Title: Welcome Apple! - It’s A Natural Refrigerator
Characters: Jade, Epel, Idia, Sebek, Grim
JP Proofreader: okaykei
EN Proofreader: Jewishruggie
Event Story Navigation
| Episode 1 | 1-1 ・ 1-2 ・ 1-3 ・ 1-4 |
| Episode 2 | 2-1 ・ 2-2 ・ 2-3 ・ 2-4 ・ 2-5 ・ 2-6 |
| Episode 3 | 3-1 ・ 3-2 ・ 3-3 ・ 3-4 ・ 3-5 ・ 3-6 ・ 3-7 ・ 3-8 ・ 3-9 ・ 3-10 ・ 3-11 |
| Episode 4 | 4-1 ・ 4-2 ・ 4-3 ・ 4-4 ・ 4-5 ・ 4-6 ・ 4-7 ・ 4-8 ・ 4-9 |
| Episode 5 | 5-1 ・ 5-2 ・ 5-3 ・ 5-4 ・ 5-5 ・ 5-6 ・ 5-7 ・ 5-8 ・ 5-9 ・ 5-10 |
It’s A Natural Refrigerator
Harveston - Epel's Home
Epel
Since we're all dressed in Apple Boas, let's take a group photo together, everyone!
Idia
Hah? Take a photo because we changed clothes? I don't get that logic.
Epel
If you show Ortho that you're wearing traditional clothing, he'd be delighted for sure!
Idia
Huh? Over such a thing? If it makes Ortho happy, then sure, I'll take it.
Sebek
A good point you've made. I wish to show my current getup to Lord Malleus and Master Lilia, as well.
Grim
I'll take the center spot!
Jade
Why, go ahead. I shall stand at the back with Idia and Sebek, then.
Epel
Then, Yuu'll stand beside me, okay? C'mon, all of you gotta huddle up closer, otherwise you won't be in frame.
And then, set the timer on my smartphone's camera, and…
Okay, say cheese!
*Snap!*
Epel
Alright, photo looks good! I'll send it to you guys now.
Jade
Thank you very much, Epel. It turned out nicely thanks to you.
Sebek
You have my thanks, Epel. I'll make sure to boast of it to Silver too.
Jade
I'm also planning to show it off to Azul and Floyd.
Idia
T-To think that the day I take a photo together with strangers has come…
And they aren't just any strangers, but normies who enjoy their happy school lives to the fullest…
Now that I've thought it through properly, there's no way Ortho would be happy with this kind of thing. Wait, did Sir Epel just trick me?
Epel
D-Don't make it sound like I'm some kind of bad guy!
Grim
I'm so hungry… When can I start eating apples?
Epel
Ah, right, there was that, too. Gimme a sec, okay?
Epel
Here's the apple as promised.
Grim
Yay! I was sick of waiting for ages already! Thanks for the food~!
Crunch crunch…
Yummy! This is my first time having such a sweet apple!
Epel
I'm relieved you think so. You see, this apple was actually being stored in the ice house1.
Grim
Ice…house…? What's that?
Epel
It's when you store fresh fruits and vegetables in ice and snow.
Sebek
In ice and snow, you say? So you just leave them lying around outside?
Epel
We used to make walls of snow to surround the food in the past, but now we put the snow in a storehouse instead.
The snow gathered from winter doesn't melt until summer once it goes into the store.
You could say it's a natural refrigerator that's off the grid.
Using an ice house prevents water loss from evaporation, retains the food's freshness, and boosts their sweetness and nutritional value.
Jade
How fascinating. Surely it is a product of the wisdom gained from living in such an environment.
Grim
Who cares about all that complicated mumbo jumbo. Munch crunch…
Epel
You see that shed behind my house? That's where the store is.
…I used to play in there so often when I was a kid.
Idia
In the shed? Are you perhaps fairly reclusive yourself, Sir Epel?
Epel
No, actually. I went out to play on a near daily basis. Even when it was storming outside, I could never sit still.
It was a lot easier to play in the shed on days like that since it had way more space than my room.
I'd play with the farm equipment kept there or bring treasures along and pretend it was like my secret base.
But once, while I was in the shed, there was a blizzard…
And because of the piled up snow, the door to the shed couldn't be opened.
Sebek
You were all alone in such a cold place as a child? That could escalate into a serious incident for a human.
Epel
My family didn't know I was in the shed either…
No matter how much I yelled and banged the doors, no one noticed at all…
It was getting even colder real quick and I started feeling hungry too… Man, that really was an ordeal~
Jade
How exactly did you manage to escape from the shed?
Epel
By ramming the farm equipment into the doors with all my strength and destroying it.
Sebek
…Th-That's quite the feat.
Epel
My family was really mad at me after that, but they were equally relieved that I was alright too.
After that incident, I stopped playing in the shed so that my parents wouldn't have to worry anymore.
Idia
T-To think that Sir Epel was quite the mischief maker as a kid…
I-I can't imagine that from you at all b-based on that photo I saw of you as a kid when I was changing.
Epel
A photo of me?
Jade
I believe Idia is referring to the photograph hung in the room. You were quite the adorable child back then, Epel.
Sebek
I saw it too. It resembles the Epel we know today, so I knew it must be you instantly.
Although, I must ask, why was the photo so faded?
Jade
Who knows… Perhaps it was edited post-processing to add a more desirable artistic touch to it?
Epel
A photo of me as a kid? Was there such a photo hanging around?
Grim
Oi, Epel! Hurry up and bring us to the next place already!
Epel
Oh, right. Let's practice for the sled race now!
Notes
- A few links on what an ice house is: Wikipedia and this one (in Japanese) that describes the difference between 2 kinds of ice houses (Return to text)