A Panacea for a Fever

Hey, are you all right? You look tired...

Hozuki!

Stay with me, okay!

Whoa! You're boiling hot! Do you have a fever or something?

You look like you're in pain. Let's get you to an inn...

Whoa! What the, ?

I...smell good?

What's up with you, Hozuki?!

You're acting stranger than usual. Is something the matter?

Right this second? What on earth are you talking about?

Huh?! Oagesan?

Oh, I know what this is! It's Oagesan withdrawal, just like what happened to the other Hozuki before!

I'm guessing you don't happen to have some good-quality Oagesan handy this time too, do you?

You two need something?

Huh?! Oh, uh, there's this food Hozuki calls "Oagesan..."

Ah, you're looking for something? My apologies. I just happened to overhear your conversation.

...Don't say weird stuff like that.

Anyway, do you know someplace we could get some Oagesan around here?

If it's what I've heard about before, which is to say, fried tofu... It originally comes from the East, so you likely won't be able to find any here in Unigan. They might have some in Rinde though.

Understood. Thanks.

We can't get any Oagesan without going to Rinde, it sounds like. What do you think, Hozuki? Can you make it to Rinde?

Never heard of it before. What is it?

Oagesan is basically fried tofu.

Fried tofu?

My apologies. I just happened to overhear your conversation.

Don't give him the wrong idea, Hozuki.

Anyway, can you tell us more about this fried tofu stuff?

Fried tofu is a food from the East, so I don't think you'll be able to find it here in Unigan. They might have some in Rinde though.

Okay, thanks.

I wonder if Eastern people eat fried tofu when they get sick? Like how I'd eat gruel.

There might be some Oagesan in Rinde, it sounds like. What do you think, Hozuki? Can you make it to Rinde?

What?

Wh...what are you talking about?! You're getting stranger by the minute!

Ngh! You are so lucky...

If only my wife was as beautiful as her...

W-Wait! It's not like that at all!

Wow... You're really not holding back today, are you?

Come on, Hozuki! You look fine enough to walk, so let's get going.

*sigh* Anyway, lets head for Rinde and find us some fried tofu.

Hey, Barkeep. Do you have any fried tofu lying around?

That I do. We just got some in not long back.

Perfect, I'll take some.

Here you are.

Thanks. You're a lifesaver.

Okay, Okay, I'm sorry. Here, I got you some fried tofu. Will this make you feel better?

......

A-Ah... At least, it looks like you're all better now.

That's rough.

Really...?

Withdrawal symptoms?

So that was all down to Yoko? No wonder you were acting so strange.

Okay, sure...

It's the first time I've tried something with such an interesting texture.

Hmm...obviously I'd be quite annoyed.

Perhaps I can get you a special kind of fried tofu?

You must be a pretty good cook to be this fussy over taste.

There must be Eastern ingredients around here somewhere. Let's look around town.

I see... But shouldn't we do something before you get withdrawal symptoms again?

So luxury ingredients from the East, is it?

Well, I met a trader once when I was visiting Miglance Palace. He may have had dealings with luxury foods.

One thing though. He can be a little difficult to deal with sometimes.

Thanks for the heads up, Barkeep.

Still, let's head for Miglance Castle and try to find this trader, Hozuki.

Thank you for your continued patronage. Your goods will be delivered in 10 days.

And what have we here? Who dares block my path?

No actually we're...

Moments like these are a waste of my time! Time is everything in business! But most of all, TIME IS MONEY!

That barkeep wasn't wrong about him being difficult to deal with.

How rude! I can hear you, just so you know!

Easy there. We've actually come to talk business. We want you to sell us some luxury Eastern ingredients.

Bah! If you've come to talk business, then I'll listen.

However! You have already wasted enough of my precious time. Merely selling to you will not satisfy me.

So then what would satisfy you?

Jewels! Specifically jewels from the sahuagin in the Karek Swampland. Only then will I trade with you for the ingredients you seek.

Sahuagin jewels? Strange items indeed.

You know about them, Hozuki?

I hear a few of these folks carry them. I'm not sure why but I've heard they use them as presents to their loved ones, or as proof of their power.

I see... So you want us to bring you some of those jewels?

Hahaha! If you can even obtain one, that is!

......

You can only find Sahuagin that carry the jewels once every few years!

But do try your best! Show me the struggle of the common people! I shall be working in the capital! The work never ends for me!

I don't think we're going to find such valuable jewels lying on a silver plate...

This one's not going to be easy. Let's hurry and find them!

It's useless...

Huh?

It's useless... I've run out of Oagesan.

Hey Aldo, you tried some Oagesan earlier, right?

Sure, I did...

Then I should still be able to smell it around your mouth. *licks lips*

Could you not lick your lips! Just hold out a little longer!

Oooh. But I'm dying for some more...

At this rate, I won't know what to do. We have to hurry to the Karek Swamplands and search for the jewels!

This place is crawling with sahuagin... But the jewels are nowhere to be seen.

Hey, didn't you say Yoko was keeping you from getting money?

That's right. What of it?

If that's the case, don't you think finding the jewels is going to be a challenge? Besides, even if we can find them, they might get incinerated like last time...

Ah, you don't need to worry about that this time. Yoko can only make money off me.

But this time it'll be making money off the trader, not me.

I see. So I guess nothing will make it harder for us to find the jewels now?

Absolutely nothing, and besides...

Wait... Look over there, will you?

Aren't they...the jewels we're after?

Of all the times for luck to be on our side. Yoko really is troublesome.

Well, at least we found them. Let's do this, Hozuki!

Oh my, such exquisite jewels. They'll certainly fetch a fine price.

But why on earth were they carrying them?

Who knows what the sahuagin are thinking.

Oh?

What the?! Reinforcements?! There're so many of them!

Huh? They don't want to fight?

Oh? And what have we here? Small fish and wildflowers? Are you giving these to me?

Hehehe, how adorable. Sahuagin are so well behaved.

Is it possible that the jewels are a mark of their leader?

Well then, I guess that makes us their new leaders?

Oh I do apologize. I'm afraid already have a handsome owner right here. *wink*

Like I said before, I'm not your owner!

Hehehe, c'mon Aldo, don't be shy♪

......

Come now, let's return to Unigan. With this, we should have more than enough jewels for the trader.

Once I get the ingredients, I can make you some of my delicious Oagesan. It'll be my treat, Aldo.

Right. I'll be looking forward to it.

Mmm, such a swift return I see. Mayhap your venture was for naught? Have you returned empty handed?

Nope, we found the jewels you asked for. We're here to hand them over.

Oh my, so you found them...

Wait... Come again?! You actually found them?!

Yes, here they are. Are jewels this big quite rare?

Unbelievable! For mere commoners, you didn't do half bad.

You bet we didn't. Since we brought you such large jewels, I was wondering if we could get some more ingredients?

Wha, !

Well, there's some special ingredients which really go well with Eastern cuisine.

Kinda...like this. Can you get them for us?

Mmmm... Let's see here, seasoning...soup stock... These are all very expensive!

We tried ever so hard to get them for you. I'm going to get withdrawal symptoms. Oh I can't wait to eat them!

You really expected to drive a hard bargain with a trader, Hozuki?

Ha, how naive you are! Trying to squeeze more out of our deal, eh?!

These jewels alone aren't worth the extra ingredients you're asking for!

Oh? Well, I was willing to compromise, you could've kept the change if you wanted. Well, what should we do now? I'm afraid we're all out of money.

Hmmm, I see...

Young lady! What is that mysterious stone there?

Oh, this? I brought it with me from the East.

I see. So an Eastern jewel then! It will surely fetch a fine price. Hand it over and our business here will be complete!

Hmm...

Well, I have eight of them. Parting with one will be fine.

Are you sure? Isn't it important to you?

Oagesan is more important than this ol' thing♪

Oh my! Such radiance!

Good god! Wh-What is this?

What's up?

I...I can hear a dreadful voice! It's coming from the stone.

You feeling okay there? I don't hear any voice.

It's so clear, how can you not hear it?!

Hozuki, what on earth is going on?

That jewel is Yoko's favorite thing.

What?! So that means the voice he's hearing is...

It's Yoko's. She's in a bad mood. I can see why, though.

Aaaaaah!

Here! Here! Take it back! You can have the ingredients too! Please, just don't ever come near me with whatever that ghastly thing is!

Well now, looks like his greed got him in trouble for once.

You knew what would happen when you gave it to him...

Well I didn't exactly have the luxury of time, did I!

And look, we've got the ingredients now. I've got to prepare the food asap♪ I've been itching to make this for ages now. I'll use the kitchen at the nearby bar. I won't be too long, Aldo. *wink*

Here you go! My special Oinarisan. I made loads of them, so help yourself♪

I see, so it's a ball of fried tofu stuffed with rice and vegetables?

Time to chow down! *munch munch*

Woah! It's amazing! This tastes nothing like the fried tofu I had before.

It's one of my most favorite things! I just can't wait to stuff myself!

Yoko already took a bite, so it's in a trance right now.

It sure is tasty. No wonder Yoko loves it.

So, I assume you do this to tame them?

That's right. I guess that makes me their owner, just like you're my owner, Aldo.

Anyway, it's all thanks to you things turned out okay.

Well, I couldn't have you acting strange like that all the time, could I?

Heehee. You're so sweet.

Oh! Is time for that special present I promised you.

Oh yeah, you did mention that. What is it anyway?

TADA!

...Wha! What are you, ?!

*stroke stroke* Go on, don't be shy *stroke stroke* What do you think? Doesn't my tail have the finest fur?

Huh? W-Well... It's soft, for sure, but...

It definitely feels...nice... It makes me feel like I'm... dozing off in the sun.

Hehehe. Stroke it to your hearts content.

I really am feeling...sleepy...

It tickles when you keep stroking me like that. I only let people I especially like to do this to me, just so you know.

Zzzzz

He's really fallen asleep? Oh Aldo, you're so cute. Hehe, I'm so happy.

Having these Oinarisan calmed me down...

Oh dear, it appears I've got the vapors...