The Great Sage Who Did not Remain in Legend - 8.2
What an impolite way to pay, honestly.
“Here, it’s 500 G worth of water. Drink it carefully.”
She muttered that it was expensive and a rip-off as she drank the water from the cup that was handed to her.
“Keep this for yourself.”
Mergin filled a water bottle and handed it over.
“Oh, it’s… empty?”
“Once you drink it, get moving.”
“A-are we going already?”
“If you stay like this, your body will get too cold to move.”
It was early December. The night was quite chilly.
And so, without further ado, Mergin walked at a slightly slower pace than before.
In the end, they arrived at the town by late morning.
“Listen, set up your tent in the square here today. There are others setting up tents, so do it near them. Not just near tents with men, but near ones with women too. It’s better to be in a visible place. And tomorrow, ask to ride along with a merchant’s carriage heading to the royal capital after helping with unloading.”
“Huh?”
“Huh? No, you. Even if you leave in the morning, there’s no guarantee you’ll reach the next village by nightfall. Make sure to secure water before you leave.”
With those words, Mergin returned her belongings.
“What will you do?”
“I’m leaving now.”
“A-are you leaving me behind?”
“Of course. I’ve secured safety, so there’s no need for me to stay with you. See ya.”
“Ah…”
And so, Mergin promptly left the town. He wanted to visit the potato farmer couple in the next village with dried seafood souvenirs.
Mergin arrived at the old couple’s house before sunset that day.
“Excuse me—”
“Oh, oh, oh, you’re back already?”
The old lady greeted him.
“I got what I wanted, so here are some souvenirs. Eat up.”
“My, is this all for us?”
“I know a fisherman. He gave me a lot. We can’t finish it all alone, so please enjoy it with grandma.”
“Thank you. Dried seafood is expensive, so we’ll enjoy it. Stay and have dinner tonight.”
“Alright, let’s do that. Where’s grandpa?”
“He’s delivering goods to the royal capital, so he’ll be back soon. Come inside.”
As he told the grandma that he would cook dinner tonight and started preparing duck hot pot, grandpa returned home.
“Oh, you’re back. Welcome home.”
Grandpa welcomed Mergin with a smile.
“Thanks for the delivery. Tonight’s dinner will be duck hot pot.”
“That’s luxurious. Grandma, bring out the wine.”
“Okay, okay, sure.”
“I have some sake with me, so let’s drink that. It goes better with tonight’s hot pot than wine.”
Mergin made duck sukiyaki. Soy sauce doesn’t go well with wine. During his time in the hero party, he even developed sake with Misty, so he had potato shochu.
He handed out the potato shochu diluted with hot water.
“Oh, it has a unique taste, but it’s addicting.”
“It should go well with this hot pot. Now, eat up.”
The two of them hesitated at the black pot.
“Wow, it’s delicious.”
“Really, the sweet and salty taste, along with the duck flavor and green onions, is delicious.”
They were delighted. Duck is tasty but expensive, and it’s quite difficult to catch.
Afterwards, Mergin started eating too, saying it’s delicious while they stayed up late at night.
—The girl left behind in the previous town—
She grumbled about being told to pitch her tent near others but decided it would be easier to be apart from the other tents.
Setting up her tent away from the others, she lit a fire in front and boiled water, then softened and ate the remaining dried meat for dinner.
It’s not nearly enough…
The growing girl reluctantly swallowed the dried meat, and then her stomach growled loudly.
“You’re eating such a lonely meal.”
At that moment, a man approached her.
“Do you need something?”
“If you’re still hungry, wanna eat with us?”
“Huh?”
“If you’re okay with stew, we still have some left.”
“Um, I-I don’t have any money.”