Chapter 322 - A Visit to the Urisks' Home
"Ryu~♪"
"Oh, was it delicious?"
Pan, having eaten the Torotoro Dried Papu Fruit, had a very happy expression.
True and the Selkies like it too, so it's a consistently popular sweet among fairies.
"~~~♪"
Sweee, who had finished eating a step earlier, pulled on my cloak, as if saying, "This way, this way."
"Hm? Oh, that side is a field."
Several small fields were lined up on the south side of the Divine Tree, and various things seemed to be planted there.
Or rather, there were many vegetables I had actually seen before.
"Wow, there's cabbage, cucumber, eggplant, and pumpkin!"
So many vegetables!
When I Appraised them, they turned out to be [Caputa (cabbage)], [Kyuka (cucumber)], Melanza (eggplant), and [Kurbita (pumpkin)], which seemed to be the same as real-world items.
Root vegetables like [Carrotta (carrot)], [Kepa (onion)], and Rudish (radish) were also planted, making it quite a serious operation.
"Ryuryu~♪"
"Wow, thank you."
Pan picked some perfectly ripe ones and handed them to me.
I ended up receiving all kinds of vegetables, and my inventory was about to overflow.
In a different field, something else caught my eye: a tall plant, almost 2 meters high… I Appraised it.
[Regucorn]
*A plant that grows across the continent and can be cultivated even in highlands. It is grown for its highly nutritious kernels.
Cooking: The kernels are generally eaten roasted. [Material Processing]: The kernels can be ground into powder and used as a food ingredient.*
Huh? This is…
Do you recognize it?
"Corn!"
Huh?
Oh, Mion probably only knows it in its yellow state.
If I could make corn flour from this…
"This Regucorn, if I can turn the corn into flour, I might be able to make bread?"
You can make bread?
"Yeah. It's closer to a cake sponge than what you'd call corn bread? If I had butter, eggs, milk, and sugar, I feel like Pan and the others might help me get all of it."
However, the ingredients are a bit luxurious for the current situation.
I'm starting to think making tortillas with just corn flour first would be more practical.
"Ryuryu~"
As I was thinking that, Pan continuously picked Regucorn ears and handed them to me.
Since it's a game, they'll probably respawn quickly, but do they have enough for themselves too?
"Wow, thank you! I can't carry any more, so I'm good."
Pan's disappointed face made me feel a little bad.
No, really, I've already received so many vegetables, it's too much.
"Alright, then…"
Shou-kun. What's at the edge of this place?
"Oh, you're right. Sweee, could you ask Pan to guide us to the edge of this area?"
When I told her that, Pan guided us further southwest.
After walking through a small forest, I expected to emerge into a bright, open space, but then,
"Woof!"
Lupi, who had been leading, stopped and warned us.
I wondered what it was…
"Ugh..."
Ah, you shouldn't go too close to the edge...
Just a few more steps, and there was no ground beyond that point.
About 50 meters down? It was a height that would definitely mean one death if I fell, and below, a cliffside forest stretched out, with grasslands beyond.
Looking left and right… it seemed to be a continuous sheer cliff.
Is that a river we see over there?
"Ah, it seems so. The stream flowing from the spring at the mountain cabin probably merges with it."
I also felt like there was a river beyond the church's main gate, so the northwest side seems to have flat land, a river, and potential for wheat and rice.
Perhaps after the World Quest settles down, I'll try going outside the gate…
"Then, can I visit Pan and the others' home?"
"~~~?"
"Ryuryu~♪"
………
……
…
Returning the way we came, passing the Divine Tree and continuing on, a sheer mountain face came into view.
And on that mountain face, several caves? Or caverns?
"Ryu~!"
"Ryuryu~"
Responding to Pan's call (?), Urisks emerged from the caverns and descended the cliff.
The Urisks agilely descended, using footholds less than 10cm wide…
"Amazing..."
I'm nervous my heart's pounding, wondering if they'll fall.
If monsters attacked, they'd probably be safe if they fled inside their homes.
Besides, this area itself feels like a plateau, so it doesn't seem like anything could climb up here.
The only things to worry about are monsters coming from the sky, and those that burrow through the ground.
"Sorry for calling you out. Here, share this with everyone and eat."
"Ryu~♪"
I took out all the Torotoro Dried Papu Fruit I had in my inventory and shared it.
It was heartwarming to see Pan explaining, as if to say, "You break it in two and eat it~."
"Huh? By the way, where are Pan and the others' Yakokko and Ecryu?"
The trees were sparse at the bottom of this cliff, but there didn't seem to be any breeding pens. Could it be that all of them were behind the church?
As I looked around,
"Coo-keh"
"Meeeeeh"
Yokokko and Ecryu emerged from several caves on the ground.
They started eating the surrounding grass or wandered off towards the Divine Tree, quite freely.
"I see. So they raise them in caves. I guess it's safe enough."
So a lost one wandered down to the church.
"Probably. More than lost, I feel like they were drawn by the fields behind the church..."
Glycine (soybean) and Audapra (potato) weren't in the Urisks' fields, so maybe they were curious and came down.
Well, it's almost time to leave… but before that, I came here to confirm if 'that' was needed.
"Do you use this?"
"Ryu?"
I showed him the Magic Nightlight and magic crystal stone, but… he wouldn't understand.
It would be faster to show than to explain, so I poured mana into the magic crystal stone and set it.
"Ryu~!"
Pan and the Urisks were surprised by the glowing object.
But, on second thought, they usually live in dark caves, so I started to think they might not need it.
"Ryuryu?"
"~~~♪"
"Ryuryu."
I thought they were talking about something with Sweee, and then she took it and hung it on a nearby tree branch.
"Ryu~♪"
Ah, isn't it for the goats and chickens?
"I see."
It helps them recognize that this direction is home.
It would be a good landmark not only for the livestock but also for the Urisks.
"Alright, shall we go home? It's about time, isn't it?"
Yes. It's past 10:30.
"Roger."
My ingredients have increased, so I'm happy that my cooking repertoire will expand.
I also need to share salt, pepper, and other seasonings with the Urisks, and tomorrow is precisely the day I circle the southern part of the island.
I'll have to replenish various things.