MTM 6

The rabbit meat, grilled golden brown on a wooden skewer, looked even more appetizing with the subtle aroma of smoke.

“Here.”

When Zed handed the skewer of rabbit meat to him, Harto hesitated for a moment and then accepted it.

“I only had salt to use, but it’s edible.”

Even though he said that, Zed ate the meat with relish.

“……”

Harto only watched him. He said nothing, but it was clear what he was thinking.

“Just eat it. If you need a reason, think of it as a reward for saving me.”

“Yes…”

Harto immediately agreed. He could not even remember the last time he had eaten meat. Maybe it had been in his original world before he ended up here. That time, it had been something mild, like chicken porridge.

Since earlier, his mouth had already been watering from the savory smell of roasting meat. Even the day he first found Zed, he had done it because he had been drawn by the smell of meat.

“Zed, are you a mage?”

Harto was about to bite the rabbit but stopped and asked Zed.

“No.”

“I see…”

Even though Zed had already said that he was the vice-captain of the Night Rage Mercenary, Harto asked so innocently. But Zed decided not to correct him. He waited and stared at him, wondering when the creature would finally take a bite of the rabbit.

“Then are you a healer?”

“……”

This time, he did not answer. Instead, he took hold of the skewer in Harto’s hand and brought the meat to his mouth himself.

“Eat. I’ll answer after you eat.”

“O-okay…”

Only then did Harto start chewing the meat. As soon as it entered his mouth, the tender meat melted, sending shivers down his spine.

“W-wow… it’s delicious…”

He couldn’t help exclaim in awe. The meat had no smell, the seasoning was perfect, and it was neither undercooked nor overcooked. The surface was crisp, and the inside was soft, with all the juices intact.

“A cook…?”

“What? A cook?”

Zed almost laughed. A moment ago, this creature had looked mournful over the poor mountain rabbits, and now he was curious about his identity. He was simple to the extreme.

“After you finish eating.”

Zed answered coolly, holding back laughter.

“Yes.”

Harto agreed quickly again and focused on the meat. He chewed the bones with his small teeth and sucked the bare spots, as if he wanted to eat the bones too.

‘That’s strange…’

He rolled the rabbit bones in his mouth as he thought.

Harto hadn’t asked about Zed just out of curiosity. He had already learned through the suggestion spell about Zed’s affiliation and age, but he wanted to make sure. Because in the novel’s world, there had been no mention of a mercenary group called Night Rage or of a man named Zed Shaden.

That meant Zed was someone insignificant, someone not even mentioned in the story.

But when he saw Zed’s handsome face, he wasn’t so sure.

There was a rule. Handsome extras were rare.

He had proof. The one time he had gone down to the village, on the first day, he had hidden himself here and there and looked at people’s faces. Maybe because it was a western fantasy world, there were many exotic appearances that had caught his interest. They varied not just in looks but also in hair color, skin color, build, and height.

There had been so many kinds of people. He had ended up just watching them for a while.

In the end, there had been no one as handsome as Zed. He had even thought the horse in the stable was the most handsome one there.

Of course, when it came to looks alone, one figure naturally came to mind. The protagonist of this novel, Ares Carseon, had golden hair and golden eyes.

In this world, golden hair and golden eyes were rare. The novel described them as proof of royal blood.

So if the eyes he had seen in the cave weren’t a mistake…

“What about you?”

“Huh?”

While Harto chewed on the bone and started at Zed’s face, Zed suddenly asked.

“You said it was the first time someone called you by your name. Is that true? Has no one… no monster ever called your name before?”

“Uh… well…”

Harto hesitated. The name ‘Harto’ was not the monster’s real name. He knew it was the one used in the novel, but it didn’t feel natural to say, and when he first went down to the village, he had thought there was no need to reveal the villain’s name, so he gave that name to himself.

‘That’s why no one ever called it…’

He had fled the village before he could even tell anyone his name.

So when Zed had called him for the first time, he had been happy. He still was. That was why he wanted to find a way to tell Zed this truth properly.

‘If Zed isn’t one of the main characters in the novel… should I just honestly tell him?’

He hoped that maybe Zed could understand the situation he was in.

“Zed, my name is actually…”

“Shh.”

It was at that moment. Zed suddenly told him to be quiet and slowly set down the rabbit skewer he was holding.

“Why…? Hm?”

Harto tried to ask, but Zed covered his mouth with his hand and whispered.

“Someone’s coming.”

“……!”

As the startled Harto froze, Zed motioned for him to hide in the corner. Harto obeyed without a word and moved clumsily behind the sofa into a shadowed spot. Zed looked out the window.

They were wanderers. Two men wearing black hoods carried the carcass of a large deer. They must have hunted it nearby. The deer’s legs were tied with ropes, and each man held one end as they walked toward the cabin.

“What’s this? They’ve never come this late before…”

Harto, who should have stayed hidden quietly in the corner, had somehow appeared beside Zed and muttered. Zed pushed him back and gestured again.

“Stay hidden.”

“What about you?”

“I need to see who they are.”

Zed gathered his belongings to one side and took a log from the pile. He held it to the fire until the end caught flame and made a torch. Then he checked Harto’s position. This time, Harto was doing as told, crouched in the corner.

‘Zed…’

Harto was afraid, but not only because of the wanderers. He would have preferred if they hid together. He was worried because Zed was going to face them alone.

As if he understood Harto’s worry, Zed nodded and opened the cabin door.

“Wh-who’s there?!”

The wanderers who had just reached the front of the cabin jumped in surprise at Zed’s sudden appearance. Without hesitation, they dropped the deer and drew the axe and bow strapped to their backs.

‘Not wanderers, but hunters.’

They had been slowed by the deer, but the way they handled their weapons was skillful. Watching them closely, Zed raised both hands high in a surrendering pose.

“Whoa, gentlemen. I’m a hunter too.”

The man with the axe glanced at the one holding the bow as Zed spoke with a sly smile. The one with the fine mustache looked older and more seasoned.

“…You’re a hunter?”

“Yes. Well… I only caught a few rabbits today, so it feels a bit much to call myself that, but yes.”

Zed scratched his head awkwardly and smiled. The two men exchanged a brief look.

Creak.

“It’s cold out. Come inside. I was getting tired of being alone anyway.”

Zed opened the cabin door wider and stepped aside, looking every bit the confident young hunter.

The mustached man hesitated for a moment, then whistled and tilted his head for his companion to follow. The man with the bow nodded. A long scar ran down his cheek.

“Hmm. Then excuse us. The wind’s fierce tonight, and hunting was hard enough.”

The hunters, worn out from a day of work, lifted the deer again.

“Do you need help to carry that?”

“Hmph. No need. I don’t let other hands touch the game I caught myself.”

As the mustached man spoke gruffly and stepped across the threshold into the firelit cabin,

Swish.

Zed placed his free hand on the man’s head.

“What, what are you doing?!”

The mustached man’s face turned red in shock as he shouted.