Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 136: After the Griffon Subjugation
　After storing the griffon that had fallen near them, Tauro began removing the ropes from the surrounding trees.
“In the end, you didn’t need those ropes, did you?”
　Aeris teased him.
“If the first volley had killed both griffons, they would have been unnecessary. They were a final safeguard meant to buy us time if one reached this position. Your barriers were what actually saved us, but when our lives are at stake, I would rather prepare too much than too little.”
　While Tauro answered, the hunter cautiously emerged from his distant hiding place.
“Is it truly safe now?”
　He peered between the trees and repeatedly checked the sky before approaching.
“Yes, the danger has passed. Could you help us take down the ropes?”
“Of course!”
　The experienced hunter climbed the trees with ease and helped retrieve them.
　When the group reached the nest, they found the second griffon dead from Tauro’s opening attack. Beside it lay the half-eaten carcass of a Gray Six-Legged Bear.
“A Gray Six-Legged Bear is feared even by other monsters, yet a griffon treated one as food…”
　The sight made the hunter understand once again how dangerous the creatures had been.
　Tauro placed the second griffon in [Magic Storage] and searched the nest.
　Because the two griffons appeared to have been a mating pair, he had expected to find eggs, but they apparently hadn’t laid any yet.
　Another piece of griffon lore also interested him.
　Griffons were supposedly attracted to gold and other shining objects. Tauro therefore hoped their nest might contain valuables.
　He swept the branches and debris into [Magic Storage] and searched underneath.
　There was nothing.
“What a disappointment…”
　Tauro’s shoulders fell, but Aeris had clearly expected that result.
“The story is probably false. If griffon nests reliably contained treasure, adventurers would be lining up to hunt them. Perhaps the guild spread the rumor to encourage people to accept subjugation quests.”
　Her explanation crushed Tauro’s remaining hope.
　He had indeed learned the claim from a document in the guild archives. In the future, he decided, he would pay closer attention to who had written such accounts.
　By the time Tauro, Aeris, and the hunter returned to the mountain village, evening was approaching.
　Shin and Rumeya were still swinging hammers and repairing houses. The sounds of construction echoed throughout the settlement.
“Tauro! Aeris! You’re back. Where did you go?”
　Shin called from a rooftop.
“We caught something. I’ll cook it for everyone.”
“Really? Then I’m looking forward to dinner!”
　Rumeya emerged from behind a house across the road.
　Tauro removed a griffon from [Magic Storage] in the village chief’s yard.
　The villagers recoiled at the enormous monster, but Tauro immediately began draining its blood, plucking its feathers, removing the wings, and butchering the carcass.
　The work would have taken him a very long time alone. Several village hunters joined him, and together they completed the preparation surprisingly quickly.
　The meat from the griffon’s birdlike upper body was cut into bite-sized pieces, seasoned with salt and pepper, coated in beaten egg and rice flour, and fried in oil.
　The result was crisp fried griffon.
　The meat from its lionlike lower body was sliced thinly, seasoned, and cooked in a pan. Tauro served it over rice with the cooking juices to make griffon rice bowls.
　The two halves required different preparations because their meat came from entirely different kinds of creatures.
　Tauro would have liked to prepare additional dishes, but cooking enough for every villager would already take considerable time, so he limited the feast to those two.
　After watching his technique, the village’s cooks quickly imitated him and joined the work.
　Children gathered nearby, staring and drooling as the food sizzled. The adults brought out liquor that had been saved in the cellar and drank while eagerly waiting for the meal.
　By the time enough food had been prepared for everyone, night had fallen. Tauro illuminated the village chief’s yard with [Illumination].
　Before the feast began, he taught the villagers to place their hands together and say “Itadakimasu,” an expression of gratitude before eating from his previous world.
　The food was an overwhelming success.
　The griffon meat was naturally the center of attention, but the fried pieces astonished villagers who had only just discovered fried cooking through French fries and tempura.
　Praise and laughter filled the yard, and the celebratory meal continued until midnight.