Chapter 88: Delicacies Within the Cave

Victoria sat alone in the cave, helpless and resigned. She had intended to accompany Rollin and Little Black in their search for food, but Rollin insisted she remain behind, citing her recent recovery from serious injuries and the need for proper rest. Despite her usual temperament—never one to wait passively for others to provide for her—she somehow agreed under Rollin’s earnest persuasion.

While Rollin and Little Black were away, Victoria took the opportunity to clean the cave thoroughly, removing all the filthy remnants left by the magical beasts that had previously occupied it. She then used water magic to wash the cave, banishing the foul odors that once lingered. Afterwards, she attended to her own appearance, water magic proving indispensable once again.

Now, she stood at the frozen entrance of the cave, peering through a few air holes at the endless red landscape beyond. She noticed the verdant red trees were far more beautiful than she had realized upon first arriving; their lush branches and leaves struck her with an unexpected sense of wonder.

As she admired the scenery, Victoria anxiously awaited Rollin’s return, a faint worry gnawing at her heart. If Rollin were to encounter a formidable beast while searching for food, things could turn dire.

Lost in thought, Victoria’s cheeks suddenly flushed. She chastised herself inwardly, for the image of her standing here waiting for Rollin mirrored the scene from her childhood: her mother preparing a meal and waiting for her father to return home. The more she dwelled on this, the hotter her face grew. She stamped her foot in embarrassment and turned to reenter the cave, but after only a few steps, she retraced her steps back to the entrance.

“If he returns and I’m not here, he won’t be able to open this frozen entrance. I suppose I’d better wait here…”

Just as she reached the entrance again, a low voice sounded from outside: “Miss Victoria, I’m back. Please help me open the entrance.”

“Ah! Oh, all right, I’ll—I’ll open it now.” Startled out of her reverie, Victoria saw that Rollin and the donkey, Little Black, were indeed standing outside. She quickly used ice magic to unseal the entrance and let them in.

Rollin ducked through the opening. When he caught sight of Victoria, his eyes brightened. Bathed in the newborn sunlight streaming from outside, Victoria, freshly washed and groomed by her water magic, was like a lotus just risen from the water—elegant, pure, and strikingly beautiful. For a moment, Rollin was entranced.

“Hey, I’m talking to you. Did you bring anything to eat?” Victoria, noticing Rollin’s gaze linger on her, felt a secret joy. Which girl does not wish to be recognized and admired? Still, a blush crept onto her cheeks, and she hurriedly questioned Rollin.

“Uh… Yes, I did. Let’s eat here at the entrance.” Awakened by her words, Rollin scratched his head awkwardly and spoke quickly.

As Victoria nodded, Rollin promptly took a table and chairs out from his necromancer’s space. A spark of delight flashed in Victoria’s eyes. To see furniture from the human world amidst the rocky, beast-ridden Maya Mountains—where she had spent half a year—was deeply comforting. She also harbored envy for Rollin’s necromancer’s space, a gift from his magical training.

Rollin then waved his arm, and two large trays appeared on the table, filling the cave with a rich aroma. Victoria looked closer and saw two roasted meats—one from a level-two magical beast, the Redhorn Ram, and the other from a level-two aquatic beast, the Blackwing Silverfish.

Over the past two months in the magical beast mountains, Rollin and Little Black had sampled nearly every delicacy the region had to offer. After much trial and error, they found the flavor of Redhorn Ram and Blackwing Silverfish unrivaled, so today they went straight to the haunts of these beasts. Luck was on their side, and they soon succeeded.

For safety, Rollin had roasted the meat with fire magic at several different locations outside, then moved again to prepare some special dishes for Victoria.

Victoria was about to praise him for the delicious meal when Rollin smiled at her, waved his arm, and two steaming bowls appeared on the table near her.

“What’s this…” Victoria peered into the bowls and found one filled to the brim with fresh fish soup and the other containing fragrant meat porridge.

“Miss Victoria, you suffered serious injuries before and your body is still weak. These oily foods may not be suitable for you, so I took the liberty of preparing fish soup and meat porridge. I hope you’ll like them,” Rollin said.

Victoria gazed at the steaming bowls, momentarily speechless. To have someone bring her a hot, delicious meal when she was hungry was already wonderful enough, but for him to consider her frailty and specifically prepare nourishing dishes—though she was accustomed to fending for herself—made her feel a rare warmth, a sense of being cared for.

In her blurred memories, only her mother, when she was very young and ill, had tended to her in such a way. Now, after so many years, she felt that tenderness again.

Rollin, meanwhile, held a black short sword, swiftly carving the meat on the trays. This sword was a reward from the second trial in the Mishus Temple. After acquiring the divine Golden Trident, the short sword was relegated to secondary use. Rollin had compared the two; after infusing them with battle energy, the short sword was far inferior to the trident. Now, he used the short blade to slice magical beast meat. It was far sharper than the knife he had bought from Cervantes’ alchemy shop—the sword’s edge parted meat and even bone with ease. It was so handy, though any martial artist witnessing Rollin use a fine weapon as a mere kitchen knife would likely drown him in scorn.

Victoria stood motionless, prompting Rollin to ask doubtfully, “Miss Victoria, aren’t you hungry? Come, sit and eat. Or did I cook something you don’t like?”

“No, I like everything you made!” In the perilous Maya Mountains, within this shadowy cave, Victoria’s serene heart was suddenly filled with a warm current.