58 – Pinecone (6)
“Captain.”
“Ah, yes.”
Captain Ethan Valph lightly saluted. Tetis Libra stood beside him.
“How are things with the train?”
“It’s not good.”
Train maintenance work.
There were also cars with surfaces that had almost fallen off. There was no way we could restore all the exteriors to their original state with the materials we had brought.
“This is like this…”
“But then we have limited resources…”
“Cooperation with civilians…”
The engineers brought in considered the options. The resistance forces were diligently following the orders given by the engineers on board the train, but they were very slow in carrying out the task because they couldn’t understand the internal structure.
“Should have brought more engineers.”
“It was an inevitable choice.”
“That’s true, but… it wouldn’t have hurt to push a little harder.”
Bringing in only a few personnel to the village in haste was due to underestimating the combat power of the unit he commanded.
…No.
More precisely, had he underestimated the special forces accompanying the sergeant.
“You belong to the disciplinary unit, right?”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“How long have you been serving?”
“It’s been two years now.”
“Excellent. Sergeant Libra.”
“Thank you.”
He glanced briefly at Sergeant Edan Velf. She was very neat and well-groomed, even with no makeup on. Such women were rare to see.
Appearance was a great weapon to possess. It wasn’t bad.
He casually opens his mouth.
“What did Sergeant Libra’s father do?”
“…He was a soldier.”
“What was his name?”
“…Unfortunately, it’s not a name I can share with others. He was a deserter.”
A deserter.
Edan Velf let out a dry cough. He had stepped on a mine.
“…The noble must have worked hard.”
“No, I haven’t. I’m fine. Thank you for your consideration.”
Tetis Libra replied briefly and lifted her foot.
“May I listen to the engineers’ conversation?”
“Why?”
“If I understand the interior structure of the train, I might be able to give clear instructions.”
“Hmm. Are you knowledgeable in this area?”
“I don’t know the details, but I have a general idea. I learned it at the officer school.”
“I see. In that case, Libra. After considering the engineers’ opinions, bring them to the barracks later.”
“I understand.”
Tetis Libra saluted briefly. Edan Valf watched her receding figure.
“…She’s sharp as a knife.”
She’s stern. Is it her genetic makeup or her personal inclination?
I’m not sure which one, but she’s worth keeping an eye on. Edan Valf couldn’t forget how she fought.
…It was like a lion on the battlefield.
So fierce.
…
“Drakan. Can you eat this?”
“It’s a poisonous herb.”
“…If you eat it, does it have a hallucinogenic effect?”
“It’ll give you diarrhea.”
“Oh.”
“Why, young one. Do you want to get high?”
“I was just curious, that’s all!”
Blanca gave a harsh impression.
“Just in case, don’t get involved with that stuff. It’s a shortcut to ruin your life, one after the other.”
“Have you tried it?”
“I’ve seen many who died from it. Don’t touch it. Seriously. I’m telling you, got it?”
“Are you your spouse?”
“Son of a b*tch. Every time I think about what to do, I get screwed over. Drop dead!”
“Don’t give up on everything.”
I briefly glanced around the empty container. I had invested quite a bit of time, but had only managed to fill about one-third of it.
The other two guys were in an even worse situation than me, not collecting even half as much. All the edible vegetables around the village had been thoroughly searched.
“If we want to collect more, we’ll have to go further away…”
From Noble mtl dot com
“Do you know how far the Harvest Perimeter is?”
Blanca quickly and calmly rejected the idea.
“Let’s not risk our lives for something insignificant. Got it?”
I felt a little disappointed, but it was the right decision. I looked around once more to make sure there was nothing left to collect. This was the end. The surrounding area had already been thoroughly excavated before we arrived.
How long had we been starving for? It felt like being in the middle of a grim scene of life.
My mood was dampened. I put down the container.
Should I try the method I recently discovered?
“Should we rest here for a while?”
“Shh.”
I closed my eyes. I had recently noticed that the use of singularities was not confined solely to physical enhancement.
The golden current became more refined as I used it. I could invest it only where I wanted, and even enhance my senses to its fullest.
Of course, it was not easy to use singularities. It required intense concentration just to utilise them, and the power would disappear the moment my concentration wavered.
The sound of the wind brushing past the ball.
The sound of Abakusa’s footsteps on the ground.
Even the bitter aftertaste of the grass was washed away.
I was focused on my sense of smell.
I even enhanced my ability to differentiate fine scents.
“Hmm…”
I opened my eyes slightly. Many scents in the dark world formed a path.
One by one, I erased the scents. Edible grass, medicinal herbs, poisonous weeds, Abakusa’s refreshing scent, Blanca’s orange scent.
I caught the last faint scent among the countless scents.
The dark scenery regained its colour. Other senses returned simultaneously.
I turned to Abakusa.
“Abakusa, move over there.”
＂Huh? Is there buried treasure or something?＂
＂It doesn’t seem like it’s treasure…＂
I grabbed the borrowed shovel.
＂Looks like we have something to eat for sure.＂
The grass-like leaves were disturbed. Abakusa’s face, perplexed, hardened as we dug together.
Beneath the excavated soil, something started to appear.
＂…This…＂
Abakusa swiftly raised the round-shaped object.
＂Is it a potato?＂
＂It’s not a potato, it’s something even harder to come across.＂
I split it into halves. The flesh inside was red.
Certainly. A red potato.
It was the same red potato I had learned about, having spent time with Scarlet Peridot.
Due to its leaf shape resembling a weed, it’s hard to recognize, and the cultivation is nearly impossible.
The root is deep, requiring deep digging to obtain, known as a vegetable that can only be obtained by digging deep into the soil.
However, it was noted that its aroma and taste were exceptionally difficult to obtain. Scarlet had mentioned wanting to try it later.
＂Wow! They just keep coming out!＂
＂How many are there?! Hey! Abakusa! Dig more!＂
＂From now on, you’re the mole! Drakan!＂
＂They just keep coming out endlessly?!＂
Even after filling three man-tae buckets, there was still plenty left in the dug-up land.
Blanca and Abakusa exchanged glances.
＂Even if we take all of these, I feel like they’ll get snatched from us…＂
＂Let’s just fill up one man-tae bucket and take it with us. How does that sound?＂
＂Talking sense now. Calf.＂
＂That’s the basics. Euhahahaha! This is our secret food storage! If we run out of rice, we can come here and eat!＂
It wasn’t entirely wrong. We didn’t know how long we would have to stay here.
…It would be nice to have at least one thing to rely on.
The two of them looked at me as if seeking confirmation. I smirked.
＂Let’s secretly roast and eat the rest, one by one.＂
“Ugh, this brat. Smart as always.”
“It looks like it would taste delicious with seasoning… but can we actually eat this? It’s so red, like it’s covered in blood or something…”
“It will taste better than regular potatoes.”
“Have you tried it?”
“No.”
I threw the potato into the air and caught it on the road.
“I wanted to try eating it later.”
…
Carefully filling one-third of my bag, I returned to the unit. Tetis Libra, who saw the red potatoes, asked anxiously,
“Are you sure we can eat this, Drakan? I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“We can eat it.”
“Good. Leave one with the unit. Take the other two and distribute them among the civilians, taking full responsibility. Sharing is a secret. Go quietly.”
“…Really?”
“We don’t have enough food ourselves?”
Tetis Libra said coldly.
“Surviving together is what matters. I won’t accept any objections.”
Avakusa and Blancar grumbled outwardly but were secretly smiling. They were probably thinking about the potatoes they had left behind.
We took one bag of potatoes to the soldier responsible for cooking. Avakusa seemed to recognize him and smirked.
“You’re just a rookie! Are you in charge of cooking?”
“Ah, Sir Avakusa?!”
Adding ‘sir’ at the end.
I wonder how long this war will continue.
The soldier’s name was Norton Palais. He had red hair and a gentle demeanor.
He hesitantly raised the red potatoes.
“Can we really eat this?”
“Just by boiling it, it will taste good.”
“Then, for now…”
For twenty minutes, Norton Palais carefully boiled the potatoes and looked at me. He seemed to be expecting a taste test.
I put it lightly into my mouth. Even though I didn’t chew it thoroughly, it went down smoothly.
Sufficient sweetness. It felt moist as if sugar had been sprinkled on it.
The slightly savory aftertaste was excellent. Now I understand why they say it tastes better than ordinary potatoes.
“What does it taste like…?”
“Taste it.”
Norton Palle cut a blushingly red potato and put it in his mouth.
His eyes widened.
“Wow, this is delicious!”
“What is it, what is it, what is it? Give me some too!”
“Just boiling two won’t be enough… Blanca! Don’t eat them all! Give me half!”
He cautiously took a piece of the red potato and ate it.
“…WOW.”
Blanca whispered.
“Can’t we just eat the rest among ourselves?”
Avakusa’s eyes sparkled.
“Just pretend like we gave it to him and sneak away.”
“Do you think it’ll work?”
“But this… wow… this is really… ha…”
Blanca stretched out my cheek.
“You cutie! Hey! You! What can’t you do?!”
“Leave my friend alone!”
“You only call me a friend at times like this. You little rascal. Just get on already.”
“Every day, dig up red potatoes for me. Drakan. Got it?”
“Such a romantic proposal.”
I’m not interested in men.
I secretly gathered the remaining red potatoes that I didn’t show Norton Palle and stored them in a hidden place. Avakusa and Blanca were disappointed, but orders were orders.
“Are you going alone?”
“I’m eating. I can share even by myself.”
“Well… I’d be happy if you don’t follow me.”
Blanca nibbled on a potato nonchalantly.
“My heart is generous enough to help those who look at me like that.”
“Likewise. The aftertaste is filthy.”
“Hey, Avakusa. Don’t you think this would be damn delicious if we grilled it?”
“This wicked brat! You finally greased your hair!”
Leaving the two noisy ones behind, I moved my feet and approached Min-ga’s house. It was quiet. As if trying to conserve any strength, she seemed dead or at least lifeless inside.
I knocked lightly on the door.
“May I come in?”
I heard movement from inside. The door opened.
The person who peered out had a lower eye level than I expected.
“…Hm?”
Yesterday’s kid, maybe I should call them siblings. I couldn’t see the older brother, only the younger sister sticking her head out.
Our eyes met. The little girl didn’t say a word. I looked briefly inside the house.
Foul stench. Mixed with the smell of dusty earth. Is it not cleaned?
Dust piled up around the entrance as well.
“Are there any adults inside?”
“…No.”
“How about your parents?”
“They’re not here. Why did you come?”
Her gaze was sharp. She was openly hostile. I took out a red potato from my bag.
“I came to share some food. Willing to give you some to eat.”
“…You’re a resistance member, right?”
“I’m a resistance member, so what?”
“Resistance members are the scum who killed everyone. Trash. They should be nailed in their hearts and destroyed…!”
“Hey!”
The boy rushed out. He smacked his sister on the back of the head.
“Why… Why did you hit me?!”
“Can’t you be quiet?! Mister, why did you come? Since there’s no food in our house, just leave. Go away.”
He pushes forcefully. Making an effort to close the door.
Are they scared?
I sighed. It was clear that the resistance and the villagers had deep-seated animosity.
“Are there any adults inside?”
“They’re not here! Just go away!”
“Hey. Avakusa. Don’t you think this would be damn delicious if we grilled it?”
“This wicked brat! You finally greased your hair!”
I left the two quarreling and moved my feet. Min-ga’s house was quiet. She seemed as if she wanted to conserve energy, appearing dead or at least lifeless.
I knocked lightly on the door.
“May I come in?”
I heard some movement from inside. The door opened.
The person who appeared had a lower eye level than expected.
“… Hm?”
The kid from yesterday, perhaps I should call them siblings. I couldn’t see the older brother, only the younger sister sticking her head out.
Our eyes met. The girl didn’t say anything. I glanced inside the house.
A foul stench. Mixed with the smell of dusty earth. Could it be that they don’t clean?
Dust had accumulated around the entrance as well.
“Are there any adults inside?”
“… No.”
“How about your parents?”
“They’re not here. Why did you come?”
Her gaze was sharp. It was clearly hostile. I took out a red potato from my bag.
“I came to share some food. Would you like some to eat?”
“… You’re a resistance member, right?”
“Yes, I am. So what?”
“Resistance members are scum who killed everyone. Trash. They should be pierced through the heart and destroyed…!”
“Hey!”
The boy rushed out. He smacked his sister on the back of her head.
“Why… Why did you hit me?!”
“Can’t you stay quiet?! Mister, why did you come? Since there’s no food in our house, just leave. Go away.”
He pushed forcefully. Making an effort to close the door.
Are they scared?
I sighed. It was clear that there was deep animosity between the resistance and the villagers.
“Are there any adults inside?”
“They’re not here! Just go away!”
“……”
From Noble mtl dot com
These are young children. Even if I were to give them red potatoes, would they be able to eat properly?
I took a seat, half-crossing my legs and met their gaze.
“Do you remember me?”
“……. “
For the first time, our eyes met properly. The boy blinked.
“…Chocolate…”
It was amusing that he remembers it as chocolate.
“That’s right. Open the door. I brought something to eat.”
“To eat…?”
I gently placed my hand on his head.
I continued to stroke it since it seemed like he was trying to protect his only little sister.
…How admirable. For someone so young.
It was different from when I was young.
Unbeknownst to me, my voice became softer.
“It’s a secret from others. If you tell anyone, we won’t be able to bring it next time. Understand?”