Chapter 60: Gathering
I fillet the sea bream and cut it into portions. A sprinkle of salt and coarse black pepper, then a light dusting of flour. I sizzle it skin-side down in olive oil until it’s golden and crispy, then plate it. A perfectly crisp skin is a true delight.
Next, I finely chop a generous amount of garlic, add some red chili pepper, and heat them gently in olive oil. Once the garlic starts to release its aroma, I toss in some clams and rapeseed blossoms. Garlic smells amazing both while cooking and when eating.
I stir-fry them just enough to coat, splash in some sake, add water, and let it steam. When the clams open up, I season with lemon, olive oil, and soy sauce, then pour it over the sea bream while it’s still hot.
Both the sea bream and clams are in season during spring, though the rapeseed blossoms are from the pantry. The flesh of the sea bream is tender and fluffy, and the garlic-infused clams are delightful. If I were an adult, I might even pop open a bottle of white wine.
I’m thinking of making curry for dinner. After a day of naming things in the forest, I teleport back home and collapse, only to be sniffed at by Rishu, who worries about me every day. Lately, my evening meals have mostly been simple soups that just need to be served.
I’ve been wanting a plush carpet to collapse onto, and I’ve been wandering around countries I’ve never been to, so it’s not like I’m just doing that.
I bought a double-knotted silk carpet, woven with intricate, vibrant patterns and colors. It’s so finely made that only young women with delicate fingers can weave it, which is quite the fantasy for the men, I’d say.
At first, teleportation felt like collapsing onto the terrace after opening a window, but I discovered that if I have a clear memory (or image) of where things are, I can teleport to those locations as well.
However, if something is placed there or someone is present, I get sent to a completely different spot. I once ended up in a place shrouded in thick mist and had to hurriedly return. When I cautiously tried to teleport again, I found a crying child in the spot I initially aimed for. Delivering that child to the town was a fond memory.
This afternoon, I have a meeting with Ash and the others, so I’m taking a break from the forest. I plan to hand over my bag and accompany them on a shopping trip for monster hunting supplies. It feels a bit early for shopping, but I’ve heard that if you wait too long, you might run into other participants and face price hikes or find that the items you want are sold out.
“Hey, pretty boy, you’ve got a nice face. Come hang out for a bit,” someone calls out as I’m getting harassed at the Adventurer’s Guild.
“Come on, just pour me a drink,” another one chimes in.
When I try to ignore them, one grabs my arm.
So, I deliver a swift kick to his gut. As he bends over, I drop my heel onto the back of his head.
Isn’t this harassment more typical of women? Normally, wouldn’t they demand money or a treat?
“Lord Jean, you might seriously injure him…” a guild staff member intervenes.
If you’re going to stop it, shouldn’t you have done so when they first approached me?
“Isn’t it great that healing potions are selling well?” I retort. They sell those at the Adventurer’s Guild counter, right?
I remove my foot from the guy’s head, which I had been ready to stomp down with force. I wonder if a healing potion would even work after crushing someone’s skull.
“Lord Jean, are you alright?”
“Oh, of all people, why did you have to mess with the Lord of Dusk?”
“Stop trying to handle everything in silence.”
“Jean, you’re scaring everyone. Should we move somewhere else?”
I’m rescued by everyone who came out from the tavern.
What about Dean and Retze? Aren’t they worried about me?
“Messing with that relentless Black Bear takes some guts…”
“He probably doesn’t know any better since he’s an outsider.”
“They come at you without warning.”
“If there was a warning, the staff would have intervened by then.”
“Once you mess with the Black Bear, it’s game over.”
I hear whispers from the crowd, but is the Black Bear really me? If I were to have a nickname, I’d prefer something like Wolf, but I think it’s too late for that now.
“Since lunchtime has passed, how about we head to Hanon’s place?”
With the butler’s suggestion, we move to a nearby eatery. Unlike the many standing bars, this one has proper tables and chairs. Because of that, it’s a bit pricier, and as soon as the cheaper lunchtime stews are over, the place empties out.
“Let’s get drinks and cheese for everyone.”
And outside of lunch hours, it’s a bar.
The staff responds to the butler’s order, and the drinks are prepared right away. I’m underage in Japan, but it seems there aren’t strict rules here, as even children are seen drinking. Though it looks like they’re not given any high-proof spirits.
Here, we drink according to local customs. The alcohol from the pantry will have to wait a little over a year. I’ve decided to just go with the flow for now.
“Let’s raise a toast to our reunion!” Chris declares, lifting his cup—though it’s just a wooden goblet carved from a single piece of wood—up to eye level.
The spirit at my chin shrinks back in surprise at the goblet, but quickly reemerges and settles back in place. Chris is well-loved; surely it’s not just because of his chin, right?
“What’s everyone been up to after the investigation?”
“I had a meeting with the Guild since Dean ran off!”
“I was assisting Chris.”
So Dean ran away, huh… I can sense that Retze is feeling the pressure.
I left early, so I won’t pry, but unlike me, who was just carrying supplies, they were the ones who took on the investigation requests.
“I’ve been looking for a new place.”
“A new place? Are you moving out of your rented house?” Chris asks in response to Dean’s question.
“My sister moved in with me, but I spoiled her too much, so I decided to leave and live in an inn instead.” Apparently, he called in their strict mother to keep his sister in line. I’ve heard she’s been drilling her with chores.
“I’m going bear hunting.”
Ash never wavers…