Chapter 106
Being chased by caterpillars... It was a dream.
Caterpillars raining down from above... It was a dream.
I hate those things!
I'm sleep-deprived.
This tea substitute is delicious.
Drying the peel made the flavor stronger. Success.
It's soothing, a gentle flavor for my sleep-deprived head...
Calling it a tea substitute is such a pain.
To me, it's tea; onions are onions, and potatoes are potatoes.
The second day's meat and potatoes are delicious.
Lack of sleep dulls my judgment in all sorts of ways... Or is this just normal for me?
...The fruit from that day is right in front of me.
Is this harassment?
I wasn't taking my frustration out on everyone around me that much... Was I?
I'm okay.
Thank goodness.
...I'll have some.
A melon...?! It tastes like melon despite its creepy red-marble appearance.
Delicious.
The ripe sweetness fills my mouth...
Was I just being a picky eater...? No, one challenge a day, please.
I'll save that one for tomorrow or later.
I feel somewhat more energetic, even if I'm sleep-deprived.
Looks like I might get a good night's sleep tonight.
...
Sleep is important.
...My companions have been giving off a strange vibe since morning.
They didn't go hunting today.
What happened?
The children are a little intimidated by their parents' mood.
Hmm?
...Is this a harvest?
I'll help!
Core and the others are... helping move the harvested crops? I see.
Still, that's an incredible amount of produce.
They won't finish even if they harvest from morning until evening.
Let's do our best.
...Oh, are we preparing for a barbecue?
It's okay, I'll do my best.
Finally, we've made it to the Fruit Forest!
The end is in sight.
Hmm?
Why do they seem so murderous?
...Grapes.
We really are out of wine.
It's not as though we can drink it right away.
It has to ferment, and speeding it up with magic makes it taste worse.
...You don't have to look so devastated.
For now, let's work hard at the harvest.
Well, starting this time, the farming team has doubled the number of grapevines, so I guess we won't run out.
...Huh? There are more companions who drink now... Is that okay?
...Hahaha, as expected of the farming team.
There's a vineyard now.
The grapevines are neatly lined up across an area about five times the size of the first Fruit Forest.
What a sight.
Hmm? They're making barrels.
All right, then. I'll do my best.
I worked hard.
Barrels are piling up before me.
No, they're not really piled up.
Big Boss-san carries them away at incredible speed as soon as they're finished.
Having them wait for me with such terrifying intensity is frightening. I wish they'd stop.
The speed at which the one-eyed ones crush grapes... They're terrifyingly intense here, too.
The farming team has started joining in, too. Everyone's making wine together. Incredible.
Huge numbers of barrels in the wine cellar.
How can there not be enough room after we expanded it that much?
They've added another wine cellar on the second floor.
Well, everyone is happy.
Not yet, you hear? We still can't drink it.
Please be patient.
When the wine ran out... it was terrifying.
The despair of my companions when it was gone can't be expressed in words.
Even though they accepted it, their eyes...
I couldn't meet their eyes for several days.
Compared to that terror, their dissatisfaction at having to wait a little longer is nothing...
No, it's scary.
Before it ferments, it's just grape juice.
So just wait!
Maybe I should put up a barrier to keep them from getting in.
Are you okay?
If the one-eyed ones say it's fine, I guess it is.
These guys are scary in their own way, too.
...
Oh?
A young spider just ran past me at incredible speed.
Huh? A one-eyed one?
A one-eyed one raced after the young spider.
Can they run that fast?
I'll follow them.
A one-eyed one dropkicks the young spider... Ah, the young spider...
The one-eyed one comes back, nodding with satisfaction.
Um, is it alive?
It's okay... I see.
What is?
They beckoned me, so I followed.
...The wine cellar.
I see. I understand everything now.
Hahaha, thank you.
By the way, I wonder if the one-eyed ones might actually be strong...?