Chapter 7

"Baum, Mr. Albert, it's ready~"

While I was playing with Baum, Daidarian, who was in charge of the grilling, called me over. It seemed the meat was finally cooked.

I immediately headed towards the fire. There, the wyvern meat was nicely grilled.

Wow, the amount of juice is insane. The fat glistened in the firelight. My mouth started to water.

"Actually, it would have been better with some salt."

"No, no, this looks delicious enough."

After all, I was about to eat raw, poisonous meat with the skin on. I can't really complain about a little lack of flavor.

Now, I want to start eating... Is it okay? Daidarian, no more waiting, alright? I sent a confirming glance, and he nodded.

"Then... let's dig in."

"Itadakimasu."

Unable to hold back any longer, I bit into the meat I hadn't eaten in 1500 years.

(Ah...)

With each bite, the juice overflowed in my mouth. Yes, this is what eating is about, this is what it means to satisfy your hunger.

Memories from the past started to resurface. The meat was just disassembled and grilled, with no seasoning. Some might say this isn't even cooking. But... to me, this is the best meal.

I never thought I'd be able to eat like this again. Damn... I feel like crying a little.

"What's wrong? Is there something you don't like?"

Daidarian, worried about my sudden silence, asked me.

"No, it's delicious... really."

It's a cliché, but I can't think of any other words to describe it.

I devoured the meat, making up for all the meals I couldn't have for so long.

(Ah, right, I should offer some drink too.)

There were no cups, so I had to pour water directly into my hands...

"Do you want some water? There's no river around here, so your throat must be dry. If you want some, just hold out your hands."

"Ah, sorry, I'll take some."

Daidarian placed the skewer with the wyvern meat on a stone he had cleaned with water magic, and held out his hands.

Daidarian gulped down the water in his palms eagerly. He must have been really thirsty.

"Wow, this water is delicious."

I'm glad you like it.

After enjoying my first meal in 1500 years, I talked with Daidarian.

"Ah, I ate, ate. What are you and Baum going to do next, Daidarian?"

"We're planning to return to our village in the forest to the west."

"You have a village nearby?"

"About half a day's walk from here. It was burned down by Rannu's subordinates three months ago, but I want to at least make graves for everyone. Also, with Rannu dead, maybe someone has returned to the village."

Daidarian spoke with a slightly sad expression. In these times, it's not uncommon, but it's still heavy...

Daidarian's village in the western forest was suddenly attacked and destroyed by Rannu's subordinates. He was captured and subjected to a subjugation spell.

They didn't expect a simple tribal village to be attacked, so it was a surprise attack. They managed to escape with the women and children, but many men, including Daidarian, were captured or killed.

"Is Baum going with you?"

Baum, like us, was under the influence of Rannu's subjugation spell and was helped by Daidarian when he was weak.

"Yes, he's coming with us."

"Peep peep."

"I see... Thank you, I'm counting on you."

Baum, trembling, is quite adorable. I still have no idea what he's saying, though.

"Mr. Albert, where are you going?"

"I'm thinking of heading to the city of Phara to the south, and then just go with the flow..."

"That means you have to cross the mountains. By the way, Mr. Albert, your... wings are..."

"Ah, unfortunately, they were burned during the castle's defense."

Even after all this time, I still feel a bit frustrated. But if it weren't for her, I wouldn't be free. I understand why those gargoyles abandoned me.

(What are they doing in the city now...?)

What, you think this isn't like me? Come on, who do you think I am? I'm a man who endured for 1500 years. I know how tragic conflict is. It would be pointless to get angry over every little thing. So if I ever meet them again...

I will definitely take my revenge! I never said I would forgive them.

I will make them pay for taking away my social status. I can understand it logically, but emotionally, I can't accept it.

But I can't let Daidarian see me like this. I really want to make those guys eat this boy's nail clippings.

"Well, at least I'm alive, no point in getting depressed. You're in a similar situation, so don't worry about it."

I tried to lighten the mood, as it would be a waste to be depressed after such a delicious meal.

"So, you're going to cross the mountains on foot, right? You can't avoid encountering monsters. Can gargoyles use detection magic?"

"Sort of. Normally about 10 meters, but up to 100 meters at most."

"100 meters? That's... quite a wide range."

It's really tiring to use detection magic for 100 meters. It detects the presence and magic of living things within a certain range. If you expand it too much, the information overload can overwhelm your brain.

Normally, 10 meters is enough. But at 10 meters, the enemy has already noticed you. Detection magic is only useful for preventing surprise attacks. I still keep it active in the forest just in case.

"Actually, I'm more afraid of getting lost in the mountains than encountering monsters."

It's my first time crossing mountains on foot, but I can handle monsters if I encounter them.

"Ahaha... But I don't think you'll get lost in the Phara Mountains."

"Huh? Why not?"

"There's a thunder dragon's lair at the peak, and it glows at night. You can't see it from here, but you can confirm your direction at night."

"Wow, I didn't know that since I've never traveled at night."

"The slope is gentle, so I don't think you'll have any trouble moving on foot."

"That's a relief. By the way, is there a chance the thunder dragon will attack?"

The gargoyles who abandoned me weren't attacked by the thunder dragon, right?

"I haven't heard of the thunder dragon attacking anyone. I think you'll be fine as long as you don't get too close."

"Good to know. By the way, why does the thunder dragon glow at night? Is it attention-seeking?"

"Who knows? It's said that the thunder dragon started glowing 200 years ago, but it's believed to have lived in the Phara Mountains long before that. It didn't glow before then."

"Hmm, so something must have changed in its mindset around that time."

"Maybe."

At night, as the wind rustled the trees, I continued talking with Daidarian. Eventually, the fire died down, and we started to feel sleepy.

"Phew, I'm getting sleepy. Maybe we should go to bed."

"Sure, I'll keep watch, so you can rest."

Daidarian offered, but...

"No, it's not necessary."

"Huh?"

To answer Daidarian's puzzled look, I activated the Water Barrier spell I used earlier, creating a spherical water membrane about 20 meters in diameter centered on the fire pit.

"I just set up a defensive Water Barrier. If the water membrane is broken, I'll know. The magic should last until morning."

"Wow, magic is convenient..."

"Still, don't over-rely on it... A wyvern shouldn't be able to break the water membrane, but I'll add a Magic Barrier just in case."

"Can I touch it?"

Since he rarely sees magic, Daidarian seemed very interested. I nodded in response.

"An Acid Barrier or Flame Barrier would burn or melt your hand, but this is just water, so it's fine."

With my approval, Daidarian started touching the Water Barrier with his hands. It bounced back when he pushed it. His curiosity piqued, he eventually took a stance to punch it.

"Be careful, you can get out from inside, but you can't get in from outside."

"Ah!" Daidarian was surprised and dropped his stance. He looked like he was having fun, hahaha... he's so young.

I hope I was able to help a bit, since I couldn't help with the meal preparation...

Daidarian, playing with the Water Barrier, is innocent and age-appropriate.

I think he's a kind boy.

Even after losing his companions and being subjected to a subjugation spell, he still shows consideration. He's a goblin who looks like he hasn't lived for more than ten years.

(So naive, but also kind.)

Daidarian, who stopped me from eating the poisonous wyvern meat. He could have had the meat all to himself if I died from the poison. But he needed me to help Baum recover.

His straightforward nature is very commendable, even if it might be tough to survive in this world.

(I don't want him to die.)

I rarely think like this.

"Well, that's enough... I'm going to sleep now."

With Daidarian, who was playing with the Water Barrier, I fell asleep.

The next morning, I woke up to find Daidarian and Baum with slightly troubled expressions. I'm not sure about Baum...

"Good morning, what's wrong with that face? Did you not sleep well?"

"Good morning. No, I slept well. When I woke up to gather twigs for breakfast, I couldn't get out because the barrier was still up..."

"Oh, I see. I didn't realize since I've been alone. Sorry about that."

I decided to remove the Water Barrier as requested.

"Thank you, I'll start preparing breakfast. It will be wyvern meat again..."

"Sure, thanks."

I let Daidarian prepare breakfast and relaxed until it was time to eat. After a while, it was time to eat, and after finishing the grilled wyvern meat, I got up, shook off the sand, and decided to set off.

"Ah, right, Mr. Albert, if you want, you can have this..."

"Huh, what's this? A bag?"

Daidarian offered a bag made of wyvern skin.

"I had some time this morning, so I made it. It's hard to carry wyvern meat as it is, and I thought it might be a small token of gratitude for the meal. I hope it's not too much."

"..."

This guy is really...

Alright, I've decided.

"Ah, um..."

"Yes?"

"Can I go with you to your village, Daidarian?"

"Um, Mr. Albert, you were going to Phara..."

"I was, but now that we've hunted a wyvern, we have enough food, and it's not an urgent journey anymore. Since we've met, I thought it would be nice to go together."

I'm a bit concerned too. The forest seems strange. I haven't encountered any monsters other than the wyvern.

Also, I want to help this kind-hearted boy a little more.

"Mr. Albert..."

"Is it okay?"

"Peep!"

"No, no! Mr. Albert is very welcome, and Baum says he wants you to come too."

"Great, then I'll trouble you a bit more."

"Yes! I'm looking forward to it."

And so, my detour was decided. I decided to visit Daidarian's village.

It won't be a long detour.