“Uh, umm… Yukihisa?”
“Hmm? What?”
I stop in between bites and look up at Arleaf and her parents.
“Are you okay… eating that much? Please don’t force yourself.”
Arleaf’s mom comes to her senses and brings me countless bottles of antidotes from the shop.
“Oh, I’m fine. In fact, I can’t get enough of this incredible flavor. Heck, I feel stronger than ever before.”
Let me check my status.
Whoa… that’s crazy!
All my stats have gone up, along with my health and mana regeneration. I even earn experience and skills quicker too.
Oh, and my poison attacks do more damage… I can’t believe how many bonuses I’m getting.
Just out of curiosity, I open up the menu and see what kind of poisons I can create.
Toxin of Arleaf’s Poison Cooking
The text is flickering a little, but I got a new option.
Kinda cruel for a name.
But it seems quite powerful, so I’d better not mess with it.
I finished my plate while checking my status.
“Thanks for the meal.”
Mm. My body feels light and nimble.
The fatigue that had built up seems to have disappeared as well.
I feel so ready to go hunt in the swamp right now.
“Let me take a look at you, alright?”
Arleaf’s mom holds her hand to my forehead.
I was told this afterwards, but apparently her cla.s.s is Physician.
“Clean bill of health for you. No adverse effects or anything at all.”
“C-Cohgray knows how to use storage magic. I bet he was just pretendin’ he was eatin’ it.”
“Dear? Have you forgotten that our daughter’s cooking has Resist? He would be quite the monster if he were able to do that.”
Resist, huh? I didn’t know that was a thing.
Does that mean I can’t store it? But what’s the reasoning behind it?
“Oh, uhh, that reminds me…”
Arleaf’s dad looks like he’s in deep thought as folds his arms together, muttering.
“It’s just some rumor I’ve heard from other adventurers, but they say you bathe in the swamp, Cohgray… I just laughed it off, but…”
Gah?!
Don’t tell me I was being watched? It’s so unrealistic, it could be pa.s.sed off as a joke. But now it might seem credible after all.
Maybe I can brush it off with one of the Black Company Secret Techniques, Poker Face?
“You were floating face up when I found you too. Could it be…”
Arleaf follows up with a snipe, dealing critical damage!
What should I do?! How do I brush them off now?
Does magic solve everything? Help me, Veno!
‘… blub blub blub.’
d.a.m.n it! You useless dragon! I bet you’re just blowing bubbles right now, aren’t you?!
I have no choice! Time to get serious!
“Uh, yeah… the truth is that I’m a Poison-Wielder, an uncommon specialty cla.s.s. Not only does poison not hurt me, it even makes me stronger. And I’m here in this village because of the proximity to the swamp. So that’s why I was able to eat all of that…”
That was a little harsh, but it’s the truth.
I’m sure it’s okay telling them.
In fact, they might suspect me more if I were to hide it from them.
And since Bloodflower is a disease from a long time ago, they won’t be able to blame me for it either!
“What’d you just say?!”
“That’s… but… hmm…”
Arleaf’s dad sinks into deeper thought.
At least he understood why I was able to eat Arleaf’s cooking.
“I’m an expert with poison, so I know what’s safe and what’s not for human consumption. That’s also why that acquaintance of mine was so willing to train me.”
Finally, the father pats his daughter on the shoulder.
“Arleaf, this may just be fate. Cohgray… I’m sure he will accept all of you. Don’t let this slip by.”
“What are you saying?”
Wasn’t he fine with his daughter marrying late?
“Cohgray. Don’t be a stranger anymore. From now on, call me your father-in-law.”
Well, it’s refreshing that he’s changed his att.i.tude about me.
But who was it that threatened me with poison again?
“I am very grateful, but Arleaf herself has not said agreed to this, so I’m afraid that I cannot accept your offer.”
We’ve already agreed to have Arleaf only a.s.sist me, not to mention that she’s only helping me while I’m here.
“Yukihisa… umm, my father has already given you his blessing… so please treat me well from now on.”
No, wait, time out. Sure, your father has given me permission, but this ain’t quite right.
Plus, the one they call Cohgray of the Swamps just finished a plate of Arleaf’s Poison Cooking… they’ll start calling me Cohgray, the Poison-Eater.
“Oh, who’da guessed?! Haha! I didn’t think there’d be anyone in this world to have such a talent to not only eat, but to finish all of Arleaf’s cooking! Ah-haha!”
I join them for a meal again; this time lunch. Arleaf’s mom is cooking for us all.
Yeah, I feel fine. I can eat.
In the midst of lunch, Arleaf’s father takes out a bottle of liquor from somewhere and starts knocking back drink after drink.
He sure is happy.
Why would he—a man who dotes on his daughter so much, he’s willing to chase away all his likely sons-in-law—be so happy to have found a potential groom for his daughter?
I don’t think I’ll ever understand how he thinks.
“Aren’t you being a little too honest, dear?”
“No way I can stop! We’ve found someone to accept Arleaf completely! She’ll no longer be accused of poisoning people anymore. She didn’t even have to sacrifice anything either. How can I not be happy?!”
He was probably against marrying his daughter off to protect her, but maybe also to protect her husband.
So that she doesn’t come to any harm with her ability of Poison Cooking…
“One of these days, Father, I shall mix my cooking into yours.”
“If you think yer up to it, bring it on! Haha!”
Don’t egg your daughter on.
The murderous rage hiding behind that smile of Arleaf’s is terrifying.
“Mu.”
‘Unbelievable… the flavor was revolting. To be able to knock out a dragon… from time to time, humans are truly capable of great feats.’
Muu began to regain consciousness shortly afterwards and Veno did so only slightly sooner.
Maybe he recovered quickly since he’s a Poison Dragon after all.
‘Just tasting it was enough. If I had eaten it, who knows what would have happened.’
Veno guessed what had happened while he was knocked out.
‘I would never recommend thee to let others know thy intent, but it could have gone worse, especially considering the bonuses thou had gained from the food.’
Well…
If I ever need to go slay monsters, I could always go and have some of Arleaf’s cooking first. It’ll buff my abilities and give me a bonus to leveling up my skills too.
No reason not to use it right up ‘til the enemy comes knocking at the door.
I could also get Arleaf to pack me a bento. It’d be more effective than any half-a.s.sed potion.
Well, I can gloss the whole uncommon Poison-Wielder thing over.
I didn’t say anything about having a dragon inside my mind. And it doesn’t really have anything to do with Veno anyway.
“Good grief… how shameful, drinking before your meal even started. Dinner’s ready.”
Arleaf’s mother begins to bring course after course out.
Wow… there’s a soup with a bunch of different ingredients and something that resembles a pizza.
It smells absolutely delicious.
“Then, let us pray first. Oh, you don’t need to mind us, Mr. Cohgray.”
“No, please, go ahead.”
Arleaf’s family gets seated, rests their elbows on the dining table, and clasps their hand together.
“The Holy Dragon who slumbers in our world, we are able to join together here today for a meal at your mercy. We vow to do good with your gift, which we are about to receive.”
Arleaf’s whole family mutters the same words and pray together.
They’re the type to pray before every meal, eh?
I’m not much of a religious man and I don’t understand much. But I know that prayer important to them religious types, so I remain silent for them.
And I’m guessing that it’s good that they’re praying to some holy dragon, since it’d have nothing to do with the country that’s after Veno’s head.
‘Aye, indeed. Followers of the Teachings of the Sacred Yggdrasil would dedicate their prayers to something like “Mother Nature, our tree” or something like that.’
“Muu muu muu…”
Muu plays along and mutters something too.
You’re a sly dog, aren’t you? Acting all cute.
“Now then, let’s dig in. Mr. Cohgray, you go ahead as well.”
“Hahaha. From now on, Cohgray’s got Arleaf’s cooking to look forward to. Don’t worry about it.”
“Father, if you don’t cut that out, I will be angry at you.”
“That’s right. It’s a big day for Arleaf, so hold back a little, won’t you?”
“Ah-haha! I can’t help myself!”
I ignore Arleaf’s father being all jolly and start eating.
Mm. This is indeed really delicious.
Considering I’ve been eating tough steaks at the tavern and as well as my own cooking, this is miles better.
It seems like this isn’t the cheap stuff either.
Must be because I’m over for lunch.
Oh, yeah.
I could also give them some steak that’s been marinated in Mollifying Poison.
I may have used poison, but it tastes great after all. As long as I explain it clearly to them, it should be alright.
“Oh, I had almost forgotten. Sorry for interrupting the conversation, but Arleaf, you’re going to have to explain to Mr. Cohgray what you can do.”
Having been instructed by her mom, Arleaf goes all embarra.s.sed and nods without making eye contact.
“Umm, right. Before I was a Chemist, I had been a unique first job. I’ve changed back to that job to aid you as a party member.”
“Oh? You were specced into a weird cla.s.s like I was, Arleaf?”
“It would be more accurately described as unique to our lineage.”
“That’s right. We have quite the weird clan! We’ve even got relatives who are clergymen, y’know?”
Arleaf’s father, that drunkard, says boastfully.
“This part is the one that is a little different. I’ve changed into a more magic-focused cla.s.s called D-Psy Earth. I am level 13 with my D-Psy Earth and level 18 for my Chemist. Hopefully, I will be useful to you in battle.”
Hmm, I see… seems like Arleaf not only knows Poison Cooking but has foundations in magic as well.
That initial D doesn’t stand for anything weird, like “Deadly,” does it?
She does know Poison Cooking after all.
“And since I’ve learned Magic Sense before I was a Chemist, I am able to attack and heal with magic. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be of any use to you…”
“And that D…?”
“…”
Ah, Arleaf looked away.
“I… I was born with a skill called ‘Death-Beckoning Cooking’…”
previously: // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // /ch026/ /next/
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