The Strongest Wingless Gargoyle Volume 1 Chapter 5

First meal after 1500 years (2)

"Baum, Albert-san, it's ready~"

Baum and I were playing together- waiting for the meal to get cooked, when Daidalian, who had cooking duty, called out to us.

Seems like the food was ready.

Baum and I immediately headed towards the bonfire.

The well-roasted wyvern meat was waiting for us there.

Uwaaa, look at that amount of meat juice.

The meat grease shined as it was illuminated by fire.

I could only drool at such a sight.

"It would have been better if there was salt, though."

"No not at all, this is already appetizing as is."

I was going to chew the poisoned meat raw, along with the skin, after all.

There's no way I'd complain just because it was a little bland!

Well then, I want to get a taste of real food, that's fine right?

This time, you can't stop me, Daidalian boy.  

When I glanced at him for confirmation, he a.s.sented it with a nod.

"We-well then, itadakimasu."

"Itadakimasu."

I couldn't hold it any longer, and hastily bit my first morsel of food in 1500 years.

Ah&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;  

The juices overflowed inside my mouth with every bite.

That's right, this is what eating is really meant to be like; this is satisfaction.

Memories of the past struck me.

The chopped up meat had simply been roasted, without any seasoning.

People might think it low, considering this as unfit to be called a proper meal.

But, for me this was a supreme feast.

I had long doubted I would ever get a chance to eat like this again.

c.r.a.p! I was crying a little back there.

"W-what's wrong? Perhaps, this does not suit your tastes?"

Daidalian worriedly called out to the silent me.

"No&h.e.l.lip; it's just&h.e.l.lip; it's truly delicious."

That was a common answer, even by me.

But, such an answer was all I was capable of muttering.

I greedily devoured the meat as if I wanted to make up for all the meals I couldn’t eat these past years.

Ah, that's right, I need to take out some drinks.

Since there was no cup, I could only use my hands directly&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;.

"Do you need water? Since there is also no river around here, you must be thirsty. Because we don't have cups, you'll probably have to use your hands to drink."

"Aa, well then, pardon me."

Daidalian placed his meat skewer in something like a stone plate he had washed clean using water magic, then held out both his hands.

Daidalian drank the water which was poured into his hand with extreme vigour.

As expected, he was quite thirsty.

"T-This water is delicious!"

Glad you like it.

After enjoying my first meal in 1500 years, I had a chat with my brother Daidalian.

"Aa~ I'm full~, Daidalian and Baum, what are you guys going to do now?"

"I think I'll go back to my native village in the western part of the forest."

"Is your village around here?"

"Going by foot from here will take about half a day, three months ago my village was burned down by Larne's subordinates, I want to least make a graves for those who died&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; Besides, since Larne is now dead, there is a chance some of my people might come back to the village."

Daidalian spoke with a saddened expression.

It's not an unusual things these days, but it's still depressing&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;.

Dwelling in the western forest, Daidalian's village was suddenly raided by Larne's subordinates, who burnt it to the ground, catching and enslaving all who survived.

As one of many ordinary tribal villages, they never thought they would get attacked, the attack might as well have been called a surprise attack. Somehow, most women and children managed to get away, but the males were either caught or killed, Daidalian among them.

"Baum is tagging along as well?"

Baum was also similar to us, his state had weakened under the effect of Larne's slave magic but he'd received help from Daidalian.

"Yes, seems like he will come with me."

"Bigi bigi."

"Oh, is that so&h.e.l.lip;thanks, I'm relying on you."

Baum's body jiggled *puru puru*&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; so adorable.

Like usual, I had no idea what he was saying.

"Albert-san, where will you go from here?"

"For the time being, I'm planning on heading to the Falla town in the south, after that I'll do whatever I feel like."

"Then you'll cross the mountain range right? umm&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; Albert-san, your&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; wings."

"Aa, unfortunately they were burnt during the castle's defensive battle."

Some time has pa.s.sed, but as expected, I was still a bit unreconciled.

But hey, without her I wouldn't have even been freed.

That was also the main reason those gargoyles threw me away, but well yeah, I can understand.

I wonder what those guys are doing right now&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;

Eh, this is so not like me at all?

Oi oi, who do you think I am?

I'm an endurant man who concealed himself for 1500 years.

Even I understand to a detestable point, that strife is a very sad thing.

If I got mad due to every small thing, it would just go on forever.

Therefore, if by any chance we meet again.

I will absolutely have my revenge!

After all, I never said I would forgive them.

I will make them pay for their lack of respect for their elders.

I could understand their reason, but my conscience couldn't.

No good, no good, Daidalian would get scared if I kept up such an expression.

I still want to stomp them so hard they eat dirt though.

"W-well, at least I'm still alive, feeling down won't change anything. You're also the same, worrying about it will only bring you nothing."

Since the mood had suddenly become heavy, I decided to forcibly direct our discussion back to the last topic.

After all, it's such a waste to feel down after eating the long awaited meal.

"Then will you cross the mountain range by foot? You’ll inevitably encounter demons but you can use 『Search Magic』 right?"

"More or less. The usual range is about 10 meter, maximum range will be 100 meter."

"Eeh! 100 meters? That is&h.e.l.lip; quite wide."

Well, using my maximum range of 100 meters would leave me dead tired.

『Search Magic』 allows me to sense the magical power of any creature that exists within a specified range.

If the range is overly widened, there will be too much information and my brain would overload.

That's why I usually maintain a range of 10 meters.

But at a short 10 meter range, the enemy might notice me first.

『Search Magic』 is only useful for preventing surprise attacks at close ranges.

Even with that being the case, I continuously cast 『Search Magic』 inside the forest for precaution.

"Rather than monster, I'm more afraid of being lost in the mountain."

It would be the first time I'd cross the mountain by foot, but encountering monsters isn't something unusual.

"Ahaha&h.e.l.lip; I don't think you have to worry about losing your way in the Falla mountain range."

"Nn? Why?"

"The summit of Falla's mountain is the dwelling of a thunder dragon; when night comes, the summit shines brightly. It can't be seen from here, but at night, you can easily use the light to confirm your way."

"Hee, I didn't know about this as I've never crossed the mountain range at night."

"The mountain range also has gentle slopes, I believe you don't have to worry even if you're traveling by foot."

"That's pretty helpful, by the way, is there a possibility of being attacked by the thunder dragon?"

I had wondered if those gargoyles that threw me away were attacked by that dragon.

"Up until now I've never heard of any case of the Lighting Dragon coming down to attack someone. Just don't get too close and you'll be alright."

"Then that's fine. By the way, why does he shine at night? Is he trying to show off or something?"

"Who knows? It has been happening for 200 years now, actually. I heard he's lived on Falla mountain for even longer. Though he wasn't shining then."

"Fu~n, then, so around 200 years ago, something happened, causing such a change."

"It might be so."

As the forest leaves were rustled by night winds, Daidalian and I resumed our conversation inside a hollowed tree.

"Hoooaahm, I feel tired, shall we sleep?"

"That's right, then I will keep watch, please be at ease and go to sleep."

Daidalian offered to keep watch and was about to stand up, but&h.e.l.lip;

"No, that won't be necessary."

"He?"

Daidalian made a blank expression at my answer. I invoked『Water Barrier』 under my palm, the same water magic I used earlier.

With the bonfire remnants at the center, a membrane of water about 20 meters in diameter appeared.

"Now, let's leave the guarding task to the Water Barrier. I'll instantly know if the water film gets damaged. The spell should last until morning."

"M-Magic is really convenient&h.e.l.lip;.."

"Well you can't completely rely on it though&h.e.l.lip;. But I'm sure monster at the wyvern level won't be able to break through it, but just in case, I will cast Water Barrier once more."

"Is it alright to touch it?"

Maybe because he rarely saw magic? Daidalian seemed to have a keen interest in the barrier.

I a.s.sented to his question with a nod.

"The acid barrier and flame barrier will melt and burn your hand respectively, but this is only water so this is safe."

With my affirmation, Daidalian began to touch the barrier with his hand. The barrier went *boyon* as it repelled him.

Daidalian seemed unable to endure his raging curiosity anymore, so before long, he took a posture and punched the water barrier without reservation.

"You can get out from it but it's impossible to enter from the outside, so be careful."

"Eh," surprised, Daidalian's posture broke.

Somehow he seemed to have so much fun, fufu&h.e.l.lip;how young.

I hope I'm already helpful enough to make up for my lack of utility when it comes to cooking.

Right now, he was innocently playing with water barrier to his heart’s content, just like a little kid.

I think he was a gentle boy.

Having his comrades killed, being turned into a slave, and yet still remaining so kind.

Even though he's such a young goblin.

This is what you call a good-natured person.

Daidalian stopped me from eating poisonous wyvern meat.

If he'd just let me be, he could've stolen the meat and had it all for himself after I died.

I was indeed necessary for Baum's recovery, but still.

His honest character is really likeable.

Although it might be a little difficult for him to live in this cruel world.

I don't want him to die.

This is really out of character for me.

"Well whatever&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; I'll sleep first~"  

I gave the playing Bright-eyed Daidalian a sidelong glance, and fell asleep.

The sun rose up, morning had come.

When I woke up, I found Daidalian and Baum both wearing slightly troubled expressions next to me.

Err, not sure about Baum's though&h.e.l.lip;

"Good morning, what's with that face? Did you not sleep well?"

"Good morning, no it's not that, because of you I could have a nice sleep. I wanted to gather twigs and prepare breakfast as I was already fully awake, but since the barrier is still intact I can't go outside&h.e.l.lip;"

"Aa&h.e.l.lip;I see, I hadn't considered that, as I've always been by myself, sorry."

Having said that, I cancelled Water Barrier as per his request.

"Since I have been provided with a safe place, I'll prepare breakfast at once, but it will be using the wyvern meat from yesterday&h.e.l.lip;.”

"Yeah, I'll leave it to you."

Getting spoiled by his kindness, I entrusted the breakfast preparation to Daidalian, while I leisurely waited.  

After a while the meal was ready, I ate the roasted wyvern meat, then got up, dusted myself off, and gradually prepared to depart.

"Ah, that's right, Albert-san please have this."

"Nn, what is this? A bag?"

Daidalian presented a bag made of wyvern skin to me.

"I made this while I was free earlier this morning, I thought it would be hard to carry wyvern meat as it is, please consider this a small token of my grat.i.tude for the meal, even though I acted on my own." 

"&h.e.l.lip;"

He is really&h.e.l.lip;.

Fine, yup&h.e.l.lip;I've decided.

"Aa~~ umm."

"Yes?"

"Is it fine if I tag along until Daidalian's village?"

"Umm, isn't Albert-san heading towards Falla town? "

"That was my plan, but since I've secured my food with the wyverns, I don't need to be in such a hurry anymore. Since we're already together now, why don't we stay that way for a while longer."

I'm also slightly worried.

The forest's condition is strange.

So far, besides the wyverns, I couldn't find any other monsters.

Just a bit more, I wanted to help this kind-hearted boy.

"Albert-san&h.e.l.lip;"

"I can't?"

"Bigii."

"N-No, Nothing like that! Albert-san is very welcomed to do so, Baum also said please by all means."

"Is that so, then please take care of me for a bit longer."

"Yes! Likewise."

Thus I decided to take a detour on my journey. I ended up following Daidalian until he reached his village.