I was reincarnated as bait for the summoned hero
As a result of steadily and steadily diving into the Anheim Dungeon at a pace that didn’t push me too hard every day, I had unknowingly reached the fiftieth floor.
Thanks to avoiding magical beasts and focusing on descending to the lower levels, where there were fewer troublesome floors with bad drop items and low rewards, I seemed to have been able to speed things up.
This morning, excited that today was finally the day I would reach the fiftieth floor, I received a message from the golden dragon Rei after a long while.
I took out my magic hand mirror and peered into it.
As usual, the handsome figure in the mirror grinned broadly.
“It’s been a while, Tohma .”
“Yeah, it’s been a while. It’s good to see you’re well.”
It’s a little strange to say “you’re well” to the strongest golden dragon.
It seemed like he thought the same thing, and I was met with a chuckle from the man on the other side of the mirror.
“How about you? Finished with work?”
“Well, yes. Without issue.”
Rei had been out in a dungeon, dealing with the demon tribes and suppressing the dungeon’s overflow, while secretly stirring things up to help. His smile was reassuring.
Although he couldn’t openly ally with the heroes or gods of creation, judging by his satisfied expression, it seemed that his efforts had paid off.
(I’ll ask for more details once we meet in person. But I’m sure those guys were quite helped.)
I’d have to prepare Rei’s favorite food as a thank-you gift.
He loved meat dishes, of course, and he was fond of noodle dishes and sweets from this world, which weren’t available in his world. That would likely end up costing a lot of points I had earned in the Anheim Dungeon…
(Well, I can earn more points later.)
I thought about my cousins, who were traveling by ship to the Empire.
Apparently, a sea journey in this world takes about half a month.
If the demon tribes had continued their schemes while they were immobilized, it could have become a major problem.
I’m truly grateful that Rei, in the guise of suppressing the dungeon overflow, took care of those demons.
It’s unfortunate for them, but if left unchecked, it would’ve been a global crisis.
(I really can’t understand the demons. Even if they worship a destructive dragon, there’s nothing but despair awaiting them in the future.)
I’m really glad that Rei, as a golden dragon, has developed an interest in the cooking and culture of Earth, and has come to dislike the idea of this world being destroyed.
(I need to get him even more hooked on the cooking and culture made by humans!)
First, I need to grab his attention with a home-cooked meal after such a long time.
The magical beasts and monsters get stronger from the fiftieth floor onwards, so I expect the meat drops to get better too.
“Since you contacted me, does that mean you’re ready to meet up soon?”
“Yeah. I’m currently in a town with a dungeon in the kingdom. If I leave now, I should be able to reach Anheim by nightfall.”
“I see. Then I’ll come pick you up when you’re nearby.”
“Fufu… I’m looking forward to it.”
If a giant golden dragon shows up, Anheim will go into a panic.
So, I decided we’d meet just outside the city and cut off the magic communication tool.
“It’s probably a good idea for him to arrive late at night so he doesn’t stand out too much.”
After a few mistakes in the past, it seems Rei has finally learned to be more cautious.
Even divine beasts grow day by day.
“Then, let’s head into the dungeon as usual and hunt for some delicious meat.”
“Nyaa!”
Ketsue seemed excited, his tail standing tall and his body filled with energy.
“I hope there’s a Blood Bull on the lower floors…”
Everyone’s favorite, Blood Bull meat.
It’s a type of magical beast meat that has a delicious quality close to premium Japanese Wagyu beef.
It’s perfect for grilling, making steaks, stews, or even having as a cutlet, and before I knew it, I’d run out of stock.
(Since it’s Rei’s favorite, I’ll try to find some in the dungeon. If not, I might have to go to a butcher.)
It’s been nearly six months since I was reincarnated into this world.
As someone who has hunted and eaten magical beasts and monsters on my own, buying meat from a store feels a little frustrating, but…
“Well, I’ll just pray that we can get some today.”
“Nyaa?”
“Even if we can’t find Blood Bull meat, we’ll just have to hunt for even tastier meat, right? Ketsue, you’re so clever.”
The fluffy cheeks of Ketsue puffed up as he proudly sniffed the air, looking way too cute.
As I hugged him and rubbed my cheek against him, I was caught by Shella , who had just woken up and was rubbing her eyes.
“Good morning, Shella . It’s a nice morning, huh?”
“Good morning, Tohma . Ketsue is still the same, huh…”
It felt a bit strange to be ignored like this, but it’s the usual thing.
Sadly, my cuddle time with my beloved cat ended, and I hurried to the kitchen to make breakfast and prepare lunch.
◆◇◆
“We get to meet the golden dragon tonight!”
For breakfast, I made a Cockatrice teriyaki chicken sandwich. I grilled plump thigh meat with a sweet and savory glaze and added shredded cabbage, making a simple yet delicious sandwich with a generous portion.
For lunch, I packed a bomb rice ball with a variety of side dishes like fried chicken, braised pork, and tamagoyaki, which were easy to eat.
As an adventurer, I prioritized meals that were filling.
I always decided on sandwiches or rice balls for lunch, since they were easy to eat in the dungeon.
When I told Shella about what Rei and I had discussed, she was overjoyed and excited, just like Ketsue.
She seemed to regard Rei as a benefactor for rescuing her from the trauma she had carried since escaping from the village.
“He likes Blood Bull meat, huh? I get it. That’s some really good stuff…”
Ketsue nodded enthusiastically.
Shella , being a carnivorous girl, had enjoyed eating Blood Bull meat too, now that I think about it.
“Then, today! Let’s go hunting!”
“I hope we can find one near the fiftieth floor. Rei likes Minotaur meat too, but they’re probably not in the intermediate dungeons…”
“What’s Minotaur meat?”
“Oh, Minotaur meat. It’s even better than Blood Bull meat—basically a superior quality beef.”
It was high-quality meat that could be eaten raw.
I remembered that even raw steak and tartare were absolutely delicious, with the meat practically melting in my mouth. I had devoured it so quickly.
Unfortunately, I had already run out of that meat stock.
“Minotaur… Isn’t that the final boss of the advanced dungeon?”
Shella whispered, looking pale.
Was the Minotaur really the final boss?
“No, that’s not it. The Minotaur is the floor boss of the deeper levels, and the final boss of the dungeon is the Griffin.”
“Griffin…”
Shella ’s complexion changed from blue to white.
“The Griffin was strong, but it was a monster whose meat couldn’t be eaten. That was a shame. The points and experience were delicious, though.”
“I see… I thought I had gotten quite strong, but it seems I still have a long way to go. I’ll change my mindset and do my best.”
“Hm? Uh, do your best?”
It’s good to see her motivated.
And so, with determination to hunt lots of delicious meat for Rei, the three of us set off for the Anheim Dungeon.
Dinner was light, and after eagerly exploring below the 50th floor, Shella and Ketsue were already fast asleep.
I was bored waiting alone, so while waiting for the golden dragon to return, I spent my time locked away in the kitchen, working on cooking.
Luckily, below the 50th floor of Anheim Dungeon, there were beasts with high-quality meat, so I happily hunted them down one by one.
I even secured the long-awaited Blood Bull meat, so I was completely satisfied.
I stopped preparing the roast beef and looked up.
A nostalgic presence. I was once again filled with that tension, the kind that makes the skin prickle.
“It seems they’ve returned.”
“Nyaa.”
“You woke up, Ketsue.”
I petted the tabby cat that had jumped onto my shoulder and decided to go pick up my friend.
I quietly left the house and swiftly ran through the town.
At midnight, when everyone was asleep, the city gates were firmly closed, but such things didn’t matter to me as a High Elf.
With a little uneven ground, I used it as leverage to run up the stone walls, scaling them vertically.
With a thud, I kicked off the ground and landed on the other side of the wall. Ketsue used wind magic to cushion the impact. My little one is not only cute but also quite capable.
I dashed along the road and reached a small hill.
A large full moon hung in the sky.
Backlit by the pale, bright moonlight, a familiar giant form appeared.
The golden scales were dazzling, and the purple amethyst eyes softened as they spotted us.
The golden dragon landed silently on the ground.
I stretched out both hands to gently hug its nose as it lowered its head.
“Welcome back.”
