Chapter 381 - Chapter 336 Long-Awaited…
"Ryu?"
"Kuruuru~"
"~~~♪"
"Woof"
Sweee and Pan asked for directions to the Carbuncle's home (?), and Lupi led the way accordingly. Leda and Roy continued to scan the surroundings.
My job was simple: just follow along…
Ah, is that tree visible over there?
"Oh, it's there."
After continuing for a while in the direction the Carbuncle had fled, we exited the backyard-like area and changed course slightly to the left.
After proceeding further in that direction for a while, I saw a large tree that I hadn't noticed when we arrived.
It looked somewhat familiar, but it wasn't a Divine Tree.
[Kusacoro] "Marone Tree!"
[Keneth] "This means more sweets~"
[Effan] "I see. So they lived here."
[Reaper] "Why did they come down?"
etc. etc…
Marone… Is it a chestnut tree?
"Oh, I thought it looked familiar, but it's a chestnut tree! If I could get chestnuts… I could make candied chestnuts or marron glacé, I guess."
"~~~…"
Sweee-chan, you're drooling…
It's good to hope, but there's no guarantee it bears fruit, and if it's the Carbuncles' main food source, there's the question of whether it's okay to take it.
Anyway, as we approached close enough to jump onto the tree,
"Kuruuru~♪"
"Ah!"
The Carbuncle leapt from Pan's head and landed on my right shoulder. It then scurried up to my head, jumped onto the Marone Tree, and rapidly climbed up.
"Oh, dear, did it go back to its nest?"
Looking up, the leaves were dense, and it disappeared from sight in an instant.
Is only that one Carbuncle living here?
Shou-kun. Everyone is looking to the right.
"Hm? To the right?"
I shifted my gaze to the right as instructed, and a short distance away, I saw some grass that looked both familiar and unfamiliar.
It's not rice, I thought, and as I got closer…
"Ah! Is this wheat!?"
[Kohaku]
*A plant that grows across the continent and is cultivated in plains. It is grown for Kohaku Flour, made by grinding its dried grains.
Material Processing: Can be processed into Kohaku Flour.*
Finally, I can make bread!
[Rileen] "Kohaku is here!"
[Marusan] "Cake! Mont Blanc!"
[Kedaman] "We have Grapeful, so now we can make bread."
[Sameura] "Let's make udon!"
etc. etc…
"Let's cut some and take it back."
"Ryu ryu~"
"Thanks."
Pan showing off his scythe must be his way of offering to help.
Oops, before that,
"Lupi, keep watching the surroundings, okay?"
"Woof"
""Bow""
Leda and Roy, who were already keeping watch from a distance, also replied.
Well, the Smoke Serpent earlier seemed to be the main resident here, so it should be fine until something new spawns.
"~~~?"
"Hm? Sure, but be careful, okay?"
Sweee asked if it was okay to go to the Marone Tree, so I gave her the okay.
Next to Pan, who was skillfully cutting the Kohaku, I also used my Ken-nata to harvest it.
"So, after cutting it, I just need to dry it for a while, then thresh it and grind it into flour, right?"
[Yuion] "Is that so?"
[Anche] "You can just use [Drying Magic]."
[Risossu] "Threshing is annoying~"
[Sacre] "On the mainland, you can leave it to NPCs, though."
etc. etc…
It seems like a lot of work.
"Well, that can't be helped. I chose an uninhabited island to enjoy things like that."
Being able to dry with magic is enough, really.
For threshing, should I make one of those rice threshing machines I saw at Grandpa's storehouse? I feel like I could automate that with [Rotation Magic] or something.
Then, if I grind it with a stone mill, it should turn into flour, and even if it's a bit coarse, it should be manageable.
"Ryu ryu~"
"Hm? Oh, Pan and the others will do it?"
"Ryu!"
Pan thumped his chest.
I always leave the farm work to them, so at least I should prepare the tools.
It seems Pan-kun and the Urisks will do it.
"They're really a great help. Sweee and the Fairies help with gathering, and True and the Selkies always give me dried fish and olive oil."
[Kusho] "So jealous…"
[Fel] "It's like he's even tamed dragons lol."
[Dengana] "He's practically a king!"
[Carlone] "Speaking of fairy kings, Oberon, maybe?"
etc. etc…
"~~~♪"
"Welcome back. Are you done already? Hm?"
I looked in the direction Sweee was pointing, beckoning.
"Eh?"
"Ryu~♪"
Rows of Carbuncule were lined up on the Marone Tree, looking at us.
"Wow…"
There are so many!
There are more than 10 of them, aren't there…
Well, that's fine, but since Sweee was calling, both Pan and I went back towards the Marone Tree.
"Kuruuru~"
"Eh? Wait a minute!"
The Carbuncule that descended climbed over my head and entered the hood of my mantle.
When they couldn't fit anymore, they occupied my shoulders, and when that wasn't enough, they moved to Pan.
"Sweee, are the Carbuncle coming back with us?"
"~~~♪"
Since I got her usual thumbs-up, that must be it.
Staying here, they'd be scared of Smoke Serpents, so it might be best for them to live in the Divine Tree with Sweee until their safety can be assured.
The comment section was buzzing, but my hood was being pulled too much, which was tough…
"L-Lupi, call Leda and Roy, please."
"Woof!"
""Bow""
"Sorry. Could you carry some of them?"
The Carbuncule that were packed onto my shoulders moved to Leda and Roy's backs, and the ones crammed into my hood moved to my shoulders.
[Bluesha] "Wow-wow ♪"
[Taikosuki] "Are there islanders yet!?"
[Charinbou] "Too cute!"
[Venessa] "I guess there are 16?"
etc. etc…
It looks like it's better to go home soon.
"Okay, I'll head back to the church for now."
Yes. It's almost time, anyway.
"Understood."
I wonder if they won't be counted as island residents?
No, phantom beasts should be counted, right? Lupi, Leda, Roy, and the Drab Wolves were counted…