Chapter 68: The Foodies

Chapter 68: The Foodies

Two days later, the feeling of bloating finally began to fade gradually, but the Mana Web did not expand. Only the nodes within the Mana Web increased a lot, making the entire web appear even finer. By this time, Bran had already moved far away from the Beehive and neared the Flying Catkin Swamp. He could feel the wind against his face carried moisture.

Bran found some traces of human activity. Judging by the footprints, they were not old, five people in number, with two to three White Wolves. A snow-white eagle feather indicated they had at least one Snow Falcon companion. Having White Wolf companions was common in the Northlands, but a Snow Falcon was not something ordinary children could possess.

There were no signs of large-scale group activity, and no adults were accompanying them. They were likely youths preparing to complete their Trial as well. But what was this situation? In Bran’s impression, Northlander children’s pursuit of power should drive them straight to the Wasteland. He himself wandered the Plains for special reasons, seeming not in a hurry to gain power, but the essence of this exploration process was still about gaining and enhancing power.

…

In the evening, a huge wild boar charged toward Bran in a panic. Without hesitation, Bran flung his Short Blade into its eye socket. The massive beast fell right at his feet. A Snow Falcon swooped down from the sky and stood on its body, declaring ownership. From a distance, came the sounds of snow wolves running over and the shouting of children.

Bran ignored the Snow Falcon, stepped forward, planted his foot on the boar’s head, and pulled out his Short Blade. The scent of blood on Bran made the falcon wary. It shrieked and shifted toward the boar’s rear.

Bran paid it no mind. Meat presented before him was naturally not to be passed up. He habitually began cutting along the boar’s spine. This action displeased the Snow Falcon. It let out a louder cry and assumed an attacking stance. Then it was distracted by the hiss from the Black Cat Huahua. The Black Cat Huahua began circling the Snow Falcon unhurriedly, taunting the large bird. Bran took the chance to skillfully strip two strips of meat from the spine.

The youths tracking the prey finally caught up at this moment. A girl quickly ran to the boar’s head and let out an indignant cry: “My pig’s eye!”

A boy followed closely behind, saying dejectedly: “My meat.”

Bran found it amusing. Having already started to turn and leave, he stopped again and looked back carefully at these kids. Four girls, one boy, their eyes now only on the fallen prey. The three White Wolves were more reliable, vigilantly guarding them.

Seeing the youths look as if they hadn’t eaten for days, Bran chuckled and shook his head. Originally planning to leave, he turned back instead.

Bran liked foodies, especially when a group of them gathered. There was always endless fun and unexpected things happening.

…

This was a well-prepared team. Only when the boy flipped the shield on his back over did Bran realize how mistaken he was—it was an excellent large pot. Watching the youths transform their various carried items into all sorts of cooking utensils, Bran felt ashamed of his ignorance.

Perhaps because Bran blinded one of the pig’s eyes, or because Bran presumptuously took the two strips of meat from the spine first, these youths had no intention of acknowledging Bran. Still, Bran sat excitedly by the side, watching them busily work. Every now and then, Bran took a bite of the raw meat hanging on his shoulder. With each bite, he could see a particular boy and girl swallow their saliva. Even as they pretended not to notice, Bran could see their uncontrollable side glances, constantly fixed on the two strips of meat he had taken.

Bran simply couldn’t bear the ravenous look of these two foodies any longer. He tossed one strip of meat from his shoulder toward the boy’s feet. At this moment, the boy fully displayed the prowess of a master who sees and hears everything. He spun around, leaped up, and caught the meat mid-air. Then Bran saw the boy and girl simultaneously breathe a sigh of relief.

Because they accepted Bran’s goodwill, the boy initiated conversation with Bran. Bran responded with occasional grunts and noises, but that didn’t dampen the boy’s excitement over the fresh meat. He began describing 108 ways to prepare this meat.

After the conversation started, the three White Wolves showed some sign of relaxation due to Bran’s presence. This quickly drew their owners’ attention. The White Wolves’ behavior indicated that the boy and the lynx currently sharing the raw meat gave the White Wolves a great sense of security. It was a strange feeling. Neither the lynx nor the boy showed extraordinary power. Even though this boy had just killed the boar first, they merely thought he was lucky and got an easy chance.

Feeling someone sizing him up, Bran grinned at them, showing his two big front teeth, and earned a pair of eye rolls in return. Bran was now somewhat puzzled. He seemed to have seen three of the girls before. So Bran lowered his head and began carefully recalling all the people who had passed by him over the years, whether he had paid attention or not.

…

The rich aroma of cooked meat and an invitation interrupted Bran’s thoughts. Bran instinctively raised his hand to indicate he still had meat, only to realize he and Huahua had unknowingly finished it all. Recently, Bran and Huahua’s appetites had been growing larger and larger, but they basically stayed the same size without gaining weight.

Coming to his senses, Bran shook his head and declined the invitation. He lowered his head, preparing to continue his recollection. He felt he was almost remembering, within reach, just needing a spark. Then, he heard someone call his name, “Idiot, Bran?”

“Huh?” Bran lifted his head.

“It really is you. The idiot from the castle! I thought you looked familiar just now.” A girl jumped over as if discovering a new continent.

“Aren’t you an idiot? How did you get out by yourself?”

A spark flashed in Bran’s mind. He remembered. They were from his maternal clan, the Klo Family. He had seen them in the castle a few years ago. Back then, these three brats not yet grown surrounded him, discussing whether an idiot was better roasted or eaten raw. He shifted his position, making them turn around, and they remained oblivious as their parents gradually approached. Then, the three unlucky kids got a good beating.

It seemed the lessons from their elders back then didn’t make them learn their lesson. This disappointed Bran a little; they were hit too lightly…

His maternal clan guarded the Western Territory of the Northlands, facing the Northlands’ long-time enemy, the true Alien Races—the Demon Clan. In the past, the Northlanders were just unlucky, positioned right between them and the Kingdom. Years of slaughter eventually turned into today’s state of endless, mortal enmity. The towering, perpetually snow-capped mountains in the western Northlands blocked the possibility of large-scale crossings by the Demon Clan army. The Northlanders held two mountain passes, easily blocking the Demon Clan’s advance. Over nearly a thousand years of conflict, they gradually built tall, thick walls. By the time the walls were completed, the Demon Clan had lost hope of entering the Northlands. With no worries behind them, the Northlanders turned from defense to offense, conducting small-scale raids from time to time. With the Northlanders’ combat effectiveness, small-scale harassment would be any enemy’s nightmare. So, on the other side of the passes, a fairly vast no-man’s-land formed.

Now, while recalling information about his maternal clan, Bran turned his head toward the other boy and girl pair, signaling for an introduction. Bran still remembered the names of these three cousins: Dia, Lia, and Sia. They were his two uncles’ children. Then he learned the other pair were twin siblings, Sanpu and Sanna, who had been following them, eating their way along.

“What are you doing all the way out here?” Bran interrupted his three cousins’ affectionate chatter of “idiot” this and “idiot” that.

“We heard the mushrooms in the Flying Catkin Swamp are delicious. Also, many birds and beasts eat mushrooms year-round, so their meat has a natural fragrance. We came to try it.”

Bran retorted, “What about your Trial?”

“It’s right along the way.”

Bran was speechless. A very good and powerful reason.

“Idiot, why are you here too?”

“I’m also just along the way.” Bran ground his teeth…