Ch.345Chapter 345 Epilogue – First Day of the Journey (2)

I couldn’t help but take a sharp breath.

Truly, what I witnessed with my own eyes was so overwhelming that I wondered if I could still call myself human if I hadn’t reacted this way. It was simply beyond my control.

How could I even begin to describe this?

From the moment I met Shizu, she has been the very embodiment of beauty to me.

But the Shizu before my eyes now radiated a beauty that completely overshadowed every other form of her I had ever seen.

Usually, even in her Imperial Knights uniform, her beauty would occasionally make me lose myself momentarily as I gazed at her.

Yet the beauty emanating from Shizu as she sat waiting for me now completely overwhelmed even her usual appearance.

It was so intense that I worried my eyes might be damaged from the sight.

Her evening dress, designed primarily in white with a completely different style from her usual uniform, was restrained yet perfectly showcased Shizu’s overflowing beauty.

I could tell how much effort she had put into preparing—she had somehow managed to style her hair even faster than I had changed my clothes, and it was perfectly arranged.

“So… what do you think?”

Unlike her usual cheerful greeting, her voice carried a hint of shyness as she asked for my opinion on her outfit. It was enough to make my legs go weak.

Part of me thought it wouldn’t be so bad to collapse right there and end the day unconscious.

…But that wouldn’t do. I should at least answer Shizu’s question before fainting.

So after barely managing to calm the breath I had drawn when I first saw her:

“Beautiful. Truly beautiful.”

It was brief and simple, but I put as much sincerity as I could into those words.

Normally, she would have been delighted at such a response, her eyes sparkling with joy.

But perhaps because my answer came late, or because my uncontrolled body had been acting strangely before I responded:

“…Are you okay?”

Instead of showing joy at my compliment, Shizu expressed concern about my condition.

…After deeply reflecting that I should maintain my composure no matter how breathtaking the sight before me might be:

“You’re so beautiful I forgot to breathe for a moment.”

I offered words that would hopefully ease her concern.

Though my tone came out light, it was the absolute truth—I really had held my breath and nearly found it difficult to breathe.

Shizu, who had been asking with a worried voice, clearly hadn’t expected such an answer from me.

“Ahaha… what are you saying?”

Only then did the tension leave her expression as she let out a light laugh.

The already refined splendor of the room seemed to brighten even more as Shizu’s laughter blended with the atmosphere.

The mood was so pleasant that I thought it wouldn’t be bad to end the day just chatting like this.

It seemed I wasn’t the only one who felt that way—after laughing once lightly, the now-relaxed Shizu also appeared quite content to stay here.

But there would be plenty of time to end the day later, so:

“Shall we go, then?”

I approached Shizu, who had been sitting and looking at me, extended my hand to escort her.

“…I’m in your care.”

With a shy voice, she took my hand and rose from her seat, and I led her out to dinner.

#

It was a wonderful dinner.

After three months of wandering the North like a ghost, eating so hastily I could barely tell whether I was using my mouth or nose, finally emerging into the outside world(??)…

Honestly, I would have been satisfied with any proper meal at this point.

But even considering those circumstances, every dish we had was exceptional.

Using ingredients unique to the southern continent that were rare not only in the North but even in Solarium, the island where all the famous products of the Central Continent gather.

It would have been stranger if the food hadn’t been delicious.

Just the appetizers, made with produce grown on the vast reclaimed land and protected by seawalls despite being near the ocean, with abundant sunlight, revitalized my body and mind exhausted from the long journey.

And then I could fully enjoy the main dishes that were provided.

They were good enough to make me immediately forget the disappointment of not being able to use Odorem Ber.

While everything was satisfying without a single flaw, the seafood dishes—difficult to taste properly on the inland islands—were particularly impressive.

The agricultural products grown on land were already excellent beyond measure, but to also have high-quality seafood dishes that could only be properly enjoyed here?

It was a moment that made clear why the South was called the most abundant land in the Central Continent.

Perhaps due to their confidence in the ingredients, some dishes came out with appearances that might seem unfamiliar and off-putting to first-time visitors to the South.

But that was only the initial hesitation due to unfamiliar appearances.

Once those dishes arrived on the table, releasing their appetizing aromas and asserting their presence, it goes without saying that both Shizu and I reached for them.

We praised the creativity of the southern people and their results as we tasted the sea bass caught in the southern waters of the Central Continent, wrapped in pastry and baked in the oven.

And the seafood served almost raw with minimal cooking to maximize freshness made us hesitate at first, but once it entered our mouths, it let us experience the abundance of the South.

Many dishes were served, but one in particular caught both our attention, and that was…

“Delicious…”

Shizu, looking at the empty plates piled in front of her with satisfaction, held something in her hand that would soon enter her mouth.

It was raw oysters.

The charm of raw oysters, which preserved the natural taste of the ingredient—completely different from the usual style of cooking them or the recently popular charcoal-grilled style in the islands—was remarkable.

Even compared to other raw seafood, we initially hesitated to reach for them due to their rather alien appearance.

But after dipping one in mignonette sauce made with red onions and red wine—another specialty product the South boasted of no less than seafood—and tasting it, Shizu’s eyes sparkled. She then proceeded to empty several plates of raw oysters, ignoring everything else.

Though she seemed to be eating rather hastily, there was an elegance to Shizu even as she ate the oysters with her bare hands instead of utensils.

Naturally, my hand reached for the plate of raw oysters as well, wanting to share in Shizu’s enjoyment and create memories together on this trip.

As a result, we could see the busy movements of the waitstaff carrying away the empty plates that we two had frantically emptied of oysters.

Beef, pork, and other meats from animals that roam the land or birds that fly through the sky with wings—

While there are differences in cooking methods, these could be easily obtained and tasted in the islands or the North if you just had the money.

But experiencing seafood dishes that utilized the freshness of local products was unexpectedly delightful.

I might have been able to taste the flavors if I had eaten alone, but I wouldn’t have thought it was this enjoyable.

“Tomorrow, we could just eat these, couldn’t we?”

My joy reached its peak as I watched Shizu, who normally ate everything given to her without complaint and without being picky, express her extreme satisfaction with the raw oysters.

Though there had been a certain fatigue in Shizu’s face when we left our room, now there was an unwearied vitality in her despite the late hour approaching.

And it wasn’t just Shizu who appeared this way to my eyes—my own body also felt considerably less fatigued after enjoying the raw oysters and dinner together.

To think that just eating food could remove fatigue and bring forth vitality!

Since tomorrow would clearly be a forced march if we were to visit various places in the South according to our schedule, eating raw oysters that could reduce fatigue and infuse energy just by consuming them would be quite helpful.

“I’ll talk to them about arranging for us to eat only these tomorrow.”

I immediately responded to grant Shizu’s wish.

“Wow…”

At those words, Shizu showed a noticeably delighted expression, though not overly excited.

“I’m full now, so you eat more, Kal. They’re really delicious.”

She was encouraging me to eat the few remaining raw oysters in front of me.

Since we needed to wrap up our meal soon, I picked up the last raw oyster on my plate and put it in my mouth with an almost drinking-like sensation.

Mmm, sweet. How could raw oysters, harvested and processed minimally before being placed on the table, be this sweet?

Though it was probably almost over, I still found myself wanting to treat my sister and Excel, along with my other comrades who were still struggling in the North, to the delicious foods of the South, especially these raw oysters.

What a joyful time and pleasant memory.

When I was obsessed with saving the world, I never thought a day would come when I’d spend time like this.

If I hadn’t fought the final battle with Desire, I would have surely refused such an opportunity even if it presented itself, predicting I couldn’t properly enjoy it.

Even if I had been forced to be here, I would have only pretended to enjoy myself while struggling to maintain a facade.

That’s why it was so moving to have days like this that I could truly enjoy.

And the fact that I was sharing the first moment of these moving days with someone I loved made it all the more perfect.

“Now that we’ve finished eating, shall we go?”

“Yes.”

As we rose from our seats and left the restaurant, I thought:

Though the sun had set and night had fallen, there was still some of today left.

I hoped the rest of the day would be even more meaningful.