Chapter 283: Search and Harvest
While Mika handled the giant snake with brilliant skill and properly processed the meat, we decided to split up and search for something specific. Accompanying me were Chirik, Lappy, Acht, and Woodsorrel.
Ideally, only Chiriks presence was necessary, but Lappy decided to tag along out of boredom. Acht who was always perched on Lappys hair as an ornament naturally ended up joining us. Although I had never witnessed their verbal exchanges, Acht seemed to share a close bond with Lappy.
Gardenia also said that she wanted to come along when she heard Chirik was going, but unfortunately for her we couldnt take her with us. The reason was her fur, which made her susceptible to the high heat in the desert.
Pupupu! Im so glad to be able to use transformation technique!
Dont tease her like that. She must have been genuinely upset.
Woodsorrel who was also a member of the demon fox race like Gardenia had long since transformed into a human form using her transformation technique. This effectively rid her of her fur and allowed her a certain level of comfort even in the scorching desert heat.
Well, a significant factor was that I had conjured a canopy of sand above us to shield us from the sunlight. Without it, even Woodsorrel wouldnt have said that she wanted to accompany us. Such is the intense heat of this desert.
What are we doing, big brother?
Yes, tell us.
Hey, hey, did you follow without knowing?
Mhmm.
Lappy and Woodsorrel simultaneously nodded their heads at my question. It seemed that, seeing the adults gathered and doing something, the relatively lively Lappy and Woodsorrel decided on a whim to follow. Im glad they became good friends, but they were overly energetic. There were many children suffering from the heat.
As I sighed in exasperation, Chirik too let out a sigh at the exact same moment. I guess because hes such a smart kid that he can understand my feelings Im really sorry for putting you through so much trouble.
Chirik, explain it to them.
Yes, teacher. We came here to investigate whether theres an underground water vein in this area.
Since we settled in the desert, the first thing we had to secure was a water source. While it was possible to procure water through spiritual art, relying solely on those skilled in water spiritual arts, like Chris, wasnt a good thing. Finding a water source capable of sustaining our many comrades was an absolute necessity.
To do this, we would check for underground water veins in several directions from where we first landed. Chirik and I could analyze the ground with our sand spiritual arts, and Mika could detect the presence of water through sound. Others in the group also had their own means of investigation.
Water, huh? There really isnt any around here.
Yeah, water is important.
It seems you understand. Now, Chirik, give it a try.
Yes!
Once they understood, I encouraged Chirik to use his spiritual arts. After responding energetically, he thrust his staff into the ground and channeled his spiritual power into it. The power flowed straight down and penetrated deep into the earth.
As the potato was served before me, I realized at that moment that it was a jackpot. The faintly sweet aroma wafting from the steam convinced me that I would eat it, poison or not. I was certain of it.
While entertaining thoughts that would probably earn me a silent punch from Chris sitting next to me, I decided to split the potato in two. Mika had steamed it with the skin on and he said that it tasted better that way, so its interior was still a mystery to me. I wondered what color it might be.
The skin of the potato was thick, and splitting it required more strength than I had anticipated. While someone as trained as Magna might find it easier, it seemed like a difficult task for a child.
However, what deserved special mention was the color of the split potato. To my surprise, the inside was a brilliant red. While the color was surprising, what mattered most was whether it was edible. Without hesitation, I took a bite of the potato.
Mmm, delicious. And it seems to be poison-free too.
Then Ill have some too! Munch Mmm~! Sweet and tasty~!
Having had experiences where something smelled wonderful but tasted bland, I was relieved to find that this was not the case. And since the most important part was the taste, it turned out to be quite pleasant.
While it wasnt as sweet as fruit, the moist and smooth texture was quite good. I was confident that everyone could eat it and gave my heartfelt approval.
Woodsorrel, who had been waiting for me to say it was good to eat, followed me and popped the potato into her mouth. She had picked the largest one from the stash she had dug up and insisted it be her share. Chris was amazed at how greedy she was.
Lets save the other half. If we find suitable land, it might be a good idea to cultivate it.
Its going to be more fun.
Chris smiled while eating the sweet potato. Apparently, she noticed that I quite liked this potato. Noticing this, I felt a bit embarrassed and quickly finished the rest of mine.
After the meal, we shared updates on the investigation of the water veins. The results were the same for everyone; there was hardly any sign of water. This meant that there were no water veins in the vicinity.
It could be due to the terrain, or perhaps the ancient battles of the gods weve heard about. Either way, settling in this vicinity seems impossible.
Right. So, what do we do?
We cant just wander aimlessly
If living here proved difficult, we needed to find another place. However, wandering blindly would only lead to exhaustion. There was a real risk of dehydrating while searching for a water vein.
Amidst this, there were those who seemed to have something to say but hesitated to voice it. I believed I knew what was on their minds and decided to speak up.
Well head south. Aim for the oasis we saw during our descent.
Haah~. Guess thats our only option.
While we were descending from the sky, my compound eyes caught sight of an oasis amidst the desert. However, when I recalled the view from above, I knew the distance to it was very big. The journey would surely be difficult.
But it was a safer option than wandering aimlessly across this dry land. So we decided to head south and brave the vast desert in search of a water source.