Multiple updates today.
This is the second installment.
In the dimly lit room, three figures were illuminated by the faint moonlight filtering through the window.
“As expected of Sou-kun, it’s perfect.”
“It’s really warm. I did get a bit chilly once we moved away from the bonfire, so this is a welcome relief.”
“Mm, this fluffy texture is so nice. I’m glad I summoned those sheep, just like Sousuke told me to.”
If one were to compare costumes, you could certainly say the uniforms were cuter.
But seeing three beautiful girls wrapped up in white fluff was a sight in itself.
It was also somehow heartwarming to see them happily wearing what I had created.
“Glad you like it. I can adjust the size if needed, so don’t hesitate to say anything.”
“Faa. Sou-kun, we should get some sleep soon.”
My childhood friend yawned and opened her mouth wide.
“Ah, ah… right.”
Pulled by hand by Chiiru, I was led to the far end of the room.
“Tonight is still before the harem restriction is lifted.”
We fell asleep in order: me on the far side, Chiyu next, then Shoushi, and finally Shiune.
“I’m saying this just to be clear, but I’m not aiming for it.”
But there’s no denying it was a man’s dream.
Incidentally, having laid down carpets, we made the cabin a strict no-shoes zone.
Everyone took off their footwear.
I didn’t think an intruder would show up just to steal our shoes, but I stashed them in my [Inventory] just in case.
Starting tomorrow, we’d need to expand the base.
It’d actually be inconvenient if I had to handle storing and retrieving everything each time, so we probably need storage spaces too.
No, above all else, we need food.
”…I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, but I’m glad we reunited with Sousuke. Getting a bath, meals, a house, pajamas, and blankets—it’s something I couldn’t imagine in the forest. Thank you, really.”
Shoushi’s voice drifted out.
“I’m the one who should thank you for the sheep,” Chiyu said.
“What about me?”
“Chiyu-sama’s healing magic is truly something special,” the childhood friend said.
“Mm. Same goes for Sousuke’s [Crafting Ability]. Truly impressive.”
Saying that, my childhood friend reached a hand out from under her futon and took my hand in hers.
I returned the squeeze silently and gently.
“I… better do my best so I can be of some use, too.”
It was as if Shion’s voice, soft as a whisper, had reached my ears…
Even with healing magic at our disposal, it seemed the body still required sleep, and we had finally hit our limit.
There was no surplus energy to engage in the idle chatter one might expect on a school trip; I simply surrendered to sleep.
The first day on the desert island ended there.
◇
It’s a dream.
In a space of pure white, a blackboard floated suspended in the void.
It was strikingly similar to a dream I’d had just recently.
The only difference was that there were only four seats.
Four spots: for me, Chiya, Yobi, and Shion.
“Sō-kun…”
Chiya, positioned in the seat next to me, reached out her hand, so I gently clasped it.
She must have been frightened, remembering the sudden teleportation. I could understand how she felt.
But now was not the time; I needed to think rationally.
“Whether this is just a dream or not—once we wake up and talk to everyone else, we’ll know.”
“Yeah, you’re right, Sōsuke-kun. Maybe we were summoned together because we’ve been acting as a group?”
“What’s happening with the rest of them?”
Shouko looked equally anxious.
“It’s just a guess, but isn’t it because if you summoned everyone, you’d end up sharing information?”
“I agree. When we were first gathered as a class, I felt like we were being tested on ‘how to move,’ including that specific information. I even briefly considered whether we might be sent to an desert island as a group, and Sousuke-san was reaching out for Chiiru right before the teleport.”
In the first dream, while being suddenly confronted with questions from that mysterious blackboard, how we thought, prepared, and responded was what was actually being tested.
”…After all, since they want us to survive on the desert island individually, I suppose they wouldn’t let us gather as a full group in dreams.”
I nodded at Chiiru’s summary.
“Probably. We don’t know the full extent of the island right now, but with forty people, a massive amount of information could be gathered. Plus, we can make arrangements to reunite after waking up from the dream. It wouldn’t be easy, though.”
The fact that they scattered us via teleport means they have some kind of expectation regarding our individual actions.
Even if that expectation is nothing more than a game-like sense of amusement, there must have been a deliberate intent behind separating us.
And yet, here we were, destroying that very intent ourselves.
”…As usual, Sousuke and Chiiru are serious.”
“If there are other kids out there forming groups besides us, maybe those kids have been summoned as groups too?”
“Aah, I think so. The real issue is the purpose of that mysterious blackboard.”
The four of us turned our gazes toward the blackboard.
For an instant, text surfaces on the blackboard.
‘Day One has ended’
“Question: Which do we need for our life from here on—meat or fish?”
“Meat/fish”
—Another question!
It was infuriating, but there were certain circumstances I could deduce from this.
It served as an explanation for the fact that today, we had seen virtually no beasts or small animals whatsoever.
If it had been assumed that the responses given would be bestowed, as they were at the time of the abilities.
It could also be considered that such a thing no longer exists.
Perhaps even if they had attempted hunting, fishing, or angling today, they had yielded no results.
“……So this. It’s not like we’re getting meat or fish gifted to us, right?”
Menoko’s face twitched.
“Yeah. I think that whatever you choose appears on the island as ‘a beast with meat suitable for consumption’ or ‘a fish with flesh suitable for consumption.’”
It sounded ridiculous even coming out of my own mouth, but that was probably how it worked.
At this point, I should probably abandon the theory that we were somewhere on Earth.
“……Oh, looks like other people’s answers are being reflected too.”
Just as Shiin said, the character for ‘correct’ began to form next to each of ‘Meat’ and ‘Fish’.
As for the food sources available to commoners, fish seem a more viable option, though…
Unable to resist the allure of the word “meat,” the vote in favor of meat is winning.
“So, what about us?”
Just being able to discuss within the party is already a blessing.
“Makoko. Would Mairo actually hunt if you asked him to?”
“Eh? Yeah. Honestly, he seemed bored today since nothing happened.”
She can tell that kind of thing too. What’s with being such a good tamer.
“If so, the former option might suit our situation better. We know where the sea is, but we haven’t found any rivers. Still, depending on the species of beast, exploration could get tricky…”
I was mulling this over when, before the four of us could reach a conclusion, the vote for “Meat” hit twenty-one.
“A majority has been reached; voting will now close.”
“The environment will include ‘meat’ starting from the second day.”
“Ah, I see. It was only natural, once you think about it…”
Since we have no control over how fast those outside our party vote, we need to make decisions quickly.
And yet, this is still too fast.
Do they really never think things through?
It hasn’t even been three minutes by my own sense of time.
Perhaps more students are becoming unable to think clearly, driven by hunger and frustration.
Since it seems unlikely that a chunk of meat would just be handed out, shouldn’t they be at least a little more wary?
“W-wait! What is your purpose? How do we get back to Japan? And are everyone safe?”
Based on the previous pattern, the dream ends once his business is done.
And that was why Shion had blurted out her question in such a panic.
I had fully expected to be ignored.
Letters began dancing across the blackboard.
“I have no purpose. If you must frame it in terms of your words, I serve as a game or a way to kill time.”
It was something I had anticipated, but an unwelcome development.
It might have been better if they had simply promised to return us to Earth once we killed the Demon King.
As it stands, this is no different from being abducted and tossed into a different world.
Is it too optimistic to think that this is still better than being forced into a death game?
“The method to return to the state before this situation began does exist. However, it has not yet been released for you at this time. Please await future updates.”
So an update, is it?
It’s fine to use gaming as a metaphor myself, but being subjected to that kind of phrasing actually puts me in a sour mood.
I’m glad I can see the return coming into view, but there’s no telling what kind of additional elements might be added before then.
Sure, questions like “Meat/Fish” are one thing, but I could very well get questions asking whether monsters for sure will be added next, like “Goblin/ kobold.”
“I cannot answer regarding the status of the survivors.”
Due to the mechanics of the voting, the number of survivors can be counted.
Furthermore, since the voting closes once a majority is reached, we can infer how many have dropped off by that point.
Since there were originally forty people, twenty-one votes are required to finalize one side in a vote.
It was twenty-one today, so it’s clear that everyone is still alive.
But if, say, it had been finalized with sixteen votes, that would mean the total number of survivors is thirty, indicating that ten people have died—or fallen into some situation where they cannot vote.
Knowing the numbers doesn’t tell us whether they’re all still healthy, though.
I turned my gaze toward Shiine.
I wanted to know if her “Ability to Detect Lies” had come into play.
Shion shook her head in denial. Meaning she couldn’t hear me.
Well, that was to be expected.
I couldn’t activate my “Craft” ability either.
In this dream space, abilities are unusable.
“The second day begins.”
“Wait! We’re not done yet—”
Shion’s scream was in vain as her vision was consumed by whiteness.
We were chased out of the dream.
And when we woke up—
——W-what… is this?
My face was pressed against something soft.
It was Chiyu’s chest.
I managed to successfully make it to day two!
I hope you all continue to enjoy the desert island life of Suusuke and the beautiful girls.
The story continues, and I still have updates scheduled for today, so
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