The young man had a head of very short brown hair, and a face with sharp facial features. He had no hair on his face, and it made him look fairly young and disciplined.

He seemed to be in his early twenties, and he was wearing a white apron over some regular travelling clothes. A short mace had been clasped to his belt, along with an elegant knife that was too thin to be used as a weapon. It was likely meant for butchering meat.

The steps Mican made attracted both of the men’s attention, and Becket bent down to retrieve a wooden bowl from a pile that had been placed onto the dirt.

“Good night, new guy.” Still smiling, Graham nodded at Mican and began walking away towards his own campfire.

Nodding back, Mican was surprised. Both the people he had just passed by, and Graham now had given him greetings, to which they had acted entirely indifferent before.

There was only one change that could explain the situation, being the news of Melinda’s approval. This, along with the Ashleye family’s amiability, could only be explained by their respect for their boss. It likely had something to do with Harold mentioning that the woman only recruited good people. What sort of woman could command such admiration from her subordinates?

“Hello there, my name is Mican.” Walking over to the fire, he took initiative to greet the man stirring the pot.

“My name is Becket.” The man spoke curtly, giving a small nod in Mican’s direction, not taking his eyes off of the pot.

The man seemed to be indifferent to Mican’s presence, but he stilled showed politeness.

A misty heat dispersed into the air from the pot of stew, slightly dispelling the cold night’s chill. Along with the heat came a smell that Mican found difficult to describe. The scent was filling and delectable, to the point Mican felt like his stomach had been filled with food.

Mican’s eyes instinctively drew to Becket, who was using a large wooden ladle to scoop the contents of the pot out into the wooden bowl.

“…” Holding out the bowl, he glanced at Mican.

“Thank you.”

Accepting the steaming bowl, Mican warmed his hands with the bottom of it. The stew contained large chunks of softly boiled potatoes and carrots, floating in a brown soup.

Large chunks of well-cooked meat floated alongside the vegetables, containing the sharp smell of various spices and seasonings that Mican’s nose couldn’t identify.

Mican’s eyes narrowed slightly in pleasure from the sight and smell, his head tilting to the side and the corners of his mouth raising subconsciously.

“Haha, you had better eat it while it’s hot. It’ll taste better that way.” A voice rang out from the side.

Becket had been staring at Mican through the process, intrigued by his strange behaviour. He knew his cooking was good, but he had never seen someone so entranced by a mere bowl of stew, other than starving people.

Giving a nod, Mican put the bowl up to his mouth, tipping it. There were no utensils that had been brought out, which suited him just fine.

Drinking down some of the broth, getting a good mouthful of meat and vegetables, Mican chewed vigorously.

The chunks of potatoes broke down in his mouth smoothly, and the large pieces of meat broke apart and almost seemed to melt in his mouth in a manner that delighted him. It was as if what he was eating was A5 wagyu from his previous world. The meat was cooked to perfection, reaching above and beyond.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Watching with wide eyes, Becket was surprised. It was almost as if Mican was drinking water instead of eating food, at the pace he was gulping down the meal.

The contents of the bowl disappeared in the blink of an eye, leaving only the face a sorely disappointed Mican.

“Hahaha. Here, give me your bowl. There’s enough seconds for everyone when they’re served in my kitchen.” Reaching out his hand, Becket took the bowl from Mican and began refilling it.

Mican was surprised and delighted by the offer, another smile growing on his face. His good impression of the cook began rising at an incredible speed.

Handing the bowl over to Mican, the cook watched once again as the meal was completely polished off.

“DELICIOUS!” After finishing the meal, Mican stood in a powering up pose and shouted the word into the air, startling the cook.

“Haha, I’d give you more if I could, but everybody else needs to eat too.”

“No, it’s completely understandable. Thank you for the absolutely delicious meal.”

“I’ve never had such a vocal response to my meals before, I can’t say I dislike it at all.” Smiling, the cook scratched his nose. “That was rabbit stew you had just then, made using a technique I had learned from the town of Magala.”

“I can tell you worked very hard on the meal, with how delicious it was. I’m truly impressed.”

“Well I always say, if you’re going to do something then do it right.” The cook nodded his head, pleased with the praise.

“I haven’t properly introduced myself, I’m Mican Aster. A wandering traveller who just joined the caravan.” Mican reached his arm out to the latter.

“I’m Becket Strongarm, travelling cook.” Reaching his arm out in return, the two shook hands. “You eat like a starving man, Mican.

“Haha, I’ll take that as a compliment. I believe there to be meaning in eating new and delicious food.”

What Mican had said was the complete truth to him. In this new and foreign world, the food was fresh, direct, and came from the heart. He had never been one for food in his old world, but in eating the delicious meal, he had found himself an outlet to let his joy loose, from being in this new world.

As he was finally no longer being chased, as he gained the freedom to relax and truly think, he was able to display his excitement like never before.

After gaining power he had never imagined he would have had in his old world, he finally felt as if he had accomplished something.

In this world, seeing sights he had never seen before, he felt as if his life was gaining meaning, and the feeling overwhelmed him. It was as if he was on a roller coaster of emotions from the difference in his previous life, and he hoped it would never end.

Things like watching the sunset, eating new meals, and meeting new people, they all felt as if they had been born anew, along with him. For the first time in his life, he found meaning in such small actions.

To him more than anyone else, the grass was greener, and the air was cleaner. The world was absolutely beautiful, even the negative emotions.

It was like those shoujo manga descriptions of being in love, he felt it with every pore of his body.

Every new day was no longer something to dread like in his old world, but now something he looked forward to with all of his heart.

“Truly?” A surprised expression showed across Becket’s face, and he raised an eyebrow. “Eating good food is the reason I live.”

The young cook closed his eyes and seemed to get lost in his own thoughts, gently stirring the stew.

“Really? No wonder your cooking is so good.”

“Becket joined the caravan just to eat good food, it’s really shocking.” As the two talked, a pair of footsteps sounded out near the fire.

“Becket, I need two bowls for the two kids, please. Sarah didn’t want to walk, and Duarte ended up staying and looking after her.” A grinning Harold appeared stepped into the light and waved at the two cheerfully.

“I really do think you spoil her too much, old man. Also, you talk too much.” Shaking his head, Becket stepped forward, separating two bowls from the pile.

“All kids should be spoiled at least a bit, and I’m not old yet you brat.” Clearly in a jolly mood, the middle-aged man stood near the two men, sniffing the stew eagerly. “Sorry for yapping, I just didn’t expect you to get along with Mican so easily.”

“Well it’s not like I’m hiding it or anything. I joined the caravan to pursue good tasting food in all of its travelling, and I cook for the group in return.” The cook gave a shrug, filling the bowls with food and handing them over to the blacksmith.

“That’s truly admirable Becket. Not many people have the courage to pursue their dreams, not to mention the conviction in joining a travelling caravan for it.” Sensing a kindred spirit, Mican was truly impressed.

“You make it seem like a bigger deal than it is.” The cook gave a short chuckle.

“I’m gonna hand the kids their meal before the food gets cold.” Taking short steps, the blacksmith walked off into the distance.

“I’ll bring his meal to him then.” Watching the middle-aged man go, Mican decided to save him a trip back.

Nodding in agreement, the cook filled yet another bowl and handed it to Mican, bidding him goodnight as he headed off into the darkness.