Chapter 51
Ch 51 -- Silent Pressure
The carriage came to a halt at sunset . "This is far enough for today . " Lambert-san ordered as they prepared to camp for the night .
"Hoi, don't forget your promise earlier . " growled Fer .
Wait, did I promise him something?
"You said you'd make me a luxury dinner . Remember?"
Oh, so I did . I'd completely forgotten in all the excitement but Fer had remembered, of course .
"I get it I get it, so what do you want to eat?"
"Sui wants to eat fried food-" Sui interjected .
"Ooh, what you made last time sounds good . Fried food for me too . " Fer added, going along with Sui .
I wasn't that hungry but something hot sounded good .
Since I promised Fer a luxury meal I decided to make two kinds of flavouring, one with a soy-sauce base and one with a salt base . For the meat, I chose some Black Serpent and what was left of the Cockatrice and Rock Bird and deep-fried them with soy-sauce and salt .
"Aruji, can I eat it-"
"Just wait a moment . " I put the fried food on a dish and pushed it over to Fer and Sui .
"Oh, this tastes different . It's also delicious-" Sui said . Oh, Sui noticed . It's nice to be praised . Fer was silent as usual, gobbling up the fried food . I expect it's delicious for you too the way you're devouring it . Well I can always fry up some more . . .
Lambert-san, a boy he had hired and members of 'Phoenix' were gathered around us . I was being silently stared at . Some of them were drooling . The pressure . . .
Oh, right . I got it .
"Here, if you'd like to help yourself . . . " I pushed a plate of fried food in their direction and jumped back as they dived towards it .
"Excuse us-"
"Really, I couldn't wait to try some . . . ""Ummm!"
"Oh so tasty, it's wonderful . . . "
"I've never had anything so good . . . "
Fried food is popular after all . After that I was frying and frying continuously . Just cooking for Fer and Sui is hard work, cooking for this lot was much harder . Worse still, at the end there was none left for me .
I couldn't help myself, I bought a sweet bun from the Net Super when no-one was looking to console myself and I ate that instead .
Damn it .
On the other hand I didn't have to stand a night watch . Fer always set a Barrier so I never needed to carry out a watch although it's usually something you should do in camp . "As a thank you saving us and for cooking such delicious items please have a good night's sleep instead . " The members of 'Phoenix' told me so I happily went to bed instead .
"Here you lot, some travel rations for you . It's crappy muck but you can eat it or starve . " Rashu-san who was taking the first watch finally gave the bandits a little food before we turned in . "Try and escape though and I'll cut you down without mercy," he warned . Adventurers aren't totally heartless but the bandits had reaped what they had sown .
As it had been a while since the battle that day I thought that some of the bandits might be considering the idea of causing trouble later so I added some more threats .
"We'll be asleep but his hearing is very good, just so you know . " I said, looking at Fer as I spoke .
"Even asleep I'm always ready for trouble . " said Fer . "Rashu-san won't have to lift a finger, I'll shred anyone who tries to escape into little pieces . " At his words the frightened bandits trembled . "That's right, if you don't want to end up like your boss just stay quiet tonight . " Fer's threat seemed to be quite effective .
I couldn't use a futon for a bed so I went to sleep wrapped up in my cloak for the first time in a while . Sui prefers a futon too so she grumbled a bit . I explained it was only until we got to the city, telling her to be patient .
Ah, Sui-tan is so cute . I promised myself I'd make Sui something good to eat tomorrow .