021-040 · 025-ch21

Chapter 21: Preparation Is Part of the Fun Too

　The World Tree. The comment section is going wild over how typically fantasy that sounds, but I'll leave them be for now and get started on travel preparations. Building up a little anticipation makes the experience better.

"I want to capture what my life in this world is like on video, so I'll start from the preparations before the journey."

　I tell that to the drone, then head to the storage shed to bring out a large leather saddle. This is a one-of-a-kind piece I worked really hard to make after Robo became my companion. When I bring it out, Robo shuffles over at his usual leisurely pace. He probably assumes I'm going to put it on him like always.

"I'm going to explain on the stream, so wait a sec."

　I don't know if he understands what "streaming" means, but he comprehends a "wait" command perfectly well, so he settles down in a sleeping posture right there.

"This is Robo, and this is a saddle for him. I've attached pockets and parts for tying ropes all over it so it can carry all kinds of luggage along with the saddle. I can ride him without a saddle, so to be honest, it's basically for transporting cargo. Just think of it like a backpack."

　I set that aside for the moment, then bring out several expedition cloth bags. These bags have been in use for quite a while, and though they need occasional repairs, they're still very much active.

"And these are cloth bags for stuffing food, potions, and other tools to carry along. I hang these on Robo's back and both sides like this to transport them."

　>>"Cloth bags?"

　>>"They look pretty primitive, I mean, not very modern."

　>>"You didn't buy big bags on the surface?"

　>>"You don't have magic bags? I figured it wouldn't be weird for you to have multiple of those."

　Just the right questions flew in. Magic bags. This question connects to my personal preferences.

"I have magic tools for item storage, or what you'd call magic bags. I transport them openly because I prefer it that way. I mean, think about it—walking empty-handed versus walking with a lot of luggage on your back. Doesn't carrying a load feel more adventurous?"

　To be honest, it's an unnecessary preference. But I actually enjoy the hassle of living in nature, so I deliberately stick to it.

　>>"I see???"

　>>"So you're going out of your way to do things the hard way to make it feel like an adventure?"

　>>"It's like a roleplay thing, then. I don't really get it, but I understand."

　>>"So that means you don't have modern backpacks or anything at all?"

　>>"I think I get what you're saying, but I also don't get it at all."

　The comment section is full of people who understand the meaning but can't quite accept it. Well, "many" is putting it strongly—today only six people are watching, so apparently that's everyone. I do think of my preferences as a bit eccentric, or from a certain perspective, as taking the dungeon too lightly.

"To be honest, yeah, it's an unnecessary preference. But I like that kind of stuff. Take electricity for example—I can use magic, so I can supply power, right? So if I brought light bulbs from the surface, I could just use them normally. But it lacks, you know, atmosphere. We've come all this way to enjoy nature in a relaxed setting, and then using light bulbs? The whole point is to build campfires and make torches!"

　>>"Come to think of it, he did say he wanted a hunting and gathering lifestyle."

　>>"I get wanting to enjoy life in nature."

　>>"Since he has the ability to actually do it, I don't think it's weird. But I'm a little jealous."

　>>"I've always admired that kind of lifestyle, so please definitely make it into a video."

"For real? There are other people besides me who like that stuff? That makes me happy. Anyway, I'm particular about that sort of thing, so I live a pretty old-fashioned life—or I don't know if 'old-fashioned' is the right expression. But I do have specific things I'm particular about, and specific timing for them too."

　For example, if there's magic that can be used for processing wood or monster materials, I use it. Processing wood would be too easy if I had sharp swords or axes, so I have no intention of starting from the Stone Age—I normally use sharp axes.

"As for what I'm particular about, just watch the stream and think to yourself, 'Ah, so this is what he's particular about.' Explaining every single thing would be a lot of work. Then there's the timing part. Basically, when I enter the dungeon, I use storage magic tools like crazy. I ride Robo too, and when moving, I have him run at full speed. Since the dungeon's main purpose is collecting items, fighting, and investigating areas. But in this world, I basically want to enjoy the act of walking or traveling, so I don't do things like ride Robo to move faster."

　That's actually why I haven't made much progress exploring this world. If I flew to the World Tree on Robo, it would take less than an hour, but on foot it's about a day or two away. The farthest place I've been to before—I wonder if it took over a month on foot.

　>>"Woo!"

　>>"Well, honestly, you can tell he's just playing out normal isekai fantasy."

　>>"Chopping firewood is something you don't even experience in dungeon exploration."

　>>"Come to think of it, you do camp overnight in the dungeon during dungeon exploration, don't you?"

　Right. Camping overnight in the dungeon. I looked into it a little, and it seems there are party recruitment threads for sleeping arrangements and such on explorer-only sites.

"Anyway, I need to prepare what I'm bringing, so wait a bit."

　I leave the stream connected and line up the things I'll bring outside.

　First, the food ingredients. For meat, it's preserved meats like bacon. Also mushrooms—I dried them so they'll last for a while, and I bring what I prepared. And to top it off, seasonings, pasta, and rice. Having a staple food is wonderful.

　Next, I draw river water into a leather bag. The saddle has parts equipped for securing this water bag. I made this component when I went to the desert before, realizing it was necessary. The leather water bag is also something I made myself while using dungeon items.

　And other convenient items. Dungeon-produced potions and medicinal herbs, a special stone that becomes powder for marking, oil, and so on. Dungeon items include various things with effects and characteristics that would be unimaginable from surface substances—literally "effects" rather than material properties.

　Other items like large cloths and furs for sleeping are rolled up and tied with rope.

"All right Robo, stand up."

『Bow!』

"You just ate breakfast, didn't you?"

　This always-hungry wolf. Plus, thanks to his weirdly developed sense of taste, he demands that I cook rather than eat raw when I'm around.

"Here ya go."

　I toss him a chunk of bacon, and while he gnaws on it, I attach the saddle to his body. I lay it on his back and tie the ropes on the belly side.

　Then on top of that, furs, cloths, tools like axes, and a fishing rod just in case. After securing the leather bag filled with water to his back with rope, I hang the cloth bags filled with various items on both sides. Then since he finds the flapping annoying, I tie them firmly to various parts of the saddle with rope so they press snugly against his body. Finally, on his back I place a huge frying pan and pot for cooking Robo's meals.

"That's Robo's preparation. Next is my preparation. I'm going to put on my gear, so wait a sec."

　For myself too, I put on my usual exploration gear. It's quite lightweight for exploring, but well-balanced gear that allows for combat as well. It's not the strongest among the armor I own, but usability is top-tier.

　First, I take off all my upper-body clothes and put on form-fitting innerwear. Over that, I equip gauntlets on both hands and a small leather chest piece that protects my chest.

　Then I don a loose short-sleeved shirt over that. Depending on the coldness of the location, this shirt changes to long-sleeved or thicker material. Though this equipment can't handle extreme cold, so when that's the case, I bring out specialized gear for it.

　After that, I take off my pants once and change from the thin ones I usually wear to pants woven from highly durable fabric. I fasten a belt at my waist, then equip greaves made of multiple integrated leather pieces that protect from my knees down to my shins. And over those, which extend to my ankles, I tightly lace up mid boots.

　After attaching a pouch to my belt containing potions and such, I finally throw on a jacket with short sleeves and a longer hem, and I'm done.

"Something like this, basically. Well, depending on the destination, I might go lighter or heavier gear-wise, naturally. For this trip, I'll put this mantle on top... how's that look?"

　・Looks way more rustic than I expected.

　・You don't use metal armor?

　・Where did you get your equipment? Did you make it yourself?

　・Simple, but it comes together nicely.

"Where I got the equipment is a mix of things. This dark red jacket and chest piece are dungeon-produced, while these gauntlets and shin guards are my own work. I put a lot of effort into them. The boots are dungeon-produced. The innerwear is surface-produced, and the shirt and pants were dungeon-produced, I think?"

　In games, this would be called a chimera build. Well, dungeon item acquisition is random drops from treasure chests, so it's basically impossible for a solo explorer to obtain the desired equipment.

　That's why, for items that need to be fitted to my size like gauntlets and shin guards, I try making them myself through trial and error. Fortunately, I pick up gauntlets and shin guards now and then, so I reference their structure, process the leather myself—that sort of thing.

　Anyway, now the preparations are finally complete.

"Then! Setting off for the World Tree!"

　>>"Yay!"

　>>"We can actually see what the dungeon and beyond look like for the first time."

　>>"It's way brighter than the dungeon, which is nice."

　>>"The fantasy vibes are off the charts."