Chapter 20

It's time for a delightful meal.

First, I prepared some tiles.

Well, I was planning to use a pot, but I forgot to buy one. So, I decided to go with grilled meat instead. I don't have a grill or a frying pan, so I thought, "How about a lava plate?" and made one with earth magic. I had a memory of something like that from my past life.

But what I ended up with looked just like a tile.

Oh well, as long as the meat gets cooked, it's fine.

I placed it on the magical stove I bought, which is a bit of a splurge, and turned on the fire. It's about the size of a camping stove. It takes up space in my bag, but I don't care.

I smeared the fatty parts of the rabbit all over the tile. Sizzle... It already smells so good. The tile doesn't seem to be cracking. I still can't make plates, though.

I put some chopped vegetables on top. Meat is important, but so are vegetables. This world doesn't have a word for "nutrition," but there's an instinct to eat a balanced diet. A little salt on the vegetables will do. Sprinkle, sprinkle.

Now for the main event, the meat. I've already mixed it with spices to remove the gamey smell and some salt on a leaf, so all that's left is to cook it.

Sizzle!!

The meat dances on the hot tile. I can't wait any longer. People around me are looking, but I can't let that bother me. I flip the meat with my homemade chopsticks. Chopsticks are handy. I should get some tongs.

How's it looking? Is it done yet? My stomach is craving the fat! I moisten my dry throat with water and say, "Here we go!"

"Wow!"

Slow cooking over a low flame is good, but quick cooking over a high flame is also great! The elastic rabbit meat, free of any gamey smell, is seasoned with a hint of spices and salt, making me want more. This is delicious. Munch, munch, gulp, munch, phew!

The vegetables are also delicious. Potatoes-like tubers and carrot-like root vegetables, plus some crunchy leafy greens. I don't know their names. Back home, we only grew wheat.

"Hey, hey."

While I was savoring the meat, someone spoke to me. It was the red-haired person who kindly helped me yesterday.

"Hmm?"

"Can you share a little? I'm not asking for free, though. I don't have much, but..."

His eyes were fixed on the tile. Déjà vu. I guess this happens when you cook in a place with people around.

I was planning to save the leftovers for breakfast.

"Sure, it's fine."

I put some meat and vegetables into the wooden plate he offered.

"Interesting tools you have there."

"Huh? Oh, the chopsticks? I used them back home."

That's a lie.

The red-haired man nodded and stabbed the meat on his plate with a fork. A two-pronged fork. He sniffed it and then took a bite.

"Wow!"

His face, which was munching, suddenly broke into a smile. He put two, three pieces in his mouth and shook my hand. He's a friendly guy, just like yesterday.

"This is delicious! It's easier to eat than the meat from street vendors, and the fat is amazing!"

Yeah. Without the gamey smell, it's more satisfying to chew. I'm glad you like it. Want some more?

As a thank you, he gave me a magic stone.

"Is it okay?"

Magic stones can be exchanged for money, right? Just as I thought that, I realized something. I forgot to take the magic stone from the rabbit. It should have had one since it was a monster, but I probably threw it out with the innards.

"It's fine. You can use this in your magical stove."

"Oh!"

That's right. The magical stove has a built-in magic stone. It wears down with use, so it needs to be replaced regularly. I was told this when I bought it. These magic stones are quite expensive. I was planning to collect them myself eventually.

"It's a fire attribute magic stone, so it should increase the heat."

"Heat... What? Magic stones have attributes?"

I stood up in surprise, and the red-haired man looked startled.

"Uh, yeah. Most magic stones don't have attributes. But monsters that use magic sometimes drop attribute-specific magic stones. Using a water magic stone in a water-producing magical device or a fire magic stone in a stove increases their effectiveness."

"Wow! I see. But if they use magic, doesn't that mean the monsters are strong?"

"Yeah, that's right."

With my current skills, even a rabbit's charge is dangerous. I don't plan to become the type of adventurer who slays monsters left and right.

"...So, this must be quite valuable, then."

In my hand is a beautiful red magic stone. It's about the size of an adult's fist, but it feels like it's not a fair trade for my homemade grilled meat.

"Don't worry about it. I suggested it, so just take it."

The man laughed and said, "You can get as many as you want if you want to." Damn, this guy must be high-ranked. I thought everyone here was low-ranked because they couldn't afford the inn.

"Um, then I'll gratefully accept it. Thank you."

"Sure thing!" The man went back to his tent in a good mood. He's my neighbor again. He came out right away and started drinking with the group on the other side. What a social butterfly.

Let me take a moment to relax.

I sat down and finished the remaining vegetables. I didn't save any for breakfast, but I got something better and some information.

I washed the tile, which had absorbed the fat. It doesn't have any cracks and should still be usable, but I can make another one if needed. I wonder if this can be thrown away. Can it be returned to the earth? I'll decide tomorrow. Or maybe I'll just procrastinate.

I rinsed my mouth and made some herbal tea in my cup. I sipped it leisurely and reflected on the day. I summarized the information I gained and wrote it down in my notes.

Hmm. Despite the various events, today was a fruitful day. I'll do my best tomorrow too.