Chapter 91

The sound of light footsteps could be heard, crunching. They were on four legs. I glanced at the horses. Their ears were moving, but there was no sense of tension. Rada, who had wrapped a cloth around her waist, was gulping down a recovery potion like a bottle of milk.

"...A deer...?"

A brown, not particularly large deer appeared between the trees. However, it had an impressive set of antlers on its head. I couldn't help but wonder if they ever got caught on anything; they were intricately branched and impressive.

The deer merely glanced at us, then began sniffing around. It started sniffing the horse tack that Rada had hung out to dry.

"Maybe it came out because it wanted those fruits?"

At Rada's words, I nodded in agreement. It wasn't just an ordinary animal, but it was too mystical to be a monster. Perhaps it was a sacred beast, a spirit, or maybe even a guardian of the forest. Could this place be somewhere we shouldn't have entered?

"Then, let's try..."

I took out the fruit from my magic bag. As I slowly approached, the deer slowly backed away. I gently placed the fruit on the ground.

"We won't cause any trouble. We'll just borrow this place for one night."

I wasn't sure if it understood, but I said it anyway and stepped back. The deer glanced at me, then approached the fruit. It sniffed it, then deliberately stepped on it with its front hooves and began to eat the oozing fruit.

"Mm. Bugs..."

Coxin spoke in a puzzled voice. Just like when Rada was eating, bugs started gathering. I wondered if I should shoo them away. As I watched, the antlers began to glow faintly.

Crack!

A pale blue light ran along the antlers. It crackled like static electricity, and the bugs either burned or scattered.

"...Beautiful."

Rada murmured. The sun hadn't fully set yet, so it was still bright. I imagined it would look even more divine in the dark. The deer, however, was focused on devouring the fruit.

The deer quickly finished one fruit and then pawed the ground, looking at us. It was a clear sign of prompting.

I placed four more fruits on the ground in the same manner. The deer didn't seem to want to eat them there. It picked up one with its mouth, tried to pick up another, and dropped it. It repeated this a few times.

Rada chuckled, and the deer looked up. Rada quickly covered her mouth. I couldn't tell what the deer's expression was, but the atmosphere became awkward.

"Please wait a moment. Let me do this..."

Before the deer got angry, I had to find a solution. I tied strings to the stems of the fruits, attaching two on each side. If the deer bit the center, it could carry four. I raised the center to make it easier to bite and stepped back again.

The deer sniffed the fruits, then bit the string. The four fruits dangled. It seemed to nod in approval, or perhaps it was just a coincidence. The deer turned its back on us and walked into the forest without any hurry. After it was completely out of sight, we all exhaled simultaneously.

"I was surprised. What was that thing?"

At my words, the two of them tilted their heads. Well, it was good that it was just about the fruits. Rada sneezed. She only had a cloth wrapped around her. I told her to go back inside and started boiling water for the campfire. By the time it was my turn, it would be cold. I tried to add more heat with a life magic fire, but the fire was too small to make a difference.

Tonight's dinner was a bit luxurious. We had grilled rabbit meat with a cheese fondue-style sauce. Before leaving the city, we had stocked up on various supplies from Gabal. As a thank you, he said we could take as much as we wanted, so we loaded up. There was even some high-end dried meat, but honestly, it just looked fancy in its box, and I couldn't tell the difference. We also got some wine.

"Ah, Raito, bring out that shelf. Let's organize it."

"Sure, do it yourself."

At Rada's words, I handed her the magic bag.

Another item we received was a chest, essentially a medicine cabinet. It had many drawers and was something I had seen in a goldsmith's shop. It was apparently made in collaboration with a furniture maker when the goldsmith first started working. The creator thought it was too plain, but I liked the subtle, detailed decorations. Rada also insisted on getting some rings and other accessories. I didn't know what to do with them, but since she gave me money, I didn't really need them.

Rada started opening the drawers, checking the contents, and thinking about where to put things. She had been organizing them on a shelf she brought from the shop. However, it was old and had a lingering smell. This one was a bit smaller but seemed more practical. I also wanted a box to store bottles. They were scattered in the magic bag. While I was at it, I decided to organize the contents of the bag.

"Hmm? What's this..."

A pink ribbon appeared.

"Oh, that. Madii forced it on me, and I didn't know what to do with it, so I just put it in."

Coxin looked troubled.

"When did that happen...? And what am I supposed to do with it?"

Madii was at the goldsmith's shop. When we visited, she was battling outside.

"Apparently, it would suit you."

"Me?"

What kind of sense is that?

"No, Raito."

Me! No thanks! But it would be a waste to throw it away, so I put it in the magic bag. It won't rot. I'm sure there will be some occasion to use it. This is how trash accumulates. I'll probably end up keeping the box with the high-end dried meat too.

"Okay, this box..."

It was a small, palm-sized box. The list had an unfamiliar name. I opened it, and inside was something that looked like soggy noodles.

"Oh, that's the one I put in. I got it from Nilva."

Rada raised her hand.

"When did that happen? And what is it?"

"I don't know. He said it was medicine. I meant to ask later but forgot."

Well, everyone just puts things in. I can't really say anything. Let's see, what is it?

'Kuchaa

White earthworm. One of the ingredients for a love potion. Not recommended for raw consumption.'

"..."

Is this a classic item? A love potion. They really exist.

"What did you get?"

"An earthworm."

Rada's smile froze.

"It's one of the ingredients for a love potion. Just put it in for now."

Rada, who was handed the box, looked at me, the box, and the medicine cabinet. After a moment of hesitation, she gently placed the box on one of the shelves.

Still, with three of us using it, more unfamiliar items are being added. It's a matter of privacy, so maybe it's better not to notice.

"I don't mind. I don't put anything in that I'd be embarrassed for others to see, and I don't even have such things."

Coxin nodded, followed by Rada.

"Right. And I was thinking, do the items we put in the cabinet show up on the list?"

"They do. If you try to take them out, the whole cabinet comes out."

"Oh, that's good. I thought I'd have to remember everything I put in."

"No, you should remember. I don't want to have to identify everything every time."

"I understand."

Rada pouted. It wasn't cute.

The next day, near where we encountered the deer, there was a pile of tree bark. It seemed to be aromatic wood. We left a platter of fruits as a thank you and moved on from the campsite.