Chapter 642 - 第572話 竜は見かけによらない
Tonight's dinner was Autumn Salmon Tatsuta-age with a squeeze of Lemon. There was a generous helping of Shredded Cabbage too, so maybe I ate a little too much.
「Hoh! To think it would be found on Sabana-dono's island of all places!」
「Honestly, it's unexpected, isn't it? I never thought we'd find it on an Uninhabited Island.」
Upland Rice that just grows in the soil. I wonder if it's the original species?
If so, then it wouldn't be strange to find it on the mainland too.
「On the mainland, bread made with Kohaku and Wheat is the staple food. Perhaps Haku wasn't very widespread, then?」
「I see.」
「Also, while Emeralldia-dono said what she found was Upland Rice, it might simply be paddy fields that were left untended and turned wild.」
「Ah...」
The Ancient Ruins on Sabana-san's island were port facilities. What's more, it used to be an intermediate port where large ships would call, so it must have been bustling back in the day.
「We can't say for certain without seeing the actual location. But if we obtain Haku in the end, there should be no problem.」
「Well... I suppose so.」
I'd like to see the actual Haku soon, but I don't want to rush Sabana-san.
「Oh, speaking of which, are we sending regular provisions to Sabana-san's island?」
When we handed over the relief supplies, the Plant Encyclopedia was supposed to go with them, but I didn't even realize the provisions were still ongoing.
When will the next batch of relief supplies be delivered?
「Not exactly regularly. Sabana-dono also has her own schedule. Season-dono is supposed to contact us with convenient dates and times.」
「I see.」
It seems they're coordinating to find a mutually convenient time. In that case, the Plant Encyclopedia might arrive fairly soon, then?
More importantly, I wish this World Quest would end soon...
「Well then, we're off.」
「Okay, be careful. Lupi, Sweee, Ato, I'm counting on you.」
「Woof」「humming happily」「Grrr」
After school, Mion, Emeralldia-san, and even Sweee were going to re-examine the Plant Encyclopedia and then patrol the Ghillie Dhu's forest once more.
「Ugh, how cuuute...」
And of course, it was also to introduce Emeralldia-san to the Ghillie Dhus.
I wanted to go with them, but my Stained Glass project is currently half-finished and put on hold, so I wanted to prioritize that.
The White Dragon Princess was napping. El-san, who was watching over her, should come and call me when she wakes up.
「Alright. I'll focus on this.」
…
…
…
「Kururu?」
「Hmm? What's wrong, Raz? Oh, right, it's time for a break, isn't it?」
「Kurururu♪」
It rubs its cheek against me happily.
Normally, Raz is free to be with the Carbuncles, or Rigel, or even the Ghillie Dhus.
Today, it was supposed to be napping with the White Dragon Princess instead of going with Mion and the others...
「Oh, the White Dragon Princess woke up too. Alright, let's have a snack.」
「Kururun♪」
I wonder if I've finished about half of the Stained Glass?
Still, I'm not sure what to do about the missing colors, the red and yellow parts...
「Welcome back. I've prepared tea and snacks, so please take a rest.」
「Thank you very much.」
Are these leftover cookies? No, I heard she's recently become able to bake them herself, probably thanks to helping Mion.
Oh, the White Dragon Princess is giving me a 'not yet?' look...
「Let's eat.」
「Let's eat~!」
Oh, these are the Ginger Cookies I made sometime ago.
They taste good, but I'm starting to crave some Green Tea. I can make Anko now, and we're likely getting Haku soon too.
「El~, is Emera back yet~?」
「No, she's gone to the Ghillie Dhu's forest. I believe they should be returning soon.」
Speaking of which, what time is it again? ...Past 10 PM, huh. In that case, I figured they'd be back any moment when suddenly,
「Woof!」
Lupi's energetic 'I'm home!' could be heard from beyond the entrance.
I set my tea down for a moment and headed to the entrance.
「Welcome back.」「Welcome baaack~!」
「Yes, we're home.」
「humming happily」「Chirp!」
Sweee immediately flew to the White Dragon Princess's shoulder, mimicking wiping sweat as if she'd done hard work. Mion gave a wry smile at the sight...
「Did you find anything new?」
「Ah, yes. Here it is.」
What she showed me, placed on her palm, was a red fruit about the size of a fingertip.
When I immediately used [Appraisal] on it,
[Canina Fruit]
『Its fruit. The pulp, once seeds are removed, is tart but delicious.
[Material Processing]: The processed pulp can be used as a food ingredient. [Alchemy]: Becomes a raw material for Heal Potions.』
Does that mean it'd be good for jam or something? It doesn't look like a wild strawberry, though.
As I was thinking that,
「Apparently, if you dry them, they can be made into tea.」
「Chirp chirp!」
Huh, tea? So, a herbal tea? Oh, maybe it's Rosehip?
「Both of you. Why don't you sit down and take a breather first?」
「Ah, sorry.」
「Yes.」
Though, the White Dragon Princess and Sweee had already hurried back to the reception room.
And I need to give Lupi a reward too.
「Oh, by the way, where are Shal and Kuro?」
「We parted ways with Kuro-chan in the forest. Shal-kun said he was going to report to Paan-kun.」
「Report?」
「Yes. Emeralldia-san found this, and he wanted to deliver it quickly...」
Saying that, Mion pulled something out of her inventory:
「Burdock!」
「Ah, it really is Burdock, isn't it?」
「Yeah. The ones sold in stores are usually quite cleanly washed, you see.」
Kinpirah would be good, and Chicken and Burdock, salads, Tempura, even soups. All sound great.
Or perhaps chips. Sweee and the others would probably like those too...
「But how did you know? I don't think I would've been able to find it.」
「Emeralldia-san said that the leaves visible on the ground meant it was edible, calling it 'Burdock'.」
Apparently, Kuro and the others didn't know either.
Emeralldia-san really is amazing, huh.
「Mmm, yummy yummy」「Kurururu♪」
The sight of them happily eating the Ginger Cookies was so much like Raz... Well, yeah, I guess it means people aren't what they seem.