Chapter 240 - Episode 213: Not for Just Anyone
My IRO session for club activities ended with gathering and processing pepper. The berries that had ripened and turned red, after being soaked in running water (which I asked the water spirits for) and waiting for a while, shed their pulp nicely, so they became white pepper without any issues.
Since it keeps well, making a lot isn't a problem, and now I can probably treat the Selkies to something like horse mackerel meunière on Saturday. Meunière? Sauté? Well, grilled fish should be fine…
"Alright, let's go."
"Woof!"
Sweee humming
Fairies humming
Today, the fairies were also accompanying the usual three of us. We planned to search the south side from the Observation Deck for Bluegaris.
"Did you forget anything?"
"No. I haven't received any letters from Argenta-san either, and I have everything I need."
Lupi followed me, and Sweee was on my left shoulder as usual. But today, she was sitting facing backward, chatting with the accompanying fairies. I don't know what they're talking about, but since all their voices are beautiful, it sounds a bit like a song, very fantasy-like.
"Oh yeah, I heard from Seth that there are other players who started on Uninhabited Islands and are streaming too."
"Ah, I heard that from Tsubaki-san too."
"Huh? Tsubaki-san watches streams too?"
"Yes. Of course."
That makes sense. It would be strange if she, who usually watches over Mion, didn't watch our stream. No, not just ours?
"Other players' streams too?"
"Yes. She said there might be talent to scout in the future. Buchou is one of them, too."
"Ah-…"
Bell-buchou seems to do everything herself, but if it gets too troublesome, she could just invite them, couldn't she? But then, their finances would merge, and that would be…
"I heard that other players who chose Uninhabited Island Start are having a lot of trouble."
"Really? Trouble… what kind? Like having to sleep on the ground?"
"Um, that's not what I mean…"
According to Mion, it's tough because it's solo play with no tutorial, and they don't know what to do.
"No, but that was written on the official page, wasn't it?"
"I think a lot of people probably didn't read it."
I'm also one of those who don't read, so I can't argue. It's unavoidable, in a way, that those kinds of people would struggle…
"No, but still. You can make water with Elemental Magic, start fires, you have a knife, and you can get meat by hunting Bicobits."
I doubt the developers intend for it to be a hardcore survival game, and I think you can manage even without a tutorial.
"Tsubaki-san said that even if they started thinking it would be fine, continuing to play solo indefinitely is tough."
"Aren't they starting, knowing it's solo play…"
"It seems many people thought that if they started with Uninhabited Island Start and live-streamed, someone would come to watch them. Also, some ended up fighting with viewers who kept telling them what to do…"
"Ugh…"
If someone told me "do this, do that" I'd… probably just silently kick them from the stream.
"Thinking about it that way, it was lucky that Mion found me."
"It was destiny."
"Yes."
Well, it's certainly true that it was a fated encounter. Including all the things that happened afterward…
"Woof!"
"Of course, my encounter with Lupi too."
Lupi, asserting her place, is so cute.
Turning right at the Crossroads, climbing the stairs, and passing through the Transfer Elevator, we arrived at the usual Collapse Site.
Sweee humming
"Oh, thanks."
Sweee went ahead to the usual shortcut to scout. Lupi followed, but it's starting to feel like I need to make her bigger soon.
The fairies followed after I passed through, and we took a short break here.
"Wow, thanks."
Fairies humming
"Woof~"
Not just Sweee, but the fairies each picked flowers and brought them to Lupi's mother's grave. After praying for Lupi's growth to be watched over, we left the Observation Deck.
"I hope we find it today."
"Yeah. But I don't use much sugar in Western cuisine. Desserts aside."
When it comes to using sugar, it usually leads to soy sauce and mirin, making it almost entirely Japanese cuisine? For Chinese food… there was that sugared potato dish, I remember. I have Odapra, and Sweee and the fairies would probably like it, so I'll try making it if I find some…
"Oh, they're here, I think. Call them over."
"Woof!"
When Lupi let out a soft bark, a family of Drab Wolves living on the south side appeared. They ran up happily and lay down in front of Lupi, who was sitting.
"Thanks. Today, we came to look for Bluegaris, so I'm asking you to guard the fairies who are helping us."
"Woof."
"Bow!"
The father wolf replied with a reassuring "Got it!" With each taking two or three fairies as escorts, we proceeded, focusing our search on the right side of the southern mountain path.
Sweee humming
"Sweee, try to be a little more alert…"
A hum emanated from Sweee, who was sitting in her usual spot on my left shoulder. Sweee gave me a thumbs-up, as if saying, "It's fine! I trust Lupi and the Drab Wolves!" Well, I trust them too.
"There was that monster that used magic before, right?"
"Yeah. That's what I'm worried about."
That Roopaguma was a cowardly monster, and it would definitely target the weaker fairies first. I need to be ready to protect them at a moment's notice… Huh?
"Bark!"
The mother wolf barked, and all of them returned towards me, protecting the fairies.
My Presence Detection picked up what seemed to be a Roopaguma again. However, it naturally noticed the recent bark and started to flee. If I let it escape here, it'll be a pain, so I want to take care of it now.
"Lupi, Sweee, I'm counting on you for the fairies! Mion, I'm using Stealth, so be careful."
"Woof!"
"Yes!"
After confirming the fairies had retreated, the Drab Wolf pups moved to support my actions. Specifically, they circled around from both sides to cut off its escape route. That's a huge help.
Alright, let's do this…
I activated Presence Concealment and Stealth Skill, and approached, moving along the shadows of the trees. The Drab Wolves circled around the direction it was trying to escape, and I swiftly closed in on the confused Roopaguma… A flash with Backstab!
"Gyah!!"
[Stealth Skill has leveled up!]
[Dagger Skill has leveled up!]
Phew, glad that went well. I deactivated the skills, and with Presence Detection, are there any other enemies… Doesn't seem so?
Lupi and the others I left behind rejoined, and the Drab Wolves began a perimeter watch.
"Thanks, you're a big help."
"As expected, when you used Stealth Skill, the stream camera got fixed, and then it suddenly changed after you finished."
"Hmm, I wonder why it's designed that way. I think it would be fine if the camera just followed even if my figure wasn't visible… Or maybe it's a bug?"
"Shall we inquire with the developers? There was that time it wouldn't show underwater views before, too…"
Yeah, that's probably best. If it's a feature, they should just reply, "It's a feature."
"Alright, I'll inquire after today's session, and let's continue."
"Yes!"