Chapter 124 - Grilled Sand Buffalo
Using the spices available on hand, Ban marinated the diced meat of the Sand Buffalo quickly. He then covered the bowl before shaking it rapidly as per the recipe's instructions.
After shaking it for two whole minutes, he then put it aside as he went to Belle and helped her blow the charcoal to heat them up.
Ten minutes later, the charcoal was already heated up so Ban retrieved the bowl where he marinated the meat earlier. The meat had already soaked up most of the sauce seeing that only half of it was left. Ban was satisfied as it was exactly what the recipe had said.
He retrieved the bowl and went towards Belle once more.
Seeing him moved towards her with the bowl, Belle also moved aside so that he could have a lot of space to move. Ban or Leon then opened the bowl's cover and the instant he did that, a pleasant aroma immediately assaulted Belle's nose.
It was not the same premium aroma that can be produced by premium spices, but it has its kind of fragrance bought upon the perfect combination of normal spices.
Belle closed her eyes as she savoured that smell with a satisfied look.
Ban did not waste any more time and immediately grilled or barbecued the Sand Buffalo's meat on the searing barbecue pot. The barbecue pot was not that big but it still managed to fit all the diced Sand Buffalo's meats inside it.
While it was grilling, Ban kept on dropping some of the remaining spices towards it. The aroma of the spices getting burnt wafted in the surroundings as a fragrant smoke oozed out of the barbecue pot.
The smoke's smell was so good that even Delo who was a little far from them could still not help but gulp his saliva while inhaling the aromatic smoke. Compared to the simple beef jerky that he was eating, the aroma seems to be more palatable than the jerky.
If Delo was not able to hold himself gulping a mouthful of saliva, Belle on the other hand only closed her eyes as she calmly inhaled the smoke. It's as if she was at her highest point and as if she no longer wanted to get out of that feeling.
Even their Monsters, including Eva, were also not able to hide their expectations on the meat. Their appetite was ignited and they now excitedly waited for the meat to get cooked.
If the smoke's scent was so appealing, how much more would the actual meat taste?
Ban flipped the diced meat over and over again and after a few minutes, it was finally ready.
Ban took a huge plate from Belle's equipment and served the diced Sand Buffalo's meat there.
He then put it on the table and called Belle who was still rooted at the same spot ever since earlier while inhaling the smoke softly.
Belle wiped the drool on her chin as she went towards the table, opposite of Ban.
Her Red Falcon was using her shoulder as a perch and even though it had sharp claws, Belle was not surprisingly wounded by it. The Red Falcon's sharp eyes glared at the Sand Buffalo's meat, almost like it was staring at its delicious prey.
The same could be said for Eva but unlike the Res Falcon, Eva was a little bit calm.
The most miserable Monster at the moment was Delo's Barrier Turtle. It could only look at the Sand Buffalo's meat as it chewed on the hard beef jerky in its mouth. Delo was the same, he kept on imagining how tasty that Sand Buffalo meat is for them to produce that kind of aroma.
"Let's eat!" Ban said as he put down Eva in front of him. He then retrieved the stick he sharpened earlier and gave one to Eva and Belle. Belle's Monster Summon does not need it as he knew that it would just use its beak.
He looked over at his back and just as he was about to invite Delo over, the guy actually looked away, almost like an emotional old man.
Ban ignored him as he used that sharpened stick to skewer a Sand Buffalo's diced meat. The stick easily pierced it, almost like it was butter being cut by a hot knife.
Eva and Belle also pierced their respective meat this time and even the Red Falcon also used its talons to get meat.
After making sure that it was no longer hot, Ban finally sent the meat towards his mouth by lifting the Ant Mask a little.
Belle's eyes glanced over as she knew that it was the perfect opportunity to see his face. She even thought that Leon would take off that mask, and she did not expect that he would only lift over a little.
However, because she has a small height, she was able to see a part of his face, to be precise, his mouth and chin. It was the first time she was grateful that she was small.
Belle could not help but smile upon seeing that his face actually looks young. Her heart fluttered as she somehow imagined herself feeding him, and vice versa.
The aroma of the meat entered her nose, breaking her little fantasy. She finally put those fantasies at the back of her head as she also put the meat inside her small mouth.
The meat fits her mouth perfectly and the moment it enters, Belle immediately closes her eyes in response to its taste.
"Dewicious!" Only one word escaped her mouth as she chewed that meat with a satisfied face.
The meat was juicy and a little spicy. She was confused at first why Leon did not make any sauce when she knew that grilled meats are best partnered with spicy sauce. However, after tasting the meat, she finally knew the reason why.
It was because the meat no longer needed a sauce.. It's taste was already satisfying enough and she thought the sauce would only ruin its taste.