I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit [110]
In the game, no matter if it was pigeons by bridges or raptors in deserts, the meat they dropped was uniformly called Fowl. Similarly, whether it was boars in the jungle or scorpions in the sands, their meat was simply labeled Raw Meat.
Additionally, fish dropped Fish Meat, and there was even something called Mystic Meat, supposedly dropped by killing flying serpents in the desert—though Kiichi couldn't quite recall. After all, she had never figured out what Mystic Meat was used for, and it had just sat in her inventory gathering dust.
Teyvat's vegetarian options also intrigued her. Beyond real-world staples like cabbages and carrots, this world boasted fascinating plants like Sweet Flowers.
Sweet Flowers were especially famous since they were essential for dishes like Sweet Madame. Kiichi remembered running out of them frequently, scouring the map to replenish her stock.
Even sugar in Teyvat was made from Sweet Flowers.
While Fenhuan Yu wasn't particularly skilled in cooking, Kiichi Hōgen excelled in the culinary arts—among countless other skills. Upon acquiring her Spirit Origin, all of these abilities had seamlessly transferred to her.
It was an uncanny sensation, like playing the piano without needing sheet music; the moment her fingers touched the keys, they moved with fluid precision.
And, in addition to the culinary expertise carried over from her Spirit Origin, she also had the dessert-making skills learned as Okita Souji from her elder sister Edelweiss—a world-class chef.
With this blend of talents, even though she hadn't figured out all the ingredients yet, Kiichi still managed to prepare a table full of visually appealing, aromatic, and delicious dishes.
The tengu girl, famished after waking, was completely captivated by the spread. After joining Kiichi in the customary "I (we) humbly partake," she could no longer hold back, devouring the meal with gusto.
Anticipating that the child might not know how to use chopsticks, Kiichi had thoughtfully prepared a wooden spoon for her—one she had crafted herself.
In fact, everything around them, from the table and utensils to the house itself, was handcrafted by Kiichi.
The cozy bedroom, the dining hall, and the quaint courtyard visible just outside—all of it was built entirely by her.
Beyond the courtyard, Kiichi had also set up a barrier to keep intruders out.
Feeling Kiichi's gaze on her, the tengu girl blushed faintly, slowing her eating pace and adopting more refined manners.
"No need to be so formal. There are no strict rules here," Kiichi said with a casual wave of her hand.
To prove her point, she picked up her rice bowl and struck a relaxed, unrestrained posture.
"By the way, what's your name? It'd be nice to know what to call you."
After the meal, Kiichi formally began her inquiries.
"My name is Sara."
Hearing this, Kiichi's golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"Do you have a family name?"
The tengu girl—Sara—hesitated for a moment before shaking her head.
Kiichi then asked if Sara knew of any other tengu besides herself.
As she suspected, while the tengu race existed in this world, Sara had never encountered any others. Her memories of her biological parents were faint, almost forgotten.
Apart from her parents, Kiichi might very well be the first tengu Sara had ever met.
"Aren't you part of the tengu clan, big sister?"
"Me? Hmm... I don't think I'm connected to your tengu clan."
The tengu in this world seemed to be human-adjacent, while Kiichi was a spirit born from nature itself. In terms of existence, she was closer to the gods or immortals of Teyvat.
Yet the inexplicable sense of kinship she felt toward Sara left her uncertain.
Kiichi had been a prominent sorcerer and onmyōji in Kyoto during the late Heian period. From that perspective, she might have been considered human. However, she was often associated with Kurama Tengu, the Great Tengu of Mount Kurama.
According to Edo-period literature like the jōruri Kiichi Hōgen's Three Strategems, Kiichi's true identity was none other than the Great Tengu, Sōjōbō of Mount Kurama.
Of course, history and the lore of the Nasuverse were notoriously complex. Kiichi herself wasn't one to dwell on details; she'd rather laugh them off.
So, after a fleeting thought, she dismissed the matter entirely.
After finishing their meal, a light stroll to digest their food seemed fitting.
The courtyard was too small, so naturally, they stepped outside.
As they walked, Sara's eyes widened in astonishment.
She had lived in this forest for years, and while she had her doubts at first, a brief walk erased them entirely.
This place was familiar to her.
But...
Sara turned back to look at the house.
She didn't recall any large structures being here.
"You won't believe this, but I built that courtyard myself!" Kiichi announced with a tone of pride. "It took quite the effort, let me tell you."
Sara froze, stunned.
"H-how long was I unconscious?"
"Hmm... I'm not sure. I don't have a clock or anything, but it definitely wasn't more than a day."
A day.
In less than a day, this otherworldly tengu sister had built such an expansive courtyard—alone!
What Kiichi didn't mention was that the real effort lay in the design. Actually constructing the place was relatively easy for her.
After all, back when she played Minecraft, her houses had been little more than wooden boxes. Her more skilled friends had refused to play with her because her builds were so ugly. Fortunately, Kiichi Hōgen was a masterful architect.
For Sara, the stroll had been sufficient exercise after a meal. For Kiichi, however, it wasn't nearly enough.
And so...
Before Sara's astonished eyes, one of the nightmarish hounds that had haunted her was effortlessly felled by Kiichi in a single strike.
Standing with her back to the disintegrating corpse, Kiichi casually flipped her blade into a reverse grip with her left hand. With her right, she flicked the blade, producing a crisp hum.
The dark purple blood staining the weapon evaporated instantly, leaving no trace.
The ease, the precision, the sheer power left Sara awestruck.
Her swirling thoughts condensed into a single, awed whisper:
"Amazing..."
"Hmm... not really," Kiichi replied nonchalantly.
Being praised was nice, but such weak opponents didn't give her any sense of accomplishment.
"Among the enemies I've faced in a thousand years, these barely rank as minor nuisances."
Sara continued to replay Kiichi's elegant movements and mysterious techniques in her mind.
It wasn't until much later that she processed what Kiichi had said.
"A... a thousand years?! (っ °Д °;)っ"
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