Chapter 14: It Smells So Good!

Hm?

You don’t insult me, just bring me food?

There’s such a thing?

If that’s the case, it doesn’t seem so bad… wait, no!

“What do you want?”

At that moment, Valentina instinctively felt something was off, her expression stern as she fixed her gaze on Herbert, searching his face for any sign of deception.

She had no clear reason, but something just felt wrong.

There’s a problem… there’s definitely a problem!

This guy is smiling so brightly—he’s up to no good!

Ah, young mortal.

You won’t fool me!

Thinking this, Valentina snorted coldly, lifting her head haughtily: “Boy, I don’t know what trick you’re playing, but you won’t deceive the Great Flame Demon.”

“Ha, save your breath. Don’t think a few skewers of grilled meat can buy me over!”

“Nothing in this world can make the Great Dragon bow!”

“Not even the gods!”

Valentina’s words rang with supreme arrogance, embodying the pride and defiance of the Epic Dragon.

Only, slightly ruining the atmosphere, she hadn’t wiped the grease from the corner of her mouth as she spoke.

Meanwhile, her long fingers, coated in seasoning and oil, kept unconsciously fumbling inside the box…

And found nothing.

“What!?”

Realizing what had happened, the Dragon Lady’s expression twisted. In an instant, she snatched up the wooden box, only to see a few scattered scraps left inside.

It’s gone!

How could it be eaten so fast!?

In an instant, overwhelming regret surged through her heart, bringing a crushing pain that made her feel suffocated.

This isn’t right!

There was so much just a moment ago…

Where did the meat go?

Who ate it!?

As Valentina stared in despair, lips trembling in silent anguish, Herbert’s mouth curled slightly.

Smiles don’t vanish—they just move to my face.

He didn’t respond to her earlier outburst, instead asking with concern: “Miss Valentina, what happened? Are you still hungry?”

Valentina: “...Cough, cough!”

Asking such useless nonsense.

What do you think?

Of course it’s not enough!

Facts were facts, circumstances were circumstances—her proud pride prevented her from retracting her earlier words.

So even though her heart was bleeding, she had no choice but to see it through, swallowing every tear and drop of blood.

She turned her head away, voice trembling, weakly saying:

“No, I’m… not hungry!”

Yes.

I’m not hungry. Not at all.

Valentina kept chanting to herself—not hungry not hungry not hungry not hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry!

I’m so hungry!

Before, when she ate nothing, she didn’t dwell on the sensation of swallowing food.

During her long imprisonment, she’d grown accustomed to hunger, even forgotten it entirely.

As a mighty dragon with Legendary Peak power, just one step away from Epic status, she no longer needed mortal food to survive—she could live solely on magic power.

But “able to survive” and “living comfortably” were vastly different!

She simply couldn’t abandon her appetite.

Grrr—

Her stomach let out a mournful growl, relentlessly reminding her of its hunger.

Grr.

Herbert watched Valentina’s neck, clearly catching the motion of her swallowing saliva, and smiled inwardly.

Good.

Exactly as expected.

Seeing the moment ripe, Herbert shook his head with feigned regret: “Oh, so you’re not hungry after all? Then I must have misunderstood.”

“I thought you’d been starving for years—this one portion wouldn’t be enough—so I prepared another.”

He murmured, pulling out a second wooden box from behind him and placing it before her… just out of reach.

???

Valentina’s expression twisted in shock as she whirled around—there, another full box of skewers.

The meat, the sheen, the perfect char, the aroma… even more tempting than the first box!

She wanted to slap herself for what she’d said half a minute ago.

Damn it, why did you open your mouth!?

Why did you blurt out all that nonsense!?

What now?

What do I do now!!!?

“What do I do now?”

As Valentina wrestled with her thoughts, Herbert spoke lazily, as if troubled: “Troublesome… I made all this, and I can’t possibly finish it alone. What should I do? Should I just throw it away?”

What are you going to do!?

Valentina’s heart jolted at his words—she nearly shouted: Give it to me!

Herbert shook his head again, sighing: “No, no, how could I think that? Wasting food is shameful. I absolutely won’t do it.”

Yes! Yes!

Don’t do it!

If you can’t eat it all, I’ll help you!

“Ah, I could find someone to help me finish these skewers. But who should I ask?”

The air in the cell grew tense—Valentina nearly blurted out her answer.

Me!

Ask me!!!

Ask me to help you eat—

But Herbert completely ignored her cues, and his next words crushed her hope.

“Miss Valentina has already eaten her fill. I’ll have to find someone else.”

No!

I didn’t, I’m not, don’t say that…

I can still eat!

“Miss Freyme? I wonder if she eats anything besides fish? Hmm, I’ll go ask her first…”

Saying this, Herbert picked up the box and turned toward the second zone.

At that moment, Valentina could no longer hold back—she burst into a fit of coughing.

“Cough! Cough! Cough!”

“Oh? Miss Valentina, what’s wrong?” Herbert turned, puzzled at the dragon lady’s flushed face.

“I… cough!”

Valentina took a deep breath, clenched her teeth, and finally made up her mind, speaking firmly: “I can help you!”

“You’ll help me? Help with… oh! You mean these skewers?”

Herbert blinked, confused: “But didn’t you just say you were full?”

The Dragon Lady’s lips moved, hesitated, then forced out through gritted teeth: “...Since you’re so troubled, I suppose I could eat a little more.”

She wasn’t a fool—she knew Herbert had staged all this to make her bow, and he’d demand something unreasonable in return.

She understood.

But she couldn’t take it anymore.

That smell was too intoxicating!

Valentina had already decided: she’d lower her head, eat the meat, then renounce everything afterward.

“Thank you so much!”

But to her utter shock, Herbert made no demands—he immediately shoved the box forward, pressing it right against the bars.

Hm?

No requirements?

Valentina was bewildered and for a moment did not move.

“What are you waiting for? Eat!”

Hearing that gentle urging and seeing the sincerity on the boy’s face, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.

“Huh…”

In that moment, only one thought remained in her mind.

This skewer…

It’s so delicious!

(End of Chapter)