Chapter 533 - Chapter 474: What in the World Happened?
"That aside, we should do what we can today."
"Yes. Should we start with this fort?"
"I see. Um, Gaju. Is it alright if we rebuild this fort with stone?"
"Juju!? Juju-juju~!"
Oh, he's totally fine with it. According to Gaju, the fort used to be made of stone, but it collapsed in an earthquake.
"I see. I wonder what the timeline of events is..."
"That's certainly intriguing. Gaju, if you know anything..."
"Juju? Juju~juju-juju..."
Um, the Kijimunaa were born from the Kouyouju Divine Tree, and then humans came and built the tower. They interacted with those humans, but then the humans disappeared. This much, Gaju knew from oral tradition.
"After that, there was an earthquake, and the people in the tower also disappeared."
"Hmm. And the Calamity happened even after that, then?"
Gaju and his people survived the calamity thanks to the Kouyouju Divine Tree. The earthquake and the calamity, they seem related somehow...
"Shou-kun. Sorry, sorry."
"Oh, no. It seems the Kijimunaa possess True Appraisal."
"Looks like it, huh? Anyway, I'm glad I wasn't labeled an evil dragon."
Azure-san, finally released, came over to us. Still, a few Kijimunaa were looking at her with sparkling eyes. Is it still that admiration for dragons?
"Brother. I think it would be better to proceed by dividing tasks."
"Roger. Then..."
Bell-bucho, Sweee, and I will call Pan's group, and with those members, we'll reinforce the fort. Mion will guide Azure-san and Seth with Gaju, and have them check if there are any problems in areas other than the fort. I'll have Seth relay the timeline story to Azure-san. The Dragonkin would probably be interested in the calamity-related issues.
"Wafu."
"Yeah. Lupi's group, keep watch, please."
""Bow!""
...
...
...
"I'm sorry about this..."
"No need to worry. Lately, I've come to think the moniker 'Witch of Stone Walls' isn't bad at all."
She said, creating a new, large stone wall block. My job was just to provide White Clay and water for mortar and stack them up.
"You're quite handy, aren't you?"
"Is that so? Gravity Reduction."
Bell-bucho applied Gravity Reduction magic to the stone wall blocks she produced, lightening them for easy positioning. When the magic was released at the right spot, they settled perfectly, looking good.
"~~~♪"
"Ryuu~!" """Ryuryu~~~"""
"Pan, thank you for coming, everyone."
I asked them to dismantle the existing wooden fence; even though some parts had just been repaired, I intended to replace everything with stone walls. The width to rebuild was just under 10m, so we aimed to complete it by evening.
"Stone Wall. By the way, are we just making it like a regular town wall? What about the gate?"
"For the gate, I was thinking of using the dismantled wooden fence to make a thick one. Gravity Reduction."
I'd like to reinforce it with iron, but that might have to wait until I get back from my grandpa's house. In that case, it might be better to make a proper gate.
"Oh, if that's the case, Silver Manor can make it, you know? Stone Wall."
"Ah, right. Gravity Reduction... Okay. So, can I ask you to do that?"
"Yes. It would help if you could list everything you want done. Stone Wall."
I see. We'll get a good gate for this place, and then maybe everyday items. I heard they're short on kitchen knives. I'll ask Shal again later and make a list with Mion.
After about half the work was done, both Bell-bucho and my MP were running low.
"Let's take a little break."
"Yes, let's."
As we talked, Lupi's group, who had been on watch, returned.
""Bow!""
"Welcome back. And..."
Lupi was holding a beautifully spotted bird, seemingly caught in the forest. She placed it in front of me.
"Wafun!"
Her smug expression was cute, so I petted and praised her thoroughly. Appraising it, it was a type of pheasant called a [Chok], and its meat was apparently delicious. Dismantling it yielded meat, bones, and feathers. I cut off some thigh meat as a snack for Lupi's group.
"Mion. Are you free right now?"
"Yes."
"We're taking a snack break. Can you come back?"
"Ah, I'm on my way back now."
I could hear Sweee making a commotion... I had Armra Fruit in my inventory, so I thought I'd make some juice. Since we're here, why not lightly freeze it and make a smoothie?
"Um, found it, found it."
"That's a Magic Food Processor, isn't it?"
"It is. I heard they've been found on the mainland too."
"Yes, several have been found in the Necropolis dungeon. They're selling for incredible prices."
Apparently, various magical tools, like Magic Confidential Boxes, have been found, all at astonishing prices. They supposedly go for 10 million Iris, which, if I recall correctly, is more than a year's worth of contributions for a player guild.
"Wafu?"
"Oh, sorry. Go ahead and eat first."
"Wafu" ""Bow!""
I lightly froze the sliced Armra Fruit and put it into the Magic Food Processor with Ecryu Milk. No Sky Sugar for now, as the Armra itself is quite sweet.
"Nya~"
"Oh, welcome back."
"I'm back."
Mion and Shal looked a little tired. Azure-san was chatting with Seth about various things, probably about that timeline from earlier.
"Alright, alright. The Armra smoothie is ready."
Sweee's top priority, of course, was snacks. I distributed the finished smoothie... it didn't look like there was enough for everyone, so I started another batch.
"~~~♪"
"It's delicious. Shou-kun, you too."
"Thanks."
I took a sip of Mion's, and it was perfectly sweet even without Sky Sugar. Maybe adding a squeeze of Greenberry would be good too?
"Shou-kun. Armra Fruit doesn't keep well, does it?"
"That's right. It's best when fully ripe, but it might only last about a day."
"I see."
The White Dragon Princess-sama also liked them, so I'd probably take some as a souvenir, but it would be a waste if the taste deteriorated from bringing too many. Perhaps it's safer to make dried mangoes, or rather, Dried Armra Fruit?