Dragon King's Harem Chapter 385. Waste Not, Want Not
I nudged Jyne and Evelina awake. They both stirred, yawning and stretching, their arms lazily brushing against me as they blinked themselves into consciousness.
Without much fuss, we all got ready quickly. There was a long journey ahead, and the sooner we could get moving, the better. The day ahead would be no easy feat.
Once we stepped outside the tent, the camp was already a flurry of activity. I wasn't surprised to find that only our tent was still standing, everything else had been neatly stored away, the soldiers moving as they prepared for departure.
The wounded and the patients had already been loaded into the large carriages, being readied to be pulled by our massive Wyverns. I had ordered that we bring the best carriages we had, the journey would be long and perilous, and I didn't want to take any chances with those who were still recovering.
These carriages were no ordinary wooden constructs. Made from reinforced metal and layered with special protection spells, they were designed for long journeys through difficult weather.
Inside, they were padded with soft furs and enchanted fabrics, ensuring that even the most wounded could be transported with relative ease. I had taken every precaution, knowing that the journey back would be slow and potentially dangerous. We couldn't rush the trip this time, not with so many wounded. The pace would be much slower, and the chances of stopping overnight in some towns were high.
The healers were already stationed in the carriages, their supplies packed and ready. Some of the patients required constant attention, and I knew that bringing them by air was more dangerous than by land. Wyverns might have been faster, but the turbulence, the unpredictability of flying, could easily worsen the condition of someone on the brink of collapse. Besides, the wounds needed more than just bandages. Many of them required fresh medicines that couldn't be stored for long periods. We didn't bring much in terms of medical supplies, and the ones we had would need to be brewed and applied fresh to have any real effect.
I could've used my portal skill to transport medicines back and forth between the capital and the camp, but even that wasn't ideal. The environment where we treated the patients mattered. They needed warmth, comfort, and a stable atmosphere. Popping in and out of portals, dragging them from one place to another, wouldn't do them any favors. It was better to keep them grounded, moving slowly but surely toward safety.
Jyne, Evelina, and I decided to eat in our carriage. There wasn't much in terms of luxury; the meal was simple, almost too simple for a king, but I didn't mind. I felt like someone grabbing a quick bite before heading off to work.
Our food consisted of something resembling sandwiches, though the contents were unlike anything from my original world. The meat was purple, a dense, flavorful flesh from a creature known as a Razorback Beast. It had been seasoned with a green sauce made from a mixture of crushed Krelan herbs, giving it an earthy and slightly tangy taste. The sauce itself had a strange glow to it, almost as if it was alive, and its pungent aroma.
It was filling, to say the least. The Razorback meat was packed with energy, and the Krelan sauce added just the right balance to make it a hearty, satisfying meal. I bit into the sandwich, feeling the strange texture of the meat between my teeth, slightly tougher than I was used to, but rich in flavor. The bread, made from a grain called Drost wheat, was dense and slightly sweet, a strange combination with the savory meat and tangy sauce, but it worked.
To be honest, I hadn't planned on celebrating anything, so I was a bit confused as to why we had so much food with us. This was a rescue mission, after all, not a victory feast. But when I asked, Eir had a sheepish look on his face as he explained. Apparently, the chef and a few of the soldiers in charge of the food had made an executive decision during the night.
"The monsters," Eir had said, scratching the back of his neck, "we used some of them."
"Used them?" I had asked, raising an eyebrow.
He nodded, his expression serious. "After the battle, the chef and some of the men thought it would be a waste to leave the monster corpses to rot. So, they harvested what they could, mostly meat. Razorback Beasts, a few Carrion Hounds… anything we could safely eat. They made it into steaks and sandwich fillings. It's enough to last us through the journey back."
I hadn't expected that. Using monster corpses for food wasn't exactly uncommon, but I hadn't thought we'd need to go that far. "So, we're eating our props," I said dryly, taking another bite of the sandwich.
"Waste not, want not," Eir had replied with a shrug.
I had to admit, the food wasn't bad. Monster meat had a different flavor than the typical livestock we raised back at the capital.
Razorback Beast was tougher, more gamey, but it was also full of energy, perfect for a long journey like this. The sandwiches were wrapped in special leaves that preserved the meat's freshness, and with a quick fire spell, the soldiers could heat them up whenever we stopped for a break. I bet the Wvyrens would like this too.
The patients were also being fed well. We made sure they had enough energy to endure the trip. Most of them were too weak to eat much, but the healers had concocted broths and soups from the monster meat, making sure that even those on the brink of death could sip something warm and nutritious. Thick blankets were draped over them, enchanted to keep them warm, no matter how cold the air grew outside or… 'upside' to be precise.
Finally, the call came. The Wyverns screeched in response, their wings flapping as they prepared for the long trek ahead.
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