Chapter 15
“POTATO!”
With its proud shout, a faint light began leaking from its short, stubby hand.
Blue-green particles flickered softly like fireflies.
They floated through the air.
Then they entered a potato lying near my feet.
Does everything in my life lead back to potatoes now?
What kind of world was this?
I had planted a Mythic Seed of an Ancient Spirit Tree.
A potato spirit had been born.
And now even the target of that spirit’s skill was another potato.
Just what kind of absolute position did potatoes hold in this barbarian world?
While questioning reality itself, I carefully picked up the potato filled with the spirit’s energy.
[Earth Spirit Gamdragora has activated a skill!]
“Ohhh!”
I shouted in excitement.
A skill!
Right!
It was a Mythic Spirit.
Surely beating barbarians with leaves couldn’t be its only ability.
A combat skill?
Magic that turned potatoes into bombs?
Or perhaps a miracle that made gold coins grow from potatoes?!
Holding my pounding chest, I checked the next System message.
[Through Gamdragora’s ability, the D-Rank Potato has become ‘Extremely Delicious’!]
“...”
Seriously?
I rubbed my eyes.
The message floating in front of me didn’t change by even one letter.
“Potato!”
The spirit looked incredibly proud of itself.
It puffed out its round chest and smiled brightly.
It became...
Delicious?
This was the first skill of a spirit born from a Mythic item.
And it made potatoes taste better?
I froze from the unbelievably ambiguous ability.
The creature, clearly waiting to be praised, rubbed its head against my calf.
What is this terrible feeling of disappointment stabbing my chest?
Was this really right?!
Village square.
Shouts of amazement continued one after another.
“Oooooh! Really delicious! Very delicious! Potato ghost amazing! Not scary!”
“Potato!”
Hmm...
To be fair...
It really was delicious.
We were eating nothing more than potatoes steamed in plain water.
Yet the taste was ridiculous.
The moment I bit into one...
A perfect combination of chewy and fluffy texture spread across my mouth.
The more I chewed, the sweeter it became.
Even though I hadn’t added salt, it had a perfectly balanced savory saltiness.
It was genuinely delicious.
The quality was so high that even someone with no cooking skill could simply eat it as it was and be satisfied.
Gamdragora received endless praise.
It proudly wandered through the village square on its tiny legs.
“Potato! Potato!”
The children watched from a safe distance.
They seemed fascinated by its adorable but strange appearance.
But they were also afraid they might anger it.
Yes.
For now, we were taste-testing potatoes made delicious by the skill of that bad-tempered little potato spirit.
Damn it...
It’s delicious.
It’s unbelievably delicious!
Then why did I keep feeling like my entire life plan had somehow failed?
Completely unaware of my complicated feelings, Gamdragora continued angrily whipping any large barbarian warrior who came too close.
Whenever someone praised its delicious potatoes, it immediately became proud again.
SLAP! SLAP!
“Ow! Why only hit me?! Izak! Potato ghost only hits me!”
Because you’re ugly.
Malko jumped around while rubbing his shin.
Gamdragora snorted at him, placed its hands behind its back, and continued patrolling the square.
A Mythic Spirit whose skill made potatoes delicious...
A deep sigh escaped me.
“Amazing, Shaman.”
I looked over.
Chief Zakan had approached while I was sighing.
He spoke in his usual heavy voice.
“Is this also wisdom from the ancestor god?”
His eyes were filled with absolute trust in me.
Hmm...
Why do I suddenly feel better?
My terrible mood slowly recovered after hearing his awkward but sincere praise.
I raised my shoulders and looked toward Gamdragora, which was still beating Malko’s shin.
“That is definitely a gift sent directly by the ancestor god for our tribe.”
I nodded solemnly.
“A great spirit now stands with us. From now on, the Rock Tribe will overcome everything.”
Yeah.
If that makes you happy, believe it.
“But Shaman.”
Zakan looked toward the little spirit.
“What is the potato spirit’s name?”
I froze.
Name?
I had never thought about that.
The moment the word “name” came up...
Gamdragora, which had been happily beating Malko, seemed to perk up nonexistent ears.
It hurried toward us with tiny steps.
Then it grabbed my knee and stared up at me with sparkling, expectant eyes.
If I say I never thought about it, this thing might slap me across the face with its leaves.
Cold sweat ran down my back.
I desperately searched my mind.
Gamdori?
Gamsik?
Gam...
Gam...
What would sound good?
Then I remembered the potato’s slightly sweet flavor.
And its round appearance.
A name suddenly appeared in my mind.
“Gamjadori.”
“Gamjadori?”
Zakan tilted his head at the unfamiliar sound.
There wasn’t any particularly deep meaning.
It simply matched the creature’s round appearance.
And the name sounded silly and cute.
The Gamdragora’s eyes sparkled.
“POTATO!”
Apparently, it loved the name Gamjadori.
It shouted loudly and began spinning around in a happy dance.
Fine.
From today onward...
Your name is Gamjadori.
After that small commotion ended, everyone peacefully shared the ultimate delicious potatoes created by Gamjadori.
Then...
“SHAMAAAAN! CHIEEEF! I’M BACK! IT’S TOPU!”
Someone came running toward the village entrance, kicking up clouds of dust.
Huh?
That was much faster than expected.
It had only been around ten days since Topu left while nearly crying after I emptied his bundle.
That bastard came back much faster than I expected.
A thick smile appeared on my face.
The sucker had returned.
Inside my tent.
Topu wore his usual sly smile.
“Ahem... Shaman. You’ve been well, yes?”
He rubbed his hands together.
“I was thinking about those potatoes you gave me last time...”
His eyes moved toward me.
“How would you feel about signing an exclusive agreement with me...”
“AAAAH! OW! WHAT IS THIS?! WHY DOES IT KEEP HITTING ME?!”
Topu suddenly fell backward.
“POTATOOO!”
Gamjadori does not tolerate strangers.
It had been napping on my knee.
The moment it smelled an unfamiliar human, it jumped up and attacked.
With its short legs, it kicked Topu directly in the chin.
Then its leaves whipped across his face.
SLAP! SLAP!
Topu screamed.
“AAAAH! MOVING POTATO!”
“It is a potato spirit.”
“H-Huh?!”
Topu covered his mouth.
“A spirit?! A spirit of nature? Why does a great natural spirit look like a potato inside a barbarian tent?!”
Topu looked ready to lose his mind.
But Gamjadori’s identity wasn’t the important matter right now.
I gently stroked its head until it stopped kicking him.
Then I looked at Topu.
“So...”
I smiled.
“You want to seriously sell my potatoes in the human world.”
Topu flinched.
“Seems like the potatoes I gave you became very popular outside.”
He quickly looked away.
“W-Well... I wouldn’t exactly say they became that popular...”
He scratched his cheek.
“But you barbarians need many things, yes? And to buy them, you need money.”
Topu smiled sweetly.
“So I thought we should help each other. Even if I lose a little money, I could help you sell them. You understand my good heart, yes?”
Wow.
