Chapter 49

After returning to town, I reported the completion of the request. I also sold the boar. Don’t forget the goblins. It was still early, just past noon. I wanted to go hunting again, but I needed to take care of something I had found.

Leading Koshin, who tilted his head in confusion, I went back outside the town. We veered off the path and headed to a place where people rarely go.

“What’s going on?”

“Yeah, just… lend me your magic bag.”

Despite his puzzled look, he handed me the bag. I took it, stuck my hand in, and pulled out “it.”

“Ugh!”

Immediately, a putrid smell assaulted my nose.

In my hand was a piece of boar meat that had turned black and was oozing some kind of liquid. When my fingers sank into it, I couldn’t help but let out a scream.

I hurriedly threw it away and used earth magic to dig a hole. I tossed the rotten chunks of meat into the deep hole, one by one. There were four in total. I covered them with soil and firmly packed it down. Maybe I should have burned them, but that was a bit too much for me...

I washed my hands thoroughly with water and soap. Sniff, sniff. Is it okay? I should have brought Rada. I need to disinfect...

“What was that?”

Koshin was creating a small tornado. Still, the smell lingered, so we decided to move to a different spot.

We returned to the road and sat down, feeling rather disheartened.

“That’s it. Remember, a while back, when we caught a lot of boars?”

“Yeah, I remember.”

“I kept one and didn’t sell it. I thought if we couldn’t eat it all, I’d make it into jerky.”

“Jerky?”

“Yeah, like dried meat. But I forgot about it, and about putting it in there...”

Had it really been that long? My sense of time in this world is a bit off... I think it’s been about a week, but does meat really rot that quickly? No, that makes sense. It’s not like it’s in a refrigerator. It probably only takes a few hours. I messed up.

I had overestimated the magic bag. It doesn’t stop time, so things rot. But, I don’t want to sell everything either. I don’t like the smell of blood anymore. I wonder how others handle it.

“Is everything else okay?”

“Oh, right. Hold on.”

I stuck my hand into the magic bag again.

This thing doesn’t have a sorting function. The items are arranged in the order they were put in. Clothes, water, beans, dried meat, feed, wood, rocks... everything was mixed up.

I took a few things out. The items inside don’t interfere with each other, so the smell didn’t transfer. That’s good.

But, maybe I overdid it by putting too much in. Why did I put rocks in there?

I started taking out the living things.

Milk... when did I put this in? Berries... hmm. Bread... it’s rock hard. Soup in a pot... wait, I don’t remember this at all. It smells bad.

I hurriedly dug a hole and buried the pot. Will I get in trouble? Along the road... it’s fine. It happens all the time.

“Maybe it was from the early experiments.”

Koshin’s words made me remember. I was testing if time passed inside the bag. I had left it in there since then.

“Maybe I should keep a list of what I put in. But that’s a hassle.”

I should check the contents regularly. Try not to put living things in... but that would reduce its convenience. I just need to remember what I put in. I forgot, so this happened. ...Maybe I should make it a habit to check before bed.

“Koshin, remember the day you put meat in.”

“Yeah, sure...”

Can you at least look at me?

The gatekeeper looked at us curiously as we returned shortly after leaving. Do I smell? No, right? I couldn’t help but sniff myself.

“This much, I don’t mind.”

Koshin laughed.

Adventurers sometimes come back covered in monster blood or carrying a monster with its guts hanging out. Some haven’t bathed in a week.

It happens, apparently. So, being a gatekeeper is a tough job.

Back at the rented house, I decided to take a bath... but first, I needed to dispose of the milk and other items I had forgotten to get rid of earlier. I dug a hole at the edge of the yard and burned them. The milk seeped into the ground. It stung my eyes a bit.

Sigh, what a waste. I guess I did this in my previous life too. I’d buy things close to their expiration date at half price and end up not eating them. I say I don’t have money, but I waste it like this. I need to reflect.

Only buy what you need to eat now. Got it, Reit-kun.

“So, make me some purification water for Rada.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but hold on.”

Rada tilted her head but quickly made it for me.

“Here.”

“Thanks.”

I took it and, just to be safe, went outside to use it on my hands. Right hand... left hand... I didn’t say “sizzle” or anything. I knew it wouldn’t, but it was a bit reassuring.

“Whoa! W-What are you doing!?”

Rada leaned out the window.

“Are your hands okay?”

She quickly jumped over the window frame, ran over, and firmly took my hands, checking each finger.

“...Sorry. I just wanted to disinfect... no, clean them. I used the identification spell before using it, so they’re fine.”

I hadn’t expected her to react so strongly, so I stammered in my defense. Rada sighed heavily and sat down.

“Don’t use it for weird things. What if something happens?”

“Sorry. But look, they’re clean!”

I showed her my hands, which were now smooth, as if the extra dead skin had fallen off.

“Are you reflecting on your actions!?”

Huh? Is dead skin bad? Hmm, in cosmetics...

“Ouch...”

My skin started to feel tight. My fingers wouldn’t bend...

“Whoa!”

Rada ran back into the house and quickly returned with a bottle. She poured its contents over my hands while exclaiming.

“How does it feel?”

I wiggled my fingers.

“Yeah, it’s fine. Thanks. The pain is gone.”

Rada sighed deeply and sat down.

That’s strange. The identification spell said it was fine... but there was something about diluting it...

“I’m really sorry. I was reckless.”

I squatted and bowed my head.

By the way, what class of medicine did she use on me?

I got a severe scolding from Koshin and Rada. They scolded me all night. I sat in seiza and kept saying sorry. As punishment, I was not allowed to go out the next day. That was too lenient.

The medicine Rada used on me was a high-grade recovery potion made by her master. I was too scared to ask the price. And it was made by her master. How can I pay her back?

My luck that day was probably the worst it had ever been.

But it’s my fault.

Sigh...