"Walt, sit down! It’s time for dinner!"
I was gazing at the darkening sky through the dining room window when Neneva called out to me. Even in the middle of a poison swamp, the sky looked the same as it did anywhere else. The clouds, stained a deep madder red, were so still they seemed to steal one’s breath. The sinking sunlight framed the window in crimson, warming the very air in the room.
"It’s beautiful..."
"Eh...?! What is it, Walt? Suddenly trying to flatter me? It won't get you anywhere!"
Neneva had crept up beside me without me noticing. Now, she was flustered, having jumped to her own conclusions.
"I’m talking about the sky."
"I'll kill you!"
Her tone turned fierce in an instant. She clenched her fists and glared up at me with a sharp gaze. Graymond might have called her "Young Lady," but Neneva’s behavior was a mess of contradictions. She was more like a commoner—or rather, a foul-mouthed resident of the Slums.
"Neneva, it’s dinner time."
"That’s my line!"
We gathered around a dining table set for four, leaving one seat empty. It was just me, Neneva, and Graymond. The menu for the evening was bread and a soup packed with ingredients. They had mentioned that the wheat was sourced from a nearby town, but I wondered if the rest of the ingredients came from this swamp.
The steam rose from the bowl, its aroma tickling my nose. Despite the pleasant smell, I couldn't quite find the courage to take the first bite.
"It’s seasoned perfectly, as always! Good job, Old Man!"
Neneva tore off a piece of bread, dipped it into the soup, and offered her praise. So, it was well-seasoned, was it?
Timidly, I dipped my spoon into the liquid to investigate what exactly was in it. Carrots, onions, and fillets of fish. It looked like a perfectly normal soup. I slowly lifted the spoon to my lips and took a sip.
"It’s delicious."
"Of course it is! Graymond doesn't have the [Cook] job, but he's incredible in the kitchen!"
"You flatter me, Young Lady."
Graymond bowed his head quietly and continued his meal with measured movements.
"Do you grow these vegetables around here?" I asked.
"Yes! Graymond and I have a field! We grew every single one of these ourselves!"
Vegetables in the middle of a poison swamp...
"And this fish?"
"Caught it in the swamp right outside! Graymond is a master fisherman, too!"
Once again, Graymond bowed his head in silence. He had spent the better part of the day being humble. I had my doubts about whether it was actually safe to eat fish from toxic waters, but both Neneva and Graymond were eating heartily.
I flaked a bit of the mystery fish with the tip of my spoon and took a small bite. It tasted... normal. There was no foul odor, and I didn't feel the sudden urge to gag.
Next, I tried the vegetables. They were also normal. While they didn't have much of a distinct flavor of their own, they didn't have any strange aftertastes either.
It wasn't exactly a gourmet masterpiece, but compared to the food Carla served at the Lizard's Tail, it was far superior.
How could vegetables and fish grow in an environment where the well water smelled like rot? It had to be Neneva's Mysterious Power. I needed to find a way to confirm it.
"Starting tomorrow, I'll help out with the farming and fishing."
"Really? That would be a huge help! We’ll head to the field in the morning, and then go fishing in the afternoon!"
Neneva frolicked with joy, while Graymond offered yet another quiet bow. For a split second, I thought I saw a sharp glint in the old man's eyes, but I must have imagined it.
The guest room Neneva had provided was on the second floor. Though simple, it was a palace compared to the Lizard’s Tail.
The room had a bed, a small table, and a chair, which allowed me to do a bit of work. I woke up early and, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, set about making a salve for Graymond’s back.
I pulled the mortar and pestle from my [Storage Space], along with various herbs used for painkillers and some animal fat. After tearing the herbs into small pieces by hand, I placed them in the mortar and began moving the pestle in a steady, circular motion. As the pestle ground the plants down, they turned into a fine powder, leaving a thin green film across the inside of the bowl.
Then, I focused on my [Compounding Arts]. The herbs were suddenly enveloped in a faint blue light, signaling that their medicinal properties were reaching their peak. I added the warmed animal fat and continued to work the pestle. The powder absorbed the fat, becoming thick and viscous. Inside the mortar, the herbs and fat melted into a single substance, transforming into a smooth ointment.
I transferred the finished product into a vial. It would be highly effective for at least two or three days. I could just make more when he ran out.
Looking out the window, I saw that the sun was already quite high. It was time to head to the field.
"Walt, are you awake!?"
Neneva’s voice came from just outside the door. I hadn't heard a single footstep; she must have been walking on tiptoe.
"I’m up. I was just finishing Graymond’s medicine."
"Eh!? You were making medicine!? I want to see! Can I come in!?"
"Sure—"
Before I could even finish the word, Neneva burst in, her silver hair swaying. she rushed to the table, her red eyes wide as she inspected the tools I’d used for my [Compounding Arts]. She was dressed differently today—trousers and boots, a practical outfit for farm work.
"Is this the medicine?" she asked, pointing at the vial of ointment.
"Yeah. That’s it."
"Is it delicious?"
"It’s for rubbing on his back. It’s not delicious, and you definitely shouldn't eat it."
"What a useless medicine!"
I couldn't help but wonder what exactly a [Herbalist]’s work looked like in her imagination.
"Are we heading out now?"
"Yes! We've got to till the soil today, so it’s going to be hard work!"
"I’ll do my best."
She practically dragged me out of the room and down to the first floor. A single serving of bread and tea sat on the dining table. My portion, I assumed.
"Graymond’s already at the field! Hurry up and eat!"
Neneva stood by the table and pointed strictly at the plate. It was a restless breakfast, but I didn't have much of a choice. I sat down and quickly chewed and swallowed the bread without even tasting it.
"Right, let’s go!"
"Yeah."
Looking incredibly enthusiastic, Neneva dashed out of the house. She didn't even bother to lock the door. Then again, I suppose nobody, whether well-meaning or malicious, would ever bother visiting a place like this.
I followed her toward the field, watching as she stopped a short distance away and turned to wait for me.