Chapter 51

Chapter 51
Chapter 51: Never Mind The Heir, I’ّل Focus On Healing

Petrick recalled a distant past.

The early days of his journey, when he hadn’t yet forged a strong bond with his comrades.

“……Are you telling me to stay in a place this filthy?”

Wet earth, a floor uneven with stones, and wood clearly marked by the claws of giant monsters.

The musty smell and the battle robe that was now a mess were just a bonus.

He thought it was the perfect visual representation of what one could call a terribly dirty situation.

The young Petrick’s expression clearly showed his feelings.

“Haha, it can’t be helped if there aren’t any suitable places to camp.”

“Since you’re a Young Master and can’t sit here, you can sleep standing up then.”

At that time, a white-haired woman, who was a low-ranking priest, smiled kindly and asked if she should offer her outerwear, while a pickpocket from the underworld casually sat on the ground and scoffed.

“……”

Petrick was no different.

Due to the grueling battle, his mana had hit rock bottom, and he was so exhausted he felt like he could pass out at any moment.

But still, in a place like this…….

“Still, when else will you get an experience like this?”

As Petrick scowled, the man tending to the firewood blurted out.

“There’s no other choice, so we just have to enjoy it.”

Just enjoy the present, he meant.

Of course, Petrick had retorted at the time that “There are experiences that are unnecessary to have,” but that statement became meaningless in front of the pale stew simmering.

The merchant had ravenously devoured what he called a feast.

……Thinking about it now, it was truly enjoyable.

Was there ever a time in his life when he felt as free as then?

“……”

Petrick chuckled inwardly.

Sitting here brought back memories from long ago, from his youth.

He wondered why his grandson had specifically chosen the Labyrinth as the location, but now he understood the reason.

“It seems like a good place, Family Head.”

“I see.”

Petrick readily agreed.

He had never dreamed that he would come to a place like this with his grandsons, but it was quite a good experience.

That was why he had remained silent, even knowing Rikschel would be horrified.

Thus, the two enjoyed a leisure they had almost forgotten.

It wasn’t a long time, but it was just the right amount of time to have some personal time.

“Alright, you’ve waited long enough! Come over, it’s ready!”

Lion emerged from the hut and called out to the two.

Speaking of which, there was a smell that tickled his appetite wafting from the hut.

To be precise…….

It was from the makeshift kitchen in front of the hut!

Soon, a glistening red chicken dish was placed on the table.

It was made with a lot of spicy seasonings, as the pungent aroma was quite distinctive.

“This… did you make this with the ingredients you bought earlier?”

“Yeah.”

Lion handed them wooden bowls and tableware.

“You went grocery shopping?”

“Ah, yes. I went to the market with Older Brother this afternoon. Thanks to that, I learned various things, such as the prices for common folk and the merchants’ sales tactics.”

“……”

Lion stirred the almost-finished spicy stir-fried chicken with a spatula and looked at Rikschel.

‘Learned what…?’

Bargaining techniques?

Well, that’s possible.

Lion decided not to dwell on it too deeply.

“Now, it’s ready, so please eat. It’s hot, so you can take the meat and vegetables from the pot lid and put them in your bowls. It’s fine to eat it as is, too.”

“Hmm. This is a dish I’ve never seen before.”

Rikschel glanced at Petrick.

Normally, it was customary to serve finished dishes in separate bowls.

Of course, he himself had eaten roasted banana sweet potato, so he didn’t care about such things… but the Family Head might be a bit uncomfortable.

“Huh?”

Contrary to Rikschel’s expectations, Petrick unhesitatingly scooped a generous portion of the spicy stir-fried chicken from the pot lid.

That wasn’t all!

He even picked up meat and vegetables with somewhat crude tableware without hesitation.

‘……Did he have a side to him like that?’

Or was he trying his best to go along with his Older Brother’s efforts?

Rikschel pondered for a moment, then scooped some meat into his bowl and put it in his mouth.

The first thing he felt was, of course, the intense spiciness.

‘It’s s-spicy!’

It was spicy, but delicious!

The chicken, grilled in a thick, red sauce packed with spices, chewed tenderly.

Moreover, since there were no bones, it was quite easy to eat.

He had only taken the lean meat when he was preparing the chicken earlier, so this was the reason!

“Haaa.”

Even after one bite, it was spicy enough to redden his lips.

Yet, his hand reached for it again.

‘Let’s try the vegetables this time.’

Rikschel shoveled a large mouthful of the well-cooked vegetables into his mouth.

They were mixed in the red sauce, so he didn’t even know what kind of vegetables they were…….

At first, it was tender, cooked cabbage soaked in the sauce, and then.

“Banana sweet potato!”

“Oh. Right. It’s sweet, so it’s less spicy, isn’t it?”

Indeed, the sweet flavor of the banana sweet potato gently soothed his stinging mouth.

“Yes. It’s really delicious.”

The food his Older Brother made was always unique.

That drink, and the dessert he ate yesterday.

And this chicken dish, too.

He thought his skills were truly amazing and was about to scoop another bowl when…….

“Huh?”

A significant amount of the dish had already disappeared.

His Older Brother was only on his first bowl?

No way?

Rikschel quickly turned his head to look at Petrick.

The Family Head was elegantly putting food into his mouth.

His movements were neat and precise, as if he were at a banquet.

But…….

The speed at which he was eating was quite fast.

At that pace, he might finish all the food that had been made in a large quantity before long.

Rikschel felt an unwarranted sense of urgency and scooped a full bowl, then aggressively began to eat.

Lion smiled with satisfaction as he watched the two.

‘It’s good to see them eating well.’

In truth, spicy stir-fried chicken might be a somewhat unfamiliar dish to people in this world.

It was spicy, stimulating, and served mixed together.

However, Lion really wanted to eat spicy stir-fried chicken with his family.

It started from the moment he reached Cooking Apprentice level 7.

A dish of memories.

“I really wanted to eat this together.”

“It’s really delicious, Older Brother.”

“The flavor is quite good. Did you learn it from the Head Chef?”

“Haha… I learned it from someone I know.”

Someone he knew.

It was someone he had met a long time ago, even before he was Baek Yi-hyun.

Spicy stir-fried chicken was a dish Baek Yi-hyun first learned from a friend’s mother, who knew his circumstances well in the past.

“Yi-hyun. I made too much spicy stir-fried chicken, would you like to stay for dinner?”

The young Baek Yi-hyun, not caring about propriety, ate the excessively generous portion of spicy stir-fried chicken that was made to be easily eaten.

He had to.

Because when he returned home, all he had to eat was ramen.

The friend’s mother casually shared the recipe and even made the seasoning for him.

He thought that was the first time he truly felt the kindness of an adult.

Baek Yi-hyun often made spicy stir-fried chicken even after becoming an adult.

It was an undeniable dish filled with many memories.

……But.

In truth, ever since eating the spicy stir-fried chicken at his friend’s house, whose name he could barely recall now, he had always thought.

‘I want to eat it with my family too.’

And then, coincidentally, a function appeared that allowed him to recreate food memories.

So, he wanted to fulfill that wish.

Lion scratched his cheek and calmly continued.

“Actually, we never had a Coming-of-Age Ceremony with family. So, I prepared this. I’m glad you like it.”

“……”

Petrick gazed at Lion.

‘A Coming-of-Age Ceremony with family.’

He was, in fact, quite surprised inwardly.

That was something Petrick had secretly regretted as well.

Even for the Asteri Family, it was difficult to hold another lavish Coming-of-Age Ceremony out of pride, and having guests was inconvenient.

So, he thought he would just be satisfied with spending time leisurely with his family, but…….

As if sensing his thoughts, Lion had brought up having dinner first.

Petrick hesitated for a moment, then gathered his courage and opened his mouth.

“Thank you.”

And he also said the words he had only kept to himself until then.

“That you grew up healthy and could do this for me.”

Petrick gently stroked Lion’s head.

His touch was quite clumsy, and it was indeed awkward for Petrick to do something like this, but…….

His sincerity was so well conveyed that Lion burst into laughter.

At that moment.

『New memories were made with a dish of memories!』

『The achievement ‘Memories Carried by Memories’ has been acquired.』

『20,000 Shillings have been earned!』

That wasn’t all.

『The true meaning of cooking has been realized!』

『Cooking Proficiency has reached Apprentice Lv. 9.』

His cooking level increased by two stages in an instant!

Although it was an enormous income, Lion didn’t mind.

A more important task remained.

He wanted to make this a good memory until the very end.

“Are you two not full yet?”

“Yes? Is there still something else?”

“Aren’t we supposed to finish it?”

Lion opened the pot he had placed to the side.

With steamy white mist, glossy rice appeared.

“We have to make fried rice.”

Isn’t true spicy stir-fried chicken completed only after eating fried rice!

“Ah, and by the way, we have to eat Hotteok too.”

“……”

Rikschel and Petrick exchanged a glance.

They had been overeating the spicy stir-fried chicken, not caring about who ate what, because it was so delicious…….

There were still two more dishes to go.

And looking at Lion’s face…….

It seemed they had to try their best and eat it, no matter what.

—

“I-I can’t eat anymore.”

“……It seems to be enough now.”

The two, having finally finished Lion’s Hotteok, clutched their swollen stomachs and panted.

Petrick was tracing his past, wondering if he had ever eaten so much in his life.

“Mmm!”

Lion, on the other hand, smiled brightly at their state.

“You have to eat like this sometimes.”

He had felt a little bad seeing them always put down their utensils before they were full, but today he felt like he had truly satisfied them.

Wasn’t it a result that could be described as charmingly gluttonous!

Lion wore a very satisfied expression and cleared away the bowls.

“I will help you.”

“Then could you help a little?”

“I’ll help too.”

The three of them cleaned the tableware and then sat around the fire.

With full stomachs and warm bodies, their tension naturally eased, and they felt drowsy.

Moreover, Lion, whom they had worried about the most, was so healthy.

There were no worries.

Only one thing was missing.

Mana Shock.

Yes, Mana Shock, which meant he could die at any moment.

As Petrick and Rikschel’s expressions turned grave, Lion spoke first.

“Actually, there is something I need to tell you.”

“Older Brother…?”

“It’s about Mana Shock.”

Lion was not unaware of that fact.

In fact, he knew it so well that he had arranged this gathering for this very reason.

‘There was no timing.’

The news of reaching 1st Circle.

In other words, it was time to tell them not to worry about things like Mana Shock anymore!

And now was the perfect opportunity.

“You don’t have to worry.”

“Hoo… yes. You don’t have to worry either. I will do whatever it takes……”

“No, that’s not what I mean. You don’t have to worry about it at all. Because Mana Shock won’t happen anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

“Could it be… you gained Mana?”

“Now, now, I will explain. Please calm down.”