Chapter 172 - Searching for Fruit

Searching for Fruit
A few days later.
I had left the mines and come to Baozaria, the town that was close to Baozard’s territory.
Baozard had told me that it was a completely normal town…
“…This is…normal…?”
I muttered as soon as I stepped foot into it.
After all, all over town, people were partying and drinking as if there was some kind of festival going on.
Well, it was a normal festival, at least.
But it was hard to believe that it was like this all of the time.
Perhaps I just had bad timing.
Regardless…I might have trouble finding a room.
As I wondered about this… A drunk man grabbed me by the shoulder.
“Hey, don’t just stand there! Come and drink with us! The owner says it’s on the house!”
“…It seems like everyone is celebrating. Did something happen?”
“Didn’t you hear? …Lord Baozard has returned to us! How could anything be more worthy of celebration!”
I see.
I had wondered about this timing, and it turned out to be because of Baozard’s return.
From what I heard, Baozard was seen as more of a guardian deity than a dragon to be feared.
‘They worship you, huh…’
‘I helped them before, and so they started bringing me offerings.’
‘I see. And now you’re like a god.’
‘Yes. Of course, I try to make up for it by helping them whenever monsters attack.’
Apparently, Baozard was coexisting with the residents very nicely.
I had assumed that dragons were all monsters that attacked you as soon as you encountered them…but Baozard was clearly different.
All the dragons I had met up until now couldn’t even talk. I suppose there was a great variety when it came to dragons as well.
I thought about this as I walked through the town…then the slimes started shouting.
‘Where is the fruit!?’
‘There’s no fruit here!’
As scouted around, the slimes had spread out throughout the town and searched for the fruits.
And while the town was still celebrating, all of the shops were open.
If there was a forest with fruits nearby, surely there would be a fruit stand or two in town… But apparently, there was not a single one.
The slimes could not have been any more serious as they searched for a fruit store… It reminded me of that time when they angrily hunted the monsters who were eating the delicious vegetables. And yet, they were unable to find any… So there really weren’t any after all.
Well, maybe there would be some in a vegetable store?
And so I went to a nearby one and asked.
“Hello. Do you sell any fruits?”
“Fruits… When they are in season, yes. But I don’t have any right now. What kind of fruits?”
“Like this.”
I said as I offered him a picture I had created through Thoughtography.
The owner looked at it and scowled.
“Ahh. This is the fruit that grows on the dragon god’s mountain. Of course, they don’t sell that in town.”
So, it wasn’t something that we could buy.
Well, I could just send the slimes to the mountains and they could eat there.
As I considered this, the slimes started talking again.
‘He said they don’t sell them!’
‘What! Then let’s go get some!’
‘Yes! Let’s go!’
Apparently, they were heading towards the mountain before I had even given them an order.
The problem was, were they allowed to just go and take those fruits without permission…?
“Are people allowed to go there and pick them?”
“No. Those fruits are for the dragon god. We keep track of how many there are, so we’ll no if someone takes any.”
They even counted them…that was some heavy security.
Why would they go to such lengths…?
“So, uh…Baoza-…this dragon god is protecting the fruits?”
“No, the people of the town protect them. It’s not like the dragon god ordered us to. But the fruits will become its food. And so humans must not be allowed to take them.”
I see. So they were just doing it themselves.
If the fruits weren’t protected by Baozard’s order, then I wouldn’t be able to send the slimes to get them directly.
Though, I doubted the slimes would get caught if they did sneak in…
But considering their numbers and appetites, they might just wipe the forest clean of all its fruits.
That wouldn’t go unnoticed.