A Cruel Torture
Goblin.
Though they possessed hideous appearances, their meat was actually quite excellent.
While it couldn't compare to specially raised livestock or high-ranking monsters whose infused mana gave them a unique flavor, it was still considered a superb delicacy among the meats accessible to commoners.
There was even a common saying that the only good goblin was a roasted goblin.
Having started out as a poor adventurer, goblin meat was one of the ingredients I was most familiar with, and personally, it was one of my signature dishes.
I've cooked almost every kind of monster at least once, but none are as familiar as goblins.
Thanks to this hunt, we had obtained enough goblin meat to practically rot. Furthermore, with the various spices I had received from Matilda, the preparations for cooking were complete.
And so, to give my ladies their first proper meal, I did my absolute best under the finest conditions.
The key to a good monster steak was to let it absorb plenty of spices, then sear it over high heat so the outside became crispy while the inside remained tender and juicy.
Just as I finished cooking with practiced ease, I turned around.
My eyes met the two ladies, who seemed to have followed the aroma.
"Um... Adjuster? What is this...?"
"It smells delicious. Is this... perhaps for us?"
The two asked, their eyes sparkling.
Watching them swallow their saliva, unable to tear their eyes away from the plates of steak, I spoke with a smile.
"You both worked hard today, so I decided to show off my skills a bit. Come, let's eat. There's plenty, so let me know if you want more."
"Ah... Yes! T-Thank you, Adjuster."
"Thank you, Master. Then I shall partake without hesitation."
The two accepted the plates of meat with joy. Seeing them rejoice like children, I felt like a parent feeding their offspring, and a smile naturally formed on my lips.
Steaming meat sat upon the plates.
Inhaling the savory, fragrant aroma—incomparable to the travel rations they had eaten before—Apollona and Mares picked up their utensils, feeling somewhat spellbound.
They possessed the knowledge of how to eat, and they knew what was edible and what was not.
However, putting aside that knowledge, eating warm, freshly cooked food was a first for both of them.
Moreover, the fact that it had been personally prepared by the Adjuster—their eternal master and savior—deeply moved them.
"What are you doing? Go ahead and eat."
"Y-Yes, Adjuster. Then... we shall eat gratefully."
"I... I understand."
Following Seton's lead as he began his meal, the two carefully began to slice their meat.
Unlike a few hours ago, when they had torn through hundreds of monsters like paper, they now sliced the tender, well-cooked meat with extreme care, as if it were a monumental task.
Finally, after a slightly awkward and tense sequence of movements, Apollona and Mares placed the meat into their mouths.
Immediately, the flavor exploded across their palates.
"...!"
"Th-This is...!"
It was incredibly sweet, tender, and intensely savory.
The meat literally melted in their mouths. The warm, sweet sensation gently enveloping the tips of their tongues delivered a powerful shock to both of them.
It was a sensation that far surpassed the pleasure of slaughter dictated by their instincts as Mashins.
They realized that this was the joy of eating delicious food—the emotion commonly referred to as happiness.
Drip.
"!? What's wrong? Are you okay? Does it not suit your taste...?"
Seton asked gently, noticing the tears falling from their eyes as they stood frozen in shock.
In response, Apollona and Mares spoke with heartfelt admiration and gratitude.
"It is... truly magnificent. I never imagined I would experience such joy."
"I knew that dining brought pleasure... but I did not expect it to be to this extent. Thank you for showing me this joy, my Master."
"Uh... I see. Well, I'm glad it suits your taste..."
Seton looked slightly flustered by their reaction, but their attitude was entirely genuine, without a shred of exaggeration.
"Truly amazing. So this is what it means to eat delicious food..."
"To think there is something that brings more pleasure than an honorable battle. I see... No wonder the knowledge granted to us contained so much detail regarding dining etiquette."
With those words, the two began to eat even more eagerly, almost like starved beasts.
Seton was flustered at first, but seeing them enjoy his cooking filled him with pride and satisfaction.
I knew they'd like it, but I didn't expect them to be this happy. I'll have to cook plenty of delicious things for them whenever we get good ingredients.
As a Grand Master adventurer who had hunted and cooked everything from goblins to dragons, I felt a parental warmth and resolved to let them taste all kinds of dishes in the future.
Just then.
"Um... Master?"
"Yes?"
Mares called out to me, a piece of meat still in her mouth. Blushing slightly with a smile on her face, she asked:
"Could I... have another serving?"
She looked quite cute, a stark contrast to the fierce warrior I had first met. Feeling my heart flutter slightly, I smiled and replied.
"Of course. Eat as much as you want."
"I... I would also like another serving, please!"
Apollona chimed in, as if competing with Mares.
Happily responding to the two women's requests for seconds, I began to grill the meat I had marinated beforehand.
It wasn't just about rewarding my subordinates. I felt genuinely happy that such beautiful women were enjoying my food.
Deep within the dungeon, Annas hung her head.
Although her limbs had been restored through healing magic after her soul was split, she remained bound in chains.
But at this moment, more than the pain of her confinement, she was suffering from an entirely unexpected torment.
Growl...
"...Ugh."
A sharp pang of hunger accompanied the sound from her stomach. Having eaten nothing since her capture, her stomach was completely empty. It burned with hunger, and the intense starvation made her head spin.
If it were just hunger, she wouldn't have found the situation this painful.
Going without food was a common occurrence in her life as an adventurer, and as an assassin whose primary duties were infiltration and tracking, starving for a day or two was nothing.
However, even for her, the current situation was a horrific torture.
Though healed, her body and mind were extremely exhausted from having her limbs severed, losing a massive amount of blood, and experiencing the agony of her soul being split.
In such a state, one naturally grew hungry much faster than usual, yet she was left completely neglected without even a sip of water.
And in this state, the rich aroma of meat drifted to her nose, intensely stimulating her appetite.
Damn it... Those filthy bastards, to think they would torture someone like this...
Seton and the women were grilling and eating meat right in front of someone who had been starving all day. Because she was locked in a cell, she couldn't see them, which only made the aroma of the roasting meat stimulate her senses to the point of madness.
Gulp... Ugh... To think I would feel such defeat over mere goblin meat...
It was a humiliating defeat for the empire's strongest assassin. Feeling her spirit completely broken by such a cruel method, Annas was once again seized by bitter regret for betraying Seton.