Chapter 274 - Chapter 243: The Island Next Door?
"I'm counting on you to hold down the fort this time. Expect souvenirs!"
"cheep cheep cheep~♪"
And so, it was evening.
Bidding farewell to the Fairies, I set off on a tour with Lupi and Sweee: the Control Room, then the Data Room, and finally the Power Section Monitoring Room.
"Let's also decide what to talk about during Saturday's live stream," I said.
Right.
After that, we'd head to the port, as I planned to play with True and the Selkies on Friday.
Oh, should I teach the Selkies how to make smoked food? Those two storage sheds aren't being used for anything, so turning them into smoking rooms might be a good idea.
"Nina, any abnormalities?"
[No. Currently operating as usual.]
Good, good.
Now, the question is whether or not to introduce Nina...
"Should I avoid talking about Nina during the live stream?"
That's probably best. For now, it might be better to just say that her capabilities are still under investigation.
"Yeah, you're right. Well, for me, it's enough that it's bright and safe in here now."
Since it's a Mana Recycle Facility, it can also store Mana (MP) in Magic Crystal Stones, but I didn't think it was necessary to explain that in detail.
Turning right at the crossroads, we ascended via the Transfer Elevator. We stepped out onto the Observation Deck for a moment, paid our respects at Lupi's mother's grave, and then arrived at the Control Room.
First, I had to ask about something I'd forgotten during club activities.
"Nina. Do you know about the Central Mage Fellowship?"
[No. I have no information.]
As I thought. It probably has nothing to do with mana recycling.
Next...
"Do you know anything about someone named Theo Macdil?"
[No. Before transitioning to Preservation State, it is possible such information existed in the administrator or user logs, but that data was discarded upon entering Preservation State.]
That's right.
That's why I ended up becoming the administrator.
"Is that all I wanted to ask?"
Shou-kun, please ask about the Power Section.
"Oh, right. Nina, what exactly does the Power Section do?"
[The Power Section collects a portion of the Mana expelled from the crater and utilizes it for the facility's maintenance. Observation is possible from the Power Section Monitoring Room.]
I can look into the volcano's crater? That sounds amazing, my expectations are high...
"That's not dangerous, is it?"
[No. The Magic Safety Fence in the Power Section Monitoring Room is also operational to prevent falls.]
Magic Safety Fence... That was the one on the balcony, right?
If that's working, it means I won't fall.
Looks like it's fine.
"Yeah. Alright, let's start by tidying up the Data Room."
"Woof!"
"cheep cheep cheep~♪"
...
...
...
"Whoa..."
As for the old robes and boots, I suppose...
"I think so."
Now that it was bright, the clutter was even more noticeable, and just as Mion had imagined, they were likely remnants of the undead we had driven out.
My first thought was Appraisal, but all I found were worn-out robes and boots—nothing useful.
Honestly, I was hesitant to even touch them, so I purified them with Holy Magic and used two wooden sticks, brought specifically for this purpose, to collect them into a wooden box.
You're going to dispose of them, right?
"Yeah. I'll leave them here for now, but on the way back, I'll collect them and take them underground, and Nina should dispose of them."
Ah, that's right.
In regular (or rather?) MMORPGs, you can just toss things into a trash can and they vanish, but IRO doesn't have that, so you actually have to dispose of items properly.
"Alright, let's go collect the Applied Magicology books."
Have you decided which ones to take?
"Yeah, I think Water. With water, ice, and steam, I should be able to make ice, and if I can chill things with ice, I can probably make sorbet for a start."
If I had fruit juice and sugar, making sorbet should be a breeze.
...My desserts are getting really diverse, but I really need to find grains soon.
I opened the cabinet and placed the three books on Applied Magicology—Water, Fire, and Wind—into my inventory.
I'd packed vegetables to treat True and the others tomorrow, but thanks to my storage expansion, I still had plenty of space.
[Your Spatial Magic skill has leveled up!]
"Oh, it seems like I'm passively accumulating skill experience just by using it."
Can you use new magic now?
"I wonder. I brought the Grimoire for Spatial Magic, but for now, let's keep moving."
Ah, that's right.
Maybe after today's tour, if there's time?
I'll save building the smoking room for club activities tomorrow, and then have dinner with True and the others in the evening.
I also need to work on Spatial Magic and get Applied Water Magic so I can make sorbet.
...
...
...
The passage from the Data Room to the balcony was still strewn with the bones and equipment of the Skeleton Knights we'd defeated last time. I decided to bypass them for now and collect them on the way back.
"Oh, the weather's great today, so I can see quite far!"
What a magnificent view.
We arrived at what seemed to be a balcony.
Last time, it was cloudy and the view was disappointing, but today, I could see clearly all the way to the horizon.
Oh, now that I think about it, the Magic Safety Fence here was out of commission before, wasn't it?
[Magic Safety Fence]
A safety fence made of Mithril, etched with Barrier Magic and Spatial Magic.
It no longer says 'out of order,' does it?
"Yeah. I guess that means it's working properly now? Nina, can you communicate here?"
[Yes. This section allows for communication.]
Oh, maybe it's okay if I'm just a little bit outside?
"This fence is functional, right? Is it safe to touch?"
[Yes, it is functional. There are no issues with contact, but please note that you cannot extend your body outside the fence.]
So, it's to prevent falling.
It would be dangerous to fall from here...
"Huh? Is that an island? Can you tell?"
A tiny, bean-sized shadow on the horizon.
I pointed it out for Mion to see, but I wasn't sure if she could make it out.
It looks like there's something there. But whether it's an island or not...
"From what I remember when I started Uninhabited Island Start, I think the closest island was to the northeast. I wonder if that's it."
I see. Can't you start from there?
"No, that wasn't a starting point. There are a few islands around this one, but I think this was the only one you could start on."
Is that so...?
Ah, if you could start from there, then it wouldn't have been impossible for me to meet up with Mion if I went to pick her up.
I really wish there was a way for Mion to come to this island, somehow...