Pioneering the Apocalyptic World - Chapter 39
Chapter 09: Currently investigating it
I squatted down and picked up a pinch of soil and rubbed it with my fingers, but I didn’t felt that I received any type of damage or status ailment.
I took out the God’s shovel and tried turn the dirt into a block (item). The item name was just [soil] and It didn’t had “It is contaminated” in its description.
From my behind I heard a whisper saying “What was that just now…”, but I will ignore it for the time being.
I also made some of the grass growing around into items, but the item name is just [grass]. But Its durability value——when it reaches zero, it will completely wither and loss almost all of its value as a material——has decreased considerably?
“Hey Fricka, can I take a little bit of the branches of the sacred tree?”
“Huh? ……Ah, It’s not a problem if it’s just a little.”
When I asked while pointing at the braches above my head, she was a little confused but agreed, so I piled up stone blocks at my feet and reached a branch that was in a high position.
Tree climbing? I can’t do that. No, if I try, I might be able to do it, but there’s no reason to try.
I cut off the tip of a branch with the God’s Axe and returned to the ground while storing the stone blocks.
?Toore tree branch (Sacred tree)
A branch of a tree that grows in the land of Alness. It has a high affinity with staffs, and the older the tree, the more the magic stat will be positively corrected.
Because it is enshrined as a sacred tree, it has a faint holy attribute.
[! Due to its weakened state, the durability value will decrease over time]
“Weakened state…?”
I also checked the leaves, but the ones with normal colors are just [Leaves], the withered colors ones were [Leaves] with a reduced durability values, and the ones that have strange colors were… The [Leaves] that had the weakened state debuff.
Hmm, what’s the difference between the withered leaves and strangely colored leaves? The strange color is just the weakened state debuff effect? It’s the first time I’ve seen materials in a weakened state, so It could be the normal effect for them. In the first place, to the durability value of items other than food… For the expiration date to decrease was almost impossible in the game.
By the way, when the player was inflicted with the weakened debuff It caused the player’s body to became sluggish and the LP, MP, and SP decrease rate was doubled. Other than the player, only NPCs or monsters (that were given the status ailment by the player) were affected by it.
For the time being, let’s assume that the strange colors is caused by the weakening effect… Then what is the cause of weakening? That’s why I came here to investigate.
“…Come to think of it, holy water can suppress it a little, right?”
I tried to sprinkle a little of holy water on a discolored grass as a test.
It emitted a flash of light, but it is the normal sanctuary creation effect that the holy water has, and other than that, there is no visible changes.
…… No, since the holy water should have already been sprinkled around the village, there is no mean in check the holy water effects?
“Miko-sama… What was that just now…?”
A male elf asks me timidly. Hmm?
“That was just the sanctuary creation effect caused by holy water?”
“…It seemed to emit a stronger light than when we sprinkle it…”
Ah, I forgot that when a miko(me) uses it, it receive a boost effect.
I think that effect will also change by quality of the holy water created and by the skill level of the user, but If said that, they could conclude “Isn’t it because of Fricka’s lack of faith?”, so I didn’t mentioned it.
In the first place, a miko is a specialist in item creation, so it’s ridiculous to compare us.
“So that was it……”
“As expected of miko-sama!”
……I think it will be easier to me move around in this village by showing my abilities like this, but I want that you guys stop looking at me with a passionate gaze, it sends chills down my spine…… I wonder if herbivorous animals targeted by carnivorous beasts feel like this……It’s not, right? It’s not like my life is being threated …… My life is not being threated, right?
To also divert the conversation, let’s move on to the next place
“How do you replenish water in this village?”
“…Ah, well, we can draw water from wells set up in multiple places in the village, or from the river just to the east of the village.”
“Hmm, let’s leave the river for the next time, let’s take a look at the well first.”
“Very well, let me guide you.”
Then I was guided towards the well, and drew a bucket of water.
…… “I will do it”, “No, this time I….”, and there was such dispute between the male elves, so I shut them up and let Uru do it. They are sulking, but they brought it on themselves.……
Immediately after that, They became wide-eyed at how quickly Uru drew the bucket, and their faces were so ridiculous that I almost laughed, so I stroked Uru’s head in order to endure it. That was a thank you as well.
However, even though she had taken the trouble to draw it, it was just displayed as a normal [water].
At least I’m happy that the drinking water isn’t polluted, but if it’s neither soil nor water… Then the air… That is not, I suppose.
When I was groaning, wondering what else It could be.
“Onee-chan!”
I heard a child’s voice.
When I turned around in the direction of the voice, I could see a girl around 10 years old, with bright green hair and eyes running toward me, gasping for breath.
At the same time, I heard Fricka mutter “Fin.”.
Oh, they look alike, maybe?
“I she Fricka’s little sister?”
“Yes.……To be exact, we are half-sisters.”
Fricka said, “Excuse me,” and then turned to her little sister.
The little sister rushed over and jumped into Fricka’s chest. They seem to be on good terms with each other.
“Onee-chan, if you came back to the village, why aren’t you coming home!?”
“I’m sorry, I’m still at work.”
“Eh… Are you still working?”
“Yes, I’m accompanying miko-sama around the village.”
When I thought that Fricka glanced at me, in next moment her little sister glared at me so hard that if glares could kill, I will be dead. At that glare, I couldn’t help but tremble. T-This child is scary…!*¹
Her pressure was so strong that I felt like I was going to break out in a cold sweat, but it eventually weakened along with rising of her confusion, so I didn’t go that far. ……Phew~.
Uru was looking at me like as if saying “What are you doing…?” But even if the opponent is a child scary things are still scary, okay…?
Leaving my state aside, the sisters conversation continued. But Fricka use the polite tone even while talking to her sister.*²
“That person is the miko-sama…? But she is woman…?”
“That right.”
“Then, onee-chan, do you have escaped from becoming a bride?”
……In other words, this is about ‘that’? Did she think that her beloved big sister would be taken away by me…?
I don’t have any plans to take her at the moment, so be relieved. I would like to say that, but I can’t say it in this state, and I didn’t even had time to say it.
“…That’s not for me to decide about.”
“… No way…”
Since Fricka herself suggested that there was still a possibility of her getting married, her sister was visibly sagging her shoulders.
While calming her down, They had a few conversations and it ended by Fricka letting her sister go to home while saying “See you later.”.
“Please excuse me.”
“No, it’s fine….You can go to home if you want?”
“No, as I told that child earlier, but it’s part of my job to accompany you.”
While pretending to be curt, she gave me a wink from a position that the two male elves wouldn’t see her, so I could tell that she did it thinking about my good.
Yeah… It might be a problem if Fricka was no longer here.
“Well, thank you. You’re a help being here.”
“……You’re welcome”
When I smiled to her with a feeling of gratitude, but she subtly averted her gaze.
……Was I showing such a bad face?…….
After that, I was guided around the village, and without finding any particular hint, the evening arrived, and today’s investigation came to an end.
*¹ Translator note: I changed the phrase here because I couldn’t find a good sounding translation to the original text. Originally the little sister(Fin) was glaring Rion while emanating an onomatopoeia for glare as if she was a jojo’s character, but I couldn’t find a good way to put it in, so I replaced that part with a proverb.
*² Translator note: From the start Fricka is using polite tone to talk with everyone.