Not for long, all the dishes in the table already clean sweep leaving only empty plate. Mrs. Harvard and Silvie clean up the table and take the empty plate to the back house, left me and chief Harvard alone. There's satisfied expression on Chief Harvard face after eating this meal.
"I never know the food will be more delicious like this if we added garam into it"
I only nodded hearing this. Salt already widely used in the world I used to live, not only for food but also for another use in different industries. To add minerals for soils in farm industries, for soap and detergent industries, tannery processes, pharmaceutical industries etc. I think if anyone held the production secret of the salt, he will able to become ruler of this world.
"May I know where this 'garam' came from, Chief Harvard?"
"It comes from garam crystal that mined in certain places. Unfortunately not every place has this garam crystal mines. That's why the price is so expensive"
"In my country, garam is not expensive. Maybe one gold coin could buy garam for a whole room"
The eyes of Chief Harvard shone when he heard that. It seems he interested to get this 'garam' or may be interested with my country.
"Ah, that's right, your country is so powerful. To able make everyone can buy garam in affordable ways is not impossible for such country. Master Ikki, you said you're lost in the sacred forest right? Do you want to return to your country, master Ikki?"
"Yes, that's true chief Harvard. That why I actually want your help to make me able to return to my country". After saying that, I tell him the story which starts from the time I'm entering the cave and until giant boulder blocking the cave entrance in the forest and wandering in the forest and met Silvie.
Chief Harvard is listening to my story with interest, sometimes he nodded and after I'm finishing my story he just silent like thinking something. After a while finally, he starts to speak.
"Master Ikki, If I may resume your story, because the big boulder blocking your way back to your country, you need our help to remove the boulder, yes?"
"That's right chief Harvard"
"Since you're my daughter benefactor, I can't refuse your request. But to remove that boulder needs much manpower, I'm alone can't remove the boulder. So, I will shamelessly ask master Ikki to granted my only wish"
"Please say it, chief Harvard, if that within my capability I will granted for sure"
"This …. Actually …. " chief Harvard seems to hesitate to speak his wish
"Just say it chief"
"Well ….. my wish is …. Can master Ikki bring us to your world?"
Eh? Does he want to move to my world? What should I say to him? Should I accept his request or reject it? If I reject it, he probably will not help me remove the boulder, but if I granted his wish, what will happen in my village when I suddenly return with two hundred foreigners? I scratching my head to find the best solution for this matter.
"This … I can't give you answer right now chief, can I think about that first?"
"Hahaha … it's alright master Ikki, I can wait for the answer. But if you really can't take all of us at least bring my daughter with you. How about that?"
Eh? Did you just ask me to take your daughter with me? Please chief, don't give your daughter so easily like that, especially to strangers like me! Frankly speaking, I a bit dumbfounded when he asks that. It's not his daughter is ugly or bad looking girls, in fact, she's a beautiful girl like those fashion model in my world. But if just accept it seems ….. well, you know.
"Can I think about that too?"
"Hahaha … of course. Now it's already late, why not master Ikki take a rest first? Tomorrow we go to the forest and see the boulder first to estimate how many people we need to remove it?"
"That's sound good chief, I agree with that"
Chief Harvard then takes me to one room of the house and let me rest there. There're not many things in the room, only small wooden table and wooden chair, a wooden bed and a wooden cupboard. After putting my backpack and belonging under the bed, I climb to the bed and lay there, close my eyes and trying to take a rest.
teaser for chapter 9:
But when I'm about to reach the ponds, something makes my steps halts and I have to hide my self behind a large tree. Gosh! Suddenly my heart is throbbing very fast like almost jump out from my chest.
BADUMP … BADUMP …. BADUMP