Chapter 144
Chapter 144: Complicated Relationships
“Woohoo, just as expected from royalty!”
“You’re really eating good meat!”
Albar and Oak were having a blast at the mountain of barbecue meat. It seemed they completely forgot about Saylee getting punished by Platy. I was the one handling her treatment, after all.
“Bark! Bark!”
“Alright, alright, here you go, Liliana. It’s meal time.”
I placed a plate of grilled vegetables in front of Liliana, who was wagging her rear end. Since it seemed difficult for her to eat straight from the ground, I even laid down a furry mat.
Being this accommodating is because I’m royalty, after all! Wahaha.
…I’m really sorry all the time, Liliana. I genuinely apologize…
“Woof, woof!”
Watching Liliana stuff her cheeks full of vegetables and perk up her ears, a sense of helplessness welled up in me. I wondered when I would eventually be able to free her.
“Here you go.”
Then, Leila handed me a plate.
It was a mixed platter of various meats seasoned with salt and pepper, along with vegetables and fruits… It was a treasure island on a single plate! My stomach growled in response, demanding, “Hurry up and give me nutrients!”
“Thanks, Leila.”
“You’re welcome.”
I munched on skewered meat with a smile from Leila. Mmm, delicious. Eating while standing can be a luxurious experience sometimes.
(—By the way, during this time, the atmosphere around us was a bit tense. Although it was known that the relationship between the two was good, it was still the first time Zilbagias proudly donned Faravgi’s armor and acted so nonchalant. Zilbagias, wearing the white dragon armor, didn’t seem to care at all, while Leila served him dutifully — despite him being the man who killed her father. Their relationship appeared, to those around them, somewhat pathological.)
“It’s delicious! The heat level is just right. There’s no gamey taste at all and even spices sprinkled on top… After all that walking, rich flavors are just perfect!”
“Hehe. I’m glad.”
As I relished the food, Leila smiled at me. Unlike me, who was chomping down heartily, Leila took small, elegant bites. She didn’t look much like a dragon at all.
“Still, I didn’t expect to have a barbecue meal readily available.”
After filling my belly with meat and grabbing a refill, I said that. My stomach was growling, but since I thought I’d have a meal when I got back to the mansion, I was pleasantly surprised when the barbecue smell wafted over.
Of course, there was still one guy who was being punished and left waiting…
‘Those guys, Albar and Oak, look like they’re having the time of their lives enjoying their barbecue…’
Antendeixis said with a tone of disbelief. What a difference in contrast.
Well, those two were carrying a stretcher with a stone on it for the sake of taking home Saylee’s body, so I could understand their feelings… They were probably even hungrier.
“I heard this barbecue is meant to simulate field cooking.”
“What, really?”
I couldn’t help but double-take at Leila’s words.
Field cooking!? With this quality!?
…Well, considering I’m royalty, and these magic users casually use magic as if breathing, the premise is probably different…
Even so, while our allied forces were gnawing on stale crackers, were the demon folk really enjoying such fine food? Thinking about that made my inner rage bubble up, but—
“……”
Leila gently placed her hand on my arm.
Her calm, caring gaze restored peace to my troubled heart.
“……Thank you.”
“……No problem.”
Did it show on my face?
‘You look quite gloomy.’
That won’t do. I have to be careful.
“—Excuse me.”
A voice came from behind.
Gorirashia swaggered over, stuffing her mouth with skewered meat.
“Who is this…?”
With an undiplomatic stare directed at me, Gorirashia made Leila look at me as if seeking help.
“This is my grandmother. Is something the matter, Gorirashia?”
Upon my call, Leila gave Gorirashia a double take, as if surprised by my use of “grandmother.”
“Hmph. It’s not a big deal, but you…”
Gorirashia leaned in closely, peering at Leila’s face.
“You—what do you think of Zilbagias?”
Whoa, bold of her, huh!?
“Uh…”
Leila’s eyes widened slightly—
“…As for what I think… um…”
Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away awkwardly.
“—Ah, no, never mind, I get it. You don’t have to answer.”
With a somewhat exasperated look, Gorirashia waved her hand dismissively. It was like she tasted something but was already full — that kind of expression.
“Wow, that was easy to give up.”
She probably came to probe Leila, but her retreat was so swift it caught me off guard.
“I can tell, you know, when someone has that glimmer of hostility.”
While chewing on a piece of meat, Gorirashia replied.
“It’s a maternal bloodline magic. It’s called [Piercing Vision]. That girl doesn’t harbor an ounce of hostility.”
Shrugging her shoulders, Gorirashia glanced down at me, grinning.
“You’re a whole different story.”
—My blood vessels felt like they were contracting all at once.
Has she noticed… my emotions!?
“Ahaha.”
Gorirashia laughed while clutching a new skewer.
“Don’t be so tense; that’s a rare quality. It’s something a strong person needs.”
…Her carefree munching while grinning made me question if she was different…
“When I see how prickly you are, it reminds me of the old Platy.”
With a faraway gaze, Gorirashia looked at Platy, who was training at the edge of the clearing. Oh, Saylee just got tossed…
“Because I can see how emotions color people, I thought I could easily manipulate kids… at least that’s what I thought…”
Hmph… Gorirashia let out a small sigh.
‘It seems like it was interpreted as the “rebellion” of a child against authority…’
…That might actually be the case. That was close.
‘No one would think that a 5-year-old grandchild would be intent on exterminating everyone present.’
That’s true, but it’s actually terrifying. You can never let your guard down around demons; honestly, there’s no countermeasure…
The only thing I could do is seal my own ego like when I saved Liliana.
“Well, I’m glad to see that your relationship with Platy is going well.”
Gorirashia gave my head a light pat. Since she had removed her gauntlets, it didn’t hurt my hair. Her hands felt tough, not what you’d expect from a woman.
“What you direct towards Platy is—”
It was beautiful.
“Now that my stomach is full, maybe I should spar with the Sword Saint for exercise…”
Saying just that, Gorirashia walked away.
Beautiful, was it…?
The emotions I direct towards Platy… towards demons…
Could it really be that…
“Wow— I ate so much… Oh, this meat, could it be leftovers? Can I take some home?”
Albar gleefully received oiled paper from the Night Elf Maid and wrapped the meat up, completely ignoring me.
I stood there for a while, dumbfounded, unable to move.
