Chapter 18

After leaving the town hall, we headed straight into the forest to the east of the town.

This was the beginning of our adventurer experience.

I, a non-combatant, and "Azure Lightning" advanced through the forest without a path.

Is this what they call a formation?

Kiki, the cute scout, led the way, with Liar, the leader, diagonally behind her.

In the middle were Niska, the taciturn mage, and myself, and at the rear was Rolf, the armed priest.

We placed people capable of close combat at the front and back to protect me as we moved forward.

I think this is a very reasonable formation.

"Don't worry, I'll try to avoid monsters as much as possible."

"Yes, thank you, Liar."

"That's the idea, Kiki, it's up to you."

"Hee hee♪ I'll take care of it, nya."

Kiki answered Liar's words by thumping her chest.

The purpose of "Azure Lightning" was to gather herbs.

Not just any herbs, but special herbs that only grow in this forest.

Therefore, they would avoid combat with monsters as much as possible and focus on searching for the herbs.

The reason they allowed me to accompany them was also due to this.

We searched high and low for the special herbs.

After walking through the forest for about half a day, we found several herbs, but not the special ones we were looking for.

"Phew, as expected, 'It' isn't that easy to find. Well, that's it for today. Let's set up camp for the night."

We began setting up camp as the sun started to set.

Liar smiled, saying that resting early is the key to enduring long journeys.

I wish I could have told that to the balding young president of the black company I used to work for.

"I've gathered some firewood, nya."

"Thanks. Let's start the fire with the matches you sold me."

Liar used the matches to light the firewood.

A campfire is somehow romantic, isn't it?

"Really, these matches are amazing. They make it so easy to start a fire."

"I'm grateful to Shiro-sama."

"No, I'm the one who should be grateful for using my product."

The matches were getting good reviews.

According to Rolf, they had become a must-have item among adventurers in Niorich.

"If we sell your matches in the capital, we could make a fortune."

"Eventually, the capital's merchant guild will take notice of Shiro-sama's matches."

"Ha ha, that's right. Rolf's prediction is spot on. It's only a matter of time before the matches become widely known. When that happens, Shiro, sell them at a high price."

"Wh-What? High price?"

"Yeah, go all out. The merchants in the capital are greedy, and a kind guy like you will be taken advantage of."

"I'll have to be careful, then."

As we were having this conversation about matches, Niska suddenly said,

"......Liar, I'm hungry."

At that moment, Kiki's stomach growled.

The two girls seemed to be hungry.

"We've been walking all day. Let's have dinner soon."

"Yay! I'm starving, nya~"

So we had dinner.

The four of us took out dried meat and hard bread from our backpacks.

Wow, the food of adventurers, who mainly engage in outdoor activities, is quite simple.

As I was thinking this, Kiki suddenly asked,

"Huh? Shiro, don't you have any food?"

I was worried about me.

Kiki bit off half of her dried meat and asked,

"Want half of mine?"

I quickly shook my head.

"No, it's okay. I brought my own share."

"Oh, that's good. I was worried my food would be halved, nya."

"I'm sorry for causing the misunderstanding. I was just curious about what adventurers eat."

"Huh? Whether it's adventurers, travelers, or merchants, there aren't many options for food on the move."

"That's right. When we can procure food locally, it's different, but we eat these preserved foods during our work."

Rolf showed me the dried meat and bread.

"They both look pretty hard..."

Liar shrugged at my honest comment.

"Of course, they're dried. ...Wait, is your food different?"

"Yes, my food is this."

I took out my food from my backpack.

It was cooked rice made from instant rice, bread and biscuits, chocolate and nutrition bars, and various canned foods.

All of these were emergency rations sold at home centers.

"......Is this food?"

Niska tilted her head.

She picked up a chocolate bar (in a bag) nearby and sniffed it.

"Yes, watch this."

I opened the can and showed its contents to the four of them.

They peered into the can.

"This is chicken cooked in a sauce. This is a sweet biscuit and chocolate. And this is—"

I explained the emergency rations one by one.

I made the cooked rice by adding hot water and took out the bread by cutting the bag.

The four of them stared wide-eyed at the unfamiliar emergency rations.

Especially Niska, whose mouth was watering.

She must be a big eater.

"Shiro, are you going to eat all of this by yourself?"

The amount of preserved food I had laid out in front of me was quite a lot.

There was no way I could eat it all by myself.

"No, this includes everyone's share."

"Our share...?"

"Yes. Actually, I'm considering selling these as products at my store. So, it would be helpful if you could try them and give me your feedback."

"In that case, leave it to us! Everyone, let's eat for Shiro's sake."

"Yay! Thank you, Shiro!"

"May the gods bless Shiro, who provides us with such sustenance."

"......I'm eating this."

The four of them eagerly reached for the emergency rations.

"What is this? What kind of seasoning is this? Why is it so delicious!?"

"Delicious! Shiro, this is so delicious, nyaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"

"What soft bread. I've never had anything like this in the temple."

"......So sweet and delicious. Shiro, give me more."

Thus, the feedback on the emergency rations from all four of them was "delicious."