Chapter 527: The Dark Ruins
I activated [Teleportation] in the direction indicated by the Spirits. Aside from the rocky mountains and some low protruding stones, it was all grassland. The visibility was quite good, but I couldn’t see any signs of buildings.
There’s no way they’re buried in the grass, right? If these ruins are from a stone civilization, I expect the structures to be made of stone and retain some semblance of their original form.
Thanks to Ufu, the map is mostly filled in for the southern hemisphere. The northern part is only partially mapped. If the boundary between the filled and unfilled areas on the map is the equator, then it seems there are various Spirits around, and not all of them are Ufu’s retainers. Still, it’s impressive.
The detailed locations might be places the Atmosphere Spirits or Ufu herself have visited, or perhaps places of interest? The map still holds many mysteries.
Regardless of the mysteries, the real issue is that the map has revealed places I’ve never been to, making it hard to keep track of where I’ve gone. For now, I’ve only been to the tip of the Dragon Continent in the southern hemisphere, so I can manage.
For now, let’s fill in the northern hemisphere. But I mustn’t forget to enjoy myself.
Since I might be facing the Black Spirit soon, it’s time for a meal. Naan, to be specific.
In the [Food Storage], I requested ingredients that are versatile and spices that seem difficult to recreate. Just in case the cooking doesn’t turn out well, I also requested some dishes like rice balls, Pork Miso Soup, curry rice, hamburgers, and even some instant noodles.
They say [All Cooking] can recreate anything I’ve eaten before! But honestly, I had no idea what kind of ability that was.
I chose based on what I wouldn’t get tired of even if I rotated them, and what I occasionally crave but seems hard to replicate. So, this time, I’m having Mutton Curry from a place that claimed to serve Himalayan Curry, which I’ve eaten a few times after school.
The slightly orange curry contains onions, tomatoes, garlic, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, red pepper, black pepper, and cardamom… Now that I have [All Cooking], I understand it, but back in Japan, I thought garam masala was just a single spice.
Since I was transported here and hadn’t eaten properly, I stuffed my [Storage] with food as much as I could. I was a bit anxious that the ability I received might disappear one day, so I carried food with me for a while instead of just relying on [Storage].
My obsession with food stems entirely from that experience. Back in Japan, I wasn’t that interested in eating. A good meal and a place to sleep are essential.
As I watched the horses munching on grass, I tore off a piece of warm naan, scooped up some curry, and took a bite. Delicious.
Though they seemed indifferent to me from a distance, I noticed the horses occasionally perked their ears in my direction. They were cautiously sizing me up, measuring the distance. It’s fine, don’t be wary? I’m just watching too.
The mutton was tender from being stewed, yet had a satisfying chew. Occasionally, a bay leaf would get stuck in my mouth, which felt nostalgic. I spat it out and took a sip of the mango lassi I made.
I have plans to grow mangoes in Karn’s Country, but I need to check on the progress of the preparations for planting.
The naan was generously buttered, and since it would start to ooze out after a while, I quickly devoured it before it cooled down. Curry is a drink, whether with rice or naan.
Alright, time to set off.
I activated [Teleportation], asked for directions, and activated [Teleportation] again. The number of Spirits gradually decreased. Maybe it’s because I’m getting closer to the Black Spirit? The Demon Forest has both Black Spirits and a fair number of ordinary Spirits.
In the Demon Forest, the trees, stones, and earth were the very essence of the Spirits, making them stronger than the Black Spirits, who protected and concealed the other Spirits. Unlike this place, the forest had a variety of things and seemed to welcome various Spirits.
At Kokuzan, Kokuzan-chan accepted the ordinary Spirits, slightly distancing herself from the Black Spirits, ensuring they couldn’t touch each other.
Here, it’s possible that the Black Spirit the Spirits are talking about is the most powerful one. It’s best to avoid getting too close.
I had a feeling everyone would scold me for continuing on this path. But since I formed a contract with a powerful Spirit, the balance with the Black Spirit’s contract might be off. Well, maybe it doesn’t need to be balanced? But it seems that forming a contract alleviates pain.
According to what I heard from the horse, a friend of Yukihyo, being dominated by anger and pain seems to ease the pain and allow one to regain calmness after forming a contract. It might only be the Spirits that can think to some extent that can calm down, and they apparently still dislike humans.
Well, if it means I won’t feel pain, that’s a good thing. I hugged a small Black Spirit and named it.
Before me stood a collapsed building made of stacked stones. The grass beneath my feet was sparse, growing through the gaps in the cobblestone. Even though the sun was shining, that spot felt oddly dark, reminiscent of a labyrinth. It had that unmistakable vibe.
“Ex-Staff!” I pulled the Ex-Staff from my waist.
“Got it!” The staff extended, and the mischievous Ex-Staff revealed itself with a pop.
“It’s quite atmospheric here, but are you okay?”
“I’m fine, I’m fine!”
And so, the adventure begins. I’m curious about the story I shared with the horses too!