Momo bobbed in the air, her little leaf swaying as if she were thinking deeply.
[Correct. Clay is naturally formed through prolonged water exposure. Searching the riverbank is statistically the most efficient method.]
Takumi nodded. "Yeah. That river is the only place I've actually seen water gather. I took Mio there last night to wash her face, so I at least know the path."
[Momo recorded that. Night conditions were suboptimal, but you managed.]
"Of course I managed.." he muttered. "I have a kid."
[Momo acknowledges your parental determination.]
Takumi glanced back at Mio. She was still deeply asleep, curled into a tight ball, her bunny ears draped over her cheeks. She looked peaceful, comfortable, exactly what he wanted for her.
"Alright," he whispered. "If I want her to wake up warm, fed, and clean, I need clay, dry wood, bamboo, fire… and the sanity to do all that before noon."
[Momo is unable to assist with sanity.]
"That sounds about right."
[Momo can assist with scheduling.]
"That's a completely different thing."
[Still helpful.]
He shook his head. This peach was going to take years off his life.
He moved around the hut quietly, gathering what little tools he'd made: the sharpened rock knife, a woven rope, the cracked basket he intended to fix later. He covered Mio with a cloth, tucking it gently around her shoulders.
Momo drifted close.
[Host's priorities are appropriate. Ensuring Mio's comfort before leaving increases productivity.]
"Yeah. I'll be back before she wakes. She always sleeps like a log."
[Then Momo will keep an extra eye on her.]
Takumi paused. "…You said you can't fight."
[Momo cannot. But Momo can alert you loudly.]
He wasn't sure if that was comforting.
"Just… don't shout directly into my ear."
[Momo has discretion.]
-_-
Well isn't that charming.
Takumi climbed down the rope ladder, feet sinking slightly into the damp earth below.
Morning fog rolled across the grass in thick patches. The world felt colder here, quieter, more untouched.
Primitive, yes but comforting in its own way.
Momo floated after him, her peach face serious.
[Objective One: locate clay.]
"Right."
[Objective Two: do not fall.]
"I wasn't planning on it."
[Objective Three: eat breakfast.]
"Yeah, buddy I don't know about that yet.."
Momo drifted closer.
[Host does not think well on an empty stomach.]
Takumi frowned. "Are you calling me cranky?"
[Momo would never insult host.]
[pause]
[However, your sarcasm levels increase when unfed.]
"…You absolutely just called me cranky."
[Momo is stating observable data.]
He sighed and walked toward the river. Fog thickened as he approached the water. The soft rush of the current echoed through the trees.
He crouched near the bank, crouched down and stared into the water.
"Let's see if there's any clay here."
He scooped a handful of wet soil, rubbing it between his fingers. It had the right feel, smooth, heavy, dense.
Momo floated close.
[Texture: promising. Moisture content: appropriate. Impurities: minimal. This is viable clay.]
Takumi felt a bit of pride. "Good. With this I can at least make bowls, cups, maybe a small pot."
[Momo approves. Warm water equals happy Mio.]
"Mio being happy equals less stress."
[Less stress equals fewer hallucinations.]
-_-
Takumi glared. "You're saying I'm hallucinating you?"
[No. But you implied it earlier.]
-_-
What the hell was she saying??
He rolled his eyes and dug deeper into the riverbank, gathering more clay and packing it into the basket.
Cold water soaked his hands, but for once, the discomfort didn't bother him.
This was work. And nothing grounded them more than having to something to build.
Momo drifted gently beside him.
[Takumi, your breathing is steady. Stress decreased. Good job.]
"…Why are you nice all of a sudden?"
[Momo is always nice.]
Takumi raised a brow.
[Momo is often nice.]
Another brow.
[Momo is occasionally nice.]
"That's more believable."
Once the basket was half-full, Takumi stood, wiped his hands on his pants, and started back toward the hut.
Momo floated at his side like a tiny supervisor.
[Today will be productive. Momo predicts an 82% success rate.]
"And the other 18%?"
[Depends on whether you misstep climbing the ladder.]
-_-
Takumi stared at her, that was a bold assumption!
[Momo is joking.]
[pause]
[Probably.]
-_-
Takumi sighed, not that he was planning to climb back up anytime soon.
He had to build the pottery wheel to shape the clay, he could do that easily with some wood and bamboo.
Then he'd have to create a small kiln to dry clay, that way it won't break easily.
"On that note, Momo give a quick summary of this world's background, where am I currently? How many people are here, what are these people called?"
Momo rotated slowly, as if organizing her thoughts into neat folders.
[Compiling world summary for host.]
Takumi nodded, brushing the remaining clay dust off his palms. "Good. I need to know what I'm dealing with."
Momo's leaf wiggled.
[This world is officially classified as Yomori, an undeveloped realm with low technological growth and high biological variance.]
Takumi blinked. "Meaning…?"
[Meaning people here are not fully humans. They are categorized as Beastfolk, biologically humanoid but with animalistic traits, instincts, and physiological adaptations.]
"I see, that explains a lot. Primitive times with relatively primitive people. But they're smart enough to build shelter and a society of their own. So they've advanced."
Momo nodded, agreeing with what Takumi said [Alot of try and error was done to get to where they are right now. So you can say, they are smart. Unless you knowledgeable about architecture, for them to build a sturdy hut, that is not easily blown down by wind or rain is a huge feat.]
Takumi nodded, he said this was the human characteristic about them.
They were using their brains.
[Moving on, the place you are right now, part a bigger tribe, you're just in one of its many settlements and this one is called Yoshi, it's a small settlement with about 45 people, children included. It is made of diverse species and as a reputation of being relatively peaceful. The bigger tribes don't usually attack small clans like this]