Dawn had not yet driven away the dark when their steps traced the city that once embraced suffering.
After a bloody battle against the KIREZO army, Arya and his group didn't bring victory they brought the hope that remained.
Fifty-seven souls survived, children and young women. The victims weren't only from LATREL city but also TYUIA, IARES, and UTERI.
But seven others… returned in silence, wrapped in shrouds, to families who waited only to say goodbye.
That day, there were no cheers. Only silence, only grief too deep to be shouted.
After sending the victims home, Arya and his group returned to the vehicle as noon approached.
They decided to sleep, resting bodies that had been forced to endure too long.
After sleeping for about seven hours and night once again blanketed the sky, they continued the journey.
Dina glanced at Venus. "Venus, do you know anything about the KIREZO Kingdom army?" she asked with a curious tone.
Venus turned, her face flat. "Brutal, like the Seven Eclipse. But they… are more brutal."
Dina narrowed her eyes. "More brutal?"
Venus nodded slowly. "We do like killing humans… but King Sekius limits us to only kill criminals." She paused a moment, then added in a calm but serious tone, "Not that I'm trying to normalize it, okay."
She took a sip from the beer in her hand before continuing, "But them? They capture and slaughter anyone they deem unaligned. Doesn't matter if they're children, women, or innocent people… all seen as thorns to be plucked." Another sip.
Arya joined in, "So, do you know their group name and how many members they have?"
Venus shrugged. "Group name? No idea. They're too secretive, and I'm not the type who bothers finding out unimportant things."
She took a breath, then looked at them with a faint smile. "But the number of members? You can guess for yourself. Each person earlier had subordinates. Unlike us in the Seven Eclipse, who rely on individual strength. They… prefer hiding behind an army."
Dina folded her arms. "So they rely on numbers?"
Venus smirked a little. "Numbers are comforting for those afraid of losing alone."
For a moment, no one spoke. But the silence broke with loud laughter from Gamma.
Gamma suddenly spoke. "Hahaha! I won! Yui lost again!" he said proudly.
Yui looked down. "Gamma is so strong! Big brother Arya, how do I beat Gamma?" she said softly.
Arya turned. "How to beat Gamma? Hahaha! Even big sis Dina always loses to Gamma, Yui!" Arya laughed.
Dina glanced annoyed. "Don't bring me into this!"
Arya laughed. "Hahaha!" Arya looked around. "Eh, where's Raius?" he asked while looking.
Venus looked toward Raius's room. "Went to his room. He said he wanted to maximize his barrier." Venus answered teasingly.
Arya looked at Raius's door. "That kid is always hard on himself and tries to act grown up. Even though I told him not to rush."
Dina turned to Arya. "You're the last person who should say that." Dina said, puffing her cheeks.
"What?! I'm awesome though!" he said confidently.
"Yeah yeah!" Dina replied in annoyance.
After 1.5 days of uninterrupted travel, they arrived at Atbek city in the morning.
The vehicle slowly stopped. Arya walked to the lounge, knocking on the bedroom doors.
"Wake up! Gamma, Yui, Raius, Dina, Venus!" he called.
One by one the doors opened. Dina appeared with messy hair and eyes still half-closed.
"Yawn… What's for breakfast, Ar?" she asked sleepily.
Arya pulled her out with a proud smile. "I cooked rendang. Took a while to cook, but it tastes amazing," he said.
Dina raised an eyebrow. "Where'd you cook it?"
Arya pointed to his storage room. Inside, a small golem was stirring rendang in a huge cauldron, its movements steady and tireless.
"Auto-stirring golem. My own creation," Arya said proudly.
The storage room smelled fragrant. Very fragrant.
Inside, two golems made of metal stood in front of a big cauldron. Both hands were spatula-shaped, moving in a consistent rhythm stirring the simmering rendang. Steam from the spices filled the storage room, its aroma sharp but enticing.
"Rendang…" murmured Venus, approaching while sniffing the aroma. "Food from the South. Said to take hours to cook, and the meat's flavor… as if it holds the magic of taste."
Arya grinned. "Rendang stirring golem. Specially designed for thick saucy dishes that must be stirred constantly to avoid burning. I modified it from a weaving golem. Named it: Rendang Stirrer Mark II."
Dina sniffed with sparkling eyes. "The spice smell is insane, Ar. Makes me drool."
Yui came closer. "Is this... food magic?"
Arya nodded. "You could say that. I found the recipe in an old book from the Southern Library. This dish was once served to kings and warriors, because it lasts long and its flavor grows stronger with time."
"This is from Padang, a city from my previous world... but I found the recipe in the world of DIRU too. Did someone reincarnate here as well?" Arya thought to himself.
Raius peeked in. "So… we're having royal food for breakfast?"
Arya grinned. "Of course."
"You guys take a bath first, Raius use the bathroom in the vehicle." Arya turned and left the vehicle. "I'll prepare the meal now."
"Okay." they answered together.
One by one they left the vehicle and walked to the communal bath built a bit farther from the vehicle. Warm water had been prepared earlier by Arya using water magic, and Arya's homemade soap was neatly placed on a flat rock.
While the sounds of laughter, splashing water, and quiet chatter came from the bath, Arya stayed in the storage room. He lowered the magical stove's heat slightly and checked the thickness of the sauce.
"Alright, it's ready." Arya muttered quietly.
Two Rendang Stirrer Mark II golems kept working tirelessly, their spatula arms moving in a circular motion.
Arya set up a foldable table and several portable wooden chairs in front of the vehicle. He brought out rice from his custom device, its aroma fluffy and warm, then arranged plates and spoons. All done in silence, accompanied only by the golem's gentle hum and the occasional chirp of morning birds.
Not long after, the group members returned from bathing. Raius came out first, shaking his wet hair casually. Followed by Venus, Yui, and Gamma in relaxed clothes. Dina came last, wearing loose sleepwear and biting the edge of her towel, still drying her long wet hair.
"Whoa…" exclaimed Yui, eyes wide. "The aroma got even stronger after a bath."
Arya nodded. "Perfect time to eat."
He opened the cauldron lid. Instantly, thick, tantalizing spice steam filled the air. The rendang had darkened perfectly, the meat glistening, coated in thick sauce that seemed to merge with every fiber.
Dina stepped closer, nearly drooling. "I can't wait. Ar, hurry and serve it."
Arya only chuckled softly, then began spooning the rendang onto each plate, placing it over warm rice with added fresh pickles and slices of boiled egg.
"Go ahead. The most luxurious breakfast." said Arya.
They sat around the table. A moment of silence. One bite... then a chorus of amazement followed.
"DELICIOUS!" exclaimed Gamma, eyes wide.
"The meat texture melts, but is firm… as if it holds the memory of a battlefield," said Raius seriously.
Venus slowly nodded. "A deep flavor. Not just from the spices. But… like there's history inside it."
Arya was silent for a moment. He knew Venus's words weren't just praise. This rendang did hold a mystery. How could food from his world exist here, with an identical recipe?
"Maybe we're not the only ones who came to this world…" he muttered quietly, almost inaudibly.
Dina broke the daydream. "Ar, can I take a portion for later?"
Arya nodded. "Go ahead. I made plenty and it lasts long."
"So tasty!" Raius ate heartily.
Yui smiled while sipping herbal tea. "Big brother Arya, if you opened a rendang stall, the world would be peaceful. All conflicts could be solved at the dinner table."
Arya laughed. "Unfortunately, the world isn't done making problems."
He looked up at the sky briefly, then bowed again to eat his rendang. Warm, deep, and bringing out a longing… for something unknown.
A peaceful morning breakfast filled with their cheerful chatter and birdsong, The aroma of rendang spread everywhere due to the blowing wind, and... Such a peaceful atmosphere...