"Is this going to be like the last one? Smells like heaven, but tastes like a sewer?"
Morgott turned to Mohg, pointing a finger at the crayfish currently sizzling over the campfire.
"Definitely not. This stuff is guaranteed to be delicious."
Mohg shook his head and gave Morgott a confident thumbs-up.
"...And how would you know? You've never eaten it before."
Morgott looked at Mohg with pure suspicion. After all, last time, this kid had tricked him into eating that godforsaken slug.
"Uh... anyway, it's definitely good. Trust me."
Mohg was momentarily speechless. He couldn't exactly say he'd eaten it in a past life... and to be honest, he hadn't actually tasted the "Lobster-bros" of the Lands Between himself. He couldn't 100% guarantee they wouldn't have some bizarre aftertaste.
"Tell you what—just watch me eat first."
Hearing this, Morgott finally gave a slow nod. Beside them lay nearly ten large crayfish. Mohg hadn't expected this area to be so rich in resources... in his memory of the future, there were no lobsters in the upper levels of the sewers.
Maybe because there was no food left later on, the Omen-born hunted them to extinction?
Wait... there shouldn't be any giant 'Lobster-bros' here, right?
Mohg cast an uncertain glance at the nearby murky river and instinctively shrunk back a bit. He prayed there weren't any; otherwise, they were in for a world of hurt.
Just then, a mouth-watering aroma wafted toward him. Mohg's eyes lit up. He knew the lobster had officially become a "cooked friend."
Ignoring the heat, Mohg reached out and grabbed a lobster that had been roasted a bright, vibrant red. He cracked it open instantly. The snowy-white meat was revealed, and as it hit the air, the fragrance became even more intense.
Without a second word, Mohg took a massive bite. The springy, tender texture combined with the fresh, sweet flavor made him feel like he had truly come back to life. Forgetting all about Morgott, he began to shovel the food in. Seeing this, Morgott understood immediately and joined the feast.
"(Munching)... I'm telling you... this lobster... why is it... (munching)... so damn good?"
"Mhm... (munching)..."
Morgott only managed a muffled grunt of agreement as he stuffed more meat into his mouth. They had been eating unidentifiable sludge in the sewers for so long that a real meal was something to be fought for.
"Burp~ I'm stuffed..."
Mohg let out a loud belch and leaned lazily against the stone wall, patting his slightly bloated belly. Morgott licked his lips, looking satisfied.
"I never imagined the sewers held such delicacies..." As he spoke, he cast his gaze back toward the wastewater river.
SPLASH—!
Suddenly, the sound of water erupting rang out. A massive dark shadow instantly loomed over Mohg and Morgott. The two froze, their bodies turning rigid as they mechanically looked up at the behemoth emerging from the water.
SNAP!
With the sharp sound of a giant pincer clamping shut, Morgott bolted. He grabbed Mohg's hand and lunged toward the ladder above.
Splash, splash, splash!
The sounds of water churning and something heavy scuttling behind them made their skin crawl.
"How is there a lobster that big here?!"
"How should I know?! You're the one who suggested coming down for food!"
"But you ate it too!"
"Stop arguing and climb!"
Whoosh—!
The moment they reached the ladder, they leapt up, grabbing the rungs and climbing with every ounce of strength they possessed.
BOOM!
Only after diving into a safe area above did they hear the violent impact below, followed by a cloud of rising dust. Mohg sat on the ground, wiping cold sweat from his forehead. If they had been a second slower, they would have been the "extra course" for that Giant Crayfish.
Looking at its size, it hadn't reached the world-ending proportions he remembered from the game—it probably wasn't a full adult yet—but it was still a solid three meters long.
Wait! Could that giant thing be the 'big brother' of the little ones we just ate?
Mohg fell into deep thought.
"What are you thinking about? Let's get further up; it's not safe here," Morgott urged from above.
"Oh, right. Coming."
Mohg answered, but as he started to climb, he felt a strange urge to look down. His eyes met the giant lobster's. Mohg blinked, then gripped the ladder with one hand and rested his chin on the other, appearing to think.
"Bleh~"
He actually made a face at the creature.
The giant lobster shuddered. Though you couldn't see an expression on its chitinous face, Mohg had a strong premonition: the thing was absolutely livid. It was shaking with rage. Wait... shaking?
A realization struck Mohg. He looked closer. The giant lobster was adjusting its posture, silently aiming its mouthparts directly at the two of them on the ladder.
"You've got to be kidding me, officer."
Mohg's face fell.
"Morgott, climb! The old man down there is charging his ultimate!!"
"Huh?!"
PHUT—!
THUD!
A high-pressure jet of water whistled past them, slamming into the wall above and leaving a deep, jagged hole.
"Holy crap!" Mohg swore, frantically kicking at Morgott's heels to make him move faster. Morgott abandoned all pretense of composure and scrambled up like his life depended on it.
"Did you provoke it again?!"
"Slander! I'll sue you for slander!"
"The King of the Golden Dynasty is summoning warriors from across the land?"
A man clad in foreign samurai armor slowly sheathed his blood-stained katana. He turned with a look of surprise toward the messenger behind him.
"Yes. Your elder brother will be attending, so he sent me to ask for your decision."
"Such a grand event... how could I possibly miss it? Hahahaha!"
Similar scenes were playing out across the regions beyond the Lands Between, much like the one in the Land of Reeds. Among these various heroes and legends was a man with a refined face that exuded an aura of absolute rationality.
Moke adjusted the silver hair near his ear and looked toward the Royal Capital. He had a premonition: his destiny... lay in that very place.
The Moke of this era was still young and full of vigor. The Golden Dynasty was at its peak, and Godfrey was hungry for talent. For him, this was the ultimate choice.
────────────────────────────────────────
My : https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Elden Ring: As the Consort, I Reject Miquella (88 Chapters – Ongoing)
────────────────────────────────────────