Chapter 313 - Autumn of Appetite
This is a story after the Harvest Festival, from "Chapter 26: Rish Village Harvest Festival".
It had been some time since Mika's departure for the Magic Academy was decided.
The Harvest Festival had ended, and the season had fully turned to autumn.
The bridge extending from the entrance of Rish Village.
Mika's favorite spot was underneath it.
What was good about this place was that he wasn't seen much by those around him.
People passing between the village and the fields walked over the bridge, but no one bothered to look down from above.
Mika's magic had become known to the lord, and while he was using magic freely for logging work and the like, he had been refraining from using magic for other purposes.
...In front of people.
Mika turned his left hand toward the fish skewered on the stick in his right hand.
"Fire Breath."
He caught the fish with "Waterball," split its belly with "Air Cutter," removed the entrails with "Water Splash," and skewered it on a stick.
Then he roasted the fish with "Fire Breath."
The smell of the grilled fish made his stomach rumble...
Mika took a big bite.
"Mmm, I wish there was salt. Chewing..."
It was a bit shameful to take things out of the house without permission, so this was unavoidable.
"If we can make stone, shouldn't we be able to make salt too...?"
Just like gold he had tried before, for some reason, he couldn't make it.
Really, why is that?
"Thank you for the meal."
After finishing eating, he put his hands together and prayed for the fish's peace.
Then, he tossed the eaten fish away.
"Thousand Edge."
Bashu-shu-shu-shu-shu...!
The fish bones were chopped up by a thousand wind blades (small stones) and decomposed down to the molecular level.
"...Just kidding. If I could decompose it that far, it would be super chuunibyou and cool."
The powdered fish was carried away by the wind.
"Found you, Mika-kun."
Bikku!
Mika jumped in surprise and looked around, but no one was there.
Looking up, Ninetiana was peering down from the bridge.
There you are, someone who actually bothered to look down!
Or rather, are you crawling on your stomach on the bridge to look down?
"What's that? You're making such a good smell?"
"W-w-w-what are you talking about!?"
Mika pretended to be calm, though his heart was beating a little fast.
The evidence had already been erased.
Even if it was Ninetiana, without physical evidence, she shouldn't have certainty.
Ninetiana crossed the bridge and deliberately came down to the riverbank.
"Yo."
"...Hello."
He bowed slightly as Ninetiana approached with a light step, raising one hand.
"What happened to Dur?"
"He's here."
Saying that, Ninetiana pointed up the bridge.
Mika couldn't tell, but it seemed someone was crossing the bridge.
Perhaps Diego had taken Dur and was returning from the fields.
"Mika-kun, what are you doing in a place like this?"
"What? I was just looking at the river. The sound of the flowing stream is so relaxing, isn't it?"
Smiling brightly, he said that casually.
Yes. Until just a moment ago, I was dominated by appetite and didn't care about the sound of the river at all.
(It can't be helped! I'm growing! It's Autumn of Appetite! It's the season where horses fatten under the high sky!)
Without showing the slightest hint of such thoughts, Mika plastered on a smile.
Ninetiana peered into Mika's face with a suspicious gaze.
Mika struggled to withstand Ninetiana's gaze, but gradually leaned back.
"...You have it on you."
Ninetiana said that and pointed at Mika's mouth.
Mika's eyes widened, and he instinctively wiped his mouth.
Seeing Mika's reaction, Ninetiana smiled broadly at the corner of her mouth.
"Unsoooon. But, you were definitely eating something, weren't you?"
Got caught!?
Mika grimaced, thinking "I messed up," and Ninetiana lightly looked around Mika.
(Ugh... I'll be noticed for being unnatural.)
Probably, with her sharp intuition, Ninetiana had already noticed he was eating grilled fish.
She had mentioned the smell when she was on the bridge.
However, there were no traces of a campfire around Mika.
If that was the case, the question of how he roasted the caught fish came to the surface.
(Well, I could just say it's fine if Ninetiana finds out...)
But then, if his guard lowered, the possibility of being seen by people other than Ninetiana would also increase.
In that sense, he might have let his guard down a little.
Ninetiana looked at Mika with a smug grin.
Mika was trying to hide something, and she had a face that seemed to enjoy "I'm going to expose it."
(It can't be helped...)
Mika decided to use his final resort.
He took a deep breath, inhaling loudly, and looked up.
"Diiieeego saaaan!"
"Huh?"
Mika called for help.
Soon, Diego holding Dur appeared from above the bridge.
"Yo, kid. What's up?"
"I have something to confirm regarding the logging work."
"Huh? It's fine if it's next time, isn't it?"
Even though he was told that, Mika began moving toward the base of the bridge.
(Look at this natural flow.)
Abandoning unfavorable terrain and choosing a battlefield where fighting is easier.
Mika left Ninetiana behind and escaped the death trap.
(If Dur is there, it's easier to bluff the conversation.)
Thinking such things, Mika waved at Ninetiana and ran off.
Next time, where should I eat...?
Everyone, it has been a long time.
This is Riuto.
Before I knew it, a year has passed since the last bonus SS was posted.
Time really flies, doesn't it?
Or rather, a year really passes so fast!
It's already October!?
Isn't that too fast?
There are less than three months left this year, what's going on!?
Riuto is stunned by the speed of time's flow, to the point of losing composure like this, but somehow he continues his creative activities.
Although I have left "Shousetsuka ni Narou," I am active on another posting site called "Kakuyomu."
Riuto is posting on "Next," a paid service within Kakuyomu, and thanks to everyone, I am continuing serialization even now.
It has already exceeded 560 chapters, and the character count has surpassed the 2.42 million characters of this work "Kamikami," reaching 2.46 million characters!
...But, there is still no end in sight. w
Here, please allow me a small advertisement.
This is the URL for "Broken Sword Eurius ~The Knightly Code of the Lumberjack Earl's Son~" which is serializing on Kakuyomu Next.
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093077920917525
You can read up to 20 chapters as a trial, so if you'd like, please do.
Oh, if it's interesting, becoming a member right away would be great... (Trembling voice)
It might have a similar atmosphere to "Kamikami," with both jokes and serious modes.
Making you think that, and perhaps having a war chronicle-like atmosphere too.
...And the protagonist being surprisingly ruthless might be the same too. w
Kakuyomu Next seems to be running an "Autumn Reading Campaign."
The URL below is the campaign page.
https://kakuyomu.jp/info/entry/next_autumn_2025
It seems there is a campaign where even free members might get a bookstore gift card?
Please take a look at this one too, if you'd like.
Changing the subject.
I apologize sincerely to those who have been waiting for me to write "Kamikami" SSs.
In Riuto's head, serializing one story makes it difficult to write another story...
To be honest, the settings might get mixed up. (Hey)
I am terribly sorry, but I would appreciate it if you could wait patiently.
Then, everyone, recently it has gotten a bit chilly in the mornings, so please take care of your health.
I'll be waiting with "Broken Sword" (Koso)