The day after the observation party visited the Sanctuary, I complained to Undine.
「That was unfair, Undine. I didn’t want the countries’ higher ups to know about me.」
「Oh, didn’t the people from Valkyra know anyway? Then wouldn’t it have only been a matter of time before the other countries knew even if I had stayed silent?」
My complaint didn’t concern Undine in the slightest. Sure, I knew that if I built the mansion at the heart of the Sanctuary, I would sooner or later be exposed, but I wanted to be excused from meeting the higher ups of the countries so suddenly. Because of that, King Lomaria learned what I look like, and Yggurle Kingdom’s Prime Minister was glaring at me or something. He definitely didn’t like the fact that Undine said that I was the Protector of the Spirit Tree and the Keeper of the Sanctuary. Should I leave the elf alone?
「Haa, Undine and Sylph are one thing, but I would have liked it if Dryas stopped them.」
I wanted Dryas, who seemed to be the one with common sense(?) among the Great Spirits, to stop Undine and Sylph, but………….
「Right, it might become a bit inconvenient outside the Sanctuary.」
「It might be slightly troublesome in Volton Town, but there would be no problem if you are in the Sanctuary, no?」
Just as Undine says, a surge of merchants and nobles coming to the mansion in Volton would be frightening. Moreover, I had only just recently been attacked by an assailant, and I have a feeling this would create more cause to target me.
Since that attack, with walks in Volton being a matter of course, Sophia positively never left my side, even when in the safety of the Sanctuary. Kaede had even strung up a thread barrier. And Titan is always on standby within the Subspace.
「Haa~ I’ll refrain from going out in Volton.」
「Isn’t that just perfect? I’d like to ask you to complete the construction of residences and facilities.」
「…………the Purifier MD and Toilet Purifier MD have completely been out of my own pockets though.」
「Don’t be so stingy. Takumi, you have a lot of money, don’t you?」
Undine proposed that it was the perfect time to complete the Sanctuary, and it looks like Sylph thinks that I will do anything out of the goodness of my heart. The Spirits are too free willed.
Protesting to Undine and the Great Spirits was like pushing against a curtain, a waste of effort and has no effect. And then, maybe because she thought I was pitiful, Dryas gave me a fascinating proposition.
「Now now, Takumi. In return for that, I will give something that Takumi desires.」
「Something I desire?」
「Yes, rice is probably this, isn’t it?」
A sheaf with a ripe ear of rice appeared from Dryas’ hand.
「Ah!! RICE!!」
「It will be equitable with this, wouldn’t it? You wanted this rice and soybeans, didn’t you? And “koji”[1], was it? That thing is necessary to make “miso” and “shoyu”(?), isn’t it? With my power, producing fermented food is easy, you know.」
「Hahaa~, Dryas-sama! I will work like a cart horse!」
Knowing that I could make the rice, shoyu, and miso that my heart desires, my spirits were as high as the heavens. I hadn’t known that Dryas governed over fermentation as well. Because I didn’t concern myself with the Dwarves’ alcohol brewing, I thought yeast wasn’t her area of expertise.
In this Sanctuary, Dryas’ power holds a large position in relation to food. Starting from the orchard, rare medicinal plants, grains, vegetables, and the like. The fields’ land and water were influenced by Gnome and Undine, while light and darkness were influenced by Selene and Nyx, so it isn’t just Dryas, but when it comes to food, Dryas’ blessings were exponentially higher. If rice, shoyu, and miso are produced here, I might not be able to disobey them anymore.
「Fufu, the working Elves have increased, as such, you may leave the rice and soybeans to them.」
「Thank you, Dryas.」
「Well then, dismissed.」
Just as the problem was solved, Undine and Sylph closed the conversation and left.
「Well, I guess it’s alright if there’s hope to make rice, shoyu, and miso.」
「Are rice(?), shoyu(?), and miso(?) that delicious?」
Sophia who had been refraining herself by my side the entire time asked in wonder. Seeing me in unusually high spirits at being able to reproduce Japanese food had perplexed her.
「To me, they’re comfort food.」
「Ah, I see, of course it would be.」
Elves likely also have their comfort food. She understood with my explanation.
Actually, I got the Mermaids to get Kombu (I think it’s kombu) and Iwashi (its taste is similar to iwashi too). The dashi issue has also been cleared.
Kombu and iwashi looks and tastes like the original so I called them that, but the people of this world don’t eat things like kombu and they only use small fish like iwashi as fertilizer.
I hadn’t been able to complain to Undine and Sylph properly, but, well, it’s fine.
***
Footnotes:
1. Koji explained here. If you are interested in other the ingredients, google-sensei can help~
2. I will probably switch around with the name of ingredients that are more common like soy sauce in the future. Products distinctly from Japan like miso and kombu will be kept with Japanese names.
Sphy’s Note: Thank you for patiently waiting! We’ve now started Volume 5, and finally, Takumi gets a reward for all he’s done for the Sanctuary~