Strange Dragon – 167

Chapter 167 – Finding the Gathering Spot for the Sugar Beets

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I asked Ije.

“Is it dangerous because we have to cross a river? Ije. Were you warned about going near a river?”

“Told not to go alone.”

That was common sense on the old continent.

Children were not to go playing at the river alone.

“What about with an adult?”
“Yes. Often help with the laundry. Crossed river sometimes.”

If that was the case, it was likely not near a river.

As we talked of such things,

“Yes. Over there!”

Fio pointed her finger.

“Fio. The sugar beets are over there?”

“Probably! Can smell it.”

“The smell is coming from over there?”
“Yes!”

Fio seemed quite sure of it.

“Kyuo?”

“Wuff?”

However, Hippolius and Shiro seemed quite doubtful about it.

“I see. Well, let’s search in that direction then.”
“Yes!”

We still did not know which direction it was.

And if Fio was confident, then we might as well go and check it.

Fio took the lead, while Shiro and Hippolius followed after her.
And then Ije and Kelly were right behind.

“Ije. Did they ever come back from this direction?”

“Hmmm. Maybe… Maybe not.”

Ije’s memory was not very clear.

“Did they ever tell you anything about the sugar beets?”
“Hmmm. That they very big.”
“Hmm.”

Kelly, who was walking next to her, also asked a question.

“By the way, are sugar beets a root vegetable?”

“That what they said. Soil on the peels too. So probably.”

Ije had not actually watched them growing.

“So I suppose they really do grow in the ground?”
“If that is the case, it might be best to raise them in the fields?”
“Indeed. You are right, Mr. Theo. I don’t know why Ije’s tribe did not do that. Since they seem to be good with farming.”
“Ije. Do you know why?”
“They not say the reason that it can’t grow in fields.”
“I see.”

Unlike the sugar beets on the old continent, it was difficult to raise them here.

“Wild root vegetables… But this area is all forest.”
“Yes. All forest.”
“Root vegetables that grow inside the forest. I am very curious to see how they grow.”

As we talked of such things, Hippolius suddenly cried.

“Kyuo!”

“Hmm? What is it?”
‘Close! Can smell it!’

“Wuff!”

Shiro and Hippolius were in agreement.

Apparently, Flow was right after all.

“Amazing, Fio.”

“Wuff!”

“That’s impressive, considering Shiro has a stronger sense of smell.”
“Wuff!”

I praised Fio, and Kelly patted her on the head.

And then Kelly muttered,

“They do say that children have sharper noses.”
“Is that so? What do you mean?”

“As they are smaller, they sense things like bitterness, common in poisons, or sourness, common in rotten food, much stronger.”
“Hmm. I see.”
“While adults are less sensitive. However, they also have the ability to enjoy bitterness.”
“…Well, alcohol and tea tend to be bitter.”

And there were bitter vegetables that were delicious.

“I suppose having weaker taste buds allows you to taste those deeper, mild flavors.”

“Huh. I see.”
“I see!”

Fio was also listening with a serious expression.

“Perhaps because Hippolius and Shiro had such a strong sense of smells, it was hard to trace where the smell was coming from.”
“Hmm?”

“There are multiple gathering areas, aren’t there?”

“Yes.”

“And so the smell from different spots was carried by the wind, and combined.”
“I see. And so Hippolius and Shiro thought it was coming from all directions.”

“That’s it. However, since Fio’s nose is not as sharp, she was able to smell the closest, strongest one, perhaps?”

Or rather, she was only able to sense the strongest scent.

“I see.”

Fio was also interested.

“Hippolius, Shiro. What do you think about what Kelly just said?”

‘Might be!’

“Grau!”

“Kelly. They think that you might be right.”
“I see. That is good to know. Of course, it is just a theory.”

Kelly said happily, as she petted Fio, Shiro and Hippolius.

After that, Hippolius and Shiro took the lead.

At this point, they were all sure of the sugar beet’s location.

And so their steps were confident.

After some time, Shiro suddenly stopped.

And then Hippolius stopped as well.

“What is it?”

“Kyuo?”

Hippolius asked as well.

“Wou.”

Shiro barked as if on her guard.

At the same time, she seemed to tell Fio telepathically as well.

As Fio also became cautious.

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