Summary of the last chapter in three lines
Hungry.
The meals are hot.
Souta awakes in the early morning according to his biological clock, though the forest is still as dark as ever, so there's no way to know the actual time.
While casting a sideway glance to Ed and Arezel occasionally, Souta begins preparing breakfast.
He cuts the vegetables and meat on the chopping board and puts the strong-tasting vegetables in the water bowl.
After he finishes cutting the ingredients, he puts the vegetables into the pot together with the broth and then closes it with the lid.
Waiting for the vegetables to get cooked, Souta is taking care of his iron sword.
After a while, Ed wakes up, but when he sees that Arezel still sleeping, he doesn’t make any sound and just greets Souta with his head gesture.
Souta also doesn’t make any sound and returns the greeting.
Once the vegetables turn soft, Souta puts the meat into the pot. Because Souta tries to make pork miso soup, the meat he uses is boar’s meat.
When the heat reaches inside the meat, Souta adds seasoning that tastes like miso.
The smell of the pork miso soup wafts around. Reacting to the scent, Arezel wakes up.
Arezel raises her body while yawning.
「Good morning, there is still some times until the breakfast is done, you can go back to sleep.」
「It’s normal for me to eat this for breakfast, but I don’t know if Arezel able to eat it or not.」
Souta takes the lid off the pot and shows the contents.
Along with a large amount of steam, the fragrance of the pork miso soup is released at once.
Arezel leans out and tries to peek inside, but Souta closes the lid without giving her a chance to.
Apart from Ed’s drinking water, Souta also puts water in a smaller bucket and puts a towel near it.
「Thank you. I feel like I'm only receiving without giving anything back. My debt will only keep increasing …」
She says the latter part in a whisper so Souta's unable to hear it.
When Arezel finishes washing her face, Ed already starts eating.
「No, it’s okay, It’s already done.」
Arezel’s shoulder drop because she feels useless to her benefactor.
「Ah, after you finish eating, it will be great if you can clean up the dishes. Cleaning them with a full stomach is troublesome.」
Arezel swiftly raises her head and strikes her chest with her fist.
「Reliable, aren’t you?」
Because there are also precision instruments for alchemy, letting Arezel do it means she’s not just doing it as simple chores, but actually has skills for it.
「It’s just cooked, let’s eat. Here, here's yours.」
He also takes out the freshly baked bread and jam and hands it over to Arezel along with the soup.
Although he isn't used to this kind of food combination as breakfast in Japan, he surprisingly likes it.
Arezel carries the first bite slowly to her mouth.
「Do you have cat tongue by any chance? This one should be far hotter than yesterday’s dinner … Here, drink this water.」
She keeps a bit of water in her mouth to reduce the feeling of numbness on her tongue.
Arezel sticks out her tongue and fans it with her hand.
「It’s in the pot until a little while ago, you should cool it a bit before continue eating it.」
After Souta saying that, Arezel puts down the bowl and eats the bread.
「It’s very soft and delicious, fluffy warm food. That bag is amazing.」
「Yes!」
「Yeah, it’s really delicious! I wonder if it will be more delicious with the bread? 」
Arezel cuts off the bread she has in her hand and soaks it in the pork soup, then eats it.
「That’s the case, I used to make it often at home. The ingredients and seasoning I use this time is different though.」
Although depressed, Arezel doesn’t stop eating.
「I’ve been doing this so long that without me noticing, it already becomes a natural thing for me. Arezel is still young, so just keep practicing.」
It takes hundreds of years to reach Carena’s level of development.
After the second helping of the bread, they finally satisfy their hunger.
Arezel is in charge of the washing just as she promised.
When she finishes washing the dishes, they put away the dishes and prepare to continue the journey.
「Yes! I want to get out of the forest today. I’m not sure, but we're probably not that far anymore」
「I-I know right. Somehow before that …」
Sweat can be seen dripping from her forehead.
After confirming the luggage, Arezel gets on first. Souta gets in later, as he needs to put water on the bonfire and cover it with soil to extinguish the fire.
「We’re going.」
Ed neighs once to reply to Souta’s command and starts moving.
Although the atmosphere in the forest remains as it is, the ride goes smoothly without anything happening.
「Ah, Souta-san, it’s the exit! We’re finally out! 」
The two and one horse can finally leave the forest. They’re able to leave before noon.
Grassland is spread out right after the exit of the forest. A valley can be seen in the distance.
「Yes, there will be a checkpoint beyond the valley, as we passed the forest already, going there should be a smooth ride.」
「Hahh, that checkpoint is the problem …」
「It will be fine! I’m here and there are also the letters, so it will be okay! 」
Arezel says so strongly, but Souta only stares at the mountain range in the distance, feeling anxious.
t/n: i thank you guys for visiting and reading the novel on this place instead of *insert other site name here*, we reach more views than last month despite i skip some release,
it’s almost my birthday too, but it doesn’t really matter sooo…