Wild-boar meat should, by rights, taste rather gamey; after all, it lives in the wild, its diet is completely uncontrollable, and it exercises far more than penned pigs, so its metabolism is vigorous.
Moreover, even an ordinary male pig, if not castrated, will have strong-tasting meat.
So wild boar has to be handled properly—otherwise Stelle and Mona would be in for an unforgettable "feast," and in the end all the pork would be wasted.
The problem was, Stelle's processing conditions here were far too crude.
Even though Mona was the owner of a Hydro Vision and water wasn't a concern, they seemed to have only water; whether the seasonings Amber had given them could fully mask the gaminess was anyone's guess.
When she'd gone camping with Amber and Eula before, she'd worried about this very issue, but before she could ask the two of them whether they had any special methods, that outing had been interrupted by the Abyss Order.
In the end, they hadn't even gotten to eat the boar they'd had their eyes on.
So, before roasting the boar they'd caught this time, Stelle was rather apprehensive.
To keep Mona from being unable to swallow it, she even secretly tasted a bite, ready to spit it out at any moment.
But she never expected—"So good!" Stelle's eyes lit up; the flavor was unexpectedly excellent.
More than excellent: the first sensation was the faint char on the outside, a unique aroma, followed by the tenderness within, juices bursting in her mouth and blending perfectly with her saliva.
And this was before adding any seasoning—just a simple marinade. She couldn't imagine how delicious it would be once Amber's spices were sprinkled on.
"No wonder most of Mondstadt's meat comes from Springvale," Stelle marveled, then continued working.
She'd only used the method Amber had taught her for the marinade, but lacking grilling experience and pressed for time, she and Mona hadn't been able to prepare the meat more thoroughly.
So in the end, only a few pieces made it onto the rack.
Even so, as the flames rose and the temperature climbed, the sizzling slices sent out an irresistible aroma.
"Ah—mmm!" Mona took a small bite of a finished piece and gave a satisfied hum.
"You're pretty good at this," she said after swallowing.
The earlier awkwardness… well, it hadn't quite vanished, but at least she could speak to Stelle normally now.
"It's all thanks to the pork and the spices." Stelle lifted a skewer and studied it.
She really hadn't done anything special—just cleaned the meat, given it a quick marinade, and set it on a simple rack to roast.
"Really? But I once had grilled meat at a Mondstadt tavern. It tasted fine, yet it doesn't compare to this." Mona stared at the meat on the rack.
The aroma was extraordinary; besides Stelle's skill, what else could explain it?
"Maybe I've got a gift?" Stelle rubbed her chin, recalling the past.
She'd never cooked alone, never even touched a grill before.
Perhaps she really did have the makings of a master chef?
Maybe she should seek out Lumine for some cooking tips later.
"Here, Mona." Lost in thought, Stelle took a finished slice and handed it to her.
"Th-thanks…" Their fingers brushed, and Mona's cheeks flushed faintly again.
"It's nothing…" Watching Mona's reddened face, Stelle was briefly dazed.
For some reason, Mona looked especially alluring like this.
Even the grilled meat seemed less fragrant.
"A-hem, I'll go pick some fruit." Stelle cleared her throat and stood slowly.
Eating only grilled meat, no matter how tasty, could get cloying.
There were plenty of ripe Sunsettias nearby.
They'd make a good palate cleanser, or even a nice jam.
More importantly, she needed a moment to cool off.
"Mm… mm…" Mona's voice was soft; whether from Stelle's stare or not, her shyness was obvious.
—
Lunch passed quickly; Mona resumed her work while Stelle cleared up the remains.
Night had fallen—the moment of trial—and Stelle was ready.
Dinner was simple: a pot of broth made from the leftover meat.
Though the pot was only one of Mona's basic alchemy tools and couldn't hold much, it was enough for two girls with modest appetites.
After eating their fill, Mona returned to her work.
Under the decent starlight, she was beginning to piece together what the meteor—the Constellation's owner—had once experienced.
With nothing else to do, Stelle began setting up the tent ahead of time.
"Th-this is your tent?" She stared at the tiny thing in her hands, astonished.
"Mm, it's portable, so it's only this big… but the two of us should fit, just a bit snug." Mona didn't look up, her attention wholly on her divination.
She answered absent-mindedly and said nothing more.
Immersed in her work, she clearly hadn't grasped the gravity of the situation.
"I… see." Stelle lowered her gaze to the little tent.
Once pitched, it would indeed just barely hold the two of them.
But the problem was, this felt way too forced.
Sleeping pressed together, if something went wrong… no, not if—something definitely would.
If she didn't put some distance between them, she absolutely wouldn't be able to control herself; of that she had no doubt.
And Mona most likely wouldn't say no.
Tonight they could let it happen naturally, and one more romantic debt would be added to her tab.
"Sigh, forget it." Stelle let out a slow breath; she figured she could struggle one last time, and if it didn't work she'd just let things take their course.
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