The Extra's Odyssey

--(Past || After Tristan placed his bet for Mother Mash v/s Mr. Pepe)—

Two people were sitting across from each other in a tavern while a waitress noted down their orders.

"Sir, what will be your order?"

"We haven't eaten anything since the morning, so…"

Tristan sat with a smile while Nathan's gaze ran through the menu.

'Why did he suddenly call me to have lunch together?'

Tristan's whole body was tense as he tried to guess the reason why Mr. Pepe requested a meeting with him.

"Two wontons serving with green garlic sauce and chili garlic sauce, Sheet Pan Lemon Garlic Salmon, Garlic Mushroom Pasta, and finally Black Garlic Chocolate Cake."

Listening to the order, Tristan tried to interfere. He was a vampire; garlic wasn't on the list of things he wanted to try.

However, Nathan spoke before he could.

"Since I was the one to call you, let me treat you."

'That isn't the problem. Why garlic? Who likes that… that abomination?'

Tristan nodded his head with great difficulty. He felt sour that Mr. Pepe liked garlic a bit too much.

'I have no savings left, the championship seems impossible to win and my first proper meal in weeks is filled with garlic.'

Lamenting his luck, Tristan was engaged in small talk by Nathan until the food arrived.

The aroma of dishes tickled his nose, his mouth watering, and he watched with anticipation as the young woman set up their plates.

"Please." Nathan asked Tristan to begin.

Tristan gulped.

His hands moved swiftly yet elegantly as he picked the knife and fork up from the table, laid them down neatly beside each other, and then carefully placed his napkin on top.

His eyes were fixed straight ahead of him, his mouth slightly open to help him breathe in deep breaths through his nose.

The slight aroma of garlic pricked his nostrils, but he showed no signs of hesitation.

'Beggars can't be choosers.'

Besides, with his pure bloodline, garlic was at best a slight irritation to him, like the pungent scent of human sweat. Although it felt unhygienic and nauseating, the aroma of food was enough to overpower it and make his stomach rumble with hunger.

'tasty~'

The food melted the moment it touched his tongue.

He was so hungry that he could have eaten a full-grown horse with ease, but he ate slowly because he wanted to savor each morsel as much as possible.

Nathan watched him with interest.

Tristan must have been hungry for a long time. In the novel, before finding the dungeon, he was barely eating once in three days and even the amount was paltry.

Yet, his beautiful dining showed his upright upbringing.

Even famished, he was eating dignified, chewing every bit slowly to savor his taste.

The two ate in silence until the end.

Finally finishing the dessert, Tristan opened his mouth.

"Before we start, can I have another serving of dessert?"

He knew Nathan must have something to talk about with him. Although he didn't know what it was, he still shamelessly used the opportunity his fill his belly.

His pride as a prince?

He already lost that pride on the day he ran away with his tail between his legs while his planet was being massacred.

"Yes, please feel free to order more. Excuse me, can we have one more serving of Black Garlic Chocolate Cake!"

'Again with garlic?'

Tristan's eyebrow twitched, and he wondered if the human in front of him was doing this purpose.

However, he knew it wasn't possible, his disguise skills were perfect. Even at this moment, if you took his hair and blood samples, they won't match his original results.

Nathan calmly watched Tristan as he ate.

'I'm sure of it now.' From the corner of his eyes, Tristan also kept scanning Nathan. 'I can see his face, but for some reason, I can't create his image in my mind. It's like meeting someone unfamiliar in dreams. You know how they look, but you don't at the same time.'

Licking the bowls clean to the point they reflected even the dimmest of light, Tristan wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"I must say, that was a delicious meal."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. We should thank the locals who recommended this place."

Tristan internally frowned.

He felt it was suspicious that someone with unknown origins, like Mr. Pepe, was trying to meet with me.

With a businessman-like smile on his face, his gaze swept through the tavern.

The place was lively, but that wasn't surprising given it was just after noon and half of the Underworld's populace were making their way to lunch or taking a break from their work.

That said, the crowd gave him a sense of security.

In a place like this, should Mr. Pepe try to harm him, he could get help immediately.

Nathan, noticing Tristan was comfortable, decided to get to the topic at hand.

"I heard that you were looking for 'Klytarn'?"

Clatter-

"Excuse me."

Tristan picked up the cutlery he had dropped.

"Klyntarn? Who is that?"

Nathan smirked when he saw Tristan playing dumb.

Klyntarn was the parasite that lead Tristan's planet to destruction. It can take over dead bodies and gain all their memories and abilities.

The parasite would find a new planet, kill its habitant and host the corpses by dividing itself, and build its forces until it could take over the planet.

By the time it takes over the planet, it had already consumed every life force on the planet. After this, it will leave the hosts and combine, and then move to the next planet.

Currently, Klyntarn was on Earth.

This was the reason Tristan came to Earth despite having the means to go anywhere in the universe.

Tristan had wasted his one chance to move to any location in the Universe, given by his family artifact, to follow after Klyntarn.

"Is that so?" Nathan nodded to himself before standing up. "I think I got the wrong info. Sorry for taking your time."

Nathan walked to the counter to clear the bill and ultimately leave the tavern.

Watching Nathan leave like it was no big deal Tristan's mind was plunged into chaos.

'How does he know about Klyntarn?'

'Is he really leaving?'

'Doesn't he know about Klyntarn? Given the fact his planet could be devoured by Klyntarn, shouldn't he be more desperate for information?'

'He is only acting tough. He'll come back any second.'

Nathan finished clearing the bill and started walking to the door.

'Any second now'

He reached the door and opened it.

'Now, he'll turn back and ask if I'm sure about…'

Nathan stepped out of the tavern and left without so as much as sparing him a glance.

"He left…"

Tristan mumbled to himself in a daze before suddenly springing to his feet.

"Wait!"

Tristan himself had been desperately trying to find any information on Klyntarn. This was the first hint he got in years!

He couldn't let it go!

He jumped out of the door and swiftly swept the surroundings with his gaze.

"Where did he go? I need to fi-"

"Are you also leaving, Mr. Kaiser?"

A familiar voice came from behind.

Turning around, Tristan saw Nathan standing beside the door with a light smirk.

At that moment, he realized. He had been had.