“WAHAHAHA, delicious! Really delicious!”
Whose voice is that?
Ah, it’s the voice of the queen who loves dueling.
Seeing her constantly exclaim about how tasty something is, it seems she truly enjoys the food.
Well, after all, she is the queen of that ‘England’.
It’s no joke that England hasn’t had the best food quality, and it’s probably not that different even now.
If anything, it might have gotten worse after the Great Rift.
“Right. This tastes so good that it seems fine to store it in the refrigerator even after it cools down.”
“Oh, by the way, Yeonhwa Hunter! Aren’t you a freezing hunter? Can’t you chill this braised dish?! It would taste amazing cold!”
What?
Braised dish?
Indeed, braised meat tastes quite good even when cold.
The memory of my mother making it from the refrigerator and mixing it with warm rice may have faded, but some parts remain.
“Isn’t the chill too strong? Would it freeze completely instead of just cooling down?”
“WAHAHAHA! That would be a shame!”
Nah, you can do it, you ice geek!
Cold braised meat is delicious!
“Yeonhwa Dongsaeng, why don’t we just give it a try? Just in case.”
“Hmmm, should we?”
“Oh ho, it’s even tastier when it’s cold!”
“Really?”
“Mint chocolate is the truth!”
What…?
Mint chocolate…?
What kind of horrific thing is this?
I must have misheard…
“OOOH! Delicious! It’s even better cold!”
“Hmph, was it mint chocolate-flavored braised meat? Our pig saint made something quite unique and tasty this time. Munch munch.”
Ahahaha.
How can a person think that mint chocolate-flavored braised meat is delicious?
Is everyone just making fun of me…?
“Hehehe, Teresa. You’ve pointed out Shia’s food every single day, but in the end, you always eat it all up.”
“What are you talking about? I had to eat it or I would cry…”
“WAHAHAHA! I know what that is! In Japan, it’s called tsundere!”
“I don’t know what that means but it sounds terrible…”
As Shia woke up from sleep, she looked around with drowsy eyes.
‘Wait, was I even sleeping?’
Whether fainting, losing consciousness, or slipping into a stupor, I guess it’s all a kind of sleep. In any case, Shia woke up.
Instantly, she salivated at the fragrant aroma of braised meat infused with garlic and various seasonings. Turning her gaze towards the source of the smell, she saw the braised meat melding perfectly with the soy sauce seasoning.
The shiny braised meat was even flickering with glowing light at that very moment. Lilybet, Yeonhwa, and even Menelapie and Teresa were all enjoying it like it was delicious.
That’s right; this isn’t just any braised meat but glowing mint chocolate-flavored braised meat.
“……..”
“Ah! Shia is awake!”
“Were you tired? Well, we did see the Seongnyeok bursting out several times in the Blood Swamp, so you must have been able to sleep.”
“Actually, I thought your sleeping face looked pretty good, so I left you alone.”
“WAHAHAHA, but I’m sorry! The cook didn’t even eat but we ended up eating it all first!”
As Shia stared blankly at Teresa munching on the glowing braised meat, she shifted her gaze to the others.
You all ate it because it was so delicious?
Looking at everyone happily indulging in the glowing braised meat, Shia felt confused about whether this was a dream or reality.
‘What, what’s happening…? Am I the only one who’s weird…? No, no, this is weird..! Mint chocolate-flavored braised meat, I can’t accept that!!’
Suddenly feeling mental confusion, Shia started trembling.
“What’s up? Are you worried we ate it all? Of course yours is set aside.”
“What!?”
“Surprised? Why the fuss?”
Why did you set mine aside!?
Just eat it amongst yourselves!!
Of course, I’m grateful…! But…!
Teresa, Yeonhwa, and Menelapie wouldn’t feel guilt about eating something without me, so I understand that!
If they were together and I heard they ate without me, I’d be pretty upset about it!
But this time, I feel less grateful than usual!
Without realizing Shia’s feelings, Yeonhwa cheerfully offered her a large bowl.
It was the big bowl Shia usually used for her ample servings.
If filled to the brim, it could easily exceed 30 servings of rice.
“Here, Unnie. It’s still hot, but I thought since you like hot food, I brought it fresh.”
“…Uh, uh, thanks, you ice geek…”
“I’m not an ice geek!”
Shia took the generously offered bowl with trembling hands.
“…gulp.”
It smelled good.
Yeah, the aroma of the perfect soy sauce braising is something I was familiar with and confident I could succeed at.
The problem was the faint mint scent mixed between those aromas.
It smelled somewhat like strong toothpaste, with hints of antiseptic wafting through, causing Shia to instinctively furrow her brows.
Other people didn’t seem to mind the toothpaste smell much, but Shia’s sense of smell was superior to that of average people or hunters. Naturally, she could catch that toothpaste odor sensitively.
At least she was relieved that the aroma of meat juice and soy sauce seasoning wasn’t enough to drive her to the brink of passing out.
“Hey guys. Is this good?”
“Hmmm? Why would you ask something so obvious?”
“Gulp, it’s quite good, Unnie.”
“WAHAHAHA! I thought it’d be great in a sandwich, but eating it with rice turns out pretty good!”
“……….”
To be honest, she thought a sandwich, made of just bread with more bread inside, might be better than this, but she was trembling her hands at that very moment.
‘Why are they acting like this…?’
Wait, let me think this through…
First, Menelapie eats anything Shia makes deliciously.
Plus, she had quite a bit of experience stuffing her face with horrible things just to survive in the hell-like war zone for so long.
Teresa being a black witch isn’t odd if her taste is twisted.
Even if Shia makes something weird, Teresa will try to critique it but ultimately eat Shia’s food.
‘But what about them…?’
Then Shia looked at Yeonhwa and Lilybet.
Even at this moment, they are savoring the glowing King Dragon braised meat.
What’s Yeonhwa’s deal?
In fact, even Yeonhwa would look at Shia with pity when she makes something weird or nonsensical.
She’s a girl with her own opinions, so surely she wouldn’t sincerely commend awful food results like this.
‘Could it be because she’s an ice ability user? Is that why she loves mint chocolate…?’
Shia roughly accepted that, although she had no idea what being an ice ability user had to do with mint chocolate.
‘But why on earth does that British queen like mint chocolate?! Especially in braised meat!!’
“WAHAHAHA! Do you know, Saint? Mint chocolate was actually created in the British royal family!”
“………”
“It was first made by mixing chocolate with mint, originally because cacao was used as medicine, and they mixed it with mint to eat it easily! In fact, even before then, the idea of mint chocolate existed, but…”
‘That’s a food that shouldn’t exist!’
Of course, Shia couldn’t say that to Lilybet, who was satisfyingly smiling.
“In 1973, a mint chocolate ice cream named Mint Royal won a gold medal in a dessert contest for the marriage of Princess Anne Elizaveta Alice Louise, Charles III’s sister, held in England!”
“Oh ho, that’s an interesting story. I’ve also seen many new desserts or trends born from royal or imperial national events.”
“That’s true! In the previous world, I was often in the public eye, so my fashion set trends among nobles and commoners alike!”
“Really?! What did you wear?”
“No panty, no bra.”
“..Eh?”
However, that conversation didn’t reach Shia’s ears.
All she could do was perceive the British royal family as an evil, twisted, enormous force of evil comparable to the demon king, and a deep resentment burned within her.
Yes, you’re the cause of this.
British royalty.
From now on, you are the enemy of the Meat Fairy.
“But, Unnie? Aren’t you going to eat?”
“Uh, yeah, I should eat….”
‘What’s wrong with me…? Am I actually the one who’s messed up?’
At Yeonhwa’s question, Shia secretly broke into a cold sweat and stirred her bowl.
What would normally look appetizing and make her salivate, like a bowl of braised meat rice, now felt like some twisted dish from the underworld.
In fact, it was truly twisted.
Mint chocolate-flavored braised meat rice?
It likely possessed the destructive power of a tactical weapon.
And that tactical weapon was supposed to be consumed raw by Shia right now.
“Yeonhwa?”
“Yes?”
“What does this taste like…?”
“What do you mean? It tastes like mint chocolate braised meat, of course!”
At Yeonhwa’s face, which seemed to question why Shia would ask something so obvious, Shia gasped in horror.
“WAHAHAHA! Yeonhwa Hunter, that’s not how you explain food!”
“….”
“Listen here, Saint Isia! Mint chocolate braised meat starts sweet, finishes clean and refreshing, and doesn’t leave your mouth feeling rough; it’s a remarkably refined dish!”
What can’t be said with words?
“Chocolate is primarily sweet, but the more intense the flavor, the more bitter and viscous it becomes, while mint initially feels refreshing, and when paired with chocolate, each one elevates the other’s downside to an advantage!”
“…Huh?”
Starting suddenly, the lecture by Lilybet… No, the British queen Elizaveta IV with a twisted taste made Shia lose her mind.
“Of course, pure mint doesn’t taste good. But mixed mint with chocolate starts sweet, and ends with the crispness only mint can bring, which is a unique flavor rarely found in desserts. So if it combines with a superb dish like braised meat, it must naturally taste amazing!”
“………Ah, yes.”
“Thank you, Saint Isia! Even though you didn’t duel with me, you opened up a splendid new path for culinary delights for me. I never expected something as simple and delicious as this would touch my heart! Menelapie! Can I borrow the saint for some time? I imagine I’d have delightful fun with her around, filled with inspiration every day!”
“Oh no, absolutely not.”
“That’s unfortunate! WAHAHAHA!”
“………”
At this point, Shia felt not confusion but true fear.
They say a person feels frightened when facing the incomprehensible, and until now, she didn’t know what that meant, but today she finally comprehended it.
“Gulp….”
Nonetheless, Shia had nowhere to run.
In fact, she wanted to throw everything away, toss the plate, and run away, but she had a certain image of being a saint.
Thinking about how Teresa would later laugh and say, ‘The Meat Fairy fled from the meat!’ made her feel a deep sorrow of being denied her identity.
With trembling hands, Shia raised a gleaming spoonful of uranium-glowing bibimbap.
“Isia!!!”
Then, at that moment, like a savior, Shia’s head spun at the sound of Yujin’s voice.
“Yujin?”
“What in the world are you doing here…? Is that braised meat? But what’s that smell?”
“Don’t mind it! So, what is it!?”
Shia clung to Yujin as if overly hanging on.
Yujin, who didn’t expect Isia to suddenly cling to her like this, looked rather flabbergasted.
To specify, her expression read ‘Why is she acting like this out of nowhere?’.
“Your hunter train car was taken by the Uranium Dragon.”
“…Eh?”
What does that mean?
“It seems like your mother on the train car has also gone missing, so I came to request your help to find the missing persons and reclaim the stolen train car…”
“I’m going immediately!!!!”
“…W-Wait.”
“But Unnie. If it’s Mother, then Yane and the others should also be nearby…”
“Just in case!!!”
Sorry, you ice geek!
Just be quiet for a bit!
“Hehehe, Shia, you haven’t even eaten yet, and what about Mother? I can handle that myself…”
“No! It’s okay, Menelapie! I’ll go! It’s only common sense that a child should go save her mother!”
“Who would have thought our pig saint would actually be diligent this time. Choosing to give up even meat.”
“WAHAHAHA, a dutiful child who worries about her mother would naturally act that way! You are indeed a person from the land of courtesy, as I read in the book!”
“…….”
“Well, if you’re going, then let’s go right now. Our search party has already been organized. If you want, I can gather more people…”
“KEEK~”
KEEK?
Shia recognized that distinctive scratching sound all too well.
It was Yane’s voice, the Bladed Centipede.
She had likely learned enough to comprehend Korean, but that loud ‘KEEK’ was beyond Yane’s ability to correct.
Turning her head, she saw something massive thumping towards her from beyond the fog, far from the railway.
“What’s that?”
“Could that be the train car that was stolen?”
“Looks like it could be…”
As Yeonhwa said, that was indeed the hunter train car yanked away by the Uranium Dragon.
It appeared that it truly was taken by the Uranium Dragon, for the train car made of gridon ore was riddled with glowing contaminants, corroding in various places.
“KIEEKEEEE~”
BANG!
Yane put down the train car, which was the size of a small building, right in front of Shia.
It seemed Yane herself brought it here, lifting the entire train car all the way.
“WHAHAHA! You’re incredibly strong! How about a duel next time!?”
But why is Yane here?
She should have been by Mother’s side…
Ah.
Shia realized that there was nowhere to escape from the mint chocolate braised meat and was engulfed in despair.
“Yane?”
“Yane!”
“Where’s Mother? Is she alright?”
And as the others approached to inquire about Yane, who brought the train here, they asked:
“POP BAM!”
Yane made a huge humorous sound with her mouth while spreading her arms.
Then, three human figures jumped down from the train car and landed on the ground.
POW!
“The fairy of bugs has arrived!”
Yawn… So sleepy… yawn…
“…Isn’t this embarrassing? D-Do we really have to do this…?”
“KEEK!”
“…I’m not doing it.”
“KEEK!”
The Necromancer, Mangja Seongnyeo Isia’s direct subordinate, the Bug Saint Yane.
The Nightmare Mermaid Princess Hyung-An.
And Elder Mandragora, Slime Empress Kim Hana.
All returned safely.
Though a bit noisily.
“Oh, so did you all take down the Uranium Dragon?”
“KEEK!”
“And where is Mother?”
“She’s temporarily shielded from radiation danger by me. She’s in the train and should wake up soon.”
“If we bring our spellcasters here, we can neutralize the dragon magic contaminating the area. Repairing the train won’t be an issue; we have plenty of gridon ore left.”
“But they seem stronger than expected?”
“Maybe even stronger than me?”
“This is interesting! A girl, not even a year old, possesses such a voluptuous figure and incredible strength! WAHAHAHA, Saint Isia! It seems like having you around brings nothing but fun!”
“Good thing we don’t need to look for the missing people.”
At Yujin’s comment about not needing to find the missing people, Shia unknowingly sank to the ground.
“Hehe, Yane has grown well, hasn’t she, Shia? Isn’t that right?”
“…..Yeah.”
“Hey, girl! Why do you have that pained expression? It’s like you wanted to flee from something horrific but suddenly found you’ve lost your reason to escape?”
With surprising accuracy, Teresa’s comment made Shia shut her eyes.
○○○○
‘Ah, so the Mangja Seongnyeo Isia’s weakness was mint chocolate!!’
That day, Slime Empress Kim Hana discovered a unique strategy for survival.
‘Alright! Let’s adapt to that glowing dinosaur!’
She decided to create her own mint chocolate beam.
