Chapter 283 - Chapter 250: How to Break Stone Walls
"Evening."
Shou-kun.
After finishing dinner and the dishes, I logged into IRO.
It was before 8 PM, but only Mion was in the club room…
"Huh? Where's Yata-sensei?"
She said she'd just be watching in real-view today, so we should handle everything ourselves.
"Seriously…"
She probably trusts us, and I'm sure she'd fly in if anything happened, but it's a bit of pressure… or maybe not that much.
Last time, she only showed up at the beginning and end anyway.
"Alright, I'm heading out."
Okay. Have a good one.
"…"
What's wrong?
"No, nothing."
I really feel like I'm becoming a useless person…
………
……
…
Shou-kun, there's something that's been bothering me.
"Huh? What is it?"
Last night, we talked about the `Demon Kingdom` also getting involved in the `Necropolis World Quest`, remember?
"Yeah. For me, I'm worried about Marie (Mashiro) Nee going out of control…"
Do the Dragons know about that?
"Ah—…"
No, but surely they must know?
`Dragonfolk`, I think they're called? There was talk about their subordinates keeping watch.
"I feel like it's fine, but… I guess I'll contact them just in case. I'm going straight back to the `mountain cabin` after the live stream today anyway."
If it turns out they didn't know, I'd later wonder why I didn't tell them. And if that prevented me from retrieving that `Transfer Magic Circle`…
You're right.
Now, do I have all my belongings?
That said, I'd given all the vegetables and seasonings I'd brought to the `Selkies`. I had plenty left in the `mountain cabin`'s `Storage` for Lupi and myself.
Also, I'd taught them how to dry and then smoke the excess `Oranjack` using `Drying Magic`.
When I told them to leave the `Storage` open so they could use it anytime, an extra pot of sauce appeared.
Speaking of which, do `Selkies` usually live on land? Since they cook with fire, they must live on land, right? Or maybe they just come ashore for cooking…
"Oops, shall we go?"
"Woof-un."
"~~~♪"
My inventory was packed with sauce, dried `Oranjack` (mackerel), and dried `Tialp` (kelp), and my backpack was full of `Camlus Fruit`.
It's quite heavy…
Five minutes until we start.
"Roger. I'll hurry a bit."
We passed the area in front of the `Storage`, which had been a bustling lunch spot earlier, and headed to the base of the `lighthouse`.
I sat here, waiting for the stream to begin.
"Woof-un."
Lupi sat between my crossed legs, so I gently stroked her head.
Sweee also settled onto her usual spot on my left shoulder, swinging her legs idly.
10 seconds… 5, 4…
I felt like a countdown wasn't necessary since Mion would start the stream herself, but Yata-sensei isn't here, so maybe she's a bit nervous?
Everyone, welcome to Mion and Shou's Relaxed Showtime! This is Mion, your host. It's a pleasure to be here!
[Rikure] "It's started!"
[Bluesha] "Mion-chan, you're in an explorer's outfit today!(^^)"
[Marionela] "Finally, the mysteries of the `Ancient Ruins` will be revealed…"
[Mii] "Is there going to be food porn?"
etcetc...
Mion's outfit today was the explorer one.
But I feel like it's time for her to have a new one too.
Today, Shou-kun and I will be explaining about the '`Ancient Ruins` administrator' that was mentioned in last Sunday's `World Announcement`.
The comment section erupted at her words.
Well, I'll keep the important parts hidden, but I plan to take a small detour and be open about the `Fire Spirit Stone`.
Alright then, connecting to the island. Shou-kun, Lupi-chan, Sweee-chan~
"Hey there."
"Woof~"
"~~~♪"
The comment section was filled with love for Lupi and Sweee. And disappointment that True wasn't there, I guess?
Today, we're at the port.
"Yeah. For lunch, I played with True and the `Selkies` and then ate with them, but that whole scene…"
Yes. We'll upload a few short videos, so please watch them.
[Nyx] "Short videos are a lifesaver~"
[Taraami] "Food porn shorts make me so hungry lol"
[Master Chef] "Looking forward to new recipes!"
[Daytron] "
etcetc...
This time, it doesn't seem like there'll be time for food porn, but I want to introduce the sauces.
No, maybe I'll eat `Warabi Mochi` at the observation deck at the end. The weather's nice.
Shou-kun, please explain our current location.
"Okay. Uhm…"
In my line of sight was the entrance to the `lighthouse`.
[Calico] "A secret in the lighthouse!?"
[Wizun] "I want to go up!"
[Skinko] "Huh? Was there something up there?"
[Melari] "Actually, it transforms into a robot…"
etcetc...
"Ah, the `lighthouse` isn't related. I'll show it another time, but there's just a huge `magic tool` lamp up there. Beyond the `lighthouse`… Alright!"
I stood up and walked to the back of the `lighthouse`.
As I slowly descended along my line of sight, the entrance to the `port` came into view.
"That's the entrance to the `Ancient Ruins` `port`."
We found it when we first came here, but we didn't have time to go in.
"After that, it was just one thing after another, meeting True, Argenta-san coming, it was hectic."
I feel like I should have gone to see it right away, but then I would have lost to the `Maroon Wraith`, no, even the `Venom Slime` before that…
[Minsel] "Port (on land)"
[Imanity] "Does it become sea level at high tide?"
[Shinman] "Wandaba?"
[Venessa] "Is it for hovercraft, maybe?"
etcetc...
Ah, there was a possibility of tides. But no, the passageway didn't really feel like it was submerged in seawater.
The passageway was dark before, but now, thanks to Nina's revival, it was bright, and I could see the large door at the end.
Opening it revealed an even wider space before us.
"I still don't really know what this place was like…"
I stepped onto the platform (or homepage?) and looked around so the viewers could see.
"I wonder if a ship came in here and people got on and off."
[Magip] "I see, I see."
[Swivel] "Looks like a sightseeing boat dock."
[Napalm] "Are there other islands around?"
[Hannah] "Have the `Selkies` help find a boat?"
etcetc...
Further ahead, you can overlook the surroundings from a high place, right?
"Yeah. Let's head there first."
The small island I saw last time would be hard to spot without paying close attention, so a general overview should be enough.
"Oh, no, this first."
In front of the passageway leading to the stairs above, there were the remains of the `Venom Slime` I defeated.
Questions were coming in from the comment section about how I defeated it.
You defeated it with magic, didn't you?
"Yeah. When I attacked, it retaliated by spitting venom, so I pushed it away with `[Stone Projectile]` and then squashed it flat with `[Falling Rocks]`."
[Kusacoro] "Falling Rocks?"
[Fel] "'Squashed flat' is brutal lol"
[Guydon] "That's `Applied Magicology`!"
[Disol] "How do you clean that up?"
etcetc...
"It's an `Applied Earth Magic` spell. It's like creating a `[Stone Wall]` in the air, so the MP consumption is about the same."
Are you going to clean it up now?
"I'll just crush it for now. Lupi, Sweee, hide."
After confirming Lupi was between my legs and Sweee was in my hood,
"
The `Stone Wall` that had crushed the `Venom Slime` instantly shattered, turning into a pile of sand.
[Molto] "Ooh!"
[Lucol] "Huh? This is seriously strong, isn't it?"
[Acmon] "Cool!"
[Marsal] "You should teach Bell-taso lol"
etcetc...
What about Bell-buchou?
It's convenient for removing `Stone Walls`, but it requires the `Civil Engineering Skill`…