Chapter 88: Dinosaur Barbeque And Family Time

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Half an hour later the table stood covered with plates of delicious grilled dinosaur meat prepared in several different ways. Carlos reached first for a large piece of ribs and sank his teeth into the tender flesh. His eyes widened at once as the rich flavor filled his mouth. It was the most delicious meat he had ever tasted.

"Hmm! So good!"

Daniela celebrated as she ate the little croquettes served with mashed potatoes. "And the puree is so nice! I love this. It tastes like tomatoes mixed with potatoes... hahah!"

Elisa ate with equal intensity, almost as if she were possessed. All the Mana she had regained, together with her steadily increasing Vitality, now demanded far more food and energy from her body. "Hmm! Well, this is surprising... and I have never eaten this recipe of mashed potatoes. I always thought it was something the poor ate, but this one’s quite fancy."

"Haha, you don’t have to say it like that," Riven laughed. "It’s a completely normal meal everyone can have."

"...Sorry," Elisa nodded, offering a quick apology. "But anyway! Once we’re done with this, what should we do?" She took a bite of her avocado toast. Since this was brunch, Riven had added a few breakfast items to the spread.

"Hmm, I was planning on going out. You wanted to go on a date, right?" Riven asked.

"I... well, with everything going on, is there a place we could hang out in peace?" she wondered, a note of caution in her voice.

"Plenty of places out there. The city is big," Riven answered with a gentle nod.

"But... what about the Gate?" Elisa asked next. "I’m worried about that. Weren’t you going to do something with it?"

"I can do it tomorrow," Riven said.

"And the person you were looking for—"

"Tomorrow," Riven repeated firmly.

"But... you shouldn’t delay things so much because of me," Elisa sighed, clicking her tongue. "Don’t spoil me so much!"

"That’s a first," Riven replied with a small smile. "Well, I just remember how excited you were to go outside today with me, so I didn’t want to ruin that plan."

"Ugh..." Elisa sighed again and finally nodded. "Fineeee... But we go with the kids too. Vladimir can stay...?"

"I’ll send him to the dungeon," Riven decided.

"Me?!" Vladimir coughed from the separate table where he sat eating alone. "What do you want me to do in the dungeon?"

"Hunt a few monsters, check the interior, and make sure everything is in order," Riven instructed. "I’ll give you clear directions as well. I want you to find a few specific things."

Vladimir groaned but nodded in silence. Fenrir had revived him for the sole purpose of serving Riven, so he truly had no other choice.

Once they finished their brunch and rested for a short while, Vladimir left for the Gate on his own after receiving Riven’s instructions. The family then decided to head out without further delay. Riven drove them in his car to a pleasant park far from the metropolitan area, situated beside a large lake where many families gathered to enjoy the day. There they walked across soft green grass, beneath tall trees and through the edge of a quiet forest. The clear blue sky stretched above them, and a gentle breeze carried the fresh scent of water and leaves.

Elisa wore a beautiful white dress and a white summer hat much like the ones her mother used to wear. She felt the breeze on her skin while slowly practicing her Mana Manipulation whenever she found a quiet moment.

"Can you form spells yet?" Riven asked as he watched Daniela and Carlos run across the open lawn, throwing a frisbee for Noir to catch.

"I haven’t tried, but I don’t think so," she sighed. "It’s just pure Mana right now. I can lift small things with it, but not too many at once."

"I see..." Riven nodded and turned his gaze toward the calm surface of the lake. The children played nearby. Other families sat together on picnic blankets. The simple scene felt peaceful. This quiet time between the two of them needed no constant conversation. The soft silence alone filled their hearts with a sense of ease and helped them both relax. Sometimes words were not necessary to enjoy a moment shared between two people.

Riven placed his hands gently on her shoulders, leaned closer, and kissed her cheek.

"Hey...!" Elisa pouted as the leaves she had been lifting with her Mana fluttered to the ground. "W-What was that for?!"

"What?" Riven asked, pretending innocence. "So only you can kiss me on the cheek whenever you want? Am I not allowed to do the same?"

Elisa averted her gaze and covered her face with the brim of her summer hat, feeling a rush of embarrassment. "It’s not like that... I mean... Um... Ah!" Her eyes widened suddenly as she spotted an ice cream cart rolling closer along the path. "Ice cream! I want ice cream!"

"You’re not a kid anymore..." Riven teased.

"Hah?! What’s wrong with wanting some ice cream?!" Elisa shot back. "It’s not something only for children, okay? Adults eat ice cream all the time and it’s completely normal."

"I know. I was just messing with you," Riven admitted with a grin. "Kids! Come over here."

Daniela and Carlos ran to their side at once. The whole family walked together to the cart, bought cones, and continued strolling through the park while enjoying the cold treats.

At the same time, deep within the Dungeon, Vladimir raced along the dim corridors and through dark caves, carefully checking every surrounding area. "There’s not a single human here. Unbelievable. He really just took this Gate for himself. What sort of power is this?! No wonder Lord Fenrir was so lenient..."

He leaped onto a higher ledge and scanned the distance. A giant dinosaur lumbered past below, nearly catching him off guard. "Shit! Another Tyrant?!" The memory of those monsters still left him traumatized, so he did everything possible to stay out of its path.

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