touchnovel Chapter 24 Reunion
Chapter 24 Reunion
"The stag beast is a high-level magical beast, rare in number, and inhabits only the central part of the southern forest, the area with the most concentrated magical energy. Adult stag beasts are high-level magical beasts, and although they are not very aggressive, they are considered the most difficult magical beasts to capture."
Its most important asset is its pair of large, long antlers, which can sense the most subtle energy fluctuations. Even more remarkable is its high intelligence; it is extremely vigilant against any hostile approach.
Its running speed far exceeds that of a fine horse, and it can move silently through the densest forests, rendering conventional tracking and encirclement completely ineffective.
Capturing it requires a highly experienced hunter leading a team, completely concealing any human presence. This necessitates the hunting party spending weeks in the forest beforehand, calmly coordinating with the animals to eliminate any hostility, and gradually establishing a weak connection with them by mimicking the distinctive calls of deer.
Ultimately, one can only attempt to capture the moon when it is at its fullest, when it is absorbing energy and most relaxed. Even then, the probability of success is no more than 50%.
And its spine is arguably the most delicious part of its body.
Its loin is tender and juicy, the least active and most tender part of the antler beast. Unlike other magical beasts whose magic cores are usually hidden in their chests, the antler beast's magic core is located in its loin.
The pure forest magic absorbed daily is gently infused and stored here, making the flesh of the spine not only have the fragrance of forest plants, but also contain gentle energy that is easy to absorb.
This magical infusion allows the meat to retain its pink color and unique, rich, and tender texture after cooking.
Most precious of all, each adult stag beetle yields less than two kilograms of whole loin meat, which must be processed using special methods within a very short time after capture to lock in its magic and freshness.
Any delay or improper handling will result in the loss of magic and hardening of the flesh.
Therefore, this loin is not only the pinnacle of flavor, but also the ultimate testament to the quality of the hunt and the skill in its preparation.
Veronica kindly introduced the dish to Harry, and after she finished speaking, she also took a bite, then added,
"And the amber-colored granules that adorn the flesh are another miracle. They come from the century-old giant clams of Crystal Lake in the far north."
Giant clams rely on pure, magical springs at the bottom of the lake to survive; the locations of these springs are hidden and constantly changing.
Each clam secretes a very small amount of essence condensation only on three to four specific magical tidal nights each year, forming one or two condensation beads inside its shell.
The sweetness of these pearly droplets paired with the savory flavor of the antler meat makes it no wonder this dish is the signature dish of Lionheart.
The taste of the antler meat was truly amazing. Although the lava salamander meat steak that came later couldn't compare, it was still quite delicious.
The edges of the steak were crispy, while the center was a garnet-pink color, sizzling and releasing a smoky aroma with the scent of sulfur and minerals.
As Harry cut into the meat with his knife, juices burst out. He quickly put the meat into his mouth, the crispy outer layer contrasting with the amazing tenderness inside, a subtle spiciness spreading through his mouth.
He chewed vigorously, his cheeks twitching slightly, and then took a big gulp of chilled white wine.
His eyes lit up when the third abyssal octopus tentacles were presented.
These are the suckers of an abyssal octopus. After blanching and then serving cold, they are crisp and chewy like jade, and are soaked in an amber-colored sauce made with aged wine vinegar and chopped herbs.
He forked a piece, and when he bit into it, it made a crisp "crunch" sound. The unusual sweetness and slight sourness instantly awakened his taste buds.
He ate until his forehead was sweating, licking the sauce from the side of his lips from time to time, and finally used the octopus suckers to wipe all the remaining sauce off the plate.
Veronica ate very little. Besides introducing the food to Harry, she chatted about many things about herself, people they both knew, and gave Harry a crash course on the rumors and scandals in the capital over the past two years.
Veronica said a lot, but Harry rarely responded. He only politely inquired about her mother's well-being.
Veronica told Harry that her mother was in good health and was currently on vacation at the beach, not in the capital.
Harry asked her to convey his greetings, but otherwise he didn't say much.
He ate with focused attention and speed, as if afraid Veranika would snatch it from him; the rhythm of his knife and fork lightly clinking against the plate was steady and fast.
Veronica knew Harry very well and did not allow any vegetables to be on the table; at the same time, she was very thoughtful about this lunch.
As the waiters serving their table kept bringing out more food, they also kept clearing away Harry's empty plates, and even replaced many of the wine bottles.
Several noblewomen at the next table exchanged glances, half-covering their faces with feather fans as they watched Harry eat.
The nobles nearby raised their eyebrows as they looked at Harry, a half-smile playing on their lips, and whispered among themselves.
After eating countless plates of meat and drinking countless bottles of wine, Harry finally put down his knife and fork, wiped his mouth, let out a long sigh of relief, and grinned—a grin devoid of any aristocratic restraint after a meal, only pure, animalistic joy after a full stomach.
Veranica waved her hand, indicating that dessert could be served.
Two plates of desserts were then served.
At the center is a "tower" made of various berries—raspberries, blueberries, blackcurrants—and a small amount of golden melon chunks, topped with an enticing berry sauce.
It is decorated with mint leaves and a few transparent flowers made of icing, as thin as cicada wings.
A spoonful of pale pink vanilla cream rests lightly beside the fruit tart, sprinkled with fine edible gold leaf that shimmers with a subtle, luxurious luster under the light.
The dessert exudes a sweet and rich berry aroma, mixed with the richness of cream and the coolness of mint. It looks refreshing and unforgettable.
With the same eagerness as with the previous dishes, Harry scooped up a spoonful and deliberately put a few berries, a little cream, and some sugar flowers into his mouth.
However, almost the instant his tongue touched the dessert, his brows furrowed rapidly.
It is too sweet!
But Veronica seemed to like it very much and ate quite a bit.
When she asked him if he wanted a different dessert, Harry waved his hand and declined.
"Eating too much is not a good thing; this is enough."
Behind Veronica's warm and relaxed demeanor, Harry knew she was hiding something.
The bill for this meal would surely make even the most reserved lady scream. Harry knew Veronica's situation, but Veronica didn't seem bothered by the gold coins she had to pay.
The lunch was about to end, and she hadn't made Harry understand what she wanted to do at all.
Harry guessed that Veronica might have thought that since they hadn't seen each other for so long, it would be best to establish a friendly relationship on their first meeting. However, she couldn't possibly not understand that Harry would never do as she wished.
"What do you think of the food here?" Veronica asked.
"Excellent, very good."
"I think if someone is willing to accept my lunch invitation, at least the food I serve can't be worse than what they usually eat, otherwise I won't treat the guests unfairly."
"Of course, but I imagine this meal must have been quite expensive. I'm afraid I couldn't afford to host such a grand event for an ordinary magician."
"This isn't about entertaining an ordinary magician, but about entertaining a childhood friend. Besides, 'Never forget to treat travelers with care, for you may unknowingly be welcoming an angel.'"
Harry recognized that the quote was a reference to the Book of Revelation, but he was still amused by her compliment. It seemed that Veronica had completely forgotten about calling him a "gluttonous pig" before.
"By the way, Harry, what do you think of the Church of Light?" Veronica asked casually.
"I'm not interested. I'm a magician."
"How much do you know about Her Majesty the Goddess of the Church?"
"Not much. All I know is that she is a very important figure in the church, with power comparable to that of the Pope."
"You know, I owe my inheritance of the title to her help," Veranica said, her voice filled with gratitude.
This story begins twenty years ago.
The Law on the Granting and Succession of Noble Titles at that time did not contain any provisions for women to inherit or be granted titles. The founders' belief that women also possessed wisdom was an absurd notion.
After the "Red Invasion," the Church's influence grew, and even the newly enthroned Archanos XV announced his baptism and declared the Pope his father.
The goddess, whose status in the church was equal to that of the pope, always lamented the tragic fact that her fellow women could not obtain glory. Although the aristocratic society could not understand this proposal, there was bound to be tug-of-war and debate.
However, after years of vigorous efforts by the goddess, the new inheritance law was finally passed.
It stipulated that gender was no longer a requirement for succession to titles, allowing women to inherit their fathers' titles, and the gates of the Knight Academy were officially opened to women.
Thanks to the goddess, Veranika is now able to add a knight's badge to her clothes and inherit the title.
Without the new succession law, her family crest would have been revoked long ago, and she would not have been entitled to host Harry at the Lionheart.
Therefore, her gratitude towards the goddess is easy to understand.
But Harry's response was lukewarm.
"Of course you can say that."
"Her Majesty the Goddess is truly compassionate. No matter where in the Empire there is a disaster, she always goes there in person. She also takes special care of orphans, and she has contributed to the establishment of special schools for these orphans throughout the Empire over the years. Not to mention the countless luncheons and charity balls she has held to raise funds for those in need."
"I dare say anything related to the church is now the hottest topic in the capital," Harry sneered.
Veronica kept staring at Harry, expecting him to agree with her, but he completely ignored her and raised his eyebrows, clearly dissatisfied.
But the next moment they relaxed, as if those grievances had never happened.
At this point, she hesitated because Harry did not respond as she expected, and she could not continue with what she had prepared.
The conversation paused briefly, just as the servant brought in two cups of tea.
Harry picked up his teacup, first inhaling the refreshing aroma, then carefully sipped it.
The warm tea soup is very refreshing, with a subtle sweetness and fresh herbal aroma, quickly washing away all the sticky feeling in your mouth.
The warmth flowed down my throat, soothing my stomach and calming my senses, which had been overwhelmed by too many strong flavors.
"No matter what, no one can deny that she was a great person."
"I have absolutely no idea about that."
This remark clearly left Veronica speechless. Harry thought she would fly into a rage, but she simply smiled gently at him.
Harry was surprised by Veronica's mild reaction.
He understood that a kind Veronica was far more worthy of vigilance than when she was aggressive.
"Many of us consider it an honor to have met her."
"I've never had that thought."
The two chatted about other things for a few more minutes before going downstairs.
Veronica is hosting a party at her house tomorrow night and has invited Harry to attend. Harry readily agreed, and that concludes their conversation.