Chapter 290 - Chapter 256: A Confluence of Things
"This should be enough…"
`Chisels` (large, medium, small), `hammer`, `plane`, `small knife`. Three types of `carving knives`: flat, round, and triangular.
The `hammer` and `plane` gave +1 to `Woodcraft` and `Carpentry`, the `small knife` gave +1 to `Woodcraft`, and the `carving knives` gave +1 to `Crafting`.
And then,
"`Chisel` and `hammer`!"
…Doesn't work, huh?
I thought it might work with different tools, but…
"Maybe things held in the hands don't overlap. In that case, I'd have to raise it with clothes or accessories, or there's an even better ore out there."
I can't think of any woodcraft-specific clothes or accessories.
Perhaps the `samue` Yata-sensei mentioned ages ago?
But even +1 is quite amazing, I think. Woodcraft will be 10 with just one more point.
"Yeah. I guess it's thanks to the `Mithril`?"
Isn't it because your `Blacksmithing Skill` is high?
"Is it high…? Level 9 is high, I guess. But if you're production-focused, don't you usually have around that much?"
I made various things, so it just went up without me realizing.
But for someone who primarily focuses on production in the `Silver Manor` guild, a level of 10 wouldn't be surprising.
Shou-kun, isn't it also because you're turning them into `ingots` with the `Ancient Magic Furnace`?
"Ah, that's it!"
There's a possibility of quality differences when refining into `ingots`.
Speaking of which, I've never appraised the `ingots` themselves, I thought.
[High-quality Mithril Ingot]
*A `Mithril` `ingot`. High purity.
Blacksmithing: Can be processed into `Mithril` products.*
"Ah, this is it…"
Amazing!
"So my `Ken-nata` turned out well because the `ingot` itself was high quality."
If the `ingot` quality is good, and then I process it with a high `Blacksmithing Skill`, that should be it.
Then, the refining itself must have good and bad aspects…
"Did Dwarf NPCs help with Leona-sama's `twin blades`?"
Ah!
Learning techniques from other races must be a form of diplomacy.
The `Empire` has `Giantkin`? The `Principality` has `Elves`? The `Republic`… should have had `Fairies`, but they're on my island now.
Wait? Are the `Greenberry Fruit` and `Camlus Fruit` the `Fairies` cultivated dangerous?
"Woof!"
"Oh, Lupi, I just finished. And Leda and Roy?"
"Woof-woof."
Hm? Are they telling me to follow? Did something happen to Leda and Roy?
I stored the finished tools in my inventory and quickly stood up. Lupi ran ahead, urging me to hurry.
What happened?
"It doesn't seem serious, so I think it's fine, but…"
At first, I thought something had happened to Leda and Roy, but there was no sense of desperation.
Lupi ran ahead at a moderate pace, one I could comfortably keep up with.
She went straight through the `crossroads` and headed southwest.
"Ah, did they catch something big?"
Ah, like a deer.
"Exactly."
A large deer would be too heavy for just three of us to carry.
We ran through the grassy area of the `Safe Zone`, and then continued southwest into the forest.
"Woof!"
""Bow!""
"What!?"
In front of Leda and Roy, who were sitting, was a rather large `Ranziboa`…
This means the three of them took it down, right?
Lupi-chan and the others are amazing!
"No, really, that's amazing. I just need to `Dismantle` it, right?"
"Woof-un."
Proud Lupi is cute.
I resisted the urge to pet her all over and quickly `Dismantled` it.
From the looks of it, they dodged the `Ranziboa`'s charge, and when it hit a rock, Leda and Roy restrained it from both sides.
Then Lupi probably snapped its neck with her `Crush Fang`…
"Alright. First, a reward for Lupi."
I sliced the best tenderloin thickly and gave it to Lupi.
Then, I cut equally thick slices for Leda and Roy.
"Good work, Leda and Roy."
"Woof."
""Bow.""
The way they started eating at Lupi's signal showed that even small, she was definitely the boss.
Leda and Roy were still bigger, but Lupi was also growing steadily, so I looked forward to their future.
I remember reading that her body length would exceed 1 meter, but I wonder how big she'll actually get…
………
……
…
"I'm home."
Back at the `mountain cabin`, first, the `Ranziboa` meat goes into the `Storage`…
It's glowing.
"Fast reply, huh? Did something happen regarding the `Demon Kingdom` to `Necropolis` plan?"
Is the investigation not going well?
"Ah, Argenta-san and her group might be stuck in the same way."
First, I tossed the meat into the `Storage`, then turned to face the `Magic Transfer Box`.
Lupi also settled onto her sitting platform, curious. Does she sense something other than a letter inside?
Anyway, I opened the box…
"A letter and… is this fabric and thread?"
[High-quality Amama Fabric]
*A fabric woven from `Amama Thread`, obtained by processing high-quality `Amama`, a plant that absorbs a large amount of `Mana`.
Sewing: Can be used as a material for clothes.*
[High-quality Amama Thread]
*Thread obtained by processing high-quality `Amama`, a plant that absorbs a large amount of `Mana`.
Sewing: Can be used as a material for clothes.*
"Whoa…"
You can make clothes!
"Yeah, but what's the intention behind this, I wonder? Will reading the letter tell me?"
I set aside the fabric and thread for now and read the letter.
*To Shou-sama,
Thank you very much for your generous hospitality during our sudden visit the other day.
Also, regarding the `Demon Kingdom`'s intention to investigate the `Necropolis`, we had detected it but lacked firm confirmation, so your information was immensely helpful.
There has been no significant progress, but for future efforts, we have enclosed a `map` of the `Necropolis` and a document outlining the deployment of various factions.
The fabric and thread we sent along with this are obtained from a plant called `Amama`, and they are a gift from the `White Dragon Princess` as thanks for the sweets the other day.
Clothes made from `Amama Fabric` and `Amama Thread` excel in `Mana` absorption, so we hope they will be of use in your future activities.
P.S. If possible, we would appreciate additional servings of the transparent sweets from the other day…*
The `White Dragon Princess` seems to like `Warabi Mochi` too.
No, that's fine, let's look at the other paper.
"This is the `Necropolis` `map`, huh?"
It doesn't look like an old one; did Argenta-san draw it?
The city being covered by a wall was just as I saw in the PV.
Outside that wall, the circle at the southwestern end marked the frontline base monopolized by that hegemonic guild. The circle at the southeastern end seemed to be the frontline base for Bell-buchou's `Demon Kingdom` route.
The dragon-head symbol on the north side must be where Argenta-san said the `Dragonfolk` would start from…
An arrow went straight down from that dragon symbol, passing through the northern gate, then heading slightly left.
It was at the 11 o'clock position, so Unit 11? It was labeled as a planned investigation area, so they hadn't reached it yet.
"This must be beyond the `Transfer Magic Circle`…"
Will it turn into a three-way struggle if it continues like this?
"I don't think that's likely…"
I really don't want them to get into trouble with players.
But, while Seth (Miki) is one thing, Marie (Mashiro) Nee…
Due to various circumstances, the continuation will be released from evening. m(_ _)m