Chapter 389 - Episode 343: Hand in Hand
Monday
"Is everyone on?"
"Woof!" ""Bow!""
"~~~ ♪" "Grrr ♪"
On the raft heading to Selkie Village, it was just the four of us: me, Lupi, Leda, and Roy. Sweee and Raz were tucked into my hood so they wouldn't be blown away by the wind.
"Alright, if you please."
"Kyuu~ ♪" """Kyuu~ ♪"""
The Selkies, carrying the raft, slowly moved out to sea, and the land gradually receded.
Lupi, Sweee, and I had experienced this before, but—
"Leda, Roy, Raz, are you all right?"
""Bow!"" "Grrr~"
They seemed fine.
Leda and Roy probably swam in rivers, and Raz would be safe inside my hood, I supposed.
Will we fix the collapsed area tonight?
"I suppose the serious repairs will be tonight, yes."
Last night, after Lord Azure returned, I took True and the others to harvest [Camlus Fruit].
Further beyond, we spotted what looked like an exit to the collapsed cave section. If we could repair that passage, True and the other Selkies would be able to harvest [Camlus Fruit], and more importantly, travel would become much easier.
Preparations first, then?
"Yeah. Once we get there, I'll procure lumber, and while I'm processing it, I thought it would be a good idea for Sweee to call everyone for introductions."
True and the Selkies would be meeting Pan and the Urisk for the first time. I hoped they wouldn't get into a fight, but…
………
……
…
Upon arriving at Selkie Village, the first thing to do was to have Sweee choose which trees were okay to cut down.
Beyond what looked like an olive grove, there was the Divine Tree, and beyond that, a forest stretched out.
"Have True and the others ever been further into this forest?"
"Kyuu~ ♪ Kyukyuu~"
I wonder?
"It seems they sometimes go to gather nuts and berries."
This area, like the basin where the Mountain Cabin was, felt like a secluded place, I guess.
"Woof."
""Bow!""
Lupi seemed to have instructed Leda and Roy to be cautious, but her tone was calm, just in case.
Then, three Selkies carrying wicker baskets appeared from the other side and waved to us.
"Kyuu~?"
"Kyukyuu~"
One of them took out a red fruit and handed it to me, but…
[Rumorella Fruit]
*A fruit from the Rumorella Tree. It has a pleasant sweet and sour taste and is edible.
Cuisine: Its juice and pulp can be processed into seasonings.
Alchemy: It is a raw material for hemostatic medicine that relieves laceration status.*
"Is this a Japanese bayberry?"
A peach?
"Ah, Japanese bayberry isn't actually a peach. Um…"
Japanese bayberry is in the Myricaceae family, while peaches are in the Rosaceae family. Probably.
I gave a rough explanation, but Mion had never seen a Japanese bayberry herself. Well, that makes sense.
Is it tasty?
"Yeah, it's sweet and sour and delicious… or it should be."
"~~~ ♪" "Grrr ♪"
Yeah. Sweee and Raz definitely seemed to like it. This size, they'd probably eat it all themselves, but I wanted to try some too, so I cut the flesh in half with a knife.
"Here."
Wild Japanese bayberries sometimes have bugs, but… [Appraisal] didn't react, so I figured it was fine.
Sweee took it and cut it in half again for Raz. She's always so proper about things like that.
"Kyuu~."
"Woof~."
I confirmed that True shared half with Lupi, and the Selkies handed halves to Leda and Roy. Then I took a bite of the one in my hand…
"Mmm, delicious!"
I really like the slight bitterness that comes with the sweet and sour taste of Japanese bayberries.
It's kind of like how putting salt on watermelon enhances its sweetness.
"I'd love to make jam and put it on toast."
Ugh, that sounds delicious…
"Ahahaha."
Speaking of which, our sugar stock is getting low. Once things settle down, I'll have to go gather [Bluegaris (beet sugar)] again.
………
……
…
"Okay, I'll be working around here, so Sweee, I'm counting on you."
"~~~ ♪"
Sweee patted her chest as if to say 'leave it to me,' then flew off towards the Divine Tree.
Lupi, Leda, Roy, and Raz were napping around the Divine Tree, so I started processing the wood I had felled a little distance away.
It's great that I can process felled wood immediately thanks to [Drying Magic].
Well, it's a game, so maybe I don't need to worry about it that much…
"It's fine to watch, but be careful."
"Kyuu~."
True sat a little distance away, looking very interested in my work.
And the Selkies who had gathered [Rumorella Fruit] earlier were probably sorting the fruit next to him?
Um, Shou-kun. Could you tell me what you plan to use the wood for?
"Oh, yeah. I'm going to make supports, like frames to keep the walls and ceiling from collapsing."
Er…
She didn't seem to get it. Maybe it would be easier if I showed her?
I planned to set up columns and beams for support, then remove the earth and sand.
Since thin supports would be useless, I'd make fairly thick square timbers. But as they'd get dirty anyway, I wouldn't bother making the surfaces pretty.
"""~~~ ♪"""
After working for a while, Fairies emerged from the Divine Tree.
Sweee had gone out once, and now seemed to have gone to the Urisk's place.
Warne, the Fairies' leader, bowed to True… like, 'Our Queen is always causing trouble, sorry about that,' kind of vibe.
As I watched that interaction,
"""Ryuu~ ♪"""
"""Grrr~ ♪""
Pan and two accompanying Urisk, along with the Carbunkles, appeared.
"Sweee, good work."
I handed a Greenberry Fruit to Sweee, who settled on my left shoulder—her usual spot—and made a gesture of wiping sweat from her brow.
That was fine, but—
""…""
True and Pan faced each other… I wondered if it would be okay, then—
"Kyu!"
"Ryu!"
They shook hands firmly.
Glad there was no trouble…
"True, Pan, thank you both always. Let's keep working together."
"Kyuu~ ♪" "Ryuu~ ♪"
I patted both their heads, making sure to convey my thanks.
We'd been through a lot recently in the Necropolis, and now that we were advancing into new areas beyond the church, I'd likely be relying on them even more.
Hehehe. Shou-kun, you're like a king.
"Ugh, was I acting that arrogant?"
Ah, that's not what I meant. But you are the guardian of Sweee-chan and the others, and True-kun and Pan-kun's people.
"Ah, yeah. When you put it that way, I guess I am."
If Mion were here, things would probably be even more amazing, though.