56 Chapter 56: The Boar Hat’s Cook!

Chapter 56: The Boar Hat's Cook!

~Third POV~

Returning to the conversation out front of the Boar Hat Elizabeth began to explain herself with all three of them listening to her words, "The reason I'm journeying to search for The Seven Deadly Sins… is to put a stop to the Holy Knights. I shall never forget… all the times that you have helped me. But please… try to forget all about me. Farewell."

*Zsh*

Turning around to leave Mash questioned her making her stop in place in a curious tone of Elizabeth's claims, "Hold on, miss! You're going to stop the Holy Knights?!"

She paused as Hawk questioned her with beads of sweat falling on his piggy face, "The Holy Knights are the best in the Kingdom, our protectors. Aren't they heroes? Snort!"

Elizabeth paused giving info shocking all three of the boys with her words in a defeated tone, "They're all so frighteningly powerful, that each alone could rival an entire army. What if they waged a war against Britannia?"

Listening to her words they all paid close attention with Elizabeth tearing up placing both her hands to her chest, "A few days ago, the King was taken into custody by the Holy Knights when they staged a coup d'état. In essence, the Kingdom has fallen into their hands. To launch a war, they are recruiting people from the towns and villages in and around the Kingdom. They are forcing the men to be soldiers, demanding the woman and children to stockpile provisions, and making the elderly construct castle walls."

Elizabeth soon tears up away from gazing at the three young men continuing her explanation trying to remain strong, "Anyone who disobeys is shown no mercy. Soon enough, their influence will reach this region as well. The only hope to stop the Holy Knights… lies with The Seven Deadly Sins, and them alone!"

Hearing this Mash pointed out confused why couldn't he ask for others' help in a confused tone, "Why them though? Couldn't you have asked for others for help then Princess Elizabeth?"

That made Elizabeth flinch and due to her naivety answered Mash's question in a scared tone, "Wait… how did –"

Before continuing Mash simply pointed at her earrings along with her words making her silent at his claims in a casual tone, "Simple. The story would be no way for a commoner to hear. And your earrings with the Royal Family insignia. I took a shot in the dark guessing you're a Princess in Liones and hearing the news that one of the Princess is missing it was easy to connect the dots."

Elizabeth remained silent meekly nodding agreeing to Mash's claims with Hawk yelling out loud surprised, "Princess Elizabeth?! That means you're a princess of the Kingdom!!"

Elizabeth meekly nodded as Mash returned to his prior question in a confused tone, "But as a Princess couldn't you ask for others' help in your endeavor?"

However, that made Elizabeth cry making Mash take a step back feeling bad not wanting her to cry in a defeated tone, "I couldn't turn to anybody for help… I wore all that heavy armor so that nobody would recognize me… walking all that way until I was completely exhausted… I was so… scared… I don't even know your names… so I don't want to involve you three in this any further!"

Meliodas seeing this smirked as he offered his name stunning Elizabeth as he revealed his symbol of the Dragon, "In that case the name is Meliodas. That's my name."

Turning around Elizabeth's eyes widened stunned looking at Meliodas and the tattoo muttering in disbelief, "Melio… das…? Huh? It can't be. How could it? But… I mean… you look so young but that symbol… It's of the Dragon!!"

While Elizabeth was stunned seeing Meliodas Hawk introduced himself. But Mash used his [Eyes of Mana] to see a very large man with a peculiar curly mustache and thick plucked eyebrow. He has a fairly ordinary buzz-cut hairstyle and angular face marching his way towards them.

Turning them off Mash greeted Elizabeth introducing himself and excusing himself to take care of a Knight problem, "The name is Mash Bastion Princess. But can you excuse me one second, we have a… Holy Knight Apprentice coming towards us. I was ordered to take care of the trash if that's okay boss man?"

Meliodas curtly nodded giving him a thumbs up casually groping Elizabeth much to Hawk's annoyance at his perversion, "Hmm… alright then. You seem strong while I ensure our Princess is safe. Besides it would be a good way to judge your skills in action qualifying for the job."

Mash raised an eyebrow before shrugging his shoulders meeting up with the man as he used his [Observe] skill to gain info with a mild frown, "Let's see what I'm dealing here… what? Only level 15 Twigo? That's disappointing – [Huma]."

*SHINNG*

*SPLASH*

Casting a [Huma] spell tanking the slash attack from Twigo strike as the older man gruffed annoyed of Mash surviving, "Tch. My verdict of one unidentified person to be dead – "

Interrupting Twigo with a neutral expression Mash uttered his spell as the winds surrounding gave a command, "[Fura]!"

*Swooosh*

Swiping his arm the wind surrounding him followed the user wind slashes with a super high speed that can easily cut through wood, stone & flesh. Twigo eyes widened seeing the incoming wind blade.

*Shinng*

"Ack!"

Grunting in pain a noticeable slash is shown on his broken armor softening the cut, but he was bleeding clenching his chest and glaring at Mash readying his sword swing, "Ack! You foul foo! How dare you survive! I will not change my death toll –"

Interrupting the fool Mash glared at the man as his hand ignited activating his next spell directed towards Twigo, "[Goa]!"

*BOOOM*

Launching a high-level spell of the [Goa] spell reacted causing a fire explosion. Twigo has been blown up his body stood burnt still alive but remained unconscious as Mash sighed a breath of relief, "Whew… thought he would die to that. At the very least he won't be pleased seeing his mustache is gone now."

Turning around Mash quickly walked his way towards the Boar Hat seeing Meliodas viewing his actions with a confident grin, "Well, well, well you seem to be strong. And you're fine knowing that your boss is a wanted criminal from the whole Kingdom?"

Mash chuckled lightly at Meliodas question shaking his head and answering his question in a confident tone, "Yup! That means my boss is strong as hell. Besides that, how could I simply back away now not help Her Highness? After all, it's only right for a guy to help a girl in her time of need right?"

Meliodas chuckled at his answer with Mash asking another out of the blue getting his attention and bowing his head down, "But I was wondering if you can teach me a bit of swordplay? You were the captain, and I could use some pointers from you as payment like say… teach me your famous technique. The [Full Counter]?"

Meliodas hummed at his words before pinching his fingers together agreeing nonchalantly to his words much to Mash's surprise, "Hmm… sure why not? If you're helping me guard Elizabeth, I expect my cook to fight well. And I just so happen to be the very great captain of the Seven Deadly Sins."

But soon he turned his attention towards the tavern and asked in a curious tone walking towards the entrance, "Oh that reminds me. By chance do you know where the other Seven Deadly Sins are?"

When Meliodas was about to reach for the handle, he froze when Mash casually replied unexpectedly actually knowing where to find his comrades, "As a matter of fact I do. I know where we can find Diane in The Forest of White Dreams. I last saw her there she'll be glad to hear the news of her boyfriend meeting her again."

Meliodas paused at his words before muttering with a raised eyebrow sighing out loud at Diane's slander, "Wait is she still on about that? But it's completely one-sided though. Oh, well I'll clear that up later once we head there. But first, a quick detour to resupply my ale in Bernia Village then will meet with Diane."

Curtly nodding his head Mash followed suit till Meliodas spoke out loud with a cheeky grin plastered on his face, "Alright it's time we head out! Mama Hawk, can you please do me the honor?"

*Rmbl*

*Rmbl*

Rumbling from beneath them Mash managed to get to the Boar Hat tavern gazing surprised to see the building being lifted in a state of disbelief, "Bossman I know you called this the Boar Hat? But I didn't think you meant it literally!"

Coming out from the hill was Hawk Mama a humongous pig who wears the Boar Hat bar like a hat. Like Hawk, her ears are shown to be M-shaped. She is depicted to have lime green colored skin; this is because she is a shell composed of multiple layers of moss.

Regardless though Mash looked on top of the Boar Hat with a smirk on his face causing Meliodas to question his expression, "What are you smiling about? Is it that weird watching a giant pig move around?"

Shaking his head Mash merely replied with a grin on his face in an honest tone, "No not really. I'm just glad to meet up with a friend is all."

Meliodas just gave Mash a weird look before shrugging enjoying the view heading inside the Boar Hat tavern.

/////

Reaching their destination of Bernia Village Mash was left inside the place to look after Boar Hat preparing with the group returning as he asked with a knowing grin, "So how did things go with the villagers Bossman? I heard a ruckus occurring did something happen?"

Meliodas holding the Holy Sword belonging to Gilthunder grinned while holding barrels of village famous ale, "Just managed to help the villagers out of a jam. They rewarded me with the barrels of ale in return for free helping them out. But that's beside the point prepare to start cooking soon will have customers!"

Mash curtly nodded understanding readying himself using his [Unseen Hands] to multi-task agreeing and grinding on his [Cooking] skill in an excited tone, "Aye, aye sir! Preparing the food is a go!"

The four of them soon began preparing for the night when the villagers would start coming over soon.

/////

7 miles north-west of Bernia Village at Fort Solgress a Knight began to report to Gilthunder sitting on his chair in a serious tone, "Sir. We just got word from the soldiers stationed at Bernia Village. They say… an unidentified boy… pulled out your sword, Gilthunder-sama! What would you like us to do?"

Standing up from his seat asked in a serious tone heading towards a nearby open window on his fort, "Now… tell me about this child who extracted my sword."