Chapter 228 - It Must Be Baiting
In the end, Shou explained to Bell-buchou how he came to know about [Spatial Magic].
Although, it was less an explanation and more a story about how asking for a [Meter Standard Magic Tool] to make maps somehow resulted in receiving a [Spatial Magic Grimoire].
After that explanation and confirming the video to be uploaded on Tuesday, it was getting late, so the club activities ended a bit early.
"Thanks for the meal."
"Woof!"
Since real-life dinner was a bit earlier than usual, he logged in a little earlier too.
He'd been worried Lupi might be sulking since he hadn't seen her after school, but that wasn't the case at all…
"Which one do you think the Club President will choose?"
"Well, it's not just a matter of choosing one, and since it seems to require grimoires, I guess she'll probably pick the ones she finds the grimoires for."
"I see. But it must be tough that Elemental Magic spells don't increase without grimoires…"
"Yeah, it is. Well, I think if they're found in places like the [Mage's Tower] or the [Necropolis], they'll be duplicated and become widely available."
[Elemental Magic] spells seemed to increase with [Basic Magicology] and [Applied Magicology] grimoires. Higher-tier [Gravity Magic], [Barrier Magic], and [Spatial Magic] seemed to require their respective grimoires.
Even with his [Spatial Magic Grimoire], he could use `
"Alright, today's farm day, isn't it? Let's start with this kitchen garden."
"Yes!"
………
……
…
The kitchen garden next to the earthen floor was finished in about 15 minutes.
For now, he'd only planted [Lexon] and [Rudish], and even those were planned to be moved to a flowerbed behind the church once he'd finished replanting.
Leaving the [Ancient Ruins] and proceeding along the familiar path, the church's spire came into view…
"~~~♪"
"""~~~♪"""
Sweee led the [Fairies], flying ahead.
Well, the [Grapeful] fruits are practically all-you-can-eat for them.
"Woof."
Just as Lupi was about to chase after them with a "can't be helped" attitude,
"""~~~!"""
A scream from the [Fairies]? Hearing it, Shou rushed forward frantically, only to find…
"Eh?"
Before Sweee and the others' eyes lay the [Odapra] (potato) field. All the nicely grown leaves were completely ravaged…
"~~~!"
"Woof!"
Sweee pointed, and Lupi darted towards… a chicken!?
Lupi swiftly cut in front of the creature as it frantically tried to flee.
"Lupi, wait!"
"Shou-kun?"
Sorry, Mion, but this should be the fastest way.
"Heave-ho."
Activating [Stealth Skill], he quickly closed the distance and then firmly scooped up the creature with both hands.
It's a pretty big chicken. No, is it not a chicken?
[Stealth Skill has leveled up!]
Oh, lucky.
Or rather, I need to diligently use low-level skills to get them to level 5.
"So it was the Stealth Skill."
"Yeah, sorry, sorry. I didn't want to waste time explaining."
He had a feeling that trying to catch it normally would turn into a chase, or just be a hassle. [Stealth Skill] really is convenient in situations like this.
And this one, let's see…
[Yakokko]
"The wild progenitor of the domestic fowl, Kocko. Or Kocko that has reverted to the wild. Males are called Yakokku."
"Is that a chicken, Shou-kun?"
"I think so, but hold on a sec."
Hmm, I should choose this one…
[Kocko]
"A bird approximately 50cm in length. A domesticated form of the Yakokko. Its flying ability is diminished, so it is commonly raised as poultry for its eggs."
"Finally, eggs!"
"Yeah, that's great, but only one, huh?"
He'd never raised chickens in real life, but he knew one wouldn't be enough, right?
If there was another one, a rooster, he couldn't help but feel they might multiply…
"How did it even get into this backyard? It doesn't seem to fly well, and the front gate is still closed, isn't it?"
"Ah, right. I'll go take a look."
Still cradling the [Yakokko] in his arms, he came around to the front of the church. The gate was securely shut, which was a relief.
"Yeah, good. But where did this guy come from? No, is it because it's the wild progenitor that it can fly quite a bit?"
He inadvertently peered at the [Yakokko] in his hands… It was trembling, scared, and he felt a little sorry for it.
"Where did it come from, after all?"
"Woof."
"Lupi-chan?"
Did Lupi notice something? Ah, because she knows which way it tried to run?
She trotted towards the narrower side, to the right when facing the front of the church.
"Woof!"
Her gaze was directed up to a cliff about 10 meters high.
The trees were sparse there… Did it come down from there? Fall from there?
"So it came from that spot."
"Looks like it. That said, I wonder if monsters will start coming down from there?"
"Ah…"
Well, nothing I can do about it, no point worrying too much.
"What will you do?"
"It's kinda pitiful, so I guess I'll let it go today. For the field, I'll think of some countermeasures."
Maybe build a wooden fence and string thin ropes around it.
Thinking this, he tossed the [Yakokko] up…
"Caw-kee! …Caw."
After desperately flapping its wings, it fell back down without even reaching halfway up the cliff.
"Seriously…"
"It can't go back, can it?"
So, it found food and jumped down, but now it can't get back up? In that case, the chance of monsters coming down seems low?
Oh, wait, those big centipedes seemed to be eating birds, so it's possible it was these guys. If I had appraised the bones remaining then, I would have noticed…
"Shou-kun, can't you use the Taming Skill?"
"Ah, I don't think so. It doesn't show 'Tameable' like it did with Lupi."
Does it need to be somewhat intelligent? No, I haven't even befriended it yet.
Or, maybe it's simply designated as an animal for the [Animal Husbandry Skill].
"I guess I should get the [Animal Husbandry Skill] after all."
"Shou-kun, you haven't used the BP you got from leveling up, have you?"
"No. I've been hesitating about the timing."
My [Stealth Skill] ended up being +1 thanks to getting the Pioneer Reward, but after that, I acquired [Marine Biology] and maps, so…
"Well, I'll take the [Animal Husbandry Skill], but what should I do with this guy? If I leave it, it might eat the [Glycine] too."
"Will you take it back to the Mountain Cabin?"
"Hmm, if it picks the [Greenberry Fruit] near the spring, that would be a problem…"
Sweee, perched on his left shoulder, nodded in agreement. It's better to keep it here than take it away.
He looked around the church for a good spot…
"Ah, this place should work."
"The stable, right?"
"Yeah. It's pretty spacious here, so it should be fine. I'll repair the dilapidated parts later. Lupi, keep an eye on it so it doesn't escape."
"Woof."
He released the [Yakokko] into the stable, and Lupi sat down in front of it, ready to keep it from escaping.
Now to acquire the [Animal Husbandry Skill]. Let's see, this is it, a Common Skill that costs 1 SP.
"Alright, how about this?"
[Yakokko: Terror (Cannot be bred)]
"…Is it no good because it's scared?"
"I guess so. For now, I'll feed it."
With Lupi watching, he went back to the field, harvested [Odapra], and then offered the ravaged leaves… Real-life potatoes are supposed to be poisonous, but it was eating them, so it should be fine.
"Here, try some."
The [Yakokko] timidly began to eat the [Odapra].
Once it started eating, it seemed utterly engrossed, devouring them at an incredible pace… Has it calmed down quite a bit?
[Successfully baited, now a breeding target!]
"Oh? Looks like it worked!"
"As expected of Shou-kun!"
"No, I just fed it…"
He glanced at Sweee, who was still sitting on his left shoulder.
"~~~!!"
She slapped his shoulder, as if to say, "Don't put me in the same category!"