NOVEL NEXT Ch25 - First Quest 2
Chapter 25: First Quest 2
The slimes are here! One after another, they are driving away the poisonous mushrooms!
With incredible speed, they move over the logs, licking the surface to inspect the mushrooms before quickly stretching their tentacles to the next tree!
Whoosh!
They jump like stuntmen in a wire action scene!
Licking up the next batch of mushrooms! Done!
Next! Next! Next!
Whoosh!
…I will exterminate them all—!!!
Kureha and Izumi’s advance was unstoppable.
Are they planning to inspect all the mushrooms on this farm? They are flying between the trees with terrifying speed and mobility.
They must be motivated by the prospect of earning a lot by working hard, making tonight’s dinner extravagant—there’s no way these gluttons wouldn’t be pumped!
“Woohoo! Kuu and Izu, you guys look awesome!”
“Senpai, you’re amazing!”
“Wow, that’s wonderful!”
“Kureha, Izumi, you’re incredible!”
“Well, well… this is quite impressive!”
With cheers from the audience, the slimes’ excitement grows even more.
“Wooaaahhhh!!”
Red and blue flash around in a level where even afterimages are visible.
Lily’s ability to continuously cast [Illusion] despite all this is impressive. The +1 effect seems to be enormous.
Rena’s familiar’s growth rate is astounding, even now.
By the time the sun began to set, all the mushroom inspections were complete.
Since the poisonous mushroom spores would likely come flying again in the future, regular checks would be necessary, but it was a great relief to have finished inspecting the current logs.
Mr. Warner couldn’t stop smiling.
Kureha and Izumi landed stylishly with a whoosh and struck a pose.
Applause erupted.
“Wow… Thank you, slimes. You really helped a lot!
I never thought we could remove all the poisonous mushrooms in a single day.
Since you melted them, there’s no need for cleanup… I’ll check again later to make sure there are no poisonous mushrooms left, but from what I can see, it looks good.
Really, thank you for everything!”
“Anytime!!”
The slimes’ words didn’t reach Mr. Warner, so Rena stepped in to interpret.
The master, praised for his familiars, looked quite proud.
Mr. Warner smiled gently, narrowing his eyes.
“Were there any new types of poisonous mushrooms…?”
Mr. Warner asked the slimes.
“…Oh!”
“There was one back there, you know.”
“It wasn’t a mushroom, though.”
“But it didn’t seem spicy, so it probably isn’t poisonous.”
“Hmm…? I see.
Mr. Warner, it seems there was a strange mushroom further back that isn’t poisonous.”
“Oh!”
Upon hearing the translation, Mr. Warner’s round eyes widened.
Following the slimes’ guidance to the edge of the farm, they found a burning red mushroom growing among the other mushrooms on a single log.
It was about the size of a child’s palm, rugged, and looked hard. The cap was small, and the stem was unusually thick and inverted triangular.
It clearly looked inedible, but… according to the slimes, it was supposedly non-toxic.
Rena frowned as she examined the red mushroom.
She felt she had seen something with a similar shape somewhere before.
Meanwhile, Mr. Warner stared intently at the mushroom, his eyes wide.
After observing it for a while, he let out a deep sigh of admiration.
He took out a small encyclopedia from his pocket, compared it with the red mushroom, then took out a knife and carefully cut it at the base, raising it for Rena and the others to see.
“This is… a very rare mushroom.
It’s a type that results from a mutation of an existing mushroom.
It’s rarely seen and is said to be impossible to cultivate, so among mushroom farmers, it’s considered a phantom.
It’s called the ‘Macho Room Mushroom.’”
“Ma, Macho!?”
I see.
After hearing that, as she carefully observed the stem, it did resemble a bodybuilder’s chest and abdominal muscles.
That’s why it felt so familiar.
I wonder how it got this shape. It’s easy to imagine.
“Um… if I eat it, will I become macho or something…?”
Rena asked, looking somewhat apprehensive.
“Haha, correct!
It’s easy to understand since it has that name.
That’s exactly its effect.
If you eat it, you’ll get a super macho physique!
Your muscles will be forced to grow stronger, so you won’t revert to your original physique quickly, and you’ll stay macho until you die.
Oh, and no side effects have been confirmed.”
“Uwaaaah…”
For someone wanting to build muscle, it might indeed be a treasure, but it’s an item that incredibly selective.
If someone became a macho, would their stamina stat increase accordingly?
Would they have a body like a bodybuilder or a toned physique like a martial artist?
Since the stem is inverted triangular, it’s probably the former.
As Rena pondered this absentmindedly, Mr. Warner hesitated for a moment before suddenly offering the Macho Room Mushroom to her.
“…It’s a mushroom that selects who eats it, but since it’s a rare type, I’ve heard it’s traded at quite a high price among muscle enthusiasts.
It seems that the stamina stat increases significantly as well?
…Well, since the slimes found it, I’ll give it to you, its master.
You can use it to strengthen your familiars.”
“Eh?!”
He’s giving me a precious and expensive mushroom for free!
But my cute familiars might face a macho crisis!
“As a mushroom farmer, I’m certainly very curious about this product…
But I think I wouldn’t have encountered this mushroom if your familiars hadn’t found it this time. So, I’ll give it to you.
The Macho Room Mushroom is weak against moisture, so it would have rotted quickly in the humid forest.
If we had left that log until tomorrow, it would have withered.
I feel very lucky just to have encountered it. Thank you very much.
I’ll dry it out with heat magic [Dry], so take it with you.”
…The appearance effect is too scary, and I’m generally satisfied with my current fighting power, so to be honest, I didn’t really need it. However, it’s not the kind of atmosphere where I can say something so uncouth…
Mr. Warner, with a smile full of kindness like a bodhisattva, offered a mushroom to Lena. The perceptive little Lena managed to put on a smile and timidly accepted the macho-room mushroom.
The unusual weight of the mushroom must be due to its body fat percentage. It feels dense and firm, as if packed with fibers (muscles).
While holding the mushroom in Lena’s palm, Mr. Warner skillfully cast the [Dry] spell. He was quite adept at it.
▽ Lena obtained 1 Dried Macho-Room Mushroom!
An excited Mr. Warner detailed the rarity and effects of the mushroom further as they walked home. While nodding along, Lena was secretly thinking, “If Kureha learns the [Dry] spell, we could make lots of dried vegetables and fruits,” escaping into her own thoughts. She was struggling with what to do about the macho-room mushroom…
Upon arriving at the owner’s house, Lena received a wage that included a bonus for the slime’s work (the master regularly used the [Inspire] skill to boost productivity) along with a large amount of mushrooms. The guild quest request form was marked “completed.”
▽ Successfully completed the first quest: “Remove Poisonous Mushrooms from the Farm”!
▽ Lena received a wage of 1,500 ril, 100 Dried Mushrooms, and 50 Mushrooms.
“Well then, thank you very much!”
The master and the owner smiled warmly at each other at the entrance of the farm.
“Thank you very much! If the timing is right, I would love to request the poisonous mushroom removal again!”
“Hehe, I’m glad to hear that. If I see another request while I’m in town, I’ll be sure to take it!”
“That would be a great help!”
After smoothly exchanging farewells with Mr. Warner, they left the mushroom farm. The group started walking towards the guild. They needed to report the completion of the quest.
After that, they planned to head towards the Toria shopping district. Lena wanted to buy ingredients for dinner and ask the butcher if they could smoke some monster meat.
“Kureha and Izumi, you both worked hard today! You did so well! You were so cool! As promised, let’s make a lavish dinner. I’ll cook a lot, so eat your fill!”
“Yay! We love Lena!”
“I love you both too!”
“Ah, that’s nice… Master, could you pet Lily too?”
“Me too!”
“Of course! You’re all so cute. I love my familiars! I love you all!”
“Yayyy♪”
“…Ehehe”
“Fuaa—”
The small beastmaster walking through the city, having fun with her monsters, stood out quite a bit. But at this point, it was too late to worry about it.
Lena and the others walked through the Toria food district. After stopping by the adventurer’s guild to report their completed quest, it was already fully evening. The streets were bustling with customers buying ingredients for dinner. Given that it was the entrance to the city, every shop was impressive.
“By the way, I also want some rice…”
While on the way to the butcher, Lena was looking for Japanese seasonings and ingredients. Her wallet was well-stocked. She didn’t plan on wasting money, but if there was rice or something, she wanted to buy it even if it was overpriced! She was truly experiencing the “I crave Japanese food” syndrome that often hits Japanese travelers after some time abroad.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t find any rice before reaching the butcher. Instead, she had bought freshly baked bread from a bakery she passed by on the way.
“Hey there! Welcome!
Oh?
I’ve never seen you before, little lady.
I hope you continue to choose ‘Meat Shop Gomez’ in the future.
What can I get for you today?”
The boisterous owner of the butcher shop, with a flashy mammoth meat sign, cheerfully spoke to Lena from behind the showcase. He was an imposing big man who suited the meat-cutting knife well.
“Um…”
For the time being, Lena checked the types and prices of meat in the showcase as expected. She hadn’t decided what to buy yet, but checking prices was a habit she had picked up as a commoner.
The types of meat displayed included beef, pork, rabbit, lamb, horse, and chicken. Monster meat was only a small amount in one corner. There were also meat products like bacon and sausages. It seemed there was a stable supply of livestock meat.
The prices were sold by the gram, but they were all reasonable, and it was clear that the owner was a friendly businessman.
Since she often ate pork on Earth, Lena decided to buy some. She also ordered a few large sausages.
“Thank you so much! I appreciate it!”
“Yes, thank you very much.
Um… I’d like to ask you something…”
“Hmm?”
“I have some monster meat right now.
Could you smoke it for me at your store?
Of course, I’ll pay for the labor to do the smoking.”
I asked about the main topic this time. Previously, a kind villager named Aisha told me that smoking monster meat deepens the flavor and preserves it for a longer time. I was very interested, but since smoking is quite a complicated process for a beginner (like Lena), I would prefer to ask a professional to make it delicious if possible. With this in mind, Lena hopes for a good response from the butcher.
I was starting to get a little bored of just grilling monster meat. The shopkeeper, Gomez, looked back at the girl who was gazing up at him with sparkling eyes, surprised.
“Hmm. Smoking monster meat, huh… Did you girls hunt it? Of course, the bacon we have in the store is homemade, and we can smoke the meat you bring in. This is the first time I’ve been asked to do such a thing, though!”
It seems the shopkeeper is quite enthusiastic about this request.
“Yay! Please, I would love that!”
“Got it.”
“Is it okay to pay in advance?”
“Ah, no, since it’s a first-time request… I’ll consult with my wife. You can pay later. The fees will cover the butchering, processing, and smoking, but I can do it as a side job, so it won’t be too expensive. Have you bled the prey?”
“Yes, I’ve already prepared it.”
When Lena took out the raw meat wrapped in blue slime from her bag to show him, Gomez was once again surprised. That’s understandable… Not showing it directly from the magic bag was the right choice, but typically, the use of monster materials is quite unconventional.
Izumi used [Aqua] magic to cool the body and placed the raw meat inside the hollow, acting as both a cooler and ice pack all by herself. The meat taken out of the body was completely fresh, with no impurities or slime on it. The cuts were perfectly done, and the shopkeeper couldn’t help but start laughing at the incredible quality.
“Ha ha ha! This is astonishing! Slimes are pretty handy, huh? With such excellent work done here, I can’t help but make some fantastic bacon for you! I’ll make it delicious! If I’m going to smoke it thoroughly… well, you can come back in about two days. It should be ready by then. We have smoking chips like apple, walnut, maple, and beech. Which one would you prefer?”
Seeing the perfectly cut meat from the slime, Gomez seemed to be invigorated.
“I’m looking forward to it! Um, then, could I get the smoked bacon with apple chips, please?”
“Sure thing!”
The deal was settled! What Lena handed over to the butcher was particularly fatty cuts of lamb and rabbit meat. Each originally came from low-level monsters like sleeping sheep, round sheep, and hop rabbits.
Receiving the reservation slip marked with a contract seal, Lena and the others left Gomez’s butcher shop and walked a little further through the food district. Unfortunately, they couldn’t find any Japanese ingredients again, but they managed to buy some vegetables and cheese. They would use these to prepare dinner.
Tonight’s dinner for Lena and the others consisted of garlic butter toast made with French bread, a hearty soup filled with mushrooms and vegetables, and boiled giant sausages. Cheese was also placed at the edge of the plate, making it quite luxurious.
After cooking, a delicious aroma wafted through the kitchen of the inn ♡ where they were staying. Setting the plates on the eat-in space right beside them, Lena and her familiars put their hands together. Since this inn ♡ is often used by adventurers and politicians, the kitchen was rarely used, and there were no other guests around. The familiars each transformed into human form, wearing simple shirts and shorts. Lena had been educating them, like a caregiver, to properly say “Itadakimasu” before meals.
“…Now then. Thanks to Kureha and Izumi’s great efforts today, we were able to create such a luxurious meal. Thank you! Lily and Haru, good job cheering us on. Let’s eat together!”
““““Itadakimasu!””””
Once the order “You can eat now!” was given, the familiars, still not used to handling spoons, eagerly dug into their food.
“Hehe. Itadakimasu.”
The master began to eat from her own bowl of soup as well. To prevent anyone from overeating and causing a dispute, everyone was served one portion each. If someone found it insufficient, they could individually ask for more.
Taking a sip of the soup, the rich flavor of mushrooms and the sweetness of the vegetables spread throughout her mouth. Since no convenient items like “soup stock” were sold, small pieces of cut sausage and cheese were added to enhance the flavor. The garlic butter toast was perfectly toasted by Kureha’s magic, giving it a pleasant aroma. Biting into it, the butter oozed out. The main dish, the large sausage, was simply seasoned with salt and a little sugar. The flavor of the pork was rich and delicious! It might have been nice to have some peppery flavor as well, but spices like pepper and chili are originally from the Genialis continent, so using them would make the cost somewhat high. “Butcher Gomez” had a shop stocked only with reasonably priced products, so they didn’t have anything with pepper.
For a while, everyone ate in silence, enjoying the delicious meal. This dinner was an extravagant treat for G-rank adventurers, but Lena and her companions were able to enjoy such a meal because they could hunt some of the ingredients themselves, the rewards from this quest were plentiful, and most importantly, they had someone who could cook well. Since this was also a celebratory meal for their successful first quest, it was likely especially lavish.
Attracted by the smell, the owner, an incubus, and several beastmen came into the kitchen. Well, socializing is important too, Lena thought, and offered a little of the leftover side dishes. They were very pleased and, in return, gifted her some precious ingredients. Their meals would likely be luxurious again starting tomorrow. Unconsciously, she was raising her standard of living.
By the time the spectators arrived, the familiars had already finished their meals and transformed back into their monster forms, snuggling up to their master with their rounded bellies.
That night, Lena and her companions were able to sleep soundly and comfortably.
▽Quest Completed!
▽Lena and her companions have fully recovered their stamina!