The Ingredient Expedition

I'll never lose, you hear me!

Please! Victory's as good as mine!

I wonder what's going on here.

Yes, yes. Very good. Everyone please settle down. We will begin shortly.

What's going to begin?

We're doing a food scavenge!

We're going to go look for delicious food in the next village!

*gulp* Did you say, "delicious food"?

We're gonna go looking around Lake Tiilen and the Zol Plains!

Whoa, all the way out there? Isn't that kinda dangerous?!

Haha, we'll be fine. It's not that far!

The winner will be decided on their scavenged food's taste and difficulty to acquire. The winner will become renowned in the village. It's an important chance for the young'uns.

Oho...

I want a piece of that delicious food. I want in too.

What? But you're not a kid!

The boy's right. This event really is just for children. What's more, and this is kind of awkward, but you don't come from the village either.

*sob* Food...

But. We are currently looking for a chaperon to look over the children to make sure they are safe. Would you be interested in helping out?

As thanks we'll make you a meal from the ingredients the children find.

Meal?!

Haha, it looks like it's decided then. Okay, off you go, children.

Right!

Looks like you'll get to eat something nice after all, Nagi.

I'll fill you in on where the children are off to. First off, Lake Tiilen, then the Zol Plains and lastly the Vasu Mountains.

Well, let's head to Lake Tiilen then.

Yes. Food, food, food.

Hyaaah! Take this!

Haha, look at him go! They've come pretty far out already though, glad we're looking over them.

They're not half bad for kids.

I can see now why coming first is such a big deal.

Ahah! I got it! I caught another one!

Looks like they've finished now.

Hey, you two, look, look! Look what I got! I got a real tasty lookin' one!

Good going! You've got a whole basket's full by the looks of it. What are you catching anyway?

Heheheh...

This! Izzak seedlings!

Blegh!

Haha, by the look on your face, you don't much like these, huh?

Aldo, it's no good being a picky eater, especially while travelling.

That's right! It's so good pickled!

Or you can put powder sugar on it and eat it sweet. Anyway's good!

*gulp* S-See, Aldo. We should all try soon. Soon!

Y-Yeah I guess you're right. But isn't it kinda dangerous to be trying to catch Izzak? Even if they're small ones?

I can catch the little seedlings no problem. 'N' my parents said if I see any big ones, I should just run away.

Come on, let's get back so we can eat already.

Yeah...

(A basket full of Izzak? Just thinking about it making my stomach turn...)

(Got to think of a way out of eating it.)

So next is the Zol Plains, right? Let's head over there.

Oh, there he is.

Hmmm, why can't I catch anything...

Doesn't look like it's going so well here.

Oh, have you come to get me already?

Nah, we're just here to check on you. Doesn't look like you're having much luck, huh?

None at all! It's weird, I'm really good at fishing normally, today's just not my day.

You're gonna lose at this rate, you know?

I'm okay with just losing. But if I don't catch anything at all, the whole village will think of me as the poor boy who can't fish.

Ohhh! I can't even bear thinking about it now!

I don't get it. Is this what all little boys are like?

Haha, yeah I guess so.

Whoa, get out of my way!

Hyaaaaaa!

I got it! I got it! Hahaha, this is way better than a stupid fish!

Not more Izzak?

Nah, I don't really like Izzak. It's kinda gross.

I'm starting to like this kid...

Look! It's smaller than what the grown-ups catch but it's still a pretty great dancing flower!

Wait, you eat Dancing Flower?

Of course. They make the best salads! You're tellin' me you haven't tried it before?! It's like they're actually dancing in your mouth with every bite you take!

Oh, that sounds good... *drool*

Am I really just a picky eater?

Whatever. Next up is the Vasu Mountains.

Oh no... What should I do?

Looks like she's worried about something.

Ah! Hero Man and Octopus Lady, you're here!

It's bad! It's bad! It's really, really bad!

It's okay we're here now. What's the matter?

We came over looking for the sweet potatoes that grow here. The sweet potatoes that grow here are famous for being really tasty when you steam them over the highest heat possible.

I mean reallyreallyreally tasty! They're my favorite!

Oh... *aggressive drooling*

Nagi, you're getting drool everywhere...

Sorry! Went into drool overload.

But it wasn't just us who came here. There was another boy as well.

He was looking for sweet potatoes too? It wouldn't be too good if both of you came back with the same ingredient.

Yeah... He got mad and went off further into the volcano.

He shouted something about going to find the hottest place to steam his potatoes. And that his lava-steamed potatoes are going to guarantee him first place.

That's way too dangerous! It doesn't matter how bad he wants to win!

This is an emergency! Let's try and catch up with him before he gets hurt!

Yeah. We better hurry!

We've already come this far into the volcano and still no sign of him.

Nope. I think I see him now. Aldo, look!

Whaaa! I taste real bad, you know! I'll give you a tummy ache for days!

Oh! It's the outsider Octopus Lady!

Hey, that's rude!

You came too, huh?!

We'll be having a "talk" after this is all sorted out!

Oh man, you're gonna yell at me, aren't you?

Here it comes, Aldo. Watch out!

I'm ready!

You won! That was awesome!

It's so hot here. I even broke a sweat.

You saved me! Thank you, thank you!

You have something else to say to Nagi other than thanks, don't you?

I, urr... Sorry for doing something dangerous.

And one more thing.

Nice Octopus Lady, I...I'm sorry for saying those mean things.

It's okay, I'm not mad. It was just a bit of a surprise is all.

*sniff* Urgh, what smells like fish.

H-Hey, it's really hot here, you know!

Haha, well I'm glad you two made up at least.

Yeah. But really, thanks for saving me back there.

Oh, but, if you saved me, does that mean that I have to drop out of the competition? Everyone in the village is gonna treat me like I can't fend for myself yet...

It hurts just thinking about it!

Haha, well you only have yourself to blame. Shouldn't have tried something so dangerous.

Ohhh, I guess you're right. And now I'm hungry! It's just not my day.

You're hungry? Okay, just have one of my tentacles then.

You've got to be kidding me!

Wait, you can eat your own tentacles?!

Yeah, of course? I was always by myself when I was little, so when I couldn't catch any food I would just eat a tentacle or two. They just grow back anyway. I thought everyone did that, no?

I, no! Peoples limbs don't just grow back. Most people don't even have tentacles. And they definitely don't eat them!

Really? That's news to me.

Well, mine grow back. So don't be shy, here. Come on, eat up. You said you were hungry, right?

Yeah, I am but... I wouldn't wanna put you out a tentacle or anything.

But thanks anyway! You're the kindest octopus lady I've ever met!

Well, yeah. I suppose that's being kind... Just really weird...

In that case, we better get back to the village as soon as possible so we can eat all that great food from the competition.

Hey, you finally made it back. Thank you so much for watching over the children. Thanks to you, they all made it back safely.

Well, what are you waiting for? The food's all ready. We have freshly steamed sweet potatoes if you'd care for some?

In that case, don't mind if I do!

(Nagi! You can eat all the weird stuff, okay? Just leave me with some normal potatoes!)

Let's get stuck in! It's nom time!

Yay! It all looks so good!

Phew! That was all so good!

Well, thank you. That was quite a sight...

That was awesome!

I never thought we'd be able to eat all that food, but it just disappeared in no time. I think that's some kind of eating record or something.

Nagi, you can eat so much, but where does it even all go?!

You're looking pleased with yourself. Must have been really good food?

Well, yeah, of course it was all great.

But, that girl, she called me by my name.

Oh yeah! The kids have really taken a shine to you, huh?

You certainly have a way of eating that makes everything look delicious. We'd love to have you for the next food scavenge as well.

You can count on me being there!