Chapter 39 - Chapter 36: Preparing Everything Myself
"Hoh! So, that wolf is now your pet, Brother?"
"More like a partner than a pet. She can easily beat weak mobs, and she might even be stronger than me."
Dinner was over, so I cleared the dishes and gave Miki some ice cream.
"Hmph, how enviable. I, too, wish for a partner. Perhaps I should tame a dragon and become a Dragon Knight…"
She seems to be letting her imagination run wild, but if it's in a game, I guess it's fine.
More importantly, there was something I needed to ask before I forgot.
"Miki, would you livestream for me again?"
"Hmm? I don't mind, but what do you want to see?"
No, it's not about wanting to see something in particular…
I explained the somewhat complicated situation: Mion wants to talk to Miki, but she wants to start by watching Miki's livestream.
"I feel like she could just come over to our house, though?"
"That's true, but in real life, she's incredibly shy, or rather, introverted."
When I told her Mion barely talks normally, and her voice is super quiet when she does, Miki stopped eating her ice cream and tilted her head.
"Hmph, even though it's a synthesized voice, it's strange how eloquently she speaks in videos…"
To me, it's weirder that you, a genius, are swinging an ice cream spoon in your mouth.
"So, should I do it today?"
"Ah, no, next week please. It's been decided I'm doing a livestream this weekend. I can't do it this week because of the preparations."
"You're finally doing a livestream!"
I get that you're excited, so stop standing on the chair…
*
"Woof!"
"Alright, alright, just a moment."
As usual, I started a Mion-only stream. The viewer count quickly reached 1.
"Shou-kun, Lupi-chan, good evening."
"Welcome, Mion."
"Woof-un."
The usual greetings are over. Now, I wonder if the pot I left during club is finished?
Leaving the tent, I headed towards the stone kiln a little distance away.
"Ooh, it's done!"
[Pottery Skill level increased!]
I see. So even if I leave it, the level goes up once I confirm the completion.
Well, getting a notification while hunting after leaving it would be startling.
"It looks good!"
"From an elementary school craft project, I guess it's become more like a middle school craft project now."
That being said, it's truly just a wide-mouthed pot that sits stably. I didn't make a lid, planning to do it later.
"Um, first, let's try processing the lizard skins."
I took out Papu Fruits and extracted the juice… squeezing them is tough!
"I think it would be faster to sandwich them between two wooden plates and crush them."
"Ah, I see…"
I was foolishly trying to crush them by hand. Or rather, I should just make something like a hand juicer…
Well, it's fine for today. Checking the skins comes first.
I took out Papu Fruits, squeezed them, and collected the juice in the pot. Then, I'll probably throw in as many skins as can fit.
It's starting to feel like work, so I guess I'll mention that Miki gave her okay now.
"About watching my sister's livestream, is next week okay? I want to focus on preparing for the goblin battle this week."
"Yes!"
"…If I can beat the goblins on Saturday or Sunday, that is."
"It'll be fine."
While chatting idly, the pot filled with lizard skins and Papu Fruit juice.
Should it have a lid? I'll use the wooden plate from earlier as a lid…
"How long do I have to wait for this?"
"It seems the waiting time for production skills is generally about 15 minutes."
"Hoh~."
According to what Mion found on the forum, things with long waiting times generally take about 15 minutes.
Things that originally took less than 15 minutes are apparently shortened to just a little wait. Well, it is a game, after all.
"Woof."
"Ah, sorry! You haven't eaten yet, have you?"
Lupi, who had apparently gone hunting at some point, returned with a Bicobit in her mouth. She had a subtly lonely expression, making me feel guilty…
"Lupi-chan, you can get angrier, you know."
"I'm sorry."
I Dismantled the Bicobit, minced the rabbit meat, and put it in Lupi's bowl; she immediately started eating deliciously.
After providing water and feeling relieved,
[Material Processing: Skin processing finished.]
[Material Processing Skill level increased!]
The notification came. Apparently, all I had to do now was wash it clean.
It's probably completely different from real-life hide tanning, but this is a game. Still, since Papu Fruit is like persimmon, maybe they matched it somewhat with the tannin aspect.
"Even so, how did you figure out this method? Was it written on the official forum?"
"There was someone who actually tried to tan the hide of a demon boar called a Ranziboa themselves.
They apparently learned how at a production facility in a large city, but the soaking chemicals were included in the fee, so they didn't know what they were."
"Hoh~, a production facility, huh? Even if you have the Leatherworking skill and want to make armor from hides you hunted yourself, you wouldn't prepare the chemicals yourself, would you?"
Having too many other skills required just to do one thing is a bit much.
"It seems consumables like firewood are also included in the rental fee at production facilities."
"Right~. I'm the weird one for procuring everything myself…"
I started wondering what exactly I was doing in an MMORPG, but it's dangerous to think about it any further, so I'll stop.
Processing skins and making pottery today is fun. To lead an even more fulfilling life, I first have to eliminate the goblins.
"Shou-kun. For the Papu Fruits you squeezed for juice, are there any seeds left?"
"Ah, there should be. Or rather…"
"Do you think if we plant the seeds, they'll grow into fruit-bearing trees?"
"I wonder. It seems possible to grow them, but they say 'peaches and chestnuts in three years, persimmons in eight.' I'll hold onto them for now."
Eight years for eight months would be too long, so maybe about eight weeks? If I could stably harvest Papu Fruits, it would be worth trying to grow them.
"Woof!"
"Hmm, let's go for a walk."
I guess I'll go to the west side, which I haven't visited in a while.
"Checking traps?"
"No, I'm going to check out the west side. I haven't been there since I got the Material Processing skill."
"I see."
I haven't used Hermit Bamboo Grass at all since I used it for Lupi's treatment, and it should probably turn into Heal Potions or something.
Wait? I haven't been there since getting trap-related skills either, have I? Not just the bamboo grass leaves, but I wonder if the main stalk can be used for something…