Shijo’s Attribute Magic was excellent as an offensive method.

But whether it was water or fire, it vanished after a while once cast, so it couldn’t be used for a campfire or drinking water.

So did that mean it could only be used in combat?

I didn’t think so.

“Logging?”

Shijo tilted her head.

“Yeah. Shijo, it’s not like your magic can only be fired at living things, right?”

“Y-yes, that’s true.”

“For me to store materials, they have to be separated from the ground. With seawater or sand, I need the extra step of putting it into a container first. And with trees, I need to cut them down.”

“I see. I understand. If it’s still rooted in the earth, you can’t store it. If I can log with my magic, then we can obtain it as lumber.”

“Exactly.”

Come to think of it, I hadn’t explained that part.

“Of course I’ll do it. I’m glad my magic can be useful too.”

Missing the wild boar must’ve been eating at her more than I thought.

So, we started moving.

At Chiyu and Shouko’s request, I made a big basket.

I processed vines and wove them together.

Then I hung it from Mashiro’s body.

Since I couldn’t go with them, there was a limit to how much they could gather—but the plan was to borrow Mashiro’s power to make hauling in bulk possible.

“Alright, we’re off!”

“I’m going to become the queen of materials.”

I saw the two of them off as they left the base with Mashiro.

“Shion, we’re heading out too. We’ll be really close, so if anything happens, just shout as loud as you can.”

“Okay. Have a safe trip.”

Shion, her hair tied up, waved as she spoke.

She seemed to be thinking about today’s menu.

The main dish was going to be grilled meat.

“I should probably hand you a spear, just in case.”

As she took it, Shion smiled like she was troubled.

“Until Sousuke-kun and Shijo get here, I’ll endure somehow.”

“Just holding it is a deterrent.”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

Shijo and I stepped outside the fence.

A pitiful fence that hardly got used, since we relied on Mashiro so much.

“Oh, right—Shijo.”

“What is it?”

“That staff you were swinging when you used magic—was it anything special?”

During the boar fight, she’d been swinging something like a branch.

“No, it was just a branch I picked up. At first I couldn’t aim well at all, but when I pointed at the target with a staff, it got a little better.”

“I see. If you’re not attached to it, how about this?”

With Crafting Ability, I pictured a wand a mage would use.

A wooden staff with a heavy color that tapered toward the tip.

I placed it in my hand and handed it to Shijo.

“——”

“If you’re gonna use one anyway, I figured something that looks the part might boost your mood. What do you think?”

“I-is it okay?”

“Of course. I made it wood because I figured lighter would be easier to use, but I can make it out of stone too, so if you’ve got a preference for materials, tell me.”

“No. Since you made it for me, Kuno-kun. I’ll use this.”

“S-sure.”

When she said it in such a happy voice, somehow it made me embarrassed.

“Thank you. Um... it probably doesn’t suit me, but I’ve always admired things like this, so I’m happy.”

“I get it. I think mage robes are cool too.”

“Hehe. They are, aren’t they? When I was a child, I wanted to try wearing a witch hat too.”

Talking like this, she really was just a normal kid.

Well—of course she was. Even the serious kids at school had all kinds of interests.

“Alright. This area should work.”

After walking a bit, we stopped.

Close enough that I’d hear Shion if she shouted, and far enough that a falling tree wouldn’t affect our base.

“Which tree should I aim for?”

“Anything is fine. Oh—if possible, pick one that won’t hit us even if it bounces or rolls.”

“I see. Th-then I’m casting.”

Holding the freshly made staff, Shijo took a deep breath.

“Wind Cutter.”

For a moment, her hair lifted—and then came the sound of air being sliced.

Right after that, a roar came from the trees.

When I looked over, the trunk shifted with a grinding sound, then toppled.

“I did it! I hit it! Did you see, Kuno-kun!?”

Shijo hopped up and down with joy, like a little girl.

Her skirt—longer than the other three—fluttered modestly.

“I saw it. I saw it. Nice.”

She was so happy that, as a joke, I held out my hand like I was waiting for a high five.

Normally, the cool Shijo would hesitate at something like that, but—

“Yeah!”

She actually tapped my hand.

She must have been really happy.

“If you practice on stationary targets, your accuracy will go up too.”

“Right! Can I cut one more!?”

“Try not to destroy the forest.”

“I’ll do the next one!”

Shijo pointed her staff at a nearby tree.

...A nearby tree?

“Shijo, wait—that one’s too close—”

“Wind Cutter!”

The magic fired.

Cutting the tree was fine, but the angle was bad.

It tilted toward us and started falling straight in our direction.

And because it was so close, we could end up pinned under it.

If this were a city, it might feel like a utility pole falling on you.

“Ah—”

“Shijo!”

I stepped in front of her like I was shielding her, and reflexively activated Itemize.

Just before it touched us—the tree was stored in Inventory.

Leaves that had separated from the branches at the moment of storage rained down around us.

As for me, my heart was pounding.

“I-I’m so sorry— I—”

“Hah... Shijo, are you hurt?”

I turned back to check her.

“N-no. I’m fine. Are you okay, Kuno-kun?”

“I’m fine.”

I was still shaking inside, but I smiled so she wouldn’t worry.

Shijo went pale and bowed her head.

“I’m truly sorry. Getting carried away and causing trouble... that’s the worst. You told me at the start to be careful about distance, and I still—”

“Well, we’re unharmed, so it’s fine. More importantly, let’s cut a few more.”

“...Okay. I’ll be careful so I never make a mistake like that again.”

Mm. The air got gloomy.

“I’m planning to rely on your magic going forward too, so don’t let this make you shrink up.”

She already seemed pretty hung up on the boar thing, so I kept my tone light so this wouldn’t turn into a trauma.

“Okay.”

Some people need a hard scolding, but there are also people who scold themselves, correct their mistakes without being told, and adjust on their own.

Shijo was that type.

Sure enough, after that, Shijo handled her magic calmly and precisely.

At this rate, we could probably ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) build a small house.

“Alright. Let’s head back soon.”

“Understood.”

We started walking back toward the base together.

“H-hey, Kuno-kun.”

“Yeah?”

“I didn’t get a chance to say it, but... thank you for saving me earlier.”

She meant the part where I stored the falling tree.

“Haha. It’s fine.”

“Kuno-kun... you jumped out to protect me.”

Shijo’s voice sounded... a little warm.

Was I imagining it?

“Didn’t really mean much, though.”

“That’s not true. That’s not... true.”

“Got it.”

“Yes.”

With the air still weirdly warm, we returned to the base.

“Welcome back. I heard a lot of trees falling.”

Shion greeted us with a smile.

“Yeah. A lot.”

“Haha. Then I guess yesterday was the last time we all sleep together.”

At Shion’s words, Shijo froze.

“W-what did you just say...?”

“No, I mean, I’m on the edge, and Chiyu’s next to me, and nothing weird—”

“Sleeping with three girls... i-it’s indecent...!”

Ah. She was back to her usual self.

“Hehe. Right, we still haven’t talked it through with Shijo. When the other two get back, we’ll have to hold a secret girls’ meeting.”

Shion muttered something to herself.

It was definitely about the harem thing, but would Shijo accept it?

“F-for now, let’s build a house. The trees Shijo cut are going to become our new base.”

“...R-right. Properly separate rooms for boys and girls.”

“Of course.”

Well, even if I made my own room, Chiyu would probably come barging in without a second thought.

I immediately got to work with Crafting.