Isekai Nonbiri Sozai Saishu Seikatsu - Chapter 148

“Now, what should I gather today…?”

I stood in front of the bulletin board, scanning the posted requests.

Gathering at Ladeo Volcano was tempting, but the environment there was harsh, and the monsters were strong. Since I had to return quickly to maintain the freshness of the eggs, I hadn’t been able to gather at my leisure.

Today, I wanted to make up for that shortage and take my time gathering to my heart’s content.

“Shuu-san, there’s an interesting material gathering request that’s come in.”

“An interesting material?”

As I perused the requests on the bulletin board, Rabis approached me with a specific request.

From the way she spoke, it didn’t seem like it was for something she often handled, like medicinal herbs. I hadn’t intended to take on a specific request, but an interesting material gathering task piqued my curiosity.

I took the request form from Rabis and examined it.

【Aromashroom Gathering, Difficulty C】

“At this time of year, a lot of aromashrooms grows in the western forest. Aromashroom is a mushroom that emits a wonderful fragrance, and when you smell it, it has a relaxing effect. Some women even keep small aromashrooms in their homes.”

“Oh, do you have some at your place, Rabis?”

“Yes, when I encounter unreasonable situations at work, I buy small aromashrooms for the calming effect… I mean, sometimes I just want to enjoy the fragrance.”

Rabis cleared her throat awkwardly, trying to cover up her initial slip-up, but the damage was already done.

Guild staff must go through a lot too. For now, I simply nodded in apparent admiration, choosing to ignore the latter part of her statement.

“The requester is the well-known manager of an aroma massage parlor in Grantel. In addition to a monetary reward, they’re offering a special aroma oil massage, which they highly recommend.”

“Oh, that sounds pleasant. Alright, I’ve decided. I’ll take on this specific request.”

I was curious about aromashroom as I hadn’t gathered it before, and the aroma massage reward sounded appealing.

Those kinds of establishments often cater primarily to women, and while I’m curious, I find them a bit intimidating. This was a perfect opportunity to experience it without hesitation.

Besides, my body had been feeling tired lately, perhaps due to the long journey by carriage. I wanted to relax both my body and mind with aroma oil.

“Very well. I’ll proceed with the order processing then.”

Upon expressing my intention to accept the request, Rabis efficiently handled the necessary paperwork.

♦ ♦ ♦

Having accepted the aromashroom gathering request, I arrived at the western forest where it was said to grow.

Each aromashroom was unique in size and fragrance, according to the request.

Based on the request, the client wanted a variety of fragrant ones, but they specifically sought lavender, rosemary, grapefruit, and orange aromashroom the most.

Distinguishing the scent of aromashroom among the myriad of fragrances it emitted was said to be challenging, but with my appraisal skill, it would be a simple task.

I decided to secure the four specified types and collect other varieties as well.

Since I was at it, I wanted to collect all the different aromashrooms and complete the set.

This request really appealed to my collector’s spirit.

“Magic Stone, Detect.”

Even as my curiosity grew for the aromashroom I had yet to encounter, I remained vigilant and used my skills to scan the surroundings.

“…There don’t seem to be any insect-type monsters around.”

The Survey skill outlined the presence of monsters, but none of them were insect-type.

Finding and gathering aromashroom wasn’t particularly difficult.

However, the rich fragrance it emitted attracted insect-type monsters to the area.

The reason for the C-rank difficulty was the challenge of gathering while fending off those monsters.

In other words, instead of searching for aromashrooms, I should look for insect-type monsters that were drawn to its scent.

By heading toward the gathering of insect-type monsters, I could locate the aromashroom. It was a slightly different approach to gathering materials compared to my usual methods.

“Magic Stone, Detect.”

I navigated around irrelevant monsters and ventured deeper into the forest.

Soon, I detected the presence of what appeared to be insect-type monsters.

In my line of sight were monsters with silhouettes I had never seen before.

There were beetle-like monsters with three horns and a sturdy build, large butterflies that scattered mysterious dust, and ladybug-like creatures.

The presence of so many insect-type monsters indicated that aromashrooms were likely growing nearby.

The beetle had three impressive horns and a formidable physique. The large butterfly seemed dangerous, spreading peculiar dust around.

It seemed safer to search near the ordinary-looking ladybug-like monster.

While constantly monitoring the ladybug’s movements with my detect skill, I cautiously made my way forward in search of aroma bamboo.

Suddenly, a unique, refreshing fragrance reached my nostrils.

“…Is this the scent of rosemary?”

Although I couldn’t be certain, the distinct odor made me think of rosemary.

Following the scent, I approached a mushroom growing at the base of a tree.

It had a light purple color and a delicate cap that resembled a thin curtain.

【Aromashroom (Rosemary)】

A mushroom with a delightful fragrance. Its scent varies, and its effects differ accordingly.

This aromashroom emits a rosemary fragrance that can fill a room and maintain its scent for up to a month. It has the effect of uplifting one’s spirit and is effective against apathy and depression.

As expected, appraisal confirmed it to be aromashroom, and specifically, the rosemary variety sought by the client.

I leaned in to inhale the scent, and it filled my nostrils with a fresh, invigorating aroma and a unique odor.

It was the same rosemary scent I had encountered in my previous life.

“It’s strange that a mushroom has the scent of rosemary…”

Its appearance was vastly different from the rosemary I knew, making it a novel experience.

While fragrances are a matter of personal preference, I didn’t find this particular scent unpleasant.

I plucked the aromashroom by its base and quickly stored it in my magic bag.

Aromashroom loses its fragrance over time after being gathered, so storing it in the magic bag ensures it remains fresh without any deterioration.

“Oh, there’s another one over here.”

I had gathered three aromashroom from one spot, but near the roots of a different tree, I spotted one with a green hue.

【Aroma Bamboo (Lime)】

An aroma bamboo with a lime fragrance.

It has a refreshing effect that dispels anxiety and depression, uplifting one’s mood and instilling a sense of brightness and energy.

A refreshing citrus scent with a hint of bitterness.

Appraisal confirmed it to be the lime-scented aromashroom.

“It’s also strange that a mushroom has a citrus fragrance…”

It was an intriguing material that defied the conventions of the ingredients from my previous life. The materials in this world never ceased to amaze me.

Although it wasn’t one of the scents requested by the client, I decided to gather it anyway.

The request mentioned a desire for as many varieties as possible, and even if they didn’t want to take it, I could keep it for myself or give it as a souvenir.

Rabis or Lumia might appreciate it.

As I gathered while contemplating such thoughts, the aromashroom disappeared from my sight.

However, the air around me was still filled with fragrances other than rosemary and lime.

There were probably more aromashrooms growing nearby.

Avoiding the monsters roaming the area while searching was challenging, but I had the detect skill to aid me.

Once I had visually identified the aromashrooms, it was easy to locate them using the skill.

“Aromashroom, detect.”

By searching for aromashroom and activating the skill, the mushrooms in my field of vision were highlighted.

Some of them were growing in hard-to-spot locations, with a few even perched on tree branches or hidden behind trunks.

The multitude of materials vividly illuminated in my vision was a delightful sight for a gatherer.

At Ladeo Volcano, I hadn’t had the leisure to search for and gather materials at such a relaxed pace.

However, today, there was no pressing need to rush. I could take my time and enjoy the process of gathering at my own pace.

“Alright, let’s get to it!”

With enthusiasm, I sprinted towards the cluster of aromashrooms.