The Forsaken Saintess and her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World (Light Novel), Volume 3 Chapter 3

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Volume Three, Chapter Three

2

When I come to my senses, it is morning… or rather, the early hours of dawn… I sit up in the dim light before sunrise to find that everyone else is already up and preparing. It looks like I am the biggest sleepyhead…

“Awake, Rin? It’s about time to leave, so get ready.”

“Got it. I’ll hurry!”

Mr. Ville spoke to me in a quiet voice, perhaps trying not to disturb the serene dawn atmosphere. I responded just as softly while leaving the still-dreaming Gomamiso behind as I headed to the washroom. Stepping outside the room, I can see the dark sky through the large hallway windows, which look like slices cut out of the wall.

As for preparations, since I’m not a combat member, all I really need to do is wash my face and fix my appearance.

Right after leaving the room… near the washstand at the end of the corridor, there is a large water jug, a ladle, and a small washing basin—everything set up ready for washing your face. Taking advantage of this thoughtful preparation, I transfer some water from the jug to the basin, but…

“Hmm? Is this… hot spring water?”

It looks slightly cloudy… When I dip my hand in, although it’s cooled down, there’s that distinctive silky feeling that clings to my hand! As expected of a volcanic town, they really do have hot springs. While pondering this, I indulge in the luxury of washing my face with hot spring water first thing in the morning! I think my skin might have become smoother… maybe?

Honestly, I want to soak my whole body in a hot spring… Even though I’m kept clean by cleansing magic every day, as a Japanese person, I want to soak in a bath, you know… I understand there are reasons why that’s impossible, so I won’t be selfish about it. But still, being able to touch hot spring water here feels like a stroke of luck.

Anyway, after drying my face with a towel and quickly fixing my hair… my preparations are complete!

“Sorry to keep you waiting!”

“No worries. We just finished our preparations as well.”

When I returned to the room, it seemed everyone else had finished preparing too. Mr. Ville, who apparently woke up Gomamiso, raised his hand while stroking its throat.

“Alright then, let’s go…!”

Mr. Ville handed Gomamiso back to me and turned on his heel after looking over everyone.

We follow him, responding in quiet voices.

“Today and tomorrow, other adventurers are restricted from entering Melnoa Volcano. If anything happens, please use this smoke signal.”

At the guild hall’s entrance, Ms. Aegis has been waiting for us—I’m not sure since when. She isn’t wearing the perfect makeup I saw yesterday, but even without makeup, she’s incredibly beautiful! Though there are distinct dark circles under her eyes… Maybe that makeup was partly meant to hide these circles…? As a guildmaster, she must have a lot on her plate.

She handed a softball-sized sphere to Mr. Ville with a wistful smile.

“In case of emergency, prioritize your lives over containing the situation. As long as you’re alive, anything can be dealt with.”

“I appreciate your generous words. We’ll do our best to bring back the best possible results.”

As we leave the guild, Ms. Aegis bows to see us off. Seeing such an exhausted beauty makes you feel like something needs to be done to help her.

Fortunately, the trailhead isn’t far from the guild. There is a large wooden gate with a sign at the top reading "Melnoa Volcano Main Trail Entrance." This apparently is the largest of the main routes, and it looks wide enough for the Camping Car to drive through.

“There’s another route to the east and one in the back, but this gate leads closest to the spring.”

“Yes. And… the road… is widest.”

“Got it. Once we get a bit up the mountain and away from town, I’ll bring out the Camping Car!”

We walk up the mountain, stepping onto a path marked with what looks like cart tracks. Even though the sun hasn’t risen yet, there were already some people visible on the main street, so this is just a precaution.

…Though as expected of a mountain path, after advancing just a bit, the trees and plants block the view from the main street.

“Alright! Here we go!”

Ask, and ye shall find… well, not quite, but I love how the Camping Car comes out whenever I wish for it! And I love Survival who teaches me so many things! Looking at it this way, my skills seem to be a combination well-suited for "staying alive.”

While I was lost in such sentiment, everyone had already gotten in.

Today’s passenger seat occupant is Mr. Xenon.

Following Mr. Xenon’s navigation, I managed to drive the Camping Car up to about a quarter of our planned route. Even though carts regularly pass through here, being a mountain road, the surface is quite bumpy. Despite having a decent width, the word "fall" keeps flashing through my mind, making our pace much slower than usual.

Plus, I kept feeling the occasional sensation of the tires crushing something soft, like a stuffed bag… Don’t tell me we’re running over slimes or something that frequently appears on this route…?

“Ughhh… I don’t want to think about it… I really don’t want to think about it!”

“Are you alright, Rin? Is there something wrong?”

“Ahhh… Mr. Xenon… I think we’re… running over something…! Probably slimes or something…!”

Another squishing sensation made me cry out involuntarily through trembling lips. Mr. Xenon turned to me worriedly, but I must look terrible right now. Moreover, from what I researched yesterday, volcanic slimes are monsters that spew poisonous gas, so I wonder if crushing them won’t damage the tires.

“Mr. Xenon, is there a place ahead where I can stop?”

“Yes, there’s an open space ahead that adventurers often use for breaks.”

“Could you guide me there?”

I explained that I wanted to check the car’s condition, and Mr. Xenon agreed with a smile and showed me the way. Following his directions, I can see an open space appearing on the left side of the road.

…Meanwhile, the irregular squishing sensations continued. So this is what they meant by Melnoa Volcano’s monsters being numerous even if they’re low-level… This is really a sensation I can’t get used to…!

As I turn the steering wheel to enter the open space and reach for the door…

“Rin, wait… not yet…!”

“Ms. Aria?”

Just as the door started to open with a click, Aria’s voice rang out.

…The door… isn’t actually open yet! Safe? Let’s call it safe!

Still gripping the door handle, I close it again until it clicks, then let go. I think I made it just in time.

“…I sense… something… is there. Something… quite big…!”

“—!”

At Aria’s continued words, I instinctively duck down toward the dashboard. As if to confirm her warning, I think I saw a large shadow.

Sure enough, reflected in the driver’s window is a large lizard-like creature lumbering across the front of the car.

The creature, with its long neck and tail, is covered entirely in bright red scales. Its surface, showing no trace of sliminess or moisture, looks almost dried and cracked. It has an organ like a dorsal fin on its back that sways with each step of its thick, short legs protruding from its bloated body. It looks like the bony plates of a stegosaurus had been swapped for the dorsal fin of a spinosaurus. Once again, I’ve witnessed a supernatural creature…!

[Hot Water Monitor Lizard (Delicious)

Prefers warm and humid environments, often spending time in the water but comes onto land to eat. Favors fruits and nuts, but also eats tender leaves and grass. Due to good water drainage in its skin, it appears dry on land, but beneath the skin, moisture is stored in abundant collagen.

The meat is tender and juicy, with no peculiar taste, making it suitable for any seasoning. When steamed with the skin on, the fat just under the skin melts into the meat, increasing its richness.]

“Eh… that lizard is delicious!?”

The lizard we saw in the dungeon before… Flower Lizard was just "edible"!?

…Ah. The Flower Lizard tends toward being carnivorous, but the Hot Water Monitor Lizard eats fruits and leaves! So things that eat grass are indeed delicious!

“Steamed with the skin… I wonder if it becomes all jiggly?”

“…Wait, Rin. That thing is edible?”

“According to Survival, it’s delicious…!”

Mr. Ville, catching my mumbled words, turned to me with a surprised expression. His wide eyes seemed to be asking "Is it really delicious?" I nodded firmly in response, conveying "It’s supposedly delicious" with my gaze, and that atmosphere spread throughout the car. Even Gomamiso is affected by this mood, starting to swing its front paws in anticipation.

A murderous intent filled with excessive hunger explosively swells up, then immediately subsides. "Can’t let the prey notice us…" that thought is written all over everyone’s faces.

“Shall we move in after it’s been taken down? It will likely need to be butchered.”

“Ah, I see. So you will handle the butchering, Mr. Xenon! Mind if I watch to learn?”

In contrast to the tense cabin, the driver’s seat remains calm and relaxed. Oh, right. Since the Hot Water Monitor Lizard is a magical creature, unlike monsters that drop items, the whole body remains intact.

Just as I nod in understanding, I notice that everyone in the cabin has lined up in what seems to be their order of action: Mr. Ed, Mr. Ville, and Ms. Aria.

“Alright, we will bring it down…!”

At Mr. Ville’s words, his strawberry-colored eyes gleaming, everyone silently nods, weapons at the ready…

The cabin door bursts open, and Mr. Ed leaps out, his navy cape fluttering.

The Hot Water Monitor Lizard notices the sound and lumbers away, but too bad! It’s a bit too slow!

“Here I go! You’re not getting away!”

With a triumphant laugh and a wave of his arm, the fleeing lizard’s feet suddenly stop as if they have been sewn to the ground. Though it nearly stumbles from momentum, its back legs are firmly secured, causing it to just sway back and forth from the forward momentum.

Looking closely, only the lizard’s feet are covered in what appears to be solid ice. Mr. Ed’s ice magic! The same magic that played a crucial role in conquering the Storm Eel in that dungeon!

While the lizard desperately tries to escape its icy shackles, Mr. Ville has already silently crept up behind it with his greatsword ready. The desperate lizard hasn’t noticed his approach yet.

“Sorry about this. When we hear something’s delicious, it’s in our nature not to let it go.”

As the lizard turns at his voice and catches sight of Mr. Ville, his greatsword sweeps through its neck in one breath. In the next instant, Ms. Aria’s threads wrap around the lizard’s back legs, lifting it up to drain the blood… What amazing teamwork! Their coordination is perfect!

“Now then, shall we also head over?”

“Oh, ah… yes…”

Prompted by Mr. Xenon’s gentle smile, I decided to head to the scene as well. Of course, I do not forget to bring various knives from the Camping Car’s kitchen.

Before we arrived, either Mr. Ed or Mr. Ville had already taken care of the blood pool from the draining with magic. The lush undergrowth remained green, untainted by blood. The only evidence of the carnage is the lizard’s head, which Gomamiso is happily gnawing on, and its separated body.

Mr. Xenon begins butchering the thoroughly drained lizard. It is truly impressive to watch him efficiently break down the suspended massive body with sure, unwavering hands.

“You want to keep the skin on, right, Rin?”

“Yes. Apparently, it becomes really tender when steamed with the skin…”

The skin must have been cleansed with magic, as it has no blood or dirt on it. The lizard was being cut into large sections by part, its skin still maintaining its vivid color.

As for the organs… maybe we’ll just dig a hole and bury them. The liver and such might be tasty, but I’m thinking of burying it along with the tips of the fore and hind legs this time. They might be delicious with proper preparation, but since we’re in the middle of an exploration, I don’t have the luxury of time. I’ll just keep the meaty parts of the limbs and torso and skip taking anything else! Maybe just keep some as treats for Gomamiso.

“Steamed dish… steamed dish… I wonder if I could make do with pots and plates…”

“Why not use the ‘steamer’?”

“Steamer…?”

While I was puzzling over cooking methods while storing the large chunks of meat in the fridge, help came from an unexpected source.

As Mr. Ville tilts his head slightly with his arms crossed and hand on his chin wondering how to explain, Mr. Xenon, who has cleaned himself with magic, smiles kindly and offers more information:

“Yes. There’s a steam vent nearby. Couldn’t you steam it there?”

At first, when Mr. Ville mentioned “steamer,” I mistakenly thought of steamships or a tea brand with similar pronunciation, but with Mr. Xenon’s explanation, I finally understood he meant a steam vent! It wasn’t about the kind of tea that keeps you up all night after just four cups… thankfully.

I see! Just like that restaurant yesterday, I can steam it using hot spring steam! It’s the kind of extraordinary, rustic outdoor cooking I’ve dreamed of!

“That sounds great! Once I finish checking the car, I’d love to go right away!”

“Checking the car? Did something happen?”

“Ah, no… I just felt like it ran over something on the way…”

Perhaps noticing my momentary troubled expression, Mr. Ville quietly comes closer to me.

I can cook, but I know nothing about car repairs! I’m so worried about potential damage to the vehicle…

The tires, which I check nervously, only have some half-dried red substance stuck to them but show no damage like surface deterioration or scratches. I scrap off what appears to be slime remains with a tree branch and touch the car’s surface… but I don’t feel anything… unusual.

I step on the tire to check the air pressure briefly—it seems fine too!

Come to think of it, even though I haven’t washed it, the car body is sparkling…! Is this also the power of magic… or magic particles?

Judging there shouldn’t be any problems, I turn around to see everyone’s faces, barely concealing their expectations for the meal. Mr. Ville looks somewhat worried, but that’s probably because I mentioned checking the car. He must be concerned about the vehicle’s condition.

“It looks fine for driving! I think it’ll run without problems. Alright, let’s get going!”

I give Mr. Ville a firm thumbs-up, and his strawberry-colored eyes soften with relief.

With that settled, I climb into the driver’s seat.

Just wait, wild feast! We’re going to enjoy every bit of you!

The place we have arrived at is much larger than the earlier clearing, but steam is rising from gaps in the rocks everywhere, and just standing there, you could feel the heat radiating. Fortunately, all the steam is shooting straight upward, so it seems safe enough as long as I don’t peer directly into the vents.

Now then… which hole should I use…?

“Hmm… Something relatively flat, where the steam isn’t too strong, would be ideal.”

While I am evaluating different spots—that one’s too bumpy, this one’s steam is too forceful—Ms. Aria comes up beside me and tilts her head curiously.

“Are you… particular about… where to place it?”

“It’s not really being particular—more like if the surface is unstable, the strainer might tip over, and if the steam’s too strong, I won’t even be able to set it up properly.”

I couldn’t tell what kind of answer Ms. Aria, with her pale ice-colored eyes sparkling with curiosity and anticipation, was expecting, so I gave her a straightforward explanation!

It isn’t like I have any particularly fun reasons or specific preferences! Sorry!

Still, she seemed satisfied with my response. While we are searching for a literal sweet spot together, with Ms. Aria muttering "hmm" to herself, someone suddenly taps my shoulder.

Mr. Ed has somehow snuck up behind me, and he is pointing to a gap in the rocks where steam is rising steadily in gentle wisps.

“How about that spot over there? It’s not too big or too small, and the steam doesn’t seem too strong either.”

“This looks perfect! Thank you, Mr. Ed!”

A nice depression that can fit a metal strainer, with steam rising constantly rather than like a geyser, and at just the right strength! This may be the ideal spot for today’s outdoor cooking!

“Ah! The hole next to it looks good too! I can steam vegetables there!”

Looking closer, the surrounding holes also have nicely controlled steam flow—this whole area can work as a cooking station!

Wearing my trusty leather gloves, I first set up the metal strainer containing the skin-on chunk of Hot Water Monitor Lizard meat, which would probably take the longest to cook, positioning it over the earlier hole.

Whew…! Even with the leather gloves, I can barely stand it—the amount of steam and heat is incredible!

I have rolled down my sleeves all the way to my wrists to prevent burns, but they still got damp from the rising steam. This means… I’ll need to move quickly when cooking!

I quickly set a colander filled with potatoes and a cut pumpkin into another vent… Perfect! Maybe my earlier experience helped me work faster this time.

“While everything’s steaming, let’s make a sauce for the meat and veggies.”

As I am about to head back to the Camping Car rather than just wait for everything to steam, Ms. Aria desperately clings to me. From her behavior, it seems like she has a dish she wants to request…

“Rin, Rin! Tartar…! What about tartar sauce!?”

“Ah… you have fallen to the dark side of mayonnaise, Ms. Aria…!”

Yes, bingo!

She holds onto my arm, her icy eyes pleading, as if to say, “Mayonnaise goes with everything!”

Oh dear… Ms. Aria has already been captured by that devilish taste…

…But making tartar sauce from scratch now would take too long…

Well, I think I can create the flavor she’s imagining with chili oil and shichimi blend—pepper, citrus peel, sesame, hemp seed, ginger, seaweed, and poppy seed—from the spice box.

“Ms. Aria, I can’t do tartar sauce, but how about a spicy mayo sauce instead… would that work for today?”

“…mayo… sauce…”

“Yes! A slightly spicy mayonnaise sauce!”

When I made this suggestion, Ms. Aria’s tearful eyes suddenly lit up.

…She really has fallen for mayonnaise.

…Oh wait… it’s not just her. The men who were dejected about not getting tartar sauce are now buzzing with excitement about the new mayo sauce.

Could it be that our entire party has become dependent on mayonnaise…?

To make veteran adventurers fall so quickly… mayonnaise, you scary thing…!

Suppressing the urge to roll my eyes dramatically, I turn to everyone, who is waiting with sparkling eyes for the meat to finish steaming. Since it’s quite a large chunk, it’ll take over thirty minutes. It’s probably more comfortable to wait in the car than outside in the steamy heat.

“For now, let’s head back to the Camping Car while I make the sauce.”

Walking toward the manifested Camping Car, I start planning the sauce in my head.

The mayo-based sauce is good, but a spicy one like the kind used for poached chicken would be delicious too…! Though I’m missing some ingredients so it’ll just be a "poached chicken-style" sauce, but I’ll try to make it anyway!

On the way to the Camping Car, I find Gomamiso melted on the ground like rice cake. The warm ground from the geothermal heat must feel nice.

I scoop up the kitten, which looks like a winged Tsuchinoko—a mythical snake-like creature with a thick midsection—and its body stretches out limply… Its belly is completely lifted, but its legs are still touching the ground… how is that even possible!?

‘Nyaa, nyaa! Why did you pick me up!? It was so warm and comfy!’

“If you stay there too long, you might get a low-temperature burn and lose fur on your belly.”

Ignoring the kitten’s protests as it wrinkles its nose and flattens its ears, I hold it in my arms. Gomamiso swishes its tail resentfully and swats at my arm with its thick front paws.

Really? I’m just worried about your belly, and this is how you treat me?

I bury my nose in the sulking kitten’s head and take a sniff—it smells like sun-dried bedding.

Mmm. What a lovely fragrant smell.

I keep sniffing for a while, and Gomamiso stays quietly in my arms. Though clearly still unhappy about being separated from the warm ground, its tail keeps swishing vigorously.

‘Come on, that won’t happen right away! Besides, I’m not balding! My fur is nice and fluffy!’

“Please refrain from making comments that might instantly attract hate from certain demographics!”

While I have been petting the squirming Gomamiso who keeps hitting me with its front paws and tail, everyone else seems to be returning. I put Gomamiso down, and after giving my leg one last swat, it ran straight to the others who would spoil it.

Alright, alright! Go get properly pampered!

Meanwhile, I’ll wash my hands properly… and get started on the seasonings!

…Though it’s not really that much work. The knife work is mostly just slicing onions and tomatoes for garnish, and finely chopping another onion.

After arranging the garnish vegetables on plates and putting the minced onion in a bowl…

“Hmm… let’s start with the mayo sauce.”

“Mayo! The spicy one! A new flavor!”

“Yes, yes! Mayo, shichimi spice blend, and… soy sauce… no, let’s make it miso-based instead…!”

With Ms. Aria hanging over my shoulder like a ghost, I generously scoop the fancy rich mayonnaise into a deep bowl. To that, I’m adding country-style miso from a local brewery and a shichimi blend—while not exactly famous, it’s a specialty from the local hot spring town with exceptional flavor and aroma! Coming from a hot spring paradise where every municipality has hot springs, I really wanted to use my hometown’s specialty here in this other world’s hot spring!

It’s like a self-styled hot spring collaboration.

The cream-colored mayonnaise mixed with the glossy miso and bright red chili powder… I think this would be delicious with vegetables too!

After tasting it, I realized it needed a bit more saltiness and less thickness, so I added just a dash of soy sauce…!

“This is how the sauce turned out… what do you think?”

“—!”

When I offered a spoonful to the ghost-like lady behind me, she started writhing silently in delight.

…Well then. Please rest in peace. And please come back to the living world soon. Wild outdoor cooking awaits!

“Next, I’ll be adding another spicy-sour type of sauce!”

“…How cruel…! Mayonnaise is so delicious, and there’s another flavor… how cruel…! It makes me want to eat so much!”

“Heh heh heh… Say what you will! I’ll prove that reason is powerless in the face of appetite!”

The men watched us engaging in this silly exchange with "what nonsense" expressions. Come on… what’s wrong with it…! It’s just a cute little bonding moment!

So Mr. Ed, please stop looking at me like "How dare you seduce my wife…!”

I mix the finely chopped onions with grated ginger and garlic… then soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar. Long green onions would be ideal, but I haven’t found any yet… I’d even settle for small green onions if I could. Well, ordinary onions are excellent too! I believe this will be delicious in its own way!

Once the sauce is mildly sweet and sour, yet properly salty, I add chili oil and Sichuan pepper until it reaches the desired level of spiciness. And with that, a mouthwatering "poached chicken-style" sauce is done!

“Here you go, Ms. Aria.”

“…Ahhh! How cruel! That’s unfair! This makes me want to try both!”

When I offered another spoon to Ms. Aria, who was still playing ghost behind me, she playfully hit my chest.

Hmm. I am satisfied!

Looking at the clock, enough time has passed… the meat should be done steaming by now, right?

“…It’s hot outside, shall we eat in the car?”

“True. If we eat outside, we’d need a proper setup, right? This might be better.”

When I opened the door to get the colander from the pit, a heavy air full of humidity and heat hit me. My body, spoiled by the comfortable temperature inside the car, immediately protested "Too hot, can’t handle it.”

I want to enjoy our wild cooking outdoors, but… glancing at everyone, they don’t seem particularly concerned about the dining location.

Today, let’s take it easy and enjoy our meal comfortably!

“Then, I’ll go get the meat and everything!”

“Wait, Rin. I’m coming too! There are monsters around, don’t go alone.”

“Rin! Don’t! There’s a strange presence!”

I had barely registered Mr. Ville and Ms. Aria’s sharp voices from behind as I jumped out with my leather gloves in hand.

Ah, right… before I can complete that thought, I feel something grab my body.

When I reflexively turn around, what I see is a pure white… wall?

In this unexpected emergency, the leather gloves slip from my weakened grip.

“Rin!”

Mr. Ville jumping out of the Camping Car with his sword ready, Mr. Ed and Mr. Xenon wielding their staves, Ms. Aria’s threads dancing in the air… everyone seems to move in slow motion…

‘Me! Take me too! Take this me with you!’

Gomamiso, with a desperate expression, slips between everyone’s feet and charges forward like a bullet. Just as Gomamiso is about to land in my arms, something digs into my stomach.

My body reflexively jerks, causing Gomamiso to miss and slam into the ground with a splat.

Looking down, I see something like fingers and claws… about as thick as my arm… embedded in my stomach…

You know, in really dangerous moments, humans really can’t make a sound…

…Ah, I’m dead…

As I become aware of my life flashing before my eyes, there is a whoosh of wind, and my body floats into the air.

‘By the grace of the Sea Goddess, I’ll overlook your tardiness, human!’

In the haze of fading consciousness, I remember that strange sound wave—neither a voice nor a noise—that reverberates through my brain with a high-pitched tone.

◆◇◆

Description of the illustration in this part of the chapter: Rin is grabbed by claws.

Before he could reach her, a massive figure landed behind Rin and snatched her body. As she turned to look behind her, her eyes widened, and the leather gloves in her hands fell to the ground with a soft thud.

Just as her companions burst out of the Camping Car and prepared their weapons, a small figure shot out from under their feet like a bullet.

‘FUMYAAAAAAAA!’

That shadow screaming at the top of its lungs… Gomamiso, Rin’s familiar, leaped toward the chest of the cook who was being held in the giant white creature’s grasp.

However.

The winged cat’s jump, which almost reached the cook, fell just short by one step.

The kitten fell nose-first at the dragon’s feet, letting out a squished-sounding cry.

Such a small life seemed beneath the notice of the white dragon, which beat its wings while maintaining its iron grip on the clearly limp Rin. Ville, having regained his senses, hurled a throwing dagger, but it was deflected by the wind pressure from the dragon’s wings. Unable to inflict even the slightest scratch on those white scales, the dagger uselessly embedded itself in the ground.

The massive body rose into the air amid swirling dust, leaving behind a roar that sounded almost like mocking laughter as it flew toward the mountain peak. Whether from the shock of being grabbed, or from fear beyond imagination, or perhaps both… the small body clutched in the dragon’s foreleg swayed lifelessly in its claws. She appeared to have lost consciousness.

As if to confirm this, Rin’s skill, the Camping Car, had already vanished without a trace.

“Damn it! Ed, what about magic?!”

“It’s impossible! At this distance, I can’t guarantee I won’t hit Rin!”

Ed shouted back, shaking his head while holding his short staff, responding to the voice that had unconsciously grown sharp.

“Aria! Use your tracking thread!”

“Already done!”

Among the members of the Gourmands who could only helplessly watch the white body disappear into the distance, Aria threw her thread as a last act of resistance. The thread that wrapped around the tip of the dragon’s tail was connected to the ball of thread in her hands.

It was called a Narg thread ball, a type of spider-people’s thread manipulation skill often used for tracking monsters. Regardless of physical barriers, it could follow a target up to a certain distance without breaking.

Aria’s hands holding the thread ball had somehow formed into a prayer position. Her pure white face, forehead pressed against her pale hands, was etched with desperate hope that the thread would remain within range.

‘…Naaaa… unaaaaaaa! Umyaaaaaaaa!’

The kitten, who had been lying flattened against the ground, struggled to its feet. With a heartbreaking cry like a lost kitten calling for its mother, it continued to call for Rin, who was now no more than a speck in the distance. Even as the kitten’s characteristically high-pitched voice grew hoarse and cracked, it continued to cry out.

The scene, which had frozen completely, began to move again at those mournful cries.

Ville strode over to where the cook had been standing moments ago and silently picked up the fallen leather gloves. He suddenly remembered that these familiar items were what Rin had been using since they first met. The memory of her bright smile saying "They’re really handy" flickered through his mind before fading away.

As if on impulse, He also picked up Gomamiso, still calling out desperately for Rin with its tiny red mouth wide open, and retrieved the dagger that had failed to fulfill its purpose and lay embedded in the ground.

Before they knew it, the clearing that had been peaceful just moments ago had become a scene of devastation.

Torn chunks of the Hot Water Monitor Lizard’s meat, carelessly scattered colanders, and steamed vegetables lay everywhere. Giant claw marks were clearly visible on the ground.

The only consolation was the absence of blood spatter or pools of blood, indicating that Rin hadn’t been injured.

“…Most likely, eating wasn’t the objective. If it had attacked Rin for food, there would have been no need to carry her away alive.”

Xenon, his lips pale and tightly pressed together, spoke quietly. As he gazed in the direction the dragon had flown, Ville continued his thought:

“Yeah, you’re right. If it was just hunting for food, it could have finished things with one bite from that massive mouth.”

“Then… what for? And seriously, no one mentioned there’d be a dragon that enormous!”

The dragon had neither crushed nor devoured Rin but had carried her away with relative care. There must be some purpose behind this. However, as Ed roared angrily beside Ville, they couldn’t grasp what that purpose might be. Moreover, the Melnoa Guildmaster had never mentioned anything about such a dragon appearing.

A strange sense of dissonance, like something was off or buttons misaligned, burned through Ville’s mind.

“…! It stopped! Xenon, the map!”

Aria’s sharp voice pulled Ville’s consciousness from the whirlpool of thoughts.

Looking up from his downcast gaze, he saw that Aria’s eyes, no longer pressed against her hands holding the thread ball, were fixed intently in a direction different from where the white dragon had flown.

She had likely made a rough estimate of the direction based on the thread’s length and angle. Without averting her pale, ice-colored eyes, Aria reached out toward Xenon. Xenon, unusually flustered, handed over the map, and Aria sat down on the ground without caring about dirtying her clothes. She spread out the map and pointed to a specific location.

The place indicated by her white finger was already marked in red.

“…This… this is our destination…!”

The area fell silent at Ed’s half-dazed words.

Yes. The place Aria pointed to was their current quest’s destination, where the spring was said to be located.

“The dragon that took Rin headed toward our destination…”

Ville’s instincts rang alarm bells as he wondered if this could really be a mere coincidence.

Adventurers attacked by a monster whose true form was unknown. The town’s legend. A kidnapped cook. A deity said to live atop the mountain. A giant white dragon. Pieces started clicking into place in Ville’s mind with almost audible snaps. As he repeatedly recalled the white dragon’s appearance in his memory, the name of a certain monster emerged from the depths of his recollection.

“…A Mirage Dragon, huh…?”

At those words, barely whispered yet loud enough for everyone to hear, three pairs of eyes and one cat’s gaze pierced through Ville.

It was a being closer to a mythical beast than a monster. A pure white dragon capable of showing various illusions to its opponents. Though not particularly strong in combat, its illusion magic was so realistic that it could cause mental disorders in those who tried to defeat it—a formidable dragon species that couldn’t be dealt with through ordinary means.

If the monster said to appear at the spring was this Mirage Dragon…

“It would explain why the adventurers sent to the spring all reported seeing different things…”

The words scraped out of Xenon’s throat in a completely hoarse voice.

Showing each adventurer intense illusions and driving them away from its territory after breaking their fighting spirit… That was exactly how a Mirage Dragon fought.

A lukewarm breeze swept through their group as they fell silent. Everyone was probably thinking about the opponent they would have to face.

It wasn’t an unbeatable foe. This species didn’t particularly like conflict, and even among dragons, their pure combat ability was considered rather low. However, the problem lay in their illusion magic, powerful enough to earn them the name "Mirage" Dragon. Its effects were so potent that strong magic resistance or special items were needed to break through.

“If you ask me whether my current equipment can break through the illusions…”

“To be honest, I’d say it’s fifty-fifty even for me.”

Xenon sighed in response to Ed’s words as they looked over each other’s gear. If even Xenon, who had the highest magic resistance in the party, gave it even odds, one could imagine how the other members would fare. But they had no choice but to act. Rin had become an indispensable member of the Gourmands, and they couldn’t just leave her behind.

Moreover, for Ville, Rin was his lifesaver. He had never forgotten how she helped him without asking for anything in return when he was on the verge of death from hunger. Even without that, Rin had become someone he could be completely at ease with, sharing similar food preferences and conversations. Rin jokingly called them soul mates, and that description was surprisingly apt.

How could he shamefully run away, abandoning someone who was both his lifesaver and spiritual other half? And it was clear that everyone in the group felt more or less the same way…

“Without Rin’s Camping Car, we’ll take the shortest route to our destination, whether it’s through beast trails or whatever.”

When Ville implied "If that’s okay," everyone nodded. Even Gomamiso, who had been hanging its head until now, nodded vigorously with gleaming golden eyes.

The entire party stood up with a rustle. If they were taking the shortest route, the path right outside this steam field would be the quickest way. As the others followed Ville’s lead and hurried to leave the clearing, Aria suddenly stopped and returned to the open space.

Before Ville could call out to her, Aria turned around abruptly. Her lips were tightly pressed together, and her eyes were glazed with a thin film of tears, which began to spill down her round cheeks. In front of the momentarily frozen group, Aria raised her face and called out:

“Before we go, let’s gather the colanders and stuff! So Rin can cook delicious food for us again!”

“…You’re right. Rin always looks so happy when she’s cooking. It would be a shame if she lost her cooking utensils.”

Ed was the first to respond to her determined cry. He rushed to Aria’s side as she wiped away her tears, gently putting his arm around her thin shoulders. Gomamiso, who followed them, was freely doing its own thing, nibbling on what appeared to be steamed potatoes and sticking its face into a pumpkin.

Watching the two people and one cat gathering scattered colanders and vegetables, Ville let out a sigh. Somehow, he felt the tension leave his shoulders. Suddenly, he recalled Rin’s face as she happily worked. The one responsible for the food in the Gourmands, who said she loved both cooking and eating.

“Come to think of it, we never got to try that mayo sauce.”

“Hehe… Rin will make it for us again. Yes, definitely!”

As Ville shrugged while trying to calm his growling stomach, he noticed Xenon standing beside him, covering his mouth with a slight smile. If Ville’s memory served him right, this was the first time he’d seen Xenon smile since Rin was taken.

Ville felt relieved as the members gradually began to regain their usual spirits. At the same time, he felt a certainty growing within him that they would meet Rin again.

“That’s right. Knowing Rin, she’ll probably be mad about missing out on eating the Hot Water Monitor Lizard, too.”

“I hope we can find some other ingredients along the way to cheer her up.”

As they thought about the meat that had vanished without ever reaching their mouths, even Xenon beside him showed a slightly disappointed expression.

Gomamiso returned proudly wearing a colander on its head. Behind it came Ed and Aria, walking closely together, carrying the remaining colanders and vegetables.

When Gomamiso placed its front paws on his thigh asking to be picked up, Ville lifted it easily. As he gently kneaded the kitten’s cheeks, Gomamiso purred and straightened its whiskers and tail.

“Well then, let’s go get your owner back, Gomamiso!”

‘Nyaa! Nyan!’

The kitten opened its bright red mouth wide and responded to Ville with a loud, clear cry.

The sun was still high. They could cover a considerable distance before sunset.

With the kitten fluttering its wings on his shoulder, and Aria and Ed joining the formation, the Gourmands, minus their cook, began their journey along the mountain path.

To retrieve their captured cook and gather around a table together once again.

◆◇◆

…It’s a bit sulfuric, but so warm and cozy.

It feels really nice, but I can sense something lightly patting my face…

…Huh? What? Am I being shaken by Datsueba near Sanzu River?

Wait, Datsueba in another world?

Have I somehow returned to death in Japan?

‘Wake up, girl. Won’t thee wake up!’

“Mmm… is this the first block of hell?”

‘What are thee mumbling about? Wake up already!’

Along with a clear, bell-like voice slightly lower than Ms. Aria’s, now something’s poking my cheek.

…What could it be… am I being poked with the end of an iron rod? Have I been sent to hell without even receiving King Enma’s judgment?

Though for a hell guard’s voice, it sounds awfully beautiful and charming…?

With a growing sense of foreboding, I slowly open my eyes.

Through the white steam, I can make out something enormous sitting leisurely. That pure white being, seeming to emit a soft light from within, is what fantasy games and manga would call a "dragon." The thick object in front of me… the thing that had been patting and poking my face is… its tail!?

The dragon, seemingly unconcerned with my surprise, lazily flutters its wings and opens its massive mouth.

‘Finally awake, are thee? For someone sent to be my caretaker, thee’re quite the sluggish girl.’

Instead of a roar or growl I was expecting, what came from that crimson mouth was perfectly understandable speech.

Wait… wait… wait…!

This is… this is too much to process at once!

I thought I died but I’m actually alive, and when I thought I was alive there’s a dragon speaking like a noble princess sitting in front of me, and it’s saying I’m its "caretaker"… What is this!? What is this?!

Despite my confusion, some parts of my mind remain calm, analyzing the situation. Must be Survival working unconsciously. I guess my mental fortitude has been enhanced enough not to panic or break down crying in front of such a huge dragon.

…Still, I couldn’t immediately respond to the dragon’s words…

“…Um? Uh, care…taker… what?”

‘Why do thee look so confused? I followed the covenant and properly requested thee. I said I would be recuperating here and needed a caretaker sent!’

Perhaps losing patience with my parrot-like responses, the dragon’s tail slams into the ground with such force it would put any "thud!" sound effect to shame.

Well, judging by how it gouged the ground, the impact was probably too powerful to be described by such a simple sound effect.

Looking around, I see hot water bubbling up everywhere, pooling into a large spring slightly below… Could this be the rumored source of salt…?

…Come to think of it, Melnoa’s Guildmaster… Ms. Aegis mentioned something about "There were reports of strange roars, so a party went to investigate and found a monster near the spring"… No way… No way…!

‘My, what a sluggish girl indeed… Are thee truly the caretaker sent to me?’

The princess dragon, seemingly suspicious of my prolonged silent contemplation, bares her fangs and fixes me with a stern glare.

“Eh… ah… well… I-I can cook!”

‘Oh! That’s splendid. A tired body needs nourishment, indeed.’

When I hastily raised my hand to declare my skill, those moon-like golden eyes widened sharply before immediately softening with interest.

…Ah, is this… safe? Is this a safe outcome!?

Well, if she wants nourishment, proper nutrition is definitely important.

The approach should be about replenishing vital energy… I think that’s right, but… I’ve never cooked for a dragon before… Will my usual cooking be okay…?

For now, while mentally listing nutritious ingredients and cooking methods, I decided to ask about the situation to buy some time.

After all, there was no sign of anything during cooking, and suddenly a giant dragon had just appeared out of nowhere—I still can’t believe it!

“Um, well… Being your caretaker is fine, but why were you in that clearing earlier?”

’I sensed the Goddess’s blessing and smelled delicious food. I thought perhaps it all was meant for me?’

“The delicious smell was… probably the steamed Monitor Lizard. But what’s this about a goddess’s blessing…?”

The white dragon, swaying her thick long tail gracefully, radiates a divine presence. I wonder what kind of blessing such a dragon could be talking about…

Suddenly, the tips of her tail and one of the swaying wings pointed precisely at my wrist and chest.

No way!? Could the goddess’s blessing be the Sea Goddess’s amulet I got from Mr. Rayer!?

Hmm? But the tail is pointing at my chest, where I don’t have anything blessing-like… Oh, wait! I do! I do! There’s that coral bead that fell from the sky when I helped that cheeky self-proclaimed Sea Goddess’s messenger at Ellarge’s beach! I turned it into a pendant with a leather cord since I was worried about losing it!

When I hurriedly pull it out from inside my clothes, the dragon’s eyes melt like honey.

‘Yes, that’s it. Since ancient times, it’s been customary to send those with blessings to attend to dragons.’

“Aaah… I had no idea this was a blessing!? This is the first I’ve heard of this!”

That orca… casually tossing something like this at me! If it had such an effect, you should have told me earlier!

Suppressing the urge to stamp my feet in frustration, I sneak a glance at the dragon before me. Compared to when I woke up, she seems a bit calmer now.

It seems we can communicate, and although she’s hungry, it doesn’t look like I’m about to be eaten right away!

…Though she probably grabbed me with those front legs to bring me here… It’s so huge…

“By the way, what should I call you…? Lady Dragon?”

‘Do thee call humans just “human”? Well, never mind. Thee are my long-awaited caretaker and provider of food. I shall permit thee to use my name. From now on, thee may call me Meel.’

Oh wow! From the way she was speaking, I thought she’d say "How dare a lowly human presume to speak my name…!" but this princess dragon—now Lady Meel—is surprisingly lenient. Well, in my mind, I’ll call her Millie or princess dragon!

…She mentioned me being a provider of food—could she possibly share the same foodie trait as everyone in my party?

“Thank you! Lady Meel it is! Do you have any particular cravings right now? Sweet, sour, rich, light?”

‘What! Are you skilled enough to prepare dishes according to my preferences!?’

Millie’s eyes widened dramatically, and the corners of her large mouth definitely turned upward. I could almost see shoujo manga-style flowers blooming behind her.

…And… until just now she was calling me “thee,” but now it’s changed to a more familiar form! This princess dragon must definitely be a foodie. If that’s the case, then surely the quickest way to survive is to win over the foodie princess dragon—Millie—by satisfying her stomach.

In that case, there’s only one thing I need to do. To survive from here on out, I just need to cook, cook, and cook more!

…However, executing this plan requires the Camping Car…

I left it out in the clearing earlier, but I wonder if I can summon it here now…

With utmost seriousness, I concentrate on manifesting the Camping Car.

After a brief pause… just as I thought it wouldn’t work, I sense something heavy landing behind me with a thud.

‘Wha-! What was that presence!? Girl, what did you do!?’

“I just deployed my skill!”

Since I haven’t set her as a passenger, Millie probably can’t see the Camping Car. But she must have felt the impact of its landing, as she’s now wide-eyed and tense with suspicion.

Before the princess dragon who was baring her fangs with obvious wariness, I raised both hands high to show I meant no resistance.

At any rate, with the Camping Car and its stored ingredients, this situation is in my hands!

Now… now I can see a path to victory!

Time to start the charm offensive!

“Now then, Lady Meel. What would you like to eat today? Monitor Lizard meat? Grilled Storm Eel? Or would you prefer vegetables? Please, whatever your heart desires!”

Standing before the wide-open door, with my mysterious skill filled with dreams, hopes, and ingredients behind me, a smile naturally spread across my face.

“Oh, right. My appearance might flicker in and out a bit, but that’s just due to my skill, so please don’t worry about it!”

“Ah, I see… I don’t know what your skill is, but it’s quite bizarre…”

Before entering the Camping Car, I make sure to give Meel a heads-up. After all, to people who aren’t registered as passengers, my appearance seems to flicker in and out. I figured it wouldn’t leave a good impression if I shocked her too much!

The inside of the Camping Car is cleaner than I expected, with Meel seeing me off with a puzzled expression. The two types of sauce I made and the cut raw vegetables are all intact. Given how Ville and the rest had burst out earlier, I thought it would be more of a mess.

Still… even though I said all that earlier… what should I make?

For now, I think outdoor cooking would be best since it would make Meel feel more at ease seeing the ingredients and cooking process. If I do it barbeque-style, she can see how it’s being made and the cooking steps, so the princess dragon won’t have to worry about "what if there’s poison…" or harbor other suspicions.

Since I have them, I might as well put these leftover sauces and veggies to good use!

Earlier, I steamed the Hot Water Monitor Lizard, but this time, I’ll grill it whole with the skin on, make some Pão de Queijo using Muche flour, and serve it with vegetables!

In my imagination, it sounds delicious, yup.

And given the dragon’s size, maybe rice would be a good addition? I still have frozen grilled Storm Eel leftovers and some sauce, so maybe I could make an eel rice bowl…!? If I want to put in a bit more effort, I think making grilled rice balls with the eel would be delicious too.

…Alright, that settles it…!

“Heave-ho! Here we go!”

‘Why are you making such a racket… what are you planning to do?’

“I’m planning to start cooking!”

Meel’s eyes widen as she watches me carry my portable grill from the Camping Car’s infinite storage. Come to think of it, Ville mentioned during our first meeting that he’d never seen this kind of grill before, so maybe this is Meel’s first time seeing one too?

Anyway, while Meel watches curiously, I set up the grill, arrange the mini table as a prep station, set up the camping chairs, and prepare everything for outdoor cooking. After gathering some scattered branches and combining them with leftover charcoal from the last time to prepare the fire, I realized I had forgotten the lighter inside the car.

And I still need to get the ingredients too.

“Lady Meel, Lady Meel! I need to prepare some other ingredients, so I’ll be disappearing again for a bit!”

‘You don’t need to announce it every time… Besides, I’m not particularly interested in your skill. You might as well reveal what it is, you know?’

“Hmm… I suppose that would be the quickest way…”

As I’m about to head back into the car after calling out again, the princess dragon scoffs haughtily and leans back with a smug expression.

Well, sure, that would be the most reliable way… but is it even possible to register a dragon this huge as a passenger…?

While thinking that it might be impossible to register a creature beyond the Camping Car’s capacity despite how capable it is, I try focusing with a glimmer of hope… and then.

‘What is this iron box…!?’

“Ah, you can see it now, Lady Meel! The registration worked… I see…”

The iron box—the Camping Car—suddenly appeared before her, and the princess dragon widened her eyes in shock for what felt like the umpteenth time today. At this point, I’ve gotten used to seeing that expression!

Wait, it let me register a dragon this huge as a passenger…! Come to think of it, the manual mentioned it uses spatial magic, so maybe it can accommodate really large things…?

But more importantly, right now, I should give a simple and truthful explanation about the Camping Car. If she questions me later, it’ll be a hassle, and going into detail would be exhausting.

“Hmm… it’s a box that only specific people I approve can see, and I can store ingredients, cooking utensils, and various other things in it!”

‘I see… so it’s a cooking-specialized skill? That’s perfect for my caretaker!’

When I explained the function very simply, Meel’s face broke into a broad smile. Yes, this princess dragon is definitely a glutton! If I can win her over through her stomach, there’s a high chance of surviving this!

“So, I’m going to go back and get some ingredients now. Would you like some grilled Hot Water Monitor Lizard meat, Storm Eel, vegetables, and various other things?”

‘Hot Water Monitor Lizard… Could it be the one that was being steamed on those rocks earlier!? That was quite good. If there’s more, I’d like to try it again.’

“…Ah… so you ate that… well, that’s fine…”

Come to think of it, she did say something earlier about "smelling something delicious." When she reached those rocks hungry and found cooked meat there, plus someone with the Sea Goddess’s blessing showed up—she probably thought "This must be my caretaker!" and brought me along.

Well, at least I can cook!

And I’m glad she enjoyed the Monitor Lizard. Though we didn’t get to eat any! We didn’t get to eat any! This is important, so I’ll say it twice!

“Then I guess the Hot Water Monitor Lizard will be the main dish. Anyway, I’ll go get the ingredients!”

I dash into the car and grab the chunk of lizard meat and bottled sauce from the fridge. Taking the grilled Storm Eel from the freezer and grabbing a lighter, I hurry back outside.

The charcoal catches fire well, and in no time the flames spread steadily to surrounding branches, strong enough to ignite them.

I place a grill rack on top, put the lizard meat skin-side down, and sprinkle it roughly with salt and pepper…

As I start cooking outdoors, the princess dragon’s gaze becomes intensely focused on my every move. Meel’s face while watching me is exactly the same as my party members when I’m cooking!

‘Hohoho… As expected of one who bears two blessings of the Sea Goddess. You’re quite different from those other rude bunch!’

“Other… rude bunch?”

“Yes. While I was leisurely soaking in the hot spring, they came in groups! At first, I thought they might be my caretakers, but they not only lacked blessings, they even pointed their blades at me!”

When I probe after sensing something ominous, the princess dragon becomes increasingly talkative in an excellent mood…! Before my speechless self, she declares "I scattered those insolent ones without hesitation!" and laughs heartily…

…Wait a sec… why does this story sound familiar?!

Specifically, it sounds just like the story I heard in Melnoa’s guildmaster’s office—the one about the adventurers who went to gather hot spring water for making salt, only to be attacked by monsters and barely make it back alive!?

“Ah… did you perhaps… show them some kind of intense illusion…?”

“Oh, you understand well! I showed them what they ‘feared most’! They should be grateful I spared their lives!”

…Alright, we have confirmation! Officer, over here! The spring’s monster is none other than this princess dragon!

Eeeeeh…! So I’m standing in front of this quest’s boss! And once again, we’ve got quite a laid-back boss here!

Following Gomamiso, another boss that can be won over with food—is this really okay!?

“I-I see…! I’ll do my best to make some delicious food!”

‘Yes. I look forward to it. I can see you have good skills and intuition.’

Though I ended up speaking stiffly, fortunately, the cheerful princess dragon didn’t seem to notice.

…Come to think of it, if I can successfully win over this princess dragon with food, maybe I could negotiate to let people draw water from the spring. I’ll be leaving after this, but perhaps we could arrange for the guild to send adventurers with food in exchange for permission to collect spring water!

Well, to make that happen, I need to survive first!

As the Hot Water Monitor Lizard meat begins to sizzle and release its juices over the direct flame, I hold it down with a fork and carefully cut into it without breaking the skin. The skin is so tough it’s acting like a pot or frying pan! Thanks to that, none of the meat juices are spilling out. Amazing, Hot Water Monitor Lizard! In a way, I don’t even need cookware!

If I keep cooking it slowly like this, I can just slice off portions as needed, kind of like an improvised churrasco… hmm? Wait… portions?

For Millie, this chunk of meat would be a single bite, but there’s no plate big enough to serve it on.

“Lady Meel, how should I serve your meal? Um… I don’t have a dish big enough to match your… stature…”

‘Is that all you’re worried about? I permit you to attend to me. You shall serve me directly with your own hands!’

As I nervously broached the subject, Lady Meel laughed heartily and winked.

…Direct service… in other words, she wants me to feed her!

In that case, I should minimize the use of forks and other cutlery! Feeding assistance for a dragon—that’s going to be super difficult since I have no idea how to go about it!

So… while the eel rice balls can stay as is, instead of Pão de Queijo, I should wrap the lizard in crepe-like dough to make it like a wrap sandwich! Then she can eat it in one bite!

“…Time to change plans…! Flour and eggs… ah, and I’ll mix in some Muche flour too since I heard it’s nutritious!”

Seeing me busily going back and forth between the Camping Car and the grill to redo the preparations after this sudden change of plans, Meel’s mouth curves into a knowing smile.

…I know that face! It’s that strong-character attitude of "Work hard for my sake!”

Damn it…! I hate how well that suits this princess dragon! Here I am thinking about her nutrition and trying to make sure she gets plenty of it! If I had a handkerchief, I’d be dramatically biting it in frustration!

But well, I do value my life, and if my cooking can be of help, then…

Oh! If I’m making rice balls, I need to get the rice cooking now! Washing the rice, prepping the crepe batter… things just got hectic!

“And so, here’s what I’ve made!”

‘Hmm… how peculiar…!’

Instead of just a plate, what is prominently displayed on the mini table I have been using as a prep station are the finally completed spicy wrap sandwiches made with the Hot Water Monitor Lizard meat!

I made the wrap by mixing Muche flour with wheat flour, cooking it slightly thicker than a crepe, and then filling it with barbequed lizard meat and fresh vegetables. Thanks to the Muche flour making it chewy, even though I made it a bit thick, it didn’t tear or crack—it cooked perfectly!

These wrap sandwiches are piled up into quite a mountain… it is quite a sight to behold!

“Here you go, Lady Meel. Say ahh.”

When I hold up the oversized wrap sandwich and encourage her to open her mouth, the princess dragon obliges without hesitation. As I pop the wrap sandwich into her mouth lined with sharp fangs, her massive jaws snap shut right in front of my nose.

That was close! I could have lost my hand if I wasn’t careful!

Ignoring my sense of danger and concern, the princess dragon chews with "nom nom" sounds, swallows with a gulp, and then her eyes fly wide open.

Description of the illustration in this part of the chapter: Rin with a wrap sandwich in her hands and Meel with her mouth wide open.

‘What is this!? Who made this!? Bring them to me at once!’

“It was me? You were watching me make it, weren’t you!?”

‘…Ah… indeed you were!’

I couldn’t help but retort when Millie started showing off her fangs with her honey-colored eyes gleaming, acting like some food critic… but it’s not my fault, you know? It’s the princess dragon’s fault for starting this silly act!

Well, Meel seems to be aware of that and obediently retracts her fangs at my comment.

‘Hmm… I never expected such a lowly lizard to be this delicious…!’

“Right? When I tasted it, I thought it was quite exceptional!”

I nodded back as the princess dragon nodded enthusiastically while munching on the spicy lizard wrap sandwich.

…Yes! This Hot Water Monitor Lizard was incredibly delicious, just as Survival said! The meat was tender yet had this springy texture that pushed back against your teeth. How should I describe it… like it bounces and bursts, making your jaw happy with every bite? It wasn’t the kind of meat that overwhelmed you with fattiness, but because of its lightness, the umami flavor stood out even more… Actually, this might be some top-tier meat…?

It was such excellent meat that I regretted Meel devouring most of it!

‘My, what terrifying dishes you create, girl…! The steamed lizard meat was already delicious, but properly prepared like this, it’s truly exceptional!’

“I’m glad you like it. If you don’t mind, would you finish the rest at your leisure while I start working on another dish?”

‘Hmm, indeed… If it were anyone else, I would be angry at them for abandoning their duties to me… but since it’s you… Very well, I permit it. Show me an even more delicious meal!’

“That’s quite a responsibility. But I’m sure the next one will be delicious too!”

From inside the Camping Car that I have left open, a melody announces that the rice is done cooking. The grilled eel fillet I’d partially thawed in the microwave should be completely defrosted by now too.

Time to start Operation: Lure Millie with Aromas!

I dart back to the Camping Car and gather everything I need: the pot of freshly cooked rice, the thawed grilled eel, and the leftover grilled eel sauce. All preparations are complete!

I place the Storm Eel’s grilled fillet on the portable grill where I’d been cooking the monitor lizard meat earlier, transfer the rice to the largest bowl, and mix in the sauce thoroughly.

It already smells delicious at this point!

The princess dragon’s eyes are glued to the contents of the bowl! But you know what… this is going to get even better!

As the grilled fillet starts sizzling with its own oils, I start brushing on the remaining sauce. The savory aroma that instantly spreads through the air is enough to make anyone want to dig into a bowl of rice right then and there.

‘H-Hey, girl! What… what is this smell!?’

“It’s grilled Storm Eel! I happened to get my hands on some earlier.”

Meel’s eyes sparkle as she fidgets about, peeking this way expectantly.

This seems to be going quite well!

As I continue the cycle of brushing on the sauce, flipping, grilling, and brushing again, I can see the princess dragon’s gaze growing more and more eager.

Hehehe… it must be quite difficult to resist this aroma! It’s famous enough to be the subject of old rakugo stories. No matter the time or place, the scent of soy sauce and sugar caramelizing over heat is guaranteed to make mouths water.

“Ouch! Hot!”

Normally, I’d be using my trusty leather gloves, but since I dropped them…

I managed to transfer the Storm Eel fillets to the cutting board using the spare work gloves I had. I didn’t get burned, but… losing those leather gloves is going to make outdoor cooking so much harder…

Holding back my urge to complain, I cut the finished grilled eel into pieces—a bit large for me but probably small for the princess dragon—and used them as filling for rice balls made with the sauce-flavored rice I prepared earlier!

I could clearly see Meel’s eyes light up even from this distance. Well, the princess dragon’s size does make it easier to see…

While being showered with an excited gaze, I wrestle with the rice using the bowl and plastic wrap to shape it. The sheer size of it makes it quite challenging…! It’s like trying to juggle multiple things at once… fixing one side only makes another fall apart!

Somehow, I managed to get everything into shape, but by then… each rice ball was as big as a little kid’s head!

‘So… is it finished now!?’

“Not yet! The final step is… this!”

The princess dragon, who had long since finished the wrap sandwiches, raised her upper body and stretched her neck toward me excitedly. As Millie watches anxiously, I dramatically place the eel rice ball on top of the portable grill!

Immediately, there is a crackling sound of moisture popping, and the sweet, savory aroma of sauce and carbohydrates cooking becomes even stronger.

This extra step seems unexpected, as the princess dragon’s honey-colored eyes grow as round as full moons.

‘What! What! You’re going to grill it!? W-Won’t it burn? I would be fine with it ungrilled, you know?’

“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful not to burn it! Of course, it would be delicious as is, but don’t you think grilling makes it even better? The outside gets crispy while the inside stays fluffy…”

‘…Grr… frustrating, but you’re right…!’

As she stretches her snout toward me hesitantly, as if reluctant yet curious, I gently reach out. Since she neither pulls away nor resists, I lightly pat and stroke her.

Oooooh… the princess dragon seems to be enjoying this more than expected.

Her honey-colored gaze darts back and forth several times between me and the grilling rice ball before her large eyes finally lower in acceptance.

The princess dragon’s face, which has nuzzled against my palm, pulls away somewhat reluctantly.

Could it be that Meel is actually quite friendly? Ah, well… she did chase away other adventurers though. I’m sure Meel has her reasons, but I really wish she’d open up the hot spring… the source of salt… ah.

…The hot spring… source…

“By the way, Lady Meel, you mentioned earlier that you were soaking in that spring?”

‘Indeed. The water here is like the birth water I was bathed in when I was born. This water suits my body best!’

“Hmm… by the way, what would you say if I told you I could make a delicious side dish using that water…?”

While tending to the grilling rice balls, I casually glanced at Millie, making sure to convey the unspoken message: “I could cook something amazing with your permission, you knooow? (wink, wink)”

Sure enough, the princess dragon seems to catch my meaning, suddenly opening her previously lowered eyes wide and staring at me intensely.

Hehehe… I knew you’d take the bait, Lady Meel!

‘Wh-what did you say…!? You can cook something with this water…!?’

“I can think of at least two dishes right now, and one could be prepared immediately…”

I deliberately teased the princess dragon, who was trembling from head to toe in pure white.

Hehe… let’s see how long a foodie can resist when there’s food dangling right in front of them…

Though Meel’s body was fidgeting restlessly, her eyes never left me. Perhaps she was trying to decode the menu from my every move, or maybe she thought I might do something strange if she looked away…

After opening and closing her mouth several times as if unsure whether to speak, the princess dragon finally brings her face closer to me.

…Yes! Looks like hunger won out!

‘You dare to tease me, you impudent girl! Very well, I permit it! Use the water there to make this so-called “delicious dish” of yours!’

“Yes, with pleasure!”

While Meel tries to maintain a frustrated appearance, grinding her teeth for the show, the corners of her mouth seem to be curling into a smile. But more than that—her eyes! They’re practically sparkling with anticipation for something delicious! There isn’t a shred of intimidation left!

Responding cheerfully to the princess dragon, just like a lively restaurant worker, I immediately dash into the Camping Car.

Destination: the fridge… and within it, fresh eggs! Survival clearly states they’re safe for raw consumption. I just have to trust it! I select eggs of similar size from the slightly mismatched bunch and place them in a metal strainer. I’ll also need a rope to hang the strainer and some pegs I usually use to secure my fish basket.

With supplies in hand, I head to the hot spring!

“After all, hot spring eggs are a must!”

‘Hot spring… eggs?’

“Whether the white is wobbly and the yolk is creamy, or just the yolk is fully firm, both versions are delicious…!”

‘Grrrr…! You’re making my mouth water…!’

I can hear Meel’s agonized groans as she watches me scurrying about, but I decide to ignore that for now. As I tie the rope to the strainer and approach the hot spring, I can feel the heat just by holding my hand near it.

Well… while this temperature might be perfect for the princess dragon, it’s definitely too hot for humans to bathe in. But for hot spring eggs? It’s perfect!

With a splash, the strainer sinks into the spring. Bubbles rise up through the gaps between the eggs—Meel and I watch them in silence.

My mysterious smartphone, which I’ve never once charged, yet its battery never seems to drain… Well, there’s no signal here anyway, so all I can use it for is setting a timer!

Let’s see… maybe twenty minutes… no, better check after fifteen minutes. Leave them too long and they’ll become hard-boiled eggs. Well, hot spring boiled eggs would be tasty too! But right now, I want those soft, custardy hot spring eggs.

“Alright! While the eggs are cooking in the hot spring… these rice balls are getting a nice color!”

‘Oh yes! I’d forgotten about those!’

“Now to flip them over…!”

While we’re talking, the rice balls I left over the low heat start making sizzling sounds. The aroma is getting quite fragrant…!

When I flip them with tongs, they show a beautiful golden-brown color. Direct fire is the best…! That subtle smoky addition is wonderful too. Even though there’s barely any wind, I can feel the smell of grilling sauce hitting my stomach directly. Just as I move them to a stronger flame to char the surface a bit more… There’s a sound of something pushing through the bushes, followed by a familiar voice.

“RIN, RIN!!! Are you alright?!!!!”

“Huh!? Mr. Ville!?”

Mr. Ville, looking like he’d just forced his way through the undergrowth, and behind him, the familiar faces of everyone else…

Caught completely off guard, I nearly drop a grilling rice ball from the net, hastily catching it with my tongs while blinking repeatedly in surprise.

…Well, yes… it’s Mr. Ville… Ms. Aria, Mr. Ed, and Mr. Xenon are all here too…!

…Which means…!?

‘You idiooooot!!!! How dare you leave me behind!!!!’

“Oof!!!!!”

A brown bullet cuts through the air and strikes me in the solar plexus. Before I can recover from that impact, Gomamiso follows up with a merciless headbutt. The tackle’s aftermath hasn’t even faded yet—getting hit repeatedly like this is rough! This is definitely taking my HP into the red zone!

When my blurred vision finally clears, I find Mr. Ville firmly gripping my shoulders, having approached without me noticing.

His usually sharp eyes have softened at the corners, showing a complicated expression that seems angry, tearful, and joyful all at once… his strawberry-colored eyes, slightly moistened, fix on me.

“Rin, you… you…! You’re safe… well, you seem safe…”

“Oh, ah, yes! Thanks to that dragon being a foodie, I somehow survived!”

Normally, this would be an emotional reunion with a companion who’d been kidnapped by a dragon! But… with the savory smell of grilled eel and rice wafting around, and me still cooking as usual, it’s kind of… lacking in gravity, isn’t it…?

While I’m thinking this, I suddenly find myself wrapped in Mr. Ville’s tight embrace. Then something crashes into my back with a thud. The sweet, flower-like scent belongs to Ms. Aria. I can feel her slightly cool body temperature even through our clothes. Gomamiso leaps onto my head as if declaring "This is my spot!" while Mr. Ed and Mr. Xenon complete the circle by wrapping their arms around from the outside.

“Riiin… Riiin!”

“When you were taken, we were beside ourselves with worry…!”

“We believed in you, but I’m so glad you’re alive, Riiin!!”

Starting with Ms. Aria, who’s calling my name through tears, everyone squeezes me tight. Mr. Xenon’s relieved sigh, Mr. Ed’s slightly tearful voice, Gomamiso silently scratching my head, and Mr. Ville just wordlessly holding me…

Though we weren’t apart that long, it feels like we’ve been separated for ages…!

Just as my nose starts to tingle and I have to sniff back tears… a thunderous impact reverberates from the ground. I quickly look up to see an enraged princess dragon slamming her tail against the ground.

Everyone instantly breaks from our group hug into battle formation, sheltering me behind them.

‘Who are you lot!? Barging into my territory like this—you must not value your lives!’

“Shut up! We’re here to take back our cook!”

‘Mine! Mine mine mine! This me absolutely won’t give her up!!!’

The small hot spring clearing becomes a three-way standoff between Meel, who rises up wreathed in anger, the Gourmands members brandishing their weapons with unprecedented killing intent, and Gomamiso, who has somehow transformed into its adult form and is fluttering its wings.

The tense atmosphere and killing intent make my skin crawl.

In this powder keg situation, the first to move is—!

“Ah! The hot spring eggs! Everyone, time out!”

As my smartphone alarm rings, I rush toward the spring while shouting, leaving everyone else frozen in place, completely thrown off balance.

Comic relief? Sad clown? Call me what you want! I just can’t handle tense atmospheres!

Behind me, as I approach the spring, the seeds of conflict are still smoldering.

‘…Grrr… Though I’d love to tear you apart right now, my dear caretaker says to wait!’

The princess dragon’s disgruntled voice is accompanied by her tail smacking the ground.

“Don’t mess with us! Rin is our cook!”

‘Haaah~!? She is MY caretaker!?’

I hear Mr. Ville’s sharp voice cutting down Millie’s statement, and Gomamiso’s disgruntled growling response.

Though my back is turned while I work, I can perfectly imagine everyone’s expressions…!

The explosive atmosphere keeps building!

I need to do something about both these eggs and this situation…!

“Um… why don’t we all calm down and talk while eating some hot spring eggs?”

I hold up the strainer full of eggs.

Every eye in the clearing fixes on me, and someone’s throat audibly gulps.

…This is probably the crucial moment if I want to resolve this conflict…!

Taking an egg from the strainer, still hot even through the work gloves, I hold it up while looking around at everyone.

Eyes of various colors are looking at me… no… at the egg.

“Alright, everyone, gather ‘round! What I hold here is a fresh-laid egg! But this ain’t just any ordinary egg! This here’s a hot spring egg, baptized in the waters of Melnoa Volcano’s spring!”

As I rotate the egg with a turn of my wrist, everyone’s gaze follows it in unison. I feel like an orchestra conductor! Well, maybe a slightly clumsy one!

Carrying the strainer and holding up the egg, I slowly lead everyone forward with the air of either Liberty Leading the People or the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Our destination: the makeshift cooking station with plates on it! Seeing is believing, after all—it’s faster to show them the real thing!

Just as I find a suitable small bowl, feeling everyone’s gaze filled with anticipation and curiosity for the unknown ingredient, I tap the eggshell against the table.

And with my final words of introduction… here comes the grand reveal!

“Behold this hot spring egg, within lies the golden yolk, so magnificent it would put imperial carriages to shame! May you all applaud when you see the creamy yolk and silky whites!”

As I crack open the pale blue shell, a wobbly, translucent sphere drops heavily into the small bowl. The impact breaks the white membrane, revealing a brilliantly orange yolk inside.

Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! It’s a hot spring egg!

And it’s my favorite type too, where the yolk is set just right!

Unable to contain her excitement for this unfamiliar taste, the princess dragon’s lips curl into a smile—at least, I think it’s a smile—and she suddenly spreads her wings wide. Fortunately, it isn’t too forceful, just enough to create a gentle breeze. Like an embodiment of fidgety excitement, Millie sways her body while sneaking glances at me with her full-moon eyes, stretching her neck forward.

‘Ohhh… I’ve never seen an egg prepared like this before! Tell me, can we eat it just as it is?’

“I personally like to add a dash of soy sauce and put it on rice, but I’ve already used the rice for something else…”

As the princess dragon fixes her gaze on the small bowl in my hands, I gesture toward the grilled Storm Eel rice balls cooking nicely on my portable grill. Her golden eyes immediately distort in shock, but there are other ways to eat hot spring eggs!

Ideally, I’d make proper broth concentrate from scratch, but honestly, just a splash of noodle sauce or white broth concentrate—a traditional broth that is lighter in color—is more than enough to bring out the flavor!

So, I crack a few hot spring eggs into a large bowl and drizzle them with a simple sauce based on white broth concentrate…

“Here you go, Lady Meel. Say ‘ahh’”

‘Mm! Quickly! Quickly!’

“Hey, Rin!”

As I offer the bowl to the swaying dragon, an enormous jaw opens wide before me.

Mr. Ville and the rest instantly assume battle positions, probably thinking I’m about to be eaten. I signal them with my eyes to stand down as I smoothly pour the hot spring eggs with broth into Millie’s mouth.

With a soft splashing sound, the whites and deep orange-yellow yolks spill into the crimson mouth. Just as I pull my hand away, the jaws snap shut.

As bold as ever, Princess Dragon…! Is my arm okay?

As I instinctively check that my hand is still there, Mr. Ville quickly rushes to my side. The princess dragon seems too preoccupied with the hot spring eggs on her tongue to notice his approach. After breathing a sigh of relief at seeing my uninjured hand, Mr. Ville glares at Millie with such intensity you can almost hear it crackle.

Um… how should I explain this…?

“Are you alright, Rin!? That dragon is far too rough…!”

“Ah… she’s not really a bad dragon at heart. She’s just a bit of a glutton, and gets carried away when food is involved…”

“Not a bad dragon…? What do you mean? Wasn’t she attacked adventurers?”

While addressing the increasingly indignant Mr. Ville, I steal a glance at Lady Meel. She appears to be savoring the afterglow of the eggs, eyes narrowed in contentment.

…I know It feels weird saying this, considering I was kidnapped, but Lady Meel isn’t "inherently evil!" She just tends to act according to non-human ethics and has a habit of pulling powerful character moves…

“…For now, why don’t we all sit down and talk? The grilled eel rice balls are ready, and we have the hot spring eggs too…”

As I distribute the grilled rice balls onto a large plate, having managed to flip them just before they could burn, and offer the hot spring eggs, Mr. Ville’s frown deepens.

Weeeeell, I understand how he feels!

He’s probably thinking about what kind of conversation we could possibly have with someone who is likely the cause of this quest and who kidnapped me, a party member…

I understand that things could easily escalate into a fight with everyone’s blood running hot…

But that’s exactly why I want them to listen… After all, wouldn’t it be better to settle things through discussion rather than combat, if possible? It would be less draining for everyone.

I clap my hands while alternating glances between Millie, who seems to have finally come down from her hot spring egg high, and Mr. Ville, who still looks unconvinced.

“Let’s fill our stomachs and talk things through, alright?”

◆◇◆

After that, I somehow managed to mediate between the disgruntled princess dragon and our Gourmands members while we ate the Storm Eel rice balls and the hot spring eggs. Though the atmosphere was still tense, I must note that the grilled rice balls filled with kabayaki Storm Eel were exceptionally delicious.

Just the aroma alone, a blend of soy sauce and sugar caramelized over direct flame, was enough to whet the appetite. But then, the fat from the storm eel kabayaki seeped into the rice, giving the surface a perfectly crisp finish. You could even see the sizzling fat dancing on the crispy crust!

Breaking the grilled rice ball in half released a cloud of hot, white steam, carrying the rich scent of the sauce throughout the air. Inside, the rice had absorbed the sauce and fat, giving it a glossy amber hue—just looking at it made my stomach growl.

By the way, while I used sauce-seasoned rice this time, it’s delicious with plain white rice too!

My recommendation is to make grilled rice balls in a sandwich toaster! Just pack in a generous amount of rice and cook it on ultra-low heat for a long time. Technically, it might not even be a "grilled" rice ball… When the surface turns golden brown, brush it with soy sauce, let it dry while cooking more, brush again with soy sauce… repeat this process several times, and you’ll get a perfectly crispy exterior with fluffy insides! Try spreading some butter on this version at the end! The soy sauce-infused rice is already delicious, but when the rich aroma and sweetness of butter fills your mouth… it becomes dangerously good—you’ll find yourself devouring it despite the generous portion of rice!

…I wonder if they have sandwich toasters in this world? I should look into that when I have time. Just imagining it makes me want to eat some right now…!

As I harbor these thoughts, the princess dragon’s tail thumps against the ground after she swallows her rice balls. At the same time, Mr. Ville set down the small bowl that had contained the hot spring eggs with a thud on the portable table.

“I understand the situation… but…”

‘This is unacceptable!’

Yup, I figured it would come to this!

Still, both sides have put away their weapons and killing intent, and though things are tense, they listened to the explanation, so I think I managed to smooth things over a bit…

As for our party, they’ve calmed down quite a bit, especially since I was unharmed. I suppose having food in their stomachs helped ease the hunger-induced irritation too.

So I thought I might as well try one more push using food!

While breaking open a hot spring egg for the still-disgruntled princess dragon, I gently peek into her large moon-colored eyes.

“But don’t you think this could be good for you, Lady Meel? Otherwise, adventurers will keep coming to subjugate you.”

‘Hah! I’ll just drive them away!’

“I’m sure you could, but if you let us draw some hot spring water, I can arrange to have your favorite meals delivered… and you could have hot spring eggs again too?”

When Millie snorts dismissively, I wave the hot spring egg soaked in broth near her nose. I can swear I saw her massive body waver just a bit.

That’s right… the poor princess dragon, her huge body makes it impossible to crack open hot spring eggs… or rather, the eggs are too small for her to even pick up… So if she wants to eat hot spring eggs, she needs someone else’s help… I thought I might use this as a starting point for negotiations.

‘Grrr… you strike where it hurts…! However, the food being delivered wouldn’t be made by you, would it?’

“I’m the cook for the Gourmands after all. But the food from the restaurant at the foot of the mountain was delicious too!”

Millie looks at me with pleading eyes while grinding her teeth, but there’s nothing I can do about that.

That said, the food from the town’s shops was made by professionals, so of course, it was incredibly good. Plus, with so many different kinds of restaurants, I doubt she’d ever get bored… right?

When I added this explanation, it seemed the princess dragon wasn’t quite convinced…

She stared at me with reproachful, intense eyes before letting out a sigh and closing them.

After a moment, she opened them again…

‘…I suppose I could consider your request…’

Though wrapped in reluctance, those words are undoubtedly ones of acceptance.

…Even so…

“Lady Meel! Thank you so mu—”

‘There is a condition!’

Just as everyone was about to throw up their arms in celebration—myself included—Millie sharply cut us off with her declaration.

Ugh… so there’s a condition, huh?

Well, compared to before when she stubbornly refused to even listen, this is still progress.

Still, I wonder what kind of conditions she’ll come up with…

As I wait for Meel’s words with slight trepidation, her large mouth slowly opens.

‘There’s a swamp ahead with a huge catfish. That catfish is extremely delicious. If you can prepare it to my liking, I shall grant your wish.’

“Catfish!? Oh… uh, cooking… catfish cooking, huh…”

After stating her condition, Millie turned away with a huff, leaving me momentarily frozen.

Even I’m having trouble thinking of catfish dishes… the only thing that comes to mind is tempura, maybe…?

While I was lost in thought, our party members were already fired up.

Though they had calmed down somewhat, it seems they cannot suppress their desire to get back at the princess dragon and show her up.

“Excellent! Whatever it takes, we’re getting our cook back!”

“Mm! Rin is one of us!”

“We won’t let you have your way!”

“The catfish around here are Hell Catfish, right? Be prepared, because we’ll bring you mountains of them.”

‘Me too! Me too will swoosh swoosh! Catch big fishy!’

Following Mr. Ville’s roar, Ms. Aria started shadowboxing, throwing punches repeatedly. Beside her, Mr. Ed stood up looking ready to flip someone off, while Mr. Xenon, who seemed to have already figured out where to find the prey, wore a spine-chilling smile…

As for Miso… well, let’s just say, it kept being itself.

Millie turned away with a slightly sulky expression, adamantly refusing to look our way.

Hmm… Could it be that the princess dragon has grown quite attached to me…! Is it self-centered to think she’s setting impossible tasks because she doesn’t want to part ways? Well, let’s just say it’s thanks to all the delicious food I’ve made!

“Alright, I’ll figure something out! First things first—let’s go catch some catfish so I can make something tasty!”

Though Lady Meel keeps her face turned away, not looking at me… her tail is secretly wagging as I wave goodbye and join everyone else who is already prepared to depart.

Everyone was in unusually high spirits as we made our way toward the swamp… but the path was too narrow for the Camping Car. So now we’re proceeding on foot, staying alert for any monsters.

As we walk, the humidity and heat keep intensifying… Could there be some heat source nearby? Carrying Gomamiso, who’s been clinging to me since we met up, definitely isn’t helping with this muggy heat.

Millie mentioned a swamp, but I’m wondering if it might be more like a hot spring-fed pond…?

Lost in these thoughts, I suddenly notice the area opening up before us. There’s a deep bubbling sound, and I can see a boiling red swamp where large bubbles surface and burst.

The dark red color initially made me think it was lava, but… I’m not feeling that intense heat you’d expect—it’s just a bit hot. Plus, if it were lava, we probably couldn’t get this close.

Still, better safe than sorry… Looking more carefully at the swamp to address my doubts and concerns, it seems more like mud bubbling up from the bottom rather than lava.

Hmm… since it’s not food-related, Survival only provides basic info: “Hell Swamp. Not potable. Appears red due to heat-resistant algae growth.”

I see, I see. So it looks red because of heat-resistant algae!

…Huh? Wait… something particularly red just surfaced in that red swamp!?

At first glance, it’s about the size of a log, with a slimy texture, but its color is as vivid as blazing flames… That’s definitely a living creature!

[Hell Catfish (Delicious)

A monster catfish living in the hot mud of Melnoa Volcano. Though its skin is thick to withstand heat, it contains lots of gelatin that melts when cooked.

The white meat is well-marbled but has a refined taste without any strong smell.

Suitable for stewing or deep-frying with batter.]

So this is what Millie meant by "huge catfish"! Wow… though it’s smaller than that Storm Eel from before if this is really a catfish, it’s still enormous!

It’s like something you’d find in the Amazon River!

The vividly colored creature floats for a while before smoothly slipping back into the swamp. While I’m flustering about, all that remains is the mud swamp continuing to bubble and foam…

Looking at everyone else, they seem just as troubled as I am. Well, can’t blame them. We have no idea how to catch something living in scorching hot mud that looks hot enough to burn on contact.

“Maybe we should lure it out with bait like we did with the Storm Eel and have you surround it, Mr. Ed?”

“Hmm… that’s probably the best approach, but…”

As I tilt my head in thought, Mr. Ed stands beside me, arms crossed, deep in contemplation.

Just as we get stuck on the very first step, I hear footsteps approaching from behind. When I turn around, I see that Mr. Xenon has made his way over to me.

Mr. Xenon furrows his well-shaped brows, crosses his arms, and tilts his head slightly as he surveys the area.

“The question is what to use as bait.”

“True. Even if we want to use bait… we don’t know what Hell Catfish eat to survive…”

As far as I know, regular catfish eat anything meaty, like small fish or shrimp. I’ve even seen lures at fishing shops that look just like frogs! But whether other fish can survive in this hot mud… hmm… that seems unlikely. And we obviously can’t drain all this hot mud like they do on those TV shows I used to watch in Japan.

‘I’ll swish-swish it!’

Holding Gomamiso as it swings its front paws in the air, I rack my brain for ideas but come up empty. Even with three heads together, we can’t come up with anything and just groan in frustration—then, I hear more footsteps on the dirt.

Seems Mr. Ville and Ms. Aria have decided to join in, probably seeing us struggling.

“Fish might be difficult, but the volcanic slimes that the Camping Car ran over can survive in quite high temperatures.”

“They like watery places… maybe the catfish eats them!”

Following Ms. Aria’s pointing finger, I see a reversible bright red fluid body wriggling into the hot mud.

That’s definitely one of those volcanic slimes that stuck to the Camping Car’s tires! Even though it must be really hot, it seems to dive into the mud without a care in the world…

If those things are living in the swamp, there’s a good chance catfish are feeding on them!

As I’m getting excited about this ray of hope, I feel a tap on my shoulder. Turning around, I find Ms. Aria standing there with a bright smile, somehow having already caught and thoroughly tied up a volcanic slime with thread.

However, the volcanic slime is so fluid and elastic that it keeps oozing through the gaps in the string and dropping down. Before it hits the ground, Ms. Aria’s thread catches it again, only for it to ooze out once more… creating quite a futile struggle.

“Rin, Rin! Can we… can we fish with this?”

“Hmm…”

Ms. Aria’s innocent face lit up with a dazzling smile. Ah, I see! She must have watched me fishing on our travels and gotten interested in it. If I can get her into it properly, I might get a fishing buddy!?

For a moment, my mind drifts toward evangelizing fishing, but I quickly snap back to reality. Though I hate to disappoint those bright ice-colored eyes, I don’t think the volcanic slime we planned to use as bait would stay on a fishing hook, given how fluid it is…

Besides, I don’t exactly have a fishing hook big enough to catch a fish the size of a log. Plus, my type of fishing line is particularly weak against heat. No matter how sturdy otherworldly tackle sets are, I’m not confident about casting it into that hot mud.

“I think it might be difficult because the line would probably melt from the heat.”

“Aww… but fishing looked so fun… What about my thread?”

When I told her this honestly, Ms. Aria’s shoulders drooped immediately… but then she quickly demonstrated by drawing out a silver thread between her hands.

Ms. Aria’s thread… huh?

Touching it briefly, it feels as smooth as silk but seems to have enough strength that it wouldn’t break easily. Come to think of it, I remember hearing somewhere that spider silk is as strong as iron or high-strength synthetic fibers.

But the key issue here is heat resistance.

“Hmm… the main question is whether it can withstand heat… Ms. Aria, is this thread heat-resistant?”

“To some extent, yes! Come on, Rin! Fishing! I want to try fishing too!”

“Uuuugh… This is such a great chance to gain a fishing buddy, and I really do want to fish together…”

The urgency of catching the catfish and returning to Lady Meel, the uncertainty of how to actually fish for it, and my strong desire to gain a fishing companion all swirl chaotically in my mind.

As my thoughts begin to scatter in complete disarray… a large, warm hand pats my shoulder. I don’t need to turn around to check. It’s Mr. Ville’s familiar touch.

“Don’t overthink it, Rin. Just do what you want to do, the way you want to do it.”

“Yeah! That little dragon can wait a bit!”

My eardrums vibrate with Mr. Ville’s slightly amused voice and Mr. Ed’s cheering one.

…Do it the way I want to, huh!

That’s true! It looks like we can use the same method as with the Storm Eel, so trying something different this time won’t hurt!

I lightly slap my cheeks, glance at Ms. Aria and the volcanic slime still wiggling at the end of her thread, then materialize the Camping Car a bit away from the swamp.

“Let’s fish! It might be a bit unconventional, and perhaps different from what you imagine ‘fishing’ to be, Ms. Aria!”

“Yay! Thank you, Rin!”

As I dash into the vehicle after saying that, her bouncy voice follows me, quite different from her earlier dejection.

For now, I guess I only need a rod… Instead of the soft one for trout, I’ll take the stiffer spare rod. Also, I have an idea, so I grab a short barbeque skewer and one of the Hot Water Monitor Lizard legs I have set aside as snacks for Gomamiso…

“Let’s start fishing in this blood pond hell!”

I throw open the Camping Car’s door and announce dramatically.

I must be riding an adrenaline high from all the excitement—everyone’s smiles look dazzlingly bright.

I give Ms. Aria a quick lesson on how to cast the rod, but as expected of an active adventurer! Her intuition is amazing, and her ability to replicate the motion is incredible.

She may even be able to cast farther than me!

Next, we use magic to sharpen both ends of the barbeque skewer to a fine point, then thread Ms. Aria’s silk through the rod’s guides—the loops that hold the fishing line. With that, we’re ready.

Since Ms. Aria can control the thread’s release and retrieval with just her will, I didn’t attach a reel. After all, Ms. Aria herself is basically like a reel.

I tie the line from the rod’s tip to the center of the well-sharpened skewer, balancing it into a perfect T-shape.

Then we just need to hide this hook with bait and wait for the fish to swallow it… That’s the plan.

I remember this being called a gorge hook, a primitive type of hook… It’s a fishing method meant for large-mouthed fish like catfish and eels that tend to swallow their food whole. You stick the T-shaped hook into the bait so it aligns with the thread like an I-shape, hiding the entire hook. When a fish swallows the bait with the I-shaped hook, the hook returns to its T-shape and gets firmly lodged in the fish’s stomach or throat!

Given how huge the hell catfish looked, this method might work.

“Since I’m not sure where to stick the hook in the slime, I think we’ll use the leftover Hot Water Monitor Lizard meat.”

“Mm… the slime is… too gooey…”

I decided to play it safe and use lizard meat as bait. Looking at the slime Ms. Aria caught with her thread, I really don’t think something that fluid would stay on a hook.

The lizard leg, on the other hand, still has its skin and should keep its shape better.

“While the core is somewhat solid, once a slime dies, it melts away quickly.”

Based on what Mr. Xenon tells us as he watches me embed the hook in the lizard meat, it seems using lizard meat as bait wasn’t a bad choice.

As I hand the rod to Ms. Aria, I grip her hand firmly.

“First, don’t overdo it! Given how big it is, it probably has considerable power, so be careful not to get pulled into the mud!”

“Mm, got it! Won’t overdo it!”

“If you feel like you’re being pulled in, just let go of the rod!”

As I hold her cold hand and the rod while emphasizing "Your life is more important!" Ms. Aria nods with a smile. Giving me a firm thumbs-up, she silently approaches the swamp with the practiced steps of a scout.

“Now then, Rin. Watch me!”

Ms. Aria draws back with a large motion and casts the rod in beautiful form. With a satisfying high-pitched sound of the rod tip cutting through the air, the chunk of meat flies quite far before landing with a splat on the mud.

There is no sizzling sound, but as the meat slowly sinks, it pulls the surrounding hot mud with it, its surface gradually turning pale.

Like an ant being sucked into an antlion’s pit, the Hot Water Monitor Lizard meat is drawn into the blood pond hell.

As I watch the line slowly sink along with the meat, I call out to Ms. Aria.

“…Is the thread holding up okay?”

“Yeah. Couldn’t handle lava… but this much is fine.”

“Got it. Even if you feel some ‘thump-thump’ sensation like something’s biting, don’t pull the thread yet. Let’s make sure it swallows it completely!”

Hmm. It seems the thread’s strength won’t be an issue.

In that case, let’s focus on making sure the bait gets properly swallowed.

With this fishing method, the hook needs to lodge inside the body—in the throat or stomach—rather than just catching in the mouth, or it’ll slip right out!

As I alternate between watching the rod tip and Ms. Aria, I notice tension suddenly cross her expression. At the same time, the rod tip begins to twitch irregularly.

“R-Rin…! Could this be…?”

“I think it might be…! Don’t move… when you feel the thread running out smoothly, raise the rod quickly to set the hook!”

I nod back at Ms. Aria, who’s looking at me with eyes full of anxiety and anticipation, and focus intently on the movement of the rod tip and thread.

If we set the hook while it’s just nibbling, it’ll definitely slip out!

The right moment to set the hook is when the thread starts moving in sync with the fish’s movement after it’s swallowed the hook.

And that moment came suddenly.

The rod tip, which had been trembling moments ago, is yanked forward, and the slackened line snaps taut.

This is it…! It’s swallowed it!

I quickly turn toward Ms. Aria, and she’s already looking at me intently.

Ms. Aria and I exchange small nods…

“Now, Ms. Aria!”

“Mm!”

Feeling like a strategist commanding hidden troops, I swung my hand down, and Ms. Aria raised her fishing rod with all her might.

The line instantly zips toward the center of the swamp. The rod’s bend reaches its peak! It is curved so dramatically that you’d think "Could even a bow bend this much?”

What incredible pulling power! Ms. Aria is leaning way forward!

This is bad! Is she going to get dragged in!?

“Ms. Aria! Your hands! Please let go of—”

“It’s fine, Rin! Leave it to me!”

As I was about to shout, a shadow swiftly crossed my peripheral vision. As it passed by, I heard Mr. Ed’s cheerful voice pierce my ears. Before I could process what was happening, Mr. Ed stood behind Ms. Aria, gently placing his hands over hers as she gripped the fishing rod.

Position-wise, this is what you’d call a back hug. Being shown such a public display of affection makes the atmosphere feel even hotter! May they explode together in eternal happiness!

“I guess I’ll start with some gravity manipulation. It wouldn’t be fun to finish it off right away.”

“Mm. I want to play with it a bit!”

Before I can tilt my head wondering what they have been talking about, the fish’s momentum suddenly weakens. The rod’s bend improves slightly, and Ms. Aria begins reeling in the line.

It is hard to believe this is the same fish that had nearly dragged her in moments ago!

As Gomamiso and I anxiously watch where the line leads, dark shadows fall beside us. Everyone must be curious about the outcome of this battle. Watching the couple work together to reel in the line, Mr. Ville and Mr. Xenon nod in admiration.

“Ed’s casting gravity magic through Aria’s fishing line. As always, his magical control is ridiculously precise…”

“Thanks to the magic, the fish should be much lighter now. They should be able to pull it up—or rather, drag it up—soon.”

“What, already!? What should we do about the finishing blow?”

Mr. Xenon, who has been watching the two-person catfish fishing operation, calmly offered what seemed like a prophecy.

Already!? I mean, I was planning to have Mr. Ed finish it off with magic, but he’s busy enjoying couple fishing.

As I start to panic, Mr. Ville and Mr. Xenon step forward. Gesturing toward the fishing duo, they both turn to look at me.

“Worst case, could we just cut off its head, Rin?”

“I think so! But the center bone looks thick, so it might need considerable force…”

“Then I’ll provide support. It should be easier if I can paralyze or put it to sleep.”

Seeing Mr. Ville with his hand on his greatsword and Mr. Xenon holding his staff, I understood what they were suggesting!

They’re offering to help take down that catfish.

“Are… are you sure I can ask for your help!?”

“Rather, we won’t be able to get you back unless we somehow catch and cook that thing, right?”

“That being the case, there’s no reason not to join the hunt.”

When faced with Mr. Ville’s battle-ready expression and Mr. Xenon’s serene yet unfathomable smile… I can’t help but feel how reliable they are… Either way, I probably wouldn’t be much help in combat, and it is technically a monster… Maybe it’s better to just accept their help…

Just as I am about to bow my head and ask for their help, a dull, wet splat echoes around us.

At the end of Ms. Aria’s wildly swinging rod… the giant catfish, its weight altered by Mr. Ed’s magic to be lighter, is pulled from the mud surface and flies through the air.

I squeeze my eyes shut while holding Gomamiso, thinking if the fish fall like this, the hot mud will splash everywhere and someone will get hurt… but—

“Mm. Thread control!”

“’Paralysis’!”

What I heard wasn’t screams or cries of pain, but rather the somewhat cheerful voices of Ms. Aria and Mr. Xenon.

When I quickly open my eyes, the line in Ms. Aria’s hands is moving as if it is alive, directing the catfish our way. As it flies, Mr. Xenon points his staff, releasing what looks like purplish lightning. The giant catfish that has been writhing in mid-air suddenly convulses violently, its long, thick body going rigid like a log before falling to the ground… right in front of Mr. Ville.

“Something this big should make for quite a feast. We’ll eat every last bit of you… so don’t hold it against us, okay?”

Mr. Ville’s lips curl into a grin as he swings down his greatsword, which he has drawn at some point.

A heavy impact reverberates through my core as the catfish’s tail slaps the ground, and black mist envelops Mr. Ville’s body.

…But that lasted only for a moment. The black dust-like substance is blown away without a trace by the wind descending from the mountain peak.

What remains is a log-like headless catfish meat, Mr. Ville sheathing his greatsword, Mr. Xenon clapping and then picking up the wooden wrap, Ms. Aria’s excited voice saying how fun it was, and Mr. Ed’s love-struck laughter at her joy.

Ah… I have come back home.

As I savor this renewed sense of security in my chest, I go with Gomamiso to welcome my companions who are running toward me.

◆◇◆

When we returned with the Hell Catfish, Lady Meel was leisurely soaking in the hot spring. What a luxurious life she leads!

Well… she is a dragon after all… I suppose that explains the attitude…

When we present the Hell Catfish that Mr. Ville has been carrying to the princess dragon, whose eyes have widened at our sudden return, Millie’s snout wrinkles deeply.

“So, just to confirm… this is the Hell Catfish you were talking about, right?”

‘What…! I can’t believe you actually caught one…!’

As I puffed out my chest proudly, the princess dragon gritted her teeth in frustration.

I knew it…! She made that unreasonable request because she thought we couldn’t catch the Hell Catfish! Geez… how badly did she want to keep me here… Did she like my cooking that much?

Cooking… huh?

I feel like it would be perfect if I could somehow make her think the food in the town of Melnoa is delicious. Looking into the princess dragon’s full-moon eyes, which seem slightly sulky, I carefully venture to ask:

“Um, Lady Meel… may I start cooking?”

‘Hmm… well… since I was the one who suggested it!’

Her brow furrows a bit deeper, but… it seems Lady Meel is the type of dragon who takes responsibility for her words. Although her face clearly shows reluctance, she eventually nods.

Now it’s my time to shine! I’m going to start making the Hell Catfish dish right away!

Since I am dealing with something this huge, I find the flattest patch of ground I could and laid out a picnic blanket. This will be my cooking area for today!

The sight of the catfish’s body sprawled across the colorful picnic blanket is, well, quite surreal. The vivid red skin retains its poisonous appearance, but the flesh beneath is unexpectedly pure white and firm.

As for its size… well, you can guess from the fact that I needed a picnic blanket as a cooking space. It must be nearly a meter long, with quite a thick body too…! Plus, the meat is so thick it makes it look even bigger. Fortunately, it dropped with its slimy skin already removed! The sliminess is what often gives river fish their smell, and removing it isn’t easy.

“It’s so much easier not having to remove the fish slime!”

I start cutting up the log-like Hell Catfish with the Camping Car’s big knife, which maintains its impressive sharpness. For preparation, I think I can handle it similarly to the Storm Eel from before. Since the head’s already off, I’ll insert the knife from that end along the backbone to split it open.

Yup, it’s cutting more smoothly than I expected. Maybe, like the Storm Eel, it relied on magic to enhance its body’s durability and movements. On top of that, despite all the talk about the Hell Catfish’s thick skin, I was able to cut through it without any trouble at all!

“Rin, do you need anything else?”

Mr. Ville, who is helping keep Gomamiso from getting in the way as I work, called out to me.

I can’t leave what I’m doing right now, so I’ll gladly accept his help! I want to get the work done while the princess dragon is still in a decent mood.

“Thank you! I’m planning to make a dish and soup that will need heat, so I need some firewood.”

“Got it. We’ll look around the area. Aria and Gomamiso, stay with Rin.”

The fire will be crucial for what I’m planning to cook, so having someone gather firewood would be a big help. I’m expecting this to take quite a while.

As I bow without hesitation, Mr. Ville pats my shoulder and heads into the surrounding forest with Mr. Ed and Mr. Xenon.

As I watch them leave, Ms. Aria and Gomamiso smoothly move closer to me.

“Mm! Understood!”

‘This me shall keep proper watch!’

The pair who called out to the retreating backs split up to take positions next to me and at my feet.

The princess dragon stares at us with a dubious look as we huddle together like a bunch of dumplings. Whether aware of her gaze or not, Ms. Aria and Gomamiso press themselves closer to me, almost as if showing off our closeness to Millie.

‘Hmph! So what exactly are you planning to make?’

“I’m making some unique tempura and spicy soup!”

Both the princess dragon, who stretches her neck forward, and Ms. Aria, who peers at my hands from beside me, have eyes sparkling with anticipation of what I’m about to cook.

The combination might be a bit unusual, but I have a plan for how to make it work. If it goes well, I might be able to get the princess dragon to pay attention to the town at the foot of the mountain.

After removing the central bones and the last bits of rib bones, I take another look at the now fully filleted Hell Catfish. Although I don’t remember bleeding it, the contrast between the clean white flesh and bright red skin is incredibly beautiful. There’s not even a hint of fishiness—this is going to turn into something delicious!

First, there was that perfectly tender Wild Ox meat, then the conveniently pre-chopped Storm Eel… I wonder if it’s standard for drop items to remain in an easily edible state?

I’ll need to prepare a large portion for Lady Meel, regular tempura-sized fillets for us, and bite-sized pieces for the soup.

“For vegetables… onions and tomatoes… maybe garlic and ginger too?”

“Mm. Don’t… dislike your soup vegetables…”

After finishing cutting the Hell Catfish, I finely chop the garlic and ginger for seasoning, and roughly cut the onions and tomatoes for ingredients. That should about do it for the prep work.

Under the watch of differently colored eyes, I sauté garlic, ginger, and my special spice mix in olive oil. Once the aroma fills the air, I add the onions. The sizzling of the oil and the fragrant spices spread through the surroundings. Once the onions turn translucent, I add the roughly chopped central and rib bones to extract their flavor. Stirring thoroughly from the bottom up ensures even cooking. After cooking everything well, I pour in water—this will help eliminate any fishy smell.

When everything turns whitish, I add the bite-sized catfish pieces and coat everything with oil. Once it’s all heated through, I add the diced tomatoes, give it a quick stir, then pour in just enough water to cover everything… The soup just needs to simmer from here.

The dominant scent is the roasted spices, but the sweetness of the vegetables and the slightly rich aroma of simmering fish mixed in, making it utterly mouthwatering. With the soup being reddish in color, the fish’s red skin doesn’t stand out at all.

As I’m adjusting the simmering soup with salt, pepper, and soy sauce, the men return.

“Is this enough, Rin?”

“Thank you! This should be plenty!”

I receive the armfuls of twigs and branches that Mr. Ville, Mr. Ed, and Mr. Xenon brought back. Then, I intentionally build up a stronger flame in one area. That’s where I’d place a deep pan filled with oil to start heating it up for the tempura!

And I’m sorry, but I’ll need to ask Mr. Ed for a bit more help. I need his assistance to make ice-cold water, which is essential for crispy tempura!

I carry water drawn from the Camping Car’s tap over to Mr. Ed, who has started getting cozy with Ms. Aria.

“Mr. Ed, Mr. Ed. I’m sorry to bother you while you’re resting, but could you please chill this water for me?”

“Sure! You don’t need it frozen, right?”

“Just before freezing point, please!”

When I brought the bowl of water over, Mr. Ed agreed without showing any sign of reluctance. With a snap of his fingers, the water quickly chills.

Yup! This should be cold enough!

When making tempura, overmixing the batter creates gluten and results in a heavy texture, but using cold water helps prevent this.

The princess dragon is muttering something like "Even I could do that much…" but I think I’ll pass since the cost might be scary!

Well then, the ingredients are ready and the soup is simmering nicely. Time to start frying up this Hell Catfish tempura!

By the way, I’m trying a unique batter made with mayonnaise, flour, mixed spices, and salt! I wanted to season it in a way that makes it delicious as-is, plus I heard that adding mayonnaise helps make the tempura extra crispy when fried!

As I scoop some of that premium mayonnaise into a separate bowl, the mayo-converted members cast expectant gazes my way. Seemingly interested in the cooking process, Millie’s golden eyes are also fixed on my every move.

‘You always do such strange things.’

“It’s not strange! Rin’s cooking is delicious!”

“I’m just dissolving mayonnaise in the water though…”

Whether it was due to her pride or just the way she spoke, the princess dragon’s aloof remark made Ms. Aria puff out her cheeks in protest.

Is it my imagination that sparks seem to be flying between the full moon and frost-colored eyes?

I’m just making tempura here though.

I think the theory is that by emulsifying it like this, the batter loses moisture more easily when fried… While I’m at it, I’ll mix in salt and mixed spices now, so the seasoning will be evenly distributed when I add the flour.

“Alright! The oil seems ready, time to start frying!”

‘Hmm. Frying in oil! What an extravagant way of cooking!’

“Ah yes, that’s a good point… you really can’t make fried foods without plenty of oil.”

When the oil in the frying pan starts to shimmer, I gently mix in the flour. They say it’s good to stop mixing while some lumps remain—that way, it won’t get too sticky.

The princess dragon makes an impressed sound as she watches the pale golden oil rippling in the pan. I’m not sure how isolated Lady Meel was from the human world, but I think oil used to be considered quite precious in the past. That’s probably why cooking with it seems so luxurious to her.

“Ms. Aria and Lady Meel, please step back a bit!”

‘What about this me!? Surely, I can stay!?’

“Mm. Goma, come with me?”

I can’t bear the thought of them getting burned by oil splatter, so I had them move away from the frying pan before putting in the fillets.

Gomamiso, who’s been showing signs of separation anxiety since Millie snatched me away, didn’t resist much in leaving my feet when Ms. Aria picked it up.

Now! Time to get fired up for our frying party!

I drop the Hell Catfish fillets, thinly coated in slightly reddish batter from the spices, into the pale golden oil. Immediately, the oil bubbles up with a satisfying sizzle and fine foam. Let’s keep adding Hell Catfish to the pan, but not so much that it lowers the oil temperature! It’s tempting to poke them around with chopsticks, but that’ll make the batter fall off. Gotta be patient and wait for them to firm up.

“Hmm. I’m sure it’s fine, but let’s cook it thoroughly just to be safe.”

When I flip the fillets at the right time, they’ve turned a beautiful golden brown. Though Survival hasn’t issued any warnings so it should be fine, I think I’ll cook them well just to be safe from parasites.

The point is to cook until you feel a slight "sizzle" vibration when picking it up with cooking chopsticks. That’s what I’m using as the indicator that it’s done frying.

I place the fried pieces on a plate lined with paper towels to drain the oil, then move on to frying the next batch. While dodging occasional oil splatters, I continue this process until somehow, before I know it, everything is fried. In front of me now sits an empty bowl that held the batter and a large plate piled high with tempura.

Now everyone can eat it however they like!

“Alright, it’s ready! Please enjoy while it’s hot!”

Though the tempura is already seasoned, I serve it with salt, pepper, soy sauce, and a simple tempura dipping sauce made from white dashi. The place erupts in cheers. Even the princess dragon, who was grumpy earlier, now has sparkling eyes at the sight of the food.

The soup is finished too, with just a splash of vinegar added at the end.

I serve the usual deep bowls for everyone, while for Lady Meel, I pour a generous portion into a large bowl, and the serving is complete. After that, it’s all-you-can-eat—everyone can help themselves!

While watching everyone eagerly reach for the soup and tempura, I head over to Lady Meel with a mountain of tempura and some premium salt.

“Rin! Rin! The catfish soup is so refreshingly delicious!”

“Even though catfish is the main ingredient, it doesn’t taste fishy at all!”

Hearing what sounds like both screams and cheers from those who’ve already started eating, the flavor seems to be just fine.

I position myself in front of the fidgeting large-bodied princess dragon with a long turner, or rather, a spatula. Since using a fork would break up the fish, I decided to use the largest spatula-like tool I had in the Camping Car.

“Here you go, Lady Meel. Say ‘ah’”

With this in mind, I place the tempura on the long turner, and the fragrant aroma of fried oil and spices tickles my nose. My stomach growls at the irresistibly appetizing smell. While trying to calm my growling stomach that’s desperately crying out in hunger, I present the giant tempura on the turner to Millie’s mouth. Satisfying the princess dragon’s appetite comes first!

Just as I hoped, the giant tempura makes it to Millie’s mouth without falling apart. The princess dragon hesitates for just a moment, but it seems she can’t resist her appetite. Her mouth opens wide, and in one bite, she takes in the tempura. I can hear the crispy batter crunching, and the princess dragon’s throat moves up and down.

After a moment of silence… her honey-colored eyes widen dramatically.

‘What IS this?! It certainly tastes like Hell Catfish, but it was never this rich in flavor before!’

“Ah… well, white fish goes really well with oil, you know. Quite a refined taste, don’t you think?”

‘This isn’t just “refined”! The slight spice in the batter enhances the delicate sweetness of the catfish meat even more!’

Lady Meel’s rapid speech and flaring nostrils show her excitement, with her pupils dilated into perfect circles. Her wings flutter wildly, and I can feel the vibrations from her tail thumping against the ground. Hmm. This is exactly what I was aiming for! Yup. She’s fallen right into my plan!

After she quickly swallows the large piece, I toss the remaining tempura into her large mouth, which opens expectantly asking for seconds. This piece too disappears with satisfying crunches, sliding down into the princess dragon’s stomach in an instant.

‘Hmm… the batter has such a light, crispy texture that really complements the plump meat and chewy skin!’

“Since the skin is rich in gelatin, I deliberately left it on… looks like that was a success!”

Millie, having finished her second helping just as quickly, licks her lips with her bright red tongue. Still not satisfied, she stretches her neck forward as if asking for more. I stuff more tempura into the princess dragon’s eager mouth and offer her the largest bowl full of hell soup.

The reddish soup was speckled with bright red skin and pieces of flesh, faintly dyed red from absorbing the broth. The white thing dropped in the middle is the remaining hot spring egg.

Lady Meel raises her head slowly, spots the bowl of soup, and happily dives in. Wow, it’s truly spectacular! So this is how impressive it looks when a giant dragon eats! After a gulping sound, the princess dragon lifts her head from the bowl, which is now completely empty.

‘You frightening girl…! I never imagined you could create something like this…!’

“Hehehe…! Did it please you?”

‘Please me? That’s not even the question! Really, what is this…! I could eat this endlessly!’

Encouraged by the princess dragon’s especially loud roar, I puff out my chest proudly. When Lady Meel tries to turn away with a snort, I catch her face and peer into her eyes as they try to escape.

“Hey, Lady Meel. Was today’s meal delicious?”

‘Hmph! You know without asking, don’t you? As frustrating as it is, I admit defeat!’

I can’t let go of Lady Meel yet as she wrinkles her nose and grits her teeth.

After all, the real challenge starts now!

If we’re going to settle this, I want both us and Lady Meel to be completely satisfied!

“Do you know, Lady Meel? They make delicious salt in the town at the foot of the mountain using this hot spring water.”

‘Delicious… salt? Even better than what was used in that tempura thing just now?’

“Probably… wouldn’t you like to try it on different fried foods?”

My face reflecting in those large golden eyes is beaming with joy. Even I have to admit—I look absolutely delighted. Well, I figured the quickest way to convince a foodie was to tempt them with food. And indeed, Millie seems to be wavering quite a bit.

Though the person… or should I say the dragon… probably hasn’t noticed herself, her eyes are darting back and forth with hesitation.

“The soup was a bit spicy too, but it was delicious, wasn’t it?”

‘Y-Yes… the tingling spices and the rich flavor of the Hell Catfish balanced each other perfectly! And the broth thickened with essence from the skin was so delicious!’

“The town at the foot of the mountain is known for various spicy dishes, and they have all kinds of spicy meals. So, Lady Meel…”

I subtly hint at my request to use the hot spring while locking eyes with Millie, speaking to her with a warm smile.

A strangled groan escapes from her throat, and the princess dragon’s round pupils gradually narrow. Her eyelids lower slightly, hiding her honey-colored eyes behind snow-white skin.

When the two full moons appear again, all hostility has vanished from the golden glow. With a big sigh, Lady Meel’s mouth relaxes as she flaps her wings.

‘I concede defeat, young one! For today’s meal, I shall grant your wish!’

“Yaaaay! Thank you so much, Lady Meel!!!”

Yes! I got it!!!

Now that I’ve secured permission to draw water from the spring for making salt we’ve basically completed Melnoa’s Guildmaster’s request, right?!

Behind me, as I tend to Lady Meel who demands more soup while grumbling, the party members raise their fists in victory.

…It looks like… it looks like everything will work out…!

“Rin! You really do solve problems in the most unexpected ways!”

“Hehehe… Nothing works better on a foodie than a delicious meal!”

Just as I hear Mr. Ville’s surprised voice, a large palm pats my back. When I turn around, I see Mr. Ville’s face wearing a complex expression that could be exasperation, joy, or surprise.

I clench my fist triumphantly at Mr. Ville, who responds with a sigh and a slight shrug.

“How should we explain this to Melnoa’s Guildmaster…”

“How about: When we got to the site, the monster that appeared demanded satisfying meals in exchange for permission to draw from the spring…? Would that work?”

Contrary to my relief that the situation seems to be settling down, Mr. Ville appears troubled about how to handle this request.

Still, probably concerned about my constantly growling stomach, he offers me some Hell Catfish tempura. I pick up a piece and take a big bite.

Description of the illustration in this part of the chapter: Ville, Xenon, Ed, and Aria are rejoicing.

As my teeth crunch through the crispy coating, my mouth fills with hot steam carrying the aroma of spices. While letting out a "whew" to release the heat, I take another bite, and a sharp spiciness mixed with saltiness spreads across my tongue. Beneath that is a thick, gelatinous skin with a supple texture. Its tongue-clinging softness is almost sensual enough to be described as "alluring." The perfectly cooked white fish meat has a moist texture that crumbles easily when pressed with my tongue. Though it is fattier than expected, there isn’t any fishiness or heaviness to it. In fact, it doesn’t have any of the muddy or fishy taste I was worried about! Instead, there is just the fragrant blend of spices and fresh fish aromatics wafting through my nose.

“Wow… I can’t believe I made something like this…!”

“This is the kind of flavor that makes you crave ale. It would probably pair well with Melnoa’s famous flame liquor too.”

Mr. Ville caught my muttered words and chuckled as he handed me the plate with the remaining tempura.

I’ve never had ale before, but I think this would go really well with beer and such. I haven’t heard of flame liquor either, but from the name alone, I can guess it is a high-proof alcohol. This tempura would probably go great with it, whether on the rocks or mixed with soda!

When we finish this request and leave Melnoa, I might buy some. Unknown ingredients are exciting on their own, and it’s fun to think about how to use them.

Just as I am planning my exciting shopping trip in my head and swallowing the last piece of tempura, the princess dragon thrusts her head between Mr. Ville and me, as if she has been waiting for me to finish eating.

Mr. Ville tries to move Millie’s face away with both hands, looking thoroughly annoyed, but the princess dragon doesn’t care at all.

Wait, is Mr. Ville actually losing this battle of strength?! Just how strong is she?!

‘Well now, girl. It needn’t be Hell Catfish, but might you have any other dishes? Your cooking seems to suit me quite well!’

“Oh my. Are you requesting something specific? Other dishes… something different…?”

Honey-colored eyes full of expectation stare intently at me.

Ughh… when you look at me like that, I really don’t have the option to refuse!

As the princess dragon rubs her face against me, I stroke her muzzle. Not to be outdone, Gomamiso on the other side presses its head against me as well.

With a nose in each hand, or rather, pressure from both sides… While receiving this intense display of affection, I try to recall what is in the Camping Car’s fridge.

I should still have some fish in the chiller that was cleaned and left to mature! I’ll have to cook more rice, but while that’s going, I can marinate the fish to let the flavors soak in nicely.

“Hmm… I still have some fish from Ellarge, how about I make something like hand-pressed sushi?”

When I made this suggestion while looking at both the moonlike eyes and the strawberry-hued ones that perked up at the mention of another dish, all four eyes widened for just a moment before sparkling like jewels.

‘Hand-pressed sushi…!? That’s a dish I’ve never heard of!’

“It’s new to me too. Is it… good?”

“I like it! The fish gets firm from marinating, and it goes really well with the slightly sweet rice…”

Watching Mr. Ville and the princess dragon get excited about the new dish, I recall my now nostalgic life in Japan.

I first had it while traveling with my father. It’s said to have originated as a bold and hearty fisherman’s dish, served in a wooden tub like a scattered sushi bowl. I hadn’t eaten it many times, but I liked the taste so much that I often looked up recipes and made it myself.

Suddenly, a lively, high-pitched voice beside me makes the air vibrate.

It seems Lady Meel has let out a cry of joy.

Moreover, as the princess dragon shakes her head and moves her wings, colorful flower petals and snowflakes sparkle in the air! As they spiral down, they hit leaves and our bodies before dissolving into particles of light that melt into the air.

What a fantastical sight!

“Amazing… So this is the true power of a Mirage Dragon.”

“Ah, just witnessing this has me fired up! Today I’m going all out! I’ll use up the remaining ingredients and cook up a storm!”

As I raise my fist in sync with the princess dragon’s excited voice, Mr. Ville smiles wryly and pats my back.

“I have to admit, I’m curious about this new dish… but don’t overdo it, Rin.”

“Thank you, Mr. Ville. But I’m absolutely bursting with energy right now, so I’ll be fine!”

In the silently falling illusion, I run toward the Camping Car.

The illusions burst as they hit my shoulders and hair, wrapping around my body like a curtain of light.

The hint of loneliness I had felt earlier is completely blown away by the dragon’s roar and these illusions. For now, let’s just enjoy this otherworldly fantasy!

Before I know it, I am laughing heartily, wrapped in a vortex of light.

It feels refreshing as if something that has been weighing on my heart has completely disappeared.

The Translator’s corner

And now the third and final chapter of the third volume has been translated. Only the epilogue and the author’s afterword remain.

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