Book 14 Chapter 24

Episode 36

"It's a kestrel."

Now, I would like to talk about the events in the central part of the Neo-Human Empire.

I still can't shake the feeling that it's only the beginning of my journey, but I can't deny that all those experiences became the fertilizer that helped me reach Aquizard (5-star).

Of course, at the time, I thought all of it was useless, so I mostly had my eyes glued to 『Osarius Bibon』.

"Lin, did you know? Kestrels have such strong paternal and maternal love that the pair diligently raises their chicks until they become adults."

"Hmm."

"Until the chicks can fly, and until they can leave the nest… Then, they teach the chicks to hunt themselves. And when the chicks leave, the parents quietly disappear."

Kestrels were birds of prey that also existed in the North. Although their place in the food chain was lower than eagles and hawks, they were still birds of prey.

"Why do they do that? Unlike humans, can't they stay together until they die? Is it nature's providence that they must separate…?"

Since Lista seemed very interested in kestrels, I thought I'd show off my skills for a change.

I catch freshwater fish by the shore, make a trap, and then pounce on the kestrel when it glides down to eat it.

The kestrel caught that way, after all its feathers are plucked and only the flesh is filleted, is then wrapped in finely minced biscuit crumbs and baked. The crispy texture is excellent.

"And if you lightly blanch it and remove the retina of the kestrel's eyeball, where the tissue is damaged, it flows out like this pure white soup. Done. Kestrel pure eyeball salad."

"Gyut, gyugyut, gyugyugyut!"

"Hey, you bastard, how dare you drool before even us humans have eaten."

Unlike the excited Sbal, Lista stared at the kestrel dish, deliciously served on the mess tin, with sad eyes.

"Is this right? Is this really right? I'm pretty sure I was telling a sad story about kestrels? Huh? Why did it suddenly turn into this?"

"What's with that reaction? Is it a regional discrimination comment, saying you can't eat it because Northern traditional cuisine is too barbaric?"

"Kest-so-sobbing, I'll eat well."

This is cooking skill honed by dealing with gorillas in the magic tower.

Even if I can't make the finest delicacies, I can make something "edible" out of anything.

Lista always reacts like that at first, but then eats it deliciously. Well, shall I try some too?

"Ah, hot, so hot, hot."

"Lin really can't eat hot food."

It's probably because the Dean always blew on it to cool it down for me whenever I was reading a grimoire.

"But sir, after fighting with the platinum mercenary, your clothes are full of holes. Shouldn't we go to the city?"

"No, no no no no, it's okay not to go to the city, really."

"What do you mean 'okay'? You're probably injured, too. It's only right to get your clothes mended and see a doctor. This is the closest big city."

"Don't worry. My body is perfectly fine! A hero's body is different from ordinary people's! Look at this! *Eussya-eussyasha* (straining sound)!"

"Then sir, take it off."

"Huh, here?"

"Here. Right now."

I want to clarify that this was a perfectly legitimate request to counter Lista's nonsense, and there was absolutely no improper intention behind it.

"Phew~ It's hot for midday."

"Outdoors in the middle of the day, *kheuh*. You know a thing or two."

"They say noble young masters develop strange kinks from an early age, and it was true."

However, some peddlers passed by, gossiping without knowing anything, and I lost the right to attack to Lista.

"Ah, I don't know! Lin, you've ruined my chances of marriage! It's going to start a weird rumor. *Uh-heuk*."

Lista deliberately pretended to sob mournfully, covering her face with both hands.

Then, looks like "Wow, that trash" pierced me from all directions.

As I've said before, a woman's tears indeed possess an unreasonable power comparable to [the strongest].

"Ah, no, sir, ha, this is ridiculous. Ah, I don't know either! Then you stay here. I'll go alone."

"We, we don't necessarily have to go to the city, do we? We could find any nearby village, and I'm very familiar with the local geography around here."

"Which village has a doctor? And does it do good clothes repair? Those clothes look really expensive."

"No, I keep telling you, I really don't need a doctor. And as for clothes, well, I can just patch them up and wear them. I don't care."

"To be so unwilling to go, it makes me even more suspicious. Is there something you're hiding?"

Actually, it wouldn't have mattered. If it were any other city, that is.

But <Central North> was famous as a place where all goods headed for the North converged.

It was the resident guardian of [Stella Bridge], meaning merchants had to pass through it before heading North.

I judged that a place like this would surely have various grimoires from the South, and they would help me interpret the latter part of 『Osarius Bibon』, where my progress was stalled.

What does that mean?

It means I would go to that city, even if I had to hold a knife to someone's throat and threaten them.

"Oh dear, please don't fight like that and try some of these delicious apples. My mother always said that people get sensitive when they're hungry."

Just then, an apple vendor approached.

The timing couldn't have been more perfect.

I saw a serious glint suddenly flash across Lista's playful eyes.

"Oh, they look so tempting. Thank you. I'll taste one then."

Hmm, is Lista really serious about apples? Lista took a big bite of an apple and smiled meaningfully.

"I don't know where there could be a more delicious apple than this."

Then the apple vendor also replied with a somewhat serious expression.

"I thought so too, but I heard a rumor that incredibly delicious and large apples are being sold in <Central North>. It feels a bit odd to just go for a taste, so I thought I'd try to sell my apples while I'm there to taste."

But I'm just as serious about apples.

My favorite fruit is the apple. Because the first fruit the Dean ever bought for me was an apple.

Following Lista, I also took a bite of the apple and decided to give a serious evaluation.

"It's delicious. You have to eat these apples right down to the core. The closer you get to the seeds, the more sugar there is, making it tastier."

At that, Lista flinched in surprise, while the apple vendor had a [you know a thing or two] expression. Indeed, like a merchant who has sold apples.

Wait, but Lista didn't even know this?

Lista stared intently at the apple she had bitten into, then sighed as if lamenting.

"It turned out like this. I expected it might because of its location and size, but…"

What does that mean?

Is Lista evaluating the taste of an apple by accurately calculating its size and the position of its core? Crazy, could she actually be more of an apple master than I am?

As I tilted my head, not knowing why, the inquisitor quietly explained.

"Perhaps it's because your companion is from <Central North>?"

"?"

"Well, isn't it true that people have hometowns they want to go to and hometowns they want to leave?"