The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick up Trash - Volume 1 - Chapter 61

Chapter 61:

“Medicinal Plants”

RATTLOORE TOOK CARE of the after-dinner cleanup. But…

“Ivy, herbs? Preparations? You could turn me into a master cook, too! Teach me more, Chef!”

“Umm, er…” I hadn’t fed Sora yet, so I wanted to go back to my tent. I wasn’t really in the mood to talk about cooking right now. What do I do?

“Give him a break, Rattloore!” Gnouga called out. “Sorry, Ivy. You can just ignore him.”

“Sorry, Mr. Rattloore. Good night.” I took the water I’d boiled and went to my tent. “Whew…so tired.”

I listened to what was going on outside. Gnouga was saying something, and Rattloore was sulking. After a while, they quieted down. We’re probably good now.

I pulled Sora out of its bag. “Sorry for the late dinner,” I whispered. “We’re close to other tents, so be quiet, okay? I’ll get your food now.”

Sora looked at me and quivered. Once I’d lined up the potions, it began devouring them.

As Sora munched, I submerged a towel in hot water, wrung it out, and started scrubbing my body. As I did, I thought about the medicinal plants. I had learned about them from a book the fortune-teller gave me. They were raw materials for potions that could be found in the forest. But a medicinal plant alone wasn’t very helpful, as it was weaker than a lesser potion. As such, I’d only memorized the poisonous ones. Some could make you swell up from a single touch, so you had to be careful around them.

I changed into fresh clothes and looked over at Sora, who was stretching and quivering. When it stretched, its colors were cleanly divided in half. But when Sora was in its teardrop shape, they mixed in some places. The slime must’ve still been changing—every day, the number of mixed spots was going down. Would Sora get more colorful? If it did, what else could happen? I watched Sora as it continued its stretches. Well, I’m sure it’s fine.

I took the books about medicinal plants from my magic bag. I’d found those herbs while I was hunting field mice. I’d smelled something nostalgic, so I searched around until I found them.

Wait…huh? Nostalgic? Why was an herb—or medicinal plant, or whatever—nostalgic if it was my first time seeing it? The memories from Past Me really were popping up more and more these days. Nothing had felt off about it at all back then, so I hadn’t even noticed. Heck, I’d even dried the herbs without a second thought. Looking back now, it was pretty weird.

I took out all the herbs I’d dried to compare them with the entries in my book. Four of them weren’t there, but the others were listed as medicinal plants. Got to remember to call them medicinal plants, not herbs.

I let out a long yawn. After all the surprises today, I was dead tired.

“Let’s go to bed,” I whispered to Sora, lying down and drawing the blanket over us. How would I explain everything to Rattloore tomorrow? I had no idea, but I was too sleepy to figure it out. Time for bed. “Good night, Sora.”

I was awakened by an aura outside. What’s going on? That aura…I don’t like it. I slowly opened my eyes and confirmed that my tent was still shut. The aura was dampened, but I could feel that it was focused in my direction. It wasn’t like anyone in the Sword of Flames… No, this was unpleasant. It made me shiver. Scary.

“Who’s there?” I called. Whoever it was backed off at once.

What was that? Had they found out Sora was here? I checked the entrance of the tent again, but it was still closed up tight. It couldn’t be opened from the outside as it was now. I clung to Sora, feeling deeply uncomfortable.

Once it got a little brighter out, I slung the bag with Sora in it over my shoulder and stepped outside. The adventurers were already busy running around. Was it just me, or were there even more people now?

While I watched the adventurers, I heard Rattloore’s voice behind me. “Morning, Ivy!”

I jumped in surprise.

“Ivy? Hey, you okay?”

“Phew! I’m fine. Good morning.” Realizing I was hyperventilating a little, I took deep breaths to calm down.

Rattloore peeked at my face, worried. That surprised me a little, so I took a step back.

“Why are you harassing that poor kid?!” Gnouga shouted.

“Harassing? Aww, I’m not hurting him. Right, Ivy?”

“Yeah,” I backed him up. “It’s okay, Mr. Gnouga.”

“Really? If he bothers you, just tell me. I’ll sock him good.”

“Whoa, Gnouga! I’m innocent!”

“Morning,” Seizerk called out. “Rattloore’s causing trouble early today, is he?”

“Morning, Ivy,” their fourth member greeted me.

“Good morning, Mr. Seizerk and…Mr. Sifar.” I’d almost forgotten Sifar’s name. That was a close one.

“Ivy, did you forget my name?!”

“Urk! I apologize.”

“Too cute! I want a little brother like you!” Suddenly, Rattloore scooped me up in a hug from the side. I was shocked speechless.

There was a sudden cracking sound, and he finally let go. When I glanced over, he had a pained look on his face.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Don’t worry about him,” Gnouga answered for some reason. “He’s fine.”

Was he actually? He really looked like he was hurt.

“Ivy, how about we have breakfast together? What do you usually eat?”

“Umm, dried meat and fruit. And tea.”

“Wooow, tea?” Sifar asked. “That’s rare. Isn’t tea expensive?”

Tea is rare? And expensive? Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t noticed many others drinking tea. How could I explain without seeming like a weirdo?

“I forage my tea leaves in the forest, so it doesn’t cost money.” There, that worked.

“The forest?” Sifar repeated. “I thought you could only get tea from special plantations.”

What? Was I wrong there, too? I decided to make my tea and let them see for themselves. While I prepared tea for five, Gnouga brought black bread and four cups.

“Have a piece of this,” he said. “Thanks for the tea.”

I was taken aback by the gift, but I accepted the bread and thanked him. Next, I poured tea into the four adventurers’ cups and my own personal cup. Just smelling it soothed my nerves.

“Mm, that smells good. It’s calming,” said Seizerk.

“It’s…different from tea I’ve had before,” said Sifar, “but not bad at all.”

Seizerk and Sifar seemed to like the tea. Rattloore drank it with a confused look on his face. Gnouga didn’t say anything, but his first sip was timid. I could tell from their reactions that they really hadn’t had tea like this before. First herbs are surprising, and now tea? What should I make of this?