Chapter 115: The Days of the Wealthy
And, of course, I got beaten up by the enraged Striders and kicked out of the Guild.
Poor me…
To think I’d be looked down upon this much, even by bottom-feeder jobs like Striders…!
Well, that’s fine, whatever. Vacation time.
A ceasefire with the Empire, the mysterious existence of the “Priestess Maiden,” Count Missgancia’s territory defense, and so on—apparently, there were things happening behind the scenes, but none of it concerns me.
Honestly, just looking at Count Missgancia, I think being at the top isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
It’s probably the same in a company.
Instead of becoming the president, it’s probably easiest to be someone with a decent position, earning a decent amount, and able to use paid leave.
Isn’t that the kind of era we’re in now?
Prioritizing private life, right? How you work is your own freedom! Everyone should live as they please and die unreasonably.
The one who does what they want wins, not just in youth, but in all of life.
Come to think of it, my previous life wasn’t like that.
There was a sense of duty, obligations, blood ties, and various other constraints.
But originally, the people you owe favors to and the connections you make are all things you can choose yourself. That’s what humans are.
What I lacked was the resolve to let go.
But… things are different now!
In this world with no constraints…
I truly want to live as I please and spend my time as I like.
I want to make it a life without regrets…
So, for now, I came to the Forest.
And, with a sketchbook and basket in hand, I wander around…
“Mushrooooms, mushrooooms…”
Singing, I gather mushrooms.
Oh, chanterelles. This area is European-style, with many birch trees in the Forest.
“Kyuu?!”
I also managed to hunt a rabbit, so I think I’ll butcher it and make a stew!
Just sear the meat with garlic and onions, then simmer it in white wine with paprika powder, parsley, chicken stock, and so on. Nothing special.
With some bread toasted from home…
Mmm, delicious!
I’ve been eating rabbit meat quite a bit since coming to this world, and it’s really good.
It has a light flavor, is low in fat, and can be enjoyed refreshingly. It goes well with white wine.
And the mushrooms. The mushrooms are delicious.
Chanterelles aren’t commonly seen in Japan, but they seem to be popular in Europe. They have a nice aroma… and on top of that, the mushrooms, having absorbed the broth and oil, become a mass of flavor, making them irresistibly delicious.
It’s bad manners, but I wipe up all the remaining broth with the bread and eat it. Ah, delicious…
It’s like with tsukemen, where drinking the broth at the end is the most delicious part. It feels like that’s the main event, doesn’t it?
It’s the same with stews; you can only finish the meal after drinking the broth that has absorbed all the flavors of the ingredients…
…Phew, satisfied, satisfied.
So, after the meal.
I took out my sketchbook and started sketching the Forest scenery.
Ah, yeah, that’s right.
Recently, I’ve been hooked on drawing.
I only have knowledge from a light art class I took as a child, but someday, I’ll acquire the skills of that afro-haired painter who’s now gone…!
And, the basics are sketching? So, for now, I’m doing pencil drawings.
Well, coloring is difficult separately, so I’ll skip that for now and start with sketching to capture the shapes of things. It’s like starting with arithmetic before math, right?
“Like… this, maybe?”
Hmm, I’m drawing well, even by my own standards.
In the first place, I was sketching when I was a student in medical school, so I feel like that experience is coming in handy.
Well, it’s pretty good, pretty good.
And, like this here… should I be more conscious of yin and yang?
Recalling the exhibitions I’ve seen at acquaintances’ places and the paintings I’ve seen in museums, I draw many sketches.
“Hmm… I feel like there are too many unnecessary lines. Truly good paintings should be like abstract paintings, where you can tell what’s being depicted with just the minimum number of lines… Should I try to make it a bit smarter?”
When I get tired of drawing, I take a short break.
I smoke a cigarette rolled with Medicinal Herbs.
…This doesn’t contain nicotine or tar, right?
It’s a “Recovery Item” with a special blend of magical Medicinal Herbs from ‘The Garden,’ and it restores Magical Power when smoked.
Recently, I’ve been pouring half of my Magical Power into expanding ‘The Garden’ every morning, so my Magical Power tends to be low.
That’s why I’m smoking a Magical Power recovery cigarette like this, which is rare for me…
“…This is delicious?”
…Apparently, when you smoke a Magical Power recovery cigarette without Magical Power, it tastes good.
It was a new discovery.
So, after puffing away for a while…
I sketch again.
“Hmm…? Ah, I see. Time has passed, so the direction of the shadows is different. Wow, even the same scenery looks different depending on the time. Art is really profound after all~”
…And, I enjoy myself for a while.
By the time the sky turns into a sunset, I withdraw.
I go home…
“Welcome home, Andrews-sama!”
“I’m home, Tris! I drew some pictures today, take a look!”
“Yes! Of course!”
…There are endless things to do.
Hobbies, enjoyment, fun in life.
If you can’t find them, it’s your own poor heart that’s to blame.