Chapter 62: Exploration of the Forest
Today, I think I’ll venture a bit deeper into the forest. I know that the investigation and subjugation squads are moving along the river, so I plan to head to a place off the beaten path. The area where I’m currently trying to catch the Black Spirit is a bit too close for comfort.
The map I received shows the eastern side of the forest as unclear and fragmented. It seems to be a land where the power of the Gods I met doesn’t reach, or perhaps a place where the Spirits I know don’t reside.
After chasing the Black Spirit for a while, I continue deeper into the forest. There are Demon Beasts like weasels and civets, but they tend to flee when the odds are against them, so they aren’t too troublesome unless I try to take them down. If I do, they just scurry away into their burrows, which can be annoying.
Wolves and bears with Three-Horns are also around, but their behavior is similar to the single-horned ones, so I feel at ease. I’m faster and stronger than them.
Then there are the wild boars and the Wild Boar. I wonder if the Wild Boar escaped from a farm? They’re quite delicious, so they’ve been hunted to the point where they rarely appear in the shallow parts of the forest. Usually, they move away from stronger Demon Beasts.
A Three-Horned wild boar charges at me. They say wild boars are reckless, but surprisingly, they can maneuver quite well, and their momentum is just as described. It’s taller than me, but it lowers its head, exposing its throat.
I bait it in, dodging at the last moment, and stab my sword into the boar’s eye. I’m using the Zanzenken, but I aim for a soft spot. I quickly store it away; I’ll make Botan Nabe with it.
The Wild Boar is dangerous too, with tusks and horns when it’s wild. However, while the meat is tempting, I also want to make a brush from its bristles for Rishu, so I’ll hunt this one as well.
I find myself getting sidetracked, either chasing the Black Spirit or the Wild Boar, making it hard to progress deeper into the forest. Along the way, I gather some Herbs; the deeper parts of the forest are untouched, so I can collect as much as I want.
I also discover some Wild Asparagus that I’ve been wanting to try. It has a long, smooth stem with something resembling the tips of wheat ears, and overall, it’s a yellow-green color.
The subjugation squad hasn’t even set out yet, so there’s no rush. I can take my time.
But I do want to butcher the wild boar and the pig soon. It’s a hassle to do it at home because of the cleanup, and I don’t want the smell lingering. I want to at least bleed them out in the forest, so I need to find a suitable base to settle down. I think I’ll look for a good spot a bit further from the river.
I walk through the gate, wearing a face that says I’ve gathered some herbs. I’m not planning to approach the Adventurer’s Guild, so I head out with my shoulder bag filled with herbs. Actually, there’s been a request for more healing potions from the subjugation squad, so this works out perfectly.
Returning to my rented house, I light a fire in the fireplace. Normally, I would teleport home from here, but I should use this kitchen once in a while. Since I came through the gate seriously, it’s earlier than usual.
First, I boil some hot water. I should buy more firewood soon.
I try boiling the Wild Asparagus. When I taste it, it has a crunchy texture with just a hint of sliminess. I can taste the sweetness without any unpleasant smell or aftertaste—hmm, it’s delicious, but the texture is a bit off.
If it’s going to be slimy, I’d prefer it to be as slimy as nameko mushrooms. I’ll have to push this onto the butler.
When I step outside, I notice the shutters of Ash’s kitchen window are open. Is the butler making dinner? I knock on the back door and wait.
“Ah, it’s Lord Jean.”
“Good evening. I brought some herbs along with this. Want to try it?”
“Is that Wild Asparagus? The season for it is short, and it’s popular as a harbinger of spring. You could sell it to the Merchant Guild for a good price.”
Since I haven’t lived here long, I can’t sell directly to individuals, but I can sell to the Merchant Guild. Prices tend to be lower between shops than when dealing with individuals, but that can’t be helped.
“No, it’s a hassle to go there now. I was planning to eat it myself, but the texture just doesn’t sit right with me.”
“Really? It’s delicious, though… Please wait a moment.”
He disappears for a moment and returns with a plate of regular asparagus and sausage on a strainer.
“Here, have this instead.”
“Thank you.”
I can’t help but appraise the sausage as I head back to my rented house. The asparagus is thick and impressive, unlike the wild ones I gathered during my exploration.
I’ll prepare the asparagus with boiled eggs and chopped parsley, drizzled with browned butter. I want to have something ready in case he asks for my opinion. Since I got a lot, I’ll eat half with mayonnaise and soy sauce tomorrow.
The main dish will be curry, so that should be fine. The [Storage] is incredibly convenient for keeping things fresh. I’m not confident in reheating the curry properly, and the quality changes when the potatoes cool down.
No, that’s not right. Cooking was the goal.
I chop the vegetables haphazardly and toss them into a pot with chicken to simmer over the fireplace. It should be ready in about an hour. I’ll keep the fact that I got lazy to myself.
Should I take a bath now? I think I’ll use the bath here today; it’s a hassle to boil hot water, and I can just pull it from [Storage].
After I get out of the bath, I’ll bake some thin bread in the oven and cook the asparagus. Then, I’ll enjoy the sausage I got from the fireplace while I eat.