The giant buffalo hunt was over.
Rest and the soldiers had taken down a total of fifteen giant buffalo.
If each one weighed three thousand kilograms and a third was edible, that meant they had obtained fifteen tons of meat.
"This feels like we may have taken too many..."
"Well, isn't that fine? If we're going to be feeding over a thousand people, I don't think this is nearly enough."
"Well, I suppose that's true..."
At Isis's words, Rest nodded in agreement.
Even assuming a steak serving is three hundred grams, if divided among a thousand soldiers, it would only come to about fifty servings.
He realized anew just how much of a money pit an army could be.
Right now, during wartime, it wasn't a waste, but in peaceful times, feeding soldiers who didn't even fight must have cost a considerable budget.
(But even so, if they reduced the military, it would play right into the hands of the enemy nation... Those who govern the country must have a really tough time.)
"Well done. That was a splendid display of ability."
Upon seeing that the giant buffalo had been taken care of, the advance party commander, Vareiya Cattleya, approached.
"I thought even five would be enough, but I never expected you could hunt this many. Looks like we won't have to worry about food supplies now."
"Ugh..."
Vareiya gave Rest a firm slap on the shoulder.
"As expected of the man my sister chose... I've come to see you in a new light, Count Clover."
"Th-thank you..."
"Keep up the good work... If there's anything lacking, I'll point it out as we go."
Vareiya removed his hand from Rest's shoulder and ordered the soldiers to butcher the giant buffalo.
The shoulder he’d grabbed was throbbing with a stinging pain. Rest hadn't checked, but he was certain there were handprints forming beneath his clothes.
"I wonder if it's my imagination... but it feels like Captain Cattleya is hoping you'll make a mistake."
"Wh-what a coincidence... I thought I heard the same thing."
Rest expressed his deep, deep agreement with Isis's mutterings.
If Rest made any kind of blunder, it would become ammunition to oppose his marriage to his sister, Yuri.
Vareiya probably didn't actually want the expedition itself to fail, but he would certainly be delighted if Rest personally failed.
"I can't afford to show any openings... Let me send you a cheer. Do your best."
"Don't just cheer me on, give me a hand..."
"There's no way someone like me can interfere with a marquis's marriage arrangement, is there? I'm expecting good things from you too, you know."
Isis placed a hand on Rest's shoulder.
Unlike when Vareiya had grabbed him, it was a warm sensation.
The pain was beginning to fade... It seemed she had cast healing magic on him.
"Well, let's get to the main event and eat the giant buffalo. I'll grill a steak for you myself."
Butchering the giant buffalo into meat cuts would take a little while.
Rest and the others planned to eat some meat and rest in the meantime.
"Lubeth, how about joining us?"
"...No, I'll eat over here."
Rest had invited Lubeth, who was nearby, but after giving Isis a quick glance, he quickly scurried away.
Having no choice, Rest took a block of the meat the soldiers had cut and moved with Isis to a spot where they wouldn't be in the way.
"Yeah, it's nicely marbled. Looks delicious. Honestly, just salt and pepper would be more than enough."
"Isis, can you cook?"
"As part of a noble young lady's education, I know a bit. I'm especially good with meat dishes."
Isis used magic to start a fire and heated the sliced meat in a pan.
Once the surface was seared, she flipped it over, cooked the other side, and seasoned it with salt and pepper with practiced ease.
"Oooh..."
An impressed exclamation slipped from Rest's lips.
The appetizing, savory smell was irresistible. The sound of the meat sizzling made his throat bob as he swallowed.
"I've had giant buffalo meat before, but... for some reason, this looks way more delicious than usual."
"That's because it's fresh. It's different from the preserved stuff... Is medium rare okay with you?"
"I-I'll leave it to you..."
Rest's stomach growled, loudly protesting its emptiness.
The soldiers nearby were all staring, and the sound of them swallowing could be heard from all around.
"Ugh, that looks good..."
"Damn it, I wanna eat too! Hurry up!"
"Let's just get this over with! I'm starving!"
The soldiers quickened their pace, trying to finish the work as quickly as possible.
As it turned out, Isis cooking the steak seemed to have actually sped up their work.
"Here, it's done. Enjoy."
Before long, the steak was placed in front of Rest.
A slab of meat sat on the plate. No garnish, no sauce—just salt and pepper for seasoning.
Yet... for some reason, the slab of meat coated in fat looked like gold.
"H-Here goes...!"
Driven by a strange sense of urgency, Rest brought the meat to his mouth.
As he bit down, the crisp, snapping sound of tearing meat fibers echoed inside his mouth.
"Mmmmmmm!"
It was delicious.
The thick, juicy steak was unbelievably good.
The wild, primal texture seemed to reflect the very life force of the giant buffalo that had been bounding around just moments before.
"I'm glad you liked it... Do you think I'd make a good wife?"
"Absolutely! No question about it!"
"That's good to hear... It really is."
Rest devoured the meat with abandon, even going back for seconds.
Isis watched Rest's engrossed state with a meaningful look... but completely oblivious to the meaning behind that gaze, Rest simply concentrated all his senses on devouring the meat.
-------- I've posted a new story.
Only Hard Work Prevails in the Dungeon ~My Classmates Lost Their Cheats, But That Doesn't Concern a Hard Worker Like Me~ No cheats. It's a story about clearing a dungeon through hard work alone.
I hope you'll give this one a read too!