Chapter 131 - Chapter 117 The One Behind It
While listening to Mion's commentary (?), I was silently working on replacing the floor.
Since it was a repetitive process of creating and laying parts identical to those I dismantled, there was hardly any need for contemplation.
At this pace, I might finish replacing the floorboards by evening.
Oh, [Natto-san] seems to have obtained the "[Gnome Guardian]" reward.
"Seriously? And why?"
Perhaps because he gave sweets to the [Gnomes] he rescued and brought back?
"So it is just feeding them, after all..."
[Bell-san], Seth, and the other volunteers who rescued all the [Gnomes] apparently returned safely to the developing lands.
So, I guess they'll be protected until the monster attacks subside?
"By the way, what kind of sweets?"
It seems to be cookies.
"Flour, sugar, butter, eggs, huh..."
Damn it, I envy them for having ingredients that aren't available on the [Uninhabited Island].
Shou-kun, can you make sweets too?
"Huh? Well, yeah, I can make them. If they're simple, that is."
That's amazing...
"No, no, for sweets, you just really need to measure the ingredients precisely and follow the steps, and you can make them."
Baking sweets is all about failing if you try strange arrangements.
For cookies, mixing in nuts or chocolate chips is simple and delicious.
"Phew, about halfway done, I guess."
The first floor, which was completely exposed, is gradually being hidden by the new floorboards.
I started laying them from the front, and now I'm about halfway through the room.
From here to the back, there's also a part left open for the stairs, so it might finish a little faster?
Do you think you'll finish up to the roof today?
"Hmm, up to the wallboards, I guess. I think the window frames will take time, and I plan to put a back door in the back."
And tomorrow is finally the day I visit Mion's house.
We're meeting at 10 AM in front of the station, and I'm supposed to make lunch, but I plan to be back before dinner.
"Are you really sure we don't need to arrange a car for tomorrow?"
Yes, it's fine.
I don't think it's particularly close to the station. The opposite side has a shopping district, after all.
Maybe travel nearby by [Automated Tour Bus]? It's a long weekend, so it probably won't be crowded time-wise, but...
I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I'll finally get to eat Shou-kun's homemade food.
"Are you really okay with my cooking?"
Yes!
Serving just one Chinese dish feels a bit lacking, and since it's Mion, Mion's mother, me, and Seth, four people, I guess I'll make a few dishes and let them choose what they like.
I want to believe I'll be fine, since I've remembered a lot in the past few days...
... ... ...
Shou-kun, the President and Seth-chan want to watch the live stream.
"Mm, okay. Are they both finished?"
Yes. And they're preparing for tonight, apparently.
So that means it's already past 4 o'clock?
I was fussing about with the back door, and it seems time just slipped away.
Brother, it seems to be going smoothly!
You did all that by yourself...
It's a bit troubling to be stunned by this; I think even the people who built houses in the developing lands did about this much.
"Well, it's going smoothly, I guess. Mion told me that you helped the [Gnomes]."
Indeed, indeed. They were very popular with the girls at the developing lands.
...To a somewhat worrying extent, actually.
Oh, so there are ladies who like boys in shorts, huh.
"If you give them sweets, you can become a '[Gnome Guardian]'?"
It seems it's less about sweets and more about gaining their trust. Those who healed injuries or guided them to shelters also seem to have received rewards.
"Hoh."
That makes sense, I guess?
But if giving sweets is the easiest way, then people will probably flock to give sweets to the [Gnomes] for a while.
President, did you hear about [Leona-san]'s situation?
I know about it because [Yuki-san] sent me a summary message. Could you explain what it was like?
Yes.
And so, Mion, who had actually seen it, explained.
A live archive, or rather, catch-up playback? That would be fine, but she'll probably watch it at her leisure later.
Hmm. "Bow your head if you want help" with such a condescending attitude is unacceptable.
And the opponent being [Leona-san], too.
She sighed.
As a result, she apparently got beaten up, and it ended with a "Damn it, I'll remember this!" kind of finish.
"It's a good thing master was there, right?"
That's true. The [Imperial Guard] members probably tried to stop her, but when provoked like that during a live stream, she'd undoubtedly snap and beat them down...
[Leona-sama]'s fans also love that exhilarating aspect of her. I get it.
As expected of [Jinbee-dono], I suppose. In any case, once this event is over, we'll need to think about some countermeasures.
"They said they were ordered by someone to come, right?"
Yes. I'm not entirely sure about that part, though.
If arrogant people are being ordered to come, that means there's someone even more arrogant behind them.
Sounds troublesome...
"By the way, these [Winged Folk] are a first, aren't they?"
Yes, they should be. [Demon Kingdom] NPCs are apparently seen east of the Republic, but I haven't heard of winged demi-humans.
The comment section was like that too.
Even if conflict is inevitable, if those [Winged Folk] start attacking, it feels like it would be troublesome. After all, they can fly...
"Hmm, what about the developing lands in other nations?"
Oh, that's right. They might have made contact from their side.
On the Empire's north side, in [Anheim Territory], they reportedly encountered [Giantkin]. On the Principality's west side, they seem to have encountered NPC [Elves].
According to what Mion saw on the forum, the [Giantkin] are demi-humans about 3 meters tall, who joined in while defending against attacking monsters.
They apparently smashed an Orc Leader that was in the rear and then left.
Was there any conversation?
It seems not. They apparently called out to them, but they just replied, "It was merely an order," and left.
Oh-ho. How interesting...
Orders, huh. The [Winged Folk] also seemed to have come by order, so is there someone powerful behind them?
The [Elves] simply seem to have fled because their village was attacked. They're reportedly taking refuge in the Principality's developing lands.
Does that mean there was an [Elf] village near the [Ancient Ruins] tower?
Geographically, I suppose so. If it weren't for the chaos of civil war and ceasefires, they might have been able to find it, but...
They withdrew from the southeast, after all.
But what's really curious is...
"Did the player [Elves] come from that village?"
...The [Elf] character setting is "got bored of village life and left," apparently. We don't know if it's that particular village, though.
I have a feeling the bored [Elves] are overwhelmingly more numerous...