Chapter 437 - Ginger Cookies, by the Way
[Update History]
5/27 Chapter 382: Lots of Fun Plans? ~ To this chapter
Logged into IRO.
Today's plan is to procure lumber for the mansion renovation. I thought I'd go to the other side of the waterway for a bit.
"Shou-kun. Aren't you curious about the Transfer Magic Circles?"
"About Ice Princess Anshia's story? Well, I am curious, so I think I'll go check it out. Oh, keep it off the record during that time."
"Okay."
Accompanied by Lupi and Sweee, we headed to the back of the church.
What I wanted to check was this:
"Ryuu~" "Nya"
"Thanks, as always. Um, Shal, there's something I wanted to ask you. Can we talk inside the church?"
"Nya!"
So, we moved inside the church, in front of the Jade Goddess wooden statue.
"What is Shou-kun going to ask Shal-kun?"
"Well. If Shal doesn't mind, could you tell me how you transferred from the island you used to live on to the Necropolis… to a town where people live?"
"Ah!"
"Nya nya"
They've probably gotten used to life here, so I wanted to ask if they could talk about it.
Shal didn't seem to be traumatized or anything and explained it step by step.
I relayed it to Mion, confirming as he spoke.
"So, it wasn't just a few goblins they usually repelled, but orcs came too, so they fled into the cave according to legend, right?"
"Meow"
"And because they were still being chased… do you understand what a Transfer Magic Circle is?"
"Nya nya"
That Transfer Magic Circle was apparently known as 'something to call for help from outside the island when things became hopeless.'
But to use it, they had to destroy the large rock on top of it…
"Shal-kun's group destroyed it, right?"
"Ah, no, it seems there was some kind of device to break it. Was that why the landslide made it impassable?"
"Nyaan"
It was time to call for help, and Shal activated the device.
And the large rock, which was an obstacle, broke, but separately, a landslide also occurred on the path back, and everyone panicked at the thought of being buried alive… that's how it apparently happened.
"Nya…"
"You don't have to apologize, Shal. Besides, that timing was good. If it had been earlier, undead would still have been wandering around…"
"That's true."
No, was it even possible for Natural Ramune-san's island to allow an Uninhabited Island Start only after the Necropolis was liberated, to prevent such a possibility?
The timing would still fit…
"Thank you. I pretty much understand, and I'm a little relieved it matched my prediction."
"Um, what do you mean?"
"All the Transfer Magic Circles that Ice Princess Anshia bought will probably be unusable for a while."
"Huh?"
According to Club President Bell and Seth, even before the Cait Sith incident, the Game Dolls and their fans had been trying to use them.
Of course, they would try. If they worked, their value would skyrocket, and the subsequent developments would likely make for great content, right?
"I think the other side of those Transfer Magic Circles has obstacles placed there, making them unusable."
"Like on the island where Shal-kun lived?"
"Exactly."
"But the Transfer Magic Circle Shou-kun found didn't have any obstacles."
"That's… probably because I arrived there faster than expected, and a lot of things went out of whack."
Starting on an uninhabited island, exterminating the goblin settlement, and even defeating the Armor Bear (even after it mutated).
I found the Transfer Magic Circle in the Mountain Cabin less than a month after starting the game.
If I had used the Transfer Magic Circle at that point, I would have been transferred to a mysterious place full of undead (the Necropolis)… and I probably would have sealed it again.
"Club President Bell and Seth are worried because they don't know the destination of the Transfer Magic Circles I currently possess."
"Oh, that's right."
There might be Transfer Magic Circles on this island that I haven't found yet, but if Ice Princess Anshia can't use them now, they should remain unusable. Probably.
"So, I'm curious, but I shouldn't worry too much about it, I guess."
"I see. But then I don't understand why Anshia-san bought the Transfer Magic Circles…"
"About that, maybe someone among her fans has already started on an uninhabited island, and she's looking for a Transfer Magic Circle connected to that?"
It's impressive they'd go that far, but it's just my speculation…
...
...
...
By the stream, or rather, the waterway, was a stone wall piled about waist-high.
I checked beyond it, then moved a little to the right, to the east.
"Is this the narrowest part of the river?"
"I think so. Shou-kun looks like he could jump over it."
"Alright. Then let's make this the entrance and exit to the other side."
I lifted a section of the stone wall I'd created with Stone Wall magic and moved it aside.
I could have turned it into sand with Granulation magic, but I need to block it on the way back.
"It's about 3 meters or so."
On the other side, about a meter away, was already forest, and the depths beyond were unclear.
However, there were no suspicious reactions from my Presence Detection skill, so it should be fine.
"Woof!" "Ryu!" "Nya!"
"Alright, but be careful, okay?"
I gave Lupi, Pan, and Shal the go-ahead when they said they'd go first.
The river wasn't very deep, and Lupi could swim, so that was fine, but Pan and Shal are okay too, right?
As I thought that, the three of them easily jumped and crossed to the other bank.
"Pan-kun and Shal-kun are amazing!"
"Woof"
"Nya"
Lupi and Shal were looking around, in alert mode.
When Pan faced me and called out,
"~~~♪"
Sweee flew over. Of course, she would.
Seeing that, Raz got ready in my hood.
"Alright, I'm going too.
Whoa! Oh no, I jumped too far!
"Woof~" "Ryuu~" "Nya~"
I flew over the three of them looking up and managed to land just before crashing into a tree.
That was close…
"Shou-kun, are you alright?!"
"I'm fine, I'm fine."
It's still hard to gauge the right amount of Gravity Reduction magic. Oh, where's Raz?
"Kururu~♪"
"Oh, good. Sorry about that."
I gently stroked Raz, who was nuzzling my cheek, then looked around.
Hmm, visibility is poor…
"Do you notice anything?"
"Woof"
Both Lupi and Shal shook their heads.
Pan seemed to have found something, peering at the base of a tree, and I asked,
"Found something?"
"Ryu ryu"
I appraised the plant Pan pointed to, asking me to look.
[Varegano]
A perennial plant that blooms small purple flowers.
Cooking: Leaves can be used as seasoning.
"Ah, is this oregano?"
"It's a herb, isn't it?"
"Right, right. The kind you use to remove the gamey smell from meat or fish."
If there were more herbs, the range of dishes I could make would expand.
Roast beef… or maybe boar? Herb-roasted white fish would be nice too, and it should pair perfectly with Lycos (tomatoes).
"Ryuu~"
"Hmm, is this ginger?"
The name [Zenjaa], revealed by Appraisal, certainly sounds like it.
I'm happy about ginger, as it has many uses.
"Ginger Cookies are made with ginger, right?"
"Right, right. I have flour, and sugar, butter, ginger, and it's also delicious if you mix in some nuts."
As I was talking to Mion about this,
"~~~!"
"Nya!"
Shal started picking Zenjaa at Sweee's instruction.
What are they making a former knight captain do…