Chapter 342: Ordinary Day
The mikan oranges are ready to harvest so that’s the itinerary for today. I won’t have to ask X-Stick for help since the trees I planted up in the mountain aren’t that tall.
Oh right, I forgot to ask Auro and the others yesterday if there’s a countermeasure I can do against folks who use spirits to eavesdrop or peep. I have to ask them next time — will I be able to remember it?
The unripe mikan oranges tasted really sour before, but they’ve become sweet in such a short time. I also pruned the trees and removed the citrus fruit thorns while gathering the fruits. The risk is minimal if the trees are this tall, but still, it would be a problem if Riche got pricked, or if the fruits got scratched by the thorns and microbes infected them.
I felt it would be a waste to use the 『Growth Powder』that could make plants grow bigger in a blink of an eye so it is still left mostly untouched, but I did remember gingerly sprinkling just a tiny bit when I started planting the trees in the orchard.
Riche had been amusing himself by lightly pouncing on his own shadow, trying to catch it with his front paws, but he was now staring at me while I pruned away. Ah, no, he’s looking at something behind me?
I turned around. Khadar and Ludere were standing there. It was a rare sight seeing them together, ah, but I guess it’s because Ludere usually observes Riche in the shadows.
「Good morning. 」
「Hmm, they seem lively. 」
Khadar commented while stretching his hand towards a nearby branch. The trees around him looked happy and the leaves of the branch with mikan on it appeared to be glossier, as if declaring that they’re gonna produce even more delicious mikan from here on.
「…Too bright. 」
Then why did you come here in the morning, Ludere?
These two deities are my masters in magic, but Hauron kept on insisting that it wasn’t magic — maybe I should consult them both. Ah, but then, they were also the ones who taught me how to adjust the dazzlingly blinding light and tone it down until it’s bright enough to illuminate the surroundings.
I’ve been using that practice of gradually bringing the level of power down whenever I use other spells, so there’s no doubt that Khadar and Ludere are the ones who gave me the foundation of my magic.
Well, let’s not consider the training I did before being teleported to my mountain home, shall we? After all, I hadn’t made a contract with the spirits back then, and I wasn’t as interested in the spirits around me as I am now, so if we looked back, that experience was kinda ‘ordinary’ compared to now. Moreover, I almost never chanted, so I guess it does feel different from the magic that Hauron talked about.
「Can I have some kumquats? 」
「Me too. 」
Yeah.
Kumquats and fukure mikan — tinier versions of mikan — also belong to the citrus family, but I already harvested them two to three months ago and made candied sweets and shichimi (seven spice) with them. I met Ludere the day I made those, then Khadar also dropped by the morning after, so I gave them some back then.
I do understand that they took a liking to those snacks, but it’s rare that they went out of their way to request that.
「Sugar preserves for Khadar and candied sweets for Ludere, is that okay? 」
Both of them nodded.
The kumquats coated in sugar crystals are in the paper bag, while the glossy candied fruits dripping with syrup are in a bottle.
As I handed the goodies to the two deities, I thought about how eating kumquats can make your lips tingle and numb because of the turpentine oil in their peels, so I couldn’t help but wonder if the spirits also felt that.
「Thank you. 」
「… 」
Khadar thanked me, while Ludere wordlessly handed me some materials for making the ink for drawing magic circles.
When Khadar saw what Ludere did, he waved his sleeve, and tiny light particles spread all throughout the orchard. Khadar probably used his magic to create the tiny ones. Spirits that are probably his kin went inside the trees as if to chase after the tiny spirits that were infused with his attribute.
「Thank you very much. 」
It was my turn to thank them this time.
I wonder what will happen to my orchard now.
Khadar joined me in tending to the orchard from time to time so it’s understandable that he likes the fruits, but I did wonder why Ludere liked the kumquats or if he could taste them, but as it turned out, the fruits grew from the trees that were planted in the holes that Riche dug… That means, he didn’t like the kumquats per se, he liked these fruits precisely because they were grown here.
I also planted Hassaku oranges in the holes that Riche dug. Their harvest date is later than the mikan. Ludere fondly stroked the deep yellow fruits.
He was a beauty reminiscent of the pale glowing moon, and yet… Just like that case with Snow Leopard, Riche seemed dearly idolized, but it’s amazing that he’s still unperturbed by all that affection he’s receiving.
I’m looking forward to making candied Hassaku orange peels soaked in plenty of white wine and coated with chocolate.
Today’s work was finished. Time for a late breakfast, although not so late to be brunch.
For today’s meal, I prepared chicken rice with burdock and wild mushrooms seasoned with sugar, soy sauce and sake for that slightly salty and subtle sweet taste. It’s true that I enjoy chicken rice that’s been simmered in broth, I also like this version.
The thinly sliced pickled radish was also served with yuzu and chili along with blanched green beans drizzled with sesame and miso dressing. I also enjoyed a dish of grilled marlin and clam miso soup.
Well, the chicken rice was delicious, but then I’ll just have to get the other dishes from 【Storage】, so no reason not to enjoy them now!
Will Riche also develop preferences for food other than meat and water? Are dogs okay with only those? They should be more of an omnivore than a carnivore, but I remember chocolates, onions and grapes are bad for them.
Well, I guess it’s fine, since Riche is blissfully enjoying his meat and being so adorable at that.
We 【Teleport】back to Canum after our meal. Today is the day Hauron will do the pill bug challenge. Ah, but will he be fine with them? He’s a maiden at heart, after all. I feel a bit uneasy about this.
Notes
T/N: Mikan – Japanese orange vs Fukure mikan
Kumquat – oval shaped citrus about the size of an olive or grape.
Hassaku orange
NEXT CHAPTER
RELEASE RATE
I Got Transferred in the Middle of a Mountain
Speed up schedule by 10 hours
Current schedule: Every 80 hours
Thanks for the treat.