Journey to Godhood Begins in Frieren

"Cabbage Season." Hearing that name—especially in a fantasy world—makes you think you'll be fighting some monster that looks like a head of cabbage, or cabbages that have turned into monsters.

But that's not the case at all.

Food made with these cabbages can even raise an adventurer's level. In this world, leveling up isn't limited to slaying monsters.

That's why many wealthy families gain levels simply by feasting every day, easily surpassing most ordinary adventurers.

Three days later, just after Shichen's party finished the Giant Toad Subjugation Quest and returned to the guild, loudspeakers rang out across the town:

"Emergency quest! Emergency quest! All adventurers currently in town, please report to the Adventurers' Guild immediately! I repeat—emergency quest! Emergency quest! All adventurers currently in town, please report to the Adventurers' Guild immediately!"

"W‑wah! That scared me!"

The broadcast near the guild was even louder—some sort of magic must have amplified it—making Satou Kazuma jump.

"What's going on? What kind of emergency quest? Are monsters attacking the town?"

"It should be the 'Cabbage Harvest Season' Luna mentioned earlier. Let's go in and see," Shichen said, leading the way into the guild.

Aqua yawned and followed him.

"Cabbages? You guys have been talking about that for two days now. What is it exactly? Don't tell me cabbages really turn into monsters?"

"Nope." Darkness smiled as she explained. "They're just vegetables."

"Then how's that an emergency quest?"

"Mm … because it's harvest time for cabbages," Darkness replied, excitement in her voice as she caught up with Shichen.

"Harvest? What's so great about harvesting cabbages?"

"So many questions—just come along!" Megumin scolded Kazuma and headed inside with Yunyun. She hadn't fired her Explosion Magic yet today, so she was still bursting with energy.

"Well, fine…," Kazuma muttered, trailing after them.

Inside, the adventurers already present stood at the ready, every one of them looking fired up.

Kazuma was baffled.

"Shichen-san, you're back!" Luna greeted them with a bright smile.

"This must be… what you were talking about?" Shichen asked.

"Exactly!" Luna nodded, still smiling. "There's no rush yet, Shichen-san—please wait a little."

"No problem, Luna-san. You go on with your work."

"All right. May we settle your previous reward together with the cabbage payout a bit later?"

"Works for me."

"Thank you—please wait just a moment. Also, you don't have to be so formal; just call me Luna." With that, she returned to the counter.

"Tch, that woman just won't give up," Megumin grumbled, glaring at Luna's back.

"What, you jealous?" Shichen pulled Megumin onto his lap and hugged her.

She wriggled a little, found a comfortable position, tossed her staff to Yunyun, and stayed put.

"H‑hmph! Don't get the wrong idea. She's trying to steal someone from our team, and we can't allow that—right, Yunyun?"

"Uh… mm‑hmm…," Yunyun answered nervously, eyeing Shichen. (She wasn't bothered by him holding Megumin; she was just worried Megumin might be right.) Two days earlier, Shichen had tried the same lap‑seat maneuver with Yunyun at the guild, but she'd blushed so hard she almost fainted after less than a minute. Shichen had no choice but to settle for the tiny Megumin.

Maybe it was their small size that made him want to cuddle them—ever since he'd carried Kanna and Serie, he felt odd when he wasn't holding something. In any case, neither girl resisted.

Before long, more and more adventurers poured in until the guild hall was packed. Practically every adventurer in town had shown up.

"Why is everyone here?" Kazuma asked, still at a loss.

"You'll see," Shichen said with a grin.

"Can't you just tell me? Riddles are torture."

"It's different when you find out on the spot. Let me have my fun and watch you squirm for a bit."

"Shichen, that's so mean—"

"Sorry to gather everyone on such short notice," a guild employee suddenly announced, cutting Kazuma off. She raised her voice so the entire hall could hear. "Some of you already know what this is about—yes, it's cabbages! The cabbage harvest season is upon us again this year!"

The staffer practically sparkled with excitement; she swallowed, then continued: "The cabbages have grown exceptionally well this year. Each one you bring in will earn you 10,000 Eris! We have asked the townsfolk to remain indoors for safety. Please capture as many cabbages as possible and bring them back here! Of course, watch out for counter‑attacks so you don't get hurt! Because so many people are involved and the total payout will be enormous, rewards will be distributed over the coming days!"

"OOOHHH!"

The moment she finished, every adventurer in the hall erupted with cheers.

Kazuma stared at Shichen in disbelief. "Shichen, did she just say… ten thousand eris? Each? Are you serious?"

"Of course it's—"

A sudden shout outside interrupted him:

"Hey! Cabbages have appeared—let's go!"

"CHARGE!"

Green objects swooped through the sky outside. In a heartbeat, the adventurers stampeded out of the guild, leaving only Shichen's group and a few staffers behind.

"What are those…?" Kazuma gawked at the green flyers.

Reclining behind Shichen, Aqua lazily explained, "In this world, cabbages can fly. When their flavor concentrates and harvest time comes, they refuse to be eaten. They zoom over towns, plains, continents, even oceans, then quietly die in some secret place so nothing can eat them. So we have to catch as many as we can while they're still delicious."

"What kind of nonsense is that?"

"You've been here this long—how are you not used to how weird this world is?" Shichen laughed.

"It's not that easy!"

Then take your time getting used to it, Shichen thought. "Come on, let's catch cabbages—ten thousand eris each! We might be able to buy a house by the end of today!"

"A house? Charge!" Aqua bolted out first, the rest hot on her heels.

Outside, cabbages filled the sky—green dots as far as the eye could see. They even had eyes, yet still looked very much like cabbages, so it wasn't particularly disturbing.

"Ten thousand! Here I come!" Aqua lunged at a straggler and tried to wrap her arms around it. The cabbage, apparently sentient, accelerated and smacked into her chest—only to bounce off her surprisingly hard armor.

"Ow! You're dead meat!" Aqua didn't even rub the spot; she just punched the cabbage.

"I caught one—easy! Everyone, hurry!" Aqua waved excitedly.

"Leave it to me; I'll be your shield! You grab them!" Darkness charged to the front, spread her arms, and stood firm. Cabbages slammed into her plate armor and knocked themselves senseless.

"Darkness, I'll help—Fireball!" Yunyun cast a mid‑tier spell.

"Shichen, take me outside the town walls—I'll blast them all!" Megumin couldn't wait any longer.

"Got it. Kazuma, what are you doing? Don't freeze up—ten thousand eris each, remember? For the house!"

"Fine…" Kazuma drew his dagger and dashed into the cabbage swarm.

"Megumin, hold on tight."

"Okay."

Shichen lifted Megumin in a front hug. Once her arms were hooked around his neck, he sped straight outside the town.

"Explosion!"

With her childish shout, concentric magic circles gathered in midair, power swelling—

BOOOOM!

The deafening blast sent shockwaves through the sky‑borne cabbages, and a blanket of green rained down instantly.

"Heh‑heh…" Megumin slumped, exhausted, in Shichen's arms. "I'm… amazing, right?"

"Very amazing. All right, my turn." Shichen affectionately ruffled her hair, then raised his palm toward the horizon.

"Explosion."

~~~

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