Chapter 379: Permission for Food Tasting
“Well, I think it’s about time for the sun to set nicely,” I said, ready for some food tasting.
“Wait. Are you really going to leave me here like this?” Karn asked, his hand dropping from his forehead as he looked at me. I felt uneasy under his gaze.
Haulon next to me was staring at me in disbelief, but I’d be in trouble if I had to return a gift.
“Don’t worry, Es. It’s been dark for a while now, so the shops are still open,” Retze reassured me, prompting me to shift awkwardly in my seat.
“Well, about this god? It seems we’ll need to set it up with either Haulon or Jean’s Teleportation, but is it really okay to just place the God of Fertility in the middle of that desert?”
“I don’t know either, but I think it’s best to ask for their preference directly,” I suggested.
“…” Karn looked at me, then reluctantly shifted his gaze to the hemp sack.
“‘O God of Fertility Asas, in this situation, allow for direct questions and answers. Is it your wish to sit upon the sun-baked sands, or would you prefer to rest in the cool, sunless underground? Alternatively, would you rather wait in another land until the environment is suitable—what would you prefer?’”
Karn was speaking at length.
“That’s an old way of speaking, even for the Era of Fire,” Haulon whispered to Retze.
Ah, the language!
“He’s asking if it’s okay to set up in the middle of the desert, if the dark but cool underground is preferable, or if it’s better to wait elsewhere until conditions improve,” I translated.
“Thank you. It’s blunt, but easy to understand,” Retze replied with a subtle hint of gratitude.
“‘Place me in a moist area, for sunlight is necessary for growth. I shall provide you with lettuce, carrots, celery, digitalis, and dahlias. Place me in a moist area, for sunlight is not necessary for growth. I shall provide you with green onions, garlic chives, melons, sweet peas, and anemones.’”
Voices emerged from the hemp sack.
Karn raised an eyebrow at the voice. It seemed they were conversing in that old language from the Era of Fire. But it felt like the first half and the second half were saying different things.
“So, it’s telling us to choose one of the two options,” Haulon said. I see.
Retze poked me.
“It says if we place it in a moist, bright area, we’ll get lettuce and carrots, while in a moist, dark area, we’ll get green onions and garlic chives,” he explained.
“Ah, so it’s the difference between needing darkness to sprout and needing light to sprout. Got it.” Retze, you even know the reasons! Did Haulon understand too?
“‘Is moving during the process an option?’” I asked.
“Of course,” came the reply.
“It says moving during the process is fine,” I relayed. Starting in the Underground Temple and then moving above ground when things are ready sounds good, right? If it’s there, it should turn green. And if Es comes, it’ll spread rapidly, right?
“Jean, you should think about how to convey that better. Those of high status are already feeling the strain,” Retze sighed.
Looking around, I saw Haulon with his eyes darting about, Karn frowning deeply, and Baylis fidgeting nervously behind them.
They’re the type to care about appearances!
“…Jean. If you provoke them too much, you might get cursed, you know? Ancient spirits can not only alter other spirits but also affect humans, you know? Unlike typical Spirit’s Power, it’s often difficult to shake off,” Haulon whispered to me.
“‘Hold your tongue, human. That is for a reason, my master. I read the room, but my foolish younger brother, the God of Storms and War Wanwan, will swing his sword without question.’”
“Master…?”
“Wan…?”
Karn and Haulon froze, looking puzzled.
“What’s going on?” I was poked again by Retze.
“I can read the room and be flexible, but my brother is a brute, so be careful with your words,” I explained.
“Huh? —You definitely skipped something there, didn’t you?” Retze’s gaze shifted back and forth between Karn and Haulon, then returned to me.
“The master of the God of Fertility Asas, the one who holds the contract…! Are you okay?! Did you sign a contract with him?!” Baylis shrieked.
“…Huh?” Retze let out a deflated voice, staring at Baylis.
“Hey, given that flow of words, could it be that you also signed a contract with Stekar?” Karn crossed his arms and looked at me.
“Wanwan…?” Haulon seemed to be stuck on the ‘wanwan’ part. Should I just brush it off? Maybe I should?
“Jean, could you explain a bit more clearly? Or rather, just confess,” I felt my cheeks being lightly pinched.
“My food tasting!” This is definitely going to take a while!
“Retze, let’s take a little walk instead. I think it would be less damaging to ask the God of Fertility Asas directly about the situation. After that, we should seek Jean’s additional input,” Karn suggested, lightly pressing his fingers against his forehead.
At last, permission for food tasting was granted!