Chapter 106 - Please Enter a Name
"Hah... Brother truly doesn't understand at all. [Mion]-dono's and Brother's channel, is it not? There's no way I can offer ideas."
Being exasperated like that, I ended up going to the [Virtual Club Room] with no ideas.
"Howdy."
"Shou-kun."
Only [Mion] was in the club room.
Today is Thursday, and it's [Witch Bell's Manor]'s live stream day, so she's probably waiting before the stream?
"Are [Bell-san] and [Seth] (Miki) already there?"
"Yes."
I wonder what kind of live stream it is today.
Since [Seth] is also there, I wonder if they're going to that ore dungeon in the northwest?
"Can I watch the beginning for a bit?"
"Yes. I want to watch too."
And so, the live stream began.
It was still in a "scheduled location" state with an image saying "Showtime Soon!" Then it began.
"Yay! [Majo Bell]'s IRO live broadcast is starting now~!"
I want to say I'm used to it by now, but to think that's [Bell-san], Katori-senpai...
"Alright, today we're changing things up a bit and introducing the development base currently in the northwest of the kingdom, just before the [Ancient Ruins]. [Gold Onee-sama] is busy with real-world work, so it's just [Seth]-chan and me today."
"Nice to meetcha!"
For some reason, [Seth]'s appearance caused the comment section to explode, but as her brother, I felt incredibly anxious, or rather, conflicted...
"Alright, the current [World Quest] completion rate is 43%. It feels like it's been increasing by 5% daily since the establishment of the [Silver Manor]."
"That being said, including this area, the development of [Anheim Territory] has progressed quite a bit. The rest will depend on the efforts of other places."
As the two walked, a landscape began to appear that was becoming more like a town than a pioneer village.
"Whoa. It looks like a town already."
"Indeed. Last time, we heard you couldn't even sleep there yet..."
Nat said he started [Carpentry], so he probably built some of the houses there.
The two strolled along what had become the main street, introducing places like, "This is an inn," and "This is a general store."
"You two! Take some of these roasted nuts!"
They received roasted cashews or something similar from a stout NPC old woman, ate them while walking, and then got more snacks...
"A walking live stream, even people not playing the game could enjoy it, I guess."
"Those nuts look delicious too."
It's a bit frustrating that it's a project that probably couldn't be done on an [Uninhabited Island].
Still, so many more NPCs. It doesn't seem like all of them were refugees; I wonder if many also came after hearing about the development.
I hope it's acting as a reception for those 'NPCs who lost their jobs because of players' that we talked about earlier...
"Oh, I see new walls now."
"They're getting quite tall."
What came into view at the end of their gaze was a stone wall about 3 meters high.
"Amazing..."
"Did they make this with [Stone Wall Magic]?"
"Probably? There doesn't seem to be a quarry or anything..."
The work scene was shown: they were climbing wooden scaffolding and stacking stone walls of a specified size on top. I see.
"Since there's no quarrying or transporting stone, it probably gets built faster."
"I see."
As we were talking,
"Hey there, little lady! You look like you're good at [Stone Wall Magic]! I'll pay 5 large copper coins per unit!"
"Uh, yes, I'll do it."
[Seth] was bursting with laughter next to that exchange. So she also knew about the Stone Wall Incident. And the comment section was flooded with references to the Stone Wall Incident.
Seriously, these people are well-trained...
*
"Alright, let's go."
"Woof."
Today's plan was to investigate that spring.
Last time, I only confirmed it continued deeper into the forest, so this time I plan to go all the way around.
It might flow out somewhere, so I might not be able to complete a full circuit.
"Is there any aura of monsters around?"
"Hmm, I don't get that feeling. How about you, [Lupi]?"
"Woof."
After shaking her head, she started walking ahead, so I followed, carefully focusing on my [Presence Detection Skill].
However, [Lupi]'s steps were light, and she didn't seem particularly cautious. From high above, bird calls could be heard, peace itself...
"There don't seem to be any monsters."
"Looks like it. If someone used to live in that [Mountain Cabin] in the past, then it's safe to assume it's not a very dangerous place, right?"
"I see."
The door to the [Ancient Ruins] deep in the southeastern cave was closed, and the southwestern cave exit was a [Safe Zone]. Monsters shouldn't have been able to come here from the south.
Unless there's a spawn point in this basin, it's probably safe to assume there are no monsters.
Relaxing, I walked along the edge of the spring, and eventually saw that the spring flowed out into a gap in the cliff at the northwestern end.
"I see. So the spring water overflows from there."
"I wonder if it's flowing into the sea?"
"Probably? I have a feeling it becomes a river on the other side."
If I go out from there, there might be a possibility to go further north, but it's a bit scary.
If it turns out to be a waterfall, the only way back would be to [Respawn]...
"Should we go back and check the other side?"
"Yeah. I'll just walk through the forest that way."
I walked around the edge in the opposite direction, but there was nothing particularly interesting, and I just came out on the other side of where I started.
"Hmm, nothing at all is a bit underwhelming in its own way..."
"That's what it feels like."
I can't deny feeling a bit let down.
Maybe this area's main feature is that [Mountain Cabin], and everything else is just extra.
"Woof."
"Hmm?"
[Lupi] seemed to have noticed something? She turned her face towards the depths of the forest, appearing to be searching for something.
My [Presence Detection Skill] picked up... something small approaching?
I reached for my hand axe at my hip. Considering flying monsters, birds, or insects, I really want a small shield.
"Woof!"
"Ah!"
[Lupi] jumped towards something that flew in, then landed with it firmly in her mouth.
"~~~!!"
"Huh?"
[Lupi] wasn't biting seriously, it seemed, because the creature flailing its arms and legs was...
"A [Fairy]!?"
"Yeah. [Lupi], let it go, it's pitiful."
The pop-up nameplate read "[Fairy]", and its border color was white.
It's the same as when I first met [Lupi], but its classification is apparently 'Unknown' or 'Other'.
"~~~! ~~~!!"
The released [Fairy] came right up to my face, seeming angry?
I couldn't understand its words at all, and since it was a [Fairy] and only about 30cm tall, it had no presence.
Still, if I've displeased it, I should probably apologize with something.
Hmm... Ah!
"Want to eat this?"
What I took out of my inventory was a [Greenberry Fruit].