Chương 58: Delicious

Pulling them out directly was impossible. The only way to harvest Moonlight Grass intact was to use a small shovel and carefully sever all the tiny roots beneath the soil. While Zelier was busy digging, Bev had already found something else to occupy herself with. Several butterflies covered in faint glowing particles fluttered around the hollow, instantly catching her attention.

"Bev, help me out here." Zelier looked over helplessly.

"You can handle it by yourself." Bev's voice was full of excitement as she chased after the butterflies dancing through the air.

"Look! Aren't they beautiful?" The butterflies circled around for a few moments before drifting deeper into the darkness of the forest.

"Come back. Be careful. There might be monsters over there." Zelier warned her. Seeing that the area ahead really did look a little eerie, Bev reluctantly restrained her curiosity.

"Fine…" She obediently returned to Zelier's side, gathered her skirt, and crouched down beside him, seriously watching him collect the herbs.

"Do you usually do quests in places like this?"

"It's not usually this easy. This is only the outskirts of Ashwood Forest, so there isn't much danger." Zelier continued digging.

"The quests I normally take involve hunting monsters. I have to stay alert every second. If I let my guard down, the hunter can easily become the hunted." As he spoke, Zelier tilted his chin toward a dense patch of bushes nearby.

"For example, something could easily be hiding there."

"Huh? Really?" Bev turned her head and looked over.

"Of course…" Zelier deliberately lowered his voice, trying to scare her a little.

"If a goblin suddenly jumped out from there and charged at you right now, what would you do?"

"I'd turn around and run!" Bev answered without hesitation.

"Wrong." A mischievous smile appeared on Zelier's face.

"You should do what I do. Blast it right in the face with magic." As he spoke, Zelier raised his hand. After a brief buildup of mana, he launched a Wind Blade. Whoosh! This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. The razor-sharp blade of compressed wind sliced through the bushes, cutting them down cleanly.

"Eeeeeek!" A sharp, miserable cry immediately came from within the foliage. Both Zelier and Bev froze. There really was something inside? The two cautiously approached and looked closer. A plump rabbit lay there. Its hind legs had been cleanly severed by the Wind Blade, and after twitching weakly for a few moments, it finally stopped moving.

"Ah…" Bev frowned slightly.

"The poor bunny…" Half an hour later. The campfire crackled and popped. Bev bit into a roasted rabbit leg, her eyes narrowing happily as she savored the chewy meat.

"Bunny tastes so good!" Zelier also grabbed another rabbit leg and started eating. There was no helping it. It had been an accident, but the rabbit was already dead. They might as well cook it. Wasting food was a crime.

"Slow down. Nobody's fighting you for it." Zelier handed her another piece of roasted rabbit meat.

"Mhm… mhm…" Bev responded while chewing, completely lacking the elegance expected from a noble young lady. It was strange. She had grown up surrounded by luxury, eating all kinds of rare delicacies since childhood. Yet this roasted rabbit, cooked without even a single seasoning, somehow tasted exceptionally delicious. Was it because she was hungry? Or because this kind of experience was simply new to her? Before long, the entire rabbit had been devoured by the two of them.

Satisfied, Bev took out a small leather pouch from her side and pulled out a silk handkerchief. She carefully wiped her mouth and fingers, then took out another one and handed it to Zelier, who was wiping his mouth with his sleeve.

"Here." Zelier paused for a moment before accepting it.

"Thanks." A faint floral fragrance lingered on the handkerchief. This kind of expensive fabric felt almost too luxurious to use for wiping his mouth. The two sat side by side on the soft grass, enjoying the rare tranquility of the glowing forest. The campfire slowly burned down. Eventually, only scattered sparks remained, popping softly into the night.

"Coming out with you today was really fun." Bev hugged her knees and turned her head to look at Zelier.

"I thought you'd find it exhausting."

"It was a little tiring, but it was interesting." Bev looked back at the floating lights drifting through the forest, her voice carrying a trace of melancholy.

"The noble children I grew up around were all incredibly arrogant. Most of them only learned magic because of vanity."

"It sounded impressive when they told others about it. It made them look refined and prestigious."

"Every day, they either talked about whose party was more extravagant or showed off some new magic staff worth hundreds of gold coins. It was unbelievably boring."

"Some of them studied magic for years, and the only time they ever used it was as a fancy introduction when inviting ladies to dance at a ball."

"But you're different."

"You go on adventures. You fight monsters. And you're stronger than all of them."

"Honestly, I didn't really have a choice." Zelier gave a self-deprecating smile.

"That's exactly why you became someone unique." Bev answered seriously.

"Is that so…" Zelier's eyes met hers. For some reason, he suddenly felt the atmosphere become strangely intimate. So he didn't say anything else. The two simply sat there quietly, side by side. After collecting the Moonlight Grass and finishing their roasted rabbit, the two returned to Blackstone Town by carriage. The setting sun dyed the entire town in a warm golden glow. After waving goodbye to Bev, Zelier pushed open the door of the Nightflower Inn.

"You're back? I thought I wouldn't see you again before my shift ended." Auro had been lazily lying on the counter, but the moment she saw Zelier, she immediately straightened up and greeted him with a smile. However, that smile quickly froze. Then her expression turned into pure shock.

"Y-you… your leg is healed?!" The Zelier standing before her walked steadily, without even a hint of the limp he had shown that morning. Even his crutch had disappeared somewhere. Zelier only smiled and didn't explain much.

"A very skilled mage healed me."

"A mage…" Auro blinked. Then, as if realizing something, she carefully examined him before asking:"You… you're not a mage too, are you?"

"Yeah." Zelier admitted it directly.

"So amazing…" Auro looked impressed.

"I saw the thin sword you carried at your waist before, so I thought you were some kind of swordsman."

"What would you like for dinner tonight? The beef shank in red wine sauce again? The kitchen received a batch of fresh veal today. The quality is excellent."

"No, thanks. I already ate outside." Zelier waved his hand.

"Eh?" Auro narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Which restaurant's cooking did you try? Is it actually better than the Nightflower Inn?"

"Uh…" Zelier was speechless. There was no way he could explain that he had eaten roasted rabbit in the wilderness with a noble young lady. So he could only laugh awkwardly. When Auro turned around to greet another customer, Zelier quickly slipped upstairs.