CH 47

[Passionate Lecture on Wyvern]

I was giving a lecture on the eating habits of the Wyvern to Noelia, who had finished skinning the Spring Gazelle.

“Wyverns like Dimol have a habit of swallowing their prey, they have teeth in their beak, but they are not using it to chew but so that they won’t drop their food while swallowing it. That’s why you have to cut the food to little pieces so that it can be swallowed easily.”

I told her about the things I learned when I was taking care of Dimol.

If by any chance that I have to move alone and couldn’t take Dimol, I would like to ask her who liked Dimol to take care of him.

Therefore, I spontaneously talk enthusiastically.

“I-I see. Frick-sama seems to be extremely enthusiastic in taking care of Dimol.”

Even while listening to my story enthusiastically, without stopping her hands, Noelia cut up the Spring Gazelle, which had been skinned with her hunting knife.

Although she is a daughter of a great noble, as an adventurer, she seems to be accustomed to this because because she has been doing outdoor activities more than ordinary people.

“Ahh, it seems that when Wyverns got a prey that doesn’t fit into their mouth, they tear it up with the talons on their feet to make it smaller. The big Madness Boar was eaten by Dimol that way, so I think that the wild ones eat in that way as well.”

“Certainly, I saw quite a few torn monster’s bodies in the Yasuba’s hunting ground. Those were the left-over of the Wyvern’s meals, is it. But wild Wyverns eats by themselves, so why do you feed Dimol?”

The cutting up of the Spring Gazelle continues, Noelia who began to cut it into small chunks so that Dimol could easily eat it, asked why we need to prepare the food for him.

“Because Dimol who politely asks for permission to eat is cute, I can’t help but want to feed him myself. If I only give him permission to eat, he’ll eat it by himself, but that is sad.”

“Eh? Is it only because of that?”

Noelia’s hand, which was cutting the meat, stopped.

D-did I say something strange?

But if you adore someone, it’s normal that you want to do something for them.

Perhaps, I’m the only one who thinks like that?

After seeing Noelia’s reaction and wondering if I was the strange one, I decided to hurriedly added another reason.

“Y-yeah. And I’m observing whether he is showing signs of turning into monster!”

“Y-yeah. So that is the case. So that is why Dimol is so fond of Frick-sama… Now then, the preparation is done. Dimol, I am sorry to have kept you waiting.”

“Kuee!!”

While looking a little disappointed, Noelia put the chunks of Spring Gazelle’s meat in front of Dimol.

“Dimol, you can eat it. You have to give your thanks to Noelia properly, okay?”

“Kuee!!

Dimol, who got my permission, cried at Noelia who prepared his food, and swallowed the cut meat.

Noelia was absentmindedly watching the situation.

As I thought, I had said something strange…

It’s obvious to see that she is feeling down.

I wonder if taking care of Dimol’s food was harder than I thought.

Or did I talk too much about the ecology of Wyverns?

After the preparation of Dimol’s food was done and looking at Noelia’s appearance, which was different than usual, Suzana who had begun preparing lunch earlier, approached.

“Frick-sama, Noelia-sama, the lunch is ready. Both of you are handling monster, so please wash your hands thoroughly, okay. If you don’t, your stomach will hurt you know.”

In the bonfire made of stones, I saw some skewered dried meat and a pot containing soup by boiling salted dried vegetables.

It’s a simple meal, but it’s a luxurious meal considering that we’re traveling outdoors.

It was the moment I felt grateful that I was traveling with a wagon loaded with daily necessities.

“Not only monster, but also――”

“I know. I am no longer a kid, so I know at least that much.”

“I know. I once skipped washing my hands and got stomachache after all.”

Suzana seems like about to start a lecture on washing hands, so I headed for the wagon together with Noelia and twisted the faucet of the water barrel attached to the luggage compartment.

It’s really convenient to travel with a wagon.

You can even store a lot of water just to wash your hands like this.

I remembered that when I was I beginner, I was tired from traveling and could not secure water for washing my hands, so I did not wash my hands that was wet with blood after cutting up monsters and only wiped it lightly with a cloth and then ate just like that, and that night, I suffered from a terrible stomachache.

My stomach was hurting so much that I thought I would die, I could hardly move the next day, and Alfine was complaining a lot.

Since then, after handling the monsters, washing my hands has been my top priority, no matter how busy I am and no matter how limited the water is.

I cleanly wash my hands dirty with blood and then wipe my hands with a clean cloth.

“Now then, we’ve finished washing our hands, so let’s eat too.”

“Yes, that’s right. I am hungry with the various things that happened. I will think about it later, first of all, I have to fill my stomach.”

Noelia, who seemed to have regained her spirit a little, had finished washing her hands as well.

So, we returned together, and decided to enjoy the meal made by Suzana.

The reason Noelia wasn’t feeling well a while ago was probably because it was unexpectedly difficult to make food for Dimol and she was hungry.

Seems like I didn’t say anything strange.

I’m glad, it would be hard to ask her to take care of Dimol if she thought that I was a strange guy; even during the journey, our relationship sure is awkward.

I glanced at the side profile of Noelia who was eating, and let out a relieved sigh.