Chapter 44: Is it wrong to have a strong bond of brotherhood?
Reinhardt could roughly understand the meaning of 'love at first sight' from the literal interpretation of the words. 'Pursuit', however, was a novel concept, leaving Reinhardt somewhat perplexed.
What is he pursuing? And what does he demand?
His thirst for knowledge had been deliberately cultivated by the Storm Leader, and the amplified Son of God wanted to ask about the meaning of the term, but since the person in front of him was not Buster, he kept quiet and held back.
He knew he lacked common sense and that he was different from ordinary people. If he revealed these things, it could very likely cause trouble for Buster and their journey.
Therefore, Reinhardt maintained self-control and adhered to his cold and indifferent way of doing things.
One of the companions across the fire chuckled and muttered in a low voice, "Here we go again."
The other person appeared to be enjoying their food; their voice sounded somewhat muffled.
"Didn't you see how much his brother dotes on him? Budney, you'd better watch out for a beating."
Budney laughed instead of being intimidated: "If I had such a cute younger brother, I would cherish him too. But brothers are still brothers, and an older brother can't stop his younger brother from choosing a partner and pursuing happiness."
The people around burst into laughter, as if they had heard a very funny joke.
"Running towards happiness? Forget it, Budney, how many boys and girls have cried for you."
Budney shrugged, unconcerned: "Even fleeting happiness is happiness; at least we all had it once."
"Aren't you afraid he'll be heartbroken, and his brother will come after you?" Some people just love to stir up trouble.
Boudni pretended to scold him, saying, "Can you stop ruining my reputation? You're already thinking about getting upset before it even starts."
A steaming pot was roasting over the fire, filled with wild vegetables and mushrooms picked on the spot, as well as meat from an animal hunted by an unknown hunter. The aroma, warmed by the firewood, filled the air and reached everyone's noses.
Reinhardt was indeed a little hungry. As his stomach rumbled, his mind went blank, and he even had the thought that Storm should hurry back.
He didn't know this was called anticipation; it was just that the waiting time was slowly being stretched out, making him feel that the present moment was somewhat...boring.
Brother Storm didn't let the Son of God's boredom last long. Soon, he walked back from a distance, carrying a bear on his shoulder.
Snow Country is covered in snow all year round, and the biological rhythms of the creatures that inhabit it are different from those in other regions. Bears are awake all year round to hunt for food, and now is their most active time.
The team members each had their own skills, and hunting a bear was not a difficult task for them. However, when they saw Buster hunt a bear without making a sound and easily carry it back in a very short time, they still showed meaningful expressions.
Buster, being a magnanimous man, dragged the bear back and promptly stripped off its glossy fur, stuffing it into his ring to take back to Victoria or someone else to have it made into a hat or coat.
Reinhardt is too thin; it seems like he won't need much material, and maybe we can make another pair of shoes.
They'll be fuzzy brown potatoes then, it's hilarious just thinking about it.
The more he thought about it, the happier he became. Buster chopped off one of the bear's forepaws and generously tossed the rest of the body over the fire.
"Take what you want while it's fresh." After saying that, he took the chopped-off bear paw and sat back down next to Reinhardt, slicing it up and grilling it on the spot.
Others, including Boudni, naturally didn't hold back.
The aroma of the meat was incredibly strong, and the brown bear's abundant fat caused the meat to sizzle and drip oil as it was grilled. Even though Reinhardt couldn't see it, the aroma alone was enough to whet his appetite.
Reinhardt has a sensitive stomach, and Buster learned his lesson last night, so he's been unusually well-behaved today.
Taking a piece of tree branch that he had peeled clean, the Storm Leader used his dagger to cut the best-quality meat from the bear's paw into long strips and skewered them onto the meat piece by piece.
Just as he was about to hand the meat to Reinhardt, Conspicuous Bag took out his sweet potato and handed it to Reinhardt before Buster could.
"Now that your brother is here, you can accept my offer without worry. After all, if there are any problems, I believe your brother will kill me without hesitation."
Budni's sweet potatoes are a newly developed crop product that is not only delicious but also very nutritious, making them even better for people and the stomach. They are in no way inferior to bear meat, so he can present them with confidence and openness.
Buster, on the other hand, looked rather grim. With a sullen face, he handed the roast meat to Reinhardt and said coldly, "He doesn't need it."
Seeing that Reinhardt didn't react, Budney wasn't discouraged. As he withdrew his hand, he shrugged and said seemingly casually, "I know you two are very close brothers, and you're taking care of him, but he's an independent individual. Whether he needs it or not, perhaps you can let go at the right time and let him decide for himself."
It sounds very reasonable, so reasonable that Buster couldn't refute it.
Besides, he wasn't really the older brother.
Unfortunately, the Storm Leader was always domineering, and to him, these words sounded more like a provocation meant to sow discord.
But Reinhardt took his kebab.
That felt amazing!
Buster, the childish devil, raised an eyebrow at Budney, his smile not quite genuine.
Boudin was a very gentlemanly man. His elegant demeanor, gentlemanly manners, and appearance were the main reasons why he could linger among flowers and plants without ever leaving unscathed and receive great praise.
He considered himself to be very magnanimous, but the provocation from the man in front of him made him inexplicably displeased.
Smiling as he took back his food, he maintained his politeness and said, "Mr. Byrne really loves his brother; it's almost beyond the scope of brotherly affection."
Buster sneered: "Is that not allowed?"
Is it wrong to have a strong brotherly bond?
“Of course you can,” Budney shrugged. “But such excessive intimacy might become an obstacle to starting a new family if Mr. Hart meets his destined lover or you find someone you love.”
After he finished speaking, he immediately realized his "rudeness" and showed a hint of guilt.
"I'm sorry, I'm just stating my opinion, and it may not necessarily apply to your way of getting along as brothers."
After saying that, he took the bear paw meat he had roasted, took a bite, and showed a look of surprise, frankly praising the Storm Leader.
"This is a delicious dish. Thank you for your contribution, Mr. Byrne."
Boudney's earlier assumption that "Mr. Hart has met his destined lover" had already provoked the short-tempered Storm Leader.
Buster felt a tightness in his chest, as if his heart was being bound and constricted by tiny threads. He already harbored many grievances against Budney. Now, no matter how much the other man praised him, he felt it was a provocation.
Fortunately, he wasn't one to back down easily. Buster smirked and said coldly, "You have so many things to thank. You're so thoughtful. Now kiss the earth and my toes. They paid the most for this bear meat."
Unsurprisingly, the hypocritical handsome face darkened, and the petty and narrow-minded Storm Leader happily began to enjoy his spoils.
It was just a minor incident.
After finishing his meal, Budni created a semi-circular barrier to keep the cold wind out.
With two other teammates already assigned to keep watch, Reinhardt pulled his hood tighter and curled up into a blue ball next to Buster, whose body temperature was very high, and they drifted off to sleep side by side.
The good news is that he has gotten used to sleeping, and in most cases, he can fall asleep quickly as long as he is near the Storm Leader.
The bad news is that he's gotten too used to the presence of the Stormleader.
As the beautiful son of the gods pondered, his eyelashes, adorned with the starlight of the campfire, trembled slightly involuntarily.
With his cheek buried in his crossed arms, he frowned slightly, instinctively feeling that this was not a good thing.
Just like now, he should be alert and ready to deal with any unexpected situation, but because the Storm Leader is right next to him, he unconsciously relaxes.
I'm even feeling sleepy.
...He was really tired.
Lost in thought, Little Potato's fingers curled slightly, and his consciousness gradually faded.
Suddenly, Buster, who was standing next to him, stood up.
Reinhardt raised his head and was gently patted by a hand.
"Go back to sleep."
After saying that, the tall man walked around the fire and, together with his teammates who had stood up at the same time, stepped out of the barrier's range.
Just as he was wondering, the fox-beastman who was not far from him walked over.
He sat down next to Reinhardt, like a guardian successor.
“Don’t worry, it’s just a small problem, they’ll take care of it soon,” Budney said gently, reassuringly. “We just need to enjoy the moonlight tonight.”
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Author's Note: Buster: What do you know? Brothers for life!
Reinhardt (with a smattering of understanding, quickly applying the formula): You and Mark are brothers, so you're going to stay with him for life.
Buster (with a ferocious expression): Let him die!
Mark: ? ? ? No, what's it to me?
——
Let's fight! Let's fight!
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