Before long, the three of them reached a gently flowing stream.
Celeste slid down Veyra's back and ran towards the stream. She placed her hand into the water and felt it flowing.
Then she suddenly jumped into the water, bringing a splash. Her action scared Lucien and Veyra; Lucien swam into the water to pull her up, while Veyra stood anxiously by the side of the stream.
"What are you doing?" Celeste was really close to catching the fish when Lucien pulled her out of the water, and the fish swam away when she looked back.
"I was just scared that you'll drown…" Lucien said awkwardly, his voice getting lower and lower.
"No matter what… thank you." Celeste knows that he was just worried about her safety, and gave a kiss on his cheek.
"Celeste, I want a kiss too; I was also very worried about you." Veyra sneaked between them and pointed to his cheek.
To maintain a fair and impartial attitude, she also wanted to kiss his cheek, but he suddenly turned his face away and caused her to kiss on his lips instead.
Veyra seemed to think that it wasn't enough, so he pulled Celeste into his arms, firmly gripping the back of her head, and brazenly gave her a long, deep kiss.
Of course, the result of that was another fight between him and Lucien.
Celeste felt speechless. She ignored them and focused her attention on the fish, and with the help of the system, she was able to catch them.
[Host, there's one on your left side.]
[Aim your fingers under its gills.]
[Just like that. Hold it tightly. (,,>ヮ<,,)!]
[Achievement Unlocked: Dinner Secured!]
[Achievement Reward: +3 Pairs of Chopsticks]
[Limited-time Quest Unlock: Let at least 5 beastmen taste your grilled fish and give it a good review.]
[Time-Limit: 6 Hours]
[Reward: +15 Survival Points]
"Thank you, system." Although the system is sometimes useless, if it weren't for it, she would have died under the spider's leg long ago.
[You're welcome, Host! As long as you tell me who you are choosing first—]
Before the system finished its words, Celeste slammed her fist on the blue screen, sending it flying into the sky and transforming into a streak of starlight.
[I WILL BE BACK AGAIN! (𖦹ᯅ𖦹)]
Then she turned to the two of them and said, "Are you done fighting? If you are, help me catch some fish, or you won't get dinner tonight."
Then she saw Lucien's foot planted against Veyra's face, forcing him back, while Veyra's hand was tangled in Lucien's long, green hair and gripping it back tightly.
"Oh my… this scene hurts my eyes." Celeste closed her eyes tightly and then opened them again, and saw them standing straight in front of her as if nothing happened.
Veyra even transformed back into a small arctic fox and jumped into her arms, rubbing his head tightly against her chest, but Celeste can never forget what she just saw.
She threw the fox into the stream, saying, "Go wash your face first!"
Then she looked at Lucien, who knew he couldn't upset her at this moment, so he also transformed back into his snake form and took a bath in the water.
As night fell, Lucien coiled his serpent tail around Celeste, and together they glided through the forest towards the city, with Veyra following behind.
…
Celeste started a fire with the dry branches she had gathered earlier.
She looked at the fish, her brows furrowing slightly.
Lucien noticed her expression. Although he was terrified of fire, he still stepped forward and took the fish from her.
With the system's instructions from before, Celeste taught him how to remove the scales, scrape off the gills, and gut the fish.
Seeing that the fish was almost completely grilled, Celeste sighed, "If only it had some salt."
During her time in the beast world, all the meat she ate was without seasoning. She wants seasoning!
"What is salt?" Veyra asked in confusion.
"Ummm… it looks like small, white particles. The particles look a bit like sand or sugar, and it tastes salty."
"Do you mean white crystal? But we tried eating white crystal before, and it does not taste good. I guess only the beastmen that live in the ocean like it."
"White crystal…? Do you still have any?" She asked Veyra.
"Yeah, I do… I will go get it for you." Veyra ran towards his house.
He returned shortly afterward, with a scallop shell in hand.
He opened the seashell, and inside was the white crystal that he had described.
Celeste dipped her finger inside and carefully licked a little. Then they saw her eyes light up. "This is it! This is the salt I wanted! Where did you get this?"
Veyra turned his head slightly, with his furry ears and tail twitching. "We traded with the sea beastmen. But because the females in the city don't really like the taste of it, there's not a lot."
He then added, "But if you like it, the next time we trade with the mermaid beastmen, I will get you some more."
Celeste nodded her head quickly, then Lucien pulled her back, put his arm around her waist, and said in a low, gentle voice with a hint of hidden jealousy, "Don't wait for him. If you'd like, I could take you to the beach when winter is over."
Celeste tilted her head and smiled at him. "I believe you."
Lucien looked down at her and bit her lip; his lips pressed against hers, with a hint of urgency. But this time, Celeste didn't push him away.
After the kiss ended, Celeste's eyes were slightly unfocused.
"Celeste, does this mean that you accept me?" Lucien asked nervously.
"I…"
[Host! I, the Survival System, am back! Did you miss me? ₍₍⚞(˶˃ ꒳ ˂˶)⚟⁾⁾]
Celeste clenched her fist and slammed it on the blue screen for the second time, sending the system flying again.
[Host! The next time I come back, I'm not gonna forgive you! ૮₍ ˃ ⤙ ˂ ₎ა]
Celeste wanted to give Lucien an answer, but then she saw thick smoke rising, and it came from—
"MY FISH!!!"