The Handbook for Completing Demi-Human Girls

Chapter 482: Bright Night Moon

Outside the cave where Fisher went to retrieve the Holy Artifact left by Angel Sorobato, under the leadership of Tsubaki and Gou Wen, the Serpent-kin orderly brought out the items from the settlement. Kakaro also mentioned he was going to deliver a letter to his elder brother Kakav, recounting how their tribe had been deceived by the Angel.

But Gou Wen always felt this matter wouldn't be so easy. Although for Angels, these matters were just things done in passing, for the Serpent-kin, it was not the case. That was the experience of two whole generations. Furthermore, they had done so many things for the Angel, only for it to end in vain; anyone wouldn't give up easily, and might even hold onto a sliver of hope, wouldn't they?

However, this was no longer something Gou Wen and the others should worry about. He prepared to integrate the Serpent-kin according to Tsubaki's prior arrangement, which naturally included their belongings and such...

"So, the Holy Artifacts left behind by you guys previously were sold to the Dragon Heart Continent? But why have I never seen them on the Dragon Heart Continent before?"

"We are not too clear either. A portion of the Holy Artifacts were given directly to fellow Serpent-kin on the Dragon Heart Continent, and another portion was sold to other Demi-human Races who needed them. But honestly, there aren't many such customers, because lower-ranked races either don't have money or simply cannot use them..."

According to Kakaro, the trade route discovered earlier by Tsubaki, Fisher, and the others was indeed an extra route of theirs. Gou Wen judged correctly; this road led to the Dragon Heart Continent. However, it probably went through many hands in between and was not a direct sale model. Only the Holy Artifacts brought to the Dragon Heart Continent's Serpent-kin were direct deliveries.

The reason was that the distance for selling was extremely long. The distance between Dragon Tail Island and the Dragon Heart Continent was like a chasm, even longer than traveling from the southernmost tip to the northernmost tip of the Southern Continent in the Next Life, and then completely crossing the entire Southern Ocean to reach the West Continent. Because at this moment, on the primitive landscape without the Mother Goddess's intervention, mountain ranges stretched between Dragon Tail Island and the Dragon Heart Continent.

The merchants the Serpent-kin interacted with the most were an oceanic Demi-Human Breed called the "Shark-Man Species." Gou Wen knew of this race; they were an oceanic Demi-Human Breed living in shallow seas, Completely Unrelated to the Whale-kin. It was also possible this bunch of Shark-men took the Holy Artifacts into the sea...

Gou Wen's gaze surged slightly. The Serpent-kin were inventorying all kinds of items, and Tsubaki also had to treat the hundreds of slaves here. Therefore, the time spent far exceeded their original estimate; at the very least, they couldn't head back now.

"Mm, I think this works too... You can train its reactions further."Mikhail prepared some dinner for everyone, then stayed by the bonfire to rest. When Gou Wen passed by, he happened to catch him Talking to Oneself. He glanced around in puzzlement, but there was only Mikhail alone beside him.

"What are you muttering about? Acting up again? Where's Fisher? He still hasn't come back, and the sky is already dark."

Gou Wen hastily used his Curse to check the other party's state at this moment. But the result showed everything was normal, and this fellow's aura was even somewhat high, appearing somewhat happy?

No, what are you muttering to yourself so happily about?

Mikhail was startled by Gou Wen striking up a conversation so suddenly. He immediately snapped back to his senses and looked at Gou Wen beside him. Only then did Gou Wen notice that a faint holy light of a Gospel was surprisingly flickering in his eyes, seemingly different from his original Microcomputer.

"I don't know where Fisher went. He hasn't come out since entering the cave earlier. Apart from the guiding Serpent-kin who was kicked out, no one else has come out. It's been almost half an hour, you can go check on him..."

Gou Wen raised an eyebrow and turned back. He didn't go find Fisher, but instead kept staring at the other party's glowing eyes and asked,

"Wait, wait, wait, first tell me why you were Talking to Oneself. What's the situation? Who are you talking to?"

Mikhail had already turned his head away, but unable to withstand the intensely curious Gou Wen at this moment, he still curled his lip and said,

"Archangel Michael... Just remotely communicating some technical issues, so progress can be a bit faster."

"Oh, oh, progress can be a bit faster... Wait, you guy resting in the room this afternoon, weren't you talking with Angel Michael..."

"No, I was sleeping then."

"..."

Mikhail said this expressionlessly, but Gou Wen squinted his eyes and looked at him for a long time, always feeling it lacked any persuasiveness at all.

Mikhail felt unnatural under his stare, so he handed a skewer of roasted food beside him to Gou Wen.

"...Eat something and stuff your mouth."

"No need, I'm not hungry."

During the time Gou Wen and Mikhail were conversing, because it was already evening when they originally came out, and now they still had to be busy with treating slaves and moving items, even if Tsubaki was a Mythical Species, it wasn't something that could be finished in a short while. Therefore, this place very quickly plunged completely into the darkness of night.

The dim night sky wasn't dyed with twilight purple clouds, thoroughly revealing the sporadically appearing stars in the sky and the moon situated right in the center, which wasn't considered bright but was exceptionally round.

At this moment, it was exactly the time of the full moon.

Gou Wen looked up at the moon in the sky, no longer chatting with Mikhail. He decided to go check on Fisher's situation, but before that, he still had a small private goal to accomplish.

He slowly walked among the Serpent-kin, sweeping over the items piled around as if taking inventory, and incidentally asked the other Serpent-kin,

"By the way, I forgot to ask earlier, what exactly is the matter with the thieves who have been constantly attacking your merchant caravans recently?"

That group of Serpent-kin looked at each other, flicked the tongues hidden in their heads, and shook their heads one after another. However, a few Serpent-kin of higher status knew a little bit of the rumors,

"About that... I did hear something, possibly related to what Boss Kakaro and Boss Kakav are troubled by... Because apart from us, there is another Elephant-Man Species tribe with equally robust power on Dragon Tail Island. They are different from us; they specialize in capturing human slaves. The Patriarch of the Elephant-Man Species has many sons. I heard the youngest yet strongest one has a very cowardly personality. The Elephant-Man Species Patriarch dislikes him very much. For peace between us and them, he planned to have this son marry our Boss Kakav's daughter..."

Gou Wen imagined the fusion of the Elephant-Man Species, roughly two to three meters tall, and the chubby Serpent-kin Species before him. For some unknown reason, his body shuddered; it seemed somewhat hard to imagine.

"But that Patriarch's son was unwilling to accept such an arrangement. Thus, on his way over with a group of slaves arranged by the Elephant-Man Species Patriarch for the marriage, he went mad. After beating to death the attendants beside him and the Brain Demon Race translator we hired, he jumped into the sea and committed suicide. But he was probably especially dissatisfied with the arrangement between his father and us, so after he died, he turned into a ghost, frantically attacking the merchant caravans of both our tribes..."

"Then, because he died during marriage, he probably also harbors hatred towards our Boss Kakav's daughter, so he attacks any female he sees. But when he discovers the one he found isn't Boss Kakav's daughter, he lets her go again, and then keeps searching. It frightened our boss's daughter so much she doesn't even dare to leave her boudoir... Sigh, but this also shows that the son of the Elephant-Man tribe leader was actually a very good person."

Gou Wen raised an eyebrow, not really believing such ghost and monster stories.

In the past, when he was at the bottom of the sea, he also believed in the story that Sea Ghosts would eat Whale-kin who stayed out and didn't return home. Then the eaten Whale-kin would turn into ghosts to seduce their compatriots to be eaten by Sea Ghosts. It scared Gou Wen terribly; every time he saw a Sea Ghost outside, he would be frightened.

But ever since his wife heard about this and personally slaughtered her way into the Sea Ghost lair, beating them until they pissed their pants and ran all over the Ocean, he no longer felt much fear towards these things. That fear... had probably, perhaps, all transferred to his own wife.

"Is that so... Then with your things constantly being stolen, putting everyone in a state of panic, you preferred to go to the Ideal State to ask for our help rather than looking for that Angel Sorobato for help? Could it be he didn't leave you any way to contact him?"

Gou Wen rubbed his chin and said puzzledly.

But the Serpent-kin flicked their tongues, appearing somewhat fearful.

"Angel Sorobato did leave us something to contact him, but he... um, after all, he is an Angel, and he seems to have a very bad temper. Boss Kakaro and Boss Kakav don't really dare to contact him. Ordinarily, he proactive descends to the mortal realm. We have never seen him either. It's good enough he doesn't take his anger out on us, let alone asking him for help..."

"Oh, something to contact him, what is it?"

One of the Serpent-kin flicked his tongue, turned around, and searched among the numerous items placed on the sandy beach outside. Very quickly, he found a glowing Horn. Gou Wen recognized it at a glance; it was a complete Holy Artifact, and surprisingly, not a Life Gospel Relic.

"Here, this is it. It's said that as long as we blow it, that Angel will sense we are calling him. But Lord Kakaro has never done so."

"Mm, I see, thank you."

Gou Wen seemed somewhat curious. He gently reached out and took the Horn handed over by the other party's chubby little hand. After a moment of silence, he squeezed these words out from his throat.

But before he could continue speaking, from the cave on the sandy beach, Fisher, leading the camel, walked out completely unscathed. Gou Wen slowly placed the Horn back in its original spot, then waved at him, gesturing for him to come over.

At the exact same time, within the Ideal State, beneath a cloudless night sky with gentle breezes blowing, smoke from cooking fires rose from the settlements of various races, symbolizing that the vitality of dining appeared exceedingly precious at this moment.

And candlelight flickered on the central stone tower. Asuka Karasawa quietly watched the deep moonlight below, not knowing what she was thinking about.

"Asuka, time to eat."

"Ah, okay, Madam Margaret..."

Hearing the gentle female call from behind, Asuka Karasawa finally snapped back to her senses. She withdrew her gaze from the cooking smoke below and turned to the smiling Margaret holding plates of dishes behind her.

Looking closely, many extremely delicious-looking foods were already laid out on the table. Those elegantly plated Western dishes garnished with meat steaks and unknown flowers instantly brightened Asuka Karasawa's eyes. She had never seen these foods before; even back in Japan, she wouldn't have had the opportunity to enjoy such delicacies.

"Oh my god, this food is too, too beautiful! Madam Margaret, your cooking skills are truly amazing."

"Just call me Margaret, Asuka... Originally, the ingredients I'm good at using aren't available here. But fortunately, when my mother taught me cooking, she told me to adapt to local conditions. There's also lots of bizarre-looking food in French cuisine, but they are all very delicious. Have you eaten baked escargot, Asuka?"

"Es... escargot?"

Asuka Karasawa stared blankly at Margaret before her, seeming somewhat shocked. That appearance amused Margaret. She covered her mouth and sat in her seat, incidentally pushing cutlery like a knife and fork in front of her.

"Rest assured, I've tried. The snails here can't be eaten, Tsubaki told me. You don't have to worry anymore."

"Oh, oh. I... I'm also not saying eating snails is bad. It's just that I might not be very used to it."

"Have you not eaten these before? What are they called where you're from?"

"Western cuisine?"

"Ah, pretty much that name."

Asuka Karasawa picked up the knife with her left hand, pouted, and said,

"No, I haven't eaten them before. My mom doesn't know how to cook, and even if she did, she wouldn't cook for me..."

Margaret noticed her low spirits, as her voice grew smaller and smaller towards the end. Because of this, she didn't continue asking for the reason. Instead, she smiled and said,

"Then it's fine if I cook for you. Quickly taste it and see if it's delicious."

"...Mhm!"

Asuka Karasawa was just about to cut the meat when Margaret smilingly reached out and swapped the inversely held knife and fork. Following that, she raised her own hands and demonstrated the specific method, slowly teaching Asuka Karasawa how to use a knife and fork to cut the meat steak.

Margaret was very good at cooking. It was true for the macaron desserts before, and even more so for the formal dishes now. After just one bite, Asuka Karasawa felt her taste buds assaulted, and her entire little face blushed bright red with happiness.

Well, during this period, she indeed hadn't eaten much good food. In the Sanctuary, the Angels didn't eat; she relied entirely on the fruits brought up by Helaire to fill her stomach. The food of the Elves in the Tree Continent tasted okay, but their appearance was just too weird; Asuka Karasawa simply lost an appetite looking at them. And while in the wild, the meals cooked by Teacher Fisher... um, Teacher Fisher only knew how to barbecue meat, he didn't seem to know how to cook much...

And tasting delicious food was the simplest and most direct way to experience joy. Asuka Karasawa deeply agreed with this.

"Is it delicious?"

"Delicious! It's truly too delicious, Madam Ma-"

"Margaret, just call me Margaret, Asuka."

"Oh, oh, Ma... Madam Margaret."

Asuka Karasawa paused, chewing on this name. Under the other party's smiling tacit approval, she called it a few more times.

The taste of this dinner was very good. Although Asuka Karasawa was still a bit unnatural at first because her familiar companions weren't by her side at the moment. Margaret had just invited Helaire and Nekelia over, but the people below said they had already eaten on their own, so Margaret had to drop it.

The two Transferred Persons enjoyed the delicious food while chatting about various trivial matters, about the places they came from, about their pasts...

"The Year 1996, huh. To me, that's something that happens a very, very long time later. Did anything happen during those 40 Years?"

"I... um, uh... Sorry, my history isn't very good. I only know about things after I was born, and only about my hometown too, sorry."

"What's there to be sorry about? This is very normal. When I was young, I only knew about the affairs of a few villages near Montmédy. Even after the creation of the Maginot Line, my husband went to the military, and I moved to Paris, I still only knew very, very little about the world."

"Was Margaret...'s husband a soldier?"

"Ah, yes. But he passed away during the war. Not long after, my child also died prematurely..."

"Did he die for the country..."

"I guess so, I don't know either."

Hearing Margaret's somewhat desolate words, Asuka Karasawa also felt a touch of sorrow in her heart, as if empathizing. But at this moment, she also seemingly understood why Margaret refused Angel Pandora's compensation.

Besides the matters of the Ideal State, even if she returned to her own world, there would probably be no one worth caring about for her anymore, right?

"Okay, okay, let's not talk about this anymore. Regardless, I must thank you for your help, our progress is very fast. To celebrate, cheers?"

Margaret smiled. She raised a wooden cup nearby, slightly sloshing the faint smell of alcohol from the nectar within. Exactly at this moment, Asuka Karasawa finally noticed there was also a wooden cup placed beside her plate.

Is this alcohol?

But I haven't come of age yet...

"Che... cheers."

But no matter what, Asuka Karasawa swallowed a mouthful of saliva and still raised the cup in her hand, clinking it against the cup Margaret held up. Then she closed her eyes, possessing the cautiousness everyone has when trying something for the first time...

Yet after taking a small sip, she only felt the sweetness of fruit juice.

Asuka Karasawa blinked, looking at Margaret before her, whose face was slightly flushed after a sip of alcohol. She just smiled and said,

"You haven't come of age yet, right? How can you drink alcohol? Yours is fruit juice..."

"Then... then Margaret still didn't tell me, making me think..."

"Haha, because you are too cute."

Asuka Karasawa shyly took a sip of juice, but her heart beat excitedly.

Right at this moment, even during such simple conversation, she seemingly felt an indescribable sensation she had never meticulously explored before. That feeling was as if Margaret before her was her own mother, possessing a connection so tacit it required no words.

Could they be related by blood? Could they look alike?

How could that be? Margaret was white, while she was Asian.

Perhaps this was entirely different from a true mother-daughter relationship? But Asuka Karasawa didn't know; after all, she seemingly had never experienced similar warmth, and naturally couldn't define such a feeling.

She only felt that being in front of Margaret was so warm and relaxing, a previously unfelt pleasure.

"The moon outside is very round, it's a rare full moon... But ever since coming to this world, I rarely have the leisure to observe these sceneries. Like now, it's still the first time."

Margaret drank some alcohol. This alcohol was brewed by the races of the Dragon Continent themselves, presented as a gift to Margaret when accepting them at that time.

She gazed at the full moon outside, seemingly relaxing exceptionally smoothly tonight, just like Asuka Karasawa.

"Mm, it really is very pretty... But didn't Teacher Fisher, Tsubaki, and the others say they would return before nightfall? Why haven't they come back until now?"

"There might be other matters. Later I will use the item Tsubaki gave me to contact them..."

"Okay, thank you, Margaret."

Margaret tipsily looked at Asuka before her. Subsequently, she took another sip of alcohol and spoke softly,

"Don't worry, our progress is much, much faster than I imagined. I estimate it will be completed early within a week. By then, you can also return to your hometown, can't you... By then, let's hold a banquet as a farewell."

"A banquet?"

"It doesn't count as a banquet; it's a traditional holiday from my hometown. The first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox is Easter. I used to celebrate this holiday often in the past, giving gifts and making many delicious foods. By then, when the loom is fully controlled and the Ideal State's situation is secure, I will make this day a commemorative holiday... What do you think?"

"Okay, then will there also be this much delicious food then?"

Margaret couldn't help but laugh. Touching her cheek, she said,

"If you want, I can make it for you tomorrow too."

"That's truly wonderful, thank you! I want to eat a few more meals before returning to Japan; I won't be able to eat it after going back..."

"I can teach you, then you can make it yourself."

"Eh eh, really?"

"Really. My mom used to tell me this too in the past. After I learned it, no matter where I went, I always had such delicious food."

Asuka Karasawa froze slightly, her eyes brightening up a little. Following that, she nodded vigorously, patting her chest to guarantee,

"I will do my best!"

"Haha, you're so cute. This isn't something that needs a guarantee. You'll quickly learn my specialty dishes. By then, my 'Montmédy, France Country Style' will be considered to have a successor..."

"Mo... Montmédy, France Country Style?"

"Ah, just a name made up on the spot. I used to always feel that my daughter would become a chef when she grew up."

"De... did she have an interest in cooking at such a young age?"

"No, it was just because she loved eating very much. But people who love eating won't have poor sensitivity towards food... Mm, if that really doesn't work, 'Montmédy, France Country Style' can potentially refer to other fields too."

"Hahaha..."

The candlelight on the high tower wavered gently in the night, concealing the conversation topics between the two women bearing a certain age gap.

The golden light in the pool slowly dimmed, drifting further and further from reality. The gentle breeze in the sky arose again, bringing a trace of spring warmth to the eternally unchanging land and customs. And that full moon, so extremely similar to the moon of the world they came from, was also so quiet. Thus, the crystal-clear moonlight born from it silently illuminated the distance between them, highlighting the connection between the bitterness of alcohol and the cloying sweetness of fruit juice...

At this moment, the Brilliant Night Moon shone brightly.