Chapter 26: Vivian’s Dinner

“Phew, with Vivian not around to cause trouble, efficiency has improved quite a bit.”

Nolan looked at the processed game before him, wiped the light sweat from his forehead, and let out a long sigh of relief.

Immediately afterward, he arranged the cut pieces of meat on a platter and carried it in his hands.

Pushing through a few bushes blocking his way, he returned to the clearing of their temporary camp.

The other two in the camp had already been waiting for a long time.

Vivian was sitting obediently in front of the campfire, the orange-red firelight reflecting off her fair profile.

She held a set of silver-white cutlery in her hands, occasionally sticking out the tip of her pink tongue to lick the corners of her mouth.

It seemed that their Vivian was ready to have a massive feast at any moment.

Black was using a row of freshly carved thin branches as roasting skewers, threading on slices of bread he had brought from his own shop.

He was crouching by the campfire, diligently preparing the staple for tonight—toasted bread.

Seeing Nolan approach with a platter of meat, he stood up to meet him, while looking back to say to Vivian, “Vivian, help me watch these bread slices. Don’t let them burn.”

“Of course, you can sneak a bite if you want. That’s a rightful perk of being the cook.”

“How could I sneak a bite! Black, do you have some kind of prejudice against me?” Vivian shouted with a hint of dissatisfaction.

However, she still put down her knife and fork, trotted over eagerly, and took over the toasted bread slices from Black.

Then, living up to expectations, she picked up an undercooked slice of bread, opened her small mouth, and took a bite.

‘I just want to see if this bread is done; it’s definitely not sneaking a bite!’ Vivian skillfully gave herself a self-justifying excuse.

*Chew, chew, chew…*

‘Hmm… this piece isn’t cooked. I’ll just take care of it for you.’

Vivian puffed out her cheeks and took another bite.

Then, she casually tossed the remaining wooden skewer behind her.

Immediately, she set her sights on a new target.

‘This one doesn’t seem cooked either.’

She picked up another undercooked slice of bread and opened her mouth.

*Chew, chew, chew…*

‘It really isn’t cooked. Then I won’t be polite.’

Vivian feasted on their staple food for the night without a shred of guilt.

On the other side…

Black took the meat from Nolan and divided it into two parts according to the cuts.

He rubbed salt and some simple spices onto the tender parts.

Then he threaded them into skewers and placed them by the fire, making roasted meat skewers.

The tougher parts were thrown directly into a large pot; they would add a hint of meaty aroma to the soup tonight.

After finishing the soup in the large pot, Black turned around to flip the meat skewers to prevent them from burning.

Immediately following that, he ran back to the large pot to stir the soup vigorously, preventing the ingredients from sticking to the bottom.

From time to time, he would toss new ingredients into the pot, such as diced carrots, chopped onions, and the like.

He was as busy as a spinning top, his feet hardly touching the ground.

Seeing this, Nolan scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

But he really couldn’t help with these things. Forcing himself to help would only get in Black’s way.

He knew nothing about cooking, so he was truly powerless…

Shortly after…

He sat down beside Vivian. The *crackle* of the firewood surrounded his ears.

He enjoyed a moment of leisure.

The swaying firelight was reflected in Nolan’s blue eyes as he sat there, lost in thought.

*Smack, smack…*

A sharp smacking sound entered his ears from beside him.

Nolan suddenly turned his head to look at Vivian.

Vivian, whose cheeks were puffed out like a hamster’s, also happened to turn her head at that moment, and their eyes met.

*Gulp.*

Vivian swallowed the last bite of bread and asked with wide, puzzled eyes, “Do you want to eat? I’m not giving you any; it’s not even cooked yet!”

She hurriedly moved the remaining bread slices a bit further away from Nolan, her gaze somewhat guarded.

‘This girl is even guarding her food!’ Nolan complained silently in his heart.

‘If I don’t discipline her, she’ll be completely out of control later!’

Nolan immediately reached out his “evil” hands and unceremoniously pinched Vivian’s soft cheek meat.

He pulled them hard toward both sides, causing the girl to pout her lips and mutter in a low voice.

“What are you doing…”

“Still eating? You’ve already eaten more than half. Aren’t you satisfied yet?” Nolan rebuked her crossly.

“I…”

Vivian seemed to want to argue, but then she saw the bread slices that were missing more than half.

She guiltily swallowed her stubborn words, her face carrying a hint of grievance.

“It’s fine, Nolan,” the busy Black called out, interrupting the pair’s couple-like antics.

“That batch of toasted bread was originally prepared specifically for Vivian to sneak bites of.”

“In fact, I’ve toasted another batch over here.”

As he spoke, Black held up a handful of freshly toasted bread slices and waved them at Nolan.

“Vivian, you should stop for now. My meal prep here is almost finished.”

“I hope you can endure for a little longer. After all, dinner tastes better when we eat together, doesn’t it?”

Black’s tone was flat, as if he had long since anticipated Vivian’s behavior.

—

*Thud!*

Vivian carried a giant green stone and slammed it heavily onto the clearing of the camp, with the flatter side facing up.

Then she raised her small pink fists and gave it two *thud, thud* punches, burying it deep into the soil.

After confirming that the green stone was firmly fixed to the ground and no longer wobbled…

Vivian clapped her hands in satisfaction and shouted toward the campfire, “It’s time to eat! You two, hurry up!”

A few seconds later…

Nolan and Black walked over, one carrying a large black pot and the other carrying two platters.

They used the large green stone as a dining table, placing their dinner for tonight on its surface.

Then they spread the skin of the Long-horned Roe that Nolan had hunted earlier onto the ground.

The three of them sat around the green stone table, cross-legged on the fur.

After going through much hardship, Vivian’s demon-hunting team finally began their dinner.

The staple food was toasted bread slices with slightly curled edges, toasted just right, with a faint aroma of firewood.

The meat was roasted Long-horned Roe tenderloin skewers, the outer skin charred and crispy, glistening with oil.

The surface of the meat skewers was also sprinkled with a layer of black pepper and cloves, sending an inviting aroma wafting toward them.

In the center of the table stood a large pot of vegetable and meat soup, which was currently *bubbling* with fine bubbles.

The broth was milky white, with soft carrot and potato chunks rolling inside.

Occasionally, a few thick pieces of meat would playfully pop their heads up.

“I’m digging in!”

Vivian licked her lips, her eyes shining, and then she let out a loud shout.

Ignoring the other two, she picked up a wooden spoon and scooped a large piece of meat from the pot into her platter.

Impatience got the best of her as she used a silver carving knife to cut the meat.

A large plume of rising steam emerged from the meat, slightly obscuring Vivian’s face, which was overflowing with happiness.

She speared the largest piece, completely disregarding whether the lingering heat would burn her mouth, and shoved it into her small mouth.

“Mmm~ delicious!”

Vivian couldn’t come up with any literary or flowery words; she just knew how to shout that it was delicious.

As she spoke, she gave Black a thumbs-up in praise.

“I am honored, Miss Vivian,” Black returned the gesture like a nobleman.

Vivian then finished the large piece of meat on her platter like a whirlwind.

Immediately after, she placed two slices of toasted bread on her platter.

She then took a meat skewer and pushed the roasted meat chunks off onto the bread slices.

Finally, she sandwiched the two bread slices together.

A roasted meat sandwich was made!

Vivian took a gentle bite of the sandwich.

The rich fats from the roasted meat instantly burst out, yet quickly soaked into the bread slices.

In this way, the greasiness of the roasted meat was mitigated, while adding a touch of smooth texture to the bread.

The bread and the roasted meat seemed perfectly natural together, colliding to create an indescribably wonderful flavor.

“This is even better!”

Vivian narrowed her eyes happily, leisurely enjoying the sumptuous dinner of the day.