Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Became the Gallery's Only Reptile
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"What? Why would an elf eat meat?"
The elven girl tilted her head, fiddling with her ear as if to confirm she'd heard right, then tilted her head again.
The reaction from over there was an affirming nod, confirming she hadn't misheard.
So the elf thought.
No, she was just asking about Lady Ceres, the first World Tree, and now this random question out of nowhere?
Until just moments ago, she'd given a short lecture during the break before the next class, since they were curious about Lady Ceres—the progenitor of elves and the starting point of their history.
And the follow-up question was this?
Ever since leaving the elven lands and coming here, there was one thing she just couldn't understand.
"This is ridiculous. You've seen us eating meat plenty of times during exchanges, so why do humans still think we only eat veggies?"
"...Huh, yeah? Why is that......"
"Probably just the classic fantasy trope."
"Pardon?"
"Ah, nothing."
Whoops, muttering to myself again.
One of the two who'd asked the elf the question.
The girl with black hair and black eyes sighed inwardly and shook her head.
"If only Lady Keter had eaten meat back then, this absurd image wouldn't have stuck."
"Keter?"
"The first high elf created by Lady Ceres, and the strongest in our village."
A perfect being who didn't need food or sleep at all, unlike regular elves.
Do you know that Keter, the very first high elf born among them, was the one who created the elves' fantasy image?
"If she'd just touched meat during interactions with people, this wouldn't have happened, right?"
"You mentioned that earlier too. Does that Keter elf not eat meat, unlike you or other elves?"
She hadn't used the honorific for Ceres earlier, and now the same for Keter.
The elf debated whether to point it out, then shook her head, figuring they'd forget anyway.
"No? Lady Keter loves meat. Just last time, she got caught ordering chicken on the sly by herself."
"Ehh?"
"Mm. Chicken's hard to resist."
One person baffled by the mention of eating chicken. Another nodding as if it made perfect sense.
The baffled one suddenly raised her hand and spoke.
"Then why's it said she didn't eat meat before?"
"Ahh... well, about that."
Honestly, this felt a bit awkward to explain.
For good reason...
"Huh?"
"It's true."
"But it's hard to believe."
The two nodded at the elf's words.
No, fruit tastier than meat?
The elf explained there used to be fruit so delicious it made meat unappealing by comparison.
They always carried it, and at gatherings with humans, naturally ate their own fruit instead of the offered meat or other food, leading to rumors that elves don't eat meat—which persisted over time into the classic image.
"Fruit tastier than meat?"
"Something like that existed?"
Of course, the two listeners couldn't relate at all.
Crunch.
"Hm?"
That was when.
A faint, refreshing crunch of fruit echoed from a corner of the room.
Maybe because they'd just been talking about fruit.
Black eyes quickly scanned the room, pinpointing the source.
"Ah."
"She's always alone... Just join us."
"That's how she is. And she's eating that again today. Always brings it—what fruit is that?"
By looks, top-tier beauty even among academy students.
Always ranking high in exams too.
When someone said she must be common-born since she hid her family name, rumors spread that professors sweated bullets because she was friends with high noble heirs, just hiding her noble lady status.
An academy celebrity.
And though she kept her distance on purpose, someone they could proudly call a friend—she'd pulled golden fruit chunks from her pocket, popped two pieces like she was hiding, smiled contentedly, and patted her belly.
"She's hardcore too. Skips cafeteria food for a few fruit chunks per meal."
"No way. Probably just a snack."
"For real. Never seen Lena eat a proper meal!"
"......"
Is that so?
Thinking about it, yeah, maybe.
Munch. Munch.
Whoa, this is why people watch mukbangs.
I smiled warmly watching Amrita vanish live before my eyes, Keter stuffing her cheeks full with it.
[That good, huh.]
"Mmm! Yes! Super tasty!"
[Good, plenty more. Eat slow.]
Keter doesn't actually need food.
Ceres designed and made her that way.
But she can eat, so I prepared Amrita for her, and now she's in a real-time Amrita eating battle.
-Wow, she's really packing it away.
"Feels bad to snatch any now."
[Eats so heartily.]
Not just me admiring Keter.
Silpi, Cheong, even the wolf spirit beast watched her mukbang blankly, sharing the sentiment.
Midway, Cheong reached for Amrita, hungry, but Keter's freakishly fast hand and jaw scared me—she might choke—so I stopped her and kept her watching quietly beside me.
Gulp.
I thought Silpi and Cheong eating lots before had maxed my expectations, but Keter shattered and reset them.
Crunch.
-Wow, I couldn't eat that much.
"Me neither."
[Amazing it all fits.]
"Fwew! All done!"
Keter finished all the Amrita we'd prepared.
All right here, right now.
If I had hands, I'd clap.
Clap clap clap.
Silpi and Cheong actually were.
-Keter. All gone?
"Yup!"
-We'll have to bring more steadily.
"El's gonna be busy."
[Ahem. You two come too?]
But their reactions to my words weren't great.
Silpi still resisted going outside. Cheong had loosened up emotionally, but faint instinctive aversion to Ceres and Keter lingered.
So naturally, I—who visited Ceres regularly—drew Amrita delivery duty. At 10 Amrita daily, I'd bring about 30 each visit.
"Only 10?!"
Keter, shocked by our words.
Because we limited her daily Amrita to 10.
Given what she just ate, yeah, understandable.
But eating like that daily would deplete stocks fast.
How did that slender body hold so much? She devoured a massive amount.
That much every day? Once her siblings are born, consumption might outpace growth.
[Eat moderately—too much just weighs you down.]
"Yeeesss......"
-10's already a ton, Dad.
I know.
If we go, Ceres might adjust the limit upward.
Not sure, but intuition said so.
Her voice felt like a mom rationing kids' snacks.
[Then we'll head back for real.]
-Yeah~ Take care.
We'd returned mid-homeward for Amrita, so now truly home time.
Wolf spirit beast would detour home then head to its turf—faster that way—so parting here.
[See you next time.]
[You don't have to come.]
[Ahem. Take care, everyone.]
"You're the weakest here."
-Cheong. Even if weak, don't say it to their face. Weak hearts break easy from words like that.
[......]
Tears?
Its eyes were clear, yet mine saw illusory tears.
Left sadly without kind words.
But don't pity it.
That guy looks pitiful now, but first met targeting Ceres and charging me.