Chapter 204 - Chapter 181 The Visible Majesty of a Queen
"Yeah, it suits you."
R-really?
A white T-shirt, a sky-blue rash guard hoodie with white polka dots. For bottoms, white sports shorts paired with black trenka leggings.
A blue cap with the IRO logo in white, worn shallowly, and pink-rimmed sunglasses perched on the brim, purely as an accessory.
Shoes wouldn't be visible, but sneakers.
"How wonderful…"
"You have a great sense of style."
We gathered at the studio before logging into IRO for the night. Since it was an outfit change, I was, of course, once again left in charge…
"But I want to give it a bit more of a ‘fisherman’ feel…"
Oh, I wonder if they have that? I’ll look for it.
"Oh, they do. They have everything…"
A waist-type life jacket, and ah, these fingerless gloves too.
Ah, I should have just searched with the '#Fishing' tag from the beginning…
Like this?
"Yeah, that’s good. I think it’d look great in real life too."
The summer training camp is in Okinawa, isn’t it? I kind of want her to try wearing it then…
"Hey. Shou-kun, can I really borrow you for a day—"
No.
"Alright, alright. I’ll leave the rest to you two youngsters—"
Saying that, Yata-sensei took Bell-buchou and left the studio… Good.
"And this."
Eh?
I handed her the [Magic Wolf Fang Pendant] I made in IRO, which had arrived as an NFT avatar item. Honestly, I’d been agonizing over when to give it to her, but I figured it was now or never.
"Shou-kun, thank you."
Ugh, Mion’s real voice is really bad for my heart, in a way… It makes me so flustered.
"Ah, you should thank Lupi too."
Yes!
Now, I need to get into IRO too. I have to prepare the Glycine and Grapeful for brewing today.
"Alright, I’m heading in."
Yes. Um… Shou-kun, is it okay if I buy clothes similar to this?
"Oh, in real life? Of course, I think it’s a good idea."
I wonder if real-life clothes can be counted as expenses?
Well, Mion can just talk to Tsubaki-san about it.
How about this Sunday?
"Eh? Sunday…? Are you asking me to pick?"
Yes. It might not be exactly the same in reality. Is that okay?
"Ah, yeah, sure. I don’t have any plans, anyway…"
Right. I don’t think there’ll be anything exactly the same, so I’ll have to choose from what’s available…
Then, let’s play IRO.
"That’s right. I’m off."
Yes, have a good game.
*
"Thanks for the meal."
"Wafun!"
Today’s meal was roasted Forebit. Plenty of grated Rudish and ground Perilsense. The savoriness of the rabbit roast combined with the fragrant sesame, while the grated daikon radish left a refreshing aftertaste. If soy sauce were added to this, it would be good enough to showcase on a live stream.
"Alright, let’s go gather Glycine first."
"Wafun!"
"~~~♪"
While Lupi and I ate the roasted rabbit, Sweee and the fairies were munching on Dried Grapeful.
Today, I’ll have them help me find Glycine, and then I plan to take them to the church’s backyard where the Grapeful grows.
Backpack on, let’s go!
Fishing gear, Glycine, and Grapeful, that’s quite a lot. Can you carry it all at once?
"Not all of it. Just what I can carry. I’ll prioritize the Grapeful. It’s still unknown if I can make soy sauce or miso from Glycine."
I see.
I’ll take two fishing rods, and if both break during the live stream, I’ll just end it there…
Shou-kun, about that brewer, is there a possibility it only works with wooden barrels…?
"Ah, that might be it…"
Darn it. Besides, even if I make it, I’ll need a separate container, won’t I?
I’ve already made some, but I’ll have to bring those too.
"I’ll try making barrels tomorrow after school or at night."
Okay.
They shouldn’t need to be big, so I should be able to manage with leftover wood… Wait, do the hoops need to be made of metal? In Japan, don’t they use bamboo to bind barrels? No, that’s for buckets…
It suddenly feels incredibly difficult, but I hope [Woodcraft] and [Blacksmithing] skills can pull it off!
"If it looks like it’ll take too long, I’ll just clean and use the barrel that was already there…"
That’s right. If you look at that barrel, it should be easier to make one.
"True…"
It’s easier to make something identical if you have the real thing in front of you. Taking it apart might speed up understanding, but I’m worried about putting it back together, and missing the live stream because of that would defeat the purpose.
I’ll try making a small one here, and if it doesn’t work out, I’ll try again there.
"For now, I just need to make wine vinegar."
Um, what kind of dishes do you use wine vinegar in?
"Hmm, a clear example would be French dressing? Or pickles. I’m thinking of making carpaccio for the live stream."
Oh, I see!
I’m really starting to crave sugar. I wonder if there’s a plant like sugarcane or sugar beet anywhere…
"Hey, do you know of any sweet plants?"
"~~~?"
I asked Sweee, who was sitting on my shoulder, and she seemed to be explaining to the fairies hovering behind her. Sweee herself doesn’t seem to know.
Well, I told her to let me know if she thinks of anything.
We turned right down the Ancient Ruins passage and headed towards the exit of the southeast forest. When we emerged from the cave, we found a nice patch of grass, and the fairies immediately swarmed the flowers.
"Oh, right. There was something sweet even without sugar."
Yes?
"Honey."
Ah!
But I don’t see many insects. Bell-buchou apparently fought a giant caterpillar monster, so does that mean there might be giant bees too?
"Well, maybe we’ll find honeybees someday. Or perhaps Dimaria-san from the Silver Manor? She might know."
We could ask on the live stream, too.
"Ah, good idea. By the way, can’t you fairies collect flower nectar?"
"~~~?"
When I asked, Sweee flew gracefully to a small white Coputi flower. Eh? Could it be…
"~~~♪"
A faint green light gently enveloped the flower… and a very small, golden sphere of water floated up. I received it in my palm as Sweee flew over with it.
Shou-kun, is that…
"Sorry, Sweee. Just let me appraise it first."
[Queen Fairy Honey]
"Nectar collected by fairies from flowers. Highest quality product collected by the Queen.
Cooking: Can be used as a seasoning. Alchemy: Recovers from all status ailments."
Amazing!
"Oh my god… Sweee, you’re really incredible."
"~~~♪"
Sweee puffed out her chest with a smug look and snorted. Then, with that same look, she beckoned with her hand.
"Ah, yes. Here’s your Torotoro Dried Papu Fruit."
She snatched it quickly and began to gobble it down.
If it weren't for this, she’d really seem like a queen…