Chapter 915: Daily Life in a Snowy Town
After getting off from Shario’s blowjob, though I didn’t let it go on too long, I soaked in the hot spring for about 15 minutes. Then, to cool off, I took a short stroll through town. The old-fashioned town is narrow, so it doesn’t take long to walk through it all. If this had been a morning before the snow was shoveled, just walking would have been a major chore. The stream carrying the sacred spring water never freezes, no matter what, so it’s very useful as a snow-melting channel. The water flow isn’t strong, so there’s no risk of accidentally falling in and drowning. If you just toss some snow into the stream, it’ll eventually melt the haphazardly piled snow and carry it all downstream. The piles of snow the locals toss in, hoping for this, sometimes cause the stream to overflow, but there’s no need to worry. There’s nothing around here or downstream anyway. The small river, which has been flooded for a while, gradually erodes the troublesome snow, and within a few hours, it returns to its original flow.
“It’s convenient that it doesn’t freeze, isn’t it?”
“I wonder why it doesn’t freeze……”
Oregano, who was walking with me, said that.
“……If the elves don’t understand it, we certainly don’t”
It seems that among the elves, this property of not freezing isn’t really given much attention. There’s a similar healing spring in the Silver Clan, but since it’s always spring inside the forest’s barrier, there’s never really a need to cool it down. We don’t even know why it has healing properties in the first place, nor do we know why the effects wear off after half a day. It’s all based on trial and error. I wonder if the mechanism will ever be figured out. Though, I kind of feel like it’s more romantic if it stays a mystery. Also, if it gets figured out and people can make this kind of water elsewhere, wouldn’t that mean no one would come to Polka anymore? Well, I suppose that would mean everyone would be freed from the suffering of illness and injury, so I guess it’s a good thing.
After dropping off Oregano at the clothing shop, I glance at the sun in the sky, wondering what to do next. It’s nearly noon. But there’s still time before noon to just relax and do nothing. After thinking for a while, I decide to head to the Baron’s mansion for now. First, I’ll consult with Irina about opening a blacksmith shop. Just talking it over shouldn’t take hours.
“Hmm, I see. ……Though I do feel there’s little advantage to opening a shop right now in this town of Polka, with Master Lumeiro here”
“No, that’s exactly why I’m here. If I’m lacking in skill, I can consult him, and learn various things along the way……”
“In this backwater, there aren’t enough people for two shops to coexist. Even if you put up a sign, everyone will take their work to Rumeiro-sama”
“That’s true……but well, even Jackie has his busy times”
“The question is whether you can earn enough to make a living off those scraps. ……Wouldn’t it be better to get ready when the people from Kalwin move over here?”
“Umm……but that’s still going to take a while……and I can’t keep borrowing Jackie’s workshop for blacksmithing forever……”
“What’s the matter? If you just want a workshop, you should just say so”
“Eh?”
“It gets complicated because you said you’re opening a business. The effort required to prepare for a business is different from simply wanting a blacksmith’s workshop”
Well, I’d like to run a business if possible, though.
“If you settle down and dedicate yourself to it full-time, all sorts of things come with it. ……If it’s just a hobby, I’ll help you as much as I can. If it’s an elven-style furnace like the ones the Gold Clan specializes in, arranging one is easy. But if it’s a Trot or Celesta style, it’ll take a bit more effort”
“A, Ah……an Elven-style one will do for now”
First of all, I’ll have my own workshop. That alone is more than enough. And if the furnace breaks, the elves probably won’t hesitate to repair it. Ease of maintenance is key.
“Alright. Then we’ll secure a new plot of land and……”
“Are we building in a new place again……?”
“You’re planning to expand your own house, aren’t you? Above all, it’s a home for raising children. Who in their right mind would put a loud, noisy workshop right next door?”
As the child of a true blacksmith, I do want my own children to grow up thinking the sound of a hammer is a lullaby. ……No, not everyone is going to become a blacksmith in the future, after all. Above all, an environment where each mother can raise her children without stress is what matters most.
I also had a few other discussions with Irina. Since it’s already autumn, next year is just around the corner, so if we’re going to hold the Holy Beast Festival again, we need to start preparing. We talked about building a second room for the 「Flying Sexroom」. And then there was Charlotte’s situation.
“As usual, she disappears somewhere before you know it, and then comes back before you know it. It’s probably at your place, isn’t it?”
“I hadn’t noticed at all……”
I wonder if it’s somewhere else. ……But that girl seems pretty lecherous, so the idea that she’s always peeking in does make a certain amount of sense.
“She might be at Gloria’s or Isabel’s place”
“……Come to think of it, Sakura’s attendants mentioned seeing her talking to Gloria……”
“…………”
I thought she was shy, but maybe she’s actually quite bold about making friends. No, she’s an Excommunicated One, so she keeps her distance from ordinary elves; maybe she sensed a kindred spirit through that commonality. And that pervy aura.
“But you know, when she’s sneaking around like that out of sight, it’s scary to think she might do something completely out of the blue……umm, I think I sort of understand how those old geezers feel when they look at me and Christie”
“Don’t go empathizing with weird people in weird situations”
Well, Irina is already over 150 years old, so it wouldn’t be strange if she had a granddaughter like Charlotte. ……But still, it doesn’t suit this stunted girl to act like an old woman.
“You’d better keep a tight rein on her. You’re the only one who can control Charlotte”
I couldn’t track her down if she really went into hiding……but I suppose that assumes I’ll get the dragons to help. Precisely because I’m the one who commands the dragons, I can stop her if she tries to do something strange. And precisely because I’ve earned her trust, albeit in a strange way, she’ll listen to me. That’s why I can let her have just enough freedom. ……Still.
“She really is a tough one to handle……”
If she were just 「Strong」, it would be far less of a problem. Even though she isn’t doing anything wrong, the fact that I can’t keep an eye on her makes things this much more troublesome. There have been troublesome kids like Tetes before, but Charlotte is in a league of her own. Whether her presence will be a blessing or a curse for me going forward. ……Maybe I shouldn’t be bracing myself quite so much.
It was noon, so I excused myself to grab a bite at the tavern. I’d been invited to lunch at the Baron’s mansion, but Savory had told me at the secret hot spring, 「We’ll treat you to lunch♪」. Not that I’m eagerly anticipating a 「Treat」, but it would be rude to act like I’m going and then bail on them. ……Just then, I spotted Goto in a corner of the garden, having the other servants grill some meat for him.
“Eating a chunk of meat this big in one sitting, that’s so typical of an ogre”
“Especially since we used to be soldiers. Eating is part of a soldier’s job. Right, partner?”
“Exactly. If you don’t eat when you can and then complain about being hungry later, you’ll get your ass kicked. It really trains your stomach”
His partner, Lantz, stepped in to help, and communication with the other servants was progressing. This snow-clearing job has strengthened their bond with the other servants, and I wonder if they’re starting to accept Goto……well, basically, the former crossbowmen are all good guys. I hope he can blend in well.
“By the way, you used to be under Andy, right? What was he like over there?”
“Huhuhu, you want to know?”
“He was a kind of hero among us……”
……I was incredibly torn about whether I should keep eavesdropping, but I decided with iron will to walk away. Hey, I’m not going to rudely butt in. ……So you guys should use your adult judgment to decide what to say. Got it? I’m counting on you.