Chapter 335 - The Man Who Conquered Dragon Appetites
Evening. After dinner, it was dessert time.
“The Goddess wooden statue my brother made generated a Safe Zone when placed in the church, correct?”
“Hm? Oh, that’s right. It must have been something like, if you place a Goddess Statue there...”
I couldn’t tell her that there was actually a life-sized ‘Nameless Goddess Statue’ intended for that spot in the basement. Or rather, if you think about it carefully, a Safe Zone being created by a wooden statue I made feels a bit like, 'Is that really okay?'
“Hmm. Could it be that any Goddess Statue will suffice, then...?”
Miki tilted her head, a plastic spoon for baked pudding held between her lips.
“Well, I also have [Crafting (Woodcraft)], so there might be a requirement for a certain level of completion. So, what about it?”
“There is a church in the Necropolis as well, but no Goddess Statue has been placed there. Judging from the records of the catastrophe, it may have been carried out.”
“Ah, so you mean if we put a Goddess Statue there, even a wooden one, a Safe Zone would be created?”
Miki nodded in agreement. If it could be substituted, then any leftover Goddess Statues could be utilized for exploring the central area. I’m curious what other people’s Goddess Statues would look like. Mine, though its attire was from the scripture, ended up looking exactly like Mion...
I’d already revealed that I broke the skill cap with Mithril tools, so players on the mainland must have acquired [Crafting (Woodcraft)] by now. I probably wouldn't be the first to get advanced [Sewing] or [Blacksmithing] either, but I don’t mind; I don't need to get all the Pioneer Rewards.
“Speaking of which, where’s Mashiro Onee-san?”
“She said she was returning to her employer to report on the progress of the World Quest.”
Her employer means quest-related, right? Still the Demon Kingdom? Or could it be Ice Princess Anshia? Hmm...
“What’s she doing, I wonder...”
“Other players and NPCs haven’t caused her any trouble, so I’m sure there’s no problem. My brother is such a worrier.”
Even so, Mashiro Onee-san always manages to do something beyond my worries...
*
“I think I’ll make hamburgers for the White Dragon Princess. For dessert, Soy Milk Mochi sounds good.”
Since I don’t have breadcrumbs, I’ll use Potato Starch. For the sauce, maybe a tomato sauce using Lycos.
“I’d like you to teach me how to make it on Sunday.”
“Roger.”
Oh, that’s right, I need to ask Tsubaki-san about the avatar costume too. The Operations team probably didn’t realize Mion was a virtual idol belonging to a famous entertainment agency, so I’m curious about their reply.
“Shou-kun, aren’t you going to invite Pan-kun and the others here?”
“Ah, they’re totally welcome to come, but why?”
“Because of the issue of preserving goat milk, I thought it would be good if Pan and the others could use the Storage boxes.”
“I see...”
No one would come and steal them, so I guess I could put the Storage boxes in the storehouse. When I’m not around, Leda and Roy would stand guard.
“If I think of it as a refrigerator, it should be closer to the kitchen.”
“Hehe, that’s right. Shall we ask the Dragonkin if they have any spare?”
“I wonder if taking too much is a good idea. More importantly, can’t I make my own magic tools...”
“You’re going to make them?”
It would be interesting if I could make a box, or rather, a cabinet, with refrigeration and freezing functions, even if it’s not as good as the Ancient Magic Storage I currently have. Since I can use heating and cooling with [Applied Water Magic], if I can make a refrigerator, maybe I can make a hot plate too?
“It’s a mystery if such skills are even implemented, though.”
While chatting like that, I focused on the cooking. It’s great that Pan and the others have started collecting eggs for me, so I can use them freely. Maybe I should make pudding soon? Unveiling pudding at Saturday's live stream sounds good too.
“Shou-kun, it’s almost 9 o’clock.”
“Roger. Then, let’s go pick them up. Lupi? Sweee?”
“Woof!”
“~~~♪”
I called the two who were playing in front of the Mountain Cabin, and we headed to the Large Transfer Room in the basement. On the way, I remembered to ask,
“Nina. I heard that the Transfer Magic Circle can’t be moved, is that true?”
[Yes. Not just Transfer Magic Circles, but some magic tools within the facility are fixed by administrator authority.]
Whoa, that was straight to the core, wasn’t it? But then, how did the Transfer Magic Circle on the first floor of the mountain cabin get there?
“If the administrator releases the fixed state, it can be moved?”
[Yes.]
That means the person who left the records in the Mountain Cabin must have released the fixed state and moved it. But it would be dangerous if the transfer destination changed without me knowing, so it makes sense that only the administrator can move it.
“Shou-kun. What about the doors and such?”
“What about these doors?”
I asked about the door before the Crossroads, which was currently left open.
[Yes. It is possible to release the fixed state and install it in a different location.]
“Seriously?”
I wonder if I should remove these doors, including the northern one, and move them somewhere else. It feels more correct for the Control Room to have a door with an Unlock Code.
I turned left and took the Transfer Elevator down to the basement. I’m still not used to the opposite side opening the instant I press the button after confirming the door is closed. Opening the large Magic Storage box on the right, I saw it was already empty, so Argenta-san must have collected the contents.
Today's items are just for souvenirs, but I need to start stockpiling again soon.
“Woof!”
“Ah, did they arrive?”
The Transfer Magic Circle began to glow, so I hurried over. When the light subsided, Argenta-san appeared, holding the White Dragon Princess. And then...
“Hey!”
“H-hello...”
Like Argenta-san, he was a tall, handsome man, but his fiery red hair and slovenly attire were the complete opposite. His casual manner of speaking made him seem a bit bad, but he was probably the type who was actually a good-natured older brother. Could this person be...
“Vermilion, restrain yourself. This person is recognized by the Princess, too.”
“I know, I know.”
“Lord Shou, I apologize. Vermilion the Scarlet Dragon insisted on thanking you directly and insisted on coming along.”
Argenta-san informed me apologetically. The Vermilion the Scarlet Dragon I heard about before was apparently this older brother. That’s fine, but,
“No, that’s perfectly fine. More importantly, what are you thanking me for?”
“The wine, the wine! That stuff was seriously delicious, so give me more!”
Vermilion-san leaned forward and declared. ...I thought I sent that to Argenta-san? I looked at Argenta-san, and she said,
“This man has no restraint when it comes to alcohol, and he found it, so I reluctantly shared it, but...”
“But that was just regular Grapeful Wine, right?”
“It’s totally different! It’s seriously delicious! Make more!”
Vermilion-san leaned in further, pleading, but then...
“~~~!”
“Ow!”
Sweee delivered a dropkick, which seemed to hit him in the eye, causing Vermilion-san to writhe in agony.
“Whoa! Sweee, what are you doing?!”
“~~~!”
“I apologize!”
Then she started scolding Argenta-san too, and Argenta-san was apologizing profusely... What is this?