Level Eater
Chapter 142

After parting ways with the good-natured uncle, Tatsuro and his team left the Adventurers' Guild without receiving any quests in the end.

They decided to find a department store and shop there, partly because it took almost no time at all to register.

The location of the department store was easy to find because it was not far from the Adventurers' Guild and it stood out ahead above the other buildings.

Once in the department store, which was almost the same size as in Obsul, they felt a little disappointed, partly because they had just been at Lyadas' own store.

But even so, the minimum was still in place, so the three of them strolled around the store, hand in hand, with Nana between them.

"Do we look like a couple with their child when we do this?" (Ai)

"I don't know. I guess we could still be considered siblings, given our apparent age." (Tatsuro)

"I prefer children to siblings." (Ai)

"My choice will be more of a married couple too." (Tatsuro)

Ai's face broke out in a blush as Tatsuro said this, and Nana, reading the mood, quickly stepped out of the way, letting them hold hands and holding Ai's free hand in her own.

With this in mind, Tatsuro and his team had finished replenishing most of their supplies and had come to the store where seeds; they last thing they were looking for were kept.

Surprisingly, the variety of seeds was more abundant than in Lyadas, and while they looked around, they didn't even look at the flowers and houseplants, choosing only those that would eventually become food. (T/N: Surprising??? I mean the whole town has plants all over. This means they actively sell more varieties of seeds)

"Hmmm. Even with all this, there's nothing like rice ..." (Ai)

"As Japanese, we like to carry rice around with us so we can have it whenever we want." (Tatsuro)

"I don't understand, what is so important about that rice?" (Nana)

"I usually don't think about it, but when I don't eat it for a while, I get cravings for it." (Tatsuro)

"I understand what you mean. Eating rice with grilled dragon meat as a side dish.... Oops, just thinking about it is making me drool ..." (Ai)

Ai was about to drool, no joke when Tatsuro immediately covered her mouth with a handkerchief.

"If you can't find it, why not ask a store clerk?" (Nana)

"I see. Even if it's not here, maybe we can at least get some information." (Ai)

"Okay, let's just ask." (Tatsuro)

Tatsuro immediately decided to talk to a woman who appeared to be a store clerk who was a short distance away.

"Rice? White, small grains of food? Hmm?"

"Do you have those here?" (Tatsuro)

"I'm sorry ...... I don't know what that rice is, and I don't think they have it here."

"Do you have any idea of a store or place where I might be able to get one?" (Tatsuro)

"I think you can get it… Oh, Doctor might have it."

"Is the doctor the one who wants that Piporin monster?" (Tatsuro)

"Yes, that's him. I believe his name is ...... his name is ............ ahaha."

The female clerk couldn't remember the doctor's name, so she laughed and faked it.

Apparently, he is a celebrity in town, but the word "doctor" seems to precede him.

"Well, a Doctor would be fine. But why does this Doctor have it?" (Tatsuro)

"He is a botanical/plant researcher. So he has samples of many different plants."

"He is a doctor of plants? I thought he was a doctor of monsters or something… It seems like he wants a monster called Piporin" (Tatsuro)

"Oh, if that's all you know, surely you might think of him as a doctor of monsters." (T/N: I am referring to this individual as 'doctor' for now, but it might change maybe to a 'researcher' or something else depending on the upcoming chapters)

So then the question arises as to why a plant doctor was here, but Tatsuro didn't think there was any point in asking this woman about it, so he just asked roughly about where the doctor lived.

Apparently, the place where he lives is also quite famous, and even if they don't know his name, most of the townspeople know where he lives.

After finishing listening to the necessary information, Tatsuro thanked the clerk and left her side, after which they purchased a few eye-catching seeds and left the department store.

On the way back to the inn, Nana was asked to go back inside Tatsuro, while Tatsuro and Ai had a proper meal together, and now they were relaxing on the sofa in a room of the inn, sitting on the sofa together.

"So, are we going to go see this doctor after all?" (Ai)

"That's right. I've been thinking about it for a while, and I'd like to eat rice. I'm not inclined to do this because I get the feeling that he's kind of a pain in the ass, what do you think Ai?" (Tatsuro)

"Well, it's a bit of a detour, but if we're just going to ask if they have any rice, it should be quick, right? If you're so unsure, let's just go for a bit." (Ai)

"I see. Well, I guess we will just drop by the doctor's place tomorrow and then leave town." (Tatsuro)

"Yeah, let's do that." (Ai)

They added a stop at the home of someone called Doctor to their plans for tomorrow, and the rest of the evening was spent in each other's company.

Not wanting to bother him by barging in too early, they had a leisurely breakfast, then packed up and headed for the doctor's place.

With the gate that Tatsuro and Ai entered as bearing for the front. The place was located in the left corner of the town and is said to be quite large in area.

They were told that they could easily find the place if they went near it, so they scurried around looking for the place and found a jungle-like area covered with a lot of vegetation.

"That's probably it. She said it is in this area, location-wise." (Tatsuro)

"It's really easy to understand. You can't help but notice it." (Ai)

The area where Marikka lived was also quite green, and the town itself had greenery everywhere.

However, this place far surpasses even that and is more aptly described as overflowing than abundant.

As evidence of this, leaves and branches of various kinds of plants were sticking out from the fence separating the property and growing freely, and furthermore, the houses that were supposed to be inside the fence were not visible at all.

Half-amazed by such a scene, they walked along the fence to see where the entrance was and found that there was a path without plants, as if it had been hollowed out like an archway, and at the end of it, they found a door to the house where they thought the doctor might be.

"It looks like we should go from here." (Ai)

"There doesn't seem to be a gate or anything, so let's knock directly on the door." (Tatsuro)

As Tatsuro and Ai stepped onto the grounds, the plant near the entrance suddenly began to tremble, and the bell on the end of its branch began to make loud noises.

"--- I was surprised." (Tatsuro)

"Does this mean it's a doorbell?" (Ai)

"I hope it's not an alarm for when someone breaks in without permission ..." (Tatsuro)

"Eh? Surely that's not possible." (Ai)

Just to be sure, they stayed where they were and waited for some action from inside. Eventually, the door opened and a slightly slender adult man with black-rimmed glasses and blackish-blue hair appeared from inside with eyes that looked as if he was staring at something fishy.

"What's up with you guys? I wasn't expecting any visitors today, so what do you think?"

"We have something we would like to ask about rice. Can we have a moment of your time?" (Tatsuro)

"Rice, huh? Rice......rice......rice......Oh, rice!"

"Do you know?" (Tatsuro)

"If what you're talking about is the same as what I know, then tell me what it's like."

"It's white in color, hard, and when boiled with water it becomes a soft, slightly sweet food. Do you understand what I mean?" (Tatsuro)

"Well, I guess you are not that wrong. Hmmm, I'm curious to know how you guys know that. Let's go inside the house."

""Thank you.""

The two of them bowed down to thank him, as the doctor quickly opened the door and went into the house by himself.

The inside was also beautifully full of plants, but they were neatly arranged in clear containers and looked rather meticulously tidy.

"What are you doing? Come here."

"Oh, yes." (Ai)

"Yes." (Tatsuro)

The two were confused by the difference from the outside, but the doctor beckoned them with an annoyed look on his face and invited them into a back room. There was a round, single-legged wooden table and six backless wooden chairs that were like square boxes. The doctor sat down in one of them and gestured for them to sit in the chairs opposite.

Although the two were taken aback by the rather perfunctory nature of the response, which for some reason did not seem to irritate them, they obediently sat down.

"So, what do you want to ask me? Just be honest I don't like to go around in circles."

"Then I will be frank. If you have rice, would you be willing to sell it?" (Tatsuro)

"Why did you think I had it?"

He raised his right eyebrow in quizzical response to Tatsuro's question, and conversely, the doctor asked him again in such a manner.

"I asked the clerk at the department store yesterday if they had any rice for sale, and she told me that Doctor might have some." (Tatsuro)

"I see. So that's how it is. Then I will answer your question. My answer is yes and no."

"That is to say, you have it, but don't have the intention of selling it." (Tatsuro)

"Yes. You seem to think it's the kind of thing you can get at a department store, but you are wrong. Rice is the favorite food of a certain hill tribe, and most people in this country don't know what it is. Therefore, the only way to get it is to be very lucky or to go to the place of the hill tribe and get it directly from them. That is why I was interested in your question: "Why do you people know about such a valuable food?"

"We just wanted to eat it because we have eaten it before." (Tatsuro)

"Well, why don't you go to the place where you ate and ask for some?"

"Right now it's impossible for us to get there." (Tatsuro)

When Tatsuro immediately gave his answer, the doctor decided that it was probably not a lie after a quick observation and exhaled deeply once.

"I don't understand you guys… You said earlier that it was impossible to go there, but you didn't mean to say that you had been unfaithful there and could not go, did you?"

"No----"  (Tatsuro)

"That's not true. We are just good, ordinary adventurers!" (Ai)

Before Tatsuro could deny that it was different, Ai interrupted him and immediately denied it.

"I thought you were a quiet person because of your silence, but I guess you just refrain from doing so as not to disturb the mood. Hmm, if you are an adventurer then… can I see your ID? If the Adventurers' Guild is vouching for your identity, I'm willing to listen a little more."

"Is that true?" (Tatsuro)

"Really?" (Ai)

"Yeah. Basically, I don't lie."

"Basically?" (Tatsuro)

"Yeah, I can't say for sure that I don't lie."

"Oh, I understand. Is Ai okay with that?" (Tatsuro)

"Yes. If it's okay with you, then it's fine." (Ai)

After confirming with Ai, Tatsuro presented both of their IDs at the same time.

Then, as soon as he saw it, the doctor smiled for the first time here.

"I've never seen an individual with an adventurer rank of 6! This is the first time I've seen that! Haha, looks like my luck is turning!"

"Um, can I put it away now?" (Tatsuro)

"Oh, never mind. I see, I didn't realize you guys were such adventurers."

"So, are you ready to sell us some rice?" (Ai)

Ai looked at the doctor who suddenly started to get excited, but the doctor said, "Well, wait a minute," and put his bent right index finger on his chin to make a thoughtful face.

The doctor remained motionless for a few seconds, staring into space, then turned his gaze back towards Tatsuro and Ai.

"I can give you all the rice I have."

"Really?!" (Ai)

"............ Ah, I guess it's going to come with a condition." (Tatsuro)

"As you can imagine, if you can comply with my request, I will gladly give it to you."

"From the way you said it, it's probably not cash." (Tatsuro)

Tatsuro could guess what he was going to say so he said with a wry smile, but the professor, on the other hand, stood up with a big smile on his face, slammed both hands on the desk, and said the following.

"To be precise, I want you to capture a Piporin from the river near Nazeto Falls!!"

"Ah, I thought so..." (Tatsuro)

"Huh!?" (Ai)

Ai was surprised, but Tatsuro looked up at the ceiling wondering what was going on.