Tilea's Worries

Well, I've finished making everyone's meals too.

Today's quota is complete.

My stomach growled loudly.

Come to think of it, I haven't eaten anything since yesterday.

Between searching for ingredients and preparing meals, I didn't have time to eat.

I should have dinner too.

What should I make?

Shepherd's purse with white dressing?

Steamed sautéed diving beetles?

I rapidly search through my mental recipe database.

Considering today's humidity, temperature, and wind direction...

Yes, this is it!

I was able to pick the best ingredients using all five senses.

I deliberately dig into the ground, searching.

Digging steadily forward, I find it.

The dark brown root of a Mashimasu tree.

It's covered in dirt and mud. The earthy smell fills the air, but that's no problem.

I chop it finely and put it in a pot to simmer.

Of course, I can't use seasonings like salt or sugar.

Those are for the feasts served to the clan leader and executive warriors. I have no money to buy ingredients at the market either.

So I use this instead.

My original XO sauce blended from dozens of types of wild herbs.

I add the XO sauce and let it simmer for several minutes...

Timing is crucial.

Getting this timing wrong by even a few decimal seconds turns the ingredients into non-ingredients. The difference in taste would be like heaven and earth.

A soy sauce-like aroma wafts gently from the pot, and it begins to thicken.

*Sniff sniff*... Good, now!

I stop the fire at the perfect moment and skillfully shake the pot two and a half times.

Mashimasu tree root with special white sauce is complete.

I scoop up the broth with a ladle and drop one, two drops onto the tip of my tongue.

A tingling sensation spreads throughout my body. An appetite-stimulating flavor flows into my nostrils.

Hmm, not bad.

I give myself a score of eighty-five points.

This is staff meal for myself. There's no need to seek perfection.

I'll eat this as is without any adjustments.

I plan to share the rest with the children and elderly couples living nearby.

The usual daily routine.

The usual scenery.

Even when unpleasant things happen, there are people who are happy when I cook and they eat it. During those moments, I can forget the unpleasant things.

Another usual day was supposed to begin, but...

What's that?

The village entrance is noisy.

The village guards are rushing frantically to the gate.

Something unusual seems to have happened.

Ah! Gato's corpse is being carried away.

Gato on the stretcher was dead with rolled-back eyes, vomiting blood.

An attack from another tribe perhaps?

I thought there were no tribes left in this area that could oppose the wolf tribe.

Gato was one of the stronger warriors in the village, easily counted among the top.

For Gato, a [Strong Warrior], to be taken down so quickly.

The enemy seems to be quite skilled.

Everyone is rushing to the gate with spears and swords.

...I should go too.

I'm scared of fighting, but it can't be helped.

I forcibly push my gloomy feelings deep into my heart.

I know it's meaningless for someone like me to rush over.

But if it's discovered that I didn't move during a village crisis, I don't know what kind of punishment I'd receive later.

For now, I'll wait in the rear.

No matter what enemy it is, in the end, Gigant-sama, Vegeta Village's strongest warrior, will definitely defeat them.

A good-for-nothing like me doesn't have weapons like swords or spears.

I take my only blade, a kitchen knife, and follow after everyone else.