gave me an unwarranted sense of victory, and without realizing it, I went for the kill.

“It’s okay, I understand. Whether you wanted an indirect kiss, or have a fetish for sharing your bodily fluids—”

Whoa—

The pot overflowed at that very moment. Ah, of course, the pot.

With a clang— clang— of the ladle hitting the bowl, Yuri approached.

“…Eat.”

The heated atmosphere instantly cooled with her single glance.

. . .

The menu: Soup Curry.

A hearty and spicy broth flavored with various herbs, and vegetables adding a punch of flavor.

But the presence of the meat couldn’t be overshadowed.

Chicken legs cooked to the perfect temperature inside an oven, then crisply grilled over a strong charcoal fire.

With the fragrant curry broth seeping into every crevice… what more can I say?

A culinary masterpiece. There’s no better flavor under heaven.

“Gobble- gulp- umm—”

Everyone was gobbling it up so quickly that it was hard to tell if the broth was going into their noses or mouths.

They slurped the soup and devoured the meat.

Requests for seconds were flooding in, to the point that Yuri barely got a chance to eat.

A frenzied feast ensued.

“Burp-”

He had intended to cover his mouth discreetly, but contrary to his expectations, a rather blatant burp escaped.

“…!!!”

Joey’s cheeks turned scarlet red again.

Along with the warm atmosphere that melted away even the argument between Eve and the Sacred Four that happened in the evening.

The seemingly endless meal finally came to a close.

Each of us had radiant smiles, gazing at the bonfire that burned relentlessly.

Some seemed to be getting drowsy.

“Should we get some sleep?” “Let’s do that. It’s better to rest now. It must be past midnight outside…”

Even when we set off, the sun had long since set.

It felt like it took at least three hours to get here, so everyone was long overdue for sleep.

That’s precisely why dungeons, especially ruins like this, are so dangerous.

Without sunlight, your sense of time becomes vague, your biorhythms disrupted, and you slowly become depleted.

No matter how much rest you get, your energy barely returns, and even a minor injury can shatter your mind.

Death isn’t far off.

Therefore, great adventurers must maintain a consistent pattern.

Once you develop basic habits like eating and sleeping properly, your body will naturally remember the schedule.

I have a pretty accurate internal clock myself, and it seemed all the Sacred Four members were equally adept at this.

“Let’s decide on watch duty.”

Terrance, rising from his seat, took the initiative to gently lay down those who were losing consciousness.

I used my large backpack as a bed, carefully laying down Yuri and Nix, who were already fast asleep.

“Mmm- unni, sleep— uhp-”

She was already muttering nonsense, as if having a pleasant dream, so I quickly closed her alluring lips.

My unique, gentle goodnight kiss had a hint of curry.

. . .

Only Eve and I remained.

Terrance went to sleep first, agreeing to switch with Leif an hour later.

Crackle- crackle-

The campfire quietly burned next to the neatly washed and spread-out dishes.

The flames flickered so softly, that staring at it for a while would strongly imprint its heat onto your cornea.

Glancing sideways, I saw her sky-blue hair cascade down.

She quietly brushed it away from her cheek—it seemed the silky undulation against her cheek felt slightly uncomfortable.

She noticed me.

“…Why.”

She seemed embarrassed by my gaze, hiding her face in her knees drawn up to her chest. She looked like a shy child.

Out of habit, I moved closer, my hip touching hers. She stared at me with her usual stiff expression, then moved away.

That made me smile for a moment.

But I didn’t give up. I moved closer again.

“I’m cold, I’m cold.”

I added a flimsy excuse. It didn’t work.

“…It’s so warm here.” “So what?”

I just wanted to stay like this. That’s all.

There was no particular reason, but I pressed my body close to her shoulder.

She moved away, I moved closer. I chased her around the campfire, and finally…

She allowed me to remain close.

“…It is a little cold.”

More forcefully than when I’d leaned on her, she leaned on me. With an equally unconvincing excuse.

Her gaze remained fixed on the campfire. She quietly turned her head toward me.

I felt the slightly itchy texture of her hair and, soon after, a faint scent of her skin. It wasn’t the artificial smell of perfume, but a naturally soft fragrance.

Even with the somewhat acrid smoke of the campfire filling the air, that scent was strangely distinct.

Then I pondered for a moment; her shoulders that had seemed so broad and dependable just a little while ago had become those of a soft young girl.

Shall I gently embrace her? Everyone is asleep, so it should be okay for just a little while.

“…I’m cold.”

She unexpectedly demanded it, noticing my hesitant arm.

With her soft shoulders hunched and eyes downcast, she looked up quietly, wanting to be in my arms.

My initial hesitation quickly vanished. My arms enveloped her.

As if to prove that “I’m cold” was a lie nobody would believe, even without a blanket…her intensely warm body pressed against mine.

A heat haze rose from the bonfire.

As if this moment were an illusion.

-Kiss me.

Suddenly, I recalled someone saying those words to me. Or perhaps I dreamed of such a moment.

For some reason, this scene before me…

A night spent by a fiercely burning bonfire with a haughty girl with sky-blue hair…

It didn’t feel like it was a first.

. . .

* * *

“…They’re total newbies in that respect.”

The sight of the two women who should have been on watch duty sleeping soundly, nestled together.

It would usually be a big problem, but Terrance decided to let it slide.

Because they didn’t look like powerful figures who could overwhelm him. More like little girls asleep by a fireplace.

He would turn a blind eye this once.

“Ugh—my body still aches.” “Here, some water.”

He took the cup that Leif offered him. He had only napped briefly, his body still heavy with fatigue, but the cool water refreshed him.

“Whew—Thanks.” “No, it’s nothing. But, for a moment…”

She took back the cup, her face slightly flushed for some reason.

They’d shared their hearts for three years, now. He understood the implication well enough and smiled quietly.

“There’s no need to get permission for such things.” “But… Yes, I understand.”

The so-called going to pick flowers.

He turned his back, quietly stretching his arms and legs to chase away sleep.

Leif, hurrying toward the base camp, had…

a wicked smile on her face.