Chapter 78 - Chapter 70: Things You Just Can't Help But Do
Saturday
“Hm, is this the first time I’ve been completely alone since day one?”
“Woof!”
“Ah, [Lupi]’s always with me, aren’t you?”
[Lupi] asserted herself in my lap. I ruffled her face, and she wagged her tail happily.
Well, tonight is the live stream, but it’s just a relaxed one. No special preparations needed… except for salt, maybe. I want to do some food porn.
“Hm, good weather. Looks like it’ll be fine tonight too.”
I quickly finished eating with [Lupi] and headed towards the southern coast.
The branches I’d cleared before had, predictably, grown back, which was a bit annoying.
“If I have time, I guess I’ll try pulling them out from the roots after all…”
Yesterday, I spent all my time blacksmithing until I logged out.
I managed to repair the hammer and knife, and even tackled a saw, which somehow worked. The fine teeth like those on manufactured saws were impossible, though…
Besides that, I also made small knives and carving knives for [Woodcraft Skill], [Stonemasonry Skill], and [Crafting Skill]. And then shovels, scythes, hoes, and other things needed for civil engineering and farming.
[Mion] and I just kept making everything we could think of, and before we knew it, the date was about to change…
Thanks to that, my [Blacksmithing Skill] reached level 5. Is it okay for it to go up this fast? Maybe it’s easier to raise skill levels by making many small, varied items?
[Your Axe skill has leveled up!]
[Your Logging Skill has leveled up!]
“Eh, my Axe skill also went up…”
Is it because I’m getting the hang of how to swing it?
Well, they say up to skill level 5 is foundational, so I guess it’s not wrong…
Thinking such thoughts, I proceeded forward, collecting fallen branches. I planned to use them as firewood for salt production later.
“Woof!”
[Lupi] started running as soon as she saw the sea. She was energetic and cute.
Now, building a stove was a struggle at first, but this time it was easy thanks to [Elemental Magic]’s
I finished building the stove with [Lupi] watching curiously beside me, and on top, I placed a large earthenware pot.
Yesterday, I thought about making an iron pot and boiling the seawater in that, but I decided against it, fearing it might rust. If only I could get my hands on some oil.
“Alright, let’s start boiling it.”
I filled the pot with seawater and lit the stove.
Basically, I just needed to boil it down, but I had to scoop out impurities—like calcium—that would periodically appear.
So, in my free time,
“Alright, [Lupi], let’s go! Fetch!”
“Woof!”
I played fetch with [Lupi] to raise my [Throwing Skill].
Come to think of it, if my Axe skill also reaches level 5, will I be able to use
I imagined throwing it, and it spinning vertically, sticking into a tree. I kind of longed for that…
…
…
…
“Oh, it’s appearing!”
Thanks to the [Material Processing Skill] and [IRO]’s system, after adding seawater and boiling it down for about 2 hours, once every 10 minutes,
Approximately 10 liters of seawater had boiled down, and salt began to appear in clumps.
“I think that’s enough.”
Without completely evaporating the moisture, at a certain point, I transferred it to a large leaf with many small holes in it.
The liquid dripping from the holes was ‘bittern.’ It’s used for tofu and such, but for now, it had no use. So, into a small bottle and then into my inventory it went.
“It turned out surprisingly easy to make. Is it thanks to [Yata-sensei]’s [Material Processing Skill]?”
The remaining salt was left to sun-dry.
The quantity should be about 300 grams. That’s if [IRO]’s seawater salinity is the same as real life.
“Woof.”
“Hm, you’re right. I get bored doing the same thing all the time, so let’s go check out the rocky area for a bit.”
I’d been curious about the seaweed before. It would be great if there was something similar to kombu or wakame, but for that, I’d need swimming and [Diving Skill], wouldn’t I?
I stared at the skill list… then searched before finding it. Both cost 1 [SP], so I guess I’ll take them.
After deciding and acquiring both, I realized, “Can [Lupi] even dive?”…
“Oh well. For now, let’s explore the eastern rocky area.”
“Woof.”
Seaweed, but also, are there any crabs or shrimp…?
…
…
…
“Phew, let’s head back for now.”
“Woof~”
In conclusion, I didn’t find anything kombu-like. But I did find a seaweed resembling rock nori called [Viridiehl], so I gathered some.
I saw something like shrimp, but it slipped into a rock crevice, so I couldn't catch it…
I acquired [Diving Skill], so maybe I should have made some fishing gear too? Like a spear?
Returning to the coast, I checked the sun-drying salt, and then,
[Your Material Processing Skill has leveled up!]
It seemed to be complete. So the [Material Processing Skill] was involved after all.
It went up to 6, and if it’s level 5 or higher, there shouldn’t be any strange impurities mixed in.
I took a tiny bit on my pinky finger and licked it… Salty!
“Alright, alright, now I just need to put this in a pot, and it’ll be okay. It should last a while, but I might need to make it about once a month, I guess?”
“Woof.”
…
[Lupi] responded, but I guess I’ve gotten into the habit of talking to [Mion].
*
Since there was a live stream, we had an early dinner.
[Miki] also wanted to go into [IRO] early, so Saturdays will probably be a bit early from now on.
Tonight’s dinner was omurice with Caesar salad (store-bought) and corn soup (instant).
The ketchup rice was fine, but making the omelet fluffy was hard…
“Hmm, tonight’s live stream is a relaxed one. Then, I shall check it later.”
“That’s fine. So, is your guild running smoothly?”
“I merely lent my name. The others are handling the practical matters.”
Saying that, [Miki] took a bite of omurice.
I thought, Well, that’s how it would turn out, but there was something I couldn’t quite accept.
“So, [Natto] and [Iincho] are guild members too?”
“No, I introduced them, but whether they join or not is up to them. By the way, Polly-dono easily used the light spirit.”
Who was Polly again? Oh, right, [Iincho]. Mhm, mhm.
“That’s good. When I did it, I just used the [Spirit Stone]. Was there anything special about it?”
“No, it seems it obeys the one who first gives [MP] to the [Spirit Stone]. That must be why [Spirit Magic Skill] is required.”
She finished her omurice and took a sip of corn soup.
“I see. Like that thing where they think the first thing they see is their parent.”
“It’s called imprinting, Brother.”
“…I get it, just eat with better manners.”
Don’t point your spoon at people…