I Will Eventually Embark On The Path Of No Return Called A Hero

[Arc5] - 50. Whoever Eats This Fried Rice Shall Marry Him

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"Excuse me, is this...?" The silver-haired girl politely greeted those around her, even offering a smile to people who didn't look all that friendly.

"This is the mobile tavern, [Boar Hat], and by the way, I'm the owner," Meliodas said, pounding his chest confidently. "A dedicated owner who serves guests with surprising delicacies."

"Anyone who eats your food and still gets robbed afterwards must have been unlucky for their lives," said a voice with an arrogant tone—unusual since it came from a pig. This wasn't just because Hawk was the only talking pig in the world; he was also the head of the Leftovers Squad!

Ignoring the surprise that Hawk's speaking ability brought, the silver-haired girl's exhaustion vanished as she hugged him excitedly.

"Wow! A talking pig, I have asked my father for a gift like this before!"

"My name is Hawk."

Thank you, Bartra. It all made sense now; hearing about a talking pig during a time of crisis, you reached out to request Hawk. Just how doting are you toward Elizabeth?

Meliodas squinted as he watched Elizabeth cuddle Hawk, her chest pressing against him, though his sunny smile remained unchanged.

"So, are you hungry?"

The silver-haired girl blushed; it was a slightly embarrassing question for any girl.

"If you don't mind, have a bite to eat." Meliodas smiled, drawing a sacred treasure from his waist, [Lostvayne]. This was a true artifact capable of replicating itself, allowing multiple people to work at once!

"Eh!" Hawk suddenly shook, sensing a potentially fatal threat.

"Wait, don't tell me you're going to..."

"No, Captain!" Diane quickly picked up Hawk, pouting and exclaiming, "You said Hawk is our emergency rations for when we run out of food!"

"That's a dangerous reason to want to protect him!"

"Captain, I won't let you hurt Hawk!" King positioned himself in front of Diane, striking a strange pose with his hands. "Today, I'll protect Diane's backup food with the ancient fairy dance!"

"What's this giant-obsessed fairy is going about?"

"Unfortunately, the fried rice was made by me." Meliodas shrugged, helplessly shaking his head.

"That tone of yours is unexpectedly annoying," Hawk muttered, wide-eyed. Either way, he was safe... for now.

"Captain's fried rice!?" Diane's expression changed, and after a moment of internal struggle, she reluctantly put Hawk in front of Meliodas. "Captain, let's just use the backup rations instead."

"Diane, even if I'm the ingredient, anything Meliodas makes is bound to be dangerous!"

In the end, Hawk wasn't made into a dish, but no one could stop Meliodas from cooking.

A plate of fragrant fried rice was placed before the slightly anxious silver-haired girl.

"I feel bad for troubling you with both hospitality and food... How should I thank you?"

"No need, just dig in." Meliodas flashed a cute smile, though only the Seven Deadly Sins members knew how sinister it really was.

"T-Thank you," the girl said softly, taking a bite of the fried rice. Her slender body suddenly shook.

"How is it? Terrible, right?" Meliodas leaned on the table, grinning as if he were purposefully giving a lost girl some awful food.

"Yes." She lowered her head, nodding while still holding the spoon in her mouth.

"Ah, such a poor girl, deceived by our Captain's youthful appearance into consuming poison," Escanor sighed dramatically, his magical glasses allowing him to stabilize his power even during the day.

"She's even crying. Captain... you're truly unforgivable."

"But... it's delicious." The girl contradicted herself, tears streaming as she ate the entire dish. Only after finishing did she realize she was crying.

"Huh? Why am I... sorry about that."

"Incredible, she actually finished it." Ban looked suspiciously at the food Meliodas had prepared, taking a taste himself and almost passing out from the shock.

"This… calling it pig feed would be an insult to pig feed! It's practically a curse!"

The silver-haired girl didn't notice the commotion Ban was making in the kitchen, though it seemed her eating the fried rice had caused it.

"Eh? Is there something wrong with me finishing the fried rice?"

"Oh, nothing. It just means I'll have to marry her," Meliodas said, clearing the plate, his serious tone making the girl blush deeply.

"I'm joking, joking. What's with that armor you're wearing?"

"Well, I'm looking for the Seven Deadly Sins," she replied, gently tugging at her hair with a smile akin to a saint preparing for sacrifice. "I came to stop the Holy Knights' conspiracy. Soon, they'll likely be after me. I'll never forget your kindness, but... please, forget me."

"What a noble girl," Escanor said, wiping away his tears and winking furiously at Meliodas.

"Seven Deadly Sins?" Meliodas's face took on an amused expression. "How did you learn about us?"

"My father told me when I was six, about the seven sinners marked by beasts, and the Pure White Hero who bore their sins. They were heroes, but were accused of treason against the kingdom and vanished."

"So, there's also a rumor they're dead?"

"People that strong would never die." The girl clenched her fists, her soft tone growing resolute for the first time. "They're heroes; no conspiracy can defeat them, at least... I firmly believe so."

"Don't lose confidence halfway through," Cyd said, ruffling her hair and sitting beside Meliodas. "Young lady, convictions unrecognized by anyone else will eventually be rewarded because there's always someone in this world willing to respond to your persistence. If no one does, it just means bad luck. But your luck is great."

"Huh? What..."

Bang—

The door of [Boar Hat] tavern was kicked open, and a towering knight with an arrogant expression strode in.

"Harboring the Seven Deadly Sins here, are you? If you don't confess, I'll have to increase the number of casualties in my report."

"Huh?" Everyone turned to look at the intruding knight, their expressions chilling and furious from the door-kicking offense alone.

It was a room full of villains!