"I’m sorry! I’m so, so sorry!"
"Look... it’s fine. You really don’t need to apologize that much."
Rest and Yuri had successfully returned to the village at the base of the Southern Mountain Range, only to be met by a frantic, bowing apology from their guide, Libery.
According to her, the moment she saw the wyvern appear, she had immediately chosen to retreat. She had abandoned Rest and Yuri on the mountain and fled back to safety.
When Rest didn't follow her down, she had assumed they were dead. By the next day, the villagers had already begun preparations for a ritual to mourn those lost to the mountain.
"I mean... wasn't that a bit of a snap judgment? You didn't have to declare us dead quite so quickly."
As for her running away... well, it didn't really bother him. He had told her beforehand that she should prioritize her own safety if things got dangerous. He felt her decision to ditch her clients was a little hasty, but Mount Alpha was a wyvern nest, after one. You probably couldn't survive there without that kind of ruthless survival instinct.
The timing of the funeral was surprisingly early, though. Perhaps the local people were just naturally impatient.
"I’ll return your guidance fee in full... I am truly, deeply sorry."
"I told you, it’s fine. I’m not actually angry, so don’t worry about it. More importantly, I need to transport the wyvern, so I’d like you to arrange a carriage for me."
Rest waved off her concerns and gave his instructions to the trembling Libery.
He and Yuri had hauled the wyvern carcass this far, but he really didn't want to carry it all the way home. Even if he could use magic to make it float, the sight would draw far too much unwanted attention from anyone passing by.
"Of course! If it’s all right with you, shall we handle the butchering as well? As an apology, I’ll have it done for free."
"You don't have to go that far..."
"If you're going to process it, sooner is better than later. You've frozen it with magic, but even so, the 'Dragon Liver' will spoil quickly."
"Dragon Liver?"
It was a term Rest hadn't heard before. He tilted his head curiously.
"The Dragon Liver is exactly what it sounds like—an organ from within the dragon. It stores an immense amount of mana and is incredibly delicious. Some say eating it can even extend your lifespan, but it deteriorates almost instantly. Strangely, even preservation methods like salting or smoking don't work on it."
"Huh... I didn't know such a thing existed."
"Yes. Because it doesn't keep, eating it is considered the exclusive privilege of the slayers who took the dragon down."
"Rest, that sounds amazing! Let’s have them take it out!" Yuri chimed in, her face alight with excitement.
If that was the case, Rest decided it was worth the trouble.
"All right, then I’ll leave it to you. Do you mind if we watch the process?"
"Not at all. Rest assured, we won't steal any of the materials."
Libery gathered several villagers, and they immediately set to work on the wyvern. Gripping large machetes, they began to dismantle the creature with practiced skill.
"Alright, get the meat into manageable cuts! Pack the scales into those bags!"
"Don't waste the bones! No part of a dragon goes to waste!"
"Heh... this is actually pretty interesting," Rest noted, watching with genuine curiosity.
Seeing such a massive monster being taken apart was quite a spectacle. It reminded him of a professional tuna-carving show.
The villagers were clearly experts. They carved the meat into portable sizes and packed the frozen blood, organs, bones, and scales into various jars and sacks.
"And here is the Dragon Liver. It’s been a day since the hunt, so it’s lost a little of its luster, but it still looks perfectly edible."
Eventually, Libery presented a plate of the internal organ. It was raw—sashimi style. Rest wondered if it was truly safe to eat without cooking.
"There’s no poison. Please, help yourselves."
"Rest, it smells fine. I don't catch a scent of anything toxic," Yuri said, picking up a slice and giving it a thorough sniff.
When it came to food, Yuri’s instincts were the real deal. If she said it was edible, it was almost certainly safe and delicious.
Well, even if it is poisoned, I know healing magic for antidotes. I might as well try it.
"Thank you for the food."
Rest placed a piece of the sashimi in his mouth. As the vibrant pink slice touched his tongue, it seemed to melt away instantly.
"…!"
His heart gave a powerful thud.
It wasn't just a matter of whether it tasted good or bad. It was the texture—an energetic rush that felt like his blood was suddenly racing through his veins. He had never tried it before, but a surge of raw vitality flooded his entire body, as if he had consumed the blood and essence of a dozen stamina-boosting tonics at once.
"Wow... that flavor packs a punch! I feel like I could sprint for miles right now!"
"I’ve heard dragon flesh holds the power of longevity... eating this definitely makes me believe it."
"Huh? Rest, why are you leaning forward like that? Is something wrong?"
"……"
Please, just take the hint.
It was simply the same physiological reaction he had experienced with the Worm meat.
"I’m still a teenager... give me a break."
If possible, this "Dragon Liver" was something he would have preferred to eat as a pre-wedding dinner. Rest resolved right then and there that he would absolutely be sleeping in a separate room from Yuri tonight.