Living as a Recluse Deep in the Forest - Episode 15: The Spice Zone

 The corner known as the "Spice Zone" was far broader than Yuu had imagined.

Deep within the oasis, across a flat plain woven with damp soil and shallow water veins, shrubs, herbs, and low-lying trees spread out in dense, verdant layers.

Every time the wind swept through, the air grew suddenly boisterous. A sweet aroma. A sharp, stinging scent that pricked the nose. A heavy, earthy fragrance. A crisp, refreshing smell. These scents layered upon one another so intensely that simply inhaling felt as though the flavor was spreading across his tongue.

"...What?"

Yuu came to an involuntary halt. Ahead in his line of sight: A grass bearing clusters of long, thin seeds—Mock-Cumin. 

A plant with the characteristic shape of the Apiaceae family, adorned with many small white flowers—Mock-Coriander. 

A plant with leaves spreading close to the ground, concealing thick roots beneath—Mock-Turmeric. 

Up to that point, it was exactly as he had seen from a distance before. But surrounding them—

"W-wait, hold on a second."

Yuu moved in a sliding motion, two steps to the left, then three to the right.

There stood a shrub with several long, vertical pods hanging from it. Inside the pods were tiny black grains. A sharp, sweet scent that felt like it would explode the moment he bit into it—Cardamom. 

A short distance away were slender trees. Approaching them, a scent that was all too familiar, sweet and warm—Cinnamon. 

Further in, a shrub laden with tiny buds shaped like nails. Plucking just one released a fragrance that would make the tongue tingle—Clove. 

Chili peppers hanging in clusters of pointed red fruit, looking as though they would sting his fingertips at a mere touch. Thyme, releasing a cool, refreshing scent from its thin, reaching leaves.

From those Yuu knew by name to those he had never seen before, a flood of colors and fragrances filled his vision.

"..."

For several seconds, something exploded in Yuu's brain with a delayed reaction.

"Wow... what was I even doing back then?"

He clutched his head.

"This place is a goldmine. No, it’s a goddamn treasury..."

He spun around in place. To the right and to the left of his vision: spices, spices, spices. 

With just a stroke of the wind, the scents rushed over him in waves. 

Until now, he had deliberately averted his eyes, looking from afar and thinking, “Oh, there’s something like coriander,” and then cutting off his gaze. Because he hadn't wanted to remember curry.

(God, I'm an idiot. Why didn't I come closer before?)

He felt like grabbing himself by the collar. The drawers of his memory began to slide open automatically.

Spice Curry. Keema Curry. Butter Chicken. Soup Curry. No, even beyond curry—

"...If there’s cardamom, I can make Chai... 

If there’s cinnamon and clove, Mulled Wine... 

No, even without alcohol, I could make something similar with juice... 

If I mix in the thyme and the stuff that looks like Bay Leaves, the stews will level up instantly..."

Muttering to himself, he started to drool. The recipes in Yuu's memory were being mobilized en masse.

The spice blending ratios. Fragrance compatibility. Combinations with meat. Changes in flavor based on simmering times.

The parts of his mind he had forcibly shut down with the thought, "It's impossible because I don't have the ingredients," were suddenly liberated, and a flood of mental images rushed in. The closer he looked, the more breathtaking the zone was. Spices of the same kind grew together in clusters as if lines had been drawn. It was an orderliness that could never occur naturally.

It was likely the result of the Empress spending hundreds or thousands of years slowly "replanting" them. 

One corner for cardamom colonies. 

One corner for a herb belt of thyme and rosemary. 

One corner for a paradise of spicy chili peppers. 

The plants were arranged based on "fragrance," "effect," and "compatibility." It was truly a spice greenhouse created by the Empress—no, an open-air botanical garden. Standing in the middle of it, Yuu looked exactly like a young boy.

"Oh, this is good too... but this one is hard to pass up... no, if I blend this and that, it’ll definitely be delicious..."

He felt like he could spend days just on the fantasies of trial and error. The Empress watched Yuu's reaction from a short distance away. Upon her mannequin-like, expressionless bark face, there was now a definite "softness."

『A treasure, then?』

Her wooden lips moved slowly.

『A treasury... fufu.』

The grass at the Empress's feet swayed like a ripple.

『In the past, a few humans have wandered into this zone. They all called these children "strange grasses." Some used them for little more than insect repellent...』

She recalled scenes from the past that hadn't been considered very important. The humans couldn't distinguish between the grasses and simply glanced past them. But Yuu, currently absorbed, was different. He had the face of someone looking at a brilliant starry sky.

『—You are the first, Hermit, to call these children a treasure.』

The words were incredibly soft. They didn't reach Yuu. Right now, he was completely drowning in a sea of spices. Standing before the cumin, he thought of a curry base. Before the cardamom, he recalled the blend for chai. Seeing the cloves, he mused on accents for stews.

And finally, he found something incredible and his eyes widened. It was in a shallow part of the water. With thin petals and red stigmas and styles—Mock-Saffron.

"Saffron... you're saffron, aren't you! Man, now I have to make Paella—"

The moment he said it aloud.

"Ah... no. I don't have rice."

Yuu slumped, his hands hitting his knees right then and there. In his mind's eye, just as the golden paella began to steam, it vanished like mist.

(Why... why is rice the only thing missing in this world...)

As a Japanese person, this was the most important part.

Curry Rice. Omurice. Oyako-don. Fried Rice.

All of these were rich food cultures built on the foundation of "rice." He had found the south, he had found this west, and he had even found the sea. And yet—he still couldn't find rice. Yuu's shoulders slumped. Seeing this, the Empress finally spoke.

『"Kome"?』

She tilted her head curiously.

『I have not heard the name. What sort of child is it?』 

"...Ah..."

With his soul still partially departed, Yuu began to explain.

"Well. It's a grain that grows in colonies in wetlands or flooded areas, with ears of grain at the end of long, thin stalks. The seeds that grow on those ears—the granular stuff inside the outer husk of the grain—is what we called 'rice' where I come from."

Using hand gestures, he showed the height of the rice and how the ears drooped.

"You dry it, mill it, wash it, and cook it with water to eat. The taste... well... it's more chewy than wheat, but not heavy, and it absorbs flavors easily."

The more he said it, the more he felt like he was just making himself hungrier.

"Curry rice is a dish where you pour curry sauce over that rice. Curry and rice, rice and curry—they're like a set."

Having explained that far—

『Ah, those children.』

An effortless voice came from the Empress.

『They are certainly not in this vicinity.』 

"Huh?"

Yuu's eyes snapped wide. To a Japanese person, it was no exaggeration to say their life depended on this.

"Do you know them?! Tell me, Empress, what's the deal!!"

The Empress continued smoothly.

『They are not in the West.』

She pointed her fingertip toward the East.

『They grow in the wetlands of the East. There, in the territory held by that "Serpent" of the East—』

Upon hearing that, Yuu slumped over in exhaustion.

"No way—!"

His voice echoed through the trees of the oasis.

"That means it’s impossible! I don't want to go! I don't want to go to that guy's territory!!"

He clutched his head with both hands and spun around in place. The Serpent of the East. The image of the master of the Eastern Demonic Region loomed in Yuu's mind.

He must have seen it before. Every fiber of his being radiated rejection. "I don't want anything to do with it"—that emotion was easy to imagine.

『Indeed. I dislike it as well.』

The Empress agreed simply.

『There is no problem as long as we do not approach... but to begin with, I have no desire to be near that one.』

At the Empress's voice, the trees of the oasis rustled restlessly. It wasn't respect or fear, but an instinctive distance kept from someone "you just don't want to deal with." The Master of the West and the Master of the South both wore the same expression.

—Ugh, that guy's place? No thanks.

That nuance seeped into the air.

"...Crossing into that guy's territory just for rice is nothing short of insanity..."

Yuu continued to complain for a while, and eventually, out of breath, he plopped down on the ground. He gasped for air and looked up at the sky.

"Fine. I'll eat the curry with bread... or Naan. Yeah. Let's do that."

He had no choice but to give up.

"Goodbye, curry rice..."

He softly folded his hands in front of his chest. He offered a modest prayer of sorrow. The Empress watched him in silence. After a while, Yuu's expression shifted into something slightly more serious.

"But, I see..."

His gaze drifted toward the outside of the forest—toward the East.

"Is that guy in the East still just sitting there, without moving a muscle?" 

『Indeed.』

The Empress nodded.

『That one likely will not move. After all, if that one moves, either I or you would have to move.』

Her voice no longer held its previous lightness.

『That one affects the forest simply by moving.』

The wind direction shifted slightly. The leaves of the oasis rustled all at once. Yuu understood the same thing.

"What a pain..."

He put a hand to his forehead.

"Yeah, you're right. Let's let that guy stay still in the East. That's peace... as long as he stays still, he's harmless." 『Indeed. No doubt about it.』

The Empress said with deep feeling.

『I would wish for him to stay curled up quietly.』

A conversation only the two of them understood. However, the sheer scale of the "trouble" was something the entire forest could faintly sense.

And then—Yuu's expression grew even more grim. A sense of... disgust, stronger than when they were talking about the East.

"...What about 'That' in the North?"

This time, a different direction. The northern part of the forest.

"Is it still the same?"

At that question, the Empress chose her words for a moment.

『...At the very least, it is quiet for now. There are no signs of it running rampant.』

She spoke cautiously.

『This is also thanks to you, Hermit. You did well to suppress "That" four years ago.』

 "...I'd never do it again, though."

Yuu grimaced openly.

Four years ago. Something had gone on a rampage in the northern part of the forest.

The ground split. The sky groaned. The northern sky was dyed the color of blood.

Only those living in the forest knew of that calamity. It was completely unknown outside the forest. Not the Kingdom, the Demon Country, the Empire, nor the Holy Kingdom knew. Only the existences inside the forest knew of the nightmare four years ago.

The details were not spoken. Perhaps they didn't want to speak of them. However, as a result—it was a fact that the northern region had become a "danger zone" of a different quality than the other three directions. Something was there, something different from the Serpent of the East or the Empress of the West. Something so terrible they didn't even want to call it by name: "That."

"It's beyond a 'pain,' I just hate it," Yuu spat out. "I don't want to deal with 'That'."

The Empress quietly agreed. Silence fell for a while. Only the sound of the oasis water could be heard. But—deep within that silence lurked a "promise" shared only by the two of them.

『If next time—』

The Empress began to speak softly.

『Should a situation arise where "That" moves.』

Yuu picked up the rest as if it were a given.

"I know. When that time comes, you and I... we'll intercept 'That'."

The Master of the South and the Master of the West. The Human Sage and the Dryad Empress. It was a quiet arrangement between the only ones in the forest "allowed to say it." If the North went on a rampage, the East wouldn't stay quiet either. The forest itself would collapse. This was the final shield to prevent that. In a place unknown to the humans outside, the balance of the Great Forest was being maintained. The Empress lowered her gaze slightly.

『...I pray that time never comes.』 

"Same here."

Yuu exhaled.

"Seriously, I just want to rot away in peace. Making curry. Frying tempura. Feeding it to the Princess and the others. That's all I want." 

『Fufu.』

A faint laugh escaped the Empress's throat.

『Then for now, you should "rot" to your heart's content.』

Her bark fingertips pointed toward the spices.

『Because you cooking here and laughing with the children of men... is certainly bringing peace to some part of this forest.』

 "...You're overestimating me."

While looking away bashfully, Yuu stood up.

"Anyway, for today, as the first step to 'rotting'—"

He clapped his hands together.

"I'll be taking these spices back with me, most respectfully!"

And with that, he rolled up his sleeves. After all, there was a mountain of treasure. He would harvest them all carefully and take back as much as possible. The North and the East were no longer in his mind. Right now, Yuu was ruled by spices. And the curry that would be born from them. Throwing aside the troublesome matters for now—Yuu moved to the task of harvesting.

---

However, things don't always go that smoothly. Yuu, who was supposed to be preparing to head home, found it difficult to leave the oasis. And for good reason—

"...It won't fit."

He had opened the mouth of the bag slung over his shoulder as wide as it would go.

Inside, several small pouches were already packed. Dried Mock-Cumin. Whole Mock-Coriander. Crushed turmeric roots. A small amount of Mock-Saffron. And cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, thyme, and various other things he'd been given to try out— Every bag was stuffed to the brim, looking like the seams were about to burst.

"Just how much of a harvest is this..."

Yuu muttered, half in admiration, half in a scream. At his feet, several pouches he'd selected, thinking "I want to take this too," still remained. If this were a game, it would be the type with an infinite inventory. In reality, such a convenient feature didn't exist.

"Ugh... should I cut this? No, but this has its own uses..."

Groaning, he took pouches out and put them back in. He looked exactly like someone struggling with packing before a trip. Then, the Empress's voice drifted down.

『Hmm.』

The soil at her feet squirmed. Right behind Yuu, tree roots and vines grew rapidly.

『Watch closely, Hermit.』

Her mannequin-like white wood hands danced lightly in the air. In response, the vines became intricately entwined and woven together. Thick vines formed a flexible frame. Thin vines wove through them like a net. In just a few dozen seconds—

"...Oh?"

A single "form" rose up before Yuu's eyes. A backpack made of vines. On the part that would hit the back, soft moss and leaves were spread out like a cushion. The shoulder straps were thick and woven wide so the weight wouldn't concentrate on one point. The main bag section was surrounded by a sturdy mesh that looked like it wouldn't come apart even with some impact. Here and there, small nuts and flowers were woven in like decorations, looking strangely stylish.

『An improvised knapsack.』

The Empress said simply.

『In my garden, there are none who carry heavy loads... but you are a child of man. If you have no means to rely on branches and leaves, I shall give you substitute branches and leaves.』

Yuu was speechless for a moment. After blinking three times— He bowed deeply. Not just a polite bow, but with the momentum to hit his forehead on the ground.

"Thank you! Seriously, thank you! Empress, you're truly a goddess—well, a tree god, but! This really helps! Thank you!"

Since coming to this world, Yuu had said "thank you" quite a bit. However, he hadn't expressed his gratitude with such full force very often. That was how happy he was right now. Because— He could carry more spices.

『Fufu.』

A chuckle escaped the Empress's throat.

『If you are happy, then I am glad.』

When he gently lifted the vine knapsack, it was surprisingly light. Although it looked sturdy, the sensation in his hand was like grasping air.

"Amazing... it's so light. What is this? Is the strength okay?" 

『I wove it, you know?』

The Empress gestured as if puffing out her chest slightly with pride.

『It can withstand the wind pressure of this forest and even the breath of that "Serpent." A load carried by a child of man will not feel like even a drop of weight.』 

"A terrifying durability test just came out of nowhere..."

While grumbling, Yuu immediately began stuffing the small pouches of spices into the vine knapsack. They went in as if it were bottomless. Every time the shape changed, the vines automatically tightened, adjusting slightly to the shape of the load. Before he knew it, the pouches that hadn't fit in his bag earlier were all tucked away in the knapsack.

"...This is dream equipment..."

He was seriously on the verge of tears. When he tried it on, there was weight. But it was strange how it didn't "hit the shoulders." The weight was likely being distributed across his entire back. The plant fibers subtly expanded and contracted with his movements, absorbing the impact.

"This is definitely something people would fight over as a memento after I die..."

He briefly looked distant, but immediately corrected himself.

"No, I don't plan on dying! Not yet! I'm gonna make curry and eat it!"

The Empress watched him quietly. Upon her mannequin-like face—the softness around her eyes increased just a bit more.

『Now then,』 the Empress suddenly began.

『If a prototype of this "curry" is made.』

Yuu's gaze snapped toward her.

『By all means, bring it to me.』

 "Huh?" Yuu tilted his head. "I don't mind, but... Empress, you can't eat, can you?"

The Empress nodded calmly.

『Indeed. It is not that I will eat it.』

 "Then, who will?" 

『I have a small idea.』

A meaningful smile appeared on the mannequin face. The corners of her mouth rose slowly. Although her eyes didn't change, a strangely pleasant air began to seep out.

『I shall tell you more when you come next time.』 

"..."

To be honest, it was scary. If he met this face on a pitch-black night road, he would definitely run away at full speed.

(Why does her smile turn into such horror...)

While making the retort only in his heart, Yuu nodded.

"W-well, fine. I'm going to make a prototype anyway. I'll bring it." 『Good. I look forward to it.』

The Empress then added as an afterthought.

『Oh, and also.』 "Hm?" 『Those children.』

She glanced at the spices packed tightly away.

『By any chance, do you intend to cultivate them in the South?』

 "Eh? Is that not allowed? If it's not, I'll give up."

She must have read his intended actions after returning to the South from his behavior. The Empress gave a light admonishment. But it wasn't that she wouldn't give permission for cultivation.

『I do not mind you cultivating them... but they will likely not grow as well as they do in my garden.』

 "Ugh... I thought so."

Although Yuu had expected it, he slumped his shoulders when it was put into words. This was a place the Empress had spent hundreds and thousands of years tending to. The soil, water, wind, and light. Everything was adjusted for spices. Hardly any weeds could be found. Even if there were, they were only species that could coexist with spices. Pests didn't come near. This environment itself was like one giant greenhouse device.

『Yes,』 the Empress affirmed simply.

『You are "quite good" yourself, but you are no match for me.』

She said it plainly.

『With the soil and water of the South, they will likely grow into "decent" children.』 "Decent, huh..."

Yuu made a conflicted face. In the Japanese sense, "decent" had the nuance of "well, it's not bad, but I wouldn't go out of my way to praise it."

『Fufu.』

The Empress tilted her head just a fraction.

『I look forward to seeing whether—after eating curry made with the children I have raised—』

She paused slightly.

『Whether you will be satisfied with "decent" spices or not.』

A wide, grin-like smile split her wooden lips. Without knowing her true intent, it was a completely wicked smile. Yuu was confident he would scream and run if it were floating in the dark of night.

"Wow, you have a bad personality."

Yuu's honest feelings slipped out.

『I shall take that as a compliment.』

The Empress laughed, shaking her shoulders slightly like a child who had pulled off a successful prank.

"...But well, it's true, after tasting these spices, if you ask whether I can settle for the ones grown in the fields of the South..."

He lowered his eyes.

"...I probably can't."

Even before eating, before trying, the answer was already out. He had come to know this fragrance and this vividness. Once he knew the taste of the curry made here—

(...Does that mean I'll have to come back again?)

He looked up at the sky.

"...Either way, I have to come back here again... well, I guess it's fine."

His words sounded exhausted, but he wasn't completely against it. The trouble was a fact. The path from the South to the West was a hellish canyon full of high-ranking monsters. But he didn't dislike talking with the Empress. It was just that the sense of distance was hard to grasp. And also—

『Fufufu...』

The Empress placed a hand on her chest and chuckled.

『When that time comes, I shall ask for that "enchanting nectar" again... that "nutrient agent."』

Her wooden fingertip lightly flicked the bottle that had become empty earlier. Inside the bottle, the remnants of the nutrient agent glowed faintly.

『That was truly good. Both roots and leaves were pleased.』 

"Got it. Next time I'll bring a larger amount."

Yuu laughed, even while feeling a bit worn out.

"I'm getting curry ingredients from you, so it's an equivalent exchange." 

『Indeed. That spirit is not bad.』

—Yuu didn't know.

He didn't know that when the Empress evaluated his vegetable cultivation and field management as "quite good," just how much of a compliment that was from the Tree God Empress. Even the elves who lived with the forest were—

『Immature.』

From the Empress's perspective, that was the extent of their evaluation.

Their fields. Their tending of the forest. Even when they intended to be meticulous, there were many places where they failed to read the overall flow. From a strict eye, they were still infantile. For that Empress to say, "You are quite good." This was her version of a "passing grade."

Because he had knowledge of Japanese agricultural techniques. Of course, that was part of it. The knowledge of his predecessors was great. Thanks to his extraordinary magical abilities. That was also one of the causes. Results that were possible only because of a power beyond human wisdom.

But those things alone didn't create her current evaluation.

In this different world. In a forest where no one else was. For years and years, failing and starting over. Changing the soil. Changing how the water flowed. Changing the blend of fertilizer. Watching the seasons. Watching the sunlight. Watching the emergence of insects.

The time spent on that accumulation of trial and error—was by no means a void.

The vegetables currently ripening in Yuu's field. Yuu himself might only say they were "okay," but from the Tree God Empress, the absolute evaluator of the forest—

『It is a field with quite some promise.』

It had reached a level she could not help but acknowledge. Only two people knew that fact right now. The Master of the Forest. And the slightly unusual Hermit of the Forest. Yuu gripped the straps of the vine knapsack tightly.

"...Alright. For now, that’s it for today. I gotta get home fast and prep these spices."

Looking back, the greenery of the oasis was swaying.

"Well then, Empress. I'll come back." 

『Yes.』

The Empress gently raised her bark hand.

『Next time, come bearing a fragrant dish, Hermit.』

Yuu gave a light wave and began walking toward the canyon. On his back was the knapsack woven of vines. Inside, packed tightly, were treasures of fragrance.

He did not yet know at this time—that each step he took would be the first to bring a new beginning to the Great Forest of the Demonic Region.

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