ALAITD

chapter 18

Chapter 18: Harpy French Toast

They decided to set up a barrier at the end of the corridor for their meal because there was no large space nearby where they could rest.

“Let us begin with the bread. I haven’t had one in a long time.”

Because it is a preserved food, the bread is hard. It must be cooked for it to taste good.

It would be softer and more aromatic if baked in a frying pan with butter, but Lysette adds a little more.

—Harpy eggs!

Harpy eggs are slightly larger in size than chicken eggs.

The eggs were cracked in water before being mixed with sugar to make a runny egg. The bread is then soaked in the egg mixture.

After the bread had soaked and turned yellow, she slowly baked it in a frying pan with butter. The aroma of melting butter enticed one’s appetite as soon as the preparation began.

“The French toast is finished!”

“A harpy french toast…”

Leonhardt’s expression doesn’t clear up, possibly because he is familiar with monsters named Harpys.

—It lays eggs; it must be a bird monster.

“Therefore, Itadakimasu.”

Lysette ate her portion quickly. The warm, moist, golden brown bread had a hint of sugar and butter.

Her mouth was filled with the aroma of butter and the sweetness of sugar.

“Yes, it’s good. It’s just like a regular egg. However, the yolk is a little too thick.”

She hadn’t had sugar in a long time, and it was intriguing. The outside was crispy and savory, but the inside was moist and sticky.

“It’s good.”

Leonhardt, too, was taken aback as he took a bite.

“How does Lysette manage to cook so well? She must have been born into a noble family.”

“My grandmother was an adventurer who taught me survival cooking.”

—You never know what life has in store for you. And this French toast is absolutely delicious!

“Leon-san is the one who knows a lot about monsters, and I admire him. I had no idea stone golems made ice in their joints to expand and break them.”

“In my case, I was born knowing that I was going to go on a dragon hunt. My knowledge of monsters is part of my preparation…”

His words are cut off completely by a sigh.

“Leon-san?”

“No, my entire life has been dedicated to slaying dragons.”

Lysette shook her head at his mockery of himself.

“It’s been useful, hasn’t it?”

Leonhardt has extensive knowledge of monsters.

It was probably due to his knowledge and ability that they were the party most likely to conquer the dungeon.

No matter how powerful you are, if you don’t have knowledge, you will be destroyed by enemy traps or unexpected moves. Knowledge is both a weapon and a valuable asset.

“Leon-san’s knowledge, experience, and courage are invaluable to me. I am confident that Leon-san will continue to be of assistance.”

She believed it from the bottom of her heart, and Lysette wanted to expand her knowledge, beginning with edible monsters.

—The eggs of Harpy… If I can eat the eggs, I’m sure I can eat the meat. I’d love to meet one someday, and I’m sure to cook a mimic next time… I’ll use Water Magic instead of Fire Magic next time to freeze them.

Her ambitions are growing.

“… Leon is all right.”

“Eh?”

Her thoughts and reaction are both delayed.

She looks up and looks into his green eyes, which are swimming.

“The way you addressed me I couldn’t say my name properly because I couldn’t speak well at the time.”

Lysette knew his full name but didn’t think much of it and called him by his given name.

When their gazes met, Leonhardt averted his gaze and laughed wryly.

“Haha, well, there’s nothing wrong with having a short name.”

Lysette’s heart bursts open with a sensation she has never felt before.

Lysette doesn’t know what it is, but it feels like a warm, tiny little fire.

Lysette felt a pang of relief, a pang of joy, and a pang of pain, and she knew she didn’t want this person to die.

“…Leon.”

“Yes.”

“Leon, please hold this.”

Lysette pulls her heart-shaped amulet—[Heart-Substitution]—from her bag of belongings and hands it to Leonhardt.

“I’ve been considering it. I thought that since Leon could use revival magic, he should have it instead of me.”

She actually asked the merchant about it, but he didn’t have any revival items like Lysette got from the alchemist.

“If I die by accident, Leon can revive me, but if Leon dies, there is nothing I can do.”

There was no [Recovery Magic] skill Lysette could learn.

Even if they both died at the same time or if only Leonhardt escaped, she knew Leonhardt would come to her aid.

—I wouldn’t blame him if he deserted me.

“I can’t take this.”

Leonhardt said, handing it back to Lysette.

“I don’t want to survive at your expense.”

“…Okay. When I get another one, I’ll give it to you.”

“Hahaha. I’m looking forward to it.”

Leonhardt laughs, and Lysette reciprocates.

—That’s right. All I have to do is make sure he doesn’t die.

And if Leonhardt is left alone in the dungeon, she’ll make sure to come and get him.

—I swear it.