NOVEL NEXT chapter 45
45 – We came to a picnic to find honey, but what’s with these buttocks?
“I really ate well.”
I indulged in food today as well.
I ate too much.
The well-made green onion kimchi was a problem.
Because the food turned out so good, I ate excessively.
Eonyang bulgogi also reached the peak of its flavor.
Each dish was the best.
It was a satisfactory meal.
The only worry was the smell that the green onion kimchi exuded.
It was not just the smell from the mouth, but the unpleasant, distinct smell that surged from the stomach that made it uncomfortable.
I didn’t really care, being alone in the kitchen.
The problem was Andrea.
“But, will the smell be okay? The smell of green onion kimchi is quite strong, so I should brush my teeth quickly.”
“Smell? Ah… it’s fine.”
Andrea opened her mouth and lightly waved her finger.
The spirits of wind and water gently brushed past the inside of her open mouth.
It was my first time seeing such a mysterious sight of an elf’s mouth being cleaned by a spirit.
“This way, it becomes clean.”
A fragrant scent came from her mouth.
It was like mint chocolate…
Ah, focus.
The scent that rose from her mouth was that of toothpaste.
“Is that enough? Just so you know, the spirit’s power will remain in your mouth for 24 hours, leaving only a pleasant scent.”
“That’s not too bad.”
“Should I do it for the boss as well?”
“Is it possible?”
“Of course.”
She waved her hand and
A refreshing air filled my mouth.
Ah, I can feel it.
The taste of mint…
This is really good?
There is toothpaste for brushing teeth in the empire, but there were few that made it cool like this.
How do I put this – Experiencing it directly,
It felt like getting teeth scaling done while brushing at the same time.
“Really good.”
As she was still feeling the aftereffect of the Elf Scaling she received, Andrea left a new review on the message board.
—-
★★★★★
You must have seen kimchi served next to the main menu many times.
A devilishly attractive side dish that goes smoothly with rice, thanks to its unique flavor from the bright red chili pepper seasoning.
Although it can never be the main character, it’s a great supporting character helping the protagonist, sometimes even becoming the star.
That’s green onion kimchi.
Eating it raw can be an acquired taste due to its strong scent and flavor, but I realized this time that it can be enjoyed in various ways depending on the cooking method.
Of course!
This special dish is only for the staff!
It’s said to be a delicacy that customers cannot easily taste.
Jealous? I believe you would be.
If you want to eat it, get a job at ‘Knight’s Restaurant.’
I forgot to mention the Eonyang Bulgogi.
It’s a meat dish with less seasoning than Bulbak Bulgogi and cooked a little stronger to bring out a richer taste.
This is also a special dish…
Ah, such a waste. I want to share this taste…
Recommended menu: Green onion kimchi and Eonyang Bulgogi
-Knight’s Restaurant employee, Andrea-
—-
I saw Andrea, who had just posted a new review on the message board.
“What’s this?”
“What do you mean? It’s a appreciation review for the new menu item. You said to write one when we ate it.”
“I did say that, but why did you have to specify that it’s a staff special dish?”
“Is that so?”
It was true.
I had planned on only giving it to my staff.
But.
“I shouldn’t write down a menu item that’s not for sale.”
Even the tone of his voice was completely different from before.
“It’s fine. They won’t be able to read it since it’s written in Elvish anyway.”
“But some nobles can read it.”
“Huh? Nobles know Elvish?”
“Of course. I can read it all, remember?”
“Ah, right.”
Not all nobles knew it.
Many nobles considered learning Elvish an extremely honorable endeavor.
As for me, I did not learn it out of pretension.
After dealing with requests from Elves whom I had met several times in the capital, I had unwittingly become fluent in Elvish.
Surely, Viscount Bridden and Camila Wegan would be able to read Elvish.
‘And they might get bothered by what that “Elf-enticing menu item” is.’
Should I remove it?
But then, I suddenley remembered a review that Andrea had written before.
—-
★★★★★
The best food I have ever experienced as a pure carnivore.
The exquisite harmony of vegetables, meat, and grains showed me what the most essential balance for an Elf is.
The red pepper paste sauce stimulates the palate, making it an irresistible taste that keeps you eating.
I like it.
I want to keep eating.
Recommended menu: Bulgogi bibimbap.
-Andrea, Knight’s Diner employee-
—-
The harsh and commanding tone was conveyed perfectly.
It was a writing that revealed the cold wanderer’s demeanor she had shown a month ago before she started working here.
The atmosphere had definitely changed.
It was evident in the review.
‘People really can change in just a month.’
Should I leave her alone?
Her changed appearance is somewhat cute.
It means the elf has become tamer.
‘If she insists on serving a menu item that’s not for sale, I’ll have to use it as an excuse to kick her out.’
It was a way to naturally distance Camilla Wegen.
‘Maybe it’s not bad?’
As I was thinking that, I could slowly see the guests coming.
Let’s work hard today, too.
What should I eat for dinner tonight?
‘There’s not much left for the remaining bullfights…’
Only a little bit of ribs, a little grilled tenderloin, and the oxtail soup for us to simmer were left.
It was time to serve Meat Cow for the customers.
Continuously hunting bulls was not possible.
‘I should request the mercenary group as well.’
To tell them to inform us if they find any bulls nearby.
Bulls were more delicious than expected, so I liked them.
It was quite popular.
Although it wasn’t frequent, it was perfect to serve as a special dish.
‘Let’s find some honey. There wasn’t much left.’
With the day after tomorrow being a holiday, perhaps I should climb the mountain.
***
“Hmmm~.”
On this long-awaited day off, I closed the restaurant and climbed the mountain behind it in search of new ingredients.
“I can’t see it yet.”
What I was looking for was the honeybee of this world, the Pumpkin-bee.
It was a bee famous for producing honey so sweet that it could enchant one’s taste buds just by eating.
Of course, that’s what they say.
The honey produced by Pumpkin-bees also had different grades.
It depended on how dense the mana was in the area where it lived.
What kind of flowers bloomed nearby.
And how dense the honey made by the bees was.
Depending on these factors, the taste of the honey made by Pumpkin-bees varied.
The more flowers with thick and sweet mana gathered, the sweeter the honey.
The best among them was, of course, the honey of Pumpkin-bees found in the Elf Forest.
The Pumpkin-bee, which held the nectar of the tree’s flowers with dense mana, was considered the best.
There was a legend recorded that the dragons were crazy about this honey.
So I asked Andrea if she could go to the Elf Forest for me.
-No. How can I, who have already left that place, go there? I will never return.
It was a shame.
But it’s okay.
I had a nose that was better at finding the honey of the Pumpkin-Bee than anyone else.
“You said it was a picnic.”
“Right, a picnic. We came for a nice walk, didn’t we?”
“….”
Andrea, holding a basket with packed lunch in her hand, looked at me.
It was strange for an elf to dislike coming to the forest.
How twisted did it become?
“Come on, smell it first.”
“You mean the smell… I’m looking for traces of mana.”
I wondered what the difference was between smelling and sniffing, but
Since he said it was different, I had no choice but to accept it.
“So, do I have to find the Pumpkin-Bee’s house?”
“Yeah, you have to earn your keep.”
“I’m working hard, aren’t I? I keep the contract rules too…”
I narrowed my eyes as I looked at Andrea who was speaking in a sulky manner.
“Hmm… You know you’re eating more than what was originally agreed upon, right?”
“Well, that’s because it’s so delicious.”
“You should work more if you eat a lot. Or extend the contract.”
“That’s abusive.”
“Your eating habits are abusive to me. Cut back on how much you eat.”
“What, no way!”
Andrea, who seemed shocked, followed me with her mouth wide open as we walked up the forest path.
“But you said it’s okay to eat a lot as long as I’m pretty.”
I didn’t think I ever said she was pretty.
“Even so, if you eat that much, you’ll gain weight instead of staying slim.”
“Ughh.”
“Rather, eat less rice and more meat. Oh, then maybe your working hours will increase.”
“If you, if you could just raise my pay a little bit…”
“No.”
“Whaaa.”
“So, find the honeycomb of Pumpkin-Bees. Then I’ll give you an extra payment.”
Andrea continued forward with more enthusiasm.
As an elf renowned for making countless guests’ hearts flutter.
Whoosh.
She moved quickly, creating a gentle breeze.
She sniffed with her nose in front and then called out to me.
“Over here! Follow me!”
Surely elves are fast in the forest.
I relentlessly followed behind the fading figure of Andrea.
Though I may not know the speed, I do not lose my perseverance.
As I continued following Andrea, a tingling scent slowly began to emerge.
‘It’s this.’
Near the nest of Pumpkin-Bees, they said when sugar is melted, a sweet scent lingers.
The higher the grade of mana contained in the honey, the more intense and subtle the fragrance.
The smell of honey alone made the corners of my mouth subtly rise.
“Nice.”
“Boss, over here!”
The smell grew stronger as I followed her.
Buzzzz!
I saw a worker bee of Pumpkin-Bees flying between the trees.
Bzzz!
Thumb-sized yellow bees were flying around, each collecting nectar.
Their legs were covered in thick pollen.
‘The quality doesn’t seem bad.’
He could be sure that it was worth collecting and using right away.
“Um, boss?”
Andrea, who was ahead, looked back at me with a puzzled voice.
“What’s going on?”
“Well, I think you need to see this.”
“I need to see it?”
At her words, I sped up.
Climbing the mountain as fast as I could, I stood beside her.
“What is that?”
A large buttocks was swaying left and right, stuck in a hollow tree trunk.
“That’s a butt, right? I’m not seeing this wrong, am I?”
“You’re right.”
“It looks like a woman’s butt……”
“That’s correct, too.”
Moreover, it even had a blue tail attached.
The tail was swaying quickly from side to side.
“……Why is there a butt where a beehive should be……”
Weeeeeng!
The annoyed Pumpkin Bees flew around roughly and indiscriminately shot stingers towards the buttocks.
Despite the relentless attacks, the tailed buttocks remained unfazed and continued to sway.
“It looks like a beastkin, maybe.”
“There’s no other race with tails.”
“But why are beastmen here… This place is just a countryside with nothing to see.”
“Is that something an elf should say?”
“Well, that’s not…”
Numerous Pumpkin-Bees flew up.
I pushed through the Pumpkin-Bees desperately trying to cover my suddenly exposed buttocks and approached them.
Though they were much larger than ordinary bees, they did not possess a threatening venom.
Wagoo! Wagoo!
I approached the beastman shaking his buttocks with his face stuck in a hollow tree and grabbed his navy tail.
“Uwaah!”
“Who are you?”
The surprised buttocks squirmed.
However, the buttocks could not escape the tree and struggled.
“Who, who are you! How dare you touch Veronia, a warrior of the Langin tribe!”
“I don’t know about a warrior, but can you get your buttocks out of the way?”
“St, stop! Uh! I can’t get out. Huh? Huh?”
The panicked buttocks shook back and forth.
The tail swept fiercely, driving away the surrounding Pumpkin-Bees.
“I’m s-sorry, but can you help me get out of here? I’ll make it worth your while!”
“……”
Can I trust the words of these buttocks?
“We also need to harvest honey.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
There was no other way.
I grabbed the thigh, and Andrea grabbed the tail, then pulled as is.
“Aaaah! My, my tail!”
With a strange sound, the buttocks detached from the tree screamed and rolled on the ground.
Is this supposed to happen?
My ears hurt.
Finally, the woman with the appearance of a human, or rather a beastkin, stood up looking at the sky.
“Phew, I, I thought I was going to die.”
The beastkin woman’s face was swollen from Pumpkin-B’s attack, her eyes barely open, and her face covered in honey.
It was like a honey party.
“Ah, are you the owner of this mountain? If so, I apologize. I was so hungry that I unknowingly ate your food!”
“Who are you?”
“Ah, as I said, I am a warrior of the Lang race. I followed the delicious smell I’ve felt since a while ago from Lillian to here.”
Lillian is the most prominent city in the south.
It was a city that you had to ride for a week from here.
“You said you came all the way here following the smell of honey?”
“No, the smell I picked up was not honey!”
Then she brought her nose close to my body.
Sniff sniff.
“There’s a similar smell coming from your body.”
“A similar smell?”
“That’s right! The smell of a male!”
What is this randy wolf saying?