Chapter 332 - Progress and Stagnation
Thursday
“Alright, I’m home!”
“Woofun!”
“~~~♪”
“Welcome back.”
IRO after school club. I quickly returned to the Mountain Cabin and breathed a sigh of relief.
First, I had to transfer the gifted olives and smoked Oranjack (horse mackerel), and the collected Camlus Fruits into the Storage box. I have a feeling they won't all fit...
“Sweee, one for each of you.”
I divided the Camlus Fruits among everyone; it seemed like they wouldn’t all fit otherwise. As for the olives, a wooden box should be fine for now. They probably won’t spoil that quickly, and I plan to process them tonight anyway.
“Still got a little time, right?”
“Yes. About 30 minutes left.”
“Roger. Then, let’s eat first.”
Since I had them, I decided to warm up some of the smoked Oranjack I received. I lit the Stone Oven Range and reheated portions for myself and Lupi and the others.
“This would go well with sake~. How about dried fish for dinner tonight~?”
“...You should go easy on the alcohol.”
I have a feeling Yata-sensei also has to watch Bell-bucho’s live stream today.
“Speaking of which~, something’s been on my mind~.”
“What is it?”
“Can you do other things while using [Rotation Magic]~?”
“Ah~, Elemental Magic is a no-go. If it were Spirit Magic, I could just ask the spirits to handle it.”
Though [Storage Expansion Magic] remains active, the way it consumes MP is a bit special.
“I see~. I thought it would be quite versatile~, but you have to constantly concentrate on the magic~.”
“That’s right.”
Both [Fixed] and [Rotation] require continuous mana consumption to maintain their state. It might be good for practicing [Spatial Magic], but to set it and forget it, some kind of contrivance seems necessary.
“You could make windmills or watermills~.”
“I see. Oh, that’s right, are there usually watermill huts on the mainland?”
“Yes. I’ve seen them in the club president’s live streams.”
Since there’s a spring flowing out of the forest, building a watermill hut around there might be an option. Or, this basin gets wind from the mountains, so a windmill might be closer and better...
“Woof!”
“Whoa, thanks.”
Careful, careful. I almost overheated and burned it. The three largest pieces were for Lupi and the others. A regular size is enough for me.
“Be careful not to burn yourselves.”
“Woofun!” ““Bow!””
[World Quest has been updated!]
“Oh?”
Did something advance all at once? Um, from the menu...
[World Quest: Necropolis: Part Three "Truth"]
*The ruins found deep in the Jet Black Forest. This city, occupied by the Undead, was the epicenter of a catastrophe caused by an Ancient Magic Civilization.
The city interior, infested with Undead, has been purified by those who gained the trust of the Dragonkin, reaching a state where its former prosperity can be glimpsed.
What awaits in the remaining epicenter? In the innermost 'Core of Wisdom'...?*
Objective: Purify the 'Core of Wisdom' in the innermost part of the Necropolis.
“Part Three is the last one, right?”
“It should be.”
“This time, there’s no completion percentage display~.”
Ah, that’s right, there isn’t. I guess it means it’s complete once I purify the 'Core of Wisdom'?
“'What awaits'... Is it a pattern where the person who caused the catastrophe appears as an Undead?”
“Conventionally, that would be the case~.”
“Where exactly is the 'Core of Wisdom' in the innermost part? We’ve been subjugating from the periphery, so is it the center of the city?”
“Shall I check the forum?”
“No, once we finish eating and cleaning up, it’ll be time. Let’s ask Bell-bucho.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
It would be quicker to ask the club president who’s on site, and I have a feeling she might have some information.
*
Back in the real-world club room, Mion and Yata-sensei and I discussed. That is to say, not about the World Quest we just talked about, but about the inquiry regarding whether we could bring the Jade Goddess outfit made in-game as an avatar costume.
Apparently, a reply had just come in, saying, “We cannot give an immediate answer and require more time.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know. I also expected a 'yes' or 'no' answer.”
That’s right. I thought there probably wouldn't be a 'no', and it would be a 'yes, but the Operations team gets a few percent of the sales' kind of answer.
“Perhaps the official team was planning to sell it at some point~.”
“Ah-...”
If I make it first, it affects various sales strategies...? Is that what they mean? If so, they should just tell me directly. I only intend to make it for Mion anyway.
“Mion-san~. It’s fine to wait~, but it might be better to convey that reply through your agency~.”
“Y-yes. I’ll do that.”
Yata-sensei is quite shrewd, huh... Well, I think it’s better for Tsubaki-san to handle the negotiations rather than us inexperienced high schoolers.
“Oh. You two are early today.”
“Ah, hello, ma’am. The World Quest advanced, so we wanted to hear about it.”
“Indeed.”
Bell-bucho also seemed to have returned a little earlier than usual. Before we could ask her about the situation, Bell-bucho displayed her archive video and scrubbed partway through it.
“This is where it starts, I suppose. I wasn’t the first discoverer, but...”
The moment it started playing, the previous World Announcement sounded, and Bell-bucho and the people around her began to stir.
“Bell, it seems like it’s progressing to the next stage.”
“Leona-san. Was there an Area Boss or something?”
“No, I think it’s because the sections in front of the three entrances have been subjugated.”
Was Bell-bucho a latecomer?
The members of Silver Manor and the Throne of the Thunder Emperor had also gathered, discussing whether to enter during today’s live stream.
“Three entrances?”
“The small image ahead is the south gate. Apparently, there are similar gates to the northeast and northwest.”
She zoomed in on the screen to show it to me. What appeared to be in the center of the Necropolis was probably a huge circular building. It had a wide, two-lane entrance, and a massive grate gate barred it shut. Huh? Is this...
“Ah-”
“What’s wrong?”
“No, this gate looks exactly like the one closing the front of the island’s church...”
“Ah!”
It really must mean it’s the next area...