Chapter 6

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Summary of the previous chapter:

Red hair: "Hey, how do you feel right now?"

Blue hair: "How do you feel after being called a half-breed and told to stay in a rundown inn? Hey?"

Alma: "I feel so ashamed... (shuddering)"

*Please note that there may be differences from the previous content.*

---

Well, I'm currently on my way to the inn and making a detour.

You see, I'm tired and want to get into bed and sleep as soon as possible. However, my stomach is getting quite empty, and I thought I wouldn't be able to sleep properly unless I eat something, so I'm currently looking at the prepared foods in the store.

They're expensive.

This sandwich set of two costs 1000 yen. This salt-grilled fish costs 1500 yen per piece, really? The pre-cooked ingredients are all priced at levels comparable to or even higher than the inn's accommodation fees. Isn't that too expensive?

"Expensive, huh... Do you usually buy such expensive things?"

"It's impossible to do every day. Sometimes, when I really want to eat something delicious, I buy it. Usually, I buy ingredients, cook them myself, and season them with salt."

Cooking with salt.

Is this how adventurers usually eat?

*Production class people cannot obtain combat skills, and combat class people cannot obtain production skills, with a few exceptions. Therefore, meals prepared by cooks with cooking skills are considered a luxury for combat class people, and their added value is recognized as significant. People without cooking skills can only roughly cut the ingredients and consider it a good job if they can cook them without burning.*

This is quite unnatural... Well, if it weren't like this, combat class people would be too advantageous.

Without combat class people, you can't protect yourself from monsters, and without production class people, you can't get good meals, daily wear, and other necessities. So, we need to cooperate and live together.

...This might be normal in this world, but from my perspective as a person from Earth, this system is too well-designed and seems very unnatural. Not having to worry about food is very enviable, though.

I don't have any skills or jobs, so I feel really out of place! Damn it.

"Well, I guess I'll have to cook myself. I'll buy some ingredients and seasonings."

"The ingredient section is over there. If you need salt or sauce, the store next door has them."

The ingredient section. There are various things like butchers and vegetable stands.

【Rush Pig Meat】

*Meat from a pig-like monster. Nutritious, cheap, and delicious. An extremely popular ingredient.*

【Rock Onion】

*Vegetable with a flavor, texture, and nutritional content similar to Earth's onions. The outer layer can be broken like an egg, and the inside is very similar to a peeled onion.*

I picked up some ingredients that resemble pork and onions... onions? They feel like they're made of stone. ...Something that looks like onions, and also some bird eggs.

The ingredients here are quite similar to those on Earth. Well, it's easier to eat them without resistance.

However, the attempt to make them feel like a different world is quite noticeable. Hmm.

And, the main staple is surprisingly...

【Alo Rice】

*Grain similar to Earth's rice. Cooked to a good consistency.*

Surprisingly, there's rice. And it's not porridge but cooked rice.

There are also bread and pasta-like ingredients, but I wonder if these were brought from Earth?

*The origin of these ingredients is unknown, but many are believed to have come from Earth.*

Maybe, like me, people who can cook or plant seeds and seedlings were brought to this world?

There's not enough information to say for sure.

I won't buy too much, just enough for today and tomorrow.

By the way, I also stopped at the store selling seasonings. There were soy sauce and miso-like products on display. This world must have had Japanese people in the past.

I bought soy sauce, sugar, salt, cooking wine, and flour, and headed to the inn.

...The sugar cost 1000 yen for 1 kg, but I really wanted it to expand my cooking options. I'm only a little regretful. Not really.

---

Finally, I arrived at the wooden inn. It's quite large, four stories high.

Many adventurers use it, and nearly 100 guests stay here at night.

Despite its age, it's well-maintained and doesn't feel rundown. It even seems quite comfortable.

Inside, Alma called out to a plump lady at the counter.

"Room only, please."

"Oh, Alma, welcome. You're early today, it's still early afternoon."

"I left early today, so I'll rest early. I'm pretty tired."

"You? Oh, welcome. Are you staying too?"

The lady noticed me behind Alma and called out.

"Yes, I'd like a room. I'll be staying for a while, so please take care of me."

"Oh, how nice. Please make yourself comfortable. So, one room for each? Or, maybe two people in one room?"

"One room each, please."

Immediate response. I don't want to joke about that. Not like the three girls I met earlier.

"Ha ha, just kidding. Please sign in for check-in."

"By the way, can I use the kitchen later?"

"Of course, of course. The cost of firewood is included in the accommodation fee, but please don't use too much."

"Thank you."

---

After signing in, I immediately headed to the kitchen. I was getting really hungry and wanted to eat a hearty meal and then sleep.

Looking around the kitchen, it seems to have all the necessary tools, but there's a sink without a faucet? Maybe the culture here isn't advanced enough to have running water.

Maybe they get water from a well? That sounds troublesome.

"Alma, where do I get water from?"

"Water? Just use the ring."

"Ring?"

I noticed a ring next to the sink. Is that it?

【Life Magic Ring】

*Ring that allows the use of simple magic for daily life, such as lighting a fire, running water, and drying. It can be used even without magic skills, consuming 1 MP per use.*

Oh, wow!

So, I can use magic with this?!

Amazing! I want this! I really want this!

*Price: 100,000 yen*

Expensive!

Well, if this ring can handle fire, water, and drying, it might be worth it...

I only have 5 MP, so I need to use it sparingly.

Suppressing the urge to use magic immediately, I prepared the pork, onion-like vegetables, and seasonings.

Forest ginger, it's your turn! Yay!

...Coming all the way to another world, and my first proper meal is pork ginger stir-fry. And I'm cooking it myself. Well, this isn't so bad.

I was cutting the pork, sprinkling flour, and chopping the onions, but I felt a gaze from behind the whole time. Alma? Am I doing something wrong?

"Um, is something wrong?"

"Can you cook?"

"Yeah, I've lived alone for years, so I can do simple things."

"...I see."

I remember Alma, being a combat class, said she can only cut, cook, and season with salt.

"Would you like me to make some for you too? If you don't need it, that's fine."

"Really?... That's okay?"

"Considering all the help you've given me, I'd like to treat you to a meal. If it doesn't taste good, you don't have to force yourself to eat it. Really."

"Umm, thank you."

She looked a bit surprised. Being able to cook, even if it's simple, seems to be unexpected.

So, I decided to make enough for two. I don't have much money, but this much is okay.

While mixing the wine, soy sauce, and seasonings, I noticed she looked a bit uneasy when I added sugar. Well, adding sugar to meat might be a bit strange, but it's essential for the sauce. I wish I had mirin.

There was no grater, so I finely chopped the forest ginger and made it into a paste with a mortar. It looks good.

After the preparation, I put on the ring, set some thin firewood and paper on the stove.

Time for my first magic. Ignition!

Click, Poof

Wow, fire really came out of my fingertips, but the 'click' sound made me think of a lighter, so it wasn't as impressive as I expected. What's that sound?

*Life magic ignition works by releasing magic power instead of flammable gas from the fingertips, and rubbing the magic power together like a flint to ignite.*

It's just like a lighter. Was this ring made by someone from Earth?

Well, it's fine. I got to test something with this ignition, so now I'll focus on cooking.

I added some thicker firewood and waited for the fire to stabilize, then heated the frying pan and added oil, oh, I forgot to buy oil. I'll use the fat from the pork. ...I'll buy it tomorrow.

I cooked the onions and meat, making sure not to overheat, and put them on a plate. ...Alma, wait. It's not done yet. It's not seasoned.

I added the seasonings, reduced the sauce, and added the ginger paste, mixing it with the meat and onions. The cooking went well, and I'm glad it turned out well.

I served two bowls of rice, and the ginger stir-fry set (without soup) for two was complete.

"It's ready. We can eat in our rooms. If it's not good, just bring it back to me."

I tasted it lightly and thought it was pretty good, but I'm not sure if the taste from Earth will be well-received here.

In some countries on Earth, sukiyaki is too sweet to eat. It's so delicious, though.

"First smell... Just smelling it makes me hungry. Alo Rice? Do you like it?"

"Yeah, it was a staple in my hometown. It goes well with this meat."

"Hmm..."

...I feel like Alma's eyes are sparkling when she looks at the meat. I hope I don't disappoint her.

We went to our rooms and started eating. It was delicious. The ginger stir-fry and the rice substitute were almost the same as what I eat in Japan, and the ginger here seemed to have a sharper aroma.

Forest ginger, why weren't you born in Japan? You're so delicious. It's a waste to use you as a medicinal ingredient here.

I was so hungry that I finished the meal in less than 5 minutes. I should have savored it more, as I have plenty of time here.

After washing the dishes and cooking utensils at the sink, I tried to dry them but ran out of MP.

The cause was using too much water. The life magic "Running Water" makes water flow for about 10 seconds, and I tried to feel the magic flow in my body multiple times, which drained my MP. Am I an idiot? Yes, I am.

I washed the dishes, but I need to dry them for the next user. What should I do?

"How should I dry them..."

"Thank you, Hikaru."

I heard Alma's voice from behind. When did she come in?

"Oh, it's Alma. You startled me. Did you like it?"

"It was delicious. Really, really delicious."

"Really? Thank you."

She doesn't seem to be saying it out of politeness. She finished the meal and looks satisfied.

It feels good to hear that.

"What's wrong?"

"I was trying to dry the dishes, but I ran out of magic. I have 0 MP left now."

"Eh... Are you okay? How can you still be awake?"

"Huh?"

From what she said, running out of MP makes you faint?

【Magic Depletion】

*When MP reaches 0, you enter a magic depletion state and lose consciousness. Without external magic supply, you will remain unconscious for at least 24 hours, and in some cases, up to a week. When you regain consciousness, your maximum MP increases by 1. External magic supply can only be used once a day, and further use is rejected by the body, requiring natural recovery.*

That's scary.

But I'm fine?

*It is speculated that beings in this world can function without magic power.*

I see. My status is normal, so my body must be different.

"I originally had no magic power. I gained it for the first time today after leveling up, and this was my first time using life magic to light a fire."

"Having no magic power... I can understand that about Hikaru. It seems like anything is possible."

Well, I don't have any special abilities.

"So, I was trying to dry the dishes, but what should I do?"

"That's fine. I'll dry them with mine."

"But you don't have much MP left, right? Are you sure?"

"It's fine. I can walk back to my room and rest normally."

"Okay, thanks. I owe you one."

"Sure."

I feel like I'm always relying on this girl. I feel like a useless man.

After a quick shower, I went to bed.

I wanted to try something before sleeping, but I ran out of MP. I'll sleep now. Good night.

By the way, when I woke up in the morning, my MP was fully recovered, and it had increased by 1. If I empty my MP every night, it will gradually increase. Hehe. I want to get to double digits soon.

Thank you for reading.

I plan to post 1-2 more chapters tomorrow.