Isekai Nonbiri Sozai Saishu Seikatsu - Chapter 201

Having captured the skyfish, we pushed forward in search of the giant tree fruit said to be at the summit.

Vines, ivy, leaves, and the like branched out in multiple directions, intricately entwined.

It was like a maze of plants.

I couldn’t help but think that if I hadn’t been able to use the sonar-like function of my detection skill to choose our route, our progress would have been much more difficult.

As I conducted a magic stone detection, I noticed round objects rolling down from above.

“Hey! Franryule! Move to the right! There are monsters rolling down!”

“Y-Yes!”

Priority was given to evacuating rather than confirming the details of the monsters.

Using nearby vines, Franryule and I moved to the right side of the leaves.

The next moment, round creatures resembling rolled-up pill bugs rolled down one after another where we had been climbing the vines.

【Dangoron – Danger Level D】

A bug-type monster that inhabits areas rich in vegetation.

Its normal movement speed is quite slow, but it can move quickly by rolling up.

It has a sturdy exoskeleton and can roll to evade attacks.

“Oh my! These monsters are rolling down with tremendous force!”

“It seems to be a monster called Dangoron, moving by rolling, isn’t it?”

We watched the massive migration of Dangorons from a safe distance.

They were quite different in size from the pill bugs I knew, being about two meters long.

While small pill bugs might look cute, ones this large were quite imposing.

“It’s fortunate we noticed them early.”

“Indeed. It would be quite a problem if we were caught up in them.”

If I hadn’t seen them early with the detection skill, than I would have had to deal with the rolling Dangorons suddenly appearing. It’s too much of a challenge.

I can’t help but feel a sense of awe towards adventurers who handle such situations calmly and survive.

“The Dangorons are gone now.”

After about thirty seconds, the Dangorons rolling down had disappeared.

“Shall we take a short break?”

“Yes, that sounds like a good idea.”

At least I’m fine, but Franryule seems to be struggling with her stamina.

Once we passed the 800-meter mark, the path became narrower, and the slope became steeper.

Simply moving forward puts a significant strain on us.

There’s no guarantee of finding another resting spot soon, so we should take frequent breaks.

“I’m sorry. It’s because of my inexperience.”

Franryule seems to understand that she needs to take frequent breaks for her own sake. She looks apologetic.

“Sometimes stamina matters in gathering, so it’s a good idea to keep yourself fit.”

“I’ve realized that. I’ll focus on training my body more, not just relying on magic.”

I still want to gather materials properly by walking on my own two feet.

I believe patience and stamina are necessary for material gathering, so I make sure to do some jogging and strength training in my spare time.

The fact that I’m not fatigued during the journey through the giant tree is thanks to the benefits of those efforts. It was good to be diligent.

Rejoicing in the fruits of my efforts, I replenish my fluids with my water flask.

Franryule also replenishes her fluids in the same way, while massaging her arms.

“Are your arms okay?”

“It’s a bit difficult to put strength into them, but I think I’ll manage if I rest a bit.”

She’s been exerting her arms considerably since the start of the climb.

As a woman and a pure mage, physical marching must be tough for her.

Is there anything I can do to help her?

“Oh!”

“What’s wrong?”

“I thought I had just the thing for someone like you, Franryule!”

I took out wrapped meat from the magic bag.

“Byron meat? Could it be…!”

“Yes, eating this meat not only restores fatigue but also improves muscle strength. With this, reaching the top will be a breeze!”

“Indeed, with that, I might not slow us down in our journey…”

“So, can I cook it a bit?”

“…Yes, please do.”

There seemed to be some conflict about eating the requested item along the way, but Franryule seems to have resolved to do so for the swift completion of the mission.

So I prepare additional magic stoves and frying pans.

I place the Byron meat on the cutting board and carefully slice it thinly with a knife.

There’s a moderate marbling in the lean meat, giving it a moist and tender texture.

It’s a very beautiful lean meat.

I ignite the magic stove and place a frying pan on it, spreading oil.

Since we’re halfway up the eight-hundred-meter altitude, we can’t afford to make elaborate dishes, so it’s simple grilled meat. But with good ingredients, I think simple is more than enough.

As I quickly arrange the meat on the frying pan, it sizzles with a juicy sound.

The altitude is getting higher and the wind stronger, but strangely, the sound of meat grilling echoed in my ears.

I guess a frying pan isn’t ideal for grilling meat after all.

For grilling meat, a grill or a hot plate would be better.

When we return to Grantel, I’ll have Drogan make one for us.

As I stare at the meat, juice starts to ooze out from the Byron meat.

“Shuu-san, for lean meat, it’s better not to cook it too much…”

“I know. We’ll go for rare or medium.”

The key is not to overcook lean meat.

Cooking it too much will make it dry and ruin its flavor.

Though Franryule has little experience in cooking, she seems to know a bit about this kind of stuff.

Once the juices start to float on the surface and one side is about 60% cooked, flip it over with tongs.

Then, once the flipped side is cooked just a little more, it’s ready to eat.

“Let’s dig in, then.”

“Yes!”

As we each serve ourselves onto our plates, it’s time to eat.

We enjoy the Byron meat lightly seasoned with spicy fruit and salt.

The rich flavor spreads in our mouths. While it’s not too fatty, it’s incredibly juicy and tender.

It’s truly a perfect balance of flavor and fat, fitting for lean meat.

“So delicious!”

“The flavor is so strong, it feels like it’s giving me strength just by eating it!”

With each chew, the rich juices burst forth, and just as Franryule says, it feels like strength is welling up from within.

“I seem to have eaten more than I thought.”

I only intended to eat a little, but before I knew it, I’d cooked and eaten second and third servings until I was full.

“Yes, but thanks to that, I feel overflowing with energy!”

Franryule, who had been wincing in pain while holding her stretched arm, now looks completely refreshed and full of energy.

Not only has her strength increased, but it seems like her fatigue has completely disappeared as well.

I decide to flex my muscles to test it out, and I find that I’ve developed bigger muscles than usual.

“Wow! My strength has definitely increased! So this is the effect of Byron meat…!”

It seems like the surge of power from deep within my body wasn’t just my imagination after all.

It’s truly amazing how eating certain foods can improve your physical abilities.

“Now, I can easily climb this steep path!”

With newfound energy, Franryule confidently starts climbing up the vines ahead.

Her movements are smooth, even on the steep inclines and gradients.

However, given that Franryule is wearing a skirt and is quickly moving ahead of me, it’s only natural that I’d catch glimpses looking up.

“Um, Franryule. I understand your enthusiasm, but please don’t go too far ahead of me.”

“Huh?! Oh!”

Franryule, who had been excitedly skipping ahead, turns red and becomes quieter.

Seizing the opportunity, I quickly leap to avoid seeing what’s under her skirt.

“Oh, I can jump quite high now.”

Thanks to eating the Byron meat, my jumping ability is now unimaginably strong compared to usual.

It feels like my leg muscles have turned into powerful springs, making it enjoyable.

“I’ll give it a try too!”

Having recovered from her embarrassment, Franryule bends her knees and jumps.

She might not jump as high as me, but it’s still an incredible height considering Franryule’s physical abilities.

“Amazing! At this rate, we’ll reach the top in no time!”

“Yes, let’s keep going at this pace.”

Having regained our energy from eating the Byron meat, we continue climbing the giant tree with tremendous momentum.