Chapter 271 - Chapter 240: Various Weights
As I answered questions about the island's vegetation while crafting the axle and wheels, the live stream drew closer to its end.
"Shou-kun, it's almost time, but how are you doing?"
"Hmm, just a little more…"
A voice from above chimed in, so I decided to take them up on the offer.
"I think I'll be able to test it soon, so let's extend by five or ten minutes."
"Okay!"
[Nyx] "Yay!"
[Rumamil] "I'm getting kind of nervous."
[Hajikirii] "Will it actually work, though...?"
[Guidon] "My heart is racing..."
etc.
It was supposed to end at 9:30, but I should be able to finish around 9:45.
I inserted the axle through one side of the frame, threaded it through the wheel, and then passed it through the other side of the frame.
Then, I just needed to insert the retaining pin to keep the axle from sliding out...
"Alright, will this do it?"
I gripped the handles with both hands and lifted it.
Rolling it back and forth... Looks good?
[Rossan] "Oh, awesome!"
[Dengana] "Looks perfect!"
[Hien] "Let's put some cargo on it!"
[Risossu] "I wonder what the load capacity is?"
etc.
Right, I definitely need to load something onto it.
So, I took out a wooden collection box and placed it on the frame.
Now, as for the cargo...
"Lupi."
"Woof."
I called out to Lupi, who was relaxing beside me.
"Try getting in here."
"Woof?"
[Shidenkai] "Nice!"
[Lucol] "So cute~"
[Drumun] "What is this adorable sight!"
[Juuro] "It's Lone Wolf and Cub! lol"
etc.
Lupi hopped into the wooden box.
Yeah, she's gotten bigger, heavier, and stronger.
"Slowly at first."
"Woof~"
The ground behind the church was exposed and had its share of pebbles, so it rumbled and bounced up and down. But Lupi, sitting calmly in the box, seemed to be enjoying herself.
As I rumbled around the fields, the fairies noticed and came over, one by one settling into the wooden box.
[Shakeena] "Too cute..."
[Hikarun] "Whoa!"
[Lucol] "Super cute~"
[Amatsunoyu] "I'm gonna die from cuteness~(´ω｀)"
etc.
Finally, as if making a grand entrance, Sweee leaped in.
CRACK!
"Ah..."
"W-well then, that's all for today. Let's meet again! Goodbye~"
"S-see you~"
"Woof~"
"La la la~♪"
…
…
…
"Good work."
"Good work."
As I replied, I glanced at Sweee.
sniffle
"No, it's not your fault, Sweee."
When she tearfully pressed her hands together to apologize, it was impossible to stay mad.
More importantly, the load capacity is completely insufficient.
"I want to check where it broke, so could you step out?"
"Woof!"
Lupi hopped out, followed by Sweee and the other fairies.
I moved the wooden box aside and checked the source of the unpleasant sound...
"Where did it break?"
"The axle. Well, it can't be helped. Guess I really need to make it out of iron."
Yata-sensei said. She's right...
"Do you have to remake the whole thing?"
"No, just the undercarriage, I think?"
So, I'd make the axle and the part of the frame where the axle passes through out of iron.
Then, if I properly connect the wooden frame on top of that, it feels like it should work.
sniffle...?
"It's okay, I can fix it right away. Here, eat this and cheer up."
I handed a single Dried Grapeful to Sweee, who was uncharacteristically remorseful.
Sweee took it, then sat on my usual left shoulder...
smooch
"Eh?"
"…Sweee-chan?"
Mion's actual voice... it was terrifying.
Either she didn't hear it, or Sweee was just happily eating her Dried Grapeful.
"Okay."
"Huh? What do you mean? Was that my fault just now?"
"Woof."
Even Lupi's nodding.
What am I supposed to do, honestly...
…
…
…
[Blacksmithing skill level increased!]
I made iron rods, bent them to form a frame to support the axle, and then crafted an iron axle to pass through it.
With Yata-sensei's advice, I made this axle shorter. She was right, a longer one would break more easily due to leverage.
"Phew, I guess that's about it?"
"Is it finished?"
"Yeah. If I secure this firmly to the wooden frame, it should be fine this time. Oh, is it almost 11 o'clock?"
"Yes. About ten more minutes."
"Got it. Alright, I'm logging off soon."
It's a weekday, and with Yata-sensei here, I probably shouldn't stay on too late...
"My iron ingots are starting to run low, so I'll need to do some more Mining."
"Will you do it during club activities tomorrow?"
"No, I plan to use tomorrow's club time to Appraise the items I found lying around in the data room. I'd been too scared to touch the ones Sweee and the others collected, since they piled up before the live stream."
"Oh, that's right!"
What if something even more amazing than the Azure Star Ring I'm still wearing on my left hand turns up?
No, wait, before that, there's a chance they're cursed. I need to ask Bell-bucho about it.
As I finished tidying up and walked the path home, Lupi and the others, who had been playing in the southwest forest, came running toward me.
My log-off time is usually around the same, so it feels like they came back to match it, right?
"Woof~"
"Good girl, good girl."
I caught Lupi as she leaped into me and gave her a good fluffing for a while.
Once Sweee settled back into her usual spot, we resumed our journey home.
"Ah, um..."
I opened the menu and checked the World Quest; the progress was 6%.
That's barely any progress...
"As I thought, it's really slow-going, isn't it?"
"Is it because of the problem the club president mentioned?"
"Well, everyone knows the cost is too high, but the returns aren't clear. I bet everyone's just waiting to see what happens."
Yata-sensei had a faculty meeting today, so she didn't hear about it, did she?
While Mion gave a rough explanation, I occasionally chimed in to supplement it as we climbed the stairs.
"Isn't there some way to fix it?"
Even if you say "break up the monopoly"...
If it were that simple, the people from Silver Manor would probably have already done it by now...