Chapter 470: A Secret Conversation
The gentle breeze rustled through the fields, causing the endless expanse of green wheat to sway. The light reflected off the water sprinkled by the mailmen, creating a dazzling display.
In the distance, the mountains stood dry and yellowish-brown, a testament to the diligent care of the mailmen. I need to put in some effort to tend to the fields on the mountain as well. I managed to get some rice seeds from Es, so I’ll be growing rice too!
Es’s rice is handled like vegetables, and for some reason, it often gets mixed in with short pasta. To me, who thinks of it as a carbohydrate, it’s a rather puzzling combination.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave. Thank you.”
I felt a bit cleansed in my heart.
“Yeah, what about the wheat?”
“If I take too much, won’t that be a problem? For the people who eat it or those who come to the port. Honestly, I don’t need that much.”
I only brought the green stone as a conversation starter.
“There’s plenty, so it’s fine. It’s a promise, after all.”
The mailmen seem to care a lot about keeping promises, so I decided to accept their offer without hesitation.
“Where should I transport it? Or should I wait for the ship?”
“Anywhere that’s easy to unload. I have [Storage].”
It’s a hassle to keep secrets, so I’ll just be honest.
The mailmen probably read minds, or rather, they read emotions. It seems they not only read but also communicate through gestures, which makes interactions quite comfortable.
I can sense the sincerity of the mailmen, making me want to respond in kind.
With that, I returned from the wheat fields to the town. —In the square, wheat hemp sacks were already piled up. It seems the mailmen can communicate even from a distance. Well, I had a feeling that would be the case.
“Alright, I’ll take them.”
I started placing them into [Storage].
“Such impressive magic power.”
“Yeah. It’s increased quite a bit since I came here.”
The amount and duration of what can be stored depend on magic power.
For example, En can store about five sacks of wheat. He can keep two sacks indefinitely, but anything beyond that will be expelled after about three days. He mentioned it had been increasing.
Some people even experience time passing differently inside, or the color changes when they take something out. It seems that’s just a past case that Haulon knows about since there aren’t many with [Storage].
“Ah…”
As the mailman swayed, water enveloped both of us.
“A message from my mother. Once you name the protector, come again.”
“A message from my father. Keep the secret a secret. If you understand the meaning, come again.”
A thin membrane of water rippled, distorting the surrounding scenery as the mailman moved quietly, as if sharing a secret.
“I understand.”
I could feel the corners of my mouth lift. This is a nice little harvest.
As I responded, the water receded, clearing my view.
“See you again.”
“Yeah, see you.”
I used [Teleportation] to return to my House.
“Rishu~”
I rushed over and began to pet Rishu.
Rishu, who had been trying to sniff me, rolled over. Here? Or here? I spent a while petting Rishu, who showed off his pink tongue and smiled while wriggling around.
Just before my hand could tickle his back, he twisted his body and playfully nibbled at the air. I quickly pulled my hand back, and he rolled over again, so I tickled his back once more, only to be met with another playful nibble. My little one is just too cute.
After being healed by Rishu, it was time for dinner.
Tonight’s menu consisted of fried rice and dumplings. I sautéed scallop meat, breaking it apart to let the moisture escape, then added a generous drizzle of butter and soy sauce. In a separate pot, I stir-fried eggs, onions, and rice, then tossed in the scallops.
For the dumplings, I lined up the pre-made ones in the frying pan. With high heat, the water quickly turned to steam, and I swiftly covered it to steam-cook them.
I shaped the fried rice into a nice mound and said, “Itadakimasu.”
The fried rice enveloped the gentle flavor of the eggs, the sweetness of the onions, and the deliciousness of the butter-soy scallops, all wrapped in the comforting embrace of carbohydrates. The generous sprinkle of black pepper added a sharp kick to the taste.
The dumplings had a crispy yet chewy skin. The garlic was just right, giving them a slightly rich flavor. They paired well with white rice, but tonight, I was aiming for beer.
I had been wanting to do that dramatic “puhah!” So, I tossed a hot dumpling into my mouth, chewing happily while reaching for a cold Japanese-style beer.
Ah, it’s bitter.
The atmosphere was perfect, but my palate wasn’t accustomed to the beer. It was clearly different from the hydration beer served by Kanum. Still, it was delicious… or at least, I thought it might be.
—Halfway through, I wimped out. When drinking with Dean and the others, I get swept up in the atmosphere and have fun, but alone, it still doesn’t taste great.
So, I switched to ginger ale. It’s fine; no one here treats me like a child.
Fried rice and dumplings, I’m feeling blissfully happy.