Chapter 24

"Phew, we really got saved! Thanks to you, all the goods and merchants are safe!"

Lock gripped my hand and thanked me repeatedly.

All the merchants seemed to be in a state of shock, but none of them appeared to be injured.

"It's all thanks to the 'Fat Cat Safety Cushion' I made. Everyone was wearing it."

"I didn't expect a bandit group to attack such a small caravan... Gylne, you were amazing! I've never seen such powerful magic!"

"No, I accidentally injured Tim at some point... I need to be more careful in the next battle..."

"Aha, don't worry about it~"

I used "Purify" on Gylne to clean the nosebleed that had gotten on her clothes.

Gylne let out a somewhat sad voice, saying, "Ah... Tim's blood..."

"The carriage broke down right in the middle of the journey to the Linhall Kingdom. It will take three days to walk from here..."

"Right, we have no choice but to walk. I'm strong, so I can handle any monsters that attack us!"

"That's the only option! We can't carry the goods, so we'll have to leave them here. Our livelihoods are at stake, but as long as we're alive, that's the best we can hope for!"

Despite the disaster, Lock laughed loudly, and I called out to him.

"Hey, I can 'carry' the goods and the carriage, so don't worry about it."

I activated my "Organization Skill" and stored the bags of goods in a different dimension.

Looking back, I should have done this from the start.

I feel bad for making the horses carry such heavy loads.

"...Wait, the luggage just disappeared in an instant?"

"Don't worry, I just stored it. I can retrieve it anytime."

I made the stored items reappear to reassure the merchants, who were staring at me in shock.

"Wow... You're even more amazing than the young lady..."

"Yeah, Tim's skill is always impressive. It's abnormal."

"Hehe, it's just a miscellaneous skill."

I blushed at the compliments from the two of them.

I felt like I could work hard for the rest of my life if Lock and Gylne kept encouraging me.

"The next problem is 'food'... We don't have any food among the goods. In the worst case, we'll have to walk to the Linhall Kingdom without eating or drinking for three days—"

"That's perfect, actually. I had extra food for a thousand people! Let's have lunch right here!"

I generated a thick, large cloth and laid it on the grass as a picnic blanket.

In the center, I made the table and ingredients I had stored reappear.

There are only about thirty people in this caravan.

I actually want everyone to eat a lot to build up their strength.

"......"

"I wonder what I should eat. Hmm, maybe onigiri would be good. If Tim makes it by hand, it will be the best flavor—"

While the caravan merchants were still staring at the ingredients in shock, Gylne was already thinking about her order.

Choosing onigiri seems to show a low expectation of my cooking skills...

"Hehe... What is this? Am I in a dream? Can you even set up a bath or a bed for us to sleep in?"

"Sorry, I can't set up a bath, but I can set up tents with beds for the night."

"J-Just kidding... But you can set up beds!?"

Lock let out a slightly strained laugh and a sigh.

"Can I have a sandwich? Preferably something with a lot of substance."

"Sure! Everyone else, please order what you like!"

I listened to Lock's order and thought about a "substantial sandwich."

A "burger" from my cooking repertoire seemed like a good choice.

I used slightly thicker bread and placed two thin, grilled hamburger patties inside.

I added three types of cheese, fresh lettuce, chopped onions, and plenty of ketchup.

For a flavor accent, I added sliced pickled cucumbers.

It's a bit large, but Lock should be able to grab it with both hands and take a big bite, making it very satisfying.

When I placed the food on a plate, I glanced at Lock.

Given his size, the "burger" alone might not be enough.

After some thought, I decided to make a side dish that would go well with the ketchup in the sandwich.

I cut potatoes into sticks, fried them in oil, and sprinkled a little salt.

The "fries" were complete and would go perfectly with ketchup.

I placed the freshly made "fries" on the same plate.

For a drink, something refreshing that would complement the saltiness seemed appropriate.

I took out a grayish-white mineral (I don't know its name), ground it into a fine powder, and mixed it with lemon juice and water.

The "soda water" was complete, with bubbles overflowing.

This "soda water" is my invention. When you drink it, it gives a slight burning sensation in your mouth, but it becomes incredibly delicious with a sweet flavor.

I discovered this thanks to my "Cooking Skill" and its "Taste Test" function.

With this skill, I can understand the components and properties of anything I taste, whether it's a mineral or something else.

Of course, if it's poisonous, I can immediately "Purify" it, so it's safe.

By the way, I bought this "grayish-white mineral" at the market, thinking it was a magic stone that would make me stronger just by holding it, but I was tricked.

In any case, I added crushed cilantro and squeezed lime with the peel for flavor.

Finally, I added caramelized honey, and the black soda water emitted a fragrant aroma with the carbonation.

The "soda" was complete.

When I offered the unfamiliar dishes "burger," "fries," and "soda" to Lock, he took a step back and braced himself.

"What is this dish... and you already made it? That's too fast!"

"Please rest assured, I didn't cut any corners!"

"Ah, it smells amazing. This black drink is bubbling and a bit scary, though..."

Lock sighed, relaxed his guard, and took the food and drink from me.

"Well, after all this, I already trust you. It must be incredibly delicious. I'm looking forward to it."

With that, Lock laughed and sat down on the picnic blanket.

"Alright, I'm thirsty, so I'll start with this black drink—"

"Ah, Lock, that drink is a bit special—"

Before I could warn him about the "soda," he took a sip and spat it out dramatically.

I was trying to warn him that it would fizz in his mouth...

"My mouth is burning! Tim, you did this on purpose!"

"No, I didn't! You just need to get used to it!"

I explained and tried to clear up the misunderstanding.

After cleaning up the mess with "Purify," Lock tried the "soda" again.

At first, he drank it cautiously, but soon he started gulping it down.

He then burped loudly with a satisfied expression.

"What is this? It's delicious! But it hurts my throat and makes it tingle! Tim, is this safe for the body!?"

"It's fine as long as you don't drink too much! I can 'Purify' it from your body if needed—more importantly, I made it to go with the food, so don't drink it alone!"

I was relieved that he enjoyed it and made a second "soda" for him.

Lock started eating the "burger" and "fries" while drinking the "soda," saying, "Delicious, delicious."

The other merchants, seeing this, started to make their orders.

"Hey, I want something similar! I like strong flavors—"

"Then I'll make a 'Teriyaki Sauce Burger' for you. I'll add a fried egg... Here you go!"

I made a burger with mayonnaise, pepper, and chicken, and he happily accepted it, saying, "This one looks even better!"

The other merchants, seeing this, started to make their orders.

"I... I don't know much about cooking, so I don't know what to order..."

"Same here... We just want something as delicious as what Lock had."

The remaining merchants looked at me with troubled expressions.

"Then I'll make something that I think you'll like!"

I chose dishes from my mental recipe book.

Over the past three years, I've cooked for a thousand adventurers, so my repertoire is vast.

I can ask each person what they like and make dishes to match.

"Here you go! Don't worry, there's plenty more if you want seconds!"

I listened to the merchants' preferences and served them their dishes.

Just thirty people, much easier than usual.

Moreover, everyone bowed and thanked me when I gave them their food.

Their kindness almost made me cry, but I held it in, being a man.

However, I couldn't help but shed a tear when a merchant, moved by the taste of the food, asked for a handshake.

"–Gylne, have you decided what you want yet?"

After I finished making dishes for all the merchants, I asked Gylne, who was still deep in thought with her arms crossed.

"Can I order 'wine'? Will Tim stomp on grapes with his bare feet to make it... I want to lick it. –Huh? Ah, sorry! I'm still deciding, just give me a moment more!"

"Sure, let me know when you decide!"

Gylne was muttering to herself and seemed quite indecisive.