Chapter 30

It was lunchtime, so I decided to have lunch. The naval unit's cook had given me a bento box containing a secret.

We were in a forest where the vegetation was growing vigorously, but Gal and I decided to huddle together and enjoy our meal.

Excitedly, I opened the paper wrapping.

"Wow, it's a seafood sandwich!"

The filling was a luxurious combination of pickled vegetables and long-tailed shrimp.

The shrimp were plump, and the pickled vegetables were crunchy. What was the sweet and savory sauce? It seemed to be made with eggs and spices, but I couldn't figure out what else. I decided to ask next time.

"Kwee~"

The baby griffin sniffed the air curiously. Thinking it might be interested in the bread, I tore off a piece and brought it to its mouth, but it turned away. It didn't seem to like the bread. I tried offering it some dried meat from my bag, but it turned its head away again.

When I showed it some fruit, it responded with a bright "Kwee!" It seemed to prefer sweet, natural foods, just like a mountain cat.

After lunch, I wrapped the baby griffin in my jacket. When Gal held it, it started to cry loudly, "Kwee kwee~!"

It was wriggling so much that its injuries might worsen. When I held it, it calmed down. Maybe it wasn't used to Gal's fluffy texture. The reason was a mystery.

However, even as a baby, it was quite heavy. I puffed out my cheeks as we made our way through the forest.

We reached the sandy beach where we had started when the sun was beginning to set. No one else had returned yet.

Since the captain had the signal flares to call the ship, we had no choice but to wait here.

I suggested making some soup for dinner. Gal went to gather firewood.

I thought some driftwood would do, but it apparently wouldn't burn well because it was wet with seawater. He said he would look for drier wood.

I glanced at the baby griffin, and our eyes met.

"Kwee~"

The griffin chirped melodiously, seeming to be in a good mood. It tilted its head and looked up at me.

What, griffin, you're so cute. I thought, and stroked its chin with my fingertips.

"Kwee kwee~"

It seemed to be happy, but I wasn't sure.

However, I wondered how the princess had interacted with the baby griffin.

It didn't seem particularly wary or wild, more like a regular dog or cat.

While thinking about this, I took a leather bag of water from my bag and drank from it.

Then, I felt a curious gaze.

I cupped some water in my palm and gave it to the baby griffin, which drank it eagerly. I had been giving it mostly fruit, but it seemed to need water too. Its tongue tickled as it lapped up the water.

It must have been very thirsty. I felt bad.

While waiting for Gal, I started building a makeshift stove with some stones.

The baby griffin watched with great interest as I prepared dinner.

After a while, Gal returned.

He was carrying a large amount of firewood under one arm and a large crustacean in the other.

"Wow, Gal, what's that!?"

It was a forest crab, a type of crab that lived in the forest.

"Really, crabs in the forest? Wow, that's amazing."

I had first eaten crabs in the capital and was still amazed by their deliciousness. I thought they were the best thing in the capital, but to find them in the forest was incredible.

"Let's make soup with the forest crab!"

The forest crab had a strange bluish color.

Its claws were large and heavy-looking, and its shape was quite different from sea crabs.

We soaked it in seawater to remove the mud. It was interesting to watch it bubble and spit out mud.

While waiting, I started the fire. The firewood Gal brought burned well.

An hour later.

Gal washed the forest crab in seawater and disassembled it with a knife. The shell was apparently very hard. If Gal, who was so strong, said it was hard, it must have been very tough.

I lined the pot with olive oil, sprinkled dried herbs and garlic on the forest crab, and sautéed it until the shell turned red.

Once it was cooked, I added water. After adjusting the seasoning with salt, all that was left was to simmer it.

While it was simmering, the sun had set completely.

"Wow...!"

Looking up at the sky, I saw a starry expanse.

It seemed so close that I could almost touch it.

While Gal and I were admiring the stars, we heard a voice from a distance.

"Risris medic!"

It was Urgas's voice. I stood up and waved to greet him.

Urgas ran over like a dog, and I thought I saw something like a tail wagging behind him.

"I'm so tired."

"Good work."

I reported that I had made soup with the forest crab, and Urgas's eyes lit up with joy.

"Having a meal ready when we return, Risris medic, you're like a goddess."

"That's an exaggeration."

Next, Vice-Captain Berry returned.

"Good work."

"Yes, Risris medic and Gal, you both did well."

Vice-Captain Berry handed me something he had picked.

"Since it was pretty, I picked it."

"Wow!"

It was a delicate flower, small and white. In this place, where bold and showy flowers grew, to find such a cute flower was surprising.

"Thank you. I'll press it and keep it!"

"That's great. I thought you'd like it."

"I love it!"

I had no time to appreciate flowers while we were in the forest. So, I was happy.

While admiring the flower and smiling, I heard Urgas exclaim in surprise at the pot.

"Ah!!"

"What's wrong?"

"Gu, guu..."

"Guu?"

"Griffin!"

"Oh!"

I had been so focused on the forest crab soup and the flower that I had completely forgotten.

We had been protecting the griffin, which was the purpose of our mission.

"Vice-Captain Berry, I should have reported earlier. Gal and I rescued a baby griffin around noon."

"That's good, you found it."

The griffin was sleeping, wrapped in Gal's jacket. It seemed to have woken up because of the noise Urgas was making.

I also reported about its injuries.

"Risris medic, is it okay not to put it in a bag?"

"Yes, it's very calm. Plus, it can't move because of its injuries."

"Hmm."

Urgas, who had been watching me pet it, reached out to the griffin.

Then—

"Kwee!!"

"Ah, be careful!"

The griffin tried to bite Urgas. It narrowed its eyes, fluffed its feathers, and growled, "Kwee~."

"It seems to be wary."

"Such a..."

It seemed to trust only me. Probably because I had fed it.

"Urgas, why don't you try giving it some fruit?"

"Is it that easy to bribe with food?"

Urgas peeled a furry fruit and placed it in front of the griffin.

The griffin turned its head away.

Maybe it wasn't hungry.

When Urgas tried to return the fruit, the griffin started chirping, "Kwee kwee."

It wanted it. When offered, it ate it greedily.

"Does it only trust Risris medic?"

"Can't be!"

If that were true, it would be a big problem. We had to protect this mythical creature for the country, and it was trusting me without a contract.

While we were talking, the captain and Zara returned.

The captain looked exhausted.

"Good work, captain."

"Yes."

He must still be tired from the sea journey. The captain looked more tired than usual.

Zara was holding beautiful leaves, which she said were for dyeing cloth and seemed very happy.

"You only picked leaves."

"Well, I picked them while searching for the griffin and pushing through the vegetation."

Right, I needed to report about the griffin.

"Captain, we rescued the griffin."

"What!?"

The captain was shocked to see the griffin wrapped in Gal's jacket.

Urgas added more details.

"As reported, it's very wary. It tried to bite me when I tried to touch it."

"I see."

"But it seems to trust Risris medic."

"That's... a difficult situation."

That's right.

But once we return to the country, there should be experts who know about griffins.

Until then, I just need to feed it.

After finishing the report, my stomach growled. It wasn't mine.

"Sorry, I didn't eat much at lunch because I was exhausted."

It was Urgas, who seemed to have recovered his appetite.

"Captain, let's eat first."

"Yes, that's a good idea."

I served the forest crab soup, which I had cooked with the shell. I sliced the bread thinly and toasted it lightly over the fire.

I also prepared cheese and dried meat, arranging them on large leaves.

We offered a prayer to the gods and began to eat.

First, I was surprised by the rich broth. With just a little salt and spices, it was so flavorful.

I speared a piece with my fork and ate it.

The meat came off the shell easily and had a satisfying texture.

I thought it might not have much flavor since I had used the broth, but it was sweet when I bit into it.

The forest crab was an incredibly delicious ingredient.

I silently thanked nature for its bounty.

We were told that the hepatopancreas inside the shell was also edible, so I mixed it with alcohol, olive oil, and herbs to make a paste. It was said to be delicious when spread on bread, but to me and Urgas, it just tasted bitter.

The captain, Zara, Gal, and Vice-Captain Berry seemed to enjoy it. It must be an acquired taste.

Today, we successfully completed our mission, and the meal was delicious, so it was a very satisfying day.