Free Web NovelVieya finished roasting a few more skewers of mushrooms, boiled a pot of hot water, and had just sat down on a stone to start eating when Jasmine arrived with her two little teammates, walking leisurely toward her.
“I found some mushrooms nearby. I’ll taste-test them first to see if they’re poisonous.”
To avoid her daughter misunderstanding, Vieya explained herself before slowly opening her mouth and biting off one slightly burned white mushroom, chewing carefully.
The three girls exchanged looks. They had completely thrown the earlier commotion out of their minds and were now staring intently at Vieya, worried that their strongest reliance might collapse from a single poisonous mushroom.
“Mm... it’s fine, not poisonous. The taste isn’t great, but it’s edible.”
Vieya’s tightly furrowed brows loosened bit by bit. Feeling slightly embarrassed, she waved Jasmine and the others over.
“Let’s just make do with it...”
“......”
Seeing her two teammates hesitate, Jasmine bravely took the lead. Under Vieya’s delighted gaze, she picked up a mushroom skewer and shoved it straight into her mouth, cheeks puffed as she chewed twice before swallowing it down with a gulp of water.
Then her face turned white, then green, making Vieya’s heart jump.
“It’s fine... but the texture is like tree bark. Probably not poisonous?”
“...I was afraid, like with those beans last time, that I didn’t cook them properly, so I roasted them a bit longer.” Vieya said, ashamed.
“As long as it’s not poisonous! This young lady never picks her food!”
Rorina, pounding her chest, spoke boldly. For the sake of her lifesaver, she would praise the food no matter how awful it tasted.
She strode over to the fire, picked up a mushroom skewer, and took an elegant bite. Her expression froze. She felt as if she were chewing on roasted leather shoes rather than roasted mushrooms. But she still forced herself to swallow.
“Haha... the flavor is... not bad?” Rorina said with a strangely contorted expression, forcing out the compliment.
Vieya’s beautiful eyes narrowed with pleasure. Mood Index +1
“......”
Seeing both teammates eat, Maixi also took a mushroom and began gnawing. At the same time, she finally understood something she had wondered about for a long time.
No wonder that day the big sister would rather wait for Jasmine to come back and fry rice than cook herself—she actually had enough self-awareness to recognize she was a dark-cuisine master.
At the campfire, everyone finally enjoyed a rare moment of relaxation. Dry roasted mushrooms paired with delicious hot water had their own charm on a night like this.
Seeing the three girls full and satisfied, Vieya lifted her hot water cup and took a sip before speaking lightly:
“What are your thoughts about this dungeon experience?”
As she asked, she didn’t look at Jasmine and the others.
After all, realistically speaking—if she hadn’t intervened, Jasmine’s team would’ve already been eliminated by now.
“Ah... haha, do we really have to share our thoughts?” Maixi blinked, trying to slip past the question.
There is a reason you’re always the tail-end dead-weight.
Vieya glared at the brown-haired girl and turned her gaze to the pink-haired one sitting up straight. “And you?”
“Eh...”
Rorina instantly tensed. She hadn’t expected Vieya to skip over her own daughter and focus directly on her.
This feeling... it was even more nerve-wracking than when she stole the ancestral offering fruit at age three.
“T-This is too sudden...”
Rorina stuttered, drawing side-eyes from both Jasmine and Maixi. What happened to the usually arrogant pink-haired brat? Why was her face turning red so fast? When they weren’t looking earlier, she was boldly calling others “old bottom-feeders.” But now she had turned into soft dough?!
“Don’t be nervous. Just think of it as casual conversation between an older sister and younger sister, or between newly made friends.” Vieya’s voice was gentle and calm, with a soothing undertone.
“That... ahem.”
Rorina’s eyes suddenly brightened with determination. She made a courageous decision. Pressing down her little pink cowlick, she spoke solemnly: ƒrēewebnovel.com
“In this battle with the slime and goblins, I have summarized five key elements, three procedures, two focal points, and one core principle. First, the coordination among the three of us has gaps and lacks trust. Second, my behavior had issues. I reflect on—”
Jasmine’s eyes glazed over. She didn’t hear a single word of Rorina’s flowing speech. She was instead thinking about a very serious problem:
If Rorina says all that, then what am I supposed to say later?
And also—why didn’t Mama ask me first?!
“...Anyway, this young— ahem, that was a slip of the tongue! Don’t mind it!” Rorina slapped her hand over her mouth, blushing bright red.
“U-Um, in short, my current realizations are still shallow, and my behavior naïve. But Mentor’s teaching method and her earnest guidance for us has been successful! M-My thought is that—you are a successful teacher!”
Vieya stared blankly. “Me...?”
The atmosphere instantly turned strange.
Jasmine snapped out of her daze, widened her pretty eyes, and stared at Rorina in disbelief. She whispered:
“When did my Mama become your mentor? Don’t talk nonsense. She’s my mom!”
Rorina reasoned calmly, “She saved me, so she is my benefactor. She taught me how to handle monsters, so she is my teacher. A benefactor and a teacher combined is a mentor. I... am I wrong for calling her that?”
Jasmine slowly opened her mouth, as if wanting to say something. But then she pressed her lips together, hesitated, and fell silent.
On the side, Maixi struggled not to laugh.
She originally thought having herself—the tail-end dead-weight—was already heavy enough for this team. Never imagined the hidden pink-haired noble girl was an even greater talent.
They had only known each other for one day, yet she had already picked herself a mentor.
“Haha—mentor—haha!” Maixi finally burst out laughing.
Rorina shot her an unhappy glare. Her eyes clearly said: Go on—laugh one more time, I dare you.
Maixi waved her hands frantically in surrender, but Rorina’s expression only darkened.
Finally, Vieya used her adult authority to put an end to the topic.
She stood, cup held at her chest, her expression calm. “Your reflections are good. Next time, work on developing some restraint... All right, that’s enough for today. Once you’ve all settled, rest. I’ll stand guard outside. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the lower floors to see other monsters.”
“Eh? Mama...”
Hearing Vieya was going outside, Jasmine jumped up, trying to come up with a reason to follow. But after thinking for half a day and finding none, she could only say stiffly:
“Mama, why don’t I keep watch with you? Two people trading shifts would make it easier...”
“Your trial officially starts tomorrow. It won’t be any easier than today. Rest while you can. Let an adult handle the night watch.”
Without pausing her steps, Vieya walked toward the edge of the firelight. She looked back once at Jasmine.
“That water is very hot. Your body can’t handle overly hot drinks. Let it cool before you drink it.”
“See you tomorrow.” Vieya waved and disappeared into the darkness.
Leaving the three little girls sitting by the fire, watching the sudden emptiness settle over the night.
“Eh...”
After Mama left, Jasmine stared at the pitch-black cavern. In the end, she sighed and decided to obey Mama honestly.
Though tomorrow morning... she would be the one preparing the food. Hopefully Mama would be able to enjoy a hot bowl of mushroom soup when she came to wake them.
“Hey!”
Maixi called out to Jasmine with a grin, waving her over. “Captain Jasmine, can you tell us what you and your Mama are like in everyday life?”
Rorina also lifted her face to look at Jasmine, eyes shining with expectation. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Jasmine glanced at the two of them, pouted, and said,
“Boring.”
