bookpower Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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It was safe to say that cooking occupied a very important part of life. One couldn’t live without eating and drinking. Cooking made that experience more enriching.
Bluntly put, one could survive without cooking.
There was a time when people ate raw vegetables and meat. But could that truly be called a human life?
Why were humans, dwarves, elves, and countless other races grouped together in the category of “people?” It was because they lived like people, not like beasts.
However, just as people had different food preferences, races also had varying tastes.
Here, the women had two choices. One was to cater to the Commander’s taste.
The other was to captivate the Commander’s taste with their own cooking. The two seemed similar, but they were fundamentally different approaches.
Naturally, Yuren chose the latter.
‘The Commander has been working hard lately. He must be exhausted. Then I should make something that will energize him.’
Naturally, the only food that came to Yuren’s mind for boosting energy was meat.
Of course, Yuren’s cooking consisted mostly of picking up and eating meat. But she felt that wouldn’t be enough.
‘Besides, it feels like the Commander has been avoiding me lately.’
If even the oblivious Yuren noticed, it meant Hans was deliberately avoiding her.
Fortunately, Yuren dismissed it as her imagination. The Commander wouldn’t avoid her, would he?
Putting aside such useless thoughts, Yuren wandered through the nearby forest in search of meat.
Excessive hunting of wild animals was prohibited. Overhunting would deplete the forest’s resources.
This wasn’t a rule imposed by Hans, but a common practice in other nations as well. There was a reason poaching was prohibited.
However, Hans had given permission this time. They needed ingredients, after all.
“Isn’t that a nice-looking boar?”
“I spotted it first!”
“Ruby?”
She spotted a boar rustling nearby.
Yuren licked her lips and was about to capture it, if a giant hammer hadn’t slammed down in front of her.
But Yuren didn’t even flinch. She simply turned her head towards where the hammer had been swung. There stood Ruby, her eyes gleaming.
Yuren chuckled and said,
“It doesn’t matter who spotted it first. What matters is who catches it first.”
“...Tsk!”
“What kind of language is that for a former Commander?”
“I’m sick of being bound by titles!”
“I agree.”
No bloodshed.
This rule wasn’t just for the cooking competition, but because Hans had emphasized it strongly. None of them wanted to displease him by disobeying.
Then, there was only one way.
Without a word, Ruby and Yuren dashed forward.
Surprisingly, the boar didn’t run away. Or rather, it couldn’t, overwhelmed by their presence.
The poor boar could only hope for a swift, painless end. And naturally, the first to reach the boar was Yuren.
Clara easily grasped the meaning. It was a provocation, asking if she could truly execute the recipe with her own skill.
Clara’s competitive spirit soared.
‘Alright, let’s do this.’
“Um, excuse me. Could you give me that root?”
“Bayard? What are you doing here?”
“I-I’m preparing my own dish, you know.”
It wasn’t strange. Unlike the Dwarves and Dragons, who primarily ate meat, the Beastmen balanced their diet with meat and vegetables.
Of course, meat was the main course.
There were also vegetable dishes that even Elves could enjoy. But that was a separate issue. This particular herb was a necessary ingredient for Clara’s dish.
“Sorry, but I need this.”
“T-then where can I find it?”
“You should be able to find some around here. It’s not common, but it’s not a rare ingredient either.”
“Th-thank you. A-and be careful...”
Bayard retreated surprisingly easily, but her last words lingered in Clara’s mind.
‘What did she mean?’
Just then, a stray spark flew from somewhere and landed on the herb.
“Huh?”
Before she could react, the herb was completely incinerated. Yet, her hand was completely unharmed. The implication was clear.
???? Important Notice ????
); }
Clara’s gaze followed the trajectory of the spark. As expected, two women stood there. One was a large, imposing figure, and the other looked like a child.
“What the hell is this bitch doing here?!”
“I’m sorry! There was a slight miscalculation!”
“Miscalculation? Did you just say miscalculation?”
How could a miscalculation result in burning the ingredient without touching her hand?
Knowing it was bullshit, Clara couldn’t help but feel enraged.
“Wait, I understand your anger, but we don’t have time for this.”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Think about it. The others must be ahead of us by now.”
“That’s...true.”
“We’re at a disadvantage. So, we need to start over from scratch. Don’t you think?”
“...”
It was a sophistry that surpassed even Ruby’s nonsense, but Clara, blinded by rage, didn’t care. Her deliberation was brief, but she reached the same conclusion.
If I can’t do it, neither can you.
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[Translator Notes]
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