Chapter 36

Why! Why isn't it that! The smell was exactly the same, wasn't it? Give me back the feeling of nostalgia I had.

While inwardly sobbing, he rinsed his mouth.

Ah, it was astringent. However, I do remember this astringent taste.

"Is it ultimately inedible?"

He sniffed the fruit that Kokushin had split. The smell is good, though. Would it change if I heat it up?

What are you, anyway?

Are you not miso? You smell like miso. My previous life is telling me this. How about miso-flavored sugar? Seriously, what are you?

Pikon.

"Huh!?"

Something appeared.

'Sugar/Carrot

When boiled with the seeds, sugar can be extracted. Don't forget to remove the bitterness. The smell of the fruit will not remain. It's less likely to cause weight gain, recommended for women.

It grows anywhere but becomes sweeter in colder places.'

"Eh, eh—?"

It appeared right here! This is an appraisal, right?

Check status.

Name: Reito

Age: 7

Skills: Magic Manipulation, Archery, Appraisal

Magic: Earth Magic, Life Magic

"Yay!"

A cheat skill! It's probably a mysterious skill that no one else has. I'm using my previous life to the fullest! Wait, though. The question is how far I can appraise.

I look at my palm. 'Appraisal'... nothing appears.

I look at the bow. 'Appraisal'...

Pikon.

'Netori's Bow

A child's bow made from Netori wood. It has good flexibility.'

It appeared. Moreover, it has a name.

"Reito? What are you doing, making all those faces? Are you seeing hallucinations?"

Kokushin shakes my shoulder.

I'm fine. I should be sane.

I direct 'Appraisal' at Kokushin... nothing appears. It seems I can't use it on people.

I try again.

'Toki Grass

The main ingredient for healing potions. It grows anywhere. Only the third leaf from the top has medicinal properties. Eating it raw has some effect. The squeezed residue is best for tea. It can be cultivated.'

It appeared. It works on plants. Next, I'll try it on monsters, but I'll do that later...

"Should I take an antidote?"

Kokushin, with a worried look, bends down to look at me.

"A, yeah. I'm fine. I just got a new skill, so I was surprised."

He has a blank look. After a while, he opens and closes his mouth and then screams, "What!?"

Yeah, it's surprising. Skills and magic can increase. Through training, repetition, or the process of work. It's common knowledge, but it's rare to witness it happening.

"What did you learn?"

He asks, of course. But how much should I say? I don't need to mention my previous life. He would probably just say, "Oh," and that's it.

"It's called 'Appraisal.' It's like an encyclopedia. For example, when I look at this bow, I can see its name and material. The fruit from earlier is apparently called 'Sugar.'"

"I've never heard of it... Is it like a pair of glasses that can see information about anything?"

Kokushin tilts his head.

"No, it seems I can't use it on people. I've only tried it on me and Kokushin. It worked on the plants there. I can see them like my status."

"...I see. But it's better not to say this publicly."

Kokushin said it before I did. I agree. If I use it to check the authenticity of things I buy, it's one thing, but if the Commercial Guild finds out, I'll be overused. They'll probably figure out that it's a dungeon item.

"Hey, Kokushin, can I see your magic bag?"

"Hm, sure."

He twists his waist and shows me the bag.

'Magic Bag

A bag enchanted with dimensional magic. A dungeon item. The capacity changes based on the holder's (registered user's) magic power. No time-stop function. Cannot contain living beings.

Method to remove registration: Death or the will to abandon, signed in blood on the registration array.'

Yeah, it appeared normally. There doesn't seem to be a level requirement.

"How was it?"

"Yeah, it's the information I already knew. Oh, the capacity changes based on magic power."

"Mine?"

"Since you're registered, it probably includes me too."

"I see. So it might hold more than I thought."

"Maybe."

I'm not boasting, but I think I have a lot. I don't think Kokushin has much less. If we increase the number of registered users, will it increase even more? But for security reasons, it's not a good idea.

"But, Reito, you keep surprising me. I'm trying my best too, you know."

Hey, Kokushin looks a bit down.

"Well, I've always been curious since I was little. I read all the books in the church. Persistence is power, you know."

"Persistence. I've been practicing the sword... but..."

"You already have it. Do you want to push your sword skills to the limit or find something you're compatible with? I still have things I want too."

"You do?"

"Yeah. Scouting, barriers, close combat weapons, cooking skills, and I want to be taller..."

"No, height doesn't matter."

Kokushin chuckles. It does matter. The presence is different. Standing next to a tall, handsome guy makes me stand out. I don't want to stand out, but I don't want to be treated like a nobody either. A transformation skill would be fine too.

"Ah. I'll try to wish for various things too. So, what about this fruit?"

I almost forgot.

"It seems we can extract sugar from it, so let's take the ones we can. I don't know how much we can get from one fruit."

"Huh, sugar? Is it being made now?"

"Whether it's the same as what's sold... Oh, I can appraise it."

I reach into the magic bag and take out a bottle of sugar.

'Sugar

Refined sugar from sugarcane.'

"Oh, it's different. This is made from sugarcane."

"Hmm. Can it be used the same way?"

"I don't know. Since the method is vague, we won't know until we try."

I diligently harvest the yellow eggplants.

I think, like salt, a large amount needs to be refined. I could ask someone from the guild too. But I don't think it was in the adventurer guild's encyclopedia.