Chapter 3.1: Dinner and Mahjong
As Aurora slept soundly in the guest house outside and the evening twilight began to dye the forest in pale purpleâ
Yu opened a door beneath the floor of the log house.
Creak.
Descending the wooden stairs, cool air brushed against his cheeks.
Underground, several small rooms lined the space.
A room for dried goods, a room for pickles, a room for magical materialsâ
And the one he entered now.
“The meat room.”
As he opened the thick door, cold air spilled out.
Inside, the temperature was maintained by magic.
Silver magic circles carved into the walls glowed faintly.
Chunks of meat hung from the ceiling.
Some were massive pieces still attached to bone, while others were neatly cut blocks.
“…Looking good.”
Yu approached one of them.
A beautifully aged piece, its surface dried and fat slightly translucent.
It was meat from a âDestroy Hornâ he had defeated about a week ago.
A violent bull-type monster that lived deep in the forest.
A single charge could shatter a knightâs armor, and its horns could easily skewer a human.
A high-level monster requiring multiple level-30 fighters to defeat.
âŚSupposedly.
“Last week, three of them showed up. It was basically a beef festival.”
Yu casually muttered as he untied the rope.
He treated it like finding good beef.
His sense of normalcy was, as always, completely off.
After defeating them, he processed the meat with magic and stored it in different ways.
Smoking it, turning it into jerky, or aging it at low temperatures like this.
There was no way he could eat it all alone.
But Yu had âvarious usesâ for it.
Experiments with preservation magic.
Studying monster meat properties.
And feeding his occasional visitorsâwell⌠Aurora and her group.
“Now then, what should I serve⌔
He crossed his arms while comparing the hanging cuts.
“Chateaubriand⌠ribs⌠loin⌠sirloin⌔
He checked each one carefully.
“Hmm. If I spoil them too much, the scouting might get worse⌔
Even as he said that, his hand moved toward the premium cuts.
Yu himself was aware of his own âsoftness.â
When they first met, Aurora had been quite difficult.
Emotionally worn down, reckless, radiating royal authority.
She had been the type he didnât want to deal with.
âŚAnd yet now.
âItâs been two years, huh.â
He smiled faintly as he loaded the meat onto a cart.
At first, he tried hard to drive them away.
Then he gave up.
And on a snowy winter dayâhe built the guest house.
There were many thoughts about it.
Butâ
“…Well, whatever. Might as well let them eat something good.”
He convinced himself as he cut premium meat.
Chateaubriand, sirloin, loin, ribs.
He had no intention of going to the capital.
Never had, never would.
Butâ
The cold rejection he once felt was gone.
As evening deepened and stars began appearing in the skyâ
A large iron plate was set up in front of the log house.
Perfectly crafted, heavy and solid.
Made from high-quality iron ore refined by Yuâs magic.
Not ordinary iron.
âDivine Iron.â
A top-tier material rivaled only by legendary orichalcum.
Aurora, the maids, the guardsâall knew this.
When they first heard it, they nearly fainted.
(Using legendary material for a grillâŚ!)
A capital blacksmith would collapse hearing this.
But people adapt.
Now, seeing itâ
“Oh! Is it barbecue today!?”
“Yesssss!”
Excitement erupted.
Food conquered all.
Smoke began rising from the plate.
The divine iron grill heated evenly like a high-end restaurant.
Yu placed thin slices of meat onto it.
Sizzle.
Fat melted and danced.
A rich aroma spread instantly.
“Ooooh⌔
“Iâm already happy⌔
The guards froze with chopsticks ready.
Aurora swallowed her saliva.
“Three sauces. Soy-based, salt, and spicy.”
Yu placed small dishes on the table.
The first was a sweet soy-based sauce.
The second was a refreshing salt sauce with citrus.
The third was a red spicy sauce made from forest spices.
“Alrightâjust grab whatâs ready.”
“Iâve been waiting!”
Aurora moved first.
She grabbed the best-cooked piece.
“Thatâs the best cutâ!”
“First come, first served!”
She dipped it in sauce and ate.
The moment she bit downâ
Her vision went slightly white.
Tender.
So tender it barely needed teeth, yet firm enough to release rich flavor.
The sauce enhanced it without overpowering.
“…Ah.”
She exhaled.
“S-so good⌔
Others followed.
“This is⌔
“The loin isnât heavy⌔
“The fat is sweet⌔
The rare chateaubriand was especially exceptional.
Only one piece per person.
Everyone ate it carefully.
“This⌠this is happiness⌔
“Your Highness, I will protect you for ten more years⌔
“Yu-sama, I wonât ask you to come to the capital. Iâll visit monthly⌔
“I told you not to come.”
Yu sighed while grilling more meat.
Then he went inside briefly and returned with a bottle and glasses.
“Oh right. I wanted to test something.”
“Test?”
“Wine. Made from forest fruit.”
Auroraâs eyes sparkled again.
“WineâŚ!”
He poured the amber liquid.
No one spoke of poison.
After two years, they trusted him.
“If he meant harm, weâd already be dead.”
Everyone knew that.
Aurora lifted her glass.
A fruity aroma rose.
She took a sip.
“…⌔
Everyone watched.
“…What is this?”
Her face melted.
“Itâs too goodâŚ!”
The flavor spread across her tongue, leaving warmth as it went down.
She ate meat, then drank again.
The flavors multiplied.
“The perfect⌠pairing⌔
Even the maids and guards smiled as they drank.
“This is a test product?”
“The capital wineries should cry⌔
“Your Highness, we should make this a national productâ”
“No.”
Aurora cut them off immediately.
“This is Yuâs wine.”
They laughed.
The barbecue continued.
Meat grilled, smoke rose, wine flowed.
As stars filled the sky, laughter grew louder.
Beyond this place, monsters roamed the forest.
But hereâ
With divine iron, aged meat, homemade wine, and laughterâ
It was the happiest place in the world.
The night forest was quiet.
Stars shone through the branches.
Distant roars echoed.
But around Yuâs houseâ
It was peaceful.
An invisible barrier separated it from the world.
Yuâs barrier controlled air and temperature.
Nothing entered without permission.
Even the kingdomâs high priest couldnât create such a barrier.
The guards knew its safety well.
There was even a separate hut for them.
Yet they chose to camp outside.
“Itâs good training.”
“We donât want to lose our edge.”
They prepared their beds under the stars.
Cool air, gentle wind.
That was enough.