A Fun Day of Foraging on a Deserted Island

"Do you know what this is?"

"Yes. I was hungry, so Miryeong and I picked some and ate them once."

Yuna answered my question with a bright smile.

"Goodness, you can't just pick up and eat any old thing because you're hungry…."

Seoyun trailed off.

Ugh, life on a deserted island really is harsh.

How heartbreaking would it be for Yuna's parents to see her like this?

Their precious daughter, who made it through Korea's grueling education system and earned her degree as a teenager, was out here picking grass to eat.

"You picked it and ate it… You did?"

Yuna's cheeks turned red.

"Ah! I don't do that now. I was just really hungry back then."

"So what is this?"

"It's pepper."

Pepper?

It looked nothing like the pepper I knew.

I'd only ever seen the black pepper sold in supermarkets, the kind you grind with a mill, so seeing what pepper looked like as a fruit was completely unfamiliar.

"Should we try picking some, too?"

"Sounds good."

The berries were small and firm to the touch.

They were smooth and green, as if they weren't ripe yet. A few had turned faintly yellow at the tips.

I picked one and pressed it between my fingers.

Pop.

The thin skin burst, releasing a scent like crushed green grass. Beneath it was a familiar smell that stung the tip of my nose.

Hmm, I'll check its safety with Detection magic again…

What if I touched it to the tip of my tongue……?

At first, it tasted grassy.

It wasn't like the dried black pepper sold at the supermarket. But then the familiar spicy bite came, prickling the tip of my tongue.

……It's really pepper.

After smacking my lips a few times, the taste connected with the one in my memory.

"It is pepper."

Seoyun tasted one, too, and nodded.

"Spices are precious. We were running low on what we had at camp, so let's take the ripe ones first."

"Do you know how to process it, too?"

"Hmm, I'm not sure…… Should we bring it back and try drying it slowly? Like the shriveled black peppercorns?"

Even when it was something I ate all the time, I had no idea how to make it when the moment came.

How much had we relied on modern civilization, from the smallest things to the biggest?

"Since it's a spice, maybe Ms. Solène will know?"

"Oh, that's right. She might know if we ask her…."

Then let's gather some first and ask her what to do later.

"Mr. Woojin, could you cast a spell to keep it from spoiling?"

"Sure."

I cast the Preservation Glyph on the pepper berries we'd gathered.

The flow of mana became ripples of meaning, scattered through the air and seeping into the berries.

We'd ask Ms. Solène later whether they could simply be dried and eaten, then remove the Preservation spell.

"There."

"Great. Let's keep exploring."

Once Yuna had finished sketching the pepper berries, we set off again.

"There's some over there, too."

Now that I'd found some once, my Detection magic quickly picked up another patch of pepper berries.

It was as if knowledge had been layered over the plants I'd previously seen as mere outlines, giving them a new dimension.

I wondered how I hadn't noticed them when there were so many.

Knowing what to look for really mattered.

"There's some over there, too, Mr. Woojin."

The Assistant Manager had a sharp eye for pepper berries, too.

"Having a visual reference makes it much easier for me, too. Thank you, Ms. Yuna."

"Really? Thank you!"

But why was there so much pepper? A small question crossed my mind.

"Maybe this is an environment where pepper grows easily?"

"It seems so. This hot, humid climate looks ideal for pepper vines."

Water was an important resource for human survival, too.

It seemed like we wouldn't have to worry about water if we lived here.

Of course, it was so damp that it wasn't somewhere we'd ever want to lie down and sleep……

Besides, if it rained, we might get swept away just like that.

Finding the perfect base wouldn't be as easy as I'd thought.

'Hmm.'

The wind… had stopped.

The leaves weren't moving. The air that had just been sweeping through the damp forest had settled, as if someone were holding their breath.

'It's coming.'

The faint strands of mana drifting through the forest tilted in one direction.

Normally they flowed freely between branches and leaves, but now they drooped as though pressed down by something heavy.

The air was saturated with water.

Seoyun and Yuna, who'd been walking ahead, turned back to look at me.

"What's wrong, Mr. Woojin?"

"Both of you, come over here."

I announced it calmly and raised my hand.

I gathered the air overhead, making it flow in a rounded shape that was highest in the middle and sloped down toward the edges.

It was an umbrella made by applying the <Wind> and <Change> Glyphs.

Whoooosh───

The Wind Glyph responded, bending the air overhead.

But if I left it like this, it would dissipate in no time.

'I have to maintain the flow.'

I fixed its shape so it would keep moving along the same path.

With <Preservation>───

The moment the three Glyphs overlapped, the air overhead locked into place like an invisible roof.

Tap.

A raindrop struck the air and bounced to the side.

Then───

Whoooosh!!

A downpour swallowed the rainforest.

"Eep!"

"Ah……! So suddenly…!"

Water really is heavier than I expected. I had to put quite a lot of mana into it.

I'd made an air roof with even more mana at our camp, but keeping it going while moving was a little less efficient.

"It's all right."

I said, trying to reassure them.

Not a single drop of water fell on us.

Rain slid in every direction over the rounded roof of air, forming a curtain of water around us.

Whooo……

"How did you know it was going to rain?"

"Something felt off."

I couldn't put it into words… The mana was flowing that way.

"Thank you for keeping us dry."

"Everything turned white in an instant. The jungle……"

I discreetly swept my Detection magic down into the valley.

When rain fell this hard, the water in the valley could rise in an instant, putting Solène and Claire in danger.

──Hmm.

It seemed they'd already left.

Good. That was all I needed to do.

"Let's head back."

Nature had decided it was time to go home.

We had to get back to the southern forest before the ground became a mess beneath our feet.

If we got stranded here like last time───

"Stay close to me and watch your step."

"Okay, Oppa."

"Can you hold on to me?"

The two of them pressed close against me.

I shouldn't be thinking this, but…… the scent of their sweat was pretty stimulating.

Yuna was so well-endowed that we couldn't help brushing against each other, and Seoyun's breasts felt nice against me, too.

Phew……

Should I have made the umbrella a little smaller?

"Hup…!"

Seoyun made a cute little effortful sound as she hopped over a small ravine.

"Aah."

She suddenly slipped hard on a rock and lost her balance, but I'd been watching because I'd expected it. I reached out and caught her firmly.

"Gasp, thank you…"

"It's probably even more slippery than it was before."

"Yes. I'll be careful!"

It was raining incredibly hard.

The trees and vines that had been so clear just moments ago melted behind a hazy veil. Even the view just a few steps ahead

was only a wavering outline.

It felt as if the whole world were submerged in white rain.

In the middle of it all, only the space around us was strangely calm.

'They said you shouldn't be alone on a rainy day…."'

But now… there were three of us, so we'd be fine.

Nothing with enormous limbs emerged from beyond that white veil.

Had we walked for about an hour?

Even though we'd come this way once before, the rain made the journey back a struggle.

"Phew……"

As soon as we reached the southern forest, the rain stopped as if by magic.

Or rather, to be precise, this seemed to be the edge of the localized raincloud.

Looking up, I could see that the rain was pouring only over the eastern rainforest.

"We're all right now. I think we're outside the raincloud."

"Phew…! Without your wind umbrella, Mr. Woojin, we'd have been trapped there for sure."

"That's why we couldn't get back last time…."

"Ugh, I don't even want to think about that time…. The raincloud reached our camp, and it was a disaster."

This time…… we seemed to be fine.

Even if it had rained, we'd taken temporary precautions, so there didn't seem to be much to worry about.

Once we'd shaken off nature's fickleness trying to hold us back, Seoyun finally smiled with a satisfied expression.

"Our bags are full, aren't they? Let's head back and eat!"

"Sure."

"Sounds good!"

At last, the day was over.

Even with our bags heavier, the walk back was enjoyable.

* * *

As soon as we returned to camp, I set my heavy, sagging bag down on the platform.

People gradually gathered around.

Manager Han Jia, who'd been washing blankets, and Luka, who was playing with Miryeong and picking something up off the ground.

"You must be exhausted. Mr. Woojin, Assistant Manager Kang, Ms. Yuna."

Whew…

Hearing Manager Han Jia's relaxed, peaceful voice made me feel like I was really home.

"You'll be excited to see what we brought back today, Manager! Mr. Woojin and I made a really great trade."

"A great trade?"

"Yes! Mr. Woojin, hurry and show them. Come on."

Seoyun sounded eager to show everyone as soon as possible.

All right… should I bring it out?

I opened the bag carefully so I wouldn't hurt the crayfish in my haste and took out the ones tied to the vine.

When I unfolded the tightly wrapped leaves, the fish we'd cast Preservation on spilled out in a heap, their silver scales gleaming.

Some were as long as my forearm, while others were small enough to add to a single bowl of soup. They came in all sorts of sizes and varieties.

They were freshwater fish that lived in the eastern rainforest.

Beside them, freshwater crabs lay heavily stacked with their legs tucked in. One still had enough energy to raise its claw and scrape at the ground.

Every time fresh ingredients appeared, Miryeong, Luka, and the Manager's eyes lit up in real time.

"見て見て見て! まだ動いてる！ 超新鮮！ てか強そう！ 絶対うまいやつ！

(Look, look, look! It's still moving! Super fresh! Wait, it looks strong! It's definitely going to be delicious!)"

Luka, did you just jump almost forty centimeters?!

It was the kind of reaction that could summon everyone in the forest.

"Now, don't get too excited yet."

I revealed the last big catch.

It was more than twice the size of the large crayfish I'd shown them so far!!

The ruler of the rainforest, traded for five kilos of boneless wild boar meat!!—A title I just made up.—

When I peeled back the pandanus leaves wrapped around it, its thick shell came into view.

Its two enormous pincers reached into the air.

Clack.

"Eek!!"

The living crayfish twisted its body and swung its long antennae in every direction. It was on a whole different level from the freshwater crayfish we'd seen so far.

A thick tail, pincers the size of a person's wrist, and meat packed tightly into every joint.

Just one of them was enough to fill a large platter.

The Manager spoke with an utterly astonished expression.

"…This… This is a crayfish? Did you catch it in the sea?"

"Believe it or not, it's a freshwater crayfish."

"Good heavens…."

Crustaceans apparently grow throughout their lives by molting.

But when they grow large and molt, they use up all their strength and die, so they can't grow beyond a certain limit.

This one, however, was exceptionally hardy, surpassing the limits of its kind.

After molting and molting over an unfathomably long time, it was finally destined to end up on our dinner table!

"でっか！ なにこれ！？ エビ界のラスボスじゃん！

(It's huge! What is this?! It's the final boss of the shrimp world!)"

"ザリガニですよ。(It's a crayfish.)"

Seoyun corrected her with a smile.

"ザリガニ！？ ウソでしょ！？ ルカの知ってるザリガニ、こんな武器ついてないんだけど！

(A crayfish!? No way!? The crayfish Luka knows don't have weapons like this!)"

Miryeong closed her eyes and clasped her crystal ball as she prayed.

"The Spirit of the Five Grains tells us this gigantic beast with its red shell is no ordinary creature…

We must cook its meatiest part, the tail, with care and offer it upon the altar…!"

"Ah, this is what Miryeong does when she's really happy. I'm sure the spirit didn't say anything."

When everyone looked at Miryeong, Yuna explained on her behalf.

"Eee, don't call it an act. It ruins my mystique."

"Was there any to begin with…?"

"お兄ちゃん、こいつ茹でよう！ 今すぐ！ 反撃される前に！

(Oppa, let's boil this thing! Right now! Before it can fight back!)"

Haha, what a commotion……

"Should we ask the spirit for a recipe? Miryeong, what else did the spirit say?"

"H-huh!?"

Blushing, Miryeong continued her clumsy, adorable performance in her own voice.

"I-it says it would be good grilled in butter~!"

"Do we have any butter…?"

"Great Spirit! You heard what Sister Seoyun just said, right? Please don't make unreasonable demands."

……She blamed the Spirit of the Five Grains.

……Miryeong held her crystal ball for a moment, then wiped away a little drool and said,

"It says steaming it would be good, too. Slurp."

"……That's a very agreeable spirit."

It seemed easier to reason with than I'd expected.

Steaming it. I'd thought the same thing, too.

Of course, we couldn't pass up the meatiest part, the tail.

"We can steam it, at least. I'll put my skills to work."

The Assistant Manager stood up and said.

"And I'll prepare the danhong sauce, too."

She winked at me.

"Is there something in your eye, Assistant Manager?"

"……You're doing that on purpose, Mr. Kim Woojin."

"No, getting dust in your eye would be terrible."

"Let's set aside everything except what we're eating today."

The Assistant Manager walked right past me and headed to the cooking area.

"Mr. Woojin, bring over some crayfish, please."

"Yes, ma'am."

I carried the crayfish over to the cooking area.

While I was at it, I brought the fish and crabs, too.

"Let's use all the crayfish today. Save the crabs and fish for later."

"All of them?"

"Even though it's this big, the meat yield will probably be terrible, right? It'll still give us a decent amount since it's so huge, though."

I see.

So that's why the Assistant Manager had planned to save the fish for last.

I knew from my Detection magic that the meat yield was no joke, but I'd never shared that information with Seoyun.

Still, I didn't bother to stop her.

It was good to eat a lot.

Honestly, I was in the mood to eat a lot.

We could find more food later. I was starting to feel confident about exploring, too.

"Rinse the crayfish with magic water, please."

"Magic water's become a given whenever we cook now, hasn't it?"

"We can't wash them in stream water. The water you make is best, Mr. Woojin."

Ahem.

Well, if you like it that much─

I stood beside Seoyun at the cooking area.

Our eyes met.

It was a somewhat strange scene.

Standing side by side in front of the cooking area, about to prepare a meal, felt like…

"W-why are you staring at me?"

"Seeing us standing like this made me think we looked like a married couple."

"……Did you hit your head, Mr. Woojin?"

Phew… she's spicy.

That's the Assistant Manager I know.

But I had a counterattack ready, too.

"These crayfish seem to get along pretty well, like a married couple."

"You sure know how to wriggle your way out of things."

"Huh? We didn't catch any snakes."

"…Forget it."

Hah!

If I kept pestering her with silly remarks, the Assistant Manager would eventually lift her chin and coolly ignore me.

She was always fun to tease.

All right, crayfish. Time for your bath……

I brought out a water pocket and poured a stream of water over it.

We had to carefully wash the mud from between its shell and legs.

"It's too big to fit into our pot, so we should separate the pincers."

"Sounds good."

That was easy enough to do with the Wind Glyph.

As I prepared the crayfish, the Manager came over to the cooking area.

"You're going to steam it, right? I made this just in case."

Han Jia shyly held out a pandanus-leaf basket sized to fit our pot.

"Oh, that's perfect. I was going to make a makeshift steamer."

"I made it thinking it might come in handy if we brought back crabs again. It turns out it came in handy after all!"

So the Manager wanted to eat crabs, too.

I thought the Assistant Manager was the only one who made pandanus-leaf crafts…

Everyone was so handy.

"Even if we don't have crabs, you'll be able to eat your fill of crayfish meat today. And the innards sauce, too."

"Is the inside safe to eat, too? Did you check with magic, Mr. Woojin?"

Seoyun asked with some surprise.

"Yes. I checked it with magic."

Normally, you might expect the innards to contain contaminants or toxins, but, as with the rock crab, they were safe.

"Then there may be even more to eat than we expected."

"Definitely. You'll be able to eat your fill."

"Hmm. You wanted to eat your fill, Mr. Woojin?"

"Yes."

Seoyun smiled and said,

"All right. I'll make sure you get your fill of delicious food."

The Manager poured about two finger-widths of water into the bottom of the pot and set the tightly woven pandanus-leaf basket inside.

It formed a raised layer to keep the crayfish out of the water.

After putting the crayfish in, the Assistant Manager crushed some salt and the fresh peppercorns we'd found today and scattered them over the top.

"The heat won't be consistent, so it'd be safest to check how well it's cooked by opening the joint between the tail and body a little every so often."

……Looks like they don't need my help anymore.

"Assistant Manager Kang, what about the sauce?"

Manager Han Jia rummaged through the food-storage box.

"I'll use the danhong sauce today."

I brought over the little bit of danhong we had left, too.

"Use more of this if you run short."

"Thanks. Now, Mr. Woojin, go sit down and wait."

That was the Assistant Manager's order for me to leave the kitchen.

I left the rest to the two women and naturally stepped away.