Isekai Nonbiri Sozai Saishu Seikatsu - Chapter 187

After dismantling and storing the Crab Mantis, we continued to advance through the reserve.

The claws and legs of the Crab Mantis indeed resembled crab meat.

Although we haven’t tasted it yet, I think it would probably be delicious if cooked normally. It had a distinct crab smell.

A mantis that tastes like crab. What a strange creature.

Near the wall, the ground was open and flat, but as we moved away, we encountered a large forest.

This is probably where the real challenge begins, with numerous plants and animals densely populating the reserve.

A quick check with my magic stone detection revealed many creatures within a 200-meter radius.

Most of them were unfamiliar silhouettes, making it impossible to predict what kind of monsters they were.

With Franryule here to protect, I need to be more vigilant than usual.

“Wow! So many materials!”

That thought was quickly dissipated by the glitter of numerous materials caught by my detection skill.

Well, when the materials are so abundant that they fill your vision, it’s hard to resist moving as a collector.

“Look at all those long, thin stems growing!”

“It’s a Senbon onion. There are about a thousand onions growing in one colony.”

“A thousand!?”

Certainly, looking again, there seemed to be easily a thousand. I hadn’t counted them precisely, but there must be around a thousand.

“Can we pick them?”

“Yes, feel free.”

With Franryule’s approval, I began to pull out the thousand onions.

Plump onions emerged from the ground with a slight tug.

Contrary to their long stems, the bulbs were very large.

“Can I try eating them raw?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

After thoroughly rinsing off the soil with water, I cut them into bite-sized pieces with a harvesting knife.

Since Franryule seemed interested in trying them too, I handed her a portion.

We tasted the white flesh of the onions, which formed elegant curves.

As we bit into them, they made a crisp, satisfying sound. Simultaneously, the sweetness and flavor of the Senbon onions spread rapidly throughout our mouths.

“It’s so sweet and delicious!”

What stands out is the overwhelming sweetness, reminiscent of fruits.

The slight lingering spiciness afterwards is almost refreshing.

“Eating them freshly picked at the table is indeed on a different level of freshness.”

Franryule savored the taste with small bites, as if chewing thoughtfully.

Although she seemed to have eaten them before, freshly harvested ones still tasted different, it seemed.

Being able to harvest and eat such rare ingredients immediately is truly a blessing.

Lost in eating with enthusiasm, we quickly finished off one thousand onions.

“Shall we continue harvesting?”

“The purchase price for a Senbon onion is only five copper coins. Is that acceptable?”

As we finished tasting and prepared to resume harvesting, Franryule inquired.

“I’m not harvesting for the purpose of making money. If there’s something I want to collect or find interesting, I want to harvest it for the enjoyment.”

Indeed, while money is important for survival, I don’t aspire to become wealthy in this world.

I simply want to harvest to my heart’s content and collect materials I like.

If earning money were my goal, there would surely be more efficient ways than harvesting.

If you want money, you should earn it that way.

I simply can’t fathom living a life where earning is the sole purpose of harvesting.

That’s why, even if the purchase price is low, I’ll harvest as much as I’m allowed.

“You’re that kind of person, Shuu-san. I apologize for the tactless question.”

After expressing her thoughts, she chuckled and continued pulling out Senbon onions, stuffing them into the magic bag.

Considering there are a thousand growing in just one cluster, it’s quite a large quantity.

It seems there are about a hundred such areas within the jurisdiction of the Reilert family alone.

In other words, there are at least a hundred thousand onions, so harvesting a few hundred won’t make a difference.

I have no intention of depleting them all, but I’ll harvest without reservation and enjoy myself.

“It’s impressive how prolific they are in just one cluster. If they were cultivated in fields, could we expect stable production?”

“Unfortunately, without fertile nutrients and magic, they would wither quickly.”

“Is that so?”

It seems the Reilert family has already considered what I spontaneously thought of.

While I initially thought they could be cultivated as a regular crop, it seems it’s not so simple.

Due to the harsh growing conditions, it’s likely the Reilert family manages and cultivates them in the protected area.

“However, the Reilert family is currently experimenting to see if cultivation outside is possible. We’ve actually requested assistance from a Master-class alchemist, but it seems they’re too busy to take on the task…”

“Could it be someone like Saffy-san?”

Upon hearing about a Master-class alchemist, she immediately recalls the lazy and alcohol-loving Saffy.

When Saffy’s name is mentioned, Franryule turns to me eagerly.

“Do you know Saffy-san!?”

“Well, ‘know’ might be too strong a word, but we often interact in various capacities, professionally and socially…”

It’s difficult to summarize my relationship with Saffy in a single word—she’s a client, a friend, a drinking buddy… But based on our interactions so far, we’re certainly on friendly terms.

Though I can’t say for sure how she perceives me.

“In that case, could you please ask her to consider taking on our family’s request!?”

Franryule pleads with me, gripping my hand tightly and looking up at me with hopeful eyes.

Her protective expression and adorable appearance make me want to agree wholeheartedly, but considering her personality, I can’t just blindly accept.

“I can’t guarantee she’ll agree, but I’ll try to mention it subtly.”

“Please, I’m begging you!”

From Franryule’s desperation, it seems she’s likely to ask for more than just the onions—probably a lot of food variety improvements as well.

When I return to Grantel, I’ll suggest taking on at least one of her requests.

I want to try those Senbon onions, not just in the protected area, but in Grantel too.