Chapter 8: Food Exploration
Well then, before the shops close for the night, it’s time for a little food exploration.
In the alley just off the square by the gate, stalls have been set up from morning until sunset. There are vendors selling salami and cheese, a shop for some reason selling bells, second-hand clothes, a hardware store, and a repair shop for pots, all offering inexpensive goods.
Most of the food stalls serve bread filled with sausage, onions, and sauerkraut. There are also places that serve slices of hard bread as a plate, topped with cheese or ham.
There are shops piled high with just bread, others with dark sausages made from blood, nut tarts, and dried apples. They sell a type of alcohol made from barley that can hardly be called beer—more like sweet sake? It still has some grains floating around.
The stalls mainly offer sausages and cheese, followed closely by ham. The sausages trigger a warning for botulism when I use [Appraisal], but it seems that if they cook them well, it should be fine.
If I look closely, I see warnings for E. coli and various other things, but it seems that anything that could seriously harm me shows up clearly in the results. Quite convenient.
I chose a stall that didn’t trigger any warnings and decided to try one. It’s a bit greasy, huh? I can really feel the atmosphere pushing me to consume calories.
Dried fruits of various kinds are available. I tried one, but it was sour; perhaps it would be better to stew them with sugar for sweets or cook them with meat.
They also sell brown sugar, which comes in large blocks that they break apart for sale. Salt is sold similarly, with the dampened chunks being crushed for sale. They measure the quantities with a scale and weights—so retro and charming.
I might be the only one who thinks it’s retro; it’s probably just the norm around here.
A well-dressed child from a nice family is buying some brown sugar.
There’s a crowd gathered around a stall, and when I got closer, I saw a whole roast pig displayed prominently, being sliced and served in bread. This is a hit! Though the bread looks a bit disappointing.
A whole roast pig, huh? That wasn’t on my list of options. I had asked for various cuts from the food storage, but maybe half a pig would have been better? No, it’s a hassle to butcher every time, so I’ll just get my pork here. I’ve heard that acorns from the forest are recommended as feed.
I want to try various foods, but my stomach has shrunk. As I think about heading home, I notice that there are hardly any people entering or exiting the gate at this hour. In fact, the gate is closed and secured with a large bolt.
With no other choice, I return to the inn where I’m staying and use [Teleportation] to go home. Tomorrow, even if it’s a hassle, I should return to town to handle the exit procedures. Wait, if I hunt some demon beasts, I’ll have to come back to town to sell them, right?
What should I plan for tomorrow?
I guess I’ll try hunting something other than rabbits. To find anything else, I’ll have to venture deeper into the forest. It seems that if I go further in, I’ll encounter more than just rabbits.
Wolves, bears, boars, foxes, and tanukis, among others. —Tanukis shouldn’t exist in ancient Europe, so it really feels like a different world. The most common demon beast is the kobold, a monkey-like creature. They’re weak individually, but they use tools, travel in packs, and breed prolifically.
However, kobolds don’t yield much meat or fur, so they aren’t very profitable. The Adventurer’s Guild always has extermination requests out, and if you bring back their horns, you’ll earn some kin. They often use equipment taken from humans and have a habit of bringing metal goods back to their nests, so it’s not like there’s no profit to be made.
Since I have [Teleportation], I might as well go in and take a look. With that decision made, I take a bath and head to bed, fully embracing the early to bed, early to rise lifestyle. Once I finish my checks, I’ll head to the Royal Capital to buy some books.
I gently stroke Rishu and drift off to sleep.
Perhaps because I’ve been going to bed early, waking up early has started to feel nice. I pet the sleeping Rishu and, knowing it’s futile, cast [Healing]. [Healing] naturally helps my injuries and ailments improve gradually, but I can also actively heal them. It seems to take a bit of mental energy, though.
However, Rishu’s condition isn’t an injury or illness; it’s simply a loss of strength, making her presence feel faint. I’ve heard that [Healing] doesn’t work on her, but I still find myself casting it while she sleeps. I don’t do it repeatedly, but it’s just a feeling I have.
After waking up, I drink some milk and prepare breakfast: rice, miso soup, and grilled horse mackerel—ah, I should definitely make some pickled vegetables. I change Rishu’s water, and I’m ready to head out.
I use [Teleportation] to the edge of the forest and immediately begin [Exploration] as I enter. In the shallow areas, I find ordinary rabbits and horned rabbits. Once I’ve seen something, I can recognize it without needing to see it directly again.
Speaking of which, the meat of hornless rabbits sells for the highest price, while the fur of horned rabbits is valued more. Because of this, it seems that ordinary rabbits are often left alone in hopes they’ll turn into demon beasts. Unlike other demon beasts, they don’t pose much of a threat.
Oh, and this world has dragons and unicorns as well. It seems they can also turn into demon beasts. Well, whether they do or not, they still feel like a threat.
Even the bear I see across the river would be a significant threat to an ordinary person.
This presence is definitely a bear. I should look for a stronger one in this category. As for rabbits, it seems that the so-called Demon Forest doesn’t have many demon beasts. I thought they’d be swarming, but it doesn’t seem to be the case.
I push through the underbrush and branches. The Zanzenken is so convenient! It’s much easier to walk than when I was on the island. I noticed this when I hiked the mountains too; it seems my stamina has been enhanced, so I don’t get tired.
Even though it’s summer, creamy-colored mushrooms are growing in clusters on decaying wood. When I use [Appraisal], I find out they’re delicious mushrooms, so I gather some. Nearby, I spot some beautifully green grass and, upon appraisal, discover it’s an herb used for potions, so I gather that too.
There are demon beasts around, but the forest itself is rich. Red, black, and yellow raspberries, sour currants, and slightly bitter jujubes. The fact that I can return home quickly, that I’ve had plenty of rest, and that I can use [Storage] for my belongings makes walking through the forest enjoyable, thanks to the peace of mind.