Chapter 15

015.

“POTATOOO!”

Along with its majestic shout, a faint light began leaking from its blunt, short hands.

The bluish particles of light flickered softly like fireflies and floated through the air before seeping into a potato lying at my feet.

‘Does everything…… somehow lead back to potatoes?’

Just what kind of world was this?

I planted a Mythic-rank Ancient Spirit Tree Seed, only for a potato spirit to be born, and even the target of that spirit’s skill was another potato.

Just what kind of absolute position did potatoes occupy in this barbarian world?

Feeling a fresh wave of doubt, I carefully picked up the potato imbued with its energy.

[Earth Spirit Potatodragora has used a skill!]

“Ooooh!”

An exclamation escaped me without realizing it.

A skill! Right, it was a Mythic-rank spirit, so surely beating barbarians with its leaves could not be all it did.

A combat skill? Or magic that turned potatoes into bombs? If not that, perhaps a miracle that made gold coins grow from potatoes!

Clutching my pounding chest, I checked the next system message.

[Through Potatodragora’s ability, the D-rank Potato has become ‘Very Delicious’!]

“…….”

Seriously?

Even after rubbing my eyes and looking again, not a single letter of the sentence floating in the air had changed.

“Potato!”

Apparently proud that it had shown off its incredible ability, the creature puffed out its plump chest and smiled brightly with a dignified expression.

It became tastier……? This was the first skill of a spirit obtained by planting a Mythic-rank item…….

As I froze at the indescribably ambiguous ability, the creature rubbed its head against my calf as though urging me to hurry up and praise it.

‘What is…… this terrible discomfort stabbing at one corner of my heart……?’

Is this really right!?

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The village square.

Disbelieving exclamations burst out one after another.

“Ooooooh! Really delicious. Truly delicious. Potato ghost is amazing! Not scary!”

“POTATOOO-”

Hmm…… honestly, it is delicious.

Even though I was only eating a potato steamed in plain water, the taste was no joke.

The moment I took a bite, an overwhelming chewy yet fluffy texture filled my mouth.

The more I chewed, the more a pleasantly sweet flavor emerged, along with a savory saltiness that tasted perfectly seasoned despite not having any salt on it.

It was genuinely delicious.

Good enough that even someone with no cooking skill could simply eat it as it was.

Potatodragora basked smugly in everyone’s praise, strutting around the village square on its short little legs that seemed like they should make squeaky sounds.

“POTATOO! POTATOO!”

The little barbarians watched its adorable yet somehow bizarre appearance from a distance, fascinated but too afraid to approach in case they upset it.

That’s right.

For now, I was testing the potatoes that the foul-tempered potato spirit had made delicious with its skill.

‘Damn it…… it’s delicious. It’s disgustingly delicious!’

Then why do I keep feeling this strange sense of defeat, as though my life plan has gone wrong?

Whether it knew about my complicated feelings or not, Potatodragora kept angrily lashing its leaves like whips at the large barbarian warriors who tried approaching it.

Then whenever someone praised how delicious the potatoes were, it became smug again.

- Smack! Smack!

“Ow! Why only hit me! Izak, potato ghost only hits me!”

Yeah. Because you’re ugly.

Malko jumped around indignantly after getting his shins struck by its leaf whip, but Potatodragora merely snorted and resumed patrolling the square with its hands clasped behind its back.

A Mythic-rank spirit’s skill made potatoes taste better…… a deep sigh escaped me naturally.

“Amazing, Shaman. Is this also the ancestral god’s wisdom?”

As I sighed deeply enough to sink into the ground, Chief Zakan approached my side before I realized it and spoke in his heavy voice.

His eyes were filled with absolute trust in me.

‘Hmm…… strangely, I feel better.’

My mood, which had sunk all the way to the bottom, gradually softened at his crude but sincere praise.

I shrugged and looked at Potatodragora, which was still mercilessly beating Malko’s shins.

“That must be a gift personally sent by the ancestral god for our tribe. With a great spirit beside us, our Rock Tribe will overcome anything from now on.”

Yeah…… if that makes you happy, fine. Believe that.

“But Shaman. What is that potato spirit’s name?”

Zakan’s serious question left me speechless. A name? I had never even thought about it.

The instant the word ‘name’ came up, Potatodragora, which had been happily beating Malko, perked up ears it did not even have and hurried over with tiny little steps.

It clung to my knee and looked up at me with sparkling eyes filled with expectation.

‘If I say I never thought of one, it’ll probably slap me across the face with its leaves right away.’

Sweating nervously, I hurriedly racked my brain.

Potato-boy? Potato-sik? Pota…… Pota…… what would be good? Ring-around-the-potato…….

As I desperately wracked my brain, the sweet taste of potato lingering in my mouth and the creature’s round appearance suddenly inspired a good name.

“Potatodori.”

“Potatodori?”

Zakan tilted his head at the unfamiliar sound.

There was no particularly profound meaning behind it. It just suited the creature’s round appearance perfectly, and the sound itself was silly and cute.

At hearing the name that came from my mouth, Potatodragora’s eyes sparkled.

“POTATOO!”

Apparently it really liked the name Potatodori, because it shouted loudly and spun around in a dance.

All right, from today onward, your name is Potatodori.

After the commotion finally died down, we were peacefully sharing the ultimate delicious potatoes Potatodori had created with the other tribe members when.

“Shamaaan-! Chieeef! I’m back, it’s Tofuuu!”

From the direction of the village entrance came the sound of someone running frantically, kicking up clouds of dust.

Huh?

That was way faster than expected.

It had only been about ten days since Tofu had left in tears after having his entire bundle stripped clean.

‘This bastard came back way sooner than I expected.’

A broad smile I could not hide spread across my face at the sucker’s much earlier-than-expected return.

____________

Inside my tent.

Tofu spoke with his characteristic sly smile.

“Ahem, hmm…… Shaman. You been well? I was thinkin’ about things…… those potatoes you gave me last time. How about signin’ an exclusive contract with me…… Aagh! Ow! What the heck is this? Why does it keep hittin’ me?”

Tofu, who had tried sidling close to whisper beside me, screamed and fell backward.

“POTATOOO!”

Potatodori does not tolerate strangers.

Potatodori, which had been napping on my lap, sprang awake at the smell of an unfamiliar human and attacked him.

It mercilessly kicked Tofu in the jaw with its short legs, then whipped its leaves against him again and again.

Tofu, who had no idea what was happening and suddenly got slapped across the face, screamed.

“Eek! A moving potato!”

“It’s a potato spirit.”

“Wh…… what!? A-a spirit? Why is a great spirit of nature shaped like a potato inside a barbarian’s tent……!”

Tofu covered his mouth in shock as though his jaw might fall off, but Potatodori’s identity was not what mattered right now.

I gently stroked Potatodori’s head to calm it down as it continued kicking, then looked at Tofu.

“So. You want to seriously sell my potatoes in the human world, is that it? Looks like the potatoes I gave you are extremely popular outside.”

He flinched at my observation and desperately avoided my gaze.

“N-nooo…… why would potatoes be particularly popular…… But you barbarians need all sorts of things too, right? And you’ll need money for that. I just thought we could help each other out, even if I gotta take a bit of a loss. You know where my heart is, right?”

Good grief. I can practically hear the gears in your head rattling across the barren northern wasteland.

There was no reason he would come running all the way back to the Northern Rock Tribe this quickly for something like that.

‘Demand for my potatoes must have exploded.’

More and more people must be looking for them because of their satiety and flavor.

But what a shame.

The potatoes Tofu had sold were merely ordinary D-rank potatoes, while the potatoes he would be taking back now had received Potatodori’s skill and become insanely ‘delicious.’

“No.”

“Yes…… of course you’d say that at first. That’s how business works. If I explain it nice and…… Huh??? You said no?”

“I’m not selling.”

“Why not!? Why won’t you sell them!?”

Obviously, because I’m going to sell them for more.

He desperately pleaded with me, but I kept my mouth shut and merely stroked Potatodori’s head on my lap.

My adorable Potatodori.

My admirable Potatodori that effortlessly makes delicious potatoes.

When I showed no reaction, Tofu urgently grabbed my sleeve and clung to it.

“I’ll…… pay 1.5 times! I’ll buy ’em for 1.5 times more. You still won’t sell?”

Hey now. Don’t try that nonsense with me.

“T-two times! I’ll pay double. I’m the only merchant who’ll pay double for wasteland potatoes!”

Oh? Still trying to test the waters. I yawned while stroking Potatodori’s leaves.

“Th-three times! I said three times. Really. They’re payin’ three times outside too…… if I buy for three times, once I subtract transportation costs, I won’t have anythin’ left. I’ll pay 2.5 times while practically cuttin’ flesh from my own bones, so please!”

“Five times.”

After listening that far, I cut through his whining like slicing a radish.

“……Huh?”

“Sell the potatoes for five times the price.”

“F-five times? No matter how good potatoes taste, there ain’t a single lunatic who’d buy ’em at that price.”

“No, they’ll all sell.”

When I grinned, he swallowed dryly.

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“Th-this is really a potato??”

Tofu’s hands trembled after tasting a ‘Delicious D-rank Potato’ affected by Potatodori’s skill.

At that moment, realization struck Tofu’s mind like lightning.

‘This is insane! A crop like this from this barren Northern Frontier?? What in the world is this flavor?’

As though he knew exactly what Tofu was thinking, the barbarian shaman smiled leisurely and spoke.

“The profits from the potatoes you sell at five times the price. You and I divide them exactly eight to two.”

Tofu’s pupils shook like an earthquake.

But befitting someone with the bloodline of an A-rank Super Merchant, the calculator inside his head was running at full speed.

‘Eight to two, this vicious swindler! But…… these potatoes. Five times? No. They’re worth more. If I establish the right route, I’m confident I can make at least ten times the margin.’

It would work. He could absolutely do it.

For reasons he could not explain, Tofu saw potential in these potatoes.

“All right. Fine, I’ll give it a shot. I may not look it, but I’ve been a merchant long enough to know what I’m doin’.”

“Good.”

Apparently satisfied with his answer, the strange barbarian shaman grinned.

So scary…….

Then he pressed down firmly on Tofu’s shoulder and added in a low voice.

“You’d better not get any foolish ideas.”

“Huh?”

“You received the potato spirit’s blessing. As long as this potato spirit exists, it can find you wherever you go.”

“Wh-when did I ever get a blessing…… it slapped me across the face!”

Izak smiled wickedly at him.

“POTATOO!”

“Eeeek-!”

Good job, Potatodori.

____________

“Hehe.”

Once I was alone in the tent, laughter naturally escaped me.

Tofu’s expression after tasting the ‘Delicious Potato’ affected by Potatodori’s skill had truly been a work of art.

The guy had swallowed the potato while shedding tears and left carrying a sack of potatoes without a single objection to my terms of a fivefold price increase and an eighty-twenty profit split.

‘When it’s that insanely delicious, there’s no way people won’t buy it.’

I lovingly looked down at the pathetic potato spirit sleeping on my lap, making soft, contented breathing sounds.

Although it possessed neither broken magic nor combat skills.

The essence of any crop was taste.

Perhaps this little guy was actually the true blessing that would support our tribe’s finances?

‘Good…… from now on, I steadily farm potatoes, have him apply his skill, and rake in money.’

What am I going to do with the money?

There was a mountain of things to do.

We had to reinforce our flimsy village fence into a sturdy defensive wall that could withstand magical beast charges, and completely replace the worn-out leather armor and chipped weapons used by the young warriors with higher-quality equipment.

Calling that thing a fence was generous. It looked like even a child could kick it down.

Before winter arrived, we needed to buy warm blankets, and above all, all kinds of seeds and spices to diversify this tiresome diet.

‘Tofu did bring a few things as bribes, though.’

At best, just salt and sugar.

There was a lot to do, little time, and we were still short on money.

‘I saw it during the last Red Moon. We have to prepare thoroughly.’

One mistake here, and instead of living a relaxing farming life, it would be frighteningly easy to die screaming.

Just as I was pleasantly lost in thought, designing the perfect plan.

“Shaman! Shaman!”

With urgent footsteps outside the tent, one of the warriors standing guard rushed inside, panting heavily.

His expression was even more serious than Malko’s had been when he first saw the Potatodragora.

“What happened! Did another magical beast attack?”

I hurried to my feet, and the warrior cried out between ragged breaths.

“Burta, chief of the Western Volcano Tribe, has come!”

“Huh?”

When I hurriedly ran toward the square in confusion, my eyes met Zakan’s as he arrived at the same time.

Neither of us could hide our puzzled expressions.

Burta? The chief of the Volcano Tribe, who had sworn friendship with us and returned home after the battle of the Red Moon.

But we had not called him, nor did he have any particular reason or scheduled occasion to visit our Rock Tribe this late.

Zakan placed a hand on the hilt of his greatsword and asked warily.

“Burta? Did he come alone? Or did he bring warriors?”

I had the same thought.

An attack?

Then the warrior spoke in a bewildered voice.

“Two came. But…….”

“But?”

“They are badly injured. They came bleeding!”

At those words, the air froze.

Why had the chief of the Western Tribe…… crawled into our village while wounded?

I had a bad feeling.