Chapter 149 - Lupi
"Is this generally okay for now?"
—♪
In the southwest forest, I learned various new ingredients from the [Fairies], and as a thank you, or perhaps, I replanted a [Greenberry Fruit] sapling near the basin's spring.
[Farming skill level increased!]
[Gardening skill level increased!]
"Whoa, both?"
"Congratulations."
"Thanks. But I wonder what the difference between these skills is..."
It's just my image, but I thought [Farming] was for edible plants and [Gardening] was for ornamental ones... but [Greenberry Fruit] is both, so maybe that's why?
"I guess I'll water it a bit..."
Just as I was about to cast [Purification] magic, the important-looking [Fairy] flew in front of me and made an 'X' with its arms.
"Is water produced by magic not allowed?"
"I don't think it's disallowed. You can drink it normally, after all."
As I wondered what it meant, the important-looking [Fairy] seemed to be giving instructions to the other [Fairies].
Three [Fairies] flew towards the spring, then three more in front of them, and three more in front of those. I thought they were going to do a bucket brigade, but then...
"Ohh!"
"That's amazing!"
The water gushing from the spring passed like a living creature through the center of the circle formed by their linked hands.
Finally, the important-looking [Fairy] and two others sprayed the water, ensuring the [Greenberry Fruit] sapling was thoroughly watered.
—♪
"Ah, yeah, yeah, I get that it's amazing."
No need to show off with such a smug look right in front of me, I'll praise you properly.
More importantly, though.
"Was that [Water Spirit Magic]?"
—♪
The important-looking one sat on my shoulder, nodding with a smug expression.
"Mmh, I'm a little envious..."
"Is that so? You can produce water with [Elemental Magic], though."
"I can, but it doesn't flow like a stream, so washing things is a pain."
"I see."
I just want to wash things with flowing water.
I really want to somehow replicate a faucet or running water.
"Hmm, can I use it too?"
I took out a tiny [Magic Crystal Stone] from my inventory and showed it to the important-looking one, but it shook its head.
It felt less like it wouldn't teach me and more like it was impossible.
"Shou-kun, the method for acquiring water spirits has been discovered, but..."
"Oh, really? Sorry, tell me."
"Apparently, you need to go near the source of a river. Then you just need to immerse a [Magic Crystal Stone] there."
"Ah, so that's how it is... But that means this spring isn't it... Where is the source?"
"Woof!"
"Eh? Lupi?"
Lupi looked up at the center of the island.
I don't know what's beyond the climb up the slope, but does that mean the source is up there...? Hm?
"Lupi, did you come from the top of that cliff? Did you perhaps roll down with that [Red Armor Bear]...?"
"Woof."
Lupi answered with a serious face. Seriously...?
No wonder she was injured, and perhaps the [Red Armor Bear] was also weakened, which is why it changed form early?
"We need to go there."
"Yeah. Let's go when we have a little more time."
"Woof!"
Specifically, that meant waiting until after midterms...
…
"Is it about 10 o'clock now?"
"Yes. It's 9:50."
"Roger."
If I don't do it when I remember, I'll forget again, so I need to do it now.
"Light."
I asked the light spirit for illumination and descended to the first floor.
"Are you organizing ingredients?"
"That too, but I need to deal with the books."
I opened the [Ancient Magic Storage], took out the books, and put in meat, meat, meat... and some vegetables too. These are for the food terror segment of tomorrow's live stream.
"Uhm... this is it!"
"An encyclopedia?"
"Yep, yep. I was wondering if Lupi was listed in this."
One of several encyclopedias.
I secured the one that seemed to be about animals. It was quite thick.
"I see. Shou-kun, before that, you need to acquire the skill, you know?"
"Ah, that's right. Uhm..."
I opened the skill list and searched... Found it!
"I can get the [Zoology] skill!"
"You did it!"
It requires 4 SP, so I immediately clicked to acquire it!
Now, how is it?
"Woof?"
Lupi, sitting obediently next to me, responded with a "What?" look.
"Huh? It's still [Wolf?][ (unidentified)]..."
"Do you really need to read it thoroughly?"
"Ah, well, I guess so. I'll go upstairs and read it properly."
I returned the other books to the cabinet and took the encyclopedia upstairs.
Sitting on a chair, I gently opened the book on the table. It was fascinating, with simple illustrations and descriptions of the world's animals listed alphabetically.
"There are quite a few, but how do I find Lupi?"
"Do you have to look from the beginning?"
"Well, I guess so. For now, I'll look through, relying on the illustrations..."
I'll leave the detailed explanations for later.
I flipped through the pages, looking for wolf-like animals.
"So there really are dragons..."
And quite a few types, it seems?
I'm curious, but I'll save that for later...
[Zoology skill level increased!]
"That was fast!"
"It levels up just by skimming through it?"
What's the benefit of it leveling up?
Oh, this... no, this isn't it. An Ash Wolf is just a regular grey wolf.
"Hmm, I'm almost at the end, but... Ah!"
"You found it?"
"I think this is it. 'Managarm'.
Uhm... Phantom Beast... Servant of the Blue Sky Goddess. Wolf King..."
I [Appraised] Lupi again.
[Managarm: Lupi: Affection: Free Action]
"Phantom Beast Managarm. Also known as Marnagarm. Has black fur with golden highlights and grows to over 1m in length as an adult.
A wolf that has served as a retainer to the Blue Sky Goddess since ancient times. The Wolf King who commands all wolves.
Arts:
"..."
I stroked Lupi, who was lying at my feet, and she swiftly sat up and wagged her tail.
When I ruffled her head even more, Lupi narrowed her eyes happily. Adorable.
She'll probably still be adorable even when she grows over 1m in length.
"Should we keep it a secret?"
"What should I do...?"
Lupi is probably going to become incredibly strong.
I have a feeling other players will start complaining about "too much favoritism!"
In the first place, "Is that balance okay?"...
"Even if you hide it, I think viewers will eventually notice."
"That's true..."
[Zoology] is an Uncommon skill and requires 4 SP to acquire. Plus, it requires a book, so probably almost no one has it yet.
But in the future, players with excess SP will definitely start taking it, and...
"I'll talk about it. It's better than having it exposed later, right?"
"Yes. I'll leave the timing to Shou-kun."
"Okay. And if the [Fairies] also come, I'll talk about it, except for where I went with them."
[Gnomes] and other races are starting to appear, so now is probably the time to reveal it.