Chapter 620 - Chapter 552: Sabana's Emergency Video
Wednesday
"Is this enough?"
"Yes. But, are you really sure Cuminon Seeds are all you need?"
"Well, that\'s the promise, after all."
I\'d prepared twenty bags of Cuminon Seeds for the trade with Natto\'s guild, 'Fairy\'s Friend'.
While there were other plant seeds and saplings I could send from the island, this time it would be a one-on-one trade for adzuki beans.
Incidentally, I heard the adzuki beans\' in-game name was Adzuki. It\'s a mystery why Glycine was used for soybeans, but adzuki beans just kept their original name...
"Here\'s the request form."
"Thanks."
I didn\'t feel like it was strictly necessary to make one, but it was to properly keep a record of the transaction.
Incidentally, all the completed request forms so far have been returned to me, and Mion is managing them.
"Alright, I\'ll leave it to you."
"Ah, leave it to me."
As usual, El-san would transport them to the Dragon Capital, and from there, they would be sent to the Necropolis.
Eventually, if Emeraldia-san starts traveling frequently between the Southern Island and here, I might just switch to having her handle it.
Well, that\'s something I\'ll have to discuss with Azure-san and Geira-san.
After seeing El-san off as she headed to the Large Transfer Room, I spent the remaining time preparing for the evening\'s live stream.
"What will we do for tonight\'s live stream?"
"I\'ll definitely mention Emeraldia-san\'s visit, but the main focus will probably be introducing the ranch. Also, with the Ambernaults joining us, I think cooking with milk would be good."
Gratin sounds nice, so I\'ll need to make some macaroni.
I\'d like to make other pasta too, but considering the effort, macaroni is much easier.
"Emeraldia-san, please let me know when the White Dragon Princess wakes up."
"Aye."
Emeraldia-san was, as usual, fluffing Lupi, Leda, and Roy.
Sweee aside, the Fairies seemed to have grown accustomed to it, sitting on her head and shoulders, chattering away.
"Alright. Let\'s make macaroni first."
"Y-yes."
With Kohaku Flour, eggs, olive oil, and salt, macaroni can be made easily.
"About this much?"
"Yep, that\'s about right, looks good."
Making too much at once would be difficult, so I kneaded a certain amount, then kneaded the next batch while the first rested.
Perhaps because I had the Cooking Mastery skill, preparation was complete in no time.
"This?"
"Um, take about a fingertip\'s worth, and wrap it around this bamboo skewer like this..."
Then, once you pull out the skewer, the macaroni is done.
"Easy, right?"
"Yes!"
If I make a lot and put them in storage, they\'ll be useful for more than just gratin.
...
...
...
After finishing preparations for the live stream, I logged out.
When I returned to the Club Room, it seemed Bell-buchou had already logged out and was waiting.
"Is something wrong?"
"Sabana-san uploaded a video about what happened yesterday. Let\'s all watch it."
"Okay."
Bell-buchou set up a large virtual display in Real-View Mode where everyone could see it. Wait, now that I think about it...
"Ah... Yata-sensei?"
"It\'s the first faculty meeting of the second semester, so it\'s probably running long."
"Ah, right, it\'s Wednesday."
As we talked, Sabana-san\'s latest video appeared on the screen.
It had only been uploaded about fifteen minutes ago, but it already had over ten thousand views, and the number of likes was about the same.
\"Thank you for your continuous support, this is Sabana. I\'m currently recording an emergency video.\"
Sabana-san gave a slight bow. It was my first time seeing her, but... she seemed like an athlete.
The way Esason and the others trusted her, riding on her shoulders and head, created a heartwarming contrast.
\"Yesterday, approximately twenty individuals illegally intruded upon my island via the Transfer Magic Circle from the Necropolis.\"
Sabana-san calmly stated the facts. It was almost exactly what I had heard.
\"By conveying my predicament, I was able to receive assistance from the Dragonkin, thanks to the kind volunteers. I\'d like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude once again.\"
I see. "Kind volunteers" was a good way to put it.
In reality, she had put out a call for help at the end of her last live stream, and the news had spread among those who watched it.
\"I believe I am also at fault for this incident. Nearly half of the intruders were demons. Despite the demons infiltrating via the World Quest, it\'s undeniable that access control to this island was not perfect.\"
Hmm...
\"Therefore, until the ongoing World Quest concludes, the Transfer Magic Circle connected to the Necropolis will be sealed. As for what happens after that, I intend to carefully consider the matter and reach a conclusion by then.\"
Well, that was bound to happen.
Incidentally, it seems that those who wished to stay have remained, with Leona-sama returning to the Necropolis, while Marie nee and Season-san are still on Sabana\'s island.
"I\'ve been able to talk to Sabana-san through Season-san, so if there\'s anything from the Dragonkin\'s side, I\'ll convey it."
"I see. I\'ll discuss it with Argenta-san tonight."
"Yes, please do."
*
"I think there was talk about wanting to place the Necropolis\'s Transfer Magic Circle on the Southern Island."
"Regarding that, it\'s currently on hold. After all, bearing the risk of nation-building..."
"Well, even if Sabana-san is fine with it, there\'s always the possibility of others not being."
Miki scooped a large spoonful of baked pudding and popped it into her mouth.
Incidentally, I had opted for tangerine jelly for a change today.
"If only there were a system to establish a nation and then close its borders..."
"Speaking of which, was it the Chaos Empire? I heard that wasn\'t a starting point, but why was that?"
"There are a few theories, but..."
According to what Seth heard, it\'s said that it might have been because there were demons involved, or because it was in the middle of a civil war. However, there\'s no way to verify it, so it\'s uncertain if it\'s truly correct.
"I\'ve requested the management to explain nation-building, but I wonder if we could ask someone like Ramune-san\'s strategist—Ramune-san, who actually succeeded in nation-building—about it?"
"Hmm. It might be good to delve a bit deeper into skills related to national governance."
From what Miki had investigated, it seemed there were indeed both direct and indirect taxes.
Direct taxes primarily included a poll tax per individual aged 15 or older, a fixed asset tax on land, and a guild tax for players\' guilds.
As for indirect taxes, it seemed that the various fees charged when using public guilds were, in fact, taxes.
"It feels like even just dealing with taxes would be incredibly troublesome..."
"In Onii-ue\'s case, I don\'t think it would be that troublesome."
"Huh? Why?"
"Taxes would be unnecessary for Onii-ue and Mion-dono\'s Fairy Country, wouldn\'t they?"