SKB Short Story 2 - Mushroom Keeper Caravan
summary of a short story published in Dengeki Bunko, vol 62. takes place between v1 and 2.
this is the only short story that had original art with it (above), and I love it so much🥺 anyway...
Milo is taking a bath alone under a cold waterfall. as you do. it’s transitioning into winter, so bathing in the tepid waters isn’t really appealing to most people, but milo seems to be glad that he’s clean.
He gets out of the water and dresses himself. he wonders if bisco is still busy, since he hasn’t shown up yet to take his own bath.
He finds bisco by their camp, helping actagawa finish pulling off the shell layer he’s shedding. once free and feeling better, actagawa goes to play in the river.
B: “I’m beat. He hadn’t shed in a while, so I thought he was done growin’... but looks like he’s still got a lot left to do.”
M: “Come on, you should go take a bath! I’ll make lunch in the meantime.”
B: “Can’t, still got one more thing to do. Actagawa’s markings came off ‘cause he shed, so I gotta paint those back on before--”
Bisco picks up on a faint noise, then gives a look to milo. they draw their knives just as steel arrows come flying at them. the arrows are knocked into nearby trees, and explode into mushroom clusters.
Actagawa comes to help. he makes a beeline for the waterfall and bashes the cliff with his claws, causing a person who was at the top of the cliff to fall into the pool in front of them.
Milo saves the person from drowning. he and bisco realize it’s a male mushroom keeper. bisco angrily asks if he had come after them for the bounty money, and wants to know which tribe he’s from.
The guy explains that because actagawa had no markings, he thought they were part of some enemy group. he then looks up at bisco... and seems to recognize him?
??: “It’s me, Chaba! Y’know, grandson of Gana from the Tottori tribe. Wow, this takes me back. I used to read to you all the time!”
M: (“Do you know him?”)
B: (”Uh... maybe... but I don’t remember him at all...”)
Chaba says that his caravan, the entire Tottori tribe, was about 30 minutes behind him while he scouted the path. gana, who is the tribe’s elder, decided that they should all move to Imihama now that it’s become a mushroom keeper refuge.
He’s about to go bring the caravan to their location, but then looks bisco over again and gets teary-eyed.
C: “...Man, you really became a right mushroom keeper, didn’t you Bisco? I bet gran will be happy to know that. And I’m sure Jabi is happy too, from up in heaven...”
B: “Uh? Wait, Jabi isn’t....!”
Chaba runs off without listening.
Slight skip ahead to when they meet up with the caravan. bisco and milo talk with gana as she skillfully paints the mark of the god enbi onto actagawa’s shell. after she finishes painting, she starts smoking from a pipe.
Gana asks how “akemi” is, and bisco tells her that he is not only alive but doing well after having his rusting cured.
G: “Monster with the devil’s luck, he always has been. I was lookin’ forward to defacin’ his funeral portrait, but s’pose that won’t be happenin’.”
M: (”Who’s Akemi?”)
B: (”That’a Jabi - Hebikawa Akemi. If you read ‘hebikawa’ different, it’s ‘jabi.’“
M: (“What, it was just a nickname...?!”)
G: “And his little brat, too, just narrowly avoided leavin’ this mortal realm and grew up strong. Guess I should give praise where it’s due. ... You even managed to nab a pretty girl. Well, it don’t matter how strong ya get if ya can’t pass it on to the next generation.”
B: “Wait, by ‘pretty girl’, you mean him?”
Milo is uncomfortable under their stares.
M: “Um, hello. I’m Milo, Bisco’s--”
G: “My, yer even cuter up close. Lemme see yer hands. Do ya know how to use a bow?”
M: “Y-yes! Bisco taught me...”
G: “Well ain’t that great! At least this kid did somethin’ right finding such a nice wife. But yer just all muscle... ya don’t look well suited to breastfeedin’.”
M: “Wife?? Huh? Wait- what...! GYAHHHHH!!”
Gana pinches milo’s chest with incredible strength and milo starts yelling in pain. he doubles over and bisco just stares at him, not knowing what to do or say. he then gets slapped on the head.
G: “Damn fool! Do I gotta hold yer hand to bring ya to yer wife? Don’t ya know we’re havin’ less mushroom keeper kids these days?!”
B: “I never fuckin’ said that I got a wife, you old bitch! Jabi retired and this is my new PARTNER! I gotta spell it out?”
G: “Oh, is that right? With a face like that, I thought he was a lady! Hehehe... ahaha!”
She bursts into a fit of laughter. everyone seems happy seeing their leader in a good mood. they crowd around bisco and milo, asking them for favors like if bisco can fire a shot for them or if milo can read books to the kids. gana then calls on the tribe to bring out their best alcohol and meat, and of course good food for actagawa too.
Bisco turns red in embarrassment and tries to tell Gana something.
B: “Uh... ma’am. Sorry, but I don’t really--”
G: “Oh I know, ya think ya won’t like what we got. Don’t worry, I like to drink so I have lots of good stuff. Ya won’t be bored here, I tell ya.”
Milo was the only one who knew that Bisco didn’t drink alcohol, and he snickered as he whispered into Bisco’s ear.
M: (“It’s okay, I’ll take your drink if you take some of my food. If they bring out centipede karaage, make sure you eat it for me.”)
B: (“O... okay. Let’s do that.”)
G: “Would yer panda friend like his own tattoo? I’m good at ‘em, unlike the other elders. How about one that gives divine protection from a real strong god?”
M: “No way! Really?! Okay, then I also want mine under my right eye here...”
B: “Hell no, stop! Calm down, old hag! And stop listenin’ to her, Milo!”
They spend the entire night partying with the caravan, getting strung around teaching people archery and medicine and other things. off to the side, actagawa just quietly ate his food and played in the river.
THE END
Other notes:
Chaba means tea leaf, and Gana (her name written in the story as ガナ) might be a reference to Ghana (ガーナ) chocolates?
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