Extra's Perfect Ending

Chapter 165: Bland

Reeva had been looking forward to the meal. It would be his first time eating food cooked by priests, which felt special since it wasn’t every day one got to try a holy meal. However, when the food finally arrived, a harsh realization hit him.

They were priests.

It seemed obvious in hindsight. What had he expected from people who spent most of their time studying the teachings of God and praying? What he got wasn’t just far from gourmet—it barely qualified as presentable food.

If he’d known it would be this bad, he would’ve arranged to have burgers from his own place distributed during lunch.

The meal consisted of two things: a bowl of soup and a grilled potato. The soup had only three ingredients—carrot, some kind of greens, and chicken breast. The broth was pale, probably from cream, and just from the smell, Reeva knew it would be bland.

It wasn’t seasoned properly, and they hadn’t even bothered using flavorful vegetables to enhance the taste. From a nutritional standpoint, Reeva couldn’t complain—it ticked all the boxes for basic sustenance.

But the real disappointment was the potato. No salt, no seasoning, just a grilled potato on the side. He’d have been perfectly fine with it if they’d added something as simple as salt.

This meal really makes me feel like we’re in England, he thought sarcastically.

"Can’t we get a better meal?" he blurted out, staring at his tray in dismay.

A voice from the other side responded, without bothering to show its face. "You should be thankful that a heretic like you is getting any meals at all."

The tone was laced with disgust, which Reeva could practically feel. He sighed and accepted his tray of food, resigning himself to this miserable excuse for a meal.

Then, two more trays slid in, containing the same unappetizing meal as his. However, the last one was different.

"Miss Onia, please receive this," a priest said, handing over the tray.

What arrived for Onia was nothing like the others. It was a beautifully grilled fish with a side of mashed potatoes—actually mashed potatoes, with cheese melted in. Even from a distance, Reeva could smell the difference. It was cooked by someone who knew what they were doing.

IF they were any other faction, he would have expected this to be a blatant poisoning... or did he give the priest more credit than they have? since they even collide with a heretic, willingly. Maybe he has to lower the standard and accuse them of poisoning him sometimes.

"..."

Truthfully, he couldn’t take his eyes off that dish. And who could have resisted? Onia’s meal was miles better than his.

"Hey, mind if you share that?" Reeva asked, a sparkle in his eye as he pointed to the dish. Onia looked at him with disdain.

"I actually do, so back off." She said with a very firm voice.

With that, Reeva had no choice but to return to his bland meal. He started to think that the real punishment wasn’t being imprisoned, but being forced to eat meals cooked by priests.

They ate quietly, and Reeva’s suspicion was confirmed, his meal was as bland as eating water—except eating water would probably be more pleasant than this random assortment of vegetables. It felt like a recipe thrown together by desperate servants 3,000 years ago when they had nothing left in the pantry.

Bland.

Sometimes, bland was worse than bad. At least bad food made you feel something, but this dish? It was utterly forgettable. He glanced over at Onia, who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying her meal. However, after a moment, she caught him staring and shot him a smug look.

"Priest, I’m done with this," she said.

"What?" Reeva blurted out, seeing there was still some fish left. "If you’re not going to finish that, you should give it to me…"

But neither the priest nor Onia paid him any mind, and the plate of fish was promptly taken away. Onia turned back to Reeva, smiling triumphantly. Even the demons wouldn’t be happy with this level of pettiness.

After the meal, Reeva sat there pondering the mysteries of life—well, maybe not exactly, but it sure felt like it. Back on Earth, with free time like this, he would’ve done something meaningful. But here? In this mobile prison? He didn’t have that luxury.

It was only the first day, but with nothing to do, he kept going over escape plans in his head. He’d had a plan, back at his burger shop, but that plan got thrown out the window the moment they brought out this "special" carriage.

Really, who could expect them to put him on such tight security?

He could literally do nothing inside here. Whenever he tried to let his mystic energy flow, it would just vanish into thin air. He didn’t fully understand how this system worked, but the carriage seemed to absorb mystic power, causing it to "melt" right out of his body.

Reeva still remembered the first time his demon body had been dismantled by something similar. It wouldn’t work here... unless this place wasn’t as reinforced as the punishment rooms. Reeva doubted it, but it could be worth a try. No harm in checking.

He focused, expanding the coldness inside his body, letting his mystic force flow from the circle he had. The energy started spreading from his chest, traveling down to his arms and legs. But just as before, it seemed to slip out, dropping to the floor like water.

"What are you doing?"

Onia, noticing Reeva’s concentrated expression, couldn’t help but ask. Her question also drew the attention of Leon and Hilda. Hilda was likely scheming her way out of this situation, while Leon seemed resigned to his fate. The tribesman had been all doom and gloom since the journey started.

"Nothing," Reeva replied, deflated. He might’ve revealed a bit more if he’d gotten that fish for lunch…

With that Idea in mind, he reveals a sinister smile.