After a while, lured by the enticing aroma, Eugenia and the Nine-Tailed Fox unconsciously drew closer. I sampled some fruit, sorted them by their sweetness and tartness, and began experimenting with pairing them with sauces, trying to create a refreshing new flavor.
After testing a few combinations, I settled on the final recipe. The meat was nearly done—I'd sliced it thin for roasting, though I still had no idea where the Blueflame Warden had found such a massive cut.
After a short while, I began brushing the sauce onto the meat and continued roasting it over a huge grill, keeping it above the flames. The sizzling sounds grew louder, and a richer aroma began to fill the air.
Finally, it was time to eat. Once again, I witnessed the terrifying way these supernatural beasts devoured their food. In no time at all, everything was gone—even the fruit peels ended up in their stomachs.
"Are you really not going to eat, Ethan?"
The Blueflame Warden asked, and I shook my head, letting out a sigh.
"No, you go ahead. I'm not hungry."
I genuinely felt no hunger. Food only has meaning when you actually feel hungry—otherwise, tasting it is just for the flavor, and it loses its true value.
"Ethan, are you really planning to find the master of the Illusory Realm that Mother Goddess Nuwa mentioned?"
Eugenia immediately asked. I smiled and nodded, then let out a laugh.
"Go on, give it a try. Nothing bad will happen anyway. Just give me a lift—take me to the Merfolk Tribe’s territory."
As I spoke, Eugenia looked at me with a helpless expression.
"What a waste of energy, Ethan. I’ll take you, but just don’t drag me along when you go looking for trouble."
"There’s plenty of good food along the way—stuff you’ve probably never tasted before."
For a moment, the three supernatural beasts stared at me, dumbfounded. I couldn’t help but laugh.
"Come with me. I’ll make you something delicious along the way."
I only asked for their help because I had no other choice. If I searched alone, who knows when I’d ever find the Realm Keeper. With more hands, I had a better shot—I wanted to find them fast.
I had no choice but to ask for their help. If I searched alone, who knows how long it would take to find the Realm Keeper. With more people, I’d have a better chance—I wanted to find them as soon as possible.
"Ethan, you actually believe that? Fine, I’ll help you—just this once."
Eugenia spoke as he stood up, licking the sauce from his lips. The Nine-Tailed Fox and the Blueflame Warden agreed as well.