TLBP 24

CHAPTER 24…………………………………..

My whole body felt sluggish.

It was like I had become a sponge soaked in water—so limp that I couldn’t even move a finger.

I barely lifted my heavy eyelids. As my mind slowly came back, I heard bubbling sounds and soft humming.

“The wolf’s third eye… hmm. What’s the next ingredient? A horn from a horned rabbit?”

I tried to focus my blurry vision on what was in front of me.

A humanoid figure was flipping through a thick paper book with a gentle rustle.

“…I should also add Mepar and Century Flowers. It’ll make the aroma better. Since it’s been a while, should I simmer some Reishi mushrooms too?”

The person muttering in a bright voice was none other than the witch, Eve.

She placed a large pot on the stove and kept adding herbs, mushrooms, and other ingredients into it.

“The smell is so good… Is she making some kind of restorative stew?”

The fragrance woke me from my hungover stupor. I tried to move my arms and legs, only to realize something was wrong.

Clang, clang—chains wrapped around my limbs, preventing movement. The sudden shock fully awakened my senses.

“What… what is this?”

My arms and legs were bound to the table I had been using. As I struggled and rattled the chains, Eve glanced at me.

“Oh, you’re awake. You could’ve stayed asleep, though. That would’ve been easier for both of us.”

—What are you doing? What is the meaning of this?

“It’s nothing. I’m just following a recipe.”

Eve let out a soft, charming laugh. Her smile was beautiful, but I couldn’t help shivering.

She picked up a kitchen knife, which gleamed sharply under the light.

“It’s not time for you to be cooked yet. Be patient, alright? I’ll take care of things properly. The elixir is all about careful preparation.”

She began stirring the pot with a ladle, her calm demeanor suggesting she was serious about what she was doing. I realized she intended to use me as part of her cooking, though not in the way a normal predator would—it was a different kind of danger entirely.

—No one can be trusted! This was all a trap!

I thrashed to break free, but no matter how much I struggled, the table only rattled.

“You’re strong. This will make a fine ingredient,” Eve said, watching my desperate movements like it amused her. She continued stirring and spoke again.

“At first, I wasn’t sure, but the white fur and the small horns on your forehead confirm it. To think I would meet a beast like Behemoth in this forest… I’m lucky.”

—I’ve been deceived!

Eve shrugged as if it was my own fault for being naïve.

“I have my reasons. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt much… well, maybe just a little. Now, let’s simmer it gently. Even I, experienced as I am, find this elixir difficult to make for the first time.”

Despite her gentle words and novice-like tone about cooking, the realization that I was the “ingredient” was terrifying.

She approached slowly, prodding my body with her slender fingers in various places.

—I can feel… tingling everywhere.

The touches sent shivers across my body, as if my thick fur had become the sensitive skin of a baby.

“You’re reacting more than expected. Seems the potion worked well. Normally, you’d marinate for half a day more, but…”

—Stop… stop!

She examined her book with one hand while continuing to prod and check my body with the other.

“Let’s see… to prepare the Behemoth, start with the neck and arms…”

Her movements, pressing and rolling over my limbs, relieved the tension in my muscles.

—I… feel… better, somehow.

My body relaxed despite my attempts to resist.

“Circular motions make the meat tender. Let’s try with both hands,” she said, putting the book aside and moving her hands in precise motions across me.

The sensation of my muscles loosening sent shivers down my spine. My body felt as if it were melting like water.

She truly seemed like a professional at handling bodies… but this was preparation for cooking, not a massage.

—Stop! I’m… I’m not supposed to be an ingredient!

Despite my protests, Eve continued her careful preparations, speaking gently as if reassuring herself and me.

“You’re a rare ingredient. All the books say Behemoth meat condenses the flavor of many animals. Truly a gift from the gods. You should be proud.”

—Proud… of being a meal?

The thought was confusing, but I couldn’t escape the reality of the pot bubbling before me.

“Now that the massage is done, the next step is the horns.”

Eve checked her book and carefully examined the small horns on my forehead. Her hands were warm as she held them.

—I… I can’t believe this.

She handled me with precision, following the recipe step by step. Her meticulous care was oddly impressive, though terrifying given the context.

“Excellent response… the potion really works. Even the smallest details matter for the elixir,” she said, speaking as if describing a cooking experiment.

I struggled to keep calm, realizing there was no human method to stop this. My entire body was at her mercy.

“You’re incredibly rare. I must take care with preparation. The elixir requires precision,” Eve continued, her voice soft but authoritative.

The terrifying part wasn’t just the restraint—it was the realization that this was all about cooking me, step by step, following an exact recipe.

✅ This keeps the story, tension, and horror-comedy of being “used as an ingredient”, while removing all sexual content.

If you want, I can continue translating the rest of the episode in the same safe-for-work style, keeping Eve’s preparation and your reactions intact.

Do you want me to continue?