World of Karik: A Game of Villains 36 Almost Like Home

Having finished off the monster, I still remained at level 5. I was yet to find a way to improve my intelligence, but something was telling me that I'd better take my time with this decision. It was still too early for me to level-up. I'd better think this over; maybe I could think of something. Okay, the experiments are over, so I should go back. Olga and Dasha are probably waiting for me. With my ingredients, of course.

When I returned, the girls had already collected a pretty big pile of plants and looked at me unkindly.

"You are great!" I said and gave them a disarming smile. "It's nice that I can count on you!"

Olga's snide remark remained unheard. Our iron business lady was not only cruel, but also clever — she could not, naturally, get in fight with someone who had just praised her! And since I decided to take them under my wing, I demonstrated what kind of relationship I wanted us to have. I could use force, yes; but why I do that? It was much easier to build a firm base than to constantly look back in anticipation of the imminent collapse. I think that they understood that, too.

"I think that we can go back to the base with a clear conscience now," I said.

"Actually, we said that we are going berry and mushroom picking," Dasha recalled.

I totally forgot about that. With all the news, conspiracies, and strange findings, it just slipped my mind that our original goal was to make tonight's dinner a little more exquisite. Not to mention that I haven't eaten mushrooms in such a long time! The thought of delicious toasted chanterelles and honey fungi made my mouth water. How can a person say "no" to culinary preferences?

"You're right, Dasha," I nodded. "It'd be nice to eat something new before going to bed."

Girls had collected so much Holly that I could barely fit it all in my inventory. Perhaps I should find a hiding place. My experiments with plants would otherwise remain a beautiful, but rarely indulged, whim. I had big plans for the local equivalent of alchemy.

Soon we came across a real mushroom mother load. However, instead if names that I knew from my childhood, there were so-called Thunder Mushrooms, Mushvells and Spitters. The last one made Dasha genuinely amused; Olga, too, chuckled, albeit demurely. I could only sigh in frustration; since I didn't get any information about the mushrooms except for their names, they were not useful for alchemical experiments.

"Are we to taste each of them?" Olga said with doubt in her voice.

I understood her fears — we couldn't die from poisoning in this world, yes, but it would be pleasant to have to resurrect after dying because of a poisonous mushrooms. I told the girls to collect everything except for the Mushvells. If it was not a coincidence, then, judging by their name, they were marvelously hallucinogenic. Of course, I saved a couple so that I could test their effect later...on someone. We didn't plan on picking Spitters, but after a brainstorming session, we came to a conclusion that they were called so only because of the unsightly appearance.

I don't know how much time we spent at that clearing, but by the time we picked all the mushrooms the sun had slowly began to set. Each of our inventories was now fully packed with Thunder Mushrooms, Spitters and Herbeirs, dark green mushrooms with yellow fibers. Dasha investigated some bushes and came across purple berries. She collected a few handfuls and decided to give them a taste. Appeaseberry, as they were called, were edible and I decided to take the risk, but Olga beat me to it. She muttered something unintelligible, grimaced and threw a few berries into her mouth. She hesitated, chewed, swallowed and became worried.

"It tastes like a mint drink," she said at last.

We let out a sigh of relief and moved toward the base. I thought how it was strange that there was no mention of alchemy or alchemical ingredients in the description of these mushrooms. There were probably two reasons for that: either alchemy could somehow be leveled-up and more information would be revealed later on; or all of these mushrooms and berries were nothing but food.

At the base we were met by the frowning Major. Without saying a word, he waited until we passed him, and then followed us.

"How are you?" Dasha asked him discreetly, but the guy didn't answer, only noisily cleared his throat.

"Look who's back!" Petrovich exclaimed with fake joy, walking out of the forge.

"And not empty-handed," Olga nodded. "We'll be having mushroom soup today for dinner and berries for dessert."

"Not Gripeberries, I hope?" said Dmitri, walking after Petrovich. "They make your stomach ache for a week."

"Appeaseberries!" Dasha proudly reported, happy that it was she who had found the berries.

"They are good," the blacksmith nodded approvingly. "But rare. Lucky you."

"Cat, will you help us?" Olga asked matter-of-factly, heading toward the fire pit.

Honestly, I didn't fancy cooking, but thinking about mushrooms made my mouth water, and I didn't feel like being on my own. Being with the girls was fun.

"Sure!" I answered.

Olga immediately told us to collect dry branches, and sent Dasha to get water for the soup. So, chit-chatting occasionally, we made the fire and hung a huge pot over it. Well, I hung the pot and the girls gave me instructions.

By the time the base got filled with the subtle aroma of mushroom soup, twilight had fallen. Everyone gathered around the fire and silently observed the soup. Satisfied, Olga nodded and tasted the boiling broth. Bowls in their hands, people came up one by one. When it was my turn and Olga poured the thick soup with mushrooms floating in it into my bowl, a slight sadness crept into my soul.

This world, even with all of its oddities, was almost an ideal place, a kind of paradise where you could die and rise again. But it wasn't home. And these mushrooms, unknown to our world's science, harshly reminded me that we had come here from another place. I wondered what was going on there now. And... Was it worth going back there? Who was I there? A loader. Who am I here? The only mage in the whole world. Well, except for the Reapers and their followers. These guys were above the rest.

"Excellent, Olga, my dear," Petrovich said, scratching the bottom of the bowl with his spoon. I could've sworn that I heard genuine respect in his voice.

The Major nodded, and the rest murmured, thanking the business-lady.

"I've finally eaten properly," Semyon said with a delighted sigh.

"Yes," said Dasha, looking at the evening sky. "Almost like the one at home..."

We huddled around the dying fire. Petrovich said that it was time for bed, and appointed the Major and the ex-cop keep watch for the night.

"Cat," he softly said and gestured me to move aside with a short nod.

What the hell was this guy up to again? A little irritated and still tormented by curiosity, I followed the Lancer.

"Listen," he started, as we moved to a safe distance. "I know that you and I got off on the wrong foot…"

Chapter end