Shanshan's Request and the Dragon King's Banquet Reopens!

"You're one to talk, meow! You idiot!!" The old chief unhesitatingly bonked Shanshan's meow-head, saying angrily, "Meow, were you all sleeping when I was telling you stories, meow! I've definitely told you about dragons with tails like greatswords, meow!!"

"Huh?!"

Completely unprepared for a pop quiz here, Shanshan... was dumbfounded.

"When we get back, you'll listen to the stories again, meow! This time, meow, I'll keep a close eye on you!!"

"Nooooo, meow!!!"

A scream that could only be described as tragic, this was the final cry of a failing student.

Detel's mental state... was somewhat relaxed.

There was a pure beauty to it.

There were no complex thoughts, nor any scheming social environment. Even though records of the past and the experiences of their ancestors were kept, to be honest, with Detel's comprehension ability and cultural level, most of the recorded information was vague and confusing. It wasn't Shanshan's fault for wanting to sleep while listening.

Take, for example, the bizarre murals that were so abstract, you couldn't tell what they depicted.

The old chief's cane repeatedly struck Shanshan's cat head, while Shanshan covered his head and dodged. The other cats watched the show—these single-minded little guys seemed to have completely forgotten where they were and what they were supposed to be doing.

That is, until they suddenly felt something above them, and the bioluminescent moss on the cave ceiling seemed to dim.

The old chief's cane-swinging gradually slowed, and the smiles of the watching cats stiffened... All of them followed Shanshan's wide-eyed gaze.

In the cave behind them, the Greatsword Dragon had woken up at some point and was now looking down at them—a pair of crimson eyes so cold, devoid of any warmth, that just being stared at was enough to make an ordinary cat's legs go weak.

Xingyan was, of course, awake.

Even though the Dragon Slayer wasn't a dragon known for its keen hearing, the underground cave environment was relatively quiet, and any slight noise would echo off the stone walls.

However, unlike what the Detels imagined, Xingyan wasn't coldly observing them, contemplating how to skin and dismember them.

To be honest, after being woken up by a pile of noisy cat chatter, he came out and saw a group of bipedal cats gathered together, squabbling. Xingyan didn't immediately grasp the situation—why had his home suddenly become so lively?

"The, the Greatsword Dragon is awake, meow!!!"

After a two-second stare-down, an old Detel suddenly jumped up and shouted.

Purely on instinct, the six Detels who had been gathered together scattered instantly, some even trying to dig holes in the ground with their claws—the old chief even whacked Shanshan's backside with his cane, making Shanshan recall childhood memories of running away the moment he caused trouble.

The scene became chaotic for a moment, further confusing Xingyan.

What were these Detels doing at his doorstep?

Yes, he recognized these little guys as natives of the New World from the game, so he didn't have any immediate intention of attacking—then he watched these little guys, who had gathered at his doorstep for some unknown reason and were carrying Dragon Eggs on their backs, run around as if the sky was falling.

It was truly mysterious.

"Wait, something's wrong, meow!!" After already running a few steps outward with an egg, the old chief suddenly realized something was amiss. "Why are we running, meow?! Everyone! Come back!!"

He finally remembered why they were all here today.

"Please, please accept our tribute, meow!!"

Turning to look at Xingyan, who hadn't attacked but was tilting his head and watching them, the old chief tremblingly placed the egg on his back on the ground, then meowed on all fours.

He was somewhat of a backbone. After the old chief took the lead, the other old companions carrying eggs also ran over and placed their respective eggs on the ground.

"Please, please stop eating the stones in that direction, meow! Our nests are about to collapse, meow!"

"Meow, we can help the Greatsword Dragon clean its nest, meow! We can also steal eggs to feed the Greatsword Dragon, meow! Just like the Kulu-Ya-Ku, meow!"

"That's right, that's right! We have more people, stealing eggs is faster, and tastier!"

"We can also help the Greatsword Dragon take care of its young!"

"We can also mine! That way, the Greatsword Dragon won't have to eat stones itself, meow!"

"..."

At first, only the old chief was speaking. Following that, after seeing that Xingyan hadn't attacked, the other Detels began to chime in, shouting out their advantages.

It was like a large-scale job fair, with the Detels racking their brains to promote themselves, occasionally glancing cautiously at Xingyan's expression—unfortunately, the Dragon Slayer's hard, carapace-covered face revealed nothing.

And Xingyan... Xingyan found that he could actually understand what these Detels were saying.

He'd also like to say a few words—cough cough! Dragon words!

To be honest, it was a bit difficult to extract the main points from the chaotic, rambling cat chatter, like doing a reading comprehension exercise. Xingyan only vaguely grasped three points:

First, the stones and ore veins he had been frantically eating lately seemed to be beneath the Detels' nest, and they were worried he would eat them or cause their nest to collapse if he continued.

Second, these Detels wanted him to stop attacking them, and in return, they could offer meat or Dragon Eggs... These little guys even wanted to feed him by stealing eggs, just like the Kulu-Ya-Ku brothers.

Third, Detels lacked employment opportunities.

Uh, in short, these ideas truly made Xingyan want to complain. He felt that these Detels had probably misunderstood the main point of the matter.

Firstly, the Kulu-Ya-Ku brothers weren't offering him Dragon Eggs as tribute for protection.

But this kind of thing... gazing at the Detels below, who were looking at him with anticipation, Xingyan suddenly felt that this might be an opportunity?

"Roar, roar, roar roar!" (First of all, don't call me Greatsword Dragon, call me Dragon Slayer!)

What kind of name was Greatsword Dragon? Xingyan hadn't even reacted when he first heard it, it was too stupid—the Orc race's cultural level urgently needed improvement!

"Yes, yes meow!" The Elder Chief sprang up from the ground, "Dragon Slayer meow!!"

Understood!

He actually understood!!

Xingyan looked at the Detel with white whiskers in surprise. Considering the language barrier between Felynes and Detels, he could only say that he was worthy of being a native of the New World... a native beastman, or rather, a bit of a beast.

But it was strange. Among these Detels, only this old Detel with long white whiskers seemed to understand. The other Detels showed fearful expressions when they heard Xingyan's roar.

What a strange thing.

"Roar roar roar, roar! Roar roar roar!" (I can not destroy your nest, nor do I need you to offer me Dragon Eggs, and I can even protect you when you are in danger.)

"R-really meow?!!"

There was light! There was light in the Elder Chief's eyes!!

"What are you talking about meow?!" Seeing the Elder Chief's excited expression, his old companions also became a little excited, urging him curiously, "Ah! What is Dragon Slayer meow? What are you talking about meow?! Meow is so curious!!"

"Idiot meow! Dragon Slayer is of course—Dragon Slayer boss meow!!" The Elder Chief forcibly dredged up a term in his mind and pointed at Xingyan, saying loudly, "It's not some Great Blade Dragon meow! It's Dragon Slayer boss meow!!"

"But you were the one who said Great Blade Dragon... I understand! It's Dragon Slayer boss meow!!"

A Detel muttered for only a few sentences before standing at attention under the Elder Chief's pressing gaze.

"In short, Dragon Slayer boss said he won't destroy our home meow! And he doesn't need us to offer Dragon Eggs meow!! He can even protect us meow!!!"

"Meow?!!"

"There's such a good thing meow?!!"

The few Detels became lively for a moment. Xingyan didn't find it noisy. On the contrary, he found this scene quite interesting—who among those who played the game Monster Hunter wouldn't like their Felyne companions?

Cute, capable, smart, simply perfect.

Detels can also be Felynes!

"Roar roar! Roar roar roar!!" (Don't celebrate too early! If you want my protection, you still have to pass the test!)

"T-test meow?!" The Elder Chief immediately became nervous, "Is it a trial meow?! Meow knows this!!"

The Detel tribe's heritage also had legends of warrior trials. However, these trials were usually set up by the tribe for the strong Detel warriors. For example, Shanshan passed the trial and became the undisputed new chief.

He didn't expect Great Blade... Dragon Slayer boss to have a trial here too.

"Roar roar!" (Wait for me here.)

Leaving these words, Xingyan strode out of the cave after waking up the Kulu-Ya-Ku brothers and telling them not to be surprised.

It had been a long time since he felt this way.

Since he transmigrated to this world, it had been almost two years. Every day was either busy hunting for food or busy sleeping. This was the first time Xingyan had found something interesting enough to pass the time, something that could even be called entertainment.

He went straight to his hunting ground and, without much effort, killed an adult Carapace Dragon. He unusually kept the body intact and carried it back to his new home.

The Detels were still waiting here. Moreover, Xingyan noticed that more young Detels were observing in secret from the corners outside the cave and from the crevices above.

"Roar roar! Roar roar roar!!" (Use all your strength and make a delicious feast out of this guy!!)

Throwing the Carapace Dragon's corpse in front of the Detels, Xingyan announced loudly.

Food Wars 2.0, officially begins!!

That's right, Palico meal!

Anyone who has played Monster Hunter, who wouldn't like Felynes? Who wouldn't like the delicious Palico meals in it?

Except for dango.

And onsen tamago can go away too.

As a gourmet dragon (self-proclaimed), Xingyan had also tried cooking food himself. But unfortunately, due to his lack of flexible fingers and rich seasonings, the food he made, although tastier than raw food, wasn't much better.

But now it was different.

The moment he saw these Detels, Xingyan thought of Felynes, and then of Palico meals.

This was the logical thinking that every foodie dragon must have.

The beastman race had its own culture and language. In their communal life, they had naturally developed a pursuit of delicious food—meaning that the Detels not only had flexible hands but had also mastered the use of various seasonings throughout their long history!

A cat lives for a thousand days, used for a moment!

After roaring loudly to announce the official start of the trial, Xingyan curled up in a corner of his new home. He began to observe the actions of these Detels, watching these little guys run around noisily, calling out to each other.

The Detel who could understand his words was called the Elder Chief. Besides him, there was also a new chief, Shanshan. Under the command of these two chiefs, this Detel tribe was mobilized at once.

Some Detels were busy moving firewood into the cave for starting fires, some were busy setting up a barbecue grill, and more Detels were transporting fish and various stone bowls and wooden bowls into the cave, and even sealed pottery jars.

Yes, Xingyan was surprised to find that these little guys could even make pottery themselves to store things, although the quantity didn't seem to be much.

However, thinking about it, the Kulu-Ya-Ku brothers could occasionally dig up a pottery jar from the ground, so Xingyan wasn't too surprised.

Although the New World did not have human kingdoms like the Old World, there were indeed traces of civilization here. Beastman tribes, Dragonewt tribes, ancient Dragonewts, they had all lived hidden in the territories of dragons for hundreds of years, unchanging.

During the time Xingyan went out to bring back ingredients, the Elder Chief Detel had fully conveyed the current situation to his tribesmen. Therefore, upon learning that their tribe was about to undergo a trial, Shanshan led the young meows of the hunting team over.

Uh, but they never expected it to be such a trial... a gourmet trial.

No need for adventure, no need for battle, and definitely no need to risk my life.

This is--absolutely wonderful!!

"Oh! I'll make the grilled steak, meow! I'm the best at this, meow!!" Shanshan said, rubbing its paws together after blowing on the glowing charcoal.

It was most confident when it came to making grilled steak!

"Don't cause trouble at a time like this! Hurry up and get out of the way, meow!" A shiny-furred... beautiful Dettel, female, shoved Shanshan aside with its rear and said grumpily, "Just cooking the meat isn't considered grilling, meow! It'll be trouble if the great Dragon Slayer boss gets a stomachache, meow!"

"No way!" Shanshan protested indignantly, but its protest was completely ineffective against its childhood friend. It could only furtively glance at Xingyan, who was watching it from the other side.

"...The Dragon Slayer boss is so big, it definitely won't get a stomachache that easily, meow..."

It said in a tiny voice.