novelraw Chapter 219
Chapter 219
Chapter 219
Regarding the repair of the giant beast Bassalem, once the work crew was called in, it could be said that Kait and his team's job was done. Repairing Kait or Terapolapaneshio would be dangerous because it might accidentally rewind time.
The giant beast Bassalem has already been accepted into the ecosystem of Ramadite. Since it's a good opportunity, enhancing its durability using Federation technology would likely help the underground Smallfolk too.
Any functional upgrades were strictly forbidden. The underground Smallfolk are harmonized with the ecosystem of Ramadite. Carelessly enhancing Bassalem could negatively affect their lives and the surface ecosystem.
"......So, with that said, it's sudden, but I'd like to return to our original objective."
"Yay, clap clap."
The one making emotionless noise for effect was, of course, Emotion. Though her face and demeanor showed no feeling, she was actually the one who looked forward to Ramadite's ingredients the most.
Kait reached for the ingredients Emotion had brought from the underground... ingredients?
They looked like misshapen mushrooms. Strangely, they started to change color immediately after being brought to the surface. Each individual had a different hue—blue, red, green, and so on.
"Let's confirm again. This is a souvenir from the underground?"
"It's said to be the staple food of the underground Smallfolk, Underground mushrooms."
"Huh. So this is it..."
Apparently, it's the staple food of the Smallfolk and the giant ants they use. It seems they collect wood in the underground for cultivating it.
For now, Kait continued the conversation vaguely for the sake of the program. He wasn't particularly good at that sort of thing.
"Special guest Rutimi De. Rutimi De, who's from Ramadite, you've never eaten this before either, right?"
"Y-Yes! When I was around, there was no interaction with the underground Smallfolk, so I've never eaten it!"
Perhaps because she knew it was being broadcast, Rutimi De was stiff with nervousness.
That said, since she was answering Kait's questions, he judged that it wouldn't interfere with the progress. Next, he turned to Adie Ze, who was sitting beside her.
"Now then, our other special guest, Adie Ze. I heard you were quite the hero underground?"
"Whuh!? N-No, no. I'm nowhere near the elders."
Him too, huh. Though the nature of his nervousness seemed different from Rutimi De's, his usual carefree demeanor was completely gone. Kait figured they wouldn't get much out of talking further, so he decided to start cooking for now.
"So, Emotion. How do the underground folks cook and eat this?"
"......Cook?"
"Yeah. You know, mushrooms are usually taboo to eat raw?"
"Eh?"
Mushrooms often contain toxins. Some can be detoxified through heating, but generally, they're dangerous for the uninformed to eat. Even with some resistance from body modification.
Emotion also had knowledge from Earth, so there's no way she didn't know about that possibility.
"Well, I heard it's their staple food, but not how they eat it. Since they're not modified and still fine, doesn't that suggest it's not poisonous?"
"Well, that's possible too."
That said, the fact that they changed color the moment they came to the surface was a bit unsettling. Could it be that exposure to surface light made them toxic?
"......Well, for now, let's try cooking it with fire."
Kait decided to come up with a reason to avoid eating it himself.
Struck by an unease that was hard to put into words, Kait began roasting the Underground mushrooms over the campfire.
***
"Captain, are you really not going to eat it?"
"Yeah. If it tastes good, we should plant it somewhere. If I eat it too, there won't be any left."
"I see. Sorry, Captain. I hadn't thought of that."
Apparently, going back underground to get more wasn't an option, so Emotion seemed to believe Kait's excuse for not eating it.
If that excuse hadn't worked, he had planned to push the idea of it being a souvenir for the Smallfolk of the Central Star Cluster. He was really glad they accepted the first one.
"Hmm. Doesn't smell bad."
By the time the surface was slightly charred, a pleasant aroma filled the air. While thinking he might've laid the groundwork too well and failed, he placed a hopeful Underground mushroom on each of their plates. Emotion picked a red one, Rutimi De picked a blue one, and Adie Ze picked a green one.
Then, for some reason, Emotion cut her red Underground mushroom in half with the knife she had. It was a clean 50/50 split. What a waste of specs.
"Since it's a special occasion, Captain, won't you eat some too?"
"No, no. You eat it."
"Really? I feel kind of bad..."
Perhaps she felt guilty eating alone, as Emotion said something unusually modest. But when Kait declined, she quickly pulled her hand back. If Kait had happily accepted, she probably would've gotten grumpy.
Kait couldn't help but smile wryly. It was fine—he didn't need anyone to consider his feelings. He declined because he just couldn't shake his unease.
"Well then, let's eat."
"M-Me too. Kait, the Third-Rank Citizen's homemade cooking..."
"It's kind of big. Do they eat it at this size too?"
Each said what they thought, but strangely, they all took a bite at the same time. Emotion bit into half, while Rutimi De and Adie Ze took a big bite out of the cap.
The three of them chewed in silence for a while, then all stopped chewing at the same time.
"Spicy!?"
"Bitter!?"
"Astringent!?"
Right after bluntly describing the taste, they all instinctively covered their mouths.
Apparently, the taste varies by color. Looking at the pre-cooked rainbow-colored mushrooms, Kait resigned himself to the idea that there was probably no winning flavor.
"C-Captain. Since it's a special occasion, you should have a bite too..."
"I told you I don't want it. You eat it all, Emotion."
"I-I don't like it, but maybe you'll like it, Captain!"
Fair point. Fair point.
But whether he wanted to eat it or not was a completely different matter.
"Then, why not try the other colors? Maybe one of them will suit your taste, Emotion."
"Eep."
A strange noise escaped her. Just because she ate something bad, trying to make others eat it too—what nerve. Smiling broadly, Kait picked up a mushroom with all sorts of colors mixed together.
"Looks like these mushrooms have different flavors based on color. Isn't that a fascinating trait?"
"Y-Yeah, I guess?"
"That's why I think this one's good. Look, it has all the colors."
With a big smile, Kait suggested it to Emotion, saying maybe she could find her favorite flavor in one bite.
"Spicy! Bitter! Astringent! Salty! Harsh! ...Oh, a little sweet? Sweet!? Sweet and bitter!?"
"Hmm. So they're all bad flavors after all."
"After all!? What do you mean 'after all'!? Captain, you tricked me!"
"I didn't trick you. I thought maybe the light made them gain colors and flavors. The colored ones might even be poisonous."
Emotion, overwhelmed by the delayed flavor assault (literally), glared at Kait with resentment. Despite having taste, Emotion was immune to poison, making her the perfect test subject in that sense.
A silent pressure of 'Captain, you eat one too' filled the air. Not just from Emotion, but also from Rutimi De and Adie Ze. Kait quietly pulled out a white mushroom from the bottom of the box, one that hadn't been exposed to light.
"Ah."
"Alright then."
Using psychic power, he blocked the light and put it straight on the fire.
After thoroughly cooking it, he resolutely took a bite.
"Yeah. Not bad at all."
"Unfair! That's unfair, Captain!?"
The colorless Underground mushroom had a simple but rather good flavor.
As he chewed and savored the umami, Kait thought to himself that of course it would be good—it was grown in a place without sunlight, all while enduring Emotion's protests.
"Captain! Grill a white one for me too! Captain!"