Novel:
Author: Karumi Ayumu
Chapter 12 — Meals are Important
The hero came back from the equipment store; by the time he arrived to the north gate, it was completely night-time.
"Gordon, pleeease let me use the barracks."
"Oh, you've come back, Hero? And the old guy made you buy some strange things……:"
The hero trudged through the darkness, approaching Gordon. The hero's appearance slowly grew clearer from the light of the lamp, then…
Trudge, trudge…
The hero wore the pot on his head, holding the pot's lid in his left hand like a shield.
"You look so weird?!"
"Nope, I did some great shopping."
"Great shopping?! Just what did he blow into you? He can't be that bad. What did you do to the old man?!"
"I just did some shopping like usual? He's a good person, he gently taught me even the basics of how to use ointments."
"How were you getting those basics wrong?!"
Although he looked fine on the outside, some vigor had left the hero's face. "Sorry Gordon, would you let me rest in the barracks? I'm kinda tired now."
"Ah, that reminds me, you got wounded enough to nearly lose your life at the palace too, Hero. Did you have food properly?"
"Ah, now that you mention it, I only had a light lunch at the palace and haven't eaten anything since."
Gordon looked at the hero as if to say, 'Aaaah..' "Your hunger's been numbed from that forceful recovery, so you're acting weird… There's probably a lot more things going weird with you that you haven't noticed yourself."
"Is that so?"
"If you haven't had food yet, please get some soup from over there. I can't guarantee it's good since the taste changes every time you eat it, but even if you're not hungry, please eat plenty, it's going to help you in recovering."
"I see, so that's the effect food has. Understood, I'll be sure to eat as much as I can."
"Effect…. Well anyway, when you get in the cafeteria, get your cutlery and stand in line."
"Alright."
"Then when you return to your normal state, let's return that pot. If I explain what happens, the old guy'll understand……"
"No, I don't want that."
Gordon was confused. "Oh, alright."
The hero entered the cafeteria, standing in the line where the soldiers stood. The hero's turn came.
"Here you go, if you'd like seconds then stand in line again~"
"Alright."
The hero sat in a random seat, starting his meal. "Thanks for the meal."
The hero drank the junior soldiers' soup. It tasted sickly-sweet, the hero's self-recovery power barely rose.
"Hmm, still not enough? I"ll have another helping."
The hero drank the junior soldiers' soup. Sour! Very sour, it was effective! The hero's fatigue was blown away, his self-recovery power rose.
"Burp, it really does change taste every time I eat it……. It's difficult to keep eating here, huh, I'll look for a proper eating house."
The hero was full, he couldn't eat anymore. He decided to rest in the barracks.
"Cock-doodle-doo!"
The next day, the hero woke up and left the barracks. The morning air was refreshing.
"Good morning, Hero. How's your health? Well, looks like you haven't taken the pot off… Hahaha!" Gordon couldn't do anything but laugh.
"Good morning, Gordon. Yes, I'm completely fine now." The hero had had plenty of rest, his status temporarily increased.
"Good to hear. It seems they finished preparing breakfast just now, wouldn't you come eat with me, Hero?"
"Is it that soup again? Well, I only have a little money on me now, so let's have breakfast there. Though I don't want to…" The hero looked displeased.
"Oh, then why don't we return that pot and get your money back, Hero? Sometimes you just want to have normal food, so let's find a handy eating house."
The hero completely rejected it. "No, that's no good."
"Hahaha, is that so, that's right, ahahaha….."
The hero and Gordon went to the cafeteria together, getting soup and sitting down. The hero hesitated to eat, while Gordon began eating first.
"Thanks for the meal. Ooh, it's pretty salty this time, delicious. Slurp slurp."
"Then will you have another bowl?"
"No no, Hero, it's an unspoken rule here that if you think it tastes even a little delicious, you have to stop with that bowl. You'll regret it if you don't."
"Is that so? Well then, I'll dig in too."
The hero ate the junior soldiers' soup. Spicy! Bitter! Delicious! He couldn't really understand it but anyway, all right! The hero received a special status, "The Beggar's Stomach Lv 1"! He could slightly control the effects of bad statuses from the meal, this result was permanent.
"What is thiiiiiiiiiiiis!!!"
Gordon calmly watched as the hero roared. "It hit the spot, huh? As expected from the Hero. The first time really is surprising."