Chapter 6 - Apprentice Life
Since I had been hungry, I picked up the dumpling and shoved it into my mouth without hesitation. The warmth of the dough filled my cheeks, and the savory pork juices spilled across my tongue.
As for the other dumpling, I tore it into smaller pieces, scattering them like offerings. Then, I tossed everything onto the ground, except a large chunk of mashed pork and a piece of boiled egg. Those were reserved for my boy, Cow-Cow.
The crows swarmed the food as though they had been waiting for this moment. Their wings flapped, feathers scattering as they descended upon the scraps.
Cow-Cow, however, was more dignified. He landed gently on my shoulder, his claws gripping my leather armor, and he plucked the reserved food from my hand with a gentle touch.
The elder dropped everything he had been holding and stared at me with wide, round eyes. His jaw slackened. His wrinkled face squished further as though his brain had melted. I ignored him, choosing instead to grab the small jar of wine. Based on a visual estimation, it was approximately half a liter.
Since I had already drunk enough water that morning, I decided to pass the jar of wine to the elder.
"Can I pay with this wine instead of ten rabbits?"
He froze for several seconds, his mind clearly struggling to process what had just happened. Then, when reality finally caught up with him, he screamed in my face.
"What kind of sorcery did you do?! How did food appear out of nothingness?! What did you do with the crows? Why are they gathering around you?!"
Explaining this was going to be lengthy, but I had to do it. "Let's say I have the power to create food after I break vases. The bigger the vase, the better the food. That's why I want to learn from you."
The elder gave me a meaningful look, his eyes narrowing as though he were trying to pierce through my words. I was certain he could figure things out from my explanation. If he were smart, he would, at the very least, let me break more objects.
"I have some junk in my storeroom," he muttered.
Ladies and gentlemen, we hit the jackpot.
The elder disappeared into his side hut and returned carrying a giant ceramic pot. Oddly enough, it had a floral design etched across its surface. On Earth, especially in China, this would have been worth a fortune in an antique shop. Here, however, it was simply another relic of clay.
He explained, though his voice heavy with bitterness. "A brat from the Fraus House asked me to make this. But when I asked for payment, he put a warrant on my head. I managed to flee from the Avaritia and ended up here. My wife and my kids… though."
He let out a long sigh and paused. His eyes clouded.
Tragedies in this world were not uncommon. Both the elite and the military had the power to dictate the lives of common people. Their words were law. And when they abused that power, families were torn apart. That had been the setting of the game world, and this world was no different.
"I was planning to sell this to the Invidia nobles," he continued, "but based on the rumors, they would probably steal it from me or enslave me. So, kid. Destroy it. If you can summon food again, I'll teach you everything."
I gave him a firm nod. After accepting the giant vase, I placed it ten meters away from the elder. Then, using my full strength, I swung the spear at it.
It shattered instantly. Pieces of ceramic scattered across the ground.
I stood still and began counting.
One.
Two.
Three.
A golden beacon of light descended from the heavens. Within that radiance, a round wooden table emerged. On the table sat a whole roasted pig, two jars of wine, and several side dishes that filled the space with mouthwatering aromas.
Cow-Cow and the crows flapped their wings in excitement. Yet, as if they had learned from past mistakes, they kept their distance this time. They hovered nearby, waiting for me to distribute the food.
The elder staggered forward with trembling legs, his eyes widening with awe. Instead of heading straight for the table, he grabbed my arms. "Am I not dreaming, right?! Is this really happening?!"
I smiled at him. "Yes. Oh, but there's something I forgot to tell you. Only I can touch the food when it appears. But if I touch it first and give it to you, then you can eat it."
I walked toward the roasted pig and pulled out my knife. With a deliberate slice, I carved off a leg and passed it to the elder. "How about we eat and pray for your family?"
Tears leaked from the elder's eyes. He accepted the food with one hand and patted my shoulder with the other. After swallowing a noseful of snort, he wiped his face clean. "I'll make sure you learn everything from me!"
"Obviously. I need to make big vases to create food like this."
"I'll let you break as many vases as you wish, kid! Anyway, I'm called Studium. Who are you?"
I coughed and opened my mouth, but no name came out. I couldn't recall my name.
It was strange. I could remember Hollywood movie stars, historical figures, even the most obscure trivia from my past life. But my own name? Gone.
"What?" Studium urged, his suspicion growing as I stood frozen.
I thought of Cow-Cow and blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "Crow."
"Crow?"
I facepalmed, regretting everything. Since there was no way to unsay my words, I committed to my name.
"Just Crow."
And just like that, we enjoyed our breakfast at noon. Cow-Cow and his buddies received a fair share of the roasted pig. I broke two additional vases from Studium's failed product collection and summoned four more huge jars of wine. The elder and I got hammered for the rest of the day, our laughter echoing through the woods.
The next morning, I woke with a heavy head. My body ached, and I found myself lying on the ground. My skin itched all over from mosquito bites.
Cow-Cow was still with me, sleeping soundly despite the daylight. His belly was so round that he looked more like a chicken than a proper crow. His friends weren't much better. Some of them had gotten a taste of wine and had been kicked out of their nests after their wives caught the scent of alcohol.
I stared at the drunken chicken-crows and snickered. These ridiculous goofballs reminded me how precious life could be, even in a world as cruel as this.
"Are you going to eat that?" Studium asked me.
No, gramp. Not that meme.