Dinner

Dinner was underselling what Cor had invited them too. It was practically a large village feast! Leo half expected this to be a festival, but it really was a simple dinner to the Tail Rune Clan. They were seated in an open area with tables brought about and food sereved almost every where you look. It was all meat. Meat meat meat. Horned rabbit, some kind of dear, even poultry of different sizes.

A comically large boar monster was the center attraction carved and regularly served. How and where they hunted that boar, let alone stored it will forever remain a mystery to Leo. Something that large cannot come from the dense forest… right? Also where did they get the giant apple!? There are no apple trees in the forest here!

Speaking of which, Leo began to look around the table and saw that there really was no other greens or fruits to be served. Well… not until they started also carving the giant apple. Leo could say anything about the Tail Rune Clan, but they were not wasteful.

They were seated near the chief and his wife as guests of honors at their long table. Cor had brought Zen to sit next to her and her mom. Sophia sat closest to Lucius to continue conversations and Lupa decided Leo was her neighbor. However Leo did feel as though him being near the farthest away from Lucius was more of the true reason.

There was no grand speech or announcement of Cor’s return as everyone was already eating. Once Leo saw Sophia take a bite he figured it would be okay for him to start. Along with the impossibility of the boar the impossibility of the meats flavors cannot be ignored. Each meat cooked and season to perfection. Just the right about of give and texture. Juicy meats too! Now he sees why they don’t care for options each meat was its own story of flavor!

Lupa seemed to agree with him as she starts ravenously eating anything and everything on the table.

Another demi-human walked up and handed Lucius a sack of something. “Thank you.” He then turned to Sophia and gave it to her. “Our payment as we agreed.”

“Thank you sir.” Sophia said graciously.

‘Is that a smirk on her face?’ Leo thought o himself as she placed the gold behind her. He wondered if she maybe asked for more.

“Adventurer Leo, what is your rank?” Lucius called over.

Startled Leo quickly composed himself, “Uh, C-Rank sir.”

“I see, then I will give you this favor for both you and Zentella.” He then passed a coin with an insignia on it. “This should prove merit for you for your rank up.”

Leo still never considered ranking up especially this soon. “It’s a… Thank you sir.”

Sophia’s smirk grew into a mischievous smile, “I’ll hold onto it for you Leo, it is better to keep things together.”

He let a nervous laugh feeling he should do what his manager says. Then he felt a tug on his arm. He turn to see Zen. “What’s the matter Zen?”

She turned and pointed at a direction. “A shard is that way.”

“What?” Leo grew alarmed, “How do you know?”

“I saw the mana last time… I can see them now.”

Zentella can see the shard’s mana now! This could change the game for Leo. Now even if he is wandering mindlessly, if he can get close Zen can show them the way.

“What is your business with the Great Spirit?” Lucius asked with a low tone that made Leo shudder. Sophia was about to speak when Lucius put his hand up, “I was asking you’re adventurer.”

Leo gulped a little and figured he should just speak the truth, “We believe there is a shard of an artifact that…” He looked at the around the feast, luckily they didn’t seem to pay him any mind. “Could be used to summon the next Demon King.”

The silence that followed hit like a truck, which ironically he never experienced in this isekai of his. He looked around to not see faces of surprise, but more of judgement. They were now watching to see his next move,

“So you don’t hide your knowledge of the catalyst fragment…” Lucius then outs down his meat. “I appreciate your concern Adventurer, but it is not needed. We were informed of it’s danger and Lobos has taken it into their inner sanctum. I assure you it is in the safest place it can be.”

Leo simply nodded, who was he to argue? He was only collecting them as a way to purify them and keep them out of the Demons hands. If they were guarded by something like a “Great Spirit” surely it should be fine to leave one alone.

However, Zentella believed otherwise, “It belongs to my Uncle. Give it back to him.”

Her monotone demand now caused several of the guests killing intent to be focused squarely on Leo, making it harder to explain what Zen was trying to say. Even stunned, Leo believed what happened was still too fast for reality.

Several Tail Rune Clan members were now above him ready to strike him down. Another two had gone to Zentella. She however simply used her seed to dig them and was pulling out her knife ready for the fight.

Leo was now saved by someone he never expected. Lupa was blocking all three of his attackers with a serious look in her eye. Effortlessly she knocked two away and then launched the third one with the bone she was chewing on and had used to parry the weapon. She then took a protective stance above Leo with Zen joining her covering his back.

He tried to turn to see Sophia to check on her. She somehow moved a few paces away in that instant with her hand on her head in annoyance. How did she get there?

“Lupa…” Lucius growled, “Why are you protecting them?”

Lupa’s face never lost her seriousness as she spat out a piece of grizzle that was in her teeth. “Cuz old man. You are jumping to conclusions all on your own again.”