Magical Tool Master Dahlia Never Compromises ~ Starting Today: Life as a Freelancer ~

"I see. Ah, since we're going to use it as material, it would be bad if it hits something it shouldn't, right?"

"Which part of it does Miss Rossetti want, Wolfe?"

"heart."

The team members' attention was all focused on the forest snake.

The forest snake stuck out its dark green tongue and showed a puzzled expression.

"hiss……"

I feel like its intimidating voice has weakened a bit.

Perhaps because it could understand a little bit of what people were talking about, its huge body no longer gave people a huge and oppressive feeling.

"Captain Goulart, please give permission for the subjugation... Ah, no using the ash hand! The heart might burn to ash or become overly dry!"

"Hmm, I see."

The knight beside him tried his best to dissuade Gulat, who had already drawn his magic sword.

But a thin layer of smoke was already emanating from the gray blade. It seemed as if he wanted to strike first.

"I really can't do anything with you. It would be terrible if it got burned, so I'd better not do anything. I allow you to subjugate, but this is a material that the magician from the monster subjugation team specifically wants to obtain, so you have to treat it well."

"Understood. Then, those who wish to defeat it, raise your hands... Apparently, there's no need to ask. Archer Knights and Mages, continue to trap it! Wolf, you'll take command from now on, since you know more about the details."

Everyone raised their hands, and some people even raised both hands for fun.

It seems that confirming everyone's wishes is unnecessary.

"Thank you! As long as it's not burnt, it doesn't matter if the heart itself is split into two or three pieces. It seems that magic can be added to crystallize it. So I plan to use the first formation for dealing with large monsters. I will try to use as little magic as possible, and once it is trapped, I will kill it in one go."

"I see. Once we've trapped it, we'll start, right? Wouldn't it be even better if we could get other materials?"

"Its hide fetches a good price. But no one in the royal city has asked us to obtain it, so we'll leave it to the Adventurer's Guild this time. Perhaps it'll give us more delicious meat for our meals."

As they spoke, the Archer Knights and Magisters were working to trap the Forest Serpent.

The menacing roar of the forest serpent and the sound of branches breaking as its massive body swayed echoed one after another, overlapping and interweaving with the unique sound of the archer knight drawing his powerful bow.

The magician then continued to trap it with earth magic and blocked its vision with wind magic.

While reorganizing his formation, Wolf suddenly remembered what he had talked about with Marcella when they went out for drinks.

"By the way, when I was drinking out in the city, I heard that forest snakes are a delicacy. Although that shop doesn't sell them, it seems that eating them can be very nourishing and strengthening."

"Oh, if it can help me get rid of my fatigue, I'd love to try it no matter what it tastes like."

"But it doesn't look very tasty... Ah, its meat should be considered white meat, right?"

"If you grill it over a fire, it tastes pretty good. It's a bit pricey for ordinary people, but its jerky is very popular among men in the suburbs."

Dorino raised his sword-gripping hand and explained to the two senior knights.

“If it’s unseasoned, it tastes like fatty, slightly flavorful chicken or white fish, perfect for a stronger seasoning.”

"Ah, there's still a pot of the sweet barbecue sauce that Dahlia gave our team."

After Wolfe answered this, everyone smiled happily.

"That's fine!"

"It should be a good pairing with white meat, or a good side dish with wine!"

"If it's that big, there should be more than enough for everyone to enjoy."

The men nodded vigorously and turned their attention to the forest snake.

The forest snake had never experienced such a gaze before, as if a sharp gaze pierced through its entire body.

“Hiss, hiss…?”

At that moment, the relationship between predator and prey was completely reversed.

The battle between many predators and a poor prey ended in a very short time.

On the contrary, due to its huge size, it took more time to dismember and transport it.

Considering the distance to the capital, they decided to stay the night and set out for their return journey early tomorrow morning. They chose a slightly sloping grassland as their campsite to rest their horses.

The team members began preparing dinner. Although they had a fire, they mainly used the expedition stove.

The name "Rosetti" was engraved on the back of all the expedition furnaces. The man with golden eyes carefully confirmed the name, then placed the magic furnace on the tarpaulin and prepared the pot.

"Wolf, today's spoils or beef, which one would you like to eat? You can have both."

"No need, I still have some food stored here."

"Wolfer, what's in that leather bag?"

"It's the leftover beef from lunch. I soaked it in the sauce I brought."

While both are sweet sauces, the one Dahlia created specifically for Wolfe is slightly different. There's less honey, and instead, more ginger. The spices are also adjusted to suit Wolfe's taste.

In order to prevent corruption, ice magic stones were specially attached. The preparations for the expedition can be said to be meticulous.

"So it was made by Miss Dahlia. You, you actually asked her to prepare such a good thing just for you..."

"I offer a piece of meat in exchange."

"I refuse!"

Wolfe immediately rejected the exchange proposal, which made Dolino couldn't help but make a dumbfounded sound.

"Hey, forget about the meat, at least give us some sauce. We have to go back early tomorrow morning anyway, so there should be some left, right?"

"...Two tablespoons, for up to ten people."

"How stingy, young master of the Earl's family! No, next year you will become a member of the Marquis's family!"

"These are two completely different things!"

As they were bickering like children, Wolfe felt a gentle tug on his sleeve.

"Wolver-senpai, could you please give me a little? In exchange, I can give you half of the wine."

"Uh... okay."

Wolfe turned to look at the green-eyed junior, hesitated for a moment, and nodded.

"Kirk, you've become stronger..."

"No, is he going in a strange direction?"

The seniors nearby were whispering to each other.

"There's nothing I can do. How about I trade it for a spoonful of jam I brought with me?"

"I don't like sweet things..."

Hearing Randolph's proposal, Wolfe looked a little embarrassed.

"This is the shop's signature applesauce that Ms. Dalia recommended."

"Randolph, we can exchange, but when and where did you hear about this?"

Wolfe's golden eyes revealed a hint of displeasure as he turned to his friend.

"Hmm, when and where did you hear that..."

Although Randolph was deliberately vague, his auburn eyes were full of smiles.

"Hey, Randolph, don't tease Wolfe like that. It'll just make things awkward. Wolfe, give us a bigger share. As for these guys surrounding us, let's decide by rock-paper-scissors!"

Echoing Dolino’s concluding words, the young players are ready to fight it out.

It seems that this place won’t be quiet anytime soon.

"...Really, it's like a kid on his first hike."

A middle-aged knight looked at the noise made by his team members and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

The young men laughed and joked as they grilled, arguing endlessly over how to distribute the food. Even the senior knights, who had seemingly been there to stop the commotion, joined in the rock-paper-scissors game. Everyone was like a child.

"You've really let your guard down too much."

"That's all right. The guard posts are still manned, and no one has forgotten to bring their weapons. This is probably how future expeditions will go. We fight when we need to fight, eat when we need to eat, and sleep when we can. As long as we all return home smiling together, that's all that matters."

Hearing Gulat's words, a bitter expression appeared on the face of the middle-aged knight.

"Are you feeling resigned?"

"To be honest, I'm a little reluctant... I can't help but think, if only I could have achieved this sooner."

"If I start listing the things I can't do, I'll be called an 'old man'."

Gurat took out a silver kettle from his arms and poured a small amount of liquid into two wooden cups.

"I thought I was too old to care about this... Captain, what is this?"

The middle-aged knight took the wooden cup and narrowed his eyes.

The amber liquid exudes an alluring aroma, so rich that people are reluctant to dilute it with water.

"A friend gave me a nice bottle of wine, so I brought it here. I can't let only the young people enjoy it. There's only enough for three of us, so don't let anyone else find out."

The last of the wine left in the kettle was spilled onto the drawn Gray Hand blade.

The middle-aged knight silently raised the cup to his eyes.

During the expedition, in order to prevent the bodies of their comrades who could not be brought back from being devoured by monsters or wild beasts, they stabbed them twice that day. Gulat still clearly remembers the feeling of stabbing his comrades.

The blade hissed softly as it came into contact with the alcohol, quickly absorbing the liquid and returning to its grayish hue. Gulat gently sheathed the sword and took a sip of the strong liquor himself.

The golden distilled liquor burned his stomach fiercely.

"Captains, how about trying some of the forest snake's meat? It's surprisingly delicious."

Just as they finished their drinks, a hearty voice rang out.

A young man with eyes the same color as the distilled liquor came over, carrying a plate of meat piled as high as a small mountain.

"I've had it before during an expedition. I thought it was too greasy and not very tasty..."

"If you remove the fat when grilling it and pair it with the sweet sauce Dalia gave you, it will taste absolutely perfect."

"Then I'll give it a try."

The young man expertly arranged slices of white meat on the grill of the expedition oven. As the aroma began to fill the air, Wolf turned to Gurat.

"Captain Gurat, I'd like to ask for your help."

"What's up?"

"Since the meat of the forest snake can't fit into the carriage, if possible, could you please use your ash hands to help dry some of it..."

"Are you going to sell it to the Adventurer's Guild?"

"No, I want to share it with team members who need it later. The seniors said that they were so exhausted after returning from the expedition that sometimes even talking to their families was difficult. I heard that the meat of the forest snake is very nourishing and strengthening, and it is very popular among men in the suburbs. I think it should be of some benefit."

"Wolf, I understand your perspective, but the Captain's magic sword isn't a meat jerky dryer."

Hearing the middle-aged knight's voice of dissuading him, a look of resignation began to appear on Wolf's face.

Perhaps, the previous Gulart would have directly rejected this request.

I couldn't get over the thought of using the sword I'd used to kill monsters and friends to dry food.

However, he no longer cares and can accept everything.

Laughter while cooking, great conversation, good food and wine.

The fact that we are alive and standing here is built on the lives of our friends and monsters.

Savor life to the fullest extent possible, and then just move forward.

"It's okay, I promise. I haven't had much opportunity to use Gray Hand lately, so it's time to put it to good use."

"Thank you so much!"

Wolff thanked him and handed over the perfectly grilled white meat skewers.

Goulart took the skewer and replied with a smile:

"Then I'll ask you for some jerky later."

Volume 5: My Friend's Brother and the Tea Party