We successfully defeated Behemoth and joined up with the Seiou party to celebrate.
“Masiro said there’s a ‘new animal smell’! This must be the cow, right?” During the trip.
The girl riding on the fluffy Fenrir Masiro, who has white fur, exclaimed.
“That’s right! Show us where it is!”
I was riding on the black dragon Mikuron, so I shouted loudly so that the girl riding Masiro could hear me. “Let’s go!”
Masiro running on the ground, Mikuron and the gray griffin Hailo flying above.
The three phantoms and thirteen humans proceeded through the forest.
Eventually, we emerged into an open space and could see the target with our own eyes. A cow. Brown fur, with horns.
When I think of a cow, I first imagine a dairy cow, but the one we found is clearly different.
“If it’s a Japanese beef cattle, it must be the Japanese Shorthorn. Considering the environment of an desert island, a breed suitable for grazing was chosen…?”
Deepho, who was also riding Mikuron, murmured.
As expected of Deepho, she could tell so accurately.
Well, Mifune was originally the kind of kid who would research the ingredients of the cosmetics she used.
She probably checked things like the “Domestic Beef” label at the supermarket.
I liked her earnestness in that regard. “You always help me out, Mifune.”
“O-Oh, if I could be of help, that’s great.”
Yumisen was staring intently at Mifune, who was blushing.
Yumisen was a bookworm, so she was also very knowledgeable.
Was there some kind of competitiveness there, or was it a sense of kinship?
“By the way, the animals that were placed here were mostly ones we’ve seen or heard about in Japan.” Shiomi was right.
The animals we encountered, such as boars, deer, and bears, were all species that lived in Japan.
Of course, that knowledge came from Mifune. “Is it delicious?” Chiyu’s question was simple.
Indeed, when eating meat, what matters most is that.
I heard that meat with less fat was better…
Ms. Lumina answers hesitantly. “I like my meat rare.”
“Actually, just being able to eat beef…”
“Miss Shion’s repertoire of dishes will only continue to grow.”
Rumeka and Genju are already being tempted by the smell of the food.
The maid, Roa, is probably imagining helping Shion with the cooking.
While both boar and venison are delicious, I also long for the beef and pork I’m more familiar with. “I mean, they’re just cattle.”
「…but I’d be in trouble if something like an aurorox came out.」
「Eh? You’re going to kill them? That’s so sad.」
「Momo, the meat you’ve been eating all this time was taken from someone’s life too.」
Seirina, Inami, Momo, and Kengoku on the Highrow respond.
「Sousuke! What should we do? Should we use the Mashiro Attack?」
I think it can be done, since we used it to kill a boar before…
「Koji! Can’t you leave this to me?」
Kazuki Kusaki, who was riding on Mashiro’s back, looked at me.
She was a girl with long, pale white hair tied in a ponytail. While Deep Law’s ponytail was positioned higher, Kusaki’s was right in the middle of the back of her head.
Surely they each had their own names, but since I didn’t know the finer details of women’s hairstyles, I ended up calling them ponytails.
Her full breasts, which would surely sway greatly during battle, had been seen swaying several times before.
She held a wooden sword in one hand.
Her eyes were sparkling.
「…Alright! I’ll leave it to Kusaki!」 「Fufu, understood.」
Kusaki grinned happily and gripped the hilt of the wooden sword.
Then she swung the sword into the air.
A few seconds later, something astonishing happened. There was a thud. The bull’s head had fallen off. 「Gyaah! Too gross!」 Momoe screamed.
While the bloody scene during the Behemoth battle was pretty gruesome, it was so large in scale that it lacked a sense of reality.
But the act of hunting animals is vivid because it is a realistic experience.
Everyone else turned away or frowned, but no one complained.
After spending more than ten days in this environment, you get used to the act of taking a life whether you like it or not.
Maybe Momoko’s fresh reaction is due to her lack of experience.
Regardless of how accustomed one becomes, I figured no one would want to stare at it for long, so I put it away from a distance. It’s one of the benefits of “Awakening.”
Awakening is generally divided into two types: expanding existing abilities and adding new ones.
Kagemitsu’s seems to be more of the former.
”…Hm? No one seems surprised.”
Kagemitsu sounded surprised, but I think everyone is still reeling from the Behemoth fight.
“No, I am surprised. You can now cut things from a distance, right?”
“Yes. I should say I’m sending out a slash. The speed of the slash is the same as how fast I swing.”
There was joy in Kagemitsu’s voice.
Or rather, that “One Cut, Two Kills” can be used at a distance… isn’t that a pretty big cheat? I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of that.
”…Is it okay to talk about that?”
Seirina gives me a doubtful look.
“Yeah, it’s fine. I’ve got permission from Ryouka. She actually told me not to lie to you.”
Considering Shion’s ability to detect lies, I guess that makes sense.
Even if Shion isn’t there right now and I manage to trick you for a moment,
if she catches me in a lie later, that’s the end of it.
So, it’s better to just stick to the truth from the start and avoid damaging your trust in me.
Though, not telling lies and spilling everything are two different things…
Including revealing my ability, it seems like Seiho’s plan is working.
When I look over at Shion, she nods in agreement.
So, Kagemitsu is telling the truth.
「Tsurugin, I need you to hunt down a few more.」
My childhood friend, Senyuu, says it without hesitation.
“Is Tsurugin my name? …Hm. I’ll take it on. Erm… Iyaman?”
“Refuse that nickname. Senyuu-chi is fine.”
“Got it, Senyuu-chi.” Tsurugin nods solemnly.
“Momo’s out. Heading back over there, right?”
With that, Momo’s figure vanished like smoke.
Since the Momo here is a clone, she can do things like this.
Well, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, so I can’t force them to see something they don’t want to.
“Everyone else, you can close your eyes if you run into the cows.”
After that, we captured several cows and headed toward Senko’s base.
With Mashiro’s sense of smell, we don’t need a guide to find our way.
Shaken by the backs of the phantoms, we headed toward our destination for a while.
Soon enough, the entrance to the base we had visited before came into view. It had a handmade watchtower and fence.
Once they spotted us, the fence was moved aside.
We stopped once we were safely inside the base’s grounds and got off the phantoms.
“Welcome back, Katanoki Itsuka, Inumori Shou.”
Welcoming us was Seiha Ryouka, with beautiful wavy golden hair.
She was a student who, along with Shouko, had each led one of the two major girls’ groups. “Yeah, we made it back safely.” “Y-Yes…”
After the two members answered, Seiha nodded and looked around at us.
“And welcome, Kouno Souzoku and company.” “Is ‘good work’ okay?”
I asked, and she chuckled softly.
“That’s right. Everyone, good work.”
Seiha’s base had several small huts that I had set up.
Also, I generated facilities like a covered kitchen and food storage that seemed necessary last time.
“I heard from Hyakugyou Yūko that you’re in charge of cooking, right, Shion?”
They still call everyone by their full names, huh?
…Actually, I think she called Hika by her first name, Yumi, so maybe there’s some kind of distinction she’s making.
“Yeah. I was thinking it would be best if we did something like a barbecue. We’ll provide the food there.”
“I will assist as well.”
With the number of people we have, it would take a long time to prepare enough food for everyone.
With a barbecue, everyone can just cook their own food.
Shion’s dishes will be added to that.
If Loa is helping as well, the work will go much faster.
“If you need help, we can send some people from our side. Just let us know. But first, I’d like to introduce two people.”
Prompted by her, two girls stepped forward.
「Hmm… Oh, Mia Ama, nice to meet you.」
One of them is a girl even smaller than Senyuu.
Senyuu is often mistaken for a middle schooler, but this girl looks even younger.
Still, that’s just in terms of her build.
She, too, has a well-developed chest. I know the term for someone who combines both immaturity and maturity, but I won’t say it.
Her long orange hair is messy, and her uniform is slung over one shoulder, with the sleeves too long, making them look like they’re fluttering.
She doesn’t seem lazy, but she gives off an impression of lacking energy.
She’s more laid-back.
In class, I vaguely remember her being around Roa.
「Oh, Mia-sama. Your clothes are already messed up again, even though I just fixed them.」
「Hehe. It’s fine. This is actually pretty comfortable.」
When her friend Roa spoke to her, Mia smiled lazily.
「Hello~. My name is Reiha Rea. Please take care of me from now on?」 --- This is Reiha.
She’s the girl who became a new ability user in “Awakening of Abilities.”
I remember her being with Roa in class.
Her long caramel-colored hair is braided and hangs down to the front of her right shoulder.
Her eyes are thin like threads, and she often rests her hand on her cheek. Her gentle tone, her ample chest… it all gives off a nurturing aura like a mother character in a story.
「It feels just like when we were in class with Roa.」
「Yeah~. Unlike in class, Roa is a maid now.」
「Hee hee hee, it’s a gift from my master.」
「Oh, I heard you say that earlier. You must have been really happy.」
「Yeah. I want to live with Roa. She’s so sweet and caring. You’re pretty strict, Satsuki.」
The three of them are having a pleasant conversation.
「Mitsuki Toyoshima. Can you hear me?」
「No, no, I like you too, Ryouka-chan. But I’d prefer it if you could be a little more relaxed with me.」
「…For now, let’s prioritize talking with Kono Souzoku and the others.」 Shouka turned to face us.
「In order to build a better relationship in the future, I will disclose the abilities of these two. I hope we can adjust the terms of the deal accordingly.」
Even right after clearing the emergency event, she’s still impressive.
Moreover, after introducing Nagahata, I confirmed that…
Kenki, Shouka, and Nagahata, all three of them, had put off using the “return rights” they had obtained this time.
The Shouka party’s unity seems to be very strong.
「I see. If you can tell me, that would be great.」
I had recorded what Toyoshima said in the first dream, but there was no need to mention it.
「My ability is to ‘produce food.’ I just wanted to avoid working, so I chose it because I thought that if I had food, I’d be fine. But I only thought about it for one person, so I can’t produce a lot.」
I see, with such a limitation, it’s convenient but not a cheat.
It means that her ability wasn’t enough to solve the food situation for this party.
“I am a ‘Plant Magic.’ I can create any plant I’ve seen before, but the part about ‘once seen’ doesn’t apply to my time on Earth. It seems to be limited to plants I’ve seen since coming to this desert island.” Hm…? Wait a minute?
Yoshida got her ability after Tojima got his, so…
“Could it be… Tojima’s ability to make edible plants, and once Yoshida sees them, she can create them at will?” Clemia smiles.
“I like people who are perceptive, Kino Sousei.”
Like how I can use the wool from the sheep she created for crafting.
The synergy between ability users has been confirmed several times on this desert island.
But this combination could completely change the food situation on the island.
Should I assume that Tojima’s ability was anticipated as an ability that could be used in conjunction with others?
“Adding your ‘Crafting Ability’ to the mix, do you think you’d ever go hungry on this island?”
It’s been a year since the last update! (I wish I’d noticed earlier…)
To those who have been reading from the start, and those who found it later,
thank you for reading!
I would be grateful if you would continue to support me.
Your feedback, reviews, and such are the fuel for my creativity.
The next update is scheduled for December 26th.