Chapter 53

Turning around, I found that an unexpectedly tanned and sturdy old man was standing there. He was wearing work clothes and long boots, with a towel draped over his shoulder, and his fingertips were dirty with soil.

"Well, if they're growing wild, that's one thing, but it looks like a field."

As evidence, the leaves were green and the plants were thin, but if you looked closely, you could see the ground and that they were planted in neat rows. The ripe tomatoes were so red that their skins were about to burst, and they shone in the sunlight.

"I have some bacon and pasta, so making tomato spaghetti would be delicious."

In the back, there seemed to be a cabbage field. The cabbages were so huge that they could be recognized from this considerable distance.

Moreover, a sweet and fragrant aroma was wafting through the air, probably from peaches.

Suddenly, my throat felt dry. I was in danger of wanting to find the source of the smell and dive right in.

"It looks delicious, so I want to eat it."

"Hmm? Did you wander in here without knowing where this place is?"

"What?"

"This is 'Dul's Field.' If you eat vegetables from the field, various benefits will appear depending on the type. You only get one chance to take them, and the further you walk away from the field, the greater the effect. However, you will be chased by Dul's field guardian."

By "walking away," it means that transfer magic is not allowed, and you have to run away. When I looked in the direction the old man was looking, something white was wriggling.

It was a giant white snake. No, it had two pairs of wings.

"That's an ancient dragon, one of a kind. It's fast, and its soul is stored in the realm of the gods, so it can't be destroyed on this earth. It will come after you once it realizes you've taken the vegetables."

This must be the "Dul's Field" that Ochazuke mentioned. I encountered it before I could even investigate the vegetable benefits.

"I don't want to steal; I want to receive them normally. If you pick them, that dragon won't come after me, right, Dul?"

"Ho ho, you noticed."

The old man, who laughed with interest, sometimes looked surprisingly young due to his curious expression.

After all, as the god of earth, Dul should be able to change his appearance at will. In fact, the statues in the temple are all of an old woman. He just prefers to take a certain form, but his appearance can be changed freely. That's what gods are like.

"But this is a rule of a game that has been going on for a long time. You can't receive the benefits without participating in the game."

"Hmm, then if I promise to eat it here, can you let me cook it?"

"Cook it? Eating it here won't benefit you much."

"This tomato is making me really want to eat tomato spaghetti."

"Hmm, I remember you served food to Val and Tasha too."

Hey, gods' network, why is the information about eating good food spreading even when I'm with the goddess of regret?

"I'm sorry. I talked big, but the ingredient rank is too high, and I can't cook it."

I couldn't help but be polite. The level was beyond what I could see with appraisal. I wanted to eat it, but I was disappointed.

"Just cook it; you should be able to handle the vegetables."

Dul seemed to have done something.

Did he temporarily raise my handling rank? It would be great if it was permanent.

"Aah! Don't use those vegetables!"

I got permission and took a bite of the tomato, confirming that it was a sweet and slightly acidic tomato. It's delicious.

Oh no, just imagining the pasta I could make with this tomato is making my mouth water.

I declared it would be tomato pasta, so I tried to supplement with other vegetables I had, but then I remembered Dul's words.

"What do you need? Tell me."

"I need wheat for pasta, garlic, and eagle's claw at the very least. Oh, and olive oil."

When I said I would also make pasta for Dul, he suddenly became cooperative. Since I had the chance, I planned to make fresh handmade spaghetti. I also intended to extract olive oil from olives. If I can use it, I'll use it to the fullest.

"Wow, this tomato is delicious!"

The chewy, plump pasta with the tomato sauce is so good it makes me want to cry. I would have cried if I were alone.

The evaluation 10 bacon has completely become just a flavor enhancer. No, calling it a flavor enhancer is an exaggeration.

"Ah, I must say, it's delicious."

I heard that foreigners can't slurp properly, but Dul is slurping heartily. The plate was empty in no time.

"I want a little more."

Dul looked at me.

"If I get some cabbage, I can make cabbage pepperoni."

I still have some handmade pasta left.

The cabbage is sweet, especially the white core. And the chili pepper is spicy.

Oh no, my thoughts are starting to break into phrases.

The deliciousness is making my taste buds focus, and my other thoughts are becoming simple.

"We oversee many things, but we didn't need to eat, so most of the things on earth, including cooking, are outside our scope. Most skills are derived from us, but cooking is derived from offerings made to us."

"Well, I can't really imagine a god cooking."

I can't even picture a god tending a field or distributing pants.

"Things that 'exist on the earth' and 'eat things that exist on the earth' are under my jurisdiction, but 'things that exist in water' are under Fal's jurisdiction, and 'things that eat other things' are under Asha's jurisdiction. There are overlaps, like Fal overseeing hunting and animals, but basically, we don't encroach on other gods' territories."

And the offerings in the temple are chosen with consideration for the gods' domains, so they rarely get the chance to eat other dishes.

"The offerings aren't eaten as they are, but when I heard that Tasha ate your cooking, everyone was very interested."

"Should I serve food to the gods every time I meet them? Should I tell other cooking skill users too?"

"No, it's also about image."

He raised a glass of cold beer and smiled.

"I was only called to speed up the brewing process..."

"Thanks, I can enjoy good drinks because of you."

When I told him that it takes time to make alcohol even with the materials, he immediately called Tasha.

I thought Tasha, the goddess of magic and alchemy, was my main deity, but she seems to have a low profile.

I thinly sliced turnips and alternated them with dry salami, adding capers, black pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil. Normally, turnips would only add texture, but in this combination, the dry salami is the least noticeable.

I arranged smoked salmon, dried squid, dried tomatoes, jerky, and dried peaches. I tried to arrange things that Tasha might like, but the dried tomatoes and dried peaches were the best. I think they don't match her preferences. Last time, she picked up something hard.

Well, she seemed to like the sake I served.

Dul seemed to prefer drinking while eating, and he was eating heartily.

He muttered about starting livestock farming in addition to the field, but in that case, would adventurers carry cows and run away, or milk them and run away?

As for me, I was eating a peach.

The skin was peeled, revealing a pale pink, white flesh with juice oozing out, and the sweet aroma intensified. When I put it in my mouth, the juice spread throughout my mouth, and the fragrance escaped through my nose.

I was happy.

I like eating fruit as it is, without any preparation.

"No matter how hard I try to cook, the vegetables are so delicious that eating them raw or roasting them with olive oil might be better."

"Once you can hunt in the deepest part of the labyrinth, the balance will improve."

"That's because Asha and others are creating and playing with various things there. You can get good meat. I might throw something in too."

Tasha agreed, and Dul added.

"Don't be unreasonable, you haven't even set foot in it yet."

"Get through it quickly."

Strange, at this rate, the labyrinth will become a place for gathering ingredients. Am I in the gag part of my game story? Is this normal?

"Well, I'll help you make delicious things within the scope of our principles."

"It's like you to put a limit on it, but it's rare for you to favor an individual. You usually stop giving power recklessly."

"Stealing from the god of earth Dul's field is rare. Besides, it seems I don't like things with a lot of vegetable elements."

When he said that, Tasha looked at the various dried foods arranged near her.

"I must have made you feel uncomfortable."

She picked up a dried peach and put it in her mouth.

Ah, I've been eating peaches all along, so it's clear that I'm not eating the dried peach. Indeed, these are the products of her trying to make something that I would like, using the delicious vegetables and fruits here. It's more about wanting to serve something delicious rather than worrying.

"You align with my heart. Be your own king. Stand firm like a giant tree. Know that there is no constraint or domination."

Tasha said something similar to what Val said before.

Dul looked slightly exasperated when he heard it.

"Well, fine, take this."

I caught the peach Dul threw, and in that instant, Dul and Tasha, and even the field, disappeared.

《You have obtained the title [Dul's Blessing]》

《[Earth Magic] has changed from [Earth Sorcery]》

《The title [Tasha's Blessing] has changed to [Tasha's Favor]》

《[Time Magic] has changed from [Time Sorcery]》

《You have obtained the title [Tasha's Magic]》

《You have obtained the title [Dul's Earth]》

《You have obtained the skill [Attack Recovery: Magic]》

《You have obtained the skill [No Incantation]. This will integrate the lower skill [Shortened Incantation]》

《You have obtained the skill [Heavy Magic]》

《You have obtained the skill [Steadfast Shield of the Earth]》

Another bunch of announcements!

The title [Dul's Blessing] increases VIT and compatibility with Dul's domain, but the rest can't be appraised.

The title [Tasha's Magic] makes magic and sorcery skills easier to level up, and grants the skills [Attack Recovery: Magic] and [No Incantation].

[Attack Recovery: Magic] recovers MP when you deal damage. It's a very useful skill. [Attack Recovery: Life] might also exist. The initial bonus is increased recovery amount.

[No Incantation] allows you to cast spells without the incantation time. The value of [Shortened Incantation] is now... no, it might have been a requirement to obtain [No Incantation], and since it's an upper-level conversion, it's fine. The initial bonus is increased spell speed, which might be the time from casting to impact.

The title [Dul's Earth] gives production bonuses and allows you to use materials from the earth without regard to rank. This is why I could cook in Dul's field. It might also apply to herbivorous animals. But the monsters in the labyrinth that I'm supposed to hunt are definitely not herbivores. Ah, it might include minerals and herbs. The application range is broader than I thought.

The skill [Heavy Magic] is gravity. The level 1 spell I know is 'Gravil,' which slows enemies with gravity. It has a similar effect to [Time Magic] level 1 'Slow.' Non-primary attribute spells might overlap with other spells and can be used as substitutes.

[Steadfast Shield of the Earth] completely blocks a physical attack once, then blocks half, a third, and a quarter of the damage for a total of four times. The initial bonus reduces the recast time from 30 minutes to 25 minutes.

This is quite a deal.

I wonder what effects this peach will have.

Meat dishes increase STR, grains increase VIT, tea increases INT, vegetables increase MID, eggs increase DEX, fish increase AGI, and desserts increase LUK. Evaluation 10 dishes give these stat boosts. Other effects include cold resistance from stews.

But Ochazuke mentioned various effects, not just mental ones.

And since I'm not supposed to leave the field, how does the distance factor in? I thought I would try eating it after moving away from this spot, aiming for the village as originally planned.

I'll eat it when I see the village.

I thought.

I was probably excited about what effects I would get.

《By eating the divine peach under the blessings of Fal, the goddess of love, and Dul, the god of abundance, you have obtained the skill [Art of the Bedchamber]》

The peach I ate before entering the village increased my MID and LUK by 10.

I learned the skill [Art of the Bedchamber]... What the...!

Wait! Adult content! Don't spring it on me like this!

I'm still in a four-dimensional state!

[Concealment], work hard!

Work really hard!

I can't show it!!!

I planned to boil the skin to make peach tea and share it with White, but I canceled it. I kept the peach seed to plant it when I have a house.

MID and LUK increased, right?

MID and LUK increased, so...

There's no other meaning!

□ □ □ □ □

・Increase

Titles

【Tasha's Blessing】→【Tasha's Favor】

【Dul's Blessing】

【Tasha's Magic】【Dul's Earth】

Skills

【Time Sorcery】→【Time Magic】

【Earth Sorcery】→【Earth Magic】

【Heavy Magic】

【Attack Recovery: Magic】

【Shortened Incantation】→【No Incantation】

【Steadfast Shield of the Earth】

【Art of the Bedchamber】

□ □ □ □ □

Homura Lv.32

Rank C

Occupation Magic Swordsman Alchemist (Assassin)

HP 1057

MP 1335

STR 44

VIT 24

INT 71

MID 30（＋10）

DEX 26

AGI 45

LUK 35（＋10）

NPCP 【Galahad】【－】

Titles

■General

【Communicator】【Circulating Power】【Mystery Solver】

【Economic Pioneer】【Lone Adventurer】【Nine Lives】

【Sage】【Elegant One】【World Soarer】

■Blessings of the Gods

【Tasha's Favor】【Dul's Blessing】

【Val's Favor】【Fal's Blessing】

【Verna's Blessing】

■Titles from the Gods

【Tasha's Disciple】【Tasha's Magic】

【Dul's Earth】

【Fal's Saint】

【Gods' Time】

■Slayer Series

【Lizard Slayer】【Bug Slayer】

【Beast Slayer】【Gel Slayer】

【Bird Slayer】

【Dragon Slayer】

■Master Ring

【Sword King】【Wise King】

Skills (3SP)

■Magic and Sorcery

【Wood Magic Lv.9】 【Fire Sorcery Lv.8】【Earth Magic Lv.8】

【Metal Sorcery Lv.8】 【Water Magic Lv.8】【☆Wind Magic Lv.10】

【Light Sorcery Lv.16】【☆Dark Magic Lv.22】

【☆Lightning Magic Lv.12】【☆Ice Magic Lv.1】【☆Heavy Magic Lv.1】

【☆Air Magic Lv.10】【☆Time Magic Lv.2】【Druid Magic Lv.1】

■Healing and Holy Magic

【Holy Magic Lv.1】

【Illusion Lv.1】

■Other Magic

【Magic Shield】【Layering】

【☆Area Magic Lv.4】【☆Attack Recovery: Magic Lv.1】

【☆Action Incantation】【☆No Incantation】

■Sword Skills

【Sword Skills Lv.25】【Slash】

【Sword Lv.25】【☆Flash Lv.10】

【☆Phantom Sword Lv.9】【☆Insight Lv.14】

■Throwing Weapons

【Thread Lv.6】

■Defensive Skills

【☆Steadfast Shield of the Earth】

■Summoning

【White Lv.1】

■Spirit Skills

Water Spirit 【Rufa Lv.3】

Dark Spirit 【Black耀 Lv.6】

■Talent Skills

【Martial Arts】【Evasion】【Code Deciphering】

■Movement and Actions

【☆Carry】【Jump】【☆Hover】【☆Sky Soar】

■Production

【Alchemy Lv.19】【Alchemy Synthesis Lv.18】【Cooking Lv.18】

■Gathering

【Gathering】【Mining】

■Appraisal and Concealment

【Appraisal