Chapter 420: Shady Apple
「Hey, is Jean home?」
Dean’s voice resounded along with the
knocks on the door.
「 I’m here. The door isn’t locked so come in. 」
The door opened at my reply and Dean entered with a cloth bag hanging from his hand.
「Here, this is for you. Are you guys in the middle of something? Why does everyone except for Retze look so glum?」
「 Nope, they don’t, they don’t. 」
I took the cloth bag from Dean’s outstretched hand and peered inside.
Lots of slightly oval red berries that looked like a well-balanced combination of silverberries, cherries, and cranberries.
「Cherries.」
「Oh, thanks, they look a bit different from the cherries that I know. Do they make good jam? 」
I popped one into my mouth. It was sour, kinda like a very sour cherry? And a bit tangy?
「Wine and jam, both works fine. It’s not really that tasty, but it’s rare, so I thought you’d like some. 」
It seems like Dean thinks they’re so-so, but he knows I’m happy whenever I see something I haven’t tasted before, so he still took some while he’s in the forest because of a mission from the guild.
「Oohh, thanks a lot. 」
These things are tiny, so it must’ve been tedious work picking all of them. Novel foods are very much welcome, so I’m really grateful.
「Is this apple? It’s kinda different from the ones I know, can I eat one? 」
「Help yourself. It’s just that your mana will… 」
「No way it’s okay…!! 」
Hauron hurriedly interjected while staring at me, but too late ーDean was already munching.
「You really ate it!? 」
Dinosso’s jaw dropped.
「Dean-dono… 」
Butler hesitated.
「You just went ahead with something you know nothing about, huh. 」
Khan was also taken aback.
「But Jean brought this, right? Hm. It’s sour but sweeter than the ones usually sold. Not tart either. It’s delicious, maybe second to juicy, fatty meat. 」
Dean swallowed and said that.
The apples ー most fruits, actually ー here are sour, so they’re usually made into jam or cakes. Folks rarely eat them raw.
「Well, Dean does eat whatever Jean gives him. Heck, he doesn’t hesitate ー not even the tiniest bit, mind you ー when putting them into his mouth, and he even enjoys whatever effects they have, even. 」
「Most of the stuff he usually brings is delicious, and even if they have some sort of weird effect it won’t be bad. 」
Retze sighed lightly, to which Dean replied flippantly.
「Yeah, but I do eny your guts a bit. 」
Retze commented with a hand resting on his cheek as he stared at Dean.
「If you’re gonna say that, then that also applies to Jean. He eats whatever I bring back without a question, to the point that I sometimes worry that he might even eat something poisonous. 」
Dean cast a sidelong glance at me while spouting scary stuff.
「Please do not mix poisonous and toxic substances among the things you bring. 」
I will definitely end up eating one!!
「For some things, it’s hard to tell whether it’s toxic or tasty, you know. Well. I’m trying my best to avoid making a mistake. 」
「Tasty? 」
「I’m not confident in my identifying skills, so just let Retze accompany you next time. 」
Eh, eh, there are yummy things in the forest that I don’t know about?
「I’m okay with that, but we’re getting off topic now. 」
I looked over from Dean to Retze and saw the other guy’s exasperated expression.
「…Indeed, while having a…well-formed posterior on a gentleman may seem quite peculiar, it is true Jean-sama generally introduces items that provide beneficial effects. 」
「But there are fruits that will turn you into pigs when eaten thanks to pranks played with spirits, you know. 」
Butler and Hauron exchanged thoughts.
「Something scary like that is being sold here? 」
「Well, they look weird so it’s very rare to find them mixed in among the market goods, though. 」
Hauron waved his hand dismissively.
Rare, so that means it really happens! Ahh, but I’m so scared about germs on my food so I always scan them with【Appraisal】first before buying. I should be fine. Still, that didn’t stop my heart from jumping.
「We’re going of the tracks, guys, totally off topic now ー This golden apple will give you a boost because the spirits will lend their power to you more easily, plus the mana they give you will also pile up in your belly, apparently. 」
Dinosso pinched one of the apples and raised it up while explaining to Dean. Hey, stop making it sound like you’re gonna get flabs, will you.
「Eh, no, what the heck, seriously!? So it’s not gonna give me a beauty’s slender legs… I mean, it does not have that effect!? 」
Dean quipped.
「What on earth are you seeking…. 」
「Can’t help it, he’s got a record already, and a record is a record. Yup, I’m gonna check the food first before eating. 」
Butler and Retze’s eyes darted around.
「Well, for folks who seek power then this shady apple will definitely be something they’d die to get their hands on. 」
Dinosso popped the slice of apple that he picked into his mouth.
「Ack, so sour! 」
「My goodness, you really ate it. 」
Hauron piped.
「That’s because I don’t think my alias ‘Wolf King’ as well as the nickname of ‘Legendary Gold Rank’ is enough if I’m gonna let Jean borrow my name. 」
「Urk… 」
Hauron was stumped for words when he saw Dinosso’s nonchalant expression.
「But I’m the Grand Sage deemed more mysterious than the Wolf King, yet I don’t even think it’s enough…. 」
Hauron’s gaze shifted from Dinosso and the shady apple to Butler then Khan.
「Becoming stronger is not a bad thing, in fact, it is something to be desired. However, consuming this seems likely to lead one away from common sense…」
So saying, Butler also took a bite.
「… 」
With a heavy sigh, Hauron also gingerly took a slice of the shady apple, then he swallowed it whole.
Ehhh, Gramps, why did you swallow it whole!? Won’t it get stuck in your throat!? Didn’t you know that many elderly and children suffocate after choking on something!?
NEXT CHAPTER
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I Got Transferred in the Middle of a Mountain
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Thanks for the treat.