Chapter 70

Summary of the previous chapter ------------------------------------------------------

Since we made a good profit from the magic mushrooms, we decided to expand our search area the next day.

However, it rained the next day.

Toya and Natsuki studied at the guild, while the other members trained in magic indoors.

In contrast to the rain the previous day, today was clear from morning, with a beautiful blue sky.

Our footsteps towards the forest felt lighter somehow.

"Since it rained, maybe there are a lot of mushrooms growing?"

"I don't think they grow that easily, but the weather does make it easier for them to grow, I guess."

For me, mushrooms were something I bought at the supermarket, and the weather didn't matter. But for wild mushrooms, the weather must have a significant impact.

I've heard news on TV about how "this year's poor weather has affected the price of matsutake mushrooms," but that was completely irrelevant to me, a commoner.

I've had matsutake before, but my impression was "it's good, but if it costs that much, I'd rather eat meat."

"By the way, I found out yesterday that orcs can also be quite profitable?"

"Really?"

"Yes. Their magic stones are more expensive than goblins', and their meat can be sold."

Orc meat can be sold.

I don't know what it looks like, but if it looks like the orcs I imagine, I wouldn't want to eat it.

"Orcs... 'Kukkoro-san'?"

"Idiot! Don't set up a flag. What would you do if it actually happened?"

I scold Toya for his careless words.

It's fine to joke about "Kukkoro, Kukkoro," but if it could affect our family, it's not funny.

"Kukkoro? What's that?"

Of course, "Kukkoro" is only understood by a certain group of people. I'd be surprised if Natsuki knew it.

Explaining it in detail would be difficult, especially for me. So, I'll try to explain it mildly and indirectly...

"Well, sometimes orcs attack women, right?"

"I don't think there's a gender distinction in being attacked... But of course, physically, women and children are more vulnerable."

Natsuki tilts her head.

The meaning didn't quite get across, but it's fine. I'll nod.

"What they're saying is not that, but whether orcs sexually attack people."

"Sexually... What?"

I thought I had managed to cover it up! Haruka's cold gaze and Natsuki's surprised look are painful.

Yuki... is finding it amusing. She probably knew about it.

"Of course, that's impossible. They're different species. For them to be able to reproduce, what kind of super genes do goblins and orcs have?"

"Super genes"... That's a good way to put it.

If it were possible with humans, it would be fine with apes or boars too.

"But, Haruka knows about 'that', right?"

"Ah, idiot!"

I try to stop Toya from pointing out something unnecessary, but it's too late...

"Yes, I saw it in Naoto's room."

She hasn't forgotten!

"Ah! No, that's not mine! That's Toya's!"

"Hey, you! Don't drag me into this!"

"It's yours, isn't it? I gave you that game to try it out!"

"Even if it's true, it's better to keep it quiet as a friend!"

"Shut up! We're in this together!"

I'm a guy, and I can't deny that I was a bit happy, but I won't forgive Toya for starting it!

He's the one who brought up "Kukkoro" and scolded Haruka.

"Okay, okay, stop fighting. It doesn't matter whose it is. You both played it, didn't you?"

"..."

Of course we did! At our age, if we had a game we couldn't get through normal means, we'd play it!

Whether it suits us or not is a different matter, but if we had it and couldn't play it, we wouldn't be teenage boys! I can say that with certainty.

"Anyway, even if they had 99% the same genes, it would still be impossible. It's just not possible. Of course, they can be eaten in the original sense."

That's harsh. Ending up in an orc's stomach...

But Haruka is right.

"Maybe they reproduce asexually? The fact that there are no female goblins could be a reason..."

"What do you mean? That act isn't a reproductive act, but rather a parasitic wasp-like egg-laying act. When they hatch, they break out from the inside—"

"Ugh, stop! I can't unsee that!"

Toya interrupts my biological analysis and clutches his head.

You're the one who started it.

"Hey, hey, stop it. Natsuki is backing away. Besides, it's irrelevant in this world."

"Right, sorry. Forget it. Let's move on."

Including the things I borrowed from Toya.

"Um, yes. You're both healthy young men, and having a bit of a special interest is part of your personality. Whether it's accepted or not is a different matter, though..."

"Wait. Don't show understanding. It makes me uncomfortable. It's fiction, fiction. It's completely different from real-life preferences."

For example, liking lolicon characters in erotic manga doesn't make someone a real-life lolicon, and people who like sister or brother characters in fiction often don't like real sisters or brothers. In fact, the majority of people are like that.

"Right. Confusing fiction with reality—"

Toya nodded in agreement with my opinion but suddenly stopped and thought.

"What's wrong?"

"Well, thinking about it, I, um, want a girl with animal ears—"

"Don't say that here! You might actually try to make fiction a reality! But that's a completely different matter!"

In Japan, saying "I want a girl with animal ears" would make someone seem weird, but in this world, it's quite normal. Now that Toya has animal ears, comparing the two is absurd.

"Natsuki, don't worry. Most of what Naoto has is normal."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, I don't think he has any special kinks that would ruin his life if they were known."

I look at Haruka, who nods confidently. What should I say?

"Should I be happy that you understand?"

"I'd rather you were better at hiding it."

It's strange. When I borrowed that thing from Toya, I was questioned, but I don't remember being caught with anything else.

Maybe she found them and kept quiet...?

"By the way, do you want to know what kind of interests he has?"

"Well, Naoto is definitely—"

"Come on! Let's focus! We're going to a new place, after all! Right, Toya?"

"O-oh, right! We can't be careless!"

We shouldn't continue this conversation.

I realize this obvious fact and pat Toya's back, heading towards the forest at a brisk pace.

I can't hear what the three of them are talking about behind me.

No, I can't! Hearing about maids and sailor uniforms is all just my imagination. It must be.

◇ ◇ ◇

"This is... growing faster than I thought?"

"Yeah. Is this normal for mushrooms?"

Before going to a new area, we visited the place we harvested from the day before yesterday and were a bit confused by the magic mushrooms growing there.

The mushrooms that weren't ready for harvesting the day before yesterday were now over 5 cm tall, with some reaching nearly 7 cm.

In other words, they grew more than 2 cm in just two days.

"I've never grown mushrooms, so I don't know, but I've heard that they can grow quickly in a good environment."

"I have. Growing mushrooms. Not the kind you grow at home, but a home cultivation kit. At first, they grew slowly, but once they started, they grew quickly."

"So, is this normal for mushrooms?"

"It's not strange, I guess. But if we pick them now, I don't think they'll grow back for a while."

Of course, just because they grow quickly doesn't mean they'll keep growing continuously.

If the conditions are right, they might grow back in a few weeks, but generally, you have to wait until next year.

Moreover, magic mushrooms grow on trees that have fallen and been dead for 1-2 years, so there's no guarantee they'll grow on the same tree next year.

"But with this growth rate, if we leave them for another 3 days, they could be worth nearly 10 times as much."

"Over 10 cm... Theoretically, yes, but will it really work out that well?"

"There must be a catch. If it were that easy, they wouldn't be so expensive."

"Maybe they'll be eaten, or the growth rate will slow down... One of those, I guess."

If they could easily grow to over 10 cm, the price wouldn't be so high.

"What do we do? Pick them now or leave them?"

"It's a tough decision. Leave them for a few days and they could be worth 10 times as much, or they could disappear and be worth nothing. I think the latter is more likely."

"Let's vote. Who thinks we should pick them now?"

I, Haruka, and Natsuki raised our hands.

"Divided into the cautious and the gamblers, huh?"

"It's not that much of a gamble. There's a reason, you know?"

"Really?"

"Well, we killed a Vibe Bear the day before yesterday. If this is its territory, no other animals will come to eat here, right?"

"True, if the Vibe Bear is the only one eating them, that might be the case... But other animals and competitors could also come."

There are two rookie parties and an unknown number of other parties. It's possible, but we haven't encountered anyone here.

"What about Yuki?"

"I don't have a strong opinion... But even if some are eaten, some might remain."

"If a bear of that size eats them, it would eat them all. Even if it leaves the smaller ones, it would eat them before they reach 10 cm."

If the Vibe Bear waits for them to grow larger, it would eat more, right?

"Well, since we voted, let's harvest everything and move on."

"Okay."

We harvested the magic mushrooms over 5 cm tall and moved to the second location.

There, we saw an unexpected scene.

"All gone, huh."

Not only the ones over 5 cm, but even the smaller ones were completely gone.

"This must be the work of an animal. There are bite marks."

Natsuki pointed to something different from what we had harvested.

The stems were torn off halfway, and there were many more marks on the trees.

"Whether it was a Vibe Bear or not, it seems we made the right decision to harvest earlier. Nature is a harsh competition."

"Right, let's hurry to the third location."

"Agreed."

We moved to the third location at a brisk pace. The mushrooms were still there, so we harvested them.

Like the first location, there were only a few left after harvesting the ones over 5 cm, so it's debatable whether it's worth coming back to harvest again.

"We've gathered a decent amount, but it's probably around 20 gold coins. Let's try to find new ones."

"Agreed."

"Then, I'll lead, and Naoto will follow, focusing on scouting. We'll prioritize moving and only pick herbs when necessary. Sound good?"

"Sure."

Everyone agreed with Toya's plan, and we started expanding our search area.