Chapter 261 - Chapter 231: Sweet Preparedness Averts Disaster
"Phew, I guess that's about it."
"Good work."
In IRO, Monday night was farming day.
Harvesting, weeding, watering.
I also collected Kocko eggs and dumped a generous amount of Bluegaris leaves into the feeding trough.
"What will you do with the remaining time?"
"Appraising the spoils the Fairies collected for me, and I was thinking about making a Wheelbarrow."
"A Wheelbarrow… you mean?"
Ah, Mion isn't quite getting it, or rather, she's probably imagining a different kind of unicycle.
Neko… Nekoguruma… Maybe a handcart would be clearer.
"Do you know what a handcart is?"
"I'll look it up for a moment. …Ah, is it for carrying luggage?"
"That's right, exactly."
She probably saw an image from a search or something, so it should be correct, right?
I suppose it's not something a young lady would be familiar with, but in the countryside, 'neko' (cat) is commonly understood to mean a wheelbarrow.
"It looks like it's made of iron. And what about the tires?"
"There are wooden ones too, so probably that kind."
When I answered, she seemed to be searching again, so I prepared to return to the Mountain Cabin.
Lupi was already sitting at my feet, waiting, but Sweee and the Fairies were still rummaging through the Grapeful.
"Time to go home now~"
"~~~♪"
"~~~♪"
At my call, each of them returned, carrying one of their favorite Grapeful Fruits as a souvenir.
Maybe I should come just for Grapeful one more time? It has so many uses: wine, vinegar, Dried Grapeful…
"This is it. It looks incredibly cute."
"An antique-looking one? There are some that you just leave as a planter, but I'll probably make a practical one."
If I keep it simple with just a frame, wheels, and guides for the wooden box, I should be able to change the size of the box depending on the use.
"How does this go up stairs?"
"Um, you lay a board wide enough for the wheel, making that part a slope. Like this, in the middle…"
As we reached the stairs leading out to the Mountain Cabin, I tried to explain with gestures.
These stairs are quite steep, so it might be better to go up backward.
"I see!"
"Well, I hope it goes well…"
I can't help but feel like the durability might not be enough, and it could snap.
If that happens, I guess I'll make the frame out of iron…
"Woof!"
As soon as we reached the top of the stairs, Lupi dashed off, followed by Sweee and the Fairies.
The rest is tedious work, so I'll let them play as they like.
"Hoo-ah!"
I temporarily placed the luggage on the dirt floor, then brought the harvested vegetables and other items into the Mountain Cabin.
"Shou-kun. The box is glowing."
"Huh? Oh, that was a quick reply!"
Having to reply urgently… does that mean becoming the Ancient Ruins' administrator was a problem, after all? Or did they run out of sweets?
For now, I went downstairs to the first floor and put anything perishable into the storage box.
Glycine and Odapra can be stored in the shade, so I just tossed them into a normal wooden box. The darkness of the first floor was just right.
"I guess I'll brace myself and check."
"Yes."
When I opened the Magic Transfer Box… there was only a letter inside.
"Lord Shou,
Thank you for your highly important report.
I would like to speak with you directly regarding the current situation and the matter of the Transfer Magic Circle.
To that end, I would like to visit your location tomorrow, if it is convenient for you?"
Huh? Tomorrow?!
"Isn't tomorrow too sudden? At least, the day after tomorrow or something…"
"But the day after tomorrow clashes with the stream."
"Ahhh, that's right…"
Even just a brief appearance last time caused a huge commotion, so I'd really rather not have that happen again.
In that case, tomorrow is the only option, isn't it? Or maybe Thursday… but that would probably be too late.
"Okay, so tomorrow it is. Is around 9 PM alright for the evening? I don't know if they'll fly in or transfer to the underground, but I'll ask in the reply."
"That's right."
Once again, I went down to the first floor and retrieved paper and a fountain pen… no, a Magic Engraving Pen.
I'd been meaning to carry writing implements, so I'll keep them in my inventory at all times.
"Um, so if it's okay and the time is 9 PM, then it's just about whether they'll transfer underground or come to the port."
As usual, I wrote a concise reply and showed it to Mion.
"I think it's good."
"Thanks. Okay, sending it right away. …I'll put off appraising the spoils and the Wheelbarrow for now; I need to make another chair, right?"
"Ah, that's right."
I hadn't anticipated guests coming to this island.
Perhaps outside is better than inside. The interior is quite bare.
Or rather, I should make a new sweet…
…
…
…
"Is it past 10 now?"
"Yes. Just a little past."
"Hmm, it took more time than I expected…"
I meant to quickly finish making a chair for guests, but I didn't have suitable lumber, so I had to start by cutting trees.
Thinking about the future, I really need to set aside a day to procure lumber in bulk.
"Is the remaining time for appraising spoils?"
"No, I was thinking of preparing some sweets for our guests. If it's Warabi Mochi, I have all the ingredients."
"Huh?"
Just mix potato starch, sugar, and water, boil it, and then chill it.
I was stumped on how to chill it, but thanks to the Water Spirit being able to provide the coldest water possible, it seems manageable.
In the meantime, I ground Glycine to make Kinako.
Grinding, grinding, grinding with the stone mortar until the Warabi Mochi sets nicely…
Is it ready yet?
I cut it into appropriate sizes, dusted it with Kinako, and drizzled Fairy Honey over it.
"~~~?"
"Sweee, perfect timing. I made something new, so try it."
Sweee, who had arrived riding Lupi, was peering in with great interest, so I decided to make her the taste tester.
I speared a sample-sized piece, about the tip of my pinky, onto a tiny toothpick and handed it to her.
A translucent, jiggly thing with brown powder and honey. She made a suspicious face at the unfamiliar object, but then took a bite from the edge…
"~~~!"
Suddenly, the Queen started gobbling it down, her mouth covered in Kinako. Well, as long as it's delicious, that's what matters.
The thing is, this uses a bit too much Fairy Honey.
"Hmm, I wonder if I can try making brown sugar syrup?"
"Brown sugar syrup?"
"Yeah. Well, whether it'll work out is debatable."
Just put equal parts Sky Sugar and water in a pot, heat it, and reduce it.
I should have been able to make brown sugar syrup from kokuto (unrefined brown sugar) this way, but…
"It's turning blue…"
"This isn't brown sugar syrup, it's blue syrup…"
I took a small amount on a spoon and tasted it…
"Oh, it works. No, this is delicious! Sweee, try this."
I drizzled blue syrup instead of Fairy Honey. It looked like blue syrup for shaved ice, but I didn't mind.
"~~~!!"
"I get that it's delicious, but your mouth is completely blue. Also, go call the other Fairies over for some too."
Even though her face was covered in Kinako and her mouth was bright blue, the Queen relentlessly gnawed on the Warabi Mochi, but she agreed to share with the other Fairies and flew off with a pyuun (whoosh).
"Woof."
"Yeah, Lupi, you try some too."
When I served it on a lunch plate, Lupi also ate it deliciously.
The Kinako on her nose is cute…
"Ugh, it looks so delicious…"
"Warabi Mochi is easy to make, so do you want to try making it next time?"
"Huh?"
"I'll teach you how, so I thought it might be nice to try making it together."
"Y-yes!"
Making sweets feels more like a challenge than suddenly filleting fish.
I hope we can gradually share things outside of the game too…