Chapter 3 - A Feast!
My daily routine in the camp includes training. During a break from training, while I was daydreaming in the sun, I noticed a guard woman running towards us in a hurry.
“Is Yukarinowe here? It’s a Giant Renkaku!”
A Giant Renkaku is a monstrous bird with a wingspan exceeding fifteen meters. It’s a migratory bird that appears in this area once a year, around autumn.
And most importantly, its meat is delicious. Very, very delicious.
Last year, I managed to hunt a flying Giant Renkaku.
When I was appraised upon arrival, it was discovered that I have magic affinities and several skills.
Skills, in simple terms, are innate talents. They are special abilities you are born with or develop to an exceptional level, which then appear on your appraisal results. They are named talents, akin to advanced techniques or proficiencies.
Skills can’t be sealed by the Magic-Sealing Bracelet, so I’m closely monitored by the staff.
The skill that will be useful for this hunt is called Throwing Technique.
Though it’s a story from long ago, I used to be the ace pitcher of a boys' baseball team. I even set a strikeout record in a tournament. I had to quit eventually, but I did showcase my talent.
My pitching was transformed into a skill in this world, enhancing my throws with incredible power and precision.
“Where’s the prey? Get me some throwing stones!”
The other inmates, excited by the prospect of fresh meat, are buzzing with anticipation.
Last year, I managed to catch only one, which I shared among everyone. This time, I’m going for at least three!
One bird can provide about three hundred kilograms of meat. With around a hundred people in the camp, including staff, that’s about three kilograms per person.
With such a limited supply and our constant hunger for good food, we’ll probably finish it in one day. At the very least, we should aim for a three-day supply.
I’m the only one with the Throwing Technique, and I’m determined to get the job done for the rare meat.
“Yukarinowe, this way! Follow me! Today, I’ll let you use the watchtower. You better not mess up!”
The guard woman smiled and her trademark skull hair clip glinted in the light.
I gave her a thumbs up as I ran towards the watchtower.
“Leave it to me!”
When I arrived at the watchtower, a pile of suitable throwing stones was thoughtfully prepared for me.
Looking out, I could see the unexpectedly flimsy fence and a gentle slope beyond it. The trees were sparse, offering a clear view. Flowers in shades of blue and purple bloomed over a vast area, a beautiful sight that added color to the majestic landscape.
On the opposite side, the Romariel Mountains loomed like a formidable wall. While they say you want to climb a mountain if you see one, the mountains here are so overpowering that the thought never crosses your mind.
Looking north, I spotted a flock of monstrous birds gradually approaching. Perfect timing.
“Hey! Count on you!”
“All our hopes are on you!”
“Really mess this up, and we’ll kill you!”
“Absolutely catch them! No excuses!”
Shouts and cheers from the inmates below. They are already making all sorts of demands.
They can say what they want, but I’ll catch them no matter what. I won’t let such valuable meat get away.
I grabbed a stone, about the size of a softball, and prepared to throw.
With my significantly enhanced grip strength in this world, I gripped the stone tightly and waited for the right moment.
When the target was in range, I went into my throwing motion.
“Not this time!”
Facing the target, I pulled my right foot back, raised my arms high, and twisted my body to the extreme. Then, I stepped forward with my left foot, transferred my weight, and unleashed a powerful throw with all my might.
The stone, thrown with the technique of a star pitcher I once admired, shot forward at a roaring speed, aiming for the lead bird. The thick feathers offered no resistance, and the stone struck the bird, knocking it down. No two for one, but a solid hit.
“Not done yet!”
There’s still time before the flock passes. I prepared for the second throw.
As if in a replay, I executed the exact same motion and achieved the same result.
Third and fourth throws. That’s it.
“Sure wish you could help more!”
In the end, I managed to take down four birds.
Since I can’t leave the camp, the staff will bring the birds inside for us.
Perfect throws. It feels great!
Thanks to the staff’s arrangements, tonight’s dinner turned into an outdoor barbecue.
It’s a surprisingly laid-back camp.
“Yukari, nice one!”
“Thank you, Yukari! We have bird meat because of you!”
“I’ll follow you for life!”
“You’re amazing, Onee-sama!”
“I won’t say thanks or anything!”
I dealt with the newcomers and fellow troublemakers as they came, one by one.
“You don’t have to thank me, but don’t let any of it go to waste.”
Wasting food is a crime punishable by death.
There might be people who don’t like meat, but those who don’t want to eat it don’t have to force themselves.
As a reward for the catch, I was allowed to choose my favorite parts first. I went for the heart, gizzard, and thigh. Grilled meat is one of my favorite dishes.
When I chose the heart, everyone looked at me strangely. However, after I let Frederica and Zenobia taste it, they immediately requested the rest of the hearts. Despite the fact that internal organs are generally not eaten in this world, they were all eager to have some. People can be so predictable.
After a while of eating and celebrating, I was stopped on my way back from picking flowers.
“Yukari, right? You’re quite something.”
“Thanks. And you are?”
“I should apologize. I’m Caroline, a former madam of a brothel. A little cheap, but what can you do.”
Despite the utilitarian prison uniform, she was still a striking beauty with an air of charm.
A newcomer I’ve seen around recently, she seemed different from the usual inmates, which was why I’d been curious about her.
“So, what’s up?”
I replied with a casual tone.
I couldn’t help but sound somewhat tsundere, which was a bit annoying. Really.
“You’re a bit different from the others, and I was curious. Since we were nearby, I thought I’d introduce myself.”
She thinks the same way I do.
“Haha, the feeling’s mutual. Let’s chat a bit, shall we?”
From our brief conversation, I concluded that Caroline is a rather intelligent woman.
She had a wealth of topics and information, but she was especially interested in international affairs, something I often discuss in the library. No one else seemed to discuss such topics, so she engaged me enthusiastically.
She also probed me about myself, but there’s not much I can say. I simply told her I was a commoner from a rural area. There’s no other answer, and she wouldn’t find anything by investigating me.
I felt a bit bad about lying to someone so serious, but what could I do?
“Seems like you’re aware of the kingdom’s crisis too.”
“From reading the newspapers and magazines, one can get a sense of it.”
“While it’s still in the future, it’s going to get pretty bad. This camp won’t be immune, and I think it’s best to prepare.”
She seemed more concerned about the situation than I was. She was quite serious about it.
“You’re probably right. We’re in a camp, but we can still make a plan. It’s important to be prepared, as you say.”
“Yukari, what do you plan to do?”
“I can’t do much on my own. As a newcomer, I haven’t talked to you yet, but I’m actually gathering a group. People who can act together when the time comes.”
It’s perfect. Caroline’s knowledge and information are undoubtedly valuable to us.
Not to mention, as a former madam, she probably has access to various information that others wouldn’t. Especially if important officials were her clients, she likely has crucial details. No wonder she’s been confined to the camp, despite being a potentially dangerous person. It might be out of mercy that she wasn’t executed. I’ll have to ask her why she’s here.
A valuable source of information and a mysterious charm. Yes, I want her on my team.
“Caroline, do you want to join us in our discussions?”
“Really!? Thank you. I wanted to share the crisis with someone. I’d love to hear more.”
“Great, I’ll introduce you to the group later. Looking forward to working with you, Caroline.”
“Likewise, Yukari.”
It’s refreshing to deal with someone decisive. She must have been quite desperate. Having someone who understands is precious.
As a newcomer, it would have been challenging for her to approach the other inmates, who are mostly troublemakers. She must have been cautious in choosing her friends.
I’ll let Frederica and the others know about this later.
“Talking made me hungry again. There’s still plenty of bird meat, so I’m going to eat some more!”
“True. Eating bird meat isn’t something you get to do often.”
A newcomer’s skepticism. She hasn’t quite grasped how rare this opportunity is.
“To be honest, you won’t get another chance if you don’t eat it now. There’s still plenty to go around, so you should enjoy it to the fullest.”
“I can’t eat that much, though.”
“Don’t say that. It’s too late to regret it later.”
Even if Caroline looked at me with a surprised expression, I didn’t mind.
Today’s dinner is a bird meat barbecue. I won’t get another chance like this until next year at the earliest. I have to eat as much as I can without overdoing it.
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In the end, even with everyone chipping in, we couldn’t finish the meat from all four birds. We could only manage one.
The remaining three birds were stored in the freezer and are to be served periodically during the winter for dinner.
Interestingly, the giant woman seemed to be having a great time tonight.
By the way, birds are highly sensitive to magic, and magic attacks usually don’t hit them. Since the staff’s magic attacks aren’t very effective, I often get called upon to do the job.