“I managed to get a Cocco bird and its egg—what a big haul! Feeling quite pleased, I continued exploring the area, hoping to find some useful plants, as they often grow where magical beasts reside.
‘Oh, here’s something. It’s small, but is this a radish? Looks like a turnip radish.’
The round, plump shape resembled a radish, but this one was white and shaped like a miniature daikon. It was about 10 centimeters long, perfect for a salad.
‘And this? Could it be komatsuna? Yeah, definitely komatsuna. Small and tender-looking leaves too.’
Vegetables from this dense forest tend to be on the smaller side. The thickly grown trees block out sunlight, which must be why. Yet, they still manage to grow well—this otherworldly ecosystem is amazing.
(Isn’t magic energy just too versatile?)
The soil and water here seem rich in nutrients, allowing these small yet healthy plants to thrive. Once I establish a base, I plan to clear a sunny area for a vegetable garden. With the seeds and gardening tools I got from the 100-yen shop, I should be able to enjoy some small-scale farming. Enough for one person, at least.
‘Even if the garden fails, I can rely on foraging to get by.’
Having discovered leafy greens and root vegetables, I’d say today’s exploration was quite productive. And, of course, getting eggs and chicken was a highlight.
On my way back to my base before nightfall, I even found a pear tree. The pears were small, about the size of mini apples, but juicy and delicious. After purifying one, I bit into it, skin and all. It was crisp, sweet, and incredibly refreshing.
‘So good. Honestly, the fruits in this world rival Japan’s luxury brands.’
As a student who lived off allowances and part-time jobs, fruit was a luxury I couldn’t often afford. Naturally, I savored this rare treat with enthusiasm. In Japan, fruit is expensive, and it’s only natural for a guy like me to prioritize a convenience store bento over fruit.
‘I’ll take only the ripe ones.’
I picked the pears while appraising them. I liked the apples and akebi too, but these sweet, juicy pears were on another level.
While I was foraging, a Forest Wolf ambushed me. I decapitated it with wind magic. Later, a bear-like magical beast, drawn by the smell of blood, appeared. I lured it into a pit with earth magic and finished it off with stone bullets to the head.
‘Oh, my level’s up! I can’t believe I just took down a bear-like magical beast. What a change.’
It was a bit of an emotional moment. Although the strategy relied on a pitfall, I still gained valuable experience.
‘The Murder Grizzly—its meat and organs are also sellable for points?’
Aside from its fur, magical stones, and meat, its internal organs were also in demand. Was it for something like bear bile? Maybe this world has its own medicinal practices or uses them as potion ingredients.
‘Wow, 10,000 points? Not bad at all. Though I’d never take one on without magic.’
I stored the Forest Wolf and Murder Grizzly in my item box. With these earnings, I’d say I’ve done enough for today.
‘Time to head back and make dinner.’
Oyako is simple and delicious, ranking high among my go-to recipes. Just put a frying pan over the stove, add some mentsuyu, water, and sugar, then bring it to a boil. Toss in onions and chicken, let them cook, and finish by adding lightly beaten eggs. Super easy.
I like my eggs soft and runny, so I have to watch carefully to avoid overcooking them. Pour it over hot rice and top it with some mitsuba-like herbs, and it’s done.
While simmering the onion and Cocco bird thigh meat, I made a salad with the komatsuna and radish, along with instant miso soup for dinner.
I took a photo of the meal and sent it through an app. It’s become like a diary at this point. The others often send their dinner photos in return, so it’s nice to keep track of how everyone’s eating.”
“(Hmm, it’s all from a 100-yen shop, but maybe the seasoning, rice, and pasta I sent are helping—it looks better than before.)
Even with just basic cooking methods like grilling or boiling, Akimi must have worked hard, given their love for fried food. It seems like fried dishes have been added to the menu, making it more diverse. I also sent them some simple recipes along with the seasonings, hoping they’re making good use of them in the palace kitchen.
‘Now, let’s see how this Cocco bird tastes.’
Carefully, I brought a spoonful of the Oyako to my mouth. It had a slightly sweet flavor—absolutely delicious. The meat was similar to free-range chicken, firm and muscular.
I was particularly surprised by the richness of the egg. The soft, fluffy, half-cooked eggs paired with the rice made for an amazing combination.
‘This is the kind of egg that makes you want tamago-kake-gohan (rice topped with raw egg)…’
The yolk was a vibrant orange and so glossy that breaking it felt almost sacrilegious. Of course, I’d purify it and appraise it thoroughly first, but it might be worth trying Cocco bird eggs for tamago-kake-gohan someday.
‘The meat’s delicious too—full of flavor. I thought Almiraj meat was similar to chicken, but it’s entirely different. Cocco bird meat is incredibly lean and muscular.’
Like chickens, they don’t fly, so they must have developed their muscles by running on the ground. The meat seemed perfect for salads, chicken cutlets, or stews. It might also work well for yakitori—I’d love to give it a shot.
‘And the eggs—I’ll definitely grab them whenever I see them. They’d make amazing omelets, no doubt about it.’
With a satisfied smile, I enjoyed the Oyako . While I also ate the miso soup and salad, the Cocco bird Oyako was so good that I ended up finishing the extra portion I had made for leftovers.
For dessert, I munched on a pear while getting to today’s task: shopping. I checked the shopping list I’d received and began summoning the requested items.
A complete set of seasonings, sauces, dressings, and mayonnaise were on the list. Ketchup was included too, which made me wonder—does this world not have any tomato-based sauces?
Rice, pasta, and mochi made sense. The bread here is apparently atrocious.
Recently, they haven’t been requesting as many cup noodles. Well, with quality ingredients and seasonings at their disposal, it’s no wonder they’re satisfied with their meals. That’s a good thing.
However, they seem unable to resist snacks. Potato chips, cookies, and chocolate are always on the list.
‘Akimi’s still all about tea, coffee, and sugar, huh? And lots of olive oil and spices—selling them to the king and queen, maybe? Clever as always.’
Natsuki ’s requests, on the other hand, had shifted from food to cosmetics—a massive list of beauty products.
It was an intriguing change since I wouldn’t normally buy such things myself. I began searching for the requested items.
‘Facial lotion, moisturizing cream, sunscreen? Does the 100-yen shop even have these? …Wow, it does. Amazing. And what’s this? BB cream? Tinted lip balm and hand cream. A compact mirror for 300 yen?’
A quick search revealed it: a three-panel compact mirror with LED lights. I’d seen this on TV before—it’s called an “actress mirror.”
I added makeup brushes, sponges, and puffs to the cart as well.
‘When did Natsuki suddenly get into beauty? Well, I guess it’s normal for their age.’
Although they used to be more focused on basic skincare, spending most days bare-faced, the sudden change in their shopping list was surprising.
When I sent over the items via the item box, a thank-you email arrived almost immediately. Apparently, the makeup products were for resale to a princess in this world.
The email came with a dancing fluffball stamp and a note that the items sold at a high price.
‘This app has stamps too? And they’re all fluffball designs? Seriously?’
Unlike Natsuki and Akimi, whose lists were half-filled with items for resale, Haruto remained true to themselves.
Their list consisted solely of things they wanted to eat, which was oddly heartwarming.
‘Still a lot of cup noodles, huh. And snack bread—how much of that do you eat? Such a big fan of chips too. Wait, what’s with all this mayonnaise? Are you a mayo addict?’
Why does Haruto still seem like an elementary school boy?
They’re the oldest of the three and also the biggest in size, yet their shopping list screams childishness.
At the end of their list, I noticed razors for shaving and froze.
Now that I think about it, I’ve been in this world for five days, yet no facial hair has grown.
‘Do elves not grow beards…?’
I’ve already accepted being small and delicate, but losing male hormones might be the most shocking realization yet.”
