Chapter 568 - Shou-kun's Expedition Team Heads Upstream
Wednesday
Day 3 of recording also ended as scheduled, with only Thursday and Friday left.
Apparently, a reserve day had been set aside for next week, but it didn't seem necessary, which was a relief on that front.
"Understood. Regarding the dragon, I'll disseminate the information that the Emerald Dragon Emeraldia might be the one seen, as a warning from the Dragonkin received by the Silver Manor. Of course, to Marie-san and Season-san as well."
"Please do."
Night. We were consulting in the Virtual Club Room before heading into IRO.
Besides the matter of the Emerald Dragon Emeraldia, there was another thing.
"However, the problem is the demons."
Seth folded her arms and groaned, *"Hmm."
Northeast of the Necropolis, said to be inhabited by demons.
Vermilion-san apparently conducted regular patrol flights and had spotted demons heading towards the Demon Kingdom.
Apparently, there was an old highway connecting the Demon Kingdom and the demon lands, and he had seen groups advancing along it.
"Should I only tell close guilds about the demon situation?"
"No, it might be better to keep it under wraps until there's some kind of movement."
It would be troublesome if information leaked carelessly somewhere and caused the enemy to change their strategy.
I thought that would be tough on the players in the Demon Kingdom, but...
"If it becomes the starting point for some event, I think new players would be happy, wouldn't they?"
"Ah, that's true..."
Players who joined before the summer update hadn't participated in a World Quest yet, so they hadn't experienced such events.
Um...
"Hm? Mion, is something wrong?"
Shou-kun's grandpa and grandma...
""Ah!""
That's right!
Grandpa and grandma, they said they started in the Demon Kingdom, didn't they?
"Contacting them... no, I guess I don't need to."
"Indeed. It would be better not to."
Is that so?
"I think it's fine if we tell them when we meet in-game. Besides, they'd probably manage even if we didn't tell them..."
Seth also nodded in agreement.
There was no worry of grandpa and grandma being deceived, after all.
"...You're talking about Shou-kun's grandparents, right?"
"Yes. We were surprised too, to hear they were both playing IRO."
Naturally, President Bell was surprised too.
Well, even among grandpa and grandma's generation, many people enjoy games, but not many would attempt a Full-Dive MMORPG.
While we were talking about that,
"Good evening~. It's almost time for the live stream, you know~?"
"Oh, crap."
Yata-sensei arrived, and I remembered today was the live stream.
After Mion's recording, we had moved to the port, but I had a lot of preparations to make.
"Alright, I'm off."
Yes. Have a good one.
.........
......
...
"Sorry, how many more minutes?"
About 5 minutes.
"Got it."
The Small Magic Boat arrived precisely near the river mouth in the island's northeast. It slowed down and gently entered.
At the bow, True and two attendant Selkies kept watch, while Leda, Roy, and Shal monitored the stern.
Today's members consisted of 10 individuals: Lupi, who was waiting at my feet, and Sweee and Raz, who were in my hood.
"Start while moving slowly."
Yes.
This area had a gentle current last time too, and no monsters appeared, so it should be fine.
Alright, is it about time?
<10 seconds... 5, 4, ...>
*Everyone, welcome to Mion and Shou's Relaxed Showtime!
I'm Mion, your caster. Nice to meet you!*
[Taikosky] "Fishing gear today! \(^_^)/
[Pyure] "Looking good, looking good~"
[Turban] "The sea today, huh!"
[Bearmen] "I was waiting for True-kun~(〃ω〃)
etcetc...
Glancing at the flowing comments, I slowed down even further.
If I stopped, I'd be carried downstream, so I slowed to the absolute minimum speed.
"I think there was a river on the way to the northernmost tip before, and we're going upstream on that river."
Since we were going upstream from the river mouth to the west, on the left (south) side was a dense forest, and on the right (north) side, grasslands stretched out.
You found Floss Cotton in the grasslands, didn't you?
"That's right. I brought the seeds back and cultivated them, and the Ghillie Dhu are turning them into cotton."
[Shidenkai] "Ghillie Dhu-made cotton, you say?"
[Gafugafu] "Whoa! I want to buy some!"
[Dengana] "That's definitely going to have a bonus, isn't it?"
[Condensan] "Shou-kun, aren't you going to change clothes~?"
etcetc...
Come to think of it, I hadn't changed out of my initial clothes.
Since it was a game, dirt would disappear if I left it alone.
Will you make new clothes?
"Hmm, yeah. Maybe next time it rains and I have nothing else to do."
Mion was doing her best with Sewing, so I thought I'd leave it to her.
That's why she asked vaguely, I guess.
"Kyu~"
As we reached the edge of the grasslands on the right, True called out.
A little further ahead, there was a two-meter drop, not quite a waterfall, so the Small Magic Boat wouldn't be able to go further.
"Understood. Uh, let's get out on the right riverbank."
"Kyu" ""Kyu!""
True and the two attendant Selkies checked their surroundings before diving in, swimming smoothly, and landing first.
I looked around too... seems okay.
"We're landing."
Yes.
As I steered the boat slowly towards the riverbank, the hull lifted slightly and slid onto land.
The comments section was buzzing, but I cautiously brought the boat to a stop...
"Okay. Everyone out."
"Woof!" ""Bow!"" "Meow!"
From here, today's destination was upstream along the river, towards the central mountain of the island.
Shou-kun. Your current location, please.
"Got it. Can you see this?"
Yes!
I took out a map from my inventory and showed it to them.
I had prepared this for today, and while it wasn't perfect, my Map Skill was at 5, so it should be reasonably accurate.
[Gossol] "Map is here!"
[Giganoto] "I want to buy that map!"
[Daytron] "