Chapter 102: Feeding the Tiger

“A fork is a little inconvenient. I wish they included chopsticks with the supplies.”

Ramen was bubbling in the bowl.

A mouth-watering aroma rose in the air.

“…”

Ichinose unknowingly gulped.

Ramen certainly wasn’t her favorite food.

Was it because of the sticker on her neck? The smell felt irresistibly stimulating and alluring.

“Okay! The noodles are perfect.”

Rohan dipped the noodles into the bowl lid with the fork he got from the supply, then…

He poured the broth over it and handed it to Ichinose.

“Here you go, customer. Your ramen is ready.”

“Thank you.”

Ichinose smiled silently as she received the bowl lid from Rohan.

Doesn’t she feel a pride in ramen that she didn’t even show during a great battle?

It’s almost like craftsmanship.

“Ichinose. Should I make you some chopsticks? Isn’t it uncomfortable to eat with a fork?”

“It’s okay. The Ttukbaegi¹ pasta place in front of Orion Academy also serves soup dishes with a fork.”

“Hmm.”

Was he thinking of whittling some branches?

Rohan fiddled with his dagger, glanced around at the ground, and then sat back down.

“But if you give me this lid, what will Rohan use?”

“Hold on.”

He unfolded the empty ramen bag and folded it over.

A minimalist, silver-lined small bowl is complete. The skill of using ramen lids as bowls from childhood hasn’t gone anywhere.

“Ta-da!”

“…This is my first time seeing that method.”

“It’s a fairly common method. Anyway, let’s eat quickly. I’m hungry.”

Rohan smiled and offered Ichinose a meal.

Compared to the dry Honbird meat they had eaten without any sauce or even salt, this was an extremely luxurious dish, wasn’t it?

It would be a waste not to eat it while it’s hot.

“Phew!”

Ichinose cooled the ramen on her fork with a gentle breath and opened her mouth.

Slurp! She hid the noodles between her small lips and chewed.

Next, she held the bowl lid and drank the broth.

Wow…

It was indescribably delicious.

It was so delicious that admiration came naturally.

How can it be this delicious…?

The ramen itself wasn’t special.

The ramen from the supply was a common one seen in convenience stores.

She had even watched the cooking process from right next to him. He didn’t add any special ingredients or mix in a secret sauce.

“…”

The girl heard it.

Her partner, Rohan, was eating well without surprise, as if this taste was familiar to him.

Then.

There was just one conclusion.

Was this what Rohan meant by a situation where ramen tasted delicious?

Ichinose couldn’t help but grab the lid with both hands and gulp down the remaining ramen broth.

“Haa…!”

A sigh escaped her involuntarily.

It permeated her whole body. To exaggerate, it was a taste that resonated with her soul.

Before she knew it, the bowl lid with the ramen was completely empty, and Rohan, as if he was waiting, asked,

“Want more?”

“Um… Is there any left?”

“Of course.”

Ichinose held back her laughter as she watched Rohan, who proudly served her more ramen.

Is he really acting like a dad?

She would never say it out loud, but she could think it.

“Eat a lot.”

“Thank you.”

Focusing on the ramen she received, Ichinose thought.

I’ve never considered ramen… a delicacy.

Ichinose Yui knew herself.

She knew that her taste was quite picky.

It didn’t mean she was a picky eater.

Depending on the situation, like in the current exam, she could eat most foods, but that was literally just to survive.

What it meant for Ichinose to be a picky eater was…

While she was prepared to eat even if it didn’t suit her taste, she strictly distinguished between what tasted good and what didn’t.

And her standards for what she considered delicious were quite high.

By those standards, this ramen…

Without a doubt, it was the most delicious food she’s had in recent years.

It was much more delicious than the dishes famous chefs boasted about at renowned restaurants.

…What if I crave this after the exam and go back?

What should she do if she missed this taste?

If it was linked to a situation where ramen tasted delicious, could she make ramen like this too?

It was a shocking gastronomic experience, enough to worry about the future already.

While the two were making slurping sounds inside their shelter…

Rohan and Ichinose stopped eating simultaneously and turned their heads toward the entrance.

This time, the visitor was Noa Frozenheart.

“The smell of ramen became my compass, huh?”

“I’ll go out. Finish eating.”

“Forget it. Let’s go together.”

Grabbing their weapons and getting up, the two headed outside.

And upon seeing Noa collapsing right in front of them, Rohan and Ichinose quickly moved to the side.

“Noa! Are you alright?”

“I don’t see any injuries …”

Did she lose her strength because she knew Ichinose and Rohan were inside?

“Nose. I can’t move a single finger…”

Her weak murmuring voice was a bonus.

──Growl! Noa’s stomach rumbled, giving a clear answer.

“Guys! Sorry to barge in like this…!”

Noa’s partner, Corin, appeared a beat later, pushing through the bushes.

Even though they weren’t close, it was nice to see fellow Class 1 Cadets.

“You both aren’t hurt, are you?”

Rohan asked Corin on behalf of Noa, who looked too weak to speak.

“I’m not injured!”

“Food? Did you eat anything?”

“I just kept drinking water… The supply drop was too far away, we missed them, and I didn’t encounter any monsters or animals…”

Since it rained, she must have only drunk that.

Rohan could roughly guess why the two hadn’t encountered any wild animals or monsters.

Noa’s aura spreads out without restraint. Any decent beast or monster would have run away.

His gaze turned towards the collapsed Beastkin girl.

Considering the sticker and Noa’s appetite worked in collaboration, her stomach must have felt like a black hole right now.

“Is Corin alright?”

At Ichinose’s question, Corin nodded, saying she could still hold on.

Then the urgent matter was the collapsed Noa.

Rohan watched his partner, who had shut her mouth. Ichinose must be troubled.

She wanted to help Noa, but the option of removing the sticker was open.

Since they were a team, she couldn’t use the supplies freely either.

Her head must have been full of thoughts about whether a choice based on personal feelings would be a burden.

Rohan understood.

And since he knew that stepping forward was the way, he opened his mouth first.

“Ichinose.”

“Yes?”

“Let’s feed my ramen and canned food to Noa.”

“!”

Ichinose’s shoulders trembled.

She hesitated, unable to open her mouth easily. It was difficult to either refuse or agree.

“This decision won’t be a burden on you, Ichinose. I promise.”

He wouldn’t burden his partner with food cravings due to hunger or a decline in condition.

Rohan assured and promised her.

After all, he had the Shop as a reliable fallback.

And besides, Noa was different from Gilbert and Dick.

It’s only natural to feed his favorite character when she had collapsed from hunger.

This was an undeniable principle and truth.

“W-Wait a minute! If you’re going to do that, then let me give her mine!”

“No. If we do that, I’ll be the one who created the situation that depleted Ichinose’s Food Supply.”

“…”

It was half coercion, but now was the right time, while Ichinose was speechless.

Rohan cut off the conversation and returned to their shelter, dividing half of his ramen into Ichinose’s bowl.

Then, he brought the whole pot that had been on the fire.

Holding a fork, he sat down in front of Noa and opened the can.

“Ugh…”

Noa, who was lying face down on the ground, raised her head and looked at Rohan.

The ramen in his hand and the canned tuna.

A delicious smell vibrated in the air.

“Here, I’ll feed you, just open your mouth.”

“Ahh…”

Under Rohan’s gaze, Noa’s sharp teeth and soft tongue were clearly visible.

He placed a chunk of tuna there.

She chewed noisily and swallowed. Her tail wagged.

“Corin… Let’s go inside.”

“Huh?”

“Rohan. This is my personal decision. I wasn’t swayed.”

“Alright. I’ll remember that.”

“…”

Ichinose led Corin into the shelter. Probably to share her meal.

Rohan praised Ichinose inwardly as he continued to feed Noa.

“This is the last of the tuna.”

“Nom nom nom…”

After she cleaned the can, he picked up the bowl of ramen.

Noa polished the ramen as well.

She had such strong suction that when he put the noodles in, she slurped them down like a vacuum cleaner.

“Nom nom, this burden, somehow… chomp as a favor… nom!”

“It’s fine. Don’t talk, just eat.”

Did the Black Leg Cook feel this way when serving fried rice to the pirates?

It was rewarding to see her regaining her energy as she ate.

“Ugh! I’m alive…”

Noa emptied the bowl and even drank the ramen broth, then, as if she had regained her strength, she lay sprawled out.

Her stomach was still flat, but her complexion had definitely improved.

Rohan got up, saying he would clean up.

After putting the bowl in front of the shelter, he picked up his Long Sword. He heard flapping sounds and faint cries from beyond the bushes.

He wondered if the unique cry belonged to a Honbird.

“Noa. Rest.”

“Mmph…”

Did she fall asleep already?

Noa lay sprawled on the ground, flicking her tail and giving a strange answer.

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After entrusting Noa and Corin to Ichinose, Rohan followed the flapping sounds and discovered an interesting sight.

─ Squeak!

─ Creak! Squeak!

Two Honbirds were fighting fiercely, screeching.

They were in the midst of a rough fight using their sharp claws and beaks, typical of monsters.

Are they really Honbirds? Two of them?

What luck. Rohan grasped the hilt of his Long Sword.

There were Monsters this close to where Noa was.

Were these particularly insensitive among the Honbirds?

Just as he was about to take down both of them with his First Sword…

“…”

Rohan felt a sense of déjà vu and stopped moving.

─ Squeaaaak!!!

─ Creak! Squeak!

The Honbirds’ eyes were bloodshot, as if soaked in blood.

As he watched, their behavior became even stranger.

They were excessively aggressive and thrashing about as if in pain.

Except for the different species, it was a similar situation to what he had seen in Abyss City.

The unsettling feeling about the monsters.

Having reached a conclusion, Rohan’s eyes widened.

Hex…? Frenzy Factor…!

A notification window popped up.

Shattering the pleasant time.