Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Medicine Before the Bite
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Jane went straight to Evan, who was tending the campfire, and relayed Nihil's message.
Evan thought it over for a moment before suggesting they make some meat stew.
The kids, who had been hoping for roast bird, jumped up in protest, but Evan shook his head firmly and chopped the meat into pieces, dumping them into the pot with loud splashes.
"Meat..."
Little Dan clutched Evan's hand tight while staring fixedly at Nihil's roast bird, golden-brown over a small fire a short distance away. Dan kept gazing at it for a good long while before suddenly toddling straight toward Nihil.
"D-Dan! Come back here!"
Evan called out urgently, but Dan barreled toward Nil. Fortunately, after just a few words, Dan came right back.
"Dan, what was that all about?"
"Wanted some meat."
"You can't go coveting someone else's food."
"No. He said he'd give me some. It needs ten more minutes to finish roasting. Oh, and he wants Pan bro to come over?"
"What? Why!"
"Dunno."
"Why's he bossing us around!"
"Go see Pan. Apologize and say sorry."
"No way!"
Pan yelled, clearly miffed that no one was taking his side and everyone was siding with Nihil, then whipped his head away. Jane stared at him for a moment before grabbing him by the scruff of the neck and hauling him over to Nihil.
"L-Let gooo!"
Pan shouted as he was dragged along, but no one tried to stop her.
Little Dan shook Evan's hand with an innocent smile.
"Evan brooo~ How high do I count for ten minutes~?"
"Let me gooo!"
Pan thrashed desperately to escape Jane's grip but ended up plopped right in front of Nihil anyway.
Nihil held out a glass vial to Pan, who was glaring daggers at him and huffing indignantly.
"Drink it."
"Who do you think you are, ordering me around!"
"Drink it."
"Like I know what that even is!"
Nihil stared up at Pan for a beat, then nodded at Jane. She hesitated a moment before grabbing Pan's arms from behind.
"Wh-What! Jane bro, what're you doing! Hey, st-stop! D-Don't come closer!"
Nihil stood up and gripped Pan's chin. Pan flailed in surprise, but there was no escaping Nihil's grasp.
Pan's eyes began trembling violently at the grip strength no child should have.
"It'd be better if you just took it nicely."
"Mmph! Mmmph!"
Pan shook his head wildly, but it wouldn't budge an inch. Just as tears of fear welled up in his eyes, Lianus, who had been watching, chuckled.
"Nil, don't tease him too much."
With that, Pan's chin was released.
"...?"
"Drink it."
The glass vial was held out again to the bewildered Pan. He blanked out for a second before realizing he'd been played, his face flushing beet red as he snatched it with a huff.
He nearly flung it away in a fit of pique but got his hand caught in that terrifying grip again. In the end, he swallowed the potion down with tears in his eyes.
"Blech! Tastes awful!"
"Good boy."
"You little punk, acting all high and mighty!"
"Now go."
"Argh! You piss me off!"
Pan stomped off in a huff, unable to muster the courage to fight back against the clear difference in strength. He made a point to stomp extra hard to show he was still mad, though it didn't make much noise since he was barefoot.
"Th-Thank you. For, uh, giving him the potion, I mean?"
Jane expressed his thanks on Pan's behalf. Nihil flipped his roast bird casually, not even glancing up as he spoke.
"No feeding him today. Unless you want a corpse on your hands."
"Wh-What?"
"Don't give him anything. He might die."
"Wh-What do you mean by that?"
Jane's eyes began to tremble violently. Lianus's eyes shook too.
"Now scram. The kid's gonna snag a potato."
At that, Jane bolted off. The sound of Pan complaining about his stolen potato echoed back.
Lianus grabbed his best friend's robe sleeve urgently.
"Nil, what do you mean he might die? Explain! What was that potion?"
"A potion. Ruptured intestine. Without it, you'd have found a cold corpse come morning."
"What?!"
Lianus shot to his feet with a yell. The pigeon skewer nearly toppled over, but Nihil snatched it deftly and replanted it in the ground. He felt the kids' stares but ignored them.
"Hold on, so when you asked earlier what I'd do if one of those kids suddenly dropped dead..."
"Yeah. Asked 'cause I figured he might."
"Don't ask stuff like that—just heal them! What if I'd said you couldn't do anything even if it was me?"
"I'd have ignored you."
"What? Why?"
"What if you got hurt while I was treating him? I've only got the one potion."
"..."
"Should've brought more. Time was short."
Lianus opened and closed his mouth at the logical reply, at a loss for words.
He couldn't decide if he should be glad that Nihil put him first above all else, or lament nearly letting a death happen just to prepare for some hypothetical.
Unaware or uncaring of Lianus's turmoil, Nihil carefully wrapped a potato in his handkerchief, split it in half, and began gently peeling the skin. Steam rose fluffily from the hot flesh.
Nihil reassured Lianus that the potion meant no more worries, then handed him the potato. He wrapped the other half in a handkerchief for the cat.
"Share with Woof."
"Meow~"
"If you're cold, eat those herbs I gave you too. Bring the handkerchief back."
"Mrr."
The cat grabbed the handkerchief in its mouth and scampered off. Woof was sure to scold it for snatching food again, but it wouldn't refuse to eat.
"Let's share yours, Nil."
Realizing Nihil had no potato of his own, Lianus quickly offered half of his. The way he bunched up his robe sleeve to hold the hot potato was utterly adorable.
Nihil started to decline but accepted meekly, figuring it'd make Lianus uncomfortable otherwise, and took a bite.
"Tasty."
"Yeah! It is."
Lianus figured even raw potato would taste plenty good.
"Hey, kids, eat up."
Evan approached with the stew.
"Uh... thanks for everything. The meat, the potion... I know this isn't much in return, but..."
Lianus blinked up at him in surprise, not expecting the stew. Nihil ignored Evan entirely, focused on his potato, so Lianus took it.
"Oh, yeah. Thanks. I'll enjoy it."
Evan said to return the bowl after and left. The stew had a whole pigeon leg in it—clearly added on purpose, even though it was barely enough for the kids.
Catching the kids' subtle glances amid the unexpected kindness, Lianus awkwardly lifted the bowl to his lips. He paused just before drinking and passed it to Nihil instead.
Only eat food from Nihil. That was the promise he'd made with him.
Nihil patted Lianus's head approvingly for remembering, took a sip first, then handed it back.
"Safe to eat."
"Okay!"
Lianus beamed at the permission and took a gulp. Then he froze again.
Nihil chuckled softly at the reaction.
No proper seasonings or spices—food made by kids like this wouldn't suit a prince's palate. They'd added tons of water to stretch the meager ingredients, making it basically flavorless.
"...Looks like the kids forgot the salt."
"Where would beggar kids get salt?"
"..."
Lianus took another sip and had to work hard to keep a straight face. It was made with care—he couldn't just toss it.
Nihil watched him struggle with faint amusement before pulling spices and seasonings from his bag and sprinkling them in.
"...Would've been nice if you'd done that before I drank."
"Now you know what they live on."
"True."
Lianus comforted himself that it was a valuable lesson and drank the improved stew. The potatoes were a bit crunchy, undercooked.
"Nil, got any more spices?"
"Hm, not a ton left. Salt's decent, though."
"Gimme that."
Lianus set his bowl down seriously, snatched Nihil's bag, and marched determinedly toward the kids. He began dumping handfuls of seasonings into their pot.
Nihil smirked at the sight, neatly wrapping pigeon meat in a handkerchief for the cat.
"Meow, take this and share with Woof too."
"Meooow, meowr."
"Not gonna eat if Woof scolds you?"
"Meow, meoooow."
"Tell him you won't rest easy tonight, so eat up now and no regrets later. Same for you, Meow."
"Mrr."
The cat eventually snatched the pigeon-wrapped handkerchief and vanished again. Lianus returned after liberally seasoning the pot willy-nilly.
"Got scolded?"
"He stole his master's food, after all."
"Gotta eat well when you're working hard."
Dan, who had trailed after Lianus, peeked out and piped up.
"Meow get scolded?"
"Nope."
"Bro, ten minutes up?"
"Yup. C'mere."
Dan beamed and clambered onto Nihil's lap, plopping down. Gasps came from the distant kids, but Nihil just chuckled low and wiped Dan's hands with a water-dampened handkerchief.
Nihil tore the well-roasted meat in half and gave one piece to Lianus. Lianus took it while saying he'd handle the kids' shares, but Nihil refused, claiming too much food would dull the body.
"But bro, won't you run short taking care of them too? I already scarfed the stew."
"Just a taste."
"Got it! Dan, I won't steal much of bro's. Just one bite."
"Sure. But medicine first, before the meat."
Nihil deliberately wafted the meaty aroma while pulling a medicine vial from his pocket.
"You know how to take medicine?"
"Dan takes medicine good!"
"Alright."
But Dan boldly uncorked the vial, then froze at the smell wafting out.
"...Bro, can Dan eat meat first, then medicine?"
"No meat if no medicine."
At Nihil's firm reply, Dan clutched the vial and rolled his eyes, then started throwing a tantrum.
"Brooo, if Dan eats meat first, he'll take medicine real good. Pleeease?"
Nihil smirked at the scheming and tore off a tiny fingernail-sized piece of meat, popping it into Dan's mouth. Dan's eyes went wide at the novel chewy texture and burst of spices from such a tiny morsel, and he chewed it thoroughly.
"Spicy!"
"More if you take the medicine."
"Really?"
Dan eyed the vial at the promise. He wanted more meat, but the medicine looked truly vile.
Nihil firmly grabbed the hand of Dan, who was now gauging his reaction.
"No dumping it."
"N-No, wasn't gonna dump it..."
Dan, who had pretended it was an accident to drop the vial, flinched at Nihil's quick grab and made excuses.
Nihil said it even more sternly on purpose.
"Fine if you don't want more meat. No need for medicine then."
"N-No! I'll drink it, gonna drink!"
As Nihil reached to take the vial, startled Dan gulped it down in a hurry. Lianus admired Nihil's deft hand at getting the kid to take it himself.
"B-Bro. All gone."
"Good."
Nihil patted Dan's scrunched-up face and tore off a pigeon leg for him.
"Here."
Dan's eyes bulged, never expecting a whole leg. He unleashed a torrent of praise with a bright grin and snatched the meat before dashing back to the kids.