The Beast's Charge and the Campfire's Allure
"Stay away from our campfire!" Syucali shouted, drawing her sword and charging toward the beast that had attacked the caravan. Clang!Screeeech! Steel met claw, and the shriek of rending metal rang out across the field.
"Incredible… She's holding her own against the beast in a contest of strength."
"This isn't the time to admire her! Attack!"
"Let's go!!"
"Waaaaah!!"
While Syucali alone met the beast's assault, the other adventurers struck from behind.
"Grrraaah!" The beast let out a threatening roar at the approaching adventurers.
"You're underestimating me." I slipped into the opening created by the beast's distraction.
Slash!
"Kreeegh!" A deep gash opened across the beast's shoulder. Blood sprayed across the grass as it turned its glare on me.
"That's right. Keep your eyes on me." Wounded, the beast no longer paid attention to anything else. It recognized me as its primary threat and squared up for a direct confrontation. Because of that, it failed to notice Syucali and the other adventurers rushing in from behind.
"Push through!"
"Haaaaah!!"
Though the beast possessed tough hide, the sheer number of attacks began to accumulate. Weapons lodged in its body from every angle, and it coughed up blood. Even so, it never stopped trying to reach the carriages.
Thud…
"It fell!"
"Victory is ours!"
Even in death, the X-beast's eyes remained fixed on the carriages. The same had been true of the goblins we'd encountered before. Something was clearly wrong.
"Hey, that was impressive."
"Fighting a beast head-on like that? Never seen anything like it."
"What's your name?"
"..."
Everyone was celebrating the victory, but their cheers sounded distant to me.
Again.
Eos had said that monster stones could be used to control monsters. Hunter Steini had mentioned cave mushrooms that could make people mistake a cave for something else. I didn't know whether one or both were being used here, but the abnormal situations kept occurring, and it left a bad taste in my mouth.
"Are you all right?"
"I'm fine." Syucali approached, studying my expression. Even though she was my slave, she seemed to sense my mood.
"The attack is over! We're moving out again!"
Regardless of my complicated feelings, the carriage wheels began to turn once more.
"Syucali, did you find any suspicious adventurers?"
"I spoke with everyone, but no one gave me a particularly strange feeling."
"I see…" Syucali had immediately sensed something off about Margaret the first time they met. The fact that someone could evade even her instincts meant they had been embedded in the caravan for a long time.
"The traitor might be someone who's been with the caravan for quite a while."
"What? That can't be right."
Syucali denied it, but I shook my head. "People can change at any time. No one is perfect. Anyone can break, anyone can turn. I never thought I could kill someone either, but after spending one night with Helga, I gained the resolve I didn't have before. You only ever thought about selling me out, yet now you're devoted to me. Is there really anyone among Isabella's inner circle whose heart won't waver?"
"Especially if a noble is involved, betrayal would be simple."
"...If a noble has reached out, I can't make any guarantees."
I looked toward the distant beast corpse. Isabella had given me a hundred gold. It felt like the bare minimum amount meant to warn me not to be swayed by nobles.
"Seeing Isabella's mansion destroyed might have shocked some of her retainers."
"..." Syucali nodded quietly.
"A merchant who couldn't even stop one mage from blowing up her own house. Their trust must have taken a hit."
"The way you put it, Master, it does seem likely. They saw the mansion collapse because of a single mage with their own eyes. They might even think their own lives are in danger now."
Syucali seemed to understand, her gaze turning toward the front of the caravan.
"I'll try making contact with the caravan members."
"While you're at it, drop some hints that you'd like to join them."
"You mean like I did with Margaret?"
"Exactly."
"Understood. I'll do my best again this time."
Syucali's reputation was terrible. She was the type who would kidnap a man and sell him for money. There was a chance the traitor might try to bribe her.
"You'll do fine. Just act like you always do."
"I'm not a traitor…!"
"I know."
"Please don't think of me as a bad person!"
Still, I trusted she would handle the role well once it was given to her.
"And Eos will prepare for the next attack with me."
"Understood."
I pulled a small monster stone from my pack.
"The next attack?" Syucali looked curious about what Eos and I were planning.
"We're going to stop the monster attacks."
"Is that even possible!?"
"We'll have to try and see."
"An experiment, then. I like experiments~"
The demon race could control monsters. Eos was a demon herself. With her power, I believed we could interfere.
"We'll prepare thoroughly until the next attack."
"Yes, Master."
"I'll do my best too!"
Everyone looked motivated. It reminded me of when I first formed this party. Not everything had gone smoothly, but we were steadily moving in the right direction.
"Um… sorry to interrupt while you're talking…"
"Hm?"
While we were making plans, the adventurer I'd seen that morning approached.
"I heard we're about to take a long rest… Are you preparing dinner by any chance?"
"Puriko, why are you asking about the meal preparations?"
"I was wondering if there was anything I could help with."
"What?" Syucali glared at Puriko, clearly displeased. Puriko endured the stare and continued.
"Breakfast was so delicious and memorable. I wanted to eat your cooking again."
"No, it's true that Kang Seo-ja's food is amazing, but it's meant for our party."
"We can pay for it."
"No. If we run out of ingredients, we'll go hungry too."
"Then how about we provide ingredients from the hunting our party has done?"
"We'll also need things for spices and sauces."
"If it's just that much, I'm sure Lady Isabella would sell some from the carriage."
"Hah… You really…"
Puriko didn't back down even under Syucali's pressure. The woman had no intention of retreating. I wondered if my cooking was really that good.
"Does it have to be my cooking?"
"Yes… Is that not allowed?"
Puriko looked at me with desperate eyes.
"Very well."
"Ah! Thank you so much!"
"Kang Seo-ja…!" Syucali called my name in a voice full of complaint. She probably hated the idea of her own meal being taken away, but Puriko had mustered the courage to come all this way. Her party was even offering to cover the missing ingredients and pay in coin, so there was no loss. And seeing someone show this much sincerity reminded me of myself when I first arrived in this world.
"Let's eat together for the next few days."
"Yes!!"
Syucali looked thoroughly displeased, but I patted her back to reassure her.
"He's my Master alone. Ugh…"
"Don't twist this in a weird direction."
Cooking wasn't that difficult anyway. If I ever felt it was too much, I could just say so. Of course, it wouldn't be. Thanks to Vivian, my stamina stats had risen considerably. If anything, having more test subjects to experiment with was a good thing. I could find out whether my cooking tasted good simply because of slave obedience, or whether dishes infused with mana actually carried power. Puriko would be perfect for testing that.
"Syucali, eat dinner and then move out."
"Got it~"
Once the long rest began, I started cooking.
"The fire's weak. Bring more firewood."
"Here you go."
I oiled the wok and placed the red-seasoned meat on it.
Sizzle…!
Watching the seasoned meat cook, I added vegetables and herbs, then stir-fried everything again. I kept stir-frying to bring out a bit of the campfire's smoky flavor. The result was spicy pork stir-fry with flowing red mana.
"Come and eat."
"Whoa!!"
"It smells amazing…!"
With the wok piled high with meat in the center, everyone scooped portions onto their own plates. The female adventurers didn't hesitate, shoveling the stir-fry straight into their mouths.
"Om nom nom!"
"It's so salty-sweet and delicious~"
"Munch, munch… It's so good…"
"It looked spicy, but it's not spicy at all~"
Everyone seemed satisfied, emptying their bowls just like usual. I made myself a wrap and ate it. Syucali, who had been watching, copied me.
"This is perfect when you eat it with fresh leaves…!"
Syucali looked at me with sparkling eyes, full of affection.
"Did you… cook something?"
"Hm?"
At some point, a female warrior had approached from the rear carriage.
"If you want to eat, have a seat."
"Got it." The warrior handed me three silver coins as if it were the most natural thing in the world and sat beside me.
"Nom nom nom!" She devoured the stir-fry like a starving person. And then, not long after, something happened.
"I heard the food here is really good…"
"Can we taste it too if we pay three silver?"
"What kind of dish is that?"
Adventurers who had been guarding other carriages began gathering around the sixteenth carriage. Word had spread. This world had no internet or phones. Information traveled mouth to mouth. This caravan was no exception.
"I heard he's the royal head chef?"
"They say he's even better than that."
"A man, right?"
"You mean the guy who drew his sword in front of the beast?"
"He was wearing a robe, so I couldn't see him well."
The rumors had been greatly exaggerated.
"No…! Stop coming! I told you to stop!"
Syucali resisted fiercely. But even she could only hold off one or two people. Against this many, she was powerless.
"Get out of my campfire… Get out!!!"
Syucali screamed in despair.