Volume 1 Chapter 57 Mushrooms Are Basically Delicious When Fried In Oil
With the signal from the host lady, everyone headed towards Fetoru Forest.
Mr. Lucian and I also got baskets for collecting mushrooms and made our way to Fetoru Forest.
As I tried to carry the mushroom basket on my back, Mr. Lucian snatched it away and slung it over one shoulder.
Since Mr. Lucian is well-built, carrying the basket looked easy for him, even though it was small.
When Mr. Lucian carried the basket, it looked a bit stylish, like a shoulder bag.
"Mr. Lucian, mushrooms grow in damp places. Especially, Takeri Matsutake grows under the Takeri Pine."
"Takeri Pine?"
"Yes. It's a big tree. Um, the leaves are jagged and pointy, the trunk is thick and straight, and it's really impressive."
I'm not an expert, but when I said I was going to the mushroom hunting event, the ladies at the market all taught me about it.
They told me about the features of the Takeri Pine and the secret spots in Fetoru Forest.
"I see. So, we should aim for the Takeri Matsutake."
"Yes. Of course, Hirahira Maitake and Oni Shimeji are also delicious, so please let me know if you find any mushrooms."
"Ah, got it."
"Some mushrooms are poisonous, though."
"Poisonous...? That sounds dangerous."
"But poisonous mushrooms have bright red caps, so you can spot them easily. Edible mushrooms are usually brown or dull-colored. If you see a mushroom with a bright red cap and spots, it's poisonous. Be careful!"
"What's going to happen if we eat it?"
"I wonder... I've heard it can make you see hallucinations or feel really good... but it seems like it won't harm your life."
"Hallucinations, feeling good...?"
"Yes. It's called Maboroshi Akadake. ...It's scary, isn't it?"
Mr. Lucian frowned and said, "That's true."
It was a sunny day, but the air in the forest felt damp because the trees were so thick.
There were roots sticking out at our feet, and the fallen leaves were wet.
Moss was growing at the base of the trees, and since the forest was so big, I couldn't see the other participants who had gone ahead.
"They said we shouldn't go too deep. We might get lost."
"There shouldn't be any dangerous animals in Fetoru Forest. If there are, it would just be foxes, wild rabbits, or deer. But the forest itself is... dangerous. The trees and the soil are all alive. If you listen closely, you can hear countless breathing sounds, can't you? It feels like we're inside a giant living creature."
"...Ugh, Mr. Lucian is saying scary things..."
This was supposed to be a fun mushroom picking trip.
I know the forest can be scary, but still.
"Lydia. So, don't leave my side. I'll protect you."
"...I think it's a bit exaggerated since we just came for mushroom picking..."
I'm heading to the secret mushroom spot that the market aunties told me about.
I remember that from the entrance of the forest, we go straight, then go down a bit between the trees where the light moss grows a lot, and pass through a place where the tall grass forms a tunnel.
I looked around as I walked through the forest.
"Ah! Mr. Lucian, it's Oni Shimeji! It's thick and big...! The cap is round and cute. It would taste great in tempura!"
Mushrooms were popping up at the base of a tree.
The tips were perfectly round, and the stems were as thick as my wrist. They were short and thick, looking like cute little round tables.
I tried to run over to the mushrooms, but I slipped on the moss at my feet.
Mr. Lucian quickly wrapped his arms around my waist and helped me up.
"Uh...!"
His arm went around my waist, lifting me up from under my stomach, and I ended up in Mr. Lucian's arms.
"Mr. Lucian, that's ticklish...!"
"Ah, sorry... I didn't have anywhere else to hold on."
"Um, thank you."
Mr. Lucian hurriedly let go of me.
It was a bit embarrassing, but I was glad he helped me. My feet were wet, and I would have gotten soaked.
I carefully approached the mushrooms again and picked an Oni Shimeji from the base.
The mushroom was soft and squishy. When I pinched the base and twisted it lightly, it came off easily.
"Mr. Lucian, it's thick and big... it looks really delicious..."
"Is that so...?"
"Yes... I've never seen one this big before..."
I've cooked Oni Shimeji before, but they were smaller.
It seems like they had limited mushroom picking in Fetoru Forest for the mushroom picking contest, so the mushrooms that weren't picked have grown really well.
As I happily pulled the Oni Shimeji mushrooms from the ground, Mr. Lucian knelt down next to me.
"Lydia... I've been thinking for a while, your thoughts on ingredients... it's like a special talent, maybe..."
"I just said they look delicious..."
"These are really big, this Oni Shimeji..."
"Yes! The Takeri Matsutake is even bigger! It's so big it can't fit in your mouth!"
"Can't fit in your mouth, huh..."
"It's really tasty when you make it into tempura."
"Basically, it's all about tempura, huh?"
"Mushrooms usually taste good when you fry them in oil."
Mr. Lucian stared at my mouth for a moment, then looked at the Oni Shimeji.
After that, he picked some of the clustered Oni Shimeji and put them in the basket.
"We got a lot, didn't we...? We can make mushroom hot pot, tempura, cream stew, or just grill them. They taste good grilled whole, but it can be a bit hard to eat since they're so big."
"Can we take the mushrooms we picked home?"
"Yes! The Takeri Matsutake is thick and big, and it's the tastiest when grilled whole."
"Can't fit in your mouth, huh?"
"Yes. But when your mouth is full, it makes you feel happy, right?"
"Is that how it is?"
"Actually, I've heard from the market ladies about a secret place where you can find a lot of Takeri Matsutake. If we find a lot, let's eat together, Mr. Lucian. I'm sure you'll want to eat too!"
"Yeah... Thanks for worrying about me, Lydia. Well then, shall we go to that secret place?"
Mr. Lucian stood up and naturally took my hand to help me up.
Our hands felt like they wouldn't let go.
Maybe he was worried I would fall again.
It's true that the ground is slippery, so I decided to hold onto Mr. Lucian's hand.
Mr. Lucian is really big, like a giant tree, so I felt very stable.
If it were Sir Roxas, I think we would probably both fall together, but Mr. Lucian is a knight, so he has good balance and strong muscles.
His hand is also big.
It's different from Sir Ciel's delicate and long fingers. His hand is thick and hard.
I thought about how this hand has played with the feelings of many women... and I was a little impressed.
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