Chapter 172:

Chapter 172: Chapter 172:

Chapter 172:

Sasha looked at the carved grooves and the way the wooden pieces had been interlocked, slowly realizing that there was more thought behind the construction than she had initially assumed.

It wasn’t simply a matter of putting some wood together to create a place to sleep, as Osborne had clearly taken the time to consider how the different pieces would support one another, ensuring that the entire structure wouldn’t collapse under its own weight.

She had seen servants and workers construct temporary shelters before, but most of them relied on ropes, nails or other materials to keep their structures together, whereas Osborne had managed to accomplish something similar through his own building techniques.

Although she didn’t know much about such things, she couldn’t help feeling that the man standing beside the fire was far more capable than he appeared.

Sasha eventually turned around, intending to ask him something about the shelter, only to discover that he was no longer in the clearing.

For a brief moment, she looked towards the surrounding trees, but unlike the previous occasion when he had left her alone in the forest, she didn’t panic this time.

She had already experienced how quickly Osborne could deal with dangerous situations, and considering that he had left his Alpha Lightning Wolf beside her, she doubted he would disappear without making any arrangements.

Besides, she was beginning to understand that he had his own way of doing things, and constantly worrying whenever he moved away would only make the journey more difficult for both of them.

Sasha eventually sat on one of the logs Osborne had placed beside the fire, using it as a makeshift seat while the Alpha Lightning Wolf lay down next to her.

The large beast rested its head on its front paws, occasionally moving its ears as it listened to the sounds coming from the forest, and although Sasha was still somewhat uncomfortable being so close to a demonic beast, she felt secure knowing it was here looking after her.

After all, the creature had been carrying them for several hours without showing any signs of hostility, and she had also seen how obediently it followed Osborne’s commands.

’It really is strange how he manages to keep so many demonic beasts under his control.’ she mused.

Sasha glanced at the wolf before looking towards the direction Osborne had disappeared, wondering what kind of person he truly was.

She had initially assumed that he was some wealthy noble who had taken up adventuring for personal enjoyment, especially considering the expensive-looking equipment he wore and the way he casually handled valuable items.

However, the more time she spent with him, the more difficult it became to understand where he had learned all his skills, and she couldn’t help wondering whether there was more to his background than he was willing to reveal.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps, and when she raised her head, she noticed Osborne returning with a young buck hanging over his shoulder.

"You’re back."

"Unfortunately, the forest didn’t have anything more interesting to offer."

Osborne replied before placing the animal on the ground, and without wasting any time, he began preparing it for dinner.

Sasha watched quietly as he worked, noticing how naturally he handled the task despite the lack of proper equipment.

He skinned the animal carefully, making sure to use all its edible parts whilst throwing away the inedible ones like it’s entrails, fur coat, horns e.t.c.

He then brought out a few small containers from his belongings, each containing spices and ingredients he had stored beforehand, and Sasha couldn’t help noticing how familiar he seemed with the entire process.

The meat was placed over the fire, and Osborne occasionally turned it while applying the spices, allowing the heat to cook it evenly without burning the outer layer.

The pleasant smell soon spread throughout the clearing, making Sasha realize just how hungry she had become after spending so many hours travelling through the forest.

She hadn’t eaten anything substantial since leaving town, and although she had tried to ignore the feeling, the aroma coming from the fire made it increasingly difficult to remain patient.

Fortunately, Osborne didn’t keep her waiting for long, and after checking that the meat had been properly cooked, he removed a portion and offered it to her.

"Here, eat."

"Thank you."

Sasha accepted the piece before taking a bite, and the moment her teeth sank into the tender flesh, a wave of flavour and grease spread throughout her mouth.

The meat was surprisingly soft, while the spices had given it a rich taste that made it difficult for her to stop chewing, and even though she had eaten roasted meat several times in the past, she couldn’t remember the last time something had tasted this good.

"This is so good...."

Sasha looked at the piece of deer meat in amazement, taking another bite as she tried to understand how something prepared in the middle of a forest could taste better than some of the meals she had eaten in town.

She had expected something simple, perhaps a few pieces of roasted meat with little seasoning, but what Osborne had prepared was far better than she could have imagined.

"Where did you learn to cook like this, Master?"

She turned towards Osborne with genuine curiosity, wondering how someone who appeared to be a wealthy lord had managed to pick up such unusual cooking skills.

She had initially assumed that he was accustomed to having servants take care of most of his daily needs, so seeing him prepare a meal with such confidence was rather unexpected.

"Self-taught."

Osborne didn’t say much more, choosing instead to continue enjoying his meal while occasionally turning another piece of meat over the fire.

Sasha was taken aback by his brief response, but rather than giving up immediately, she tried to pry a little further by asking whether he had learned from someone during his travels or simply experimented until he became good at it.

Unfortunately, Osborne didn’t seem interested in discussing the subject, and despite her attempts to continue the conversation, she couldn’t get him to reveal anything more about himself.