Chapter 416 - Chapter 368: Mostly Right
Using [Presence Concealment], and then activating [Stealth]. And then...
(Gravity Reduction)
I dashed directly behind it,
(Backstab!)
"Gyau!"
A Roopaguma, having taken a [Backstab] to the nape of its neck from my Ken-nata, fell with a short scream.
Just in case, I hit it with another [Vitals Attack],
[Special Sword Mastery skill level increased!]
[Gravity Magic skill level increased!]
"Alright!"
"Woof~~~"
Thanks, Lupi and the others.
It was a Roopaguma that had been caught by [Presence Detection].
Given our numbers, it looked like it would try to escape, but we managed to corner it after Lupi and the others formed an encirclement.
"Nya! Nyanya!"
「「「Nyaa~~~!」」」
The Cait Sith seemed excited... I guess I'll dismantle it.
I cut up the fresh meat and gave it to Lupi, Leda, Roy, and the Drab Wolves as a reward.
"The Cait Sith are looking at it longingly, but giving them raw meat... that's probably not good, right?"
I think so too.
Yeah, I thought so.
Azure-san once said that fairies and phantom beasts won't eat things that are bad for them... but I'd at least like them to eat it cooked.
"Sweee, tell them we'll cook it properly later."
「~~~♪」
I asked, then put the hide, bones, and remaining meat into my inventory.
When we reach the port, the Selkies will have made dried fish, so we can have them eat that.
"Kururu~~~."
"Hm? What's wrong, Raz?"
When I asked Raz, who had climbed onto my shoulder, he didn't answer directly. Instead, he climbed onto my head, then leaped to a nearby tree and went higher.
Did he find something?
"Ah, that's right. What could it be?"
After looking up for a while.
Some kind of fruit fell from quite a high spot... it looked like a green acorn.
[Silvina Fruit]
Fruit from the Silvina Tree. The green fruits are spicy, while ripe fruits add sweetness.
Cooking: Can be pickled, such as salted. Alchemy: A raw material for tonics.
Do you understand?
"No, not at all. A fruit to salt, like umeboshi?"
But when I broke open the fruit... it was kind of like a small kiwi.
It said the green fruits were spicy, so I was hesitant to try it. I had a terrible experience with Rudish (radish) before.
A tonic, huh? Like a STR or VIT doping agent? It's a bit scary, but I'll know if I try to make it, and it might help level up my Alchemy skill.
"Nya~~~."
"Hm?"
The boss cat swayed closer, showing great interest in the Silvina Fruit in my hand...
Ah, maybe the Cait Sith eat these?
"If you want to eat, here."
"Nya!"
The boss cat took the Silvina Fruit and took a bite.
I wondered if it wasn't spicy, but then it made such a blissful, melting expression, as if it was incredibly delicious, which surprised me.
Shou-kun. Um... do catnip berries actually grow?
"Eh? Ah! Catnip berries!"
It really was like giving a cat catnip... though it wasn't quite drunk.
Is it because they're fairies? Still, I wonder if it's okay for them to eat too much.
"Um, Sweee. Can you ask if it's okay for the other Cait Sith to eat these too?"
「~~~？」
"Nya. Nyaanya."
It seems it's not something to eat in large quantities; one per person is enough.
So, I'll have Raz drop some down, and use the leftovers for Alchemy.
"Raz~~~, drop some down~~~."
"Kururu~~~♪"
「「「~~~♪」」」
"Ah, Fairies, thank you too."
The Cait Sith will pick them up, huh?
Lupi and the others have already finished their meat and are keeping a sharp eye on security... I guess there's nothing for me to do.
………
……
…
"Phew. That should be enough for now."
I had the Cait Sith help with harvesting Bluegaris (beets), collecting a considerable amount.
While everyone else was playing by the river, I repeatedly boiled down sugar by myself in a secluded spot downwind.
I could leave the heat adjustment to the Fire Spirit, so the only real trouble was peeling and skimming.
"Mion. What time is it now?"
It's almost 9:30.
I couldn't turn all the Bluegaris into Sky Sugar, but I'll save that for when I have some spare time.
"Alright, let's head to the port soon."
"Woof!"
""Bow!""
At Lupi's command, Leda and Roy moved, and the Drab Wolves spread out.
I felt like we didn't need to be so cautious, but Lupi looked cool, so it's fine.
"Alright, let's go!"
「~~~♪」「Kururu~~~♪」"Nya!"
………
……
…
"Okay. Thanks again today."
""Bow.""
I watched the two Drab Wolf families that had escorted us return to the mountains.
I halved the Roopaguma meat and had them take it back to their respective families.
"Nya?"
「~~~♪」
What are they talking about?
"Probably something like, 'What kind of place are we heading to now?'"
Sweee was talking about going to a place where they could see the sea, and the Cait Sith seemed to be getting excited. Oh, maybe because they might get to eat fish?
After climbing the winding path along the cliff,
"Look, you can see the sea."
「「「Nyaa!」」」
"Nyah!!"
They looked like they were about to dash straight to the sea, but the boss cat seemed to be holding them back firmly.
It's not particularly dangerous, but I'd really rather avoid any trouble when we meet True and the others.
"Kururu~~~?"
"Yeah. Today we're having dinner with True and the others."
"Woof~~~."
Since there was no point in just looking from here, we headed down towards the port.
However, the area on the right, around the Camlus Fruit tree, had been significantly tidied up.
「「「Kyuu~~~♪」」」
"Oh, thank you!"
On the way down the slope, we encountered Selkies clearing undergrowth.
I feel like I should prepare more farming tools for them, so I'll have to go to the blacksmithing forge when I get back.
After greeting them, one of them headed towards the cave leading to their village, so they must be going to call True.
"Nyanya?"
「~~~♪」
"Nya!?"
It's helpful that Sweee is explaining the Selkies, but it sounds like I'm the strongest king ruling this island... I mean, she's exaggerating.
"Woof?"
"Yeah. First, let's put down our bags, and then probably start preparing the Grapeful Wine."
Once True arrives, we'll have dinner, and I'd like to go to the back of the plateau, above that cave, today... but I might not have enough time.