17 The Tenth Day

"The food, they are here!"

After the seventh day, the wayward portal was semi-permanently installed into the outpost after the foundation had been laid. So now, both the expedition team and the logistic team could go between the outpost and the homeworld back and forth without any limitation.

Numerous members of the logistics could be seen mingling in the background, hauling provisions and the likes.

"Good day, my friend." As haughty and proud as ever, Charles approached forward with a puffed chest and classy smug. "I reckon that the amount of 'seripium' that we asked for has increased."

Seripium is a name for a newfound flower that sometimes could be found scattered on the forest plain. It possessed a large similarity with gossypium flower on Earth where humans got their cotton from, and as of now, was seen to be extremely valuable with how firm and strangely elastic the property it has, that the wool from the seripium has compared to gossypium cotton.

It was also used as a part of a filtration system that was currently in progress to process the water of this wayward world into a contained vessel, which can be then used for all sort of purpose in the future, especially since the well inside the kingdom could only produce a limited amount of clean drinkable water everyday. It wasn't sure how it worked geographically, that even Owen herself didn't even know the technicality of it. Then again, the private realm itself is already a big anomaly.

There was already an attempt to cultivate and domesticate the seripium flowers, so it might only be a matter of time until the expedition team doesn't need to forage them in the wild anymore.

"Much to your demise, we haven't foraged much seripium today," Hoppington answered with a smile. "We found out that there are more of them on the north from here, but that place is littered with 'skytalons' and other unappraised beasts."

The giant raven-like creature in this world has been dubbed as 'skytalon' by the expedition team, due to their speed and expertise in shredding anything in their way. In fact, there were a couple of skytalons raids within the past ten days. Those raids only consisted of two or three skytalons, but they were enough to put everyone on their toes all the time.

Fighting more than ten of them would be something that must be avoided at all costs.

They were, however, a great source of meat. And unlike the huffalos, they won't call an entire region of its family to hunt you just for killing one of their species. Much to their name, their talon shaped like a blade, and had been turned into carving knives and other appliances.

"Well, even by just looking at the butchered meat of it, I can see how terrifying they can be."

"Mmm, there was a time where it almost decapitated one of us, if not for the Patriarch who moved so fast that his image became blur in our eyes, and then slammed that skytalon into the ground before detaching its talon and slashed the remaining others in the sky."

"Ah~ it's always pleasant to hear these heroic stories of Patriarch from you~" 

"I can start writing them into poems if you want."

"Please do~! Also, truth to be told, it's still jarring to see that my compatriot on the expedition team had grown so much in just a matter of days." Charles snickered as she rubbed her chin, facing up to Hoppington that appeared taller than her. "The folks within the kingdom barely have any changes yet. Maybe I need to increase their workload…"

"You'll fit well within human society, Charles."

"Kikiki~ Oh right, where's Patriarch, I wonder?"

"The usual, I think." Hoppington casted a smiley shrug. "Lately though, he is starting to ghostly disappearing into the forest. Not even Pippin often notices it. You can try calling him through the soul link if it's urgent."

"Oh well, I don't want to interrupt the Patriarch in his training session." Charles showed a great sign of disappointment when she said that. "That aside, we already made our first prototype for an option for long range combat, courtesy from Droste."

Two logistic members then approached the two, carrying a one meter and a half long piece of equipment.

"This is…"

"DP-1, a self reloading crossbow that can hold three bolts at a time. There aren't many material options for the cable and the strings other than the rope made from the vine-fur of the 'figwalker', so it can be a little too big for mobility."

What was displayed in front of Hoppington was more akin to an ballista than a crossbow. The flight groove that holds the bolt is as thick as her arm, and the limbs for the strings were riddled with wheels and multiple-jointed retractable parts. There was also a large box underneath the torso that seemed to accommodate the reloading mechanic that pulled the 1 meter bolt into the flight groove from the connected quiver. And to reload it, the usalian only needed to insert the bolt through the hole on the same quiver.

"I think the Patriarch asked for a long range weapon, Charles, not an artillery."

"You'll be fine~" Charles patted Hoppington's shoulder as she laughed. "If one usalian can't use it, add more usalian~!"

Along the artillery was the wooden bolt ammunition that was especially carved to fit the giant crossbow. There were enough of them for the shooter to last for an hour of shooting the bolt nonstop.

"Jingo!" Hoppington shouted as she waved. "We got a present for you!"

"Huh, I thought you'll be giving it to either Hopscotch or Karasaki," Charles commented.

"Karasaki didn't like ranged weapons very much. Hopscotch didn't even like using any weapon as of now."

"Pfft, Droste will be really mad about that."

"... Am I called?' 

"We got something we want you to test out."

With the utmost confidence hidden beneath her poker face, Jingo was able to pick up the large DP-1. She seemed to be snug with it, even putting on a pose for the other usalian to see.

"Wooah, you look cool with it."

"A match in heaven, they say."

"... The curvy handle is uncomfortable."

"Noted, I'll deliver this insight to Droste. Be sure to be vocal about it after you experience it enough." Charles gave a thumbs up. "Speaking of which, where's the other two?"

Hidden beneath the billow and above the wayward soil of the forest, was a silent yet domineering presence of a walking hulk of nature's mass. This creature was first encountered on the first day when Nagan, Immortal Dragon Overlord, Hoppington, and Bluebell were foraging in the forest. It was also the day where one of the usalian shown to awaken the {Primal Wrath} and utilized it to an extent.

This creature was dubbed as the figwalker, and they were so strong, they were able to felled numerous trees in just one swing of their tail.

"The victory will be mine, Hopscotch!"

They were also a great source of materials. Every part of their body was useful, and their meat tasted similar to a meaty kiwi fruit. Even their blood started to be transformed into a delicacy by inserting them into a wooden canteen, and then placing it on a running river anchored to the shore to cool them into a refreshing drink.

"Don't mess up the hunt, you dolt."