Having finished his report to Second Prince Andrew, Rest headed toward the tent that had been assigned to him.
As a Count, he had been provided with a spacious tent, complete with a bed, a table, and chairs.
This is almost like glamping, he thought. It's not a bad change of pace every once in a while.
The tent was located near Andrew’s, meaning soldiers were constantly patrolling the area. Safety was not a concern. If he asked, the staff would likely prepare a meal for him immediately. It promised to be a comfortable camping experience.
"Ah, Rest. Welcome back!"
"Good work today, Lord Rest!"
"Viola, Primula... what are you two doing here?"
Waiting in front of the tent on simple chairs were Viola and Primula Rosemary—the sisters of the Marquis Rosemary House and Rest’s fiancées.
"We came to support you," Viola explained. "Though Father wouldn't give us permission to actually join the development efforts."
"He did, however, grant us permission to come here on the condition that we only handle your personal care," Primula added.
"Ah, I see..."
"I'm here too, Rest!"
The girl sitting beside them waved her hand airily. It was Yuri Catreia, who had been investigating the center of the plains with him until just a short while ago.
"Even Yuri... Why are you here?"
"Well, my father’s subordinates were keeping watch around my tent. It was stifling, so I made a break for it and came here."
"By father... you mean Marquis Catreia?"
"Yeah. It seems he’s trying to turn me back into a bird in a cage. But I won't let him!" Yuri crossed her arms and pouted. "I know that if I go back home, I’ll just be locked in my room again. I’ve decided I’m never going back!"
"......"
"So, I’ve decided to stay in your tent tonight, Rest. That’s fine, right?"
"Come again?"
Rest wasn't entirely sure he had heard her correctly. However, Yuri gave him a beaming smile and chirped, "Thank you!"
Apparently, she had taken his "Come again?" as a confirmation.
"Whoa, hold on... are you serious?"
"Sigh... I suppose it can't be helped," Viola muttered.
"...I'm truly glad I came today," Primula whispered.
Rest stood there, stunned. While Viola and Primula looked exasperated, they didn't seem to have any intention of turning their friend away.
To be honest, Rest felt some resistance to having a woman who wasn't his fiancée stay in his tent. However, he liked Yuri as a friend, and he genuinely wanted to help her if she was in trouble.
Well... I suppose it's fine, he reasoned. With Viola and Primula here too, it’s not as if anything scandalous is going to happen.
"Rest, you must be hungry! Let's get to eating right away!"
Yuri took the lead, starting a campfire in front of the tent and beginning meal preparations.
"I used to cook for myself in the academy dorms. I'm actually quite good at it, despite appearances."
"Oh? That's a surprise. Do you have a specialty?"
"Roasted meat, roasted fish, and roasted vegetables!" Yuri declared with absolute confidence.
"......"
That answer alone was enough to tell Rest that she was by no means a skilled chef. When he caught the eyes of the Rosemary sisters, they immediately nodded back in silent agreement.
"I-I'll help too," Viola offered.
"Me as well. Please, let us handle it," Primula added.
With Viola and Primula joining in, the three girls began cooking over the fire. If they asked the laborers, they would bring ingredients. They would even provide finished meals, but pointing that out to the three girls would have been poor form.
Well, outdoor cooking is half the fun of camping, Rest thought. I shouldn't get in their way.
"Yu-Yuri! Use a knife for that!"
"Oh, it's fine. My fingers are sharper than knives anyway."
"At least drain the blood! The smell is going to be terrible!"
"Please, no insects! I don't care if they're technically edible, I can't eat them!"
"Wait... what is that!? Where did you even find that mysterious creature!?"
"It’s fine, it’s fine. I nibbled on it earlier and didn't get poisoned, so it's perfectly safe."
"......"
Rest began to feel a deep sense of dread.
After thirty minutes of waiting in nervous anticipation, a series of wooden plates were set before him.
"T-This is..."
Soup pasta, salad, and steak seasoned with herbs—the food looked surprisingly legitimate. The enticing aroma of spices wafted from the plates, making his stomach growl.
"This actually looks delicious... To be honest, I was worried about what might come out."
"I-I'm shocked too," Viola admitted. "I can't believe something like this came from those ingredients..."
"To think that that could end up looking so tasty..." Primula added.
"Those ingredients?"
Viola and Primula were saying some very unsettling things. His appetite had finally been whetted, but the hand holding his spoon froze.
"Mm, this is good. Today is a great success!" Yuri, meanwhile, was already happily shoveling food into her mouth.
At the very least, it seemed there wasn't any poison.
"It's... actually good."
When he tried it, it was more than just good—it was excellent. The stew was flavorful, but the steak was on an entirely different level. It was devastatingly delicious.
There was nothing strange about the texture. The meat was plump and tender; the fibers seemed to snap and melt in his mouth all at once. It was comparable to high-grade fatty tuna. Honestly, it might have been the best meat he had ever tasted in this world.
"Hey... this meat is incredible. What kind of animal is this from?"
"......"
"......"
When Rest asked, the sisters fell silent. They remained quiet for a long moment before finally speaking, as if unable to bear the heavy atmosphere.
"I-It seems there's no poison. Really."
"Yes... I believe it is technically something that can be eaten..."
"...Seriously, what is this?"
Rest would not realize the terrifying truth for a little while longer: that the meat's true identity was the Corrosion Beast Yuri had brought back from the plains.
It was the exact moment that Subnock Meat—destined to be ranked among the Seven Great Delicacies of the World—was tasted by a human for the very first time.