How to Tame That Gentle Hero - Chapter 10.8

Her heart was beating so fiercely it felt like it might jump out. She was truly adorable as she placed her hand on her chest and took a deep breath. Vernas walked with her to where the horse was and helped her mount.

“Then, let’s go to a place that will satisfy you.”

“Yes. I’d like that, Vernas.”

Vernas took the reins and began walking slowly. Speed Millionaire seemed to know that he was his master’s lover, perking up his ears obediently. Finding this endearing, Resena gently scratched the horse’s mane.

“The moon is bright, Resena.”

“Yes. It is.”

The two lovers exchanged conversation about the moon as they walked slowly. While talking with Resena and passing through the block, Vernas suddenly recalled what had happened in the holy land. What he had told her when he was Eldis was about what happened on the first day, but what happened from the second day onward was no less significant.

‘I was prepared for the fact that correcting my tendencies wouldn’t be easy…’

To not lose precious people.

To hold Resena in his arms.

Eldis had to overcome harsh trials.

“Is this the place?”

“Yes, Resena. Let’s go in.”

Vernas opened the blue-painted door, considerately letting her enter first as he shook off his thoughts. But he thought that when he returned to being Eldis, he should visit the ducal residence or sit with her leisurely in a café to finish telling her the story.

He wanted her to see with her own eyes whether he had truly corrected his tendencies.

And he hoped that Resena would not feel guilty toward him.

Although he had been to the holy land, which was called the land of death, he wanted her to know that he had done well.

Like that, he also wanted to let her know that he had reached a higher level.

“It looks delicious. Then I’ll have what Vernas recommends.”

“Yes, Resena. Then… give us one serving each of the ‘Bergnon Grill’ that you recommend here.”

“Yes! Certainly!”

Watching Resena eat with pleasure, Vernas decided to shake off his thoughts and focus only on the date.

That story could wait until he was in Eldis’s form.

So, Resena’s curiosity would naturally be satisfied. When she learns how he did in the holy land… she would feel that she had made a good recommendation for him to visit the holy land.

“….”

Thus, smiling, Vernas picked up his knife and fork.

Today, dining with her was even more enjoyable than usual.

Like tasting very sweet ambrosia.

Very much so.

***

“…Hmm.”

Eldis slowly opened his eyes. Then he got up groggily, stretched, and extended his arms lightly for a stretch.

The white divine beast that had been sleeping nearby was nowhere to be seen. What had happened? After finding and drinking from a water bottle nearby, Eldis rolled up his sleeping bag.

“Ah, Your Highness, the Crown Prince. Welcome.”

He had forgotten to apply ointment to the wounds last night, but seeing the speed at which they were healing, it seemed unnecessary. Although scabs had formed here and there, Matis greeted him with an energetic expression, carrying armfuls of dry branches.

“Did Lirameki allow you to gather branches?”

“Yes. And he allowed this, too.”

Fish were dangling from Matis’s waist. Lirameki beside him was bowing his head and quietly grazing on grass, but Eldis felt a smile naturally forming.

“Thank you, Lirameki.”

“Huhuung.”

Lirameki raised his head, made a sound once, then lowered his head again and began munching on grass. It seemed he was hungry, so it would be best to leave him be. So in the meantime, Eldis piled small branches on the bare ground in front of the cave and rubbed sticks together to start a fire.

Just in case, he searched his backpack and found long wires to hang the fish. And also a wire mesh for a grill. Eldis bent the wire mesh and wires into a good shape with his aura-coated hands and then skewered the fish on the wires.

“That smells good.”

After roughly scraping off the fish scales, removing the innards, and grilling them, the distinctive aroma of grilling fish spread fragrantly. After about 20 minutes, he flipped the fish and grilled the other side. It was pleasing to see the fish cooking well, sizzling as the fish oil dripped onto the dirt floor.

“Your Highness shows no hesitation at all. Have you experienced such situations before?”

Eldis smiled faintly at those words.

“On the battlefield, you learn to cook anything. You might have a lot of knowledge from your travels, but I learned to survive, so these situations are familiar to me.”

“Aah…”

Matis looked at Eldis with eyes of admiration. Used to such looks, Eldis nonchalantly grabbed the hot wire mesh directly with his aura-coated hands. Then he placed the fish on a wooden plate.

“Eat. And stay in the cave as much as possible. You cannot help me until your sword is rediscovered.”

“I understand. Thank you again for rescuing me.”

“Haha. It’s fine. And after we finish eating, I will head to a place where I can break through the trial with Lirameki. Stay in the cave in case some monster appears.”

“I understand! I’ll keep that in mind!”

After finishing the grilled fish, Eldis stamped out the fire with his foot. This was to prevent Matis from cooking something strange over the fire that might attract monsters, or from attempting to grill fish in his absence and getting burned.

“I’ll be back in the evening. Until then, don’t do anything and stay quietly in the cave.”

“Yes, I understand!”

After emphasizing once more, Eldis waited for Lirameki to finish grazing. After several dozen minutes, Lirameki seemed to have satisfied his hunger and raised his head to make a long sound. Then Lirameki looked toward Eldis once, then wagged his tail as if telling him to follow.

So, Eldis followed the white divine beast. The divine beast occasionally looked back, checking that Eldis was still following. Eldis smiled at this kindness.

Eldis smiled at this kindness.

‘But the trial won’t be easy.’

Since it was meant to suppress his inherent tendencies, the difficulty of the trial would be considerable. In the previous day’s trial, he had rescued Matis, so what would happen in the next trial? Eldis followed Lirameki with slight tension.

The place Lirameki headed was a dome-shaped pavilion erected in the center of a wide plain. It felt similar to the facilities of a magic tower where celestial telescopes are placed, so Eldis felt familiarity as he headed inside.

“An altar.”

Although different in form from the one on the third floor, ancient language was written at the bottom. On the round altar, there was a groove carved out, seemingly designed to collect something. Lirameki stood beside it, quietly looking at Eldis.

“You who wish to break through limits beyond trials, drop your blood here.”

Eldis raised his sword and gripped it in his hand. After unconsciously spreading his aura, he slowly cut his left palm. Immediately, blood welled up and dripped onto the altar.

Instantly, white mist enveloped Eldis.

Eldis closed his eyes briefly and then opened them. From his previous experience, he knew that when he emerged from this white mist, the trial would unfold. As his aura recovered, his skin healed naturally, and Eldis shook off the drops of blood from his hand.

“Grooooar!”

A hungry roar rang out, powerful enough to tear his eardrums. Eldis coated his sword with aura and moved forward cautiously. But after walking just a short distance, as the white mist cleared and a plain appeared, Eldis froze upon discovering a familiar figure.

“…Resena?”

Eldis raised his sword and gripped it in his hand. After unconsciously spreading his aura, he slowly cut his left palm. Immediately, blood welled up and dripped onto the altar.

Instantly, white mist enveloped Eldis.