Chapter 247: Luggage
After finishing various tasks, tomorrow is finally the departure day.
With that in mind, dinner consists of things I won’t be able to eat for a while.
I arranged roasted Kamo eggplants and meat alternately, drizzled with a sauce made from soy sauce, mirin, and honey, with a touch of wasabi. The eggplants were roasted whole in the oven; they taste so much better that way. Since eggplants are in season, I also made some young eggplants dressed in mustard.
I prepared fried corn and fried edamame. There’s also tender octopus stew—various small dishes arranged like a traditional kaiseki meal.
And then there’s sushi. Since bluefin tuna isn’t in season, I opted for southern bluefin, and compared it with stone bream and pepper bream. I also included striped jack, horse mackerel, octopus suckers, and cuttlefish, with the seaweed on the gunkan sushi giving off a delightful aroma. Of course, there’s also sea bream and bluefin tuna.
The vinegared rice clings deliciously to the toppings. Everyone has managed to get seasonal ingredients, and the items from the [Pantry] are at their peak freshness. Even the sweetfish are swimming together, mixing young sweetfish and mature sweetfish regardless of the season.
Instead of making just one or two pieces, I prepared a whole batch and stored the rest in [Storage]. I can enjoy my favorite toppings anytime!
For dessert, I made hojicha ice cream. I asked Rishu for help, mixing it in a chilled metal bowl. Rishu is excellent at cooling things down just by touching them with his paw. He was adorable too.
After my bath, I began packing the necessary items into my bag.
First, I packed the heavy and shape-stable items. This time, since various things have been exposed, I have a wide variety of food. Starting with dried fish, dried abalone, and dried scallops, there’s plenty!
I’ve got rice and mochi, along with some yokan and nut bars for emergencies, and taffy nuts as well. Unlike my activities in the forest, there’s a possibility I won’t be able to hunt, so I packed extra dried meat.
I’ve heard that if I can’t get fuel, cooking might be difficult, so I packed plenty of canned food that can be eaten as is. However, since the cans are made of Spirit Iron, I might get scolded for that, making them true emergency rations. It would be nice if I could make them out of aluminum since they’re lighter, but I think that requires electrolysis?
Learning from my previous mistakes, I packed a work apron, gloves, and a change of clothes. Wait, this is turning into quite a load? But Letze mentioned that when going into the Labyrinth, it’s common to have a lot of luggage, so hiring a porter is normal, right? Probably.
As usual, I plan to return home early in the morning to take a walk with Rishu, playing with him a lot. I’ll go to bed earlier than usual and brew coffee with the siphon. Listening to the bubbling sound and inhaling the aroma of coffee, I fill my water bag and make final preparations and checks.
I wake up with the coffee and head to Kanum before dawn. Breakfast is planned to be at a food stall with everyone. I can manage once I store everything in [Storage], but the others should have consumed any food that would spoil since they’ll be away from home for an extended period.
The meeting point is the shared living space of the rented house where Dean and the others live.
“Good morning.”
“Hey. Wow, you’ve got a lot of luggage.”
“Isn’t it about twice as much as last time?”
Dean and Chris also have quite a bit of luggage beside them.
“If you’re carrying that, you won’t fit through tight spaces. You need to lighten it up a bit.”
Letze’s load is slightly heavier than usual but still compact. Why is that?
While waiting for Dinoss and Ash, I’m checked over in the shared space on the first floor of Dean’s rented house.
Karn is joining us, but he has very little luggage. Since he can go without food, most of his load is alcohol. He’s sitting quietly at the edge of the living room, drinking, and his large presence is noticeable.
“Stop trying to carry everything by brute force.”
My pants are pulled down, and my canned food is confiscated. Ah, ah, ah! Someone from a culture where they wear the same clothes year-round wouldn’t understand, but I need a change of clothes!
I managed to protect a few pairs of pants and shirts. Socks too.
“You made something weird again, didn’t you?”
Letze stares intently at the canned food.
Letze, even with that serious face, you like this kind of stuff, don’t you? I know.
“Gene, this is Spirit Iron, isn’t it?!”
Oh no, Dean figured it out. Technically, it’s steel, but still.
“What a waste!”
Chris leans in eagerly.
“There’s something inside. Knowing you, it’s probably food.”
Letze continues his inspection.
“That’s a simmered dish with red clam and sansho. What Dean is holding is beef in balsamic sauce, and Chris has grilled chicken with sauce. Also, Spirit Iron can be reused.”
I’ve marked them so they’re identifiable.
“Why go through the trouble of making it heavier?”
Dean asks, puzzled.
“Preserved food, preserved food. It lasts over a year.”
I won’t bother explaining the sterilization process.
“That’s handy. I’d use it for military rations.”
Karn smirks as our eyes meet.
As Karn said, with canned food, soldiers wouldn’t have to worry about sourcing food and could travel long distances. Since there’s no need for local procurement, they wouldn’t have to choose their routes.
“…I’ll stop making it.”
“That’s for the best.”
It’s convenient, but this world is still too convenient.
“Hey, good morning—what are you doing?”
“Breakfast.”
Dinoss and Ash arrive together.
All the cans are opened, and breakfast is served.