Chapter 17: Curry In another World

“We got two mature Forest Kelafi”, Zid said as he approached our camp with a dead creature on his shoulder, the other one was dragged by Janbo using his mouth.

I was just putting out the vegetables and leftover meat near a large flat stump.

This is really a good chopping board I thought.

“Short Knife”, I uttered and the short knife Lily gave me before appeared.

Using it I cut the rest of the fresh meat into small bite sized cubes.

“That’s a great catch”, Lily said.

“It’s a pretty easy one”, Zid replied.

“Janbo instantly knocks the two Kelafi as soon as he pounce on them”, Zid.

Zid looked around, as if looking for a good place to butcher their catch.

“Janbo, can you cut that big old tree?”, Zid requested.

“Bau”, Janbo barked and clawed the old dead tree, cutting it cleanly from the trunk.

Zid just grabs the large falling log like it’s nothing.

“Can you help me again, I need to split this log cleanly into two”, Zid said demonstrating how it should be cut.

“Woof”, Janbo replied and using one of his claws he precisely cut the fallen old tree splitting it in a clean half.

“Thanks Janbo”, Zid said as he patted Janbo.

“I’ll make sure to cook you some big cut of meat”, Zid promised.

“So how do you plan to butcher it”Lily asked, watching how Janbo helped Zid.

“That small hunting knife wouldn’t cut it”, Lily stated looking at the two setting suns.

“I’ll help”, Reimei said, moving to Zid and Janbo’s location.

Reimei unsheathed one of her Azure Daggers, and with swift, precise movements, she severed the Kelafi’s limbs and head.

Blood spilled onto the ground, but before it could seep toward the river, Janbo instinctively dug a pit, stopping the flow from reaching the water.

“Reimei’s mother was a skilled hunter,” Lily remarked.

“She taught Reimei how to butcher all kinds of creatures”, Lily added.

Working deftly, Reimei peeled away the Kelafi’s hide, her hands moving with practiced ease.

She then removed the internal organs and placed them neatly into the pit Janbo had dug.

Once she was done, Janbo covered the remains with soil.

“Thanks, Janbo,” Reimei said as she divided the Kelafi into eight massive chunks with clean, confident cuts.

“This should be good enough, right, Zid?” she asked.

“Yeah, I can take it from here,” Zid replied, clearly impressed.

“That dagger of yours is incredibly sharp”, Zid added.

He conjured water with a flick of his hand, rinsing the meat thoroughly before portioning it into smaller cuts.

“I’ll handle the other one as well,” Reimei offered.

“It’s all yours,” Zid agreed, unable to hide his admiration for her skill.

While they worked on butchering the Kelafi, I busied myself preparing the vegetables, occasionally stirring the meat already simmering in the iron pot.

I couldn’t help but notice the slight unease in Zid’s eyes as he watched Reimei so effortlessly dismantle the deer-like beast.

“This is already tender,” Lily said after peeking into the pot.

“Then I’ll add the vegetables,” I replied.

After tossing them in, I whispered, “Pack of curry roux blocks.”

A moment later, the familiar packaging materialized in my hand.

There were about eight blocks of roux inside the pack.

I figured one would be enough, so I dropped a decent-sized curry block into the iron pot and added a few spices Lily had given me.

“That smells incredible,” Lily said as the aroma began to spread across our camp.

Reimei, Zid, and even Janbo turned their heads, drawn by the fragrance.

If only we had white rice, this would be perfect, I thought as I sampled the curry.

I left the pot to simmer, letting the flavors settle, when Reimei, Zid, and Janbo returned carrying two bags filled with meat.

Looking closer, I realized the bags themselves were fashioned from Kelafi hide.

“Were these made from the skin of the two Kelafi?” I asked.

“That’s right. It’s already dried, too,” Reimei replied.

“That fast?” I asked, surprised.

“Of course. I used magic to dry it out,” she explained.

“Reimei, remember Raki isn’t from our world,” Lily reminded her gently.

“You should explain these things”, she added.

“By casting the spells Expand, Cleanse, Strengthen, and finally Wither, you can turn a creature’s hide into sturdy leather suitable for clothes or bags,” Lily elaborated.

So that’s why they look more like wrappings than actual bags, I thought.

Zid, who had been listening closely, suddenly asked, “So you really aren’t from this world?” His gaze told me he had already guessed.

“Yeah,” I admitted as I took the two bags of meat from Reimei.

“Mind if I start cooking with this?” Zid asked, holding up three hefty Kelafi legs.

“Go ahead. I’ll just move the iron pot aside so you can roast them properly,” I said.

“Thanks,” Zid replied. He glanced at the tree stump where I had set out Lily’s spices.

“Mind if I use some of these?”, he asked.

“Of course, you’re free to use them,” Lily replied.

Zid set about grilling the three Kelafi legs while the meat curry continued to simmer gently at the side.

Janbo sat nearby, tail swishing as he waited patiently for the scent of roasted meat to reach perfection.

“This will be done in a few minutes,” Zid said, testing the tenderness with a careful touch.

By the time the two moons rose into the night sky, Reimei returned with steaming cups of herbal tea.

Lily ladled out portions of curry into a large bowl, setting the first in front of Janbo, who had been eyeing the pot with barely contained anticipation.

“Bau!” Janbo barked happily as Lily placed the wooden bowl brimming with curry in front of him.

Yet, instead of diving in, he waited until Zid set down two whole grilled Kelafi legs beside it.

For the rest of us, Zid portioned out generous cuts, a quarter leg each, about the size of a chicken leg.

“Bag of Biscuits,” I murmured, summoning two pieces of hard biscuit onto my plate.

I passed one to Reimei.

“Thanks,” she said, breaking hers in half before dipping it into the curry.

“This is rich and flavorful and the biscuits actually complement it well.”

“I like that it’s a little sweet with just the right spice,” Lily added.

“It warms the body,” she continued after a cool night breeze blew towards us.

“This dish is definitely not native to this world,” Zid remarked as he savored another spoonful, his expression equal parts impressed and curious.

“Bau! Bau!” Janbo barked again, nudging his now-empty bowl toward Lily.

“Alright, I’ll refill it,” Lily said with a small laugh, taking the bowl back to the pot.

The Kelafi legs Zid had given him were already stripped clean, the bones polished by eager teeth.

“Janbo clearly approves of your cooking,” I said with a grin in Zid’s direction.

“Well, I did my best not to disappoint him,” Zid replied with a chuckle.

“Woof!” Janbo barked, his tail thumping the ground in agreement.

“Maybe you should cook this again with Kelafi meat,” Lily suggested, handing Janbo a wooden bowl brimming with hot curry.

“I bet it would taste amazing,” Zid agreed.

“Hmm, maybe,” I said, teasing them with a grin.

“Lily, can I have some more?” Reimei asked eagerly.

“I never thought traveling would be this fun," Reimei added.

“I remember you used to hate going far from town because of how hard it was,” Lily said as she passed Reimei another portion of curry.

“Well, it is hard… and I was always worried about monsters attacking out of nowhere,” Reimei admitted.

“I get it. But with Raki, Janbo, and Zid here, I actually feel safe,” Lily said softly.

“Safe enough to relax and enjoy myself”, Lily added.

“I think Janbo’s presence alone makes the whole trip safer,” I remarked.

“Definitely!” Zid agreed without hesitation.

“Bau…” Janbo gave a sleepy bark, his eyelids drooping.

“He’s clearly stuffed,” Lily giggled.

By the time we finished the last of the curry, Zid handed each of us a Shamsap.

“Do you usually sleep right after eating?” Zid asked, taking a casual bite.

“We rest for a while, then sleep,” I replied, chewing on mine.

“Then how about a mock battle before we turn in?” Zid suggested.

“Sure, but tell me,what are your defense stats like?” I asked.

“With my Holy Aura up, around six hundred,” Zid answered. “Why do you ask, Raki?”

“So you don’t accidentally get killed, of course,” Lily interjected with a wry smile.

“Eh…” Zid muttered under his breath.

“Is this limited to fists only?” I asked, stepping a few meters away from the camp.

“We can use magic as well,” Zid replied.

“Dice, Speed, Strength, Defense Roll,” I incanted, casting three dice onto the ground, each one landing on four.

“May the light of God drown my body with His grace, Fourth-Rank Magic: Holy Aura!” Zid uttered, his body radiating a brilliant glow.

“I’m ready,” I said calmly.

Zid lunged forward in a sudden burst, his figure blazing with holy energy.

He struck with rapid precision, two blows finding their mark while I parried the other two.

He wore a confident smile, though I could tell he was holding back.

Perhaps thinking he had injured me, he left an opening.

I struck his abdomen with a palm strike, and the force hurled him several meters back.

He groaned briefly but pushed himself upright again.

“You alright?” I asked.

“Not exactly. I didn’t expect a palm strike to launch me that far, even through Holy Aura,” Zid admitted.

“My strength should measure above seven hundred, yet you hardly seem affected”, he added.

“It did sting a little,” I replied evenly.

Zid narrowed his eyes, then raised his voice in chant. “God, bless my fist with light to purge all evil. Fifth-rank magic: Holy Fist.” His hand blazed with pure radiance.

“Dice, Defense Roll, Double,” I invoked, casting two dice. They landed on two and three.

But before Zid’s glowing strike could connect, Janbo leapt forward, clamping his jaws onto Zid’s collar, lifting Zid in the air.

“Bau!” Janbo barked sharply, his tone edged with anger.

With surprising gentleness, Janbo set Zid back on the ground, his glare warning enough.

I thought the mock battle had ended, but then Janbo suddenly hurled an entire tree in my direction.

“Heh?,” I muttered as I watched the massive trunk spinning toward me.

The moment it struck, the tree splintered into countless fragments, scattering across the clearing.

Zid’s jaw dropped.

That tree had been as sturdy as the defenses of a seasoned adventurer boasting a defense rating of seven hundred.

“Thanks, Janbo. You just saved my right hand,” Zid said, still in disbelief.

“Raki’s defense is probably more than twice your combined attack and defense,” Lily remarked.

“You mean an overstatus?” Reimei asked.

“Yes. Imagine trying to pierce thick iron armor with nothing but a wooden arrow without an iron tip,” Lily explained.

“The wooden arrow would shatter under its own force,” Lily stated.

“Sorry, Zid. I didn’t mean to put you at risk. I wasn’t aware of the difference,” I apologized.

“Nah, it’s fine. I overestimated myself and got careless,” Zid replied with a small laugh.

“But your ability to enhance your stats… it isn’t just normal augmentation. It feels closer to something at a demonic level”, Zid added.

“Are you two finished?” Lily interrupted, her tone slightly impatient. “We still have a long way before we reach the Dragon’s Graveyard.”

“Yeah, we’re good,” Zid assured her.

“Are you really planning to fight only with your fists every time?” Lily asked, worry flickering in her eyes.

“There are plenty of things you can’t simply punch, Raki included”, Lily stated.

“Maybe I’ll buy some gauntlets once we reach Mardel,” Zid admitted.

“You absolutely should,” Lily replied without hesitation.