Once everyone, except Roa who was in her maid outfit, had changed back into their uniforms, it was time for face washing.
After that came breakfast preparations.
The cooking team formed around Shion and Roa.
Volunteers from the Chouhou party joined in as well, bringing the total to six people.
I got permission from Chouhou and called on Nagahata’s help.
I had him use [Plant Magic] to increase the yield of cabbage, potatoes, and barley.
“Well, this is… no, that’s unnecessary trouble~. I’d be happy to help you out~”
Nagahata swallowed his doubts and agreed cheerfully.
In an instant, fields of the three plants sprang up.
Many others lent a hand with this harvest as well.
Momo grumbled about it being dirty and uncutely, but made good use of her [Clone Ability].
Inui had her summoned treant do the harvesting on her behalf.
Kenki chuckled, “Let me handle the cutting,” and swiftly reaped the ears with his enhanced skill of Ittou Ryoudan, Flying Slash.
Kagemori said, “I’m not as skilled as everyone else, but this much I can do…” while pulling up potatoes using her ability to manipulate shadows.
Even those without abilities helped out at their own pace, ensuring nothing rotted or was left behind.
The ones who really shined in our group were Fukaho, Chiyu, and Serina.
Besides Fukaho’s wind magic, which was impressive, Chiyu’s Healing Magic proved invaluable.
Thanks to it, no one had to deal with lingering pain or exhaustion.
“Everyone is amazing. My magic really pales in comparison…”
“That’s not true. We’d be in trouble without you, Fukaho.”
“Ahh, thank you… I also… would be str-struck if Sousuke weren’t here.”
“Mm. The Harem’s master disappearing is a major problem.”
Fukaho and I were both flushing when Chiyu interjected in the conversation.
”…He isn’t going anywhere,” she said.
I laughed bitterly.
“Hey, Sousuke. What about me?”
Terina applied an advanced variation of her “Barrier” ability.
For a wheat field, she generated the barrier slightly above ground level to reject the “intrusion” of plants.
In this case, anything already inside the barrier at the moment of generation remained as is, but anything touching the boundary line was ejected.
And what happened next was—they were severed.
Since this had been impossible before, it was a benefit derived from “Ability Awakening.”
“Remarkable. Not only for defending the base, but it has evolved to be usable for harvesting and offense as well.”
Hearing my praise, Terina smiled happily.
“Oh, right. We need to share information about our awakened abilities before we fight the unique monsters.”
“True. There were a lot of things going on yesterday, so we didn’t have time for that.” “Lot of things…” “Mm-hmm. A lot of things happened.”
“So-suke, if you want to, you can do ‘things’ with us anytime.”
Fukamitsu blushed, Chi-iyu nodded contentedly, and Terina smiled mischievously.
“It’s cool. Awakening is like something out of a manga.”
“Speaking of which, who exactly awakened?”
Moyo and Junme joined the conversation while continuing to harvest.
“Tetsubo-san, Iyama-san, Sumi-o-san, Nagahata-san, Kenki-sensei, the teacher, Yumezaki-san, So-cha… and you’re Aruga-kun.”
Teacher Luminus explained it fluently.
No, she had stumbled on my name; that was just the nickname she used when we were alone together, so I should probably pretend I didn’t hear it.
“Indeed…
I’d like to hear about it,” Genchu said softly.
“Let’s discuss it after breakfast. For now, let’s finish the harvest.”
“Well then, Soshu Aruga, could you please start harvesting over there?”
Sumi-o was directing the harvest. When they moved according to her instructions, the work proceeded smoothly.
This wasn’t charisma; it was Sumi-o’s command ability.
Her raw specs were simply high.
Incidentally, Toyoshima, who possessed the ability “To Create Food,” collected eggs while slumping his shoulders and saying, “Ugh~.” Sumi-o’s party also kept chickens.
Since he wouldn’t work if left alone, it seemed Sumi-o assigned him tasks as needed.
I assumed the harvested goods wouldn’t be usable for today’s breakfast, but when Shion said she wanted to use them, I took the items out of my [Inventory] after having stored them away.
Wait a moment, I wondered if breakfast might already be finished and asked her about it. In response, Shion told me about a certain plan.
“I see, that sounds great!”
“Heh, right? So, could you please store the cooked food away once it’s done, so it doesn’t get cold?”
“Of course!”
Even if it took a bit longer to prepare the meal, I didn’t feel any dissatisfaction.
Since everyone wanted to wash off the dirt from their work, I prepared a bath again, and they rushed in cheerfully.
I also cleaned up their clothes by rearranging them within storage.
Busy with tending to everyone’s recovery, Chiyu, whose clothes hadn’t gotten dirty, came up to talk to me.
“Sō-kun, does that mean you’ve completed the girls’ panties collection?”
“I haven’t been collecting them in the first place. I just mindlessly rearrange what’s in storage.”
“You have to see them while they’re wearing it for it to count. Got it.”
“Please don’t ‘got it’ me.”
Come to think of it, early on in our life on the desert island, there were times when the women’s undergarments were visible while I was starting a fire.
I still start fires now, but since the group has grown larger, they often handle it themselves when I’m not around.
Keep a flame you’ve lit once burning, and from it, accept the light.
As for lighting, I came to rely on Master Luminas’s 『Light and Heat Magic』, so in that sense, the opportunities decreased.
Decreased is relative; there are still chances, and while I try not to get swept away, the glimpse of underwear steals my heart completely.
“Sayonara, no matter how much you expand your harem, don’t forget the heart of a virgin.”
Perhaps it means: do not grow arrogant just because you’ve gained experience.
I have certainly seen guys who get cocky after their first time. I don’t want to be the kind of person who makes others feel awkward, so I shall keep that in mind.
“Rather, I don’t know when I’ll get used to it. Even now, just Chiyu coming close near me makes my heart skip.”
It was a bit embarrassing, but I voiced my true feelings.
”…Of course, Sayonara. You caught me off guard with that, and it made my heart flutter.”
My childhood friend’s cheeks had turned a faint cherry-pink.
“Oh, really?”
“I was driven by the impulse to drag you into the bushes.”
“Well, that sounds like you’re the predator type.”
Chiyu occasionally says things that leave me at a loss for how to react.
“Could you do me a favor and stop carrying each other off? I’d like to use this time for the leaders to have a discussion.”
Since he had been directing operations, Seihou was clean.
“Rio-chan, eavesdropping is no good.”
“Ee, I’m sorry. You were being so openly affectionate that I didn’t think there was any place for you to hide it.”
“Mm, you’re right. There isn’t. If anything, right here and now—”
“I get it. I’ll be careful next time, so button up your shirt.”
Seihou flushed slightly as Senri was about to take off her uniform.
“You win.”
“Don’t start strange contests like that.”
“C-cough. So, Sōsuke Kudō. Regarding the dream this time…”
“Ah. I’ve already decided on the party’s strategy in advance.”
Though he had indulged in a string of eight kisses during the morning, he hadn’t forgotten what needed to be done.
He had taken advantage of his face-washing time to quickly sort out the opinions.
“As expected. Then, could we please have an ‘Invincible Potion’?”
She is saying this knowing full well that I am the one coveting 『Memory Inheritance』.
“Then, on our end, it’s ‘Memory Inheritance.’”
“In that case, I’ll cede the ‘Right of Dual Decision’ to you as well. Ah, but don’t get too comfortable thinking this means it’s your turn next. As a sort of quid pro quo—though not strictly in exchange for that, mind—you’ll share some of the mine’s benefits with us? May I?”
Truly, only Seifeng.
She has even seen through my desire to place the 『Mine』 herself.
She is negotiating to let us do as we please, provided we split the results. “I see.
Let’s go with that.”
The precedent is appreciated.
For instance, if in the future we supply Seifeng’s party with additional materials they need, while they yield the Unique Monster culling rights to us, there would be no sense of unfairness.
From our perspective as well, if we can secure culling rewards without friction with our collaborators, that is simply a necessary expense.
“I like how straight you are.”
“You made it easy by summarizing everything Seifeng needed to say.”
“Then let’s share in each other’s fruits. Shall we say we’re well-matched?”
Saying that, she smiled with grace.
Even after such grueling work, it was a charming smile that made the effort feel repaid in an instant.
So, so I see. This is what 『Charisma』 truly looks like.
Of course, it’s likely due to a synergistic effect with Seihou’s own charm.
“Sou-kun has a 200% compatibility rate with his childhood friend.”
“I was always impressed by the magnanimity of mind Iiyama Chiyu possesses, but she clearly has a human amount of jealousy as well. If she prioritized the party’s cohesion despite that, I respect it.”
“It’s not an issue if Sou-kun’s charm spreads. It’s only natural that he’s popular. But all that aside… my childhood friend…”
“Yes. And I have no intention of intruding on that bond either.”
“In that case, you’re permitted to enter the harem.”
“Thank you.
However, if Takano Sousuke ends up liking me the most, please do forgive us,” Seihou said with a provocative smile.
That there was not a trace of malice in such words—truly typical of Seihou.
”……I accept the challenge.”
“I like how clean that is.”
Sparks flew between the two of them.
If I were the heroine, this might be the moment where I say, “Please don’t fight for my sake,” but in reality, all I can do is keep quiet.
“Sousuke-kun.”
“A—ah, yes, I’m coming right away.”
Since Shion called out to me, I hurried off to the outdoor cooking station.
And so, I began stowing away the dishes they had made one by one.
As things progressed, the other girls who had washed off the mud also emerged from the bathhouse.
“Shion, how should we set this up?”
“Oh, yeah. Can I just give you the instructions for now?”
“Of course.”
Tamagoyaki, scrambled eggs, beef sausages, imitation bacon, fresh-baked bread, freshly cooked rice, miso soup, mushroom and wild vegetable soup, pot-au-feu, salad, sashimi, grilled fish, hiyayakko, French fries, sautéed potatoes, pasta, udon, yaki-soba (stir-fried noodles), tonkatsu, rolled cabbage, raw eggs, various fruits, and so on.
Under the blue sky, such a dazzling array of dishes was laid out.
It was a breakfast buffet, handmade by the cooking staff led by Head Chef Shion.
“Eh!? A buffet?! Shi-chan is a genius!”
“Whoo! Only to expect that from you, Shion!”
Led by the two gyaru, Moyo and Runme, cheers of joy rose from everyone.
“Docchi-san, would you become my mom?”
“D-Dojima-san?”
Shion looked bewildered as Dojima’s eyes sparkled.
Given it was Dojima, she had likely decided that she wanted Shion to cook for her every meal.
“Then, everyone, please eat while thanking the cooking staff.”
At Seihou’s words, everyone moved toward the dishes that caught their eye.
Even I, for just this moment, unleashed an appetite rivaling that of the boys in the athletic department and enjoyed the buffet to the fullest.
Updates are planned for tomorrow as well!
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