Chapter 135: Eating

"Should we ask the dragon?"

Just as they hesitated, a clear, crisp voice spoke behind them. "Ethan, the pie is done baking."

He went still, that voice, he turned slowly.

Liora stood right there, she scratched her green hair, tugged at his hand, and said, "I can speak now."

"How come you can suddenly speak?" Zharok asked.

One usually knows one’s own body best, Liora crossed her arms, thought seriously for a moment, then said, "I thought about it carefully, but I don’t know why either."

Zharok’s jaw tightened, he looked like he wanted to knock her on the head.

Walter caught his arm and asked with a gentle smile, "Besides being able to speak, are there any other changes?"

"Other changes..."

Grumble.

"Does being hungry count?"

"Weren’t you hungry before, meow? The pie smells amazing — getting hungry is completely normal, meow~" The aroma from the oven was enough to whet anyone’s appetite, hunger didn’t qualify as a special change.

"Could it be that Liora can speak because we planted the Flame Fruit Trees?" Ethan gestured at the newly planted saplings.

Zharok, Walter, and Pearl all nodded. "Could the fire energy of the Flame Fruit Trees have triggered something in the World Tree?"

"Let’s go ask the dragon." Zharok tossed the communication crystal to Ethan.

Ethan caught it and sent out a call, it wasn’t long before the giant dragon appeared, for her, the communication crystal seemed to have become a summoning stone.

"You were looking for me?"

"You scared me, could you please make some noise when you walk?"

The dragon smiled, walked over to Liora, and patted her head. "You’ve grown a bit taller again."

Liora made her usual V sign, then she ran over to Pearl, scooped the cat up, walked to the oven, and crouched beside it, greedily inhaling the pie’s aroma.

"After we planted the Flame Fruit Trees, the World Tree started glowing, and then Liora was able to speak."

"I see..."

"Do you know what’s going on?"

"Yes, have you heard of the Four Elements Theory?" the dragon asked.

"You mean the theory that everything in the world is composed of fire, water, wind, and earth? I know it."

"Exactly, perhaps because the Flame Fruit Trees’ fire energy came close to the World Tree, the World Tree began to grow."

"So if we plant trees representing water, earth, and wind next to the World Tree, it will continue to grow?"

"Perhaps, that is merely my guess."

"Will the World Tree bear fruit after it grows?"

"It should, shouldn’t it?"

Ethan’s primary purpose in planting the World Tree was to taste its fruit, he called Pearl and Liora over.

Liora looked up at him, Ethan crouched down to meet her eyes. "If you bear fruit in the future, could you share some with me?"

"Are you going to use it to make food?"

"That’s right."

"Then I can share a lot with you."

’Good.’ Ethan ruffled her hair, Liora shook her head, and it snapped back to its original flawless state.

"Then it’s a deal, since you’re here, why not stay for dinner?"

"I was just about to ask, what is it that smells so incredibly good?"

"Flame Fruit pie."

"Oh? You went to Flame Canyon?"

"Yes, it seems you already knew."

"I know a few Flame Fruit Trees grow there, the canyon’s flames blocked the plague’s spread, so those few managed to survive."

"Then do you know of any other trees like them?" If fire energy trees existed, could there also be trees for water, earth, and wind? Ethan asked with open anticipation, but the dragon shook her head.

"As far as I know, there are none in the Great Forest."

"That’s a real pity." He would have to search outside the forest.

’Elara might know.’ She was a merchant who traveled widely, she might have heard of unusual trees somewhere on the continent.

"Ethan, the pie is done baking, meow~"

"Ah, right." Pearl was standing beside the oven, shouting at the top of her lungs.

Ethan reached in and pulled out the baking tray, thanks to the Phoenix’s blessing, the heat didn’t bother him at all.

[Delicious Flame Fruit Pie]

[A pie made with Flame Fruits. Crispy, sweet, and incomparably delicious.]

[Delicious Effect: Increases all attributes by +2 upon first consumption.]

[Delicious Effect: Increases all skill levels by +1 upon first consumption.]

[Delicious Effect: Grants Dexterity Enhancement for 24 hours upon consumption.]

[Delicious Effect: Grants Attack Power Enhancement for 24 hours upon consumption.]

[Crafting Difficulty: ★★★★]

The golden brown pie exuded a tempting aroma, Ethan scraped the tip of his knife across its surface, and the crust let out a satisfying crackle. Steam curled from the cut.

Everyone stared, barely blinking.

He set the pie aside to cool and started preparing drinks. "Juice for everyone? Lord Dragon, you..."

"I’ll have the same as last time."

"The affogato? No problem." He prepared the juice and the affogato quickly, pouring each with practiced ease.

Once everyone was seated, he cut the pie into even slices and passed them out.

"Wow..." Golden filling oozed from the cut edges, thick and glistening, Liora couldn’t resist. She dipped a finger in the filling and popped it into her mouth.

Rich sweetness, tartness, and the fragrance of cinnamon blossomed on her tongue, her eyes widened, and for a long moment she sat perfectly still, savoring it.

Zharok picked up a slice and stuffed it in whole. "Mmm ohh!"

Crispy crust mixed with sweet filling — tender inside, crackling outside, he shuddered with delight and went for a second piece immediately.

The dragon took a delicate bite and closed her eyes. "...This is truly delicious."

"Thank you, I didn’t expect the Flame Fruit to get this sweet after baking."

"This isn’t just because of the Flame Fruit, but rather— Wait, Zharok, you’ve already finished a slice?"

"Chew slowly, meow~"

"Eat a bit slower."

Zharok had polished off his piece and was reaching for another, everyone scolded him, he ignored them all, grabbed a second slice, and crammed it in without a shred of shame.

"Eating it in huge bites tastes amazing."

"...Pearl, we can’t lose either."

"I know, meow~"

A scramble broke out, Ethan smiled. "There’s still plenty — no need to rush."

A second pie was already in the oven, and he had filling and dough left over, hearing that, everyone finally slowed down and began to savor each bite properly.

’I hope the Phoenix likes it too.’

After eating and drinking her fill, the dragon packed a slice to go and departed with a satisfied smile.

Ethan placed the final pie into the oven, everyone else was stuffed.

"Are you going to deliver it to the Phoenix, meow?"

"That’s right, coming with me?"

"Of course, meow~"

"We’ll handle the dishes."

"I’ll help." Zharok and Liora gathered the plates and headed for the river, the division of labor was clear and smooth.

Ethan picked up the basket with the pie and said, "Let’s go."

The winter sun slipped below the horizon, the air turned sharp and cold.

Ethan and Pearl passed through the darkening forest, following the now familiar path to the apiary, they approached the canyon’s glowing edge and brought out the pie.