Chapter 229 - Without Content, It Won't Last
Tuesday
"Hah, I guess I was overthinking it?"
"Perhaps. But everyone is still worried about Lupi-chan."
After school. He'd uploaded a video showing where Lupi's mother's bones were found and was checking the comments, which were mostly expressions of concern for Lupi.
However, because he'd explained that it was from long before the live streams and that he'd properly built a grave (at the location shown in the PV), there were zero extreme reactions.
"I don't think you were overthinking it. Both videos and live streams can easily cause a firestorm over trivial things."
That was Bell-buchou's comment.
While Bell-buchou herself had never been involved in a controversy, Leona-sama and Princess Anshia had faced quite a few.
Although their approaches differed, both were ruthless in crushing anyone who stood in their way…
"Understood…"
"We'll be careful."
"I trust you two wouldn't do something like that, but some people deliberately stir up controversy to gain attention."
Apparently, some virtual idols gain subscribers and views by causing controversies with extreme in-game remarks, cheating, or glitch exploitation. In the end, their numbers only spike at the moment of controversy, so they either quickly fade away without sustained growth or escalate their behavior until they get banned.
One would think it obvious, right?
"It might be slightly different, but Saaya Imagawa, who was pushed into the [Uninhabited Island Start], apparently has a decent number of subscribers now?"
"Eh?"
"Ah, well, in a way, she seemed to be a victim."
Even when Shou watched her streams, it felt like she was forced into the [Uninhabited Island Start] by her [Game Dolls] company's policy.
"Yes, that's right. So, if you make it seem like the company was at fault, she'll gain sympathy."
"I don't want to hear such cynical talk…"
Mion nodded along beside him.
If that was their intention from the start… I'd rather not think about it.
"I'm sorry. But your channel is honestly doing too well, so people might approach you trying to exploit that.
In fact, I've been invited by several virtual idol agencies myself. [Game Dolls] was one of them, too."
"Whoa, seriously…"
"In your two's case, you managed to monetize before any suspicious offers came, so this might be unnecessary advice.
Still, you might get offers to join larger agencies, so please be careful. If you're in trouble, consult Yata-sensei immediately."
"Understood."
"Got it."
Leaving me aside, I have a feeling Mion might get scouted.
Apparently, game streaming with commentary, mimicking our style, is starting to become popular…
＊＊＊
"Mion, have you received any strange recruitment offers like Bell-buchou was talking about?"
"Not so far. Even if I do, I'll show them to Sensei, and if Sensei has trouble, my mother will handle it."
"Ah, that's right, of course."
Yeah, that's a relief.
"I won't be streaming anyone other than Shou-kun."
"Right. …Even Bell-buchou?"
"The Club President's charm is doing everything herself, and if I streamed her, I'd probably just be a listener, and it would lose its entertainment value, wouldn't it?"
I see, she has a point…
"~~~?"
"Oops, sorry, sorry. You can go."
Today was Tuesday, the day for their usual loop around the south side of the island.
However, he'd spent time checking video comments, so he decided to just check on the chicken, the [Yakokko], from yesterday, heading behind the church.
Sweee and the [Fairies] were free to eat [Grapeful] or go collect flower nectar, so they were on their own.
"Now, for the [Yakokko]… huh?"
"There are more of them."
There were two [Yakokko] now instead of one. What did that mean?
It couldn't have split, surely. Did another one come down from the cliff and join its companion?
"Umm…"
[Yakokku]
"The wild progenitor of the domestic fowl, Kocko. Or Kocko that has reverted to the wild. Females are called Yakokko."
From the description, this one seemed to be the male.
Kocko are just called 'Kocko' regardless of sex, but when they go wild, their names change…
"Caw-kee, Caw-kee!"
"Ah, is it running out of food? That makes sense."
Well, he could harvest [Odapra] endlessly now, and there were plenty of leaves.
He asked Lupi to keep watch again and went to harvest some more.
"Shou-kun, if we leave them like this, I have a feeling they'll keep multiplying."
"Yeah, I have that feeling too… Can't we keep them under ten or so?"
He wanted eggs from the [Yakokko], so he wanted them to multiply, but if the numbers grew too large, the effort to care for them would just increase.
What do players who raise livestock on the mainland do…? Oh, right, they hire NPCs.
However, there shouldn't be any NPCs on this island, so the only ones who might help are the [Fairies]… but that's probably not going to happen.
"Can't the Animal Husbandry Skill control their numbers?"
"I see…"
And then, well… if they multiply too much, they'd become meat, but would Mion be okay with that?
No, he hunted [Forebit] and [Greydeer] and dismantled them, so it feels a bit late for that now.
"Caw-kee!!"
Oh, is this the newcomer? It sounds pretty feisty, but…
"Bow!"
"Caw…"
Barking from Lupi made the newcomer jump as if saying, "No, it's nothing…"
Well, it's probably hungry, so don't be too angry, he thought, stroking Lupi.
"Is this enough?"
""Caw-kee~""
[Successfully baited, now a breeding target!]
He dumped a pile of [Odapra] leaves into the feeding trough, and the two birds cleverly stood on the edge to eat. Well, they'd observe for a while, but would they multiply now?
"Shou-kun, in the right corner of the room."
"Eh? Oh, an egg!"
In the right corner of the stable, on a slightly raised mound of earth, lay a single, pure white egg.
He hesitated, wondering if it was okay to take it… Could appraising it tell him anything?
[Yakokko Egg: Unfertilized]
"An egg laid by a Yakokko. Edible and highly nutritious."
"Ah, I see. The [Animal Husbandry Skill] tells me that."
"It seems larger than a chicken egg."
"Yeah, maybe a double-XL size."
If it's unfertilized, it should be fine to take.
If it's like chicken eggs, the yolk size probably wouldn't change much, but there would be more egg white.
"Shou-kun, can you make dishes or sweets using eggs?"
"Simple ones like pudding? But I need milk, you know."
Surely a cow wouldn't fall from the cliff, right?