After a smooth ride with breaks and no incidents, we arrived at the campsite.

"We’re here!"

Stretching deeply, I loosened my stiff body. Even with cushions, sitting in an unfamiliar carriage had left my rear sore.

The campsite was in a grassy plain with scattered rocks, and a forest was visible a short distance away. A spacious clearing served as the camping area, and with no one else around, we could use as much space as we wanted without complaints.

"Alright, everyone, you’re on your own from here. Tomorrow, we’ll depart shortly after sunrise, so don’t be late," the driver announced before tending to the horses.

"Man, I’m starving."

It was already evening. The sun hadn’t set yet, but darkness was fast approaching.

"Now then, it’s my time to shine! I have a selection of ingredients. Anyone interested in adding a little extra to their dinner?"

The merchant who had been sitting at the back of the carriage spread out a cloth and started a makeshift stall. His offerings were mostly single-use food items, perfect for tonight’s meal.

"Oh, Fenrir Mushrooms! I’ll take one," said Frist, the bearfolk leader of the adventurer party, without hesitation.

"That size will be 500 Fron," the merchant replied.

Apparently on the cusp of being a C-rank adventurer, Frist didn’t bat an eye at the price. So, this was the mushroom we’d heard about at the guild. Among the displayed items, it was relatively small, yet it cost 500 Fron. The larger ones must be exorbitant. It seemed to be a luxury ingredient, making me want to try it even more.

"Is it good?"

"Of course! You can grill it, stew it—whatever you want, it’s amazing."

"Alright, I’ll take two," I said.

"Hey, wait a sec," Frist interjected as I reached for a couple of larger mushrooms.

"Those sizes are 4,000 and 4,400 Fron, respectively. You okay with that?"

"Seriously?!"

Ten times the price for twice the size? That was unexpected. But still—

"No problem. I’ll take them."

"Ha! You’re loaded, aren’t you?" Frist remarked with a shrug.

I paid the merchant and received the mushrooms. They looked exactly like matsutake mushrooms, though they didn’t have much of a scent. Time to grill them.

"Alright, let’s do some grilling!"

"I’m looking forward to it," Rio said, her excitement matching mine.

Everyone else began preparing their meals. The adventurers pulled out a magic stove from their storage bag, while the mother and daughter munched on black bread stuffed with dried meat.

Using earth magic, I constructed a small furnace, then retrieved a metal grill from my dimensional storage. Tearing the Fenrir Mushrooms into manageable pieces by hand, I placed them on the grill and ignited the fire with magic.

"You’re quite skilled," remarked Milka, the foxfolk mage from Frist’s party, her voice relaxed and drawn out.

"Really? It’s just routine for us by now."

"Is that so?"

Apparently, most mages reserve their magic for emergencies, unlike my master, who used it liberally.

As the rich, savory aroma wafted from the grill, my stomach growled in anticipation. If only we had soy sauce...but no use lamenting what we didn’t have.

"Think they’re ready?"

"Yeah, let’s give it a try."

Rio and I each took a piece and popped it into our mouths without any seasoning.

"Delicious!"

"Wow, it’s so good!"

The flavor burst in my mouth, spreading a rich umami that seemed to melt away. The mushrooms’ crunchy texture was a delightful surprise.

"Right? Told ya," Frist said smugly, while Milka nodded in agreement.

"Did you come all this way just for the mushrooms?" Frist asked.

"Pretty much. We’re ultimately headed for the sea, but we’re not in a hurry, so we thought we’d do some sightseeing along the way," I replied.

"Got it. Well, enjoy the mushrooms while you’re here. That’s pretty much the village’s only claim to fame," he said with a laugh.

Sprinkling some salt on the next batch of mushrooms, I nodded.

"Otherwise, this remote village wouldn’t have a carriage service," he added, gesturing toward the increasingly narrow road in the now darkened landscape.

As we chatted, the grilled mushrooms disappeared. Around us, the adventurers had set up their tents, while the mother, daughter, and merchant group had retreated to the carriage for the night.

"Maybe we took it a bit too easy," Rio said, tilting her head.

"Yeah, probably. I’m not full yet, but let’s wrap this up quickly," I replied, pulling out sandwiches from the storage and handing one to her.

As I bit into mine, Frist approached.

"...Where are you two sleeping?" he asked, eyeing us suspiciously.

While his concern was misplaced—we were experienced campers—his curiosity was understandable, given how relaxed we seemed.

"We’ll build a place to stay," I said simply.

"...Build?"

Ignoring his incredulous tone, I walked a short distance away, knelt, and pressed my hands to the ground. Concentrating my magic, I activated the spell.

The earth rose, forming sturdy walls and a solid floor. I shaped the structure into a small house with a second room for a bath, complete with a vacuum-insulated tub to retain heat. I added a roof, cut small windows, and crafted a smooth, frictionless door with earthen hinges for easy use.

"Done."

"Wh...what the hell?!"

Frist and his party let out a collective shout of disbelief as they stared at the house I’d constructed in under ten minutes.