Chapter 320 - Island Infrastructure Extension Project?
I was supposed to just quickly check the basement, but I remembered there was something I wanted to ask Nina.
"Nina, do you have a moment?"
[Yes. What can I do for you?]
"I have a question. This church... I think it's outside the facility, so why can Nina manage it?"
[It's because the magic transmission lines buried underground are connected to the church's basement.]
Magic transmission lines… like power lines, I guess?
So, because it's a place that can share the mana Nina recycles, she can manage it?
No, but…
"I understand if it's just the basement, but how about this church part?"
[Because magic transmission lines are also running through the church's walls and attic.]
"Seriously..."
I instinctively approached the right-side wall and lightly knocked on it, but I couldn't tell at all if those 'magic transmission lines' were inside.
Are those lines thin?
"Nina. How thick are the magic transmission lines?"
[The diameter of the underground magic transmission lines is approximately 2.0mm.]
2.0mm, is that considered quite thick?
"Can I make those? Do you know the necessary materials?"
Huh?
Mion was surprised, but I had a feeling it wasn't impossible.
Of course, if I had the materials, but having a mining site and a production room means I should be able to make them, right?
[... There was no corresponding information about how to create magic transmission lines. The necessary materials are Mithril, copper, and Light Silver.]
"Hmmmm..."
There's information for existing equipment, but not for anything else, huh?
Perhaps when it entered preservation state, that kind of information was reset, but I can figure out the materials from what I have now?
Shou-kun, you might want to ask Argenta-san about how to make it.
"I see. Argenta-san might know. Even if she doesn't, if there are any books that could provide clues."
Yes.
Or rather, the necessary materials are perfectly available at the mining site, and I'm starting to think the production room is there for that very reason…
But Shou-kun, why are you asking about that?
"Oh, yeah. If I could do that myself, I was wondering if I could run magic transmission lines all the way to the mountain cabin."
I see!
It's about 30 meters from the staircase exit to the mountain cabin, and the materials for the magic transmission lines seem fine based on what we just discussed.
It would be easier to contact Nina, and she would also replenish mana in the storage box on the first floor.
"~~~?"
"Woof."
"Oops, sorry. I need to check the basement."
I wonder what's in the church's basement…
………
……
…
It's narrower than I thought.
"Yeah. It's narrower than the mountain cabin's basement."
When I moved the pulpit, there was a handle to open the entrance to the basement, and pulling it up revealed a staircase leading about 1 meter underground.
Nina said there were no monsters in the basement—it was a Safe Zone now anyway—so I felt at ease. Lupi went down first, just in case.
"~~~♪"
Sweee floated around, looking curiously into a wooden box placed along the left wall. Or was it a wooden chest?
Both of the two wooden boxes were covered with cloth. Was it just plain linen?… No, this is Amama Fabric.
Perhaps because it was carelessly draped, it looked a bit deteriorated, so it probably didn't contain anything too expensive.
When I removed the Amama Fabric from the wooden box closest on the left, an antique-looking lamp appeared inside.
"Appraisal."
[Magic Nightlight: Unusable]
*A nightlight that glows using mana. It can be held or hung for use.
[Basic Magicology]: Can be used by installing a [Magic Crystal Stone (Tiny)].*
A light?
"Yeah. It feels like a lantern."
It was a handheld lantern size, with a handle on top, shaped so it could also be hung and installed.
Was it a spare for the one illuminating the church, or for illuminating the outside?
There were three of them. The adjacent wooden box also contained three similar lamps.
"Tiny magic stones, I think… there they are."
I took out one magic stone, which I'd left in the drawstring pouch hanging from my waist. Then, I purified it into a magic crystal stone.
Ordinary lanterns probably have glass windscreens, but if it glows with magic, those aren't necessary.
There was a perfectly sized hollow in the central base, so I fitted the magic crystal stone into it.
"Then, I guess I pour in mana? …Oh, it lit up."
It was a bit dazzling, and I still thought something with frosted glass would have more atmosphere.
Is there no on/off switch?
"Doesn't seem like it. Probably, like this..."
I see.
If I turned it upside down and removed the magic crystal stone, the light would naturally go out. Simple and easy to understand.
There's no point leaving them here, so I'll collect them. But…
"Is there anywhere it can be used?"
Wouldn't True-kun or Pan-kun use them?
"Oh, right. I should ask them."
If they could be used in daily life, it would be better to give them to the Selkies or Urisks.
Also, I'm curious about where and how the Selkies and Urisks live.
The Urisks seem to be raising Yakokko and Ecryu, and they can use hammers, so there must be a lot going on up the cliff.
"Alright. Then, what's in the back… huh? What's this?"
I thought it was a long wooden box in the back, but when I removed the Amama Fabric, it was tightly lidded… and subtly resembled a coffin.
If I open this, will there be a vampire? Or a ghoul? It would be scary if there were any…
"Even with [Appraisal], it's just a lidded box. Oh, right, trap check… doesn't seem to be any."
What could be inside?
"Nina, there really aren't any undead or anything, right?"
[Yes. No impure mana has been detected either.]
It even detects impurities like that.
Then, is it safe? Probably… But, just in case,
"Lupi, Sweee, step back."
At my words, the two reluctantly but obediently backed up to the stairs. With [Spirit's Blessing] cast, I was ready.
I put my hands on the lid and lifted it with a grunt, and what lay inside was…
"W-what should I do?"
H-how about we just leave it be for now?
"Roger..."
Or rather, why is there a life-sized [Nameless Goddess Statue] in a place like this?… Oh, I see.
"When I found the church, I also found this basement, and the original procedure was to install this Nameless Goddess Statue?"
I see. But if Nina-san hadn't been here, we wouldn't have known the church had a basement, would we?
"That's certainly true..."
Anyway, let's pretend I didn't see this. At least until the World Quest is over…