SWNOVELXO Chapter 105
Chapter 105. Nutritional Drink In The Wilderness
I guess I slept a long time after quite a while. Despite going to bed early, I woke up at the usual time.
I was prepared for muscle pain today, but there’s no fatigue left in my body. Must be thanks to the wave motion rest technique. It really shows tremendous power on the body.
If I could return to Japan, it might be fun to open a training gym and spread the wave motion technique. I don’t know if it would work over there, but if it spreads, we might see superhuman Olympics. Sounds exciting.
This morning, I was using the courtyard to prepare breakfast. Of course, the rugged dwarf Hagg and the blonde dreadlocked elf Yaralai were there too.
“Onii-chan. We have a guest.”
As I was setting up the gas stove and frying pan, Narnia came over.
“A guest?”
“Yeah. The priest.”
“Oh, they finally arrived. …Sorry, could you call them over here?”
“Okay, got it.”
Narnia toddled back to the inn. The courtyard is designed such that you can’t enter or exit without going through the inn. Soon, she brought back the clean-looking priestess, Mouton Leitia.
Tall and slender with chestnut hair tied in a low ponytail, she looked the same as ever.
“Good morning, Akira-sama.”
“Oh, good morning. Is it okay if I cook while we talk?”
“Yes, of course.”
As always, she was a refreshing, slender beauty. I bought eggs, bacon, and bread, and started making the usual breakfast. Leitia looked curiously at the cassette gas stove.
“Does Leitia’s visit mean you’ve made contact with the higher-ups at the church?”
“Yes. I’m sorry it took so long.”
Leitia bowed her head slowly.
“No, no, you covered our lodging costs, and it was supposed to take this much time anyway. No problem.”
“I’m relieved to hear that. Thank you.”
I quickly made portions for Hagg and Yaralai. Leaving a hungry dwarf unattended can be dangerous. After giving them their portions, I made two more and handed one to Leitia.
“Here, it’s simple, but please.”
It was just a simple dish of bacon and eggs on toast.
“Huh? For me?”
“Oh, have you already eaten?”
“No, but it’s such a luxurious meal with eggs, bread, and bacon, I wasn’t sure if I could have it…”
“Oh, it’s just extra. Hagg always wants seconds, and also…”
I pointed at Narnia, who was drooling and peeking at us from behind a pillar.
“I have to make more anyway!”
At that, Narnia’s eyes sparkled as she came over with a big smile.
“Thank you, onii-chan!”
“Good grief… You’re not getting seconds, okay?”
“Okay! …Yum… It’s always so delicious when you make it, onii-chan.”
I kept cooking without pause. Hagg was already on standby.
“As you can see, don’t hesitate to eat.”
Leitia said a prayer with her breakfast in hand.
“Thank you, Mother Earth Goddess Aigas and Commerce Goddess Merhes… Akira-sama, thank you.”
“Sure, eat up.”
After finishing making Hagg’s and my portions, I dug in. Eating quickly is a habit.
I thought priests ate elegantly, but she ate faster than I expected. Not like Narnia, who had egg yolk dripping from the corner of her mouth, though.
“Thank you for the meal. It was very delicious. It’s been a while since I had eggs. Unless you’re sick, it’s hard to come by.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. It’s a highly nutritious food. Raising chickens isn’t easy in this region.”
Ah, I see. It must be difficult to raise many without grains. If corn cultivation takes off, that might solve that issue.
“Seems like you’re satisfied. Shall we get to the main topic?”
“Yes.”
The beautiful priestess straightened up and took out a scroll of parchment and a small leather pouch.
“From the headquarters of the Mother Earth Goddess Aigas Church, we request that Akira-sama visit the headquarters. Normally, the church would send someone to escort you, but this place is quite remote from the headquarters. If we sent a carriage, it would take months to arrive. Therefore, we have prepared this travel fund and a document guaranteeing unconditional cooperation from all Aigas Church branches. We apologize for the inconvenience but humbly ask for your acceptance.”
I expected this, so there’s no problem at all.
“Got it. I’ll go.”
“We appreciate your generosity.”
Leitia offered a prayer to me. Please stop that.
I peeked into the small pouch and found it filled with gold coins.
“Hey, isn’t this too much? There’s about a million in here?”
She responded with a puzzled look.
“Too much? I actually thought it was a small amount. You’ll need funds for carriage, guards, lodging, and meals.”
Hearing that, it seems a bit inadequate for a journey that could take months.
“No, it’s fine. I have some plans.”
“That helps. I can’t handle it all on my own…”
“Yeah, no problem.”
That church seemed quite poor anyway.
Besides, this is a quest from a goddess. I’d have to go even if there were no funds. After all, I owe them for bringing me back to life.
“Thank you. So, when do you plan to leave, Akira-sama?”
Since travel is confirmed, the sooner the better.
“I promised to run a stall today… I’ll take tomorrow as a rest and preparation day and leave the day after.”
That was the day I planned to leave anyway if there was no word. Perfect timing.
“Understood. Then, I’ll take my leave. If you have any questions, please send a messenger to the church. We’ll come right away.”
“Got it.”
Well, I’ll probably go directly.
As Leitia was about to leave, I called out to her.
“Wait a minute.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“Leitia, you look really tired, don’t you?”
“Huh?”
Indeed, she had dark circles under her eyes and her complexion was slightly pale. It didn’t seem like just having breakfast would relieve her fatigue.
I quickly approved a purchase.
Nutritional Drink (Small Bottle) = 198 yen
Pretending to put the gold coins in my pocket, I threw them into the container and also bought two bottles of nutritional drinks, taking them out.
Remaining balance: 5,269,917 yen.
“What’s this?”
Leitia frowned at the offered drink. I decided to brush it off casually.
“Ah, it’s a prototype drink that gives a bit of energy. It’s not suspicious, so try it.”
I twisted the cap and handed her the small bottle.
“Isn’t it valuable?”
“Not really. Just drink it.”
“Then, I’ll try.”
Without hesitation, she drank it down. Maybe she trusts me a bit too much.
“It’s quite sweet. I thought it would be bitter like medicine.”
Ah, so that’s why she drank it in one go.
“Kids can drink it easily too. Drink the other one tomorrow.”
“Thank you.”
Hopefully, this will give her some energy.
“Now, I’ll take my leave.”
This time, Leitia left for good.
I turned to Hagg and Yaralai.
“As you probably heard, we’ll prepare tomorrow and leave the day after.”
“Huh?!”
The one surprised was Narnia.
“Onii-chan, you’re going somewhere?!”
It was a line you wouldn’t expect from an innkeeper’s daughter.