Isekai Nonbiri Sozai Saishu Seikatsu - Chapter 115

It’s about the time when the sky of Grantel turns red.

With most of the day’s work done, many were either heading home or gathering for a night out.

Most were heading towards the open-air markets and shopping districts in the center, and few were seen walking towards the gates at this hour.

Yet, contrary to this flow of people, I was making my way towards the western gate.

This was to fetch Sarabi, who is nocturnal.

Perhaps because it was nearing closing time for the gates, the streets were quiet.

Hardly anyone was going out now.

While I’ve been to the western forest multiple times for tasks, going out at this time was a first. It was a bit like going to a convenience store in the middle of the night for the first time, feeling a flutter of excitement.

“Oh, what’s this? Did you bring some additional souvenirs?”

Arriving at the western gate, a familiar knight greeted me in a casual tone.

Perhaps because I’ve passed through the gates many times for material gathering tasks, I’m on friendly terms with the knights stationed at each gate.

By the way, I came earlier during the day to hand out souvenirs from Lindblum.

“No, I’m going out to do some gathering.”

“You’d better stop since it’s getting dark.”

The knight admonished me with an unusually serious tone as I tried to head out.

I had only seen a carefree demeanor from him as a knight, so his seriousness caught me off guard.

It seems he’s well aware of the dangers outside at night.

“It’s to catch Sarabi.”

“Ah, that nocturnal fish, huh? I don’t feel great about you going out at this hour, but if you’ve defeated a Red Dragon, I guess you’ll be fine.”

After explaining the reason thoroughly, the knight scratched his head but seemed to understand.

Achievements like defeating a Red Dragon often bring mixed feelings, but they can also be helpful in persuading people in situations like this. It’s a double-edged sword.

“The gate won’t be opened until morning. Be careful out there.”

“Understood.”

With a light-hearted farewell from the knight, I left the city of Grantel.

Other than when traveling, it’s rare for me to be out at this hour, so it feels fresh.

As the sun gradually set, the roads were bathed in crimson.

But this time was fleeting, and soon the sunset disappeared, leaving the road dark.

Unlike in my previous life, there are no streetlights, so there’s naturally no source of light.

In no time, it became a world of darkness, so I floated a light ball to ensure visibility.

I made sure there were no monsters around through a thorough investigation with magic stones.

“The stars sure are beautiful.”

With no light sources around, the stars in the night sky are clearly visible.

In my previous life, I wouldn’t have been able to see such a starry sky unless I went to the countryside.

While keeping an eye on my surroundings, I make my way through the night, eventually reaching the western forest.

Unlike during the day, the forest is eerie in its complete darkness.

I rely on the light ball to illuminate my path as I walk.

But I can’t help but wonder if this light might attract monsters. Bright objects stand out in the darkness, after all.

Feeling somewhat uneasy, I lower the light ball towards my feet.

This way, it won’t scatter light indiscriminately, potentially hiding in the shadows of trees and bushes.

“Awooooo!”

As I walk, I hear distant howls that sound like wolves.

Upon investigating with my magic stone, I discover a confrontation between a pack of wolves and goblins in the distance.

Perhaps it’s a territorial dispute. Even from a distance, the tense atmosphere is palpable in their silhouettes.

Indeed, at night, there seem to be a lot more monsters around.

Groups of kobolds scavenging for food, and even some unfamiliar caterpillar-like creatures, are moving about. It seems that many nocturnal monsters become active at night.

If I were to advance blindly without my detection skill, I’d likely find myself surrounded in no time.

“But if nocturnal monsters are present, there might also be materials that can only be collected at night, right?”

Perhaps such materials are appearing in the forest.

While keeping an eye on the movements of monsters, I decide investigate all the materials.

Even in the dark, with my detection skill, materials are clearly visible in my field of vision.

It’s almost like thermal imaging, giving me a strange sensation.

I ignore materials I’ve collected before and approach unfamiliar ones.

【Nocturnal Mushroom】

A mushroom that grows only at night.

Its lifespan is very short, and it decays as soon as it welcomes the morning sun.

It has a jelly-like texture and contains beneficial nutrients for the skin. While it doesn’t decay immediately when exposed to sunlight after harvesting, it degrades quickly once exposed, so caution is needed for preservation.

Upon appraisal, it is a mushroom that only appears at night.

Nocturnal Mushrooms are characterized by their large, black caps, with dark, dangling structures resembling curtains.

Presumably, this part provides the jelly-like texture and beneficial properties for the skin. It likely contains collagen-like nutrients.

Since they decay when exposed to sunlight, they are truly something that can only be encountered at night.

I’ve hardly seen them sold at the city’s stalls.

Given that they degrade when exposed to sunlight, I quickly harvest them and store them in my magic bag.

They seem best for cooking at night, as they are less likely to spoil during preparation.

Next, I noticed insects resembling grasshoppers that have been hopping around at my feet from time to time.

Although they are purple in color, they seem to have value as a material since they triggered my detection skill.

【Night Beetle】

A nocturnal insect. It has a black body color that blends in with the night.

In some regions, it is commonly eaten with a sweet and savory seasoning.

Upon appraisal while illuminating with a Light Ball, it resembles a black grasshopper.

However, it’s solidly built, as if wearing dark armor, and looks rather cool.

It brings back memories of my middle school days.

Well, it’s a nocturnal edible insect that appears at night.

In this world, whether it’s a monster or an insect, they can be eaten, and they occasionally appear in city cuisine.

Some of them look gross, but if they taste good I won’t avoid them.

Therefore, I find them and toss them into a bottle as emergency food.

I often see them jumping around as I walk, so they are really easy to find.

Once I’ve caught enough to fill a bottle, I chill it with ice magic to freeze them to death.

When they’re alive, they can’t be stored in the magic bag, but this way, it’s possible to store them.

I wonder if Bandel-san would be able to cook a delicious dish with it? I won’t ask for a Sarabi dish today, but I’ll consider asking next time I feel like it.

While pondering such things as I walk, I notice a six-legged insect moving near my feet this time.

Although it’s eerie to see a relatively large insect about twenty centimeters long walking around, in this world, there are caterpillars and giant centipedes that exceed two meters. Being scared of bugs this size would prevent me from going into the forest for gathering.

I thought about ignoring it since I’ve seen its kind before, but I noticed that its abdomen is significantly swollen, unlike before.

【Kultaros】

They mainly feed on nuts, honey, and flower nectar, storing them in their abdomens to take back to their nests.

The honey they produce is tasty, but it can vary in flavor.

Unexpected combinations can sometimes result in exquisite honey.

Hmm, it seems like this isn’t just an ordinary insect wandering around but a wonderful insect with the habit of storing honey.

However, the flavor of Kultaros varies depending on what they eat, so you can’t expect a consistent deliciousness like Cressenka nectar.

Sometimes it’s delicious, and sometimes it’s just okay.

While inconsistency in taste is troublesome, the fact that flavor varies among individuals is intriguing.

I wonder if I could get a little bit of honey from it. Thinking so, as I approach, it opens its sharp jaws and threatens me. It looks like it would hurt if it pinched my hand.

Feeling sorry for it, I immobilize it with ice magic so it can’t move, then I touch its perfectly round swollen abdomen.

It looks like the furthest part is like a tail, but the appraisal says it’s the abdomen, so it must be the abdomen.

I can feel liquid inside through the soft skin.

Perhaps due to its nature of storing honey, the skin seems quite elastic.

How should I collect it? It would be cruel to slit its belly and take only the honey.

Is there a way to collect the honey while keeping it alive?

While pondering this, I notice a hole-like structure at the tip of the abdomen.

Thinking it might work, I squeeze it like milking, and transparent honey comes out from the hole.

“Oh, this could work!”

I quickly take out a bottle from my magic bag and hold it against the abdomen.

Then, I gently squeeze the abdomen with my hand to collect the honey.

It feels like I’m a rancher milking a cow.

The immobilized Kultaros squeaks as if it’s protesting, but I hope it forgives me.

However, thanks to Kultaros, I was able to obtain enough honey to fill the bottle. How delicious it will be depends on its diet.

“It might be nice to raise it to produce delicious honey.”

If the taste changes depending on its diet, then maybe providing it with food that makes the honey taste better would be a good idea.

Looking at Kultaros, I thought about such things.

“Well, I’m a collector, not a producer, so I don’t intend to go that far.”

Although I admire such things, it wouldn’t make sense if it reduces the time I have to collect freely.

I release Kultaros, whose abdomen has completely deflated, and as a gesture of apology, I leave some nuts for it.

Then, Kultaros takes the nuts in its mouth and leaves.

I feel sorry, but I hope it stores honey again. It might come back to be milked again.

The night forest is full of danger, so I was a bit nervous, but there are unexpectedly enjoyable creatures, monsters, and materials at night.

“Nighttime material collection isn’t bad at all.”

TL note: I don’t care what it produces, I would not pick up giant squishy bugs and squeeze anything out of them. ( ⚆ _ ⚆ )