Chapter 31

I thought hard about it the whole night but was unable to reach a conclusion. If I could get by without ever using it, then that was fine. Or so I started to think as I shook my tired head and gazed out of the window with uncertainty. It had been sunny for the past few days, but now the sky was covered in a thick cloud. I slowly open the window, and the air smells of rain. We wouldn’t be able to go out to the forest today…

There was no point in moping in my room, so I got changed and washed my tired face before going down to the dining hall. There were several other customers down here, but Daniela was nowhere to be seen. Well, it would probably take a little longer for her to get up. I might as well eat first.

“Excuse me, could I get one breakfast set.”

“Yes. Coming right up.”

I hear the answer of the cook coming from deep within the kitchen, then I take a seat close to the window where I always eat. I pour myself some water and drink. A deep sigh escapes me. There just was no strength in me today and I ended up resting my head on the table.

What was I supposed to do going forward? What did I even want to do in the first place? I think. I don’t know why I was even in this world. It was not as if I had been ordered to do anything. Not that I had any desire to return to the previous world at this point. In spite of everything, this world was great fun for me. I couldn’t go back to my night shift.

I could carry on and be carefree if I were going solo, but now I was with Daniela. It was not as if I didn’t like being with her, but it changed things a lot when you moved as a team… Hmm, then the question really was, what did Daniela want to do?

Daniela, who had lost her homeland by a stampede of dragons. What was the reason that she had set out to travel?

Perhaps it was a journey of revenge. Perhaps it was a journey with no destination or goal. I would have to ask her once she woke up.

As I gazed out the window, seeing nothing in particular, I hear a voice call my name.

“Where’s Asagi, who ordered the breakfast set?”

“Ah, yes. Right here.

I looked up and raised my hand.

“Here you go. The breakfast set.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Please enjoy.”

The cook smiled gently and bowed before returning to the kitchen. Well, I better eat while it is still warm. Today’s menu was scrambled eggs, fried bacon, and bread. There was also a tomato based soup with lots of vegetables. Everything looked really good. In fact, most of the food in this town was of high quality. The bar at the guild, the street stalls, this inn.

First, I drink the soup. It has just the right amount of sourness to really sink into my tired body. The vegetables were nice and crunchy with the perfect texture. Next was the scrambled eggs. The fluffy eggs were sweet and melted in your mouth. They had enough salt on them to further your appetite. Then I quickly bite into the bacon. As my teeth grind against the crispy surface, the inner juices of the meat flow over my tongue. This was the kind of food that men liked. It reminded me of an American barbecue. After my mouth is thick with the grease of bacon, I wash it away with the soup. This was bliss. The bread was soft like a cushion. I tear it up and it is white inside. The broken pieces go into my mouth. The texture and rich smell fill me with happiness. Then my eyes catch the bowl of soup. Ahh, this was awkward. But I couldn’t resist. I know I shouldn’t do it. But there wasn’t a shred of rationality in my actions now. In my heart, there was something repeatedly screaming at me to stop as I dunked the bread into the soup. The pure white bread is ravished by the red brew. I gulp as I see the liquid drip from the bread. Then I chuck the whole thing into my widened mouth. And I bite. My eyes close tightly. No-nooo! I couldn’t even process it…! It was sooooooo delicious!

“What are you doing…? You’ve been quite revolting….”

I open my eyes and see Daniela looking down at me with an expression full of distaste.

“Good morning, Daniela. Food’s pretty good.”

“Good morning, Asagi. Eat like a normal person.”

What did she mean? I’m quite sure that I was? I stared back at her in retaliation but quickly lost to her glare.

After that, she ordered the same set that I did and we ate together. It really was a good meal, though.

“By the way, Daniela.”

“What is it?”

“What do we do now?”

Hmm? She seems to say as she tilts her head.

“Should we stay here, or move to a different town.”

“Ahh, so that is what you meant.”

She nods with satisfaction. I then asked her what was her reason for traveling alone.

“I told you about how I lost my homeland. At first, I only moved from place to place as I had nowhere to live. But now it is to see the world. I was blessed with a long life after all. I would like to broaden my horizons.”

I see. Is that right… So, I must have been holding you back then.”

It was clearly me who had kept Daniela here, preventing her from continuing her journey with no destination.

“Hehe. I have never thought of it like that. I have seen many towns, but none so lively as this one. It is quite comfortable. And besides, don’t I have someone whom I can depend upon that is here?”

She says and gives me a teasing look. I shrug my shoulders as a display of relief.

“That’s nice to hear. Well, I don’t intend on staying here forever either. I want you to take me with you when you do leave this town. We’re a party, right?”

“Of course. We will leave as soon as this matter with Beowulf is settled.”

The matter of the southern forest that is. When the forest wolves acclimatized and the goblins settled in the northern forest, he said that he would set off on a journey to train himself.

Ahh, right. I needed to tell her about what I discovered yesterday. I almost forgot.

And so I told her about what I learned from Macbel. About the mystery of Beowulf’s evolution and his hidden power.

“…and that’s about it.”

“I cannot believe it… He is a much more dangerous monster than I imagined.”

“It’s a miracle that we’re alive, isn’t it.”

“Without a doubt. However, we did speak with him after the fight. He has an intelligent side. Perhaps we could reason with him?”

Hmm…It might be good to take some preemptive measures.

“Like, please don’t destroy any towns. I suppose it’s better than saying nothing at all.”

“He is a monster no matter how you look at it. And one that has undergone an extreme evolution. I can only hope that he will listen…”

I’m sure he’d listen if we told him he would be chased off and killed if he attacked any human habitations. Well then, it was decided. We needed to persuade Beowulf. Once that was done, and Beowulf left on his journey, so would we.

I poured myself another cup of water and drank it, then I looked out the window to see that it had begun to rain. Well, it looked like the persuasion would have to wait for finer weather.