Chương 142: We're Dragging Him Along

A beast came running up from behind and slowed beside Kichan's group. A demonkin in armor rode on its back. He was not large, but pouches and cords hung all over his waist and shoulders. Bundles of meat, bread, and a bottle of liquor were tied behind the saddle. He got down from the beast and looked at the wake-up rod before he looked at Kichan's face. Then at Paul's rosary and cassock.

"Are you the ones who helped us earlier?"

"Yes."

"That lunatic... khm." His voice changed after the cough.

"What is your connection to Zadkiel?" Kichan looked at the ration tag at his waist and at the supply carts strung out behind him.

"We're dragging him back with us." The demonkin's shoulders dropped.

"Did you come to arrest him?"

"We came to take him back. If he comes along quietly, we won't arrest him."

"And if he doesn't come quietly?" Kichan slung the wake-up rod over his shoulder.

"We'll think about that then." The demonkin smiled for the first time. He untied the bundle behind his saddle. Meat wrapped in cloth, bread, and a bottle of dark liquor went onto a stone at the roadside, one after another.

"Where are you headed?"

"We asked at the information guild. They said the fastest way is to find the guard captain at the very front, the man who stands closest to the one you serve." The demonkin pointed at the supply carts lined up behind him.

"We're going that way ourselves." He pushed the bundle of meat toward Kichan.

"Then we'll be in your care on the road."

"What is this?"

"The only thing we have that can be eaten right away." Kichan opened the cloth. Thick chunks of meat, cut vegetables, and hard bread came out. The liquor bottle was still corked, but a sweet, sharp smell came off it.

"You're giving all of this away?"

"If there's another fight, our lives cost more than this." A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The demonkin said that and climbed onto his beast.

"We'll reach the camp before the sun sets." He went back to the front of the supply carts. Argaon picked up the bundle of meat.

"Let's eat it now."

"It's raw."

"Then we cook it." The camp was set up below a low hill a little off the road. While the soldiers pitched tents, the carts were set up in a ring on the outside. The beasts were gathered in the middle and given water. Small fires were lit in several places. Kichan sliced the meat thin with a borrowed knife. The thickness was uneven. Some pieces were thicker than a finger, some thin as paper. Riphiel watched the knife work from beside him and held out her hand.

"I'll do it."

"Have you ever sliced meat?"

"I've killed a lot of game."

"That's a little different from this." He handed over the knife anyway. Riphiel started on the second chunk. The first two pieces were too long, and from the third they came out even. Kichan did not take out all the seasonings in his small bag. He took out salt and dried spices. He mixed in a little of the local dark fruit juice and finely chopped leaves. Even with that much, the meat took on both sweetness and salt. He borrowed a wide iron griddle and set it over the fire. The meat touched it and made a sound.

Sss. The edge of a thin piece curled at once. Oil and seasoning boiled together, and a sweet smell spread through the camp. Argaon sat down right in front of the griddle. Riphiel waited with a bowl for the cooked pieces. Paul was cutting bread and stopped his knife when the smell rose.

"Is this food from Korea?"

"I'm trying to make something like it." Kichan flipped the meat. When the first piece was done, Argaon's hand moved. The tongs came down on the back of his hand.

"That's hot."

"A dragon doesn't get burned by that."

"You'll knock the meat off." Riphiel brought the bowl close to the griddle. Kichan put the cooked meat into it. Then the demonkin from before appeared again. He was walking the camp with a supply sheet in his hand and stopped in front of Kichan. His gaze followed the meat on the griddle.

"What dish is this?"

"Bulgogi."

"Does that mean meat grilled over fire?"

"Roughly." Kichan put a little meat in a small bowl and handed it over. The demonkin picked up one piece and ate it. His jaw slowed. He looked at the remaining meat, then the griddle, then the pile of raw meat behind.

"What is this seasoning?"

"Even if I explain, you won't be able to make it the same here." The demonkin ate the second piece in the bowl.

"Wait a moment." He called to a subordinate nearby.

"Bring more meat."

"Captain, it's all tied up through tomorrow's ration."

"Take it out of my share." The demonkin looked at Kichan.

"Could you make a little more?" Argaon leaned forward over the griddle.

"No." Riphiel pulled her bowl toward herself too.

"We don't have enough for ourselves."

"He said he'd bring more meat." Kichan said. In the meantime, Paul had silently picked up his own bowl. He took two edge pieces from the cooked meat beside the griddle. He tucked one piece between the bread as well. Argaon watched his hand.

"Father." Paul put the meat in his mouth.

"What is it?" His voice was a little low with food in his mouth. The supply captain's subordinate came over with a fresh bundle of meat. Kichan looked at the bowl of leftover seasoning. Argaon and Riphiel were guarding their portions, and the supply captain stood holding an empty bowl. Only Paul's bowl already had meat in it.

"The Father was the fastest." Kichan muttered. Paul did not answer and bit into the meat between the bread once more. From the next day on, the supply soldiers walked close to Kichan's group.