"Was that the Treasure Chest Monster from earlier?"
Alya asked as she approached.
She'd actually seen Gauss pull that lump of meat out of the chest, since her fight had ended early.
Still, wanting to make sure, she asked again.
After all, the "food" lying in the cast-iron pot before her, braised until it was red and fragrant, looked so different from the fearsome Treasure Chest Monster they'd just fought.
If she hadn't spent most of her time with Gauss, she might have thought he'd taken some prepared food from his Storage Bag and warmed it using the heat lingering in the chest.
"Yes." Gauss lifted the thick book in his hand. "I read that it might be edible."
He was growing ever more impressed with the author of Emerald Forest Surrounding Ingredients Compendium. To have recorded so much valuable information, the author must have devoted tremendous effort to writing it, with the selfless spirit of Shennong tasting every herb.
Unfortunately, he'd searched the entire book and couldn't find the author's name.
He'd asked at the bookstore, but all they knew was that it was an open-license book that any organization with the means could print and publish.
It also seemed to be part of a series, whose subject matter wasn't limited to the Emerald Forest's surroundings.
Alya's blue eyes swept over the thick book Gauss held in one hand, and her expression turned complicated.
"..."
"That book again."
Gauss had recommended it to her many times, but she'd always declined.
Without Gauss there to taste the food first, she wouldn't dare eat suspicious monster flesh.
She'd grumbled about Gauss plenty in her mind, but she had to admit that he was generally reliable when it came to preparing and eating monster ingredients.
At least, the few times she'd eaten