A fragrance like roses or cherry blossoms floated in the area.
Chasing after the gnome and passing through the deep forest path again, we eventually came out to a space they called a “farm.”
“A-A miniature farm…!”
It was a wondrous vegetable garden planted entirely with food meant for gnomes, sized to fit in a gnome’s mouth.
Everything was gnome-sized.
Brussels sprouts, pearl onions, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes… things like that. Plus, many other plants I did not know.
All of them were around the same size, small enough to pinch with your fingers, and for some reason, they were only growing round, ball-like things.
A strong sweet smell was raining down, so I suddenly looked up.
There were fruits hanging up there too, resembling red and white grapes or cherries. So round.
“……Are you having fun, Pino?”
“I am having fun, very much so.”
“I see. Well, as long as you are having fun, it is fine…”
Being shown nothing but vegetables she absolutely hated, Belze had a rather dismayed expression.
“Are you also bad with fruit, Princess Belze?”
“I hate the astringency of the skin, the texture, and the seeds because they are a nuisance. I am also not fond of overripe, mushy flesh or sweetness that lacks sharpness.”
“Your self-analysis is solid, as always.”
It is amazing that she can verbalize her “dislikes” to this extent. It must be a “dislike” that resulted from facing it over, and over, and over again.
Well, I can peel the skin, and I will remove the seeds too.
“The apple jam you made was delicious.”
A follow-up compliment arrived.
As I thought, this young lady is a good girl.
While I was observing carefully so as not to trample the fields, the gnome shared a few vegetables with me.
I thanked him, pinched one with my fingers, and bit into it. A tasting session.
The Brussels sprouts, with a nice crunchy texture, were softer than regular leafy greens and had less of a grassy smell. With a little more effort, it seemed Belze might eat them deliciously too.
As for the pearl onions, they are so-called “small onions.”
I do not know if this name is correct in this world, and I do not really know if they are actually pearl onions. I am just calling them that on my own. Anyway, the pearl onions from the gnome farm were a glossy purple, with little spiciness and full of juice.
“They are incredibly delicious, Princess Belze.”
“I am fine.”
Yes, of course you are.
While I was unreservedly tasting them, more gnomes came trailing along, carrying their harvest.
“Pino, they say they will give them to you.”
“Eh, why…?”
“If someone eats what they made looking that happy, the side that made it will become happy too. It seems they took a liking to you.”
“……Was I eating looking that happy?”
Belze nodded.
I see. Anyway, I will gratefully accept them.
Round vegetables, mushrooms, fruits, and…
“Is this cheese?”
“It seems so. Perhaps it was made with the milk of the cow over there.”
It was a similarly round, spherical cheese.
In the direction Belze pointed, there was indeed one cow lying on a bed of grass… Huh? Did they not say the cow disappeared?
“A black bull that plows the soil, and a white cow that gives milk. It seems they kept one of each as a pair. The one that disappeared is the black male.”
“Did he say that?”
“He did.”
So how are they communicating?
I do not understand. I do not understand, but since it is a rare opportunity, I will have the cheese too.
“Oh, it is quite fresh.”
“……Is it delicious?”
“Yes, very. Even though it is rich like cream cheese, the texture and aftertaste are light, crumbly, and low-fat like cottage or ricotta… It has no weird smell either, it is nice.”
“I see.”
“With this feeling of fat, I wonder if the shape and texture will remain without melting even when heated. Depending on how you use it, I think it could be used interestingly.”
How on earth are they making such rich, low-fat cheese… Just as I was admiring the high quality of the gnome farm, I noticed Belze was staring intently at me.
“……What is the matter?”
“No. I was just impressed that you could understand that much from a single bite.”
You really seem like a scholar now, the princess’s words implied. I will gratefully accept her suspicion.
“Alright, Pino. Let us leave soon.”
“Were you able to hear the story?”
“Yeah. From here on, it is a cow hunt.”
It is finally time.
We thanked the gnomes who shared a large amount of food with us and left the farm.
◆
“Come to think of it, gnomes are earth spirits, right? Could they not just plow the soil without even using a cow?”
“They probably could.”
During our walk through the forest, Belze nodded at my simple question.
“But in the first place, eating itself is unnecessary for gnomes. They can live solely on the magic power of the earth.”
“Eh, then why do they do agriculture…?”
“Spirits and fairies like to work.”
It might be called a kind of “habit,” Belze said and continued.
“Plowing fields, polishing shoes, forging iron. These are habits given to them, who could originally live without doing anything, and there is no special purpose.”
“Huh.”
“They believe that ‘all living creatures in this world want to work.’ That is why they give jobs to cows, and they give jobs to humans too. Even this request, I am sure they are not really troubled. They just shared the job of ‘finding the disappeared cow’ with humans.”
That is, well, my goodness.
It is a story difficult for us humans to understand.
“Unfortunately, it is not a rewarding job. That request form too, if you had not picked it up, it would probably have remained shelved.”
“Is that so?”
“Have you lost your motivation?”
To Belze, who spoke as if provoking me, I shook my head, “No way.”
“Even if that is the case, I do not think the gnomes feel nothing at all. It is definitely lonely if a housemate disappears. That is why I want to find it for them.”
“I see. Then that is fine.”
As always, with outrageously high-heeled shoes, Belze walked skillfully through the forest. If anything, more lightly than me.
While chasing after her at a fast pace, I asked.
“……Do you think the cow will return safely?”
“That would be difficult. The activation of monsters accompanying the Demon King’s revival, the sighting information of a high-ranking demon the hero mentioned… Ah, there were also rumors of a red monster. Anyway, the forest right now is rough. I cannot think it is safe.”
“What is the red monster?”
“Yeah. I overheard the conversation of adventurers at the guild. It seems an unmanageable red monster is wandering around this area.”
In the middle of all that noise, she even managed to distinguish rumors?
She has an incredible sense of hearing.
“Our job is almost synonymous with ‘confirming the cow’s death and informing the client.’ Or, even if it is alive…”
“……Even if it is alive, what?”
“In that case, there is a possibility that it will end up leaving an even worse aftertaste. Be prepared.”
I could not imagine the “possibility” she mentioned at this time.
Walking for a while, Belze continued to search for traces in the forest.
What clues were there on the ground or tree trunks she was focusing on, my five senses had no way of capturing, but before I knew it, the sun was about to set.
We had eaten early in the morning, and for lunch, we just nibbled on white bread while walking in the forest.
It is about time we put something in our stomachs… or rather, I want her to eat. Because I am getting worried.
At that moment, there was a rustling sound in the distance.
Belze accurately identified it as a “boar.” For me, the timing was perfect.
“Princess Belze, let us eat.”
“Eh, eat what?”
“The boar monster just now. It is about time you put some protein in your stomach.”
Belze looked at me as if she were startled.
“I-I am bad with wild beasts. They smell much worse than livestock, do they not?”
“I will manage somehow.”
“In the first place, are you intending to tell me, your master, to go hunt a boar?”
“Yes. Because I cannot do it.”
“Gununu,” Belze furrowed her eyebrows.
The reason she still did not yell at me or fire me is probably because she is self-aware of her own neglect of her health.
Despite this, she is a young lady who listens to what I say.
“Princess Belze, is there a river or something nearby?”
“A river? Let me see… yes, I can hear the sound of water traveling through the ground. If we go a little west, there should be one.”
“Then please drive the prey there and kill it quickly while it is still alive. I will drain the blood.”
“Y-You. Speaking so selfishly.”
While hesitating for a moment, Belze glared sharply in the direction of the boar that was running far away right now.
“Understood, understood! Then we will pursue it quickly, Pino.”
“Yes, thank you very much.”
I love you.
I will follow you for the rest of my life, Your Royal Highness.