Outside Ironflame City, beyond the blockade of the Barrier of Ten Thousand Eyes, behind a low hill.
Foster lay on a felt cloth with a double-barreled hunting rifle, observing the distant situation, while Gregory sat on the ground, bored out of his mind, pulling up wild grass.
Once the wild grass and flowers with sharp teeth were uprooted, they fiercely bit at his fingers. Yet his fingernails opened mouths in return and began biting the flowers he had pulled.
"What are you doing?" Foster turned back curiously.
The old man thought for a moment, then answered seriously, "I've been eating nothing but meat lately. Need some vitamins."
"Uh, does Hell even have those?"
"Look how huge and sturdy they are. They probably do, right?"
Even Gregory was no longer sure. After eating several, he sighed sentimentally. "Should've brought the sheep along. Wonder if they're doing well in the Caucasus."
"You raise sheep?"
"Yeah, lots of them. It's quite stress-relieving. Say, don't you raise anything at the Iron Crystal Seat?"
"We do, but they're all lab animals. Can't eat them, and they're all kept in sterile rooms, so you can't touch them casually." Foster shook his head with a sigh. "The cafeteria's mutton tastes awful too. Too much salt. Eat enough of it and you'll get high blood pressure."
"You people really have it rough."
"Tell me about it. The boss has severe depression, colleagues try to drag you off to drink strange tea every day, and the occasional normal-looking ones don't react to women but light up at the sight of Hell Creatures... They've all got issues."
"Want to come herd sheep with me?" Gregory suggested. "Camping is really relaxing."
"No. When I get vacation, I usually go to Hawaii."
Foster lit a cigar and said animatedly, "Beaches, beauties, booze,