Published: September 10, 2025
The timeline here is before the occurrence of the divine punishment.
Corrections made on 2017/5/10 for typos.
Partial revisions made on 2017/5/9.
“Yonfumifu, this is as far as we can escort you,” said the deer tribe man.
“Thank you, Holpheup. From here, I’ll look for another caravan—oh, and my name is John Smith,” I replied, bowing to the deer tribe man.
After passing north out of the Shiga Kingdom, I headed west toward the central small kingdoms.
The roads in the small kingdoms were far worse compared to those in the Shiga Kingdom—full of bumps and often broken.
What troubled me most was the lax monster extermination.
Thanks to that, I came close to dying several times.
Each time, I was saved by chance encounters with passing caravans or wandering adventurers.
At first, I was proud of my luck, but when those who helped me turned into “Stone Wolves” or “Moving Wooden Bears,” I realized something was off.
I suspect it’s a scheme by whoever gave me this arm, but the purpose remains unclear.
They don’t directly contact me or restrict my actions, so…
“●●● ●!”
“Ah, sorry. I still don’t understand the language around here well,” I said, ignoring a sultry, dark-skinned female vendor and searching for a caravan heading west.
Negotiations are impossible unless I find someone who understands either Shiga Kingdom language or Saga Empire language.
I wouldn’t call it a cheat ability, but I wish I had at least normal appraisal and language comprehension.
“Hey, plain-faced mister, want some fried rice, a specialty of the Liu Chi kingdom?”
“Plain-faced is unnecessary—”
I turned toward the voice from the side and was speechless.
There stood a mysterious figure that looked like a moss-covered plaster wall.
If this was a theme park, they’d probably be popular.
“Have you ever seen a mossfolk before, mister?”
“Ah, sorry for staring—how much for the fried rice?”
The steaming bowl of fried rice contained some kind of unfamiliar meat and vegetables, with something that looked like dried grapes mixed in.
It’s different from any fried rice I know but looks delicious.
“One bowl for one copper coin.”
“Give me two bowls.”
I handed over a warped copper coin I got in the central small kingdoms, not a Shiga Kingdom copper coin.
Although there are some variations, copper coins are generally usable across nations.
However, when exchanging for higher currencies like silver coins, rates differ, so I use the relatively lower value copper coins from the central small kingdoms first when paying.
“Please return the bowl and spoon after you finish eating.”
“Got it.”
I immediately savored the extra-large serving of fried rice.
It was a bit salty but delicious.
Actually, after sweating from the long journey, the saltiness was irresistible.
The mysterious meat inside seemed pre-seasoned, giving depth to the usually bland fried rice.
I couldn’t slow down the pace of my spoon and devoured the fried rice eagerly.
Just when the saltiness started to feel too strong, a gentle sweetness spread over my tongue.
—That must be the dried grapes from before.
Reset by the sweetness, the tongue was again hit by the stimulating saltiness and umami of the mysterious meat like waves, delivering a vivid taste experience.
Despite the plaster-wall-like face, this shop owner’s skills are amazing.
Just like the “miracle chef” rumored about in the Shiga Kingdom.
“Delicious. That sweetness is from dried grapes?”
“Those are dates.”
Dates?
“If you like them, my cousin sells them in a stall over there.”
“I see, I’ll try buying some later.”
“If you go, there’s a luck-testing shop just before the date vendor.”
Hmm, maybe dice gambling or mouse races?
Might be interesting to check out.
I memorized the direction of the shop and handed back the bowl to the mossfolk shop owner.
“I’ll have one more bowl.”
Good travel food is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
There’s no guarantee I’ll get to eat this again.
I decided to savor the third bowl slowly.