Chapter 21: Kudzu and The Meeting

We continued our journey early in the morning. We ate pinal fruit for breakfast. I feel energetic after eating one. We slip a lunchtime in, this time it is my turn to treat them with a handmade instant soup dissolved with water, with crackers boiled into it. Chloe is really into it.

Due to the war, theres a high demand tendency for preserved foods. Ive been considering to make this a specialty product, along with pastries.

Then, true to Chloes words, we reach our destination before evening.

So this is the spirit village.

The spirit village is located in an open s.p.a.ce very deep in the forest. Its encircled by wooden fences, and on the outer circle of lines of wooden houses , there are orchards thriving about. Theres a unique outstanding clear stream ca.n.a.l, while around the ca.n.a.l, lush plants with large leaves grow in abundance. Those plants are hanging around the fences or wrapping around the trees, exuding a sweet smell and producing light pink flowers.

If Im not mistaken I pick the gra.s.s, overcome with faint antic.i.p.ation.

As I thought, its kudzu. So even this kind of thing is grown here. Moreover, its grown well. Without the cleanest water, it wont be able to turn out like this.

What a superb kudzu. Kudzu has a deep connection that cant be severed from pastries. Its famous as the ingredient for j.a.panese confectionery from time immemorial, but recently, the wondrous trait of this plant has been widely known and used in western pastries as well.

Agar and gelatin is separated by its hardening or not hardening use, but kudzu starch can delicately change its hardness according to the water portion added. Its a complete freedom to choose from springy texture similar to

mizu mochi

and

goma dofu

to soft and velvety jelly. On top of that, the taste wont become muddy at all. Furthermore, when making cakes, it can be used as a subst.i.tute for wheat flour. If I use this, I can create an appealing mouthfeel texture.

Un? That weed? It can clog up the water, so we trim them regularly. The flowers are pretty and it smells nice, but since its growing on its own, its a nuisance weve been troubled with.

However, in contrast with my high spirit, Chloe the elf oddly tilts her head.

Kudzu is a weed!?

Kudzu is an extremely useful plant that can be used in food, as medicine, and for feeding the horses and goats. Its to the extent that I want to bring it and grow it in Arnold fief.

Ah, no, it should be impossible. To grow them, a large amount of pure water is needed. In the Arnold fief, it will only die.

So human is changing. Wanting that kind of thing, you can just pick as much as you like and bring it home.

I thank you beforehand.

I decide to bring them home as much as possible. With these superb kudzu, Ill be able to get naturally great kudzu starch. Since theyll be heavy, I should make the starch in this village before going home. Fresh kudzu is bulky after all, so I dont have any other choice.

Then, from here, Ill bring you to Colt-ojisa Cough, to the head. Ill warn you that hes a bit hard to please.

With that, we enter the village while following Chloe.

Chloe, so youre safe and well!

You said that you were going to a human village, so we were really worried about you.

When Chloe enters the village, the elves and beastkin call her out one after another. It seems that shes a popular one here.

Im sorry to make everyone worried. But, thanks to that, Ive returned with a human doctor.

When she says that, many head turns at me. Being at the receiving end of such excessive attention, I feel uncomfortable.

I came as the doctor, Kurt. Ill be troubling you for a short while.

Or so the greeting goes, but I feel the distance already. They dont really welcome humans, it seems. Ive been warned though, so I dont feel discouraged.

Everyone, dont make those faces. Hes the human doctor that I brought back after much hards.h.i.+p. Please.

Even with Chloes desperate plea to amend the situation, the reaction from the surrounding crowd doesnt change.

But, Chloe, the one you brought here is a human.

Elder told us not to have anything to do with humans.

Thats right. If we just wait a bit longer the village shaman can pray the sickness to go away..

One by one, the residents of the spirit village voice their objections.

Seeing them, Chloes voice turns thick with anger.

What things are you saying!? We couldnt do anything by ourselves, so we could only ask for help from humans. Its a sickness, cant you see? Nothing will change by praying! If we have that much free time, we should cook something that will make the sick people healthy, we should encourage them!

Thats the most natural thing to do, but I cant tell them those words. I tap Chloes shoulder instead.

I dont put that in my mind, its okay. More importantly, we should hurry and go to the heads place, remember?

Sorry, even though youve been troubled by coming here.

Ive predicted this much at least, its okay.

With that, we continue walking under the stares of the surrounding crowd. The interesting part is that Tina keeps receiving a different kind of showering stares than mine. The villagers eyes show astonishment and endearment. They seem to want to call Tina over, but since she makes herself small behind me while gripping the hem of her clothes, they hesitate to do so.

Just what exact kind of existence was Tinas mother to this village?

We are guided towards a large one-floored wooden building in the village. Its obviously befitting of the village heads building.

Colt-ojisa. cough, the head lives here. Wait a moment, okay?

Chloe knocks on the door. Then, the door opens. Theres a female elf. She seems to be in her twenties.

Chloe, what are you coming here today for?

Farina-san. I have two people whom Id like to bring to the head. Would you please call him for me?

Thats not a problem, but,

Saying that, the female elf looks at me and lets out a faint shriek. After that, she looks at Tina, and her eyes go open wide. She looks fl.u.s.tered as she goes inside the establishment.

Dozens of minutes later, we can hear thudding sound of quite lively footsteps. The one who shows up is a silver-haired fox-eared male who looks around 35 years old. He has a st.u.r.dy body and seems to possess an odd presence.

The moment he lays his eyes upon Tina, he smiles with tears running down his face.

Culrina, you have finally come home, havent you, Culrina?

Then, he turns and rushes over to Tinas side.

Tina lets out a small hii sound and hides behind my back.

But that still doesnt stop the man.

I was lonely, I was truly lonely. Finally you have returned to Papas place. It must have been hard on you to go out of the village, right? Right now, you should get plenty of rest.

Hes wailing while hugging not Tina, but me.

Its quite uncomfortable.

The struggle must have been hard on you, to become all muscles like this wait, what kind of hards.h.i.+p could, this is

After a while, it seems like he finally realizes that Tina isnt the one hes currently hugging.

Uhm, nice to meet you. Im Kurt, a human. I came here to heed Chloes call.

When I said that, the man before my eyes shoves himself away. Then, after wearing a terribly disappointed face, he turns serious.

This is truly impolite. Human no, Kurt. Talk later. Theres an urgent matter that I need to address now.

I was certain that he would have lashed out, but he unexpectedly became calm instead. Then his gaze is locked on Tina for the second time.

Culrinaaaaaaaaa!

Then he rushes for the second time.

This time, Chloe opens her arms and stands to block him in front of Tina.

Colt-ojisan, stop! This girl is a spitting image of Culrina-anesama, but theyre different people.

As soon as Colt hears that, he hits the brake. His face is frigid, due to the extreme shock, his silver fox ears are flattening. Its the same as Tinas depressed look, but he looks like on the verge of a smile.

But, no matter how I see her

Shes Tina. Culrina-anesamas daughter.

The moment he hears Chloes words, hes showing a disappointed yet happy face, a complicated expression.

I see, youre not Culrina. But, her daughter. Has it been that long?

The words he spit out are full of bitterness. I could tell what kind of person he is from the development so far. Silver ears, the same as Tinas. Then, the adoring words for Culrina the moment he thought she had come back home.

Most likely, hes Tinas grandfather.

He looks only as old as 35, but beastkins age cannot be predicted by how old they look.

Until 15 or 16, they grow even faster than humans, but after that, its a slow growth for them. Their lifespan is the same as humans, but their unique trait is that they look young until they die. In reality, Tinas grandfather should be close to fifty years old, but he looks young.

Once again, let me introduce myself. Im Kurt. As a doctor, I came to the spirit village for the sake of healing the epidemic upon Chloes request. And this girl is Tina. Shes my a.s.sistant.

Because the situation has calmed down, I do another introduction.

Colt, Tinas grandfather, inhales deeply to calm down further before speaking.

I am Colt, head of the spirit village. Thank you for specially coming to this village. Then, Im deeply grateful to you for bringing my granddaughter here. Lets talk more inside the house. There are a lot of things that I wish to hear about.

With that, we are invited to enter the house of the head of the spirit village, Tinas grandfather.