"Hmm, this and this are fine to consume, but make sure to cook them properly over high heat." Alfred was sorting through all of the foraged food. "These insects are actually fine to consume as well."
"""Absolutely not!""" Alfred's suggestion was vehemently rejected by the ladies.
"You are not eating that as well!" Scarlet was especially flustered by her lover's suggestion. "You will not be getting any kisses or hugs from me if you put those larvae in your mouth!"
"Eh, ehh..."
"Kisses?" Aria tilted her head. "When did you two kiss? And how many times?"
"Hng!" Scarlet closed her mouth after realising her slip-up. "It is nothing! None of your concern!"
Marion wore a devilish grin and began interrogating Scarlet, demanding all the juicy details that made both Alfred and Scarlet blush. Aria and Alfina, interested in the conversation, leaned their heads closer while avoiding Scarlet's terrifying gaze, hiding her embarrassment behind an angry facade. Rosa sighed over the unglamorous behaviours, proclaiming that true love had no reason to be hidden, earning a wry smile from Catherine who was standing beside her.
The caravan continued its journey through the Valle Forest after losing a large portion of their food supplies. The hunters were sent out to scout and forage food for the entire team while Alfred, being well-versed in the local wildlife, was in charge of discarding the poisonous ingredients. Occasionally, they encountered herds of Common Ground Hogs and hunted a few of them for their meat.
"Hah... despite the limited ingredients, Madam Astrea's cooking is simply divine. I, Rosa Spina Charme, offer my sincerest compliments to the chef."
"Hahaha, I'm glad it suits your palate, Lady Rosa."
"Well, mother has always been a great cook." Catherine asked for another serving of the minced meat patty. "No matter where we are, you can always count on her to whip up a great meal. That's why I have no need to go to an expensive establishment for my birthday celebration."
"With your mother being such a great cook, I can somehow understand." Viggo enjoyed the last bite of his meal, smiling at Catherine. "However, please allow me to treat you to an amazing meal once we reach the next town."
"Hahaha, in that case, I will be looking forward to it!"
"Catherine, I know you were raised as a commoner, and as an adventurer, you are trained to eat as fast as possible, but please stop gobbling up your food. It will diminish your feminine charm." Rosa sighed a little while observing Viggo who seemed to enjoy watching Catherine eating heartily. "The road ahead might be tough for you, Viggo... She is a rather dense character when it comes to love..."
A few days after Catherine's birthday, the entire caravan made it out of the Valle Forest and entered the nearby villages to resupply. Stories told by storytellers and songs sung by bards about the hunters' feats against the mountain dragon had made the hunters famous. As a result, they were able to purchase their supplies at a great discount. Many villagers gathered around just to catch a glimpse of the Gypceros and Pukei-Pukei carcasses the hunters had brought back from the Valle Forest.
After staying for a day, the caravan resumed its journey after receiving countless blessings from the local residents. Vast stretches of grassland surrounded the travelers as they journeyed along the dirt road. Birds of various shapes and sizes migrated from the South in order to enjoy the bounty that spring had brought.
"I can see the city walls." Aria, sitting atop her steed, squinted her eyes. "After a few days of camping on this vast grassland, I do miss the comfort of a city."
"I get that sentiment, but it is not that bad... At least not as bad as having to stay the night in a cave within the northern plateau. The bitter cold really seeps into your bones." Marion reminisced about the past as she rode closer to Aria. "Come to think of it, that was our very first meeting. Haha, how nostalgic, and serendipitous."
"Last I remembered, we witnessed two bandits being eaten alive by a Khezu, followed by a series of brutal fights for survival against a host of terrifying monsters. The city of Roantar was wiped off the map, and then we had an encounter with Rusted Kushala Daora where we almost died."
"Ah, there were those, huh..."
"Listening to you, I almost feel bad for telling you to go up north when you were banished from Sultier Earldom." Alfina looked up at the sky. "And yet, I believe that is the right call. After all, Lord Flare is watching over you."
Flos, the capital of Coteau Viscounty, thrived on trade in high-quality produce as the relatively flat terrain around the city was suitable for growing crops. The abundance of flowers and bees had allowed honey to be its biggest source of production, driving their economy.
"Welcome to my humble estate, honourable guests!" Viscount Coteau personally went out of his mansion to greet the caravan. "I, Divum Mane Coteau, the current head of Coteau Viscount House, am incredibly honoured to host you all."
"The sentiment is ours, Viscount Coteau." Remal, as the caravan acting leader and representative, returned the greeting. "After all, we cannot simply overlook your achievement during the siege."
"Hahaha, I am flattered. Please, come inside!" Divum led the entire group in and showed them to their rooms, much to the surprise of the guests. "The servants will guide you to the baths, so freshen up before heading to the dining hall. Lavish dishes will be waiting for you all."
The night came as soon as the guests had their proper rest, and they were led by the servants to have dinner with the Viscount's family. Plates of fresh spring vegetables dotted the tables, but the show-stopper was a large honey-glazed Common Ground Hog roasted leg ham.
"Welcome! We have gotten a great harvest of herbs and vegetables this month, so I thought it would be great for you to taste the best of what spring can offer!" Sitting at the host seat, Divum beckoned the guests to sit whilst introducing his family members. "This is my beloved wife, Feuille Fleur Coteau."
"Pleased to meet you." A tall and mature lady with light blue hair and eyes curtsied before sitting back down.
"This is my first born son, Cresco Mel Coteau. He was amongst the first to witness the mountain dragon passing through our territory. He was out for an inspection when he felt the tremors and went to investigate it."
"Pleased to meet you. As my father said, I was one of the few people who saw the dragon and immediately wrote a letter back to inform father." A young man with similar features to his mother bowed politely. "In all honesty, I was rather terrified when I saw a literal personification of a mountain move. I did some investigation after the siege and found that the dragon had seemingly originated from Kemet region; specifically, the Dunya mountain range."
"The largest mountain range of Kemet, huh..." Alfred sat beside Scarlet and pondered. "That structure roughly split the entire southern region into three parts... It seems the investigation on the reason why Lao-Shan Lung made its way to the north is going to be quite difficult."
"Well, that is not the main mission of this expedition."
"That may be so, Miss Alfina, but it would be best if we could get an answer for it. In order to be fully prepared, one needs to know the circumstances of our enemies." Divum made a serious expression before resuming his introduction. "Moving on. This is my second born son, Cedo Mulsum Coteau."
"Greetings to all!" An energetic boy with brown hair similar to his father waved his right hand while cheerfully smiling.
"Cedo, what kind of greeting is that?!" Feuille admonished her son's casual greeting. "You are already fifteen, so start acting like an adult."
"Now now, my love. There is still plenty of time for him to learn. Besides, his combat skills more than make up for his lack of eloquence."
"You are clearly spoiling him..."
"Hahaha, maybe I am. Anyway, enough with the greetings. Let us pray and enjoy the feast."
The guests enjoyed the crisp and sweet taste of the legumes together with the meaty bite of the roasted ham. Aria took a large leafy vegetable, placed a slice of ham on it, and drizzled it with a herbaceous vinaigrette before wrapping the whole thing up and eating it like a sandwich. The other diners observed Aria's unconventional way of eating and copied her, amazed at the complex flavours forming in their mouths.
"Hey, can I see the two monsters you slew in the Valle Forest!? If possible, can I get a weapon crafted from their parts!?"
"Cedo! Sigh, I apologise for my son's boorish behaviour." Feuille bowed down apologetically while Cedo continued to stare at the hunters with innocent excitement.
"Ahahaha..." Aria let out an uncomfortable laugh while Alfina and Scarlet, who were sitting beside her, immediately turned towards Marion who was sitting on the opposite side of the table; both of them sensed an unsettling similarity between Cedo and Marion.
"Hey... For some reason, I can sense some rather rude thoughts coming from both of you..." Marion smiled wryly after seeing the blank and icy stare coming from Alfina and Scarlet.
The morning sun greeted the residents of Flos as they began their daily activities. In a nearby smithy, Aria was already processing the monster parts and turning them into equipment for the hunters. Viggo and the two other blacksmiths accompanying the caravan aided her while taking the opportunity to learn from her. They entire team holed themselves up in the smithy until the sun had touched the horizon.
"So this is the bow made from that Pukei-Pukei, the Blooming Arch." Viggo was astounded with the craftsmanship.
"Indeed. This is for Catherine. Since she only has two elemental bows, I think having a poison status bow would build up her arsenal."
"Well, most of the Viper Tobi-Kadachi materials were used to make armours that increases mobility and attack potency for the siege, so we missed on the opportunity to create a paralysis bow."
"We had no choice as we are prioritising equipment useful for the siege, and Lao-Shan Lung is immune to paralysis. In fact, I think Marion got the real short end of the stick since she only has the Mammoth Longblade as her personal weapon, although it does have high raw damage."
"Ahaha..."
"Nevertheless, I think she is becoming better with dual blades, so she can use my Pulsar Hatchets and this Dual Battleaxes which has poison properties made from Gypceros parts."
"Well, the sight of her taking down the Pukei-Pukei with those Pulsar Hatchets was a sight to behold."
"Mmhmm, I am rather pleased with her growth..." Aria's voice trailed off in discomfort. "Umm... Sir Cedo, please stop looking at me with such shining eyes..."
Cedo, who had been watching them for almost the whole day, was holding up his large halberd, hoping for Aria to somehow make a brand new weapon for him. The other three, including Viggo, had tried their best to ignore Cedo's silent plea.
"I am also a registered hunter under the Hunter's Guild, although I did not participate in the siege, I was protecting this land, and I did hunt down some of the smaller monsters lingering around."
"I mean... those were just some Jaggis and Velocipreys. Their parts are not good enough to make a sturdy weapon..."
"In that case, why not use them as a base and build atop that with either the green or the grey monsters' parts! I am sure that will - ghuak!" A fist slammed down upon Cedo's head.
"I apologise on my brother's behalf." Cresco was smiling politely, but his demeanor displayed a sense of anger as he repeatedly knocked Cedo's head every time the latter tried to argue back. "Mother and father had already given their permissions and allow you to join in the expedition. However, I would expect you to be in your best behaviour. Understood?"
"Ugh... Yes, big bro..."
Cresco approached Aria and the blacksmiths while maintaining his smile. "Father, Mother, and I have given you permission to knock some sense into this guy if he ever crosses the line. Therefore, feel free to use violence on him during your travel."
"Uhh... right... Thank you..." Aria inadvertently remembered the interactions between Scarlet and Marion.
"Much appreciated. Please take care of my idiot younger brother."
***
After a few days in Flos, the caravan, after welcoming Cedo as their new member, continued their journey to the south.
The vast grassland and farmland stretched as far as the eye could see. Coteau Viscounty was blessed with fertile soil. It had been a region of conflicts between the Cor conglomerate and the southern kingdom for a long time before the unification and founding of Cor Kingdom. Trading became smoother between the two regions and Kemet, suffering from constant lack of food, benefited from the exchange with territories in Lacus region.
The caravan enjoyed the bountiful and varied produce offered by the land. However, as they neared the border between the Lacus and Kemet regions, the temperature rose and the once luscious green slowly faded into arid yellow. Tall grasses and exotic trees dotted the landscape and the air felt arid.
"The Coteau Viscounty is rather large, huh... It took us almost a month just to travel from one end to the other." Marion fanned herself with her hand whilst riding on her steed. "Or maybe it is just elongated from north to south."
"Well, I am not entirely sure myself, but I remember father, mother and brother telling me that we have the largest territory amongst all of the Viscounts in the Coronamars Empire." Riding along Marion, Cedo beamed a proud smile.
"Well, the Savion Marquisate is also vast, the largest in the entire Fjall region."
"Just having one is already bad enough, but to think another Marion character has joined us..."
"Hey, Scarlet! We are not the same! I have, at least, the decency to read the room, and I am not as single-minded as he is! And since when did my name become a character type!?"
"We will be reaching the fortress city of Constibillis! After this, we will officially be entering the Kemet region!" Remal informed the entire party as a massive wall loomed over them. A wide and deep river flowed from east to west along the city's southern edge.
Constibillis was bustling with activities and was a kaleidoscope of colours where people of differing backgrounds weaved themselves amongst the crowd. Exotic items and food imported from the south were on display, impressing the eyes of the hunters who had never been to the south.
"This is impressive! There are so many things I have never seen before! Ah, look! There is a spice shop over there!" Alfred was excitedly taking in everything he saw and committing it to memory. "The smell of those spices is truly magnificent, though they can be quite stinging to the nose..."
"Is that so? I think they smell rather delectable. If I cooked them with some ground meat and placed them atop a loaf of fresh bread, I think it will be incredibly delicious."
"Scarlet, I think the blood you inherited from your mother is the one speaking..." Aria was also enjoying the captivating aroma flowing in the air. A vendor slowly roasting a stack of seasoned meat caught her attention as she unknowingly drooled a little when the smell entered her nose. "Mmm, perhaps I have had something similar in my previous life..."
The rich creamy and spicy stew that was served to the entire caravan was surprisingly delightful as they asked for seconds. Scarlet and Aria, in particular, were so captivated by the taste that they went out at night in order to feast on the food sold by the various vendors of the city. Astrea, eager to learn, asked for permission to enter the kitchen of the inn after the meal and was taking detailed notes on the combination of spices.
"I can understand why Scarlet would enjoy the meal, but why are you enjoying it as well, Aria?" In the next morning, Alfina was rather confused with Aria's weird obsession with the spicy stew that she even had it for breakfast. "I am even wondering if the bean stew has been replaced by this Durban."
"Alfina, the bean stew, in particular, Fasolka, will always have a place in my stomach, but enjoying new dishes such as this Durban is something I have always wanted to do. Besides, you seem to be enjoying it as well."
"I admit it is great, but eating it for breakfast is a little too heavy." Alfina's face distorted a little as she held her stomach. "I am good with this spiced omelette and vegetables for breakfast."
"Mother, are you sure we need all of those dried spices?" Catherine was stupefied with the large array of jars of spices being loaded into the carriage.
"The hallmark of a good cook is the willingness to experiment with various new ingredients. Besides, the chefs were kind enough to give me some suggestions about which spices would work best with certain dishes and how to use them."
"Mother, since when did you become this kind of character? Is there something from the south that is making you like this?"
"What are you talking about, my dear? I have always been like this. This comes from my desire to cook scrumptious meal for the whole crew. After all, there is no better feeling than coming home from a hard day at work and having a delicious meal prepared for you."
"... That is true." Catherine agreed before whispering under her breath. "But there is still something..."
Passing through the southern gate of Constibillis, the caravan finally entered Kemet, where countless unknowns awaited them.