Chapter 72: Bubbles Beneath the Harvest

Finally, the autumn harvest had begun.

Well, for me, I’m always busy with harvests year-round anyway.

In any case, today I headed out to harvest the rice. 

The golden ripe rice was bowing its heads.

“This is going to take quite a while to cut all of it, huh?”

The longer I delay, the more time I’ll lose.

I rolled up my sleeves. 

To finish cutting the rice today, I had to move quickly.

Swish swash.

I grabbed a handful of rice stalks and sliced the base with the sickle. 

I tossed the cut rice to one side and repeated the process.

The work was done in less than an hour, and I neatly piled the cut rice in one spot.

“Whew. Now, time to thresh the rice.”

When I brush the rice against the threshing tool with its comb-like teeth, the grains come pouring out.

I can collect them in a basket and store them, then hull them whenever I need to cook rice.

“Satisfying.”

Just looking at the sack full of rice grains made me feel full.

I carried the rice sack and headed underground. 

The Ice Cave was already packed with harvested crops, so there was no more storage space; for now, I’d use the first basement level as a warehouse.

Thud thud.

On one side of the first basement level, sacks full of coal were stacked in layers. 

Next to them, I neatly placed the burlap bags filled with rice grains.

The first floor has good ventilation and moderate humidity, so the rice won’t rot or anything.

“Whew, finally done.”

I shook my head to brush off the rice leaves stuck to my forehead.

“Puu?”

A white fur ball appeared at my feet and tilted its head.

“Puu. When did you get here?”

The creature that always hid in the first basement level now boldly approached me first to greet me.

Even small animals become friendly when you share affection with them.

“Puu! Puu!”

Suddenly, Puu started bouncing up and down in place.

“Hm? You have something to show me?”

I don’t know what it is, but it seems desperate for me to see it. 

Maybe it wants to show me its home or something?

“Got it. I’ll follow you, so lead the way.”

Boing boing.

Puu hopped forward energetically.

Following Puu, I soon arrived at the third basement level.

“What is it, anyway?”

After bouncing around for a while, Puu stopped in front of one wall.

“Puu! Puu!”

“…Huh?”

Unlike the other walls, this one was covered in moss. 

Water was bubbling up from a depressions in the cracks between the stones.

“Puu! Puu!”

Puu immediately dipped its mouth into the puddle.

Slurp slurp.

Puu took a gulp and swallowed.

“Puuuuu… Burp!”

It shivered all over and let out a burp. 

Then, as if finding it amusing, it flopped onto its back and giggled.

“Pukikiki.”

It must have wanted to show me this.

It looks like ordinary groundwater, but since Puu is drinking it, it probably isn’t poisonous.

“You want me to drink this?”

“Puu!”

Without hesitation, I scooped up some water and took a sip.

Fizz fizz fizz fizz.

“Whoa?!”

This refreshing sensation hitting the back of my throat with a punch.

“…Could this be?!”

Ding.

[Floating Island Encyclopedia – Carbonated Mineral Water]

[A spring water rich in carbonation. Ancient people are said to have enjoyed beverages made from carbonated water.]

“This is really carbonated water?”

It wasn’t the carbonated water I knew. 

The fizziness was beyond imagination. 

The refreshment was insane.

Slurp slurp.

“Purrrrr.”

Puu drank more carbonated water and shivered again.

This must be a place Puu loves. 

It seems it really wanted to introduce it to me.

“Thanks.”

“Puupuu!”

Boing boing.

“Great! I should repay you, right?”

I filled a canteen with carbonated water and headed back to the surface.

Elenia asked.

“Huh? Why did it take you so long?”

“I ran into Puu underground.”

“Puupuu!”

Puu bounced toward Elenia, showing its delight.

I showed her the canteen full of carbonated water.

“Ta-da! Puu introduced me to a mineral spring. And get this—it’s carbonated water! I’ll make a drink with it, so look forward to it!”

I took out the wild strawberry syrup. I put a generous amount in a glass and poured in the carbonated water.

Bubble bubble.

Countless tiny bubbles rose in the glass. 

When I gently stirred it with a long stick, the wild strawberry syrup melted smoothly into the carbonated water.

“Here, one for each.”

The family all gathered in one place. Puu took a spot too.

“Let’s eat!”

“Peep!”

“Moo!”

“Puu!”

Gulp. Slurp slurp.

Each drank the beverage in their own way. 

But the reaction was unanimous. 

They all shivered at the fizzy carbonation in their throats.

Elenia exclaimed.

“Kyaha! This throat-clearing coolness is amazing! The wild strawberry drink has become even more luxurious! I could drink this every day and never get tired!”

As if agreeing, everyone nodded. 

The carbonation was so strong it tingled the throat, making you feel refreshed just from drinking it.

“While we’re at it, wouldn’t it be nice to have some food to go with it? Wait a sec.”

I immediately started cooking.

Chop chop chop.

I finely chopped garlic and peppers, then fried them in a pan with fresh olive oil.

Sizzle.

When the aroma of garlic and peppers infused the olive oil, I added the boiled pasta and fried it once more.

In no time, aglio e olio pasta was complete. 

My cooking skills improve every day, so something like this I can make with my eyes closed.

“Hey, everyone, time to eat!”

I dished out generous portions of pasta into bowls and passed them around. 

Then, I slurped up a big bite of pasta.

Slurp.

The pasta, moistened with olive oil, wrapped around my mouth. 

The pungent garlic and spicy peppers elevated the pasta’s flavor to the max. 

Plus, the ingredients were fresh, so the taste was doubled.

“Delicious!”

“Peep!”

“Mooooo!”

Everyone’s reactions were good, but the best one was Puu’s.

“…Puu, puuuuuu!”

Its fur stood on end, turning it into a complete fluff ball. 

It seemed quite shocked.

This was a historic day—the first time Puu ate my cooking.

Seeing Puu so happy brought a proud smile to my face.

When the pasta started feeling a bit greasy midway, I drank the wild strawberry ade.

“This is incredible! The greasiness disappears all at once!”

The carbonated ade paired perfectly with oily food. The refreshment washed away the lingering grease in my throat in one go.

One carbonated water made for a happy day.

Crunch crunch.

***

Today, Puu was once again fully focused on eating a wild carrot. 

Lately, being able to eat carrots to its heart’s content made it so happy.

Nom nom nom nom.

Someone was watching that scene intently.

What on earth is it eating so eagerly?

The gnome was staring at Puu from behind a rock.

It had been observing Puu frequently going to and from the surface. 

Every time it went up and came back, it carried an orange root vegetable.

It must be pretty tasty, seeing how absorbed it is….

The gnome narrowed its eyes.

It couldn’t hold back its curiosity anymore. It had no choice but to ask directly.

Thud thud.

With a determined expression, the gnome walked straight toward Puu.

“Puu?”

When the tiny earth sprite approached, Puu stopped eating and tilted its head.

The gnome stopped in front of Puu. It glanced at Puu, then shifted its gaze to the carrot.

“Puu?”

Puu pushed the carrot forward a bit, as if saying, “Want some?”

…Nod.

After a brief hesitation, the gnome took the carrot Puu offered.

Sniff sniff.

A subtle aroma wafted from the cut end. 

Staring at the carrot intently, the gnome made up its mind and brought it to its mouth.

Crunch.

It bit into the carrot and chewed. 

Juices burst out with every chew. 

A fresh, crisp sweetness stimulated its tongue.

“…Wh-what is this?”

“Puu.”

“Carrot? So this is a plant called carrot.”

The carrot was much sweeter and tastier than the gnome had expected. 

Grown on the surface under the sunlight, it was so vibrant. 

Just eating it made energy surge through its body.

“You got this from the surface?”

“Puu!”

“You really got this from the surface….”

It was unbelievable.

For a long time, the surface of the Floating Island had been utterly desolate.

The barren land was overrun with thorny vines, and there was no proper food to be found.

“Puupuu!”

“Wh-what? You say these are all over the surface?”

Nonsense. 

There’s no way the surface is abundant with food.

But from observing Puu for a while, it didn’t seem like a lie. 

Puu always had a carrot in hand when going to and from the surface.

There was something even more shocking.

“Puu!”

“Th-the human? You’re saying the human grew this?”

Humans had only recently started living on the surface. 

And not long after, Puu began bringing plants from there.

It was clear the human had changed the surface. 

Even if it was just a human, with the mysterious power of the Floating Island, it was possible.

“Is that so?”

The gnome grinned slyly.

This human bastard. He’s been stealing minerals all this time.

“Now it’s your turn to get a taste of the same!”

The time for revenge had finally come. 

Time to pay back all the humiliation endured.

“Hehehe. I’ll steal all the crops from the field. Mwahahaha.”

The gnome cackled with a wicked face. 

The thought of messing with the human brought uncontrollable laughter.

“Puu?”

“Why bother stealing the crops, you ask? Ahem, obviously to eat them deliciously!”

“Puupuu!”

“No! It’s not because I want to eat them! It’s revenge! Revenge!”

The gnome stomped its feet.

“Forget it! How could you understand my grand plan?”

“Puu.”

“Get along? No way! The human invaded my territory without permission!”

“Puupuu.”

“No no! I have absolutely no intention of compromising. You say that because you haven’t seen that evil face.”

There was no way it would compromise with a violent human. 

Who knows what that brutal human might do if it caught it.

Tremble tremble.

Just recalling that demonic smile made its legs shake.

“Anyway, don’t interfere. Got it? If I succeed, I’ll give you a share too.”

The gnome took another bite of the carrot and chewed it roughly, crunch crunch.

“Puu….”

Puu looked at the gnome with worried eyes.