Chapter 427 - Something Boys Like
Bell-buchou safely froze up (?), so I decided to tell Miki after returning home.
"…So, I got a Small Magic Boat."
Tonight's dinner was a quick (frozen food + sliced cheese) hamburger steak.
The side dish, a warm vegetable salad, was just heated in the microwave and drizzled with sesame dressing, but it was perfectly delicious. …That aside.
"Hmph… Shou-oniisama had already gone even further."
"Huh?"
"Apparently, a ship under construction was found on Ramune-dono's island."
After returning home, she had apparently heard about it while playing IRO for about an hour.
And after checking with other members of the [Silver Manor], it seemed to be true.
"Oh~, so can it do open ocean voyages?"
"Indeed. However, there's no information on safe sea routes yet, you see…"
Safe sea routes, huh?
…I think the sea routes guided by the lighthouse on the island are probably those, though.
"'Under construction,' how far along is it?"
"They say the hull is about half-finished. But, by acquiring the blueprint, those with [Carpentry skill] gained [Shipwright skill], you see."
"Ooh, amazing…"
I'm a little envious.
No, I already have a Small Magic Boat, but building a ship from scratch is just romantic.
"Hmm. It truly was a case of 'boys like this kind of stuff, right?'"
"You…"
Miki found it amusing, but… I couldn't deny it.
Besides, Nat would probably really want one.
"So, does that mean everyone's suddenly talking about open ocean expansion?"
"It probably won't go that smoothly. As I said earlier, discovering safe sea routes will be difficult. There are monsters in the world of IRO, you see."
"Ah, even if they build it, there's a good chance a Kraken will appear or something, just like in stories."
Repeatedly trying to find safe sea routes would probably be tough for players, too.
I feel like my Small Magic Boat would be easily capsized…
"But, even though there are Transfer Magic Circles, they went to the trouble of building a ship."
"It is likely for transporting cargo between nearby islands. Shou-oniisama's island also had a normal port, did it not?"
"Ah, I see…"
There was talk on the stream about my island becoming a hub port, but it was possible Ramune-san's island was such a place too.
Well, it's highly likely that islands where you can start uninhabited are those kinds of islands.
"In any case, [Silver Manor] also wants to secure a port."
"Is there a port nearby?"
I thought it was at the foot of a mountain, to begin with.
"If we proceed west, we will eventually reach the sea. We are considering building a port town there."
"Seriously…"
Apparently, they judged that if they waited until [Shipwright skill] flowed in from Ramune Island, it would be too late. It's amazing how much they think ahead.
*
"Yo-ho!"
I traveled from the Divine Tree in the mountain cabin's basin to the Divine Tree in True and the Selkies' village.
It was easy to get there so quickly, but I also wanted to see Leda and Roy's families.
"Kyuu~♪"
"True, I'm glad to see you're doing well."
I caught True as he ran up and stroked his head.
"~~~!"
Shou-kun. Sweee-chan can't get out.
"Ah, sorry, sorry."
Sweee, who had made way for me, was at the very back, and I was probably blocking the tree hollow by standing in front of it.
"Nyaa~"
"Kyuu~"
Shal was talking to an elder Selkie, probably a greeting of "excuse me for intruding." Was this the first time the Cait Sith had come here?
"~~~?"
"Are you all going to look for sweet potatoes? That's fine, but Leda, Roy."
""Bow!""
Shal was there too, so I thought it would be fine, but I'd send guards with them anyway.
Raz jumped out of my hood and rode on Roy's back.
"Kyuu?"
"Ah, yeah. I have something else to do, True, how about this?"
I took the trident I made out of my inventory and showed it to True.
It would have been fine to show it during the stream, but it would be sad if he rejected it, so I decided to do it beforehand…
"Kyuu~! Kyuu-kyuu?"
"U-um. Be careful of your surroundings."
True took enough distance to swing it around without hitting anything.
Somehow, the other Selkies had gathered around without me noticing…
"Kyuu!"
"Ooh!"
Amazing!
A sharp thrust, unimaginable from the usually adorable True.
And he swung it widely, spinning it around his head… He's really amazing.
"Kyuu~"
"True, that was incredible!"
I clapped my hands instinctively! But…
"Kyuu-kyuu?"
"Kyuu~"
True was consulting with the elder Selkie he was talking to earlier…
What's wrong?
"Did something feel off about it?"
If it was hard for True to use, remaking it was totally fine, but I didn't know what to do. They seemed to be discussing that, but…
They seemed to have come to a conclusion, and True came towards me with the elder Selkie.
"How was it?"
"Kyuu. Kyuu-kyuu~"
"Ah, so it's too long for True."
Apparently, he said it was difficult to handle when it was large, so his performance (?) earlier was unsatisfactory to him. That was unsatisfactory?
Shou-kun. Can you remake it?
"Ah, yeah. Of course, I'll make a new one that's just the right size."
"Kyuu~!"
True hugged me again at my words, and the gap between his cuteness and strength was incredible.
And separately, the elder-looking Selkie said,
"Kyuu-kyuu?"
"Ah, I see. True is a prince, after all."
Eh?
"No, they said that the current trident, which is just 'for now,' doesn't look regal enough, so they'd like me to add some embellishments if possible."
True said he didn't mind such things, but I also wanted to give him a cool one with intricate decorations.
When I think of a sea god, Poseidon? Neptune? I had gold ingots, so maybe I could use them to draw patterns or something.
"Alright, can you tell me the length that's easy for you to handle, True? Oh, and the weight too."
Huh? But, doesn't True grow bigger as he gets older?
I guess I can just make another one when that happens…
Ah, Shou-kun. We need to start preparing for the stream soon.
"Whoa, you're right, I almost forgot! True, you're riding on the boat today!"
"Kyuu~!"