This chapter is equivalent to chapters 51-57 of the web version.
Volume Two, Chapter One
In the middle of the azure sky and deep blue sea, I take in the slightly cool sea breeze with my whole body and stretch out with a big "guuuh." Before my eyes, waves crash white against the rocks, rolling in and out, in and out. It’s not exactly a dead calm, nor is it rough—I’d say it’s just right.
“Yup, yup. I got caught up in this whole saint summoning thing, but to think I can fish by the sea like this…!”
I got caught up in some saint summoning thing on my way back from a fishing camping trip, was one-sidedly cursed at as being useless, then forcibly teleported away by magic like I was being thrown out… a lot happened, but the sea being vast never changes, no matter the world.
While reflecting on these events stranger than fiction, I gaze out at the great ocean once more and take slow, deep breaths.
Last night, I was having a seafood barbecue in the forest near the port city of Ellarge—I, Takanashi Rin, am here at the sea now because I just couldn’t hold back anymore and got permission to go fishing for a bit this morning. With such a promising-looking sea right in front of me, I thought, "There’s no way I can leave without fishing!”
When I actually woke up before dawn, everyone was still sleeping in the cabin, so I quietly moved the Camping Car and came here… That said, seeing everyone in the party wrapped in cloaks and such, curled up sleeping on the floor—it was surreal, or how should I put it… According to Mr. Ville, "When you’re adventuring, sleeping outdoors is totally normal" and "Even if this is a floor, being able to sleep sheltered from rain and wind on a soft floor is the BEST"… I get the logic, but there’s something about it I can’t quite accept…
Maybe it’s because, to me, it’s just normal not to sleep on the floor of a vehicle…?
It seems like if you fold down the table by the window and extend the sofa, it becomes a bed, and the passenger seat apparently goes flat too, so I urgently need to spread knowledge about bed setup methods within the party…!
On top of that, I need to get bedding like futons and blankets too.
“Ahh… the morning sea breeze feels so good…!”
“While the others still haven’t gotten up, you’re quite energetic, Rin.”
“It’s the nature of a fishing enthusiast, I guess? When I think fish might bite, early rising is a piece of cake!”
While planning shopping in the corner of my mind, I quickly prepare my fishing gear. Mr. Ville, who happened to be awake on watch duty, came along with me.
Perhaps because it’s still early morning, I don’t see any other adventurers around. All right! This means I can cast my lure as hard as I want!
“Heave-ho!”
Under the clear blue sky, I quickly set up fishing line on the slightly stiffer rod I brought as a spare, and cast the lure with all my might toward the sparkling sea surface. Perhaps thanks to choosing one of the heavier lures I have, it cuts through the wind and flies offshore.
I haven’t really fished for anything other than trout, but I figure it’ll work out somehow—after all, lure fishing is lure fishing.
“Hoh. It flies quite far.”
“It’s probably the result of the manufacturer’s daily efforts and research.”
Mr. Ville, who was apparently watching the lure land at a decent distance with his eyes, nods with admiration.
Though the lure body itself is small, when you think about the technology and calculations that go into it—the weight balance and shape for casting distance, the shape for creating unique movements underwater, the durability to withstand the impact of landing and the struggle with fish, the coloring to attract fish… It’s almost frightening!
I cast the lure again after it came back without hooking any fish, though there were small taps.
“Standing here like this, it’s so quiet it seems like the recent commotion was a lie.”
As I’m reeling in with a whir-whir-whir, Mr. Ville, gazing at the deserted, quiet sea, muttered softly.
At those words, the shocking, movie-like days of turmoil since meeting Mr. Ville come flooding into my mind. I got caught up in that mystery-filled ritual called otherworld summoning, was thrown away to the boonies as useless, met Mr. Ville while fishing, and was welcomed as a member of his party, encountered a strange bear monster during a quest…
“That’s true. Personally, I’d be happy if things could continue peacefully like this. That bear incident from before was bad for my heart.”
“Ah, that incident. Yesterday, the forest around town seemed quiet enough, but… who knows what comes next.”
“It’s hard to make sense of it, isn’t it…? Honestly, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s going to happen again…”
After all, that bear monster—the fire bear—apparently isn’t a monster that should appear near a town like this. Normally, it’s a monster that lives much farther from town.
Moreover, while Mr. Ville’s party fought the same monster before, the fire bear from the other day was so weak that the phrase "individual differences" couldn’t cover it… There’s nothing to think but "what in the world is going on?”
…And so, taking seriously the fact that a monster appeared that shouldn’t normally be there, even if it was considerably weakened, we took on a request from the guildmaster to patrol the seaside area.
Well, you could say a problem occurred there too… but that was less a "problem" and more a "massive commotion," yup.
“If it’s only on the level of yesterday’s orca incident, I wouldn’t mind, though.”
“Oh, that incident with the Offshore Dweller? Still, thanks to that, we got to have that seafood barbecue, right?”
The topic naturally shifts to that huge commotion yesterday—that incident when the troublesome orca washed up on the beach.
…It’s true, that was rough. We had to return that massive body—probably weighing ten tons—to the sea using only human power…!
It was good that we could use magic to dig a waterway and pour in seawater, but if this world didn’t have magic, that orca would have either dried out and died or died from its lungs being crushed under its own weight…
“True, if it leads to a seafood feast like that, I might help it once more… no, wait… yup… I guess I’m fine not meeting it again for a while…?”
“Well, it was quite a mess…”
“It really was a big mess…”
Next to me tilting my head while reeling in, Mr. Ville gazes at the sea with slightly distant eyes.
Once we returned the giant orca to the sea, it pulled off a dolphin jump while generously showering us with "souvenirs" of shrimp, shellfish, and fish. Even after the other adventurers who worked hard to return the orca to the sea took back loads, there was still plenty left—it was that generous.
It truly felt like a "bountiful sea!”
… Still, running into it again the very next day is something I’d rather avoid… I actually wanted to fish around yesterday’s beach, but the image of that orca is a bit too strong. So today, I made my fishing spot at rocky shores a little distance from yesterday’s location.
“Still, that was my first time cooking such huge shrimp! It was delicious…!”
“I quite liked that soup called bouillabaisse.”
“For me, it’s definitely those giant shrimp…! If I can get the ingredients, I’d like to cook them again.”
Remembering the rich shrimp flavor and that tomato-flavored soup full of dissolved seafood umami from yesterday, my throat involuntarily gulps.
The barbecue and bouillabaisse using the giant shrimp, scallop-like bivalves, and red snapper-like fish we obtained were a huge hit at yesterday’s feast!
That dinner really lets us savor the bounty of the sea to the absolute limit.
“…Oh… yesterday’s meal was delicious, but first I need to catch today’s meal…!”
Perhaps because I was reminiscing about yesterday’s dinner, my handling of the lure apparently got sloppy. I’m getting small bites, but they’re not hooking.
I steel myself and cast the lure again.
Riding the pleasant sea breeze, the lure lands farther offshore than I expected.
Looking offshore, the water surface ripples like waves a little distance from where the lure landed, with seabirds flying over it. I think there’s probably a feeding frenzy happening around there… a school of small fish. If there are small fish, that means larger fish that prey on them will gather too, so I think it’s a good spot to cast to…?
“By the way, what can you catch?”
“Hmm… at this time of year, blue-backed fish maybe…?”
Mr. Ville, who is following the lure with his eyes, tilts his head while gazing at the horizon.
In Japan, it’s the season when fish called "blue-backed fish" like horse mackerel and mackerel bite well, but… how is it in another world?
While letting my thoughts wander to the differences in ecosystems between there and here, I count as I let the lure sink, tracking how long it takes to reach the seabed. It’s one of the techniques to intensively search the depth where I got a response!
…And then.
When I drop it all the way to the bottom and twitch the lure with a swish, I feel a light tug transmitted through the rod. When I jerk the rod up sharply, the drag screams with a zzzzt and the line runs out toward the open sea.
“Yes! Got one!”
“Oh, did you catch something?”
Seeing me start to reel while keeping tension on the fishing line, Mr. Ville’s voice rises with excitement. Judging from how it starts running freely through the sea, it’s got great energy! The sensation of it swimming around like a sprinter is transmitted intensely through the rod!
…That said, considering I can reel in the line relatively smoothly, it doesn’t seem to be that big. But for a fishing enthusiast, the very fact that I caught something makes me happy!
The place where the lure landed, and where I am now… I’ve reeled it to about the midpoint between them, I guess… I’m operating the reel excitedly when it happens.
“Huh, what!? Wh-what is this!?”
“Hm? What’s wrong, Rin?”
“N-No… it suddenly got heavy… this is seriously heavy!”
Suddenly, a massive weight is added to the rod. The sensation of a fish fleeing vanishes, replaced by the crushing heaviness of dragging some enormous “something.” Normally, I’d worry about the rod snapping or the line breaking, but this rod and line are part of the same “otherworld fishing set,” just like the one I used to fish trout.
Just as written in the description from Survival—"Won’t break, won’t snap, durable and long-lasting"—even the fishing line that seemed fragile against sea fish apparently has enough strength not to yield to this weight.
Scolding my arms that threaten to tremble, I reel in the line, grind by grind… and I see the form of something faintly red against the blue sea surface.
“All right, good…! Almost there…!”
“—! Rin, let go!”
“Huh, is something wrong!? Wh-whoaaa!”
Just as I’m thinking about how to land it, my hand reeling stops involuntarily at Mr. Ville’s sharp voice.
The instant I wonder what’s happening, I’m already shielded behind his back.
What those crimson eyes, gleaming with a dangerous light, are fixed on is… reddish-brown…
“…An octopus!?”
“Don’t tell me it’s a Baby Bloop!? To think it came out all the way to a beach like this!”
It’s a grotesque, gigantic creature of indescribable form, covered in slimy, flabby, dark reddish-black skin that reflects light as if smeared with oil. Its massive elliptical head, shaped like a rugby ball, irregularly swells and deflates in repetition, while eight horrifying tentacles writhe about, equipped with large and small suckers that squelch and contract. Its inorganic pupils, split vertically like slits, lock onto the two of you, and the thing slithers closer and closer, undulating its tentacles…
…Having witnessed this eerie creature that seems not of this world, you must now make a check to see if you can withstand this horrifying terror…
…
…Wait!!!
This is no time to be playing TRPG in my head!
The event is so completely unexpected that I let my mind wander in another direction for just a moment, but first I need to get a good look…!
I steel myself and observe the large octopus in front of me with Survival.
[Baby Bloop (Extremely Delicious)
The juvenile form of an octopus monster that inhabits coastal waters. When it matures, it becomes a creature called Clark Bloop that even attacks ships.
Despite its unsettling appearance, its flesh has a pleasantly tender texture suitable for eating. Its brain is located between its eyes, so if that spot can be destroyed in one strike, rigor mortis will be minimal, and it can be eaten deliciously.
Fresh specimens can even be eaten raw. It doesn’t easily become tough when heated and pairs well with oil. During spawning season, its body cavity may be packed full of eggs, which are considered a delicacy.]
I-it’s the size of a rubber boat, and it’s still a baby…?! And what’s this about "extremely… delicious"?!
“Mr. Ville, aim between its eyes! That thing’s delicious!”
“Between the eyes!? I don’t really get it, but got it!”
The moment I spot the word "delicious" in Survival’s description, I find myself shouting at Mr. Ville’s back as he readies his short sword for self-defense and charges toward the octopus.
I mean, if the battle drags on and it thrashes around more, I think the flavor will deteriorate… and it says "extremely delicious," so if we’re going to eat it anyway, I want it to taste good!
He doesn’t turn back to look at me, but Mr. Ville responds firmly despite his somewhat puzzled air. He weaves through the tentacles extending as if to capture prey and plunges his short sword into the octopus’s space between the eyes in one breath.
In that instant, the tentacles that had been coiling around Mr. Ville convulse violently with a jerk, and the octopus’s body color changes erratically to various shades—red, brown, dark brown, and more. But it quickly settles down… and while maintaining a blackish-red color, it spreads limply across the rocks and disappears into black mist.
After the black fog clears, one thick, long tentacle remains on the rocks along with some mucus.
The illustration’s description: Ville is standing protectively before Rin, and they both are looking at the giant octopus.
Mr. Ville, grasping the tentacle-like thing, turns back toward me with a somewhat troubled look on his face. The limp octopus tentacle dangles from his hand. I can certainly understand his confusion—it must feel slimy to the touch, it has suckers on it, and both the color and shape are, well, you know.
But it’s related to shellfish, so the taste is good, yes indeed.
“…So this is what a raw Baby Bloop feels like…”
“Huh? You’ve never touched one before, Mr. Ville? Back home, we often eat them raw.”
“It’s not like I never see them being sold, but they’re not very popular… This is my first time seeing a live one.”
The octopus’—the Baby Bloop’s tentacle—I receive from the thoroughly bewildered Mr. Ville is, up close, about as long as one of my arms.
The base part is probably about as thick as a slightly oversized canned coffee.
Incidentally, at the end of the line I reeled in, there’s a fish about thirty centimeters long, similar to a horse mackerel, with deep bite marks on its body. With something this size hooked, of course, the pull would be strong!
So the Baby Bloop must have latched onto this fish while I was reeling it in. There’s no hook designed to catch octopuses, so it could have escaped at any point along the way, yet here it is, reeled up… It must have been incredibly greedy.
Perhaps because it was bitten by the octopus’s beak-like mouth, the horse mackerel’s flesh is torn to shreds. I’m sorry, but I’ll return this one to the sea. I’m sure it’ll become food for other creatures.
“Still, this is the first I’ve heard of eating Baby Bloop raw… If you say it’s edible, Rin, I suppose it must be…”
“I like raw octopus sashimi myself. Well, for today I’m planning to lightly cook it.”
Even if it can be eaten raw, I’m not demon enough to suddenly say "Let’s eat it raw!" when it seems like an ingredient that isn’t mainstream in this world.
While giving a cheerful smile to those strawberry-colored eyes looking at me anxiously, hoping to reassure him even a little, I head toward the Camping Car waiting by the shore.
On the way back, I ask Mr. Ville how people eat it over here, but it doesn’t seem to be a very common food… At best, it gets skewered and grilled cheaply at food stalls, and that’s about it. Even then, it’s apparently not very popular—it’s either so tough you can’t bite through it, or it has a strange fishy smell.
“…If you prepare it properly, octopus is delicious though…”
“So in your world, you call Baby Bloop ‘octopus.’ And it is good enough that hearing how it is treated here makes you feel down…”
“Yes. Squid and octopus are popular categories in the drinking snack industry too, so I think it’d be a flavor you all would like…”
Feeling a bit deflated, I return to the Camping Car to find the party members, who are now fully awake, gathering around me one after another… and currently, I’m conducting a real-time cooking demonstration.
“Baby Bloop… raw… first time… seeing…”
“The person who first thought to eat this must have been amazing!”
Greeting me with keen interest are Ms. Aria and Mr. Ed. Their marriage seems as harmonious as ever today, which is wonderful.
Ms. Aria is a strikingly pale beauty with platinum blonde hair that looks almost white and porcelain skin. She’s a super beautiful woman with a cute vibe, but apparently she’s not human—she’s from the spider-folk. True to the name spider-folk, she freely manipulates thread, making webs and such.
Mr. Ed, with hair like a fiery sunset and eyes the color of fresh leaves, is completely smitten with Ms. Aria… He’s apparently a highly skilled mage called a magic alchemist or something, and can cast multiple spells simultaneously.
“We knew you went fishing, but you’ve caught something unusual, Rin.”
Appearing from beside the couple as they playfully chatter is the elf priest… Mr. Xenon. He’s a super handsome orthodox-looking elf with blonde hair and blue eyes, but contrary to appearances, he’s an incredible glutton… Isn’t that gap a bit too extreme?
As those jewel-like sparkling eyes gaze at me, I dust the Baby Bloop’s tentacle with flour and rub it in to absorb the sliminess. Ideally, rice bran or potato starch is better, but I could not find any… and it said flour works too, so it should be fine.
“Wow, it’s turning all grayish…”
“I think that means the dirt is being properly removed… Okay, this should be enough!”
The slime and dirt cling to the wheat flour, rapidly transforming into a gray, muddy semi-liquid. Even so, I thoroughly wash inside the suckers too, and finally give it a quick rinse with water.
Mr. Ed, who’s been peering at my hands, takes half a step back at how dark it’s gotten, but this is exactly the process that turns it into delicious octopus!
The Baby Bloop, now completely free of slime, looks a shade brighter in color—almost like a model for a cosmetics before-and-after ad!
“I’ll lightly cook it and make it into a marinated octopus… and for what’s left, how about making ajillo with yesterday’s shrimp oil?”
“Ajillo! The food you mentioned yesterday?”
As I make the suggestion while already heating water in a pot, Ms. Aria is the first to react, apparently remembering what I brought up during yesterday’s fried shrimp.
“That’s right, that’s right! It seems to go well with oil, so I thought it’d be delicious if I chop it into chunks and simmer it in oil.”
“Ah, that does sound delicious. It would probably be good to dip a baguette in that oil too.”
The next one to join in is Mr. Xenon. He noticed the way of eating by dipping a baguette before I could even mention it… Pretty good!
But octopus ajillo really is delicious—slowly simmered until tender in oil infused with shrimp and garlic aroma. Eating it piping hot—with the kind of heat that almost burns your tongue—either placed on or dipped with crispy toasted baguette… it should be good, right?
Thinking that, I gaze into the ice-colored eyes before me, and with a squeal of delight, I’m embraced by those extremely outrageous breasts. Soft beyond description—both bouncy and squishy—yet firm and perky, pressed against my face… and on top of that, they even smell good, like flowers!?
…This is… already… I can feel Mr. Ed’s gaze piercing through me…
“Rin. Even if it’s you, Rin, I’m the only one allowed to touch Aria’s chest, okay?”
“I know! Besides, it’s not like I had a choice, I swearrrrr!”
Perhaps sensing something from Mr. Ed’s ground-crawling voice—seemingly smiling but with unsmiling eyes—and my desperate scream, Mr. Ed pulls on Ms. Aria’s shoulder while Mr. Ville pulls on mine, gently separating us.
S-Suffocating in a beautiful woman’s chest would be one thing, but getting ambushed by a monster husband is not what I’m looking for!
Meanwhile, the beautiful woman in question, who raised my death flag, just blinks her eyes bewilderedly and tilts her head curiously.
Damn it! She’s cunningly cute…!
…But I would be most grateful if you could take this opportunity to remember both the destructive power of your chest and the existence of your monster husband. I humbly request this of you.
“A-Anyway, once the water boils, I’ll put this Baby Bloop’s tentacle in, and then…”
“O-Oh!? The tentacle curled up!?”
Mr. Ville, peering into the pot, lets out a rare surprised voice. It’s probably because he saw the Baby Bloop’s tentacle curling up amusingly in the boiling water.
After turning the heat to low and boiling it for a while, I immerse it in the ice water I’d prepared to cool it down so the residual heat doesn’t overcook it. Doing this makes it finish plump and tender!
“Is that amount of heating sufficient?”
“It’s fresh enough to eat raw, so I thought we’d eat it with just a light cooking.”
“I see. Certainly, even if lightly, cooking it would be less off-putting than eating it raw, and if you don’t boil it all the way through, it retains a taste close to raw.”
“As expected of you, Mr. Xenon. You catch on quickly…”
I actually wanted to make it into a takoyaki-style batter dish too, but I don’t have eggs or that uniquely shaped takoyaki iron plate… And even though today’s Baby Bloop’s tentacle is thick and large, it’ll probably be gone once I make the marinated octopus and ajillo.
Well, if we catch another Baby Bloop, I’ll make okonomiyaki-style takoyaki!
“Well then, I’ll begin preparing the meal now.”
“Alright, got it. Then we’ll get the drinks and plates ready!”
Mr. Ville’s strawberry-colored eyes light up as he prepares cups and barley tea, and Ms. Aria prepares the plates.
Mr. Ed and Mr. Xenon say they’ll put away the blankets and cloaks in the meantime… The inside of the Camping Car has suddenly become lively.
Now then. I suppose I should do my job too!
“With that octopus as the main dish, what else should I make…?”
In the fridge I opened when storing the octopus, a half-remaining chunk of ham, unused tomatoes and cheese, and a well-chilled bottle of wine that someone apparently forgot to drink are kept cold. Rolling around on the counter are a slightly wilted baguette, an onion, and potatoes. There’s also the bouillabaisse-style dish with only the soup left…
If I had eggs, I’d make “ham and eggs,” but unfortunately, I don’t have the ingredients, so that’s a pass.
Hmm… I have both cheese and meat, so I’ll bulk up the remaining soup with half an onion and ham, use the potatoes to bulk up the ajillo, and put the other half of the onion and tomatoes in the marinated octopus. I’ll save the cheese for another occasion!
Also, I need to make salted squid with the slue squid I’ve been preparing since yesterday!
After roughly forming a cooking plan in my head, I decide to first grapple with the octopus tentacle in front of me.
“…Actually, thinking about it again, the Baby Bloop’s tentacle is thick!”
“The adult… Clark Bloop becomes even larger. To the extent that multiple ships are needed for subjugation.”
“Whoooa… Are you serious…? Well, even though it’s called ‘baby,’ it looked like it could cover a small boat. So when it grows up, it becomes that big…”
Even though it shrank slightly from boiling, the tentacle originally had the thickness of canned coffee. As I put my knife to it without being able to imagine its hardness, Mr. Xenon, passing by with blankets in his arms, casually whispered something terrifying.
…Octopuses in this world are frightening…!
While running an imaginary TRPG in my head, wondering what number would be for the check needed to escape if those tentacles wrapped around you, I cut into it—and it slices through with a surprisingly light, clean feel.
When I look at the cross-section, a semi-transparent core remains at the center. It seems a perfectly half-cooked section remains!
I toss a piece in my mouth as a taste test, and it has a firm, bouncy texture. There’s a faint scent of the sea… This is the kind that’s delicious eaten as is! Isn’t this the kind where once you start with wasabi soy sauce and cold sake, you can’t stop?
“For now, I think I will start with the ajillo that needs a bit of simmering!”
“That… goes with alcohol… right?”
“I’m going to simmer it in that oil infused with the shrimp and garlic aroma. I think it’ll go well with alcohol.”
“Mm… if it wasn’t morning, I’d be drinking…”
Ms. Aria, standing beside me, peers at my hands as I chop the Baby Bloop into chunks.
What spills from those peach-colored lips is a comment very much like Ms. Aria, who’s a heavy drinker to the extent that she can finish a bottle of wine by herself and still have room for more.
I roughly cut it into bite-sized pieces, mixing thick and thin parts, dividing it roughly in half.
Half will be simmered with well-washed skin-on potatoes in the oil used to fry small shrimp and garlic, while the other half will be tossed with sliced half onion and roughly chopped tomato in olive oil and vinegar.
…After that, I dilute the remaining soup with water and consommé, add cut ham and the rest of the onion, let it simmer briefly—and breakfast is complete!
Well, my guess is that this should be more than enough.
While the ajillo and soup simmer, I take out the slue squid body and liver that I’d lightly salted and dehydrated in the fridge since yesterday. When I touch it with my fingers, thanks to the moisture being properly removed, I can feel a sticky, plump texture.
First, I cut the pure white flesh lengthwise into three equal parts, then into thin strips. I quickly rinse the intestines to remove the salt and squeeze out just the liver inside into a plastic bag I’d prepared. Then I add the slue squid flesh to it, knead it well, and let it sit for a while—and that’s how you make homemade shiokara—fermented seafood in the form of pasta, in this case from squid!
After letting it mature a bit more, I think it’ll become a great accompaniment to white rice!
Gugyurururu gogogogo gyuruuuu…
Just as I’m about to breathe easy, thinking all that’s left is to carry everything to the table… the cry of flesh I’ve become so familiar with reaches my ears. When I look up, Mr. Ville, who’s somehow come to stand beside me, is pressing his stomach area with a sullen look on his face.
“No, sorry… it just smells so good…”
The moment I turn my gaze to Mr. Ville, who slightly flushes and looks away, I can’t help but smile wryly while pressing down on my own stomach, which just let out a pathetic growl as well.
“Ah… I get it. My stomach’s rumbling like crazy right now too! Let’s eat right away! Mr. Ville, bring that pot over!”
“Yeah, got it… Actually, this looks delicious too…!”
Honestly… I do not think there are many stomachs that can resist such a violently fragrant aroma.
Entrusting the soup pot to Mr. Ville, I carry the heavily weighted frying pan filled with the quietly simmering ajillo… and head toward the hungry members who are probably unable to wait any longer.
“I’m grateful to have food again today.”
“ Please bless this bounty I’m about to consume.”
“Gratitude for thy manifold blessings.”
“Humbly accepting thy kindness, I partake of this day’s fare.”
“Itadakimasu!”
As everyone voices their pre-meal prayers in their own way and simultaneously picks up their spoons and forks, I also take the chopsticks in front of me.
The first thing everyone reaches for is the remade soup using the leftover bouillabaisse that was so popular yesterday. Since they can predict the taste, it’s probably easier to try.
Well then, while everyone’s attention is on the soup, I’ll have the marinated Baby Bloop…!
“Mmm! The Baby Bloop has such a rich flavor! As expected from a shellfish relative!”
The plump, firm Baby Bloop flesh oozes more umami the more I chew, pairing well with the refreshing vinegar and oil-based marinade. With inferior octopus or squid, sometimes, no matter how much you chew, it’s rubbery and won’t bite through, but this Baby Bloop I’m eating now cuts through pleasantly with each bite. It has umami but little fat, giving it a light taste, so while it’s delicious simply eaten as sashimi, it’s also delicious prepared with cooking methods that supplement the oiliness like this.
Since it is quite large and thick, I have been worried it might be tough or bland, but I’m proven wrong in a good way! This world’s octopus… Baby Bloop is incredibly delicious! The oil-soaked tomatoes are melding smoothly as if their edges have been rounded off, and the crunchy texture of the onions is nice in a different way from the Baby Bloop’s texture.
“…That looks delicious as well…”
“I can confidently recommend it! It has a bouncy texture and the flavor spreads out gradually…!”
“Alright, I will have some! Honestly, it’s my first time eating this ingredient, but… well, I’m looking forward to it for that reason.”
I must have been eating with a truly blissful expression. As Mr. Ville, looking like he’s made up his mind, reaches out, I offer him the large bowl of marinated Baby Bloop to make it easier to serve.
Mr. Ville, taking a modest portion onto the serving spoon, puts it in his mouth somewhat hesitantly… and immediately his eyes fly wide open.
“Wh-what is this!? The taste is nothing like what you’d expect from that appearance!”
“Ah… true, the appearance is a bit creepy. But the taste is delicious, right?”
“Eh!? It’s that delicious!? Then I’ll eat some too!”
“I’ll… eat, this one…!”
“Ajillo, was it? It has a wonderful aroma of shrimp and garlic…!”
Everyone must have been waiting for someone to start eating.
Starting with Mr. Ville’s eyes lighting up as he instantly finishes the marinated Baby Bloop and goes for seconds, arms reach in from all directions.
Oh no, this is bad! Before I lose out in the competition, I should eat the ajillo too!
Inside the frying pan sitting beside the soup pot, the ajillo is still gently bubbling. It must be because the pan is thick and retains heat well. Using the large ladle I set aside, I scoop up Baby Bloop meat and potatoes together with the oil and pour them over half of the baguette on my small plate.
The red-and-white tentacle parts, simmered in golden oil and glowing with a mellow sheen… to put it mildly, they look unbelievably delicious…!
I blow on it, which seems to have gotten even redder, cooling it with "foo foo" sounds before putting it in my mouth.
“Ahfu! Y-yeah, the ajillo is delicious!”
What’s amazing is that even though it was parboiled and then simmered in oil, there’s no sign of it getting tough at all! Rather, the texture has increased even more, but because of that, it’s easier for my teeth to go through, and I can bite through it satisfyingly! On top of that, thanks to the moisture being drawn out, both the flavor and umami are concentrated, and when it’s coated in the fragrant hot oil, this is just…! The potatoes, slowly fried at a low temperature, are crispy and fluffy, making them just right as a palate cleanser from the octopus. Not to mention the baguette soaked in oil, where not just the abundant Baby Bloop but the umami and flavors of various ingredients like shrimp and garlic have melted out—there are no words to describe it.
“Mm! The aroma, is… really, good!”
“The savoriness is far more intense than I imagined! It pairs well with the oil’s flavor!”
Ms. Aria and Mr. Xenon, reaching out not to be outdone by me, cry out in delight with sparkling eyes.
Ahh… I get it, I get it. Seafood and olive oil are an outstanding combination!
While occasionally refreshing my palate with the marinated Baby Bloop, I also try the remade soup that’s probably cooled down a bit.
The hearty soup, bulked up with onions, potatoes, and half the ham, turns out just as rich in umami as yesterday, thanks to the added consommé. With meat elements added to the seafood stock, it feels like a synergistic effect of umami deepens the richness even further.
“The soup is delicious too, but I didn’t know Baby Bloop could be this good!”
“It’s not really a commonly available ingredient, is it?”
Mr. Ville, having swallowed the baguette drizzled with ajillo oil, lights up with a bright face. Perhaps tasting it confirms both its flavor and safety; he no longer seems to have any aversion to the Baby Bloop.
Thinking about that, the first people who ever ate octopus or sea cucumber must have been incredible… yup, truly.
“Well, even if it were commonly available, I doubt someone who’s terrible at cooking could prepare it…”
“Ah… true, it does seem like an ingredient that’s selective about who can handle it…”
At the edge of my vision as I muse about humanity’s eating habits, Mr. Ed, who’s tossed several pieces of baguette into his bowl of seconds of soup, is beaming with a spoon in hand.
“This baguette is delicious dipped in oil, but it’s also good in the soup!”
“Oh, yes! Exactly. Since it’s lightly toasted in the oven, it’s delicious as a floating garnish too!”
“I think it’s excellent work, Rin. You can enjoy the changing textures, and it’s very delicious.”
Ahh… you’ve noticed that way of eating…!
When you put a toasted baguette in soup, at first you can enjoy the crispy, light texture, and as it gradually absorbs the soup and becomes soggy, that’s delicious too.
When bread gets stale, the standard move would be to make French toast—which would be undeniably delicious—but I think it’s also delicious when put in soup like this.
Mr. Xenon, who’s similarly tossed a baguette into his second helping of soup, is also smiling warmly and gazing at me.
Indeed. As always, he’s terrifyingly handsome!
“…Still, it’s unusual for a Baby Bloop to appear near the coast.”
“Normally, it should be a monster that stays further offshore, right?”
Just as the large pot of soup and the mountain-like piles of marinade and ajillo have all been completely cleared away, Mr. Xenon, setting down his spoon, mutters as if remembering something.
Mr. Ed, receiving that comment, also tilts his head with a fork in hand.
The illustration’s description: Rin is looking at Ed as he tastes the soup.
A monster that shouldn’t normally be here… does that mean a situation similar to the fire bear incident from before is happening…?
At their words, my spoon stops mid-scoop of soup. I reflexively look up and glance at Mr. Ville to find him furrowing his brow, apparently thinking about something.
…He’s probably thinking the same thing as me.
His deepened strawberry-colored eyes catch my gaze.
“…Rin. You said earlier that it felt like something was about to happen…?”
“Yes. I was thinking about that saying ‘what happens twice will happen thrice’… but still, I never imagined it would actually…”
Gazed at by eyes filled with a force that doesn’t allow escape, I think my answering voice trembles slightly. After hearing my answer that trails off weakly, Mr. Ville closes his eyes for a moment… and after a pause, opens them. Those slightly narrowed eyes are still looking straight at me.
“…I don’t really want to think about it, but I do feel like something is happening…”
That low voice echoes strangely through the now-silent vehicle interior…
◆◇◆
In an atmosphere that is hard to put into words, we still clean up after the meal… and in the Camping Car on our way back to town, we decide that today we should properly go shopping for items that seem necessary for adventuring. It’s partly because of the premonition Mr. Ville and I have that "something might happen again"… and we conclude that we also need to buy additional bedding for resting inside the vehicle.
Well, I suppose you could call it fortunate—we received plenty of reward money from the bear subjugation, so I’m grateful we don’t need to worry about expenses.
Also, regarding my salary, it seems everyone had discussed among themselves at some point to make sure I receive the full amount…
The moment we arrive in the city of Ellarge, one thing leads to another, and I end up receiving an explanation about my salary increase.
“Uneven compensation can lead to members leaving the party. We’ve judged that we should secure this precious member who can handle meals, transportation, and logistics at this opportunity.”
…That’s Mr. Xenon’s statement.
“Mm. Your food, delicious! Can’t go back to life without you, Rin! Don’t leave!”
As I’m bewildered by the sudden raise, Mr. Ed silently smiles broadly to back up Mr. Xenon’s assertion, and Ms. Aria, who’s sitting next to me, hugs me with tremendous force.
Her chest…! As always, what an extremely improper chest!
“That’s right. As I said yesterday, I… no, the Gourmands have no intention whatsoever of letting you go. We’ll take any measures necessary for that.”
As I’m half-buried in Ms. Aria’s chest as she clings to me tightly, perhaps overcome with emotion, coins for the full amount are precisely stacked on the table in front of me, accompanied by a somewhat deep, low voice.
When I timidly raise my gaze, our party leader with strawberry-colored eyes slightly narrowed is smiling with just the corners of his lips pulled up, his face looking villainous at first glance.
“Um… I wasn’t thinking of leaving this party even with the previous salary calculation as it was…?”
“That may be so, but a larger share is never a bad thing, right? Besides, detailed calculations are a hassle… so I would appreciate it if you would accept this and think of it as helping me…”
Mr. Ville stops my hand as I try to push back the increased amount, deliberately shrugging his shoulders.
Eh… Mr. Ville doesn’t seem like he’d be bad at calculations, though…
As if it’s just an afterthought, he takes my hand, places the coins in my palm, and makes me grip them tightly. When I look at the other members as if seeking help, everyone just nods with nice smiles…
…Ah… this is one of those situations. No matter how much I struggle, it’s already decided.
In the end, having received my full salary, I’m pulled along by Ms. Aria’s hand and taken shopping to the street with many stores dealing in clothing items… the textile district… that’s what happened.
“Well, we did some good shopping this time! That store is really nice!”
“Right? Right? That store, really good! So many cute clothes!”
“The colors and patterns were pretty! Is all that spider-person thread?”
“Yes, it is. They dye it and… make everything!”
As I engage in girls’ talk along the way, I’m carrying a bag containing underwear I obtained at a store Ms. Aria introduced me to and took me to.
Medieval underwear situations… especially women’s underwear, I thought it was mostly corsets and drawers and such… but the store I was taken to had underwear and clothes in shapes I recognize, sold in abundance. This store for female adventurers, run by a shop owner with spider-folk blood, sells underwear and clothes with functional yet cute designs.
Ms. Aria is apparently a regular at this store too.
Since they also had easy-to-move-in clothes, I bought replacement clothes along with underwear… and when the shop owner kindly offered, "Want to change here?" I took her up on it and changed on the spot.
Well… I never thought I’d hear the classic RPG line "Will you equip it here?" in real life… let alone experience it myself!
The shoes were unavoidable, so I’m still in high-cut sneakers, but I probably don’t draw as much attention as when I was wearing my original clothes, right?
We were walking through town to meet up with the men who went to look for blankets and covers, and I think I blended into the surrounding crowds, yup!
And now, at this very moment…
Having safely met up with the other members, we’re heading to the food district to procure food supplies.
“When you take your time and look around like this, this place is really interesting, isn’t it?”
“True. Come to think of it, when I first came here, it was evening, and we only walked through the city in early morning and at night.”
“It’s lively in the morning, but during the day, it’s even more bustling, right?”
“It’s amazing, in so many ways…!”
The bustle that makes my ears tremble, and the people with unfamiliar shapes and forms passing before my eyes. I mean, bipedal lizards are strutting before me, a young beast-headed human-bodied matron in a soft grass-green dress is walking leisurely while humming, and even a mini dinosaur pulling a cargo wagon… Somehow, I don’t feel negative emotions like fear or eeriness at all, and only the sentiment "I’ve come to another world!" wells up inside me. Is it because the whole city is so lively, and all the townspeople give off a rather cheerful impression?
…Well, if I’m going to say that, I suppose it’s also strange that I wasn’t intimidated by Mr. Ville’s "demon-like" appearance when we first met. Was it because of some kind of otherworldly intoxication, with adrenaline rushing through my veins?
“By the way, I didn’t see any armor shops in the textile district. Where are they?”
“Ah. Weapon and armor shops and stores for tools needed for adventuring are mostly gathered near the guild.”
“That way it’s convenient because you don’t have to go back and forth through town, right?”
There were stores dealing with large items like fabric and leather, as well as ones for decorative items like thread, dyes, and embroidery, and shops selling small items like ribbons and accessories, but I noticed there were no stores selling armor or adventurers’ clothes. When I asked about it, I got a perfectly reasonable answer.
Well, of course. For adventurers, the guild is a place they absolutely must go to, and thinking about it that way, it’s easier for adventurers if the shops they visit are nearby rather than scattered all over town, and for the shops too, it has a high customer-gathering effect.
“In that case, should we also check over there for preserved foods?”
“No… even if it costs more, please stock up on ingredients instead…!”
“Preserved food, not… delicious…”
“Now that we finally have a cook, I have no desire to eat mud.”
“…Eat mud…?”
I wonder… I feel like I just heard an extremely ominous word. Eating mud… this isn’t some kind of dystopian meal… I really, really want to pretend I don’t hear that…!
“…I-In that case, we’ll need protein like smoked meat, cheese, and eggs, plus vegetables that seem like they’ll keep and ones that won’t. For staples, I think we can manage with the Camping Car’s stockpile.”
“…Vegetables, huh…?”
“I’ll do my best cooking, so please bear with me on that front!”
Beside me as I count off the items I’ve thought of on my fingers, Mr. Ville’s mood obviously drops drastically. As I’ve explained before, I really want everyone to eat plenty of vegetables for the sake of nutritional balance! If nutritional balance collapses, it affects immunity accordingly!
“Hmm… well I do trust your cooking skills… and it was actually delicious…”
“I’m happy to hear you say that! I’ll devise ways for everyone to eat deliciously!”
When I pat the back of Mr. Ville, whose shoulders have dropped dejectedly, our party leader pouts his lips like a child and mumbles his words. What is this “it was delicious, but I want to avoid vegetables” stubbornness! I’ll work hard to account for both taste and calories, so I don’t want you to dislike it so much.
When I stare intently at his strawberry-colored eyes with such thoughts, he looks away… That much… do you dislike vegetables that much!?
Dammit! Today I’m making a vegetable-packed minestrone soup! I’ll add richness with bacon and cheese, make it full of richness and umami with good staying power! I’ll make you say it’s "delicious" again, so prepare yourself!
As I shop for various ingredients with renewed determination, a pure white ball of fluff suddenly enters my field of vision along with a voice like rolling bells.
“Ah, Gourmands! Are you all together?”
“Oh, it’s Sheila!”
“Mm. Long time, no see.”
It’s a kobold wearing a blue apron dress… Sheila, the veteran guild receptionist. Each time she toddles closer after spotting us, her gently swaying tail is so adorable!
“This is perfect timing. Would you talk with us at the guild for a bit?”
…However… today her smile has a strange intensity to it… How should I put it, I feel an air of brooking no argument emanating from her…?
“…I don’t want to make the people around anxious, so I can’t talk about the details here, but it’s an emergency!”
Ms. Sheila, who approaches with light footsteps while exuding a mysterious aura, whispers in a low voice.
Hearing that, the party members’ bodies stiffen for just a brief moment, but they immediately maintain their composure. They must have received the guild’s intention not to needlessly stir up citizens’ anxiety.
I also desperately manipulate my facial muscles to keep the smile I was wearing just moments ago.
“It’s that again, right? That bastard Tori is bored and causing trouble, right?”
“That’s not it! The guildmaster is working hard at his job!”
Mr. Ville sighs as if exasperated and turns his feet toward the guild along with Ms. Sheila. Ms. Aria, Mr. Ed, and Mr. Xenon follow suit while making light banter.
…An emergency… does it have something to do with the saint summoning… or is it a completely unrelated, separate matter?
While reprimanding my facial muscles that would slacken if I let my guard down, my thought process is only swallowed up by spiraling thoughts.
Still, even though she says "emergency," perhaps because Ms. Sheila and the party members’ attitude of feigning calm is working, there’s no change in the townspeople’s behavior. Everyone seems to be living their respective lives happily, busily.
…Which means, probably, it’s not that a large-scale monster rampage is about to happen soon, or a war is about to break out, or a large-scale disturbance will occur…? If so, is it a situation where an emergency response is needed because it could lead to disaster eventually? Either way, the fact that Ms. Sheila is relying on the Gourmands means it’s probably a situation we can handle… is that the right understanding…?
“Thank you for responding to the sudden request! Please hear the detailed explanation directly from the guildmaster!”
While I’m thinking about inconclusive things, I realize we’ve arrived at the guild. Ms. Sheila bows her head and opens the guild door for us.
The adventurer’s guild I’ve come to for the first time in several days is, perhaps because it’s daytime, far more crowded than when we came at night the other day.
From burly muscle men to dignified older sisters, bewitching beauties, slender handsome men, and boys and girls wrapped in baggy robes… adventurers with diverse appearances in all their variety are searching for requests, making completion reports, and exchanging information—it’s very lively.
Hmm… As far as I can see from a glance at the guild interior, it doesn’t seem that urgent… Only from Ms. Sheila, who breaks into a trot as soon as we enter the building where no adventurers are present, can I see an atmosphere of urgency.
Under the kobold’s guidance, we arrive at Guildmaster Tori’s room, which, contrary to when we visited the other day, has books, scrolls, and documents piled high and placed here and there. In such a room, the guildmaster, who looks about to cry out in anguish, is groaning with a scroll in hand.
“The Gourmands have come, Master!”
“Ah, Gourmands! Thanks for coming! Sorry, but please just sit wherever you can!”
The guildmaster responded to Ms. Sheila’s voice, looked up, and pointed toward the sofa area… but…
“…There’s nowhere to sit! Clean up the documents at least!”
“Oh… I’m so sorry! I went out for a moment, and it got messy right away.”
“Mr. Tori seems bad at tidying up, doesn’t he…? Sheila, you help with cleaning up, right?”
“It’s fine… You are not at fault, Sheila…”
“Exactly. You left this room to go fetch us, so everything that happened to it afterward is solely the responsibility of that guildmaster over there.”
“…Well, still, I kind of understand the feeling of materials getting scattered during research…”
…Yup. Even the sofa is buried with books and whatnot. Following Mr. Ville, who starts cleaning up while grumbling, I also gather the papers scattered on the sofa and the mini table.
Ms. Sheila helps while repeatedly bowing her head, but from what was said, she’s probably the one who usually cleans this room…
I honestly think Mr. Ed, Ms. Aria, and Mr. Xenon, who so smoothly step in to defend Ms. Sheila, are walking bundles of communication skills, yup.
Incidentally, even as I clean up, I understand Mr. Tori’s mindset—or rather, his way of doing things—painfully well.
When you’re researching Case A and suddenly need to look up Case B, you think “I’m not done yet…” and leave the materials for A out while starting B. Then you leave B’s materials out thinking “I might need these again…,” return to A, realize you now need to research Case C, and keep repeating the cycle—eventually running out of space and piling things wherever you can. Isn’t that how this disaster happens?
…Eh? That’s oddly specific, you say? Because that’s how I am!
I smell a kindred spirit from Mr. Tori regarding organizational skills. I think he’s probably the type who can quickly clean up once the research is done, but the materials inevitably get scattered until it’s finished.
“Are you also bad at tidying up, Rin? From what I see of your efficiency in cooking, your planning and organization don’t seem bad.”
As I’m gathering scrolls scattered on and under the desk, I make eye contact with Mr. Ville, who’s picking up documents scattered on the floor. Even if you give me that puzzled look… To be honest, I’m not that much of a neat freak, nor am I an expert in storage, no.
“When it comes to cooking, I can organize and store things with usability in mind… but I’m not very good at household chores outside of cooking.”
“Really? I think your kitchen looks pretty clean… though?”
“…Well, I can do cleaning and laundry, I’m not completely helpless… Though I probably should get better at non-cooking chores, huh?”
Sure, as a medical professional, I paid attention to hygiene and cleanliness. But maintaining a "spotlessly cleaned room daily!" or "crisply ironed, unwrinkled clothes!"… Impossible, impossible, impossible! Long live lint rollers & floor wipers! When push comes to shove, GO to the dry cleaners! That’s the kind of life I was living.
Still, partly because it was both a hobby and practical, I was diligent about cooking. If there were a status called "life skills" or something, it would be like all my skill points or ability points were dumped entirely into cooking, yup.
…N-Now that I think about it, I’m getting worried, but is someone like me okay as support…?
“It’s fine, no problem. With cleaning magic, laundry and cleaning won’t be much of an issue.”
“Mm! Dust won’t kill you! But if you’re hungry, you can’t fight!”
“Yes. Even if clothes get dirty, you won’t die, but hunger erodes physical ability, thinking power, and even mental strength, and can invite death.”
“We can do stuff other than cooking pretty well! You do cooking, we do everything else—problem solved!”
“Th-thank you…! I can at least cook, so I’ll work hard on meal duty!”
Perhaps my anxiety showed on my face, because everyone immediately followed up.
Eh… seriously!? Everyone’s way of thinking is similar to mine!?
Ah, that’s why we got along so quickly…! We’re fellow gluttons…!
It’s ridiculously late to realize this, and probably not something worth stating outright, but I’m feeling confident I can do well with the Gourmands! Extremely confident!
When I take the hand someone offers, more palms pile on one after another.
Yup. I’ll do it! I’ll make delicious food!
“…You guys, deepening bonds within the party is a good thing, but could you sit down already?”
“Our cook has finally gotten motivated. I’d prefer you not interfere.”
“I said it’s an emergency! It’s a rogue dungeon! A dungeon suddenly sprouted in a place with no mana disturbance or distortion!”
“What!? How can such an absurd thing happen!?”
“It did happen, so shut up and sit your asses down already, you brats! I’ll explain!”
Oh? It suddenly feels like the room temperature dropped significantly. Everyone, including myself, swiftly takes our seats as if the previous farce was a lie, and then Ms. Sheila brings us tea—yet even the steam feels frozen by the tense air.
A rogue dungeon? Sprouted?
I don’t really get it—do dungeons just appear or grow like that? And is it actually a problem if a dungeon forms? Huh?
Perhaps noticing the question marks practically floating above my head as I wonder what’s wrong with dungeons existing in this world… When the guildmaster and the Gourmands begin a more detailed discussion, Ms. Sheila waits for the moment and beckons me over.
“Ms. Rin, Ms. Rin. I’ll explain today’s problem in simple terms!”
“Thank you, Ms. Sheila! Honestly, I don’t really understand what’s so serious…”
When I glance at Mr. Ville, he nods as if to say ‘go ahead.’
Prompted by Ms. Sheila, whose tail swishes back and forth, I move to another small room so as not to disturb the discussing group. It’s a cozy room with a simple table and chairs.
When I sit in the chair as recommended, Ms. Sheila’s… or rather, Professor Sheila’s Perfect Dungeon Lecture begins.
“First, about dungeons themselves, it’s rough, but you can think of them as closed spaces where monsters, treasures, traps, and such appear. Some people call them areas isolated from the world.”
“Ah, yes. I kind of understand. Should I think of them as places that become targets for exploration or requests?”
“Exactly! There are many dungeon-related jobs, like investigating the dungeon itself, surveying the types and numbers of monsters that appear, and monster subjugation, with the meaning of thinning them out!”
Oh, right. As someone who enjoys both RPGs and TRPGs, I can kind of understand "dungeons" themselves, and I can understand that there are dungeon-related things among requests too. I’ve gone—or rather, been dragged—to all sorts of dungeons for all kinds of reasons during sessions. Aren’t they an indispensable stage for adventure?
As I nostalgically look back on past sessions, Ms. Sheila continues explaining that, to prevent widespread harm from dungeons, people intervene by slaying monsters and continuously monitoring the dungeon’s mana, keeping things under control to some extent.
So the existence of dungeons itself isn’t the problem?
“It seems you have a general understanding, but one major problem this time is that a dungeon appeared suddenly, with no warning whatsoever.”
“…Excuse me, Ms. Sheila… do dungeons sometimes appear suddenly?”
“There have been cases in the past where dungeons appeared, so it’s not without precedent… however, all past cases are said to have had signs.”
“Signs… hmm… like monsters gathering?”
“That too, and there are also cases where dungeons are born with ‘impurity’ from resentment and grudges as the core in places where many people died, or when the flow of magical power or ley lines becomes abnormal, causing the space to warp into a dungeon… But in all these cases, there are usually some signs beforehand, such as the abnormal generation of impurities or local distortions in mana flow.”
Ms. Sheila’s ears and tail droop weakly as she flips through quite a lot of documents and papers she’s carrying. Those papers probably have past cases written in them.
Still, the reasons dungeons occur are darker than I thought! Places where people died, lands with impurity—in my world, these would be treated like haunted spots, right? So basically, dungeons form where “bad things” gather, is that the gist of it? That’s why it’s strange for a dungeon to suddenly appear in a place where there was nothing just yesterday…
Plus, since this dungeon just appeared, no one has investigated it yet. So its scale is unknown, as are the tendencies and strengths of the monsters inside. For all we know, it could be swarming with monsters that might attack the town. No wonder it’s such a huge problem!
…In other words…
“So the real problem is that an unexplored dungeon—where anything could happen—is sitting near the city… right?”
“I’m so glad you understand! Also, now that there’s a precedent of a dungeon forming without warning, there’s also the problem of whether dungeons might form in places that have been overlooked until now…”
“…Eh, that’s certainly terrible for public safety, but you’d also need people to determine whether dungeons might appear elsewhere, plus personnel to investigate those places… wouldn’t that turn into a massive uproar…!?”
“That’s exactly right… We’re already asking the Gourmands to investigate, and while we’ve imposed a partial gag order, the veteran guild staff are running around in panic… This is the first major crisis I’ve seen since I started working here…”
It’s serious enough that Ms. Sheila’s triangular ears, which are usually standing up straight, droop down flat. I mean, even Ms. Sheila, with over twenty years of service, is experiencing this for the first time… wouldn’t it be fair to call it an "unprecedented situation"?
…And I have a hunch our party will be the ones taking on the investigation request this time. As far as I can tell, Mr. Ville seems like the type who can’t say no when someone sincerely relies on him, and once he hears the details, choosing “not to cooperate” isn’t an option.
If that’s the case, then what I need to prepare as the cook and support is to back them up so everyone can fight at full strength. I don’t know how long we’ll be diving into the dungeon, but I’ll focus on preparing an environment where everyone can always eat their fill and sleep well!
“Ms. Sheila. I’m going to go buy food supplies and stuff so we can endure a long-term mission!”
“If that’s the case, I’ll go with you! I’ll introduce you to some hidden gem shops!”
“Seriously!? Hidden gem shop information is incredibly helpful! Please do!”
Not even waiting for a proper goodbye, I dashed out of the room to finish my grocery shopping. Ms. Sheila swiftly caught up to me without breaking a sweat, perhaps because she’s a kobold with quick reflexes despite her small stature. She smiled broadly and took my hand in hers.
The sensation of her slightly short, smooth fur and squishy paw pads…!
Th-this is irresistible!
“Mr. Ville! I’m going to go stock up on groceries!”
“Got it! Looks like this request will be a long haul, so I will leave the food to you, Rin!”
“Master! I’ll show Ms. Rin some good shops!”
“What!? Wait, Sheila! There’s still work I want you to do…”
“You can organize documents and clean up yourself for once! Let me have a small mental break!”
When I called out into the room where heated arguments were flying back and forth, I got a response that was just as fiery. Both sides have plenty of motivation, I guess.
Mr. Ville reaches into his pocket and tosses me a fairly heavy coin pouch. When I catch it and peek inside, there’s more than enough money.
Hearing Mr. Tori let out a scream like a dying gasp, followed by Ms. Sheila cutting him off mercilessly, I head down the guild hallway—not running, but walking along chatting cheerfully with Ms. Sheila, our hands still linked.
Because a gag order has been imposed, the adventurers have the same atmosphere as usual, so having a baggage carrier running around in a panic would look kind of unnatural, right?
Still, keeping my pace just subtle enough not to stand out, our destination isn’t the adventurer-oriented shops right in front of the guild, but the food district.
After all, when someone looks at me that seriously and asks to stock up on ingredients, I just can’t refuse.
“What kind of ingredients do you want, Ms. Rin?”
“Let’s see… I mainly want long-lasting processed goods. Also, bread that can be eaten right away, fresh vegetables… if I’m being greedy, hard wheat flour, I suppose?”
To Ms. Sheila, who turns around with a smile, I list the necessary ingredients I can think of.
Nodding along to my slightly breathless list as I count on my fingers, Ms. Sheila introduces shops that truly are hidden gems. They look intimidating from the outside, but the goods they carry are unquestionably high quality.
Moreover, she even introduces me to the shop owners and staff so I can shop alone next time. No matter how many times I thank her, it won’t be enough!
And more than anything, what I’m grateful for this time is that I was able to obtain hard wheat flour—so-called "bread flour"—at one of the recommended shops. I already have cake flour on hand, so I think I can manage a fair number of dishes, but when it comes to noodles or wrappers, having bread flour is just far more convenient.
While I’m at it, dried goods like dried beans, dried mushrooms, and dried vegetables, smoked meat and salted meat, vegetables and fruits, and a bit of rock salt that I personally wanted…
I borrowed a large backpack when leaving the guild, and I definitely stocked up enough that it digs heavily into my shoulders!
Of course, the wrapping cloth does amazing work too! It’s just a single piece of cloth, yet it carries a huge amount of stuff. It’s incredibly useful.
Also, eggs were cheaper than I thought, so I purchased a fair amount of those too. I had an image that eggs in the era before large-scale poultry farming systems were established, like in modern times, would be expensive, but somehow they were reasonably priced…
Why exactly eggs are so cheap remains a mystery. As far as I can see with Survival, they seem edible, tasty, and a convenient way to get animal protein! There was no reason not to buy them.
“Gnnnghh… a-anyway, with this, I can somehow manage at least staples and main dishes, I guess. Fresh meat will be procured on-site… or rather, let’s pray it drops!”
“A-are you okay, Ms. Rin? I can carry a bit more!”
“It’s certainly a little heavy, but this much is fine! They say ‘better safe than sorry’…!”
Ms. Sheila, who’s helping carry luggage, looks at me worriedly, but while it is heavy, thanks to the backpack frame, it’s not to the point of "I can’t anymore…!" In fact, Ms. Sheila is already carrying various small vegetables and eggs, so I don’t think I can trouble her any further, yup. After all, this is the amount of food that the Gourmands will eat.
With my cooking repertoire and skill level, I can’t perform the godly feat of serving different menus for every meal every day. Even so, if I want everyone to eat deliciously without getting bored, I think a certain amount of ingredients is necessary. Thinking about it that way, this mountain of ingredients can be said to be a necessary preparation to compensate for my lacking skills… so I feel bad about relying on Ms. Sheila.
“Oh, right—Ms. Sheila. Is there a place where I can use my skill without standing out? I don’t really want to use it in front of regular people…”
Just organizing this amount of luggage will take time, and I want to prepare in advance so we can depart immediately when I meet up with Mr. Ville and the rest of the party…
That said, I can’t deploy the Camping Car in the middle of town and load luggage into it. Because from the perspective of people who can’t see the Camping Car, it would be a scene where luggage keeps disappearing even though there’s nothing there, right? That would cause a huge commotion!
“In that case, the courtyard facing the guildmaster’s room might be good. It’s a place that general adventurers don’t really enter, and I think if you use skills there, you won’t be found!”
“Really? Ah, but won’t I need some procedure or application to use that place…?”
“You know about today’s situation, so I think it’s no problem! I’ll guide you there!”
“Then I’ll head straight there when we arrive at the guild!”
If it’s a courtyard, I can deploy the Camping Car, and if it faces the guildmaster’s room, I can meet up with everyone right away, and if there are no other adventurers, isn’t that just perfect!
For now, stuff that’s okay at room temperature, like flour and root vegetables, I’ll shove into storage, and leafy vegetables and fruits go in the vegetable compartment, I guess…?
On the way back, I buy a few extra glossy, vibrant tomatoes and eggplants I spot, then we return to the guild.
All the while, the lively shouts of children playing tag, vendors calling out, housewives laughing as they chat by the well, and the bustle of people at work vibrate against my eardrums. …I don’t know if it’s my place to say this since I don’t know the town that well, but personally, I think this is a good city.
The grandma who gives me extra vegetables, the good-natured shop owner, a person who offers to deliver to the guild because it looks heavy… A town where such kind people live mustn’t be ravaged by monsters overflowing from a dungeon. I want them to continue spending peaceful and lively days forever…
“Well then, Ms. Rin. The courtyard is straight ahead after turning here!”
“Eh!? Ah, w-we’re already here. Thank you!”
Before I knew it, Ms. Sheila had lightly tugged my hand, and I found myself standing before the entrance to the guild staff building. I must have unconsciously quickened my pace at some point—we arrived sooner than I expected. When I lower my gaze, I see Ms. Sheila with her brows drooping worriedly.
“Yes. I really wanted to guide you all the way to the courtyard, but other staff asked me to do something… I’m sorry it’s halfway!”
“No, no! I’m very grateful that you introduced me to good shops! Thank you so much!”
“Please do your best too, Ms. Rin! If anything comes up, please consult me again!”
We shake hands with feelings of gratitude, and I see off Ms. Sheila as she flips the hem of her apron dress and runs back in the direction she came from, disappearing around the corner. I might get scolded for such thoughts during an emergency, but her pattering, swaying curled tail was extremely adorable, yup.
“…Alright, let’s load things up before meeting with Mr. Ville and everyone!”
“Load what, Rin?”
“Whoa!? Mr. Ville!?”
The moment I turn on my heel to head to the courtyard I was just told about, a familiar voice comes flying in. When I turn around, sure enough, Mr. Ville is standing there looking the same as always.
“I was just about to go pick up the gear for our raid now that the details are sorted, but then I spotted you and Sheila… These bags?”
Before I can even wonder how long he’s been behind me, the paper bags at my feet and the wrapping cloth in my arms are effortlessly lifted away without giving me a chance to stop him.
“No, no, no… I can’t have someone who’s about to prepare for battle carry luggage! Please prioritize preparing your equipment!”
On top of that, when I reach out to reclaim the luggage, I’m just lightly brushed off!
When someone as tall as Mr. Ville lifts the luggage high above me, it’s physically impossible to reach…!
Dammit! I’m not crying!
“My equipment is stored at the guild’s storage, and going through the courtyard is a shortcut. Besides, it’d be tough to carry this amount alone, right?”
It’s true… It’s certainly easier without the luggage, but… I don’t want to tire out someone who’s about to challenge a dungeon…
The strawberry-colored eyes watching me mumble soften.
“I’m not so frail to get tired from this much, so don’t worry. Come on, you’re going to the courtyard, right?”
“Ah, w-wait for me, Mr. Ville!”
Mr. Ville, as if he read my mind, grins broadly and starts walking toward the courtyard.
Hey, even if you leave me behind, you can’t load the Camping Car without me, leader!
I firmly re-shoulder the backpack that’s slipping down and hurriedly chase after him.
Just as Ms. Sheila taught me, in the courtyard not far from the earlier location, there are no other adventurers or staff passing through the corridor. In a tongue-twister world, there might be "two chickens in the garden and two chickens in the backyard," but there were certainly no chickens in the Adventurer’s Guild courtyard!
…Well, setting that aside… now I can safely load the luggage!
Even though no one is around right now, I consider the chance of staff or adventurers passing by later and manifest the Camping Car in a corner of the courtyard.
Just as Mr. Ville said, the loading work with two people finished in no time. He positioned himself outside the vehicle, I stationed myself inside, and we passed luggage in a bucket brigade fashion.
Normally, the luggage piles up near the entrance almost immediately, making it impossible to load the next batch, so I keep rearranging and stacking, then rearranging again… but just not having to do that makes things this easy…!
“See? With two people, it finishes quickly, right?”
“Yes. It was faster than I thought! Thank you very much!”
Even after neatly stowing everything away in the fridge and storage compartments, it took less than ten minutes—a level of smoothness unimaginable for my usual self.
This is probably thanks to Mr. Ville’s spatial awareness ability, carefully planning the placement of ingredients in the fridge like a three-dimensional puzzle.
The Gourmands’ leader is seriously reliable!
“Alright. Then I’ll go get my equipment. The others are probably doing the same, so let’s meet up at the main gate in an hour.”
“Understood! But, it’s not exactly a thank you… But I’ll make a small snack to hold you over, so please take it with you!”
I reach for the pita bread that the shop lady gave me as a bonus when I bulk-bought the bread remaining in the store, saying it was unsold leftovers, and hold it up in front of Mr. Ville.
“…Hm? What’s this… isn’t this food for the dungeon? Is it okay to eat it now?”
“Since it’s something the shop lady gave as a bonus, it’s outside the food plan, and there’s not much quantity anyway, so I thought I’d destroy the evidence before it causes a fight.”
When I hand Mr. Ville barley tea after he takes a breath, his stomach starts making ominous sounds.
After getting his help, I can’t send a hungry person off to prepare with empty hands—that would be downright rude!
Even while saying "is it okay?", the way his strawberry-colored eyes full of expectation follow the golden-brown baked bread is so annoyingly cute… or at least looks that way. Since it’s unsold stock, there’s only this one, and I was thinking the quantity would be overwhelmingly insufficient to share among the whole party and would cause a fight… so this is just right!
I roughly split the pita bread in two without even using a knife, and spread the halberry jam I made earlier when I had time into the gaping cavity. Jam bread is complete in less than a minute!
…Eh? You say filling pita pockets with side dishes is the proper way? I agree, but I’m not thoughtless enough to leisurely cook fillings when every second counts… I considered using the remaining ham in the fridge… but I want to save that for dungeon food or whatever… Besides, the combination of carbohydrates + sugar quickly becomes energy, so it’s just right as short-term fuel for immediate activity.
“This is a matter we’d better keep quiet about from the others.”
“That’s right, I’d be grateful if you could please keep this confidential.”
“I see, I see… keeping secrets, our cook seems to be quite the villain.”
“No, no… compared to the party leader, I still have a long way to go…!”
“This cheeky little mouse has a quick tongue too! Alright, see you at the main gate!”
Mr. Ville, floating a truly villainous smile, devours the jam bread in one bite, gulps down the remaining barley tea… and as if it’s an afterthought, ruffles my head and heads toward the storage to get his equipment.
…How should I put it, saying "a secret just between us☆" sounds so sweet and innocent, but "one-on-one clandestine talk" instantly sounds like grounds for questioning. I get it.
Well, emergency or not, I love this kind of playful nonsense!
“Well then, shall I head to the main gate while doing some incidental shopping?”
Seeing off Mr. Ville’s back as he disappears into the depths of the guild, I cancel the Camping Car’s manifestation.
After slipping a wrapping cloth into my body bag, I decide to head to the meeting place as well.
I hurry along a little, picking up whatever ingredients catch my eye within what I can manage to carry. Being able to buy milk and yogurt in ceramic bottles is a real stroke of luck! Moreover, when you bring back the empty bottles, they give you a cash refund for the bottle deposit. This makes you become a repeat customer, yup. It’s not disposable, which is eco-friendly, and I think it’s a really good thing.
Being careful not to break the bottles, not to crush the additional goods… when I hurry to the main gate while being cautious, some members are already there.
“Ah, Ms. Aria and Mr. Ed! You’re already here?”
“Mm! Preparations, perfect!”
“We don’t take that much time changing, you know.”
Mr. Ed, wearing a deep-navy short cape over dark inner clothes, honestly doesn’t look that different from usual… but, um, Ms. Aria?
How should I put it, a white ao dai with super fluffy flared cuffs and pant hems… does that get the idea across? The upper body is sewn to fit tightly along the body lines, making that improper chest even more improper! The lower body is fluffy, so with that contrast, it’s incredibly cute, but the slits go up near the sides, and glimpses of snow-white skin peeking through from there are super irresistible!
The ethereal, translucent aesthetic totally suits Ms. Aria!
Moreover, what is that… around the forehead, I can see something red like rhinestones sparkling…?
“…Mm… compound eyes, kind of…? Today, it’s the climax from the start!”
Perhaps noticing my gaze, Ms. Aria lifts her bangs a bit.
Between her eyebrows—just above the pressure point called the yintang—there’s one, and one each on either side. Then, slightly above the inner ends of her eyebrows, one on the left and one on the right, small ruby-like jewels are attached.
On Ms. Aria, whose coloring is generally pale, only these compound eyes stand out with vivid color.
“Compound eyes… those ruby-like gems are pretty… Do they help you see better?”
“Yes. Can feel presences better too. Right now… behind me… Xenon is coming… right?”
“Wow! You can tell that too! Amazing!”
When I think one of them glints, just as Ms. Aria told me, I can see Mr. Xenon approaching from behind her with leisurely steps.
“Oh, you are already here too, Rin. Were you able to stock up sufficiently?”
“Yes! I think it’ll hold out for a fair portion of the journey.”
“That’s excellent. Now we just need to await Ville, and we can depart.”
Incidentally, Mr. Xenon, who’s usually in light-colored robes, has become a rather fantastic figure in dark-colored clothes called a chokha or something.
It’s the same with Ms. Aria, but when the wearers are an incomparably beautiful woman and a classic handsome elf, it somehow feels completely natural…
“Yo. Looks like everyone’s here!”
Mr. Ville’s outfit as he comes through the bustle… honestly, isn’t that different from usual.
The color of the leather used in the armor is different, and there are more armaments like shoulder guards and gauntlets… also, the weapon has changed to a two-handed greatsword… are those the changes? Maybe the grade of materials used has gone up… but honestly, I have no clue…!
“Speak of the devil. What are you doing being the last one, Leader?”
“At last! So, shall we get going then?”
“Yeah. Our destination is near the city. The road itself shouldn’t be much trouble, but too many irregular things have been happening lately. Stay alert.”
“Yes! Got it!”
At any rate, the entire Gourmands are assembled!
Reprimanding my facial muscles that tend to stiffen so as not to disturb the bustle of the city still spending its ordinary peaceful days, I slip through the main gate.
The sky is perfectly clear, the breeze brushing my cheeks is refreshing, and it’s such fine weather that I can even catch a faint scent of flowers. Despite such a peaceful scene, an incident threatening it is happening right now.
What will unfold from here on…? I feel like I’m about to be swallowed by anxiety, unable to see what lies ahead…
“Don’t be so tense, Rin. We’re going to investigate now to eliminate that anxiety.”
I was trying to appear as calm as possible, but I suppose I was still stiff somewhere after all.
Mr. Ville grins broadly and gives my back a light pat.
…I see… that’s right. Because we don’t know, we’re going to investigate.
Looking back at those strawberry-colored eyes, I float a smile as if not to lose… and firmly kick the ground to start walking.
No comments:
Post a Comment