Before we knew it, September was over and October has started.
In the modern age, the phrase “autumn’s **” would be all over the TV.
And after a little while, convenience stores will start selling oden.
Then, the clothing industry will scramble to create winter trends ahead of the rest of the world.
As October starts.
We spent our days preparing for the incoming winter.
During dinner, Meiko shows off the work of the handicraft group.
「 We have enough for everyone now 」
「 「 「 Oooh!! 」 」 」
The coat is made of rabbit fur.
Their appearance is inferior to the modern coats, but there’s no difference when it comes to warmth.
The coat can also be used as a cloak, and as a bed cover.
There’s more to the handicrafts team’s efforts.
They also made long-sleeve clothes for winter.
Furthermore, they’ve recently added color, adding more to their individuality.
We’re no longer wearing the same pale red clothes.
「 We don’t have problems with food either 」
Tanaka reports the situation of the preserved foods.
The hideout has stockpiled enough food for several months.
We have various kinds of food so we don’t have to lament about having the same meal.
「 I don’t think we have problems with materials either 」 says Karin.
We need other necessities apart from food and clothing.
Materials for the bonfire, soap, and other stuff.
Cooking also needs salt and pepper in addition to the other ingredients.
It’s often overlooked, but if Karin’s managing it, then we don’t have any problems.
「 If winter is going to be dull, I’ll get sick of it 」
Arisa says while laughing.
I replied “That’s still better”
「 Most of it will be dull. The problem is if it’s colder than we expected. We’re expecting the winter from cities like Tokyo and Osaka. But, it could be colder in reality, perhaps as cold as Hokkaido, or worse, Russia. We don’t know what’s going to happen so we’re acting like we’re preparing for the worst 」
Winters may be extremely cold here.
After all, summer wasn’t that hot.
I think the hottest day only reached about 30 Celsius.
Given that, it won’t be surprising if the winter is extremely cold.
「 Anyway, our work has been doing well. What’s left is to improve our environment, but I can say that we’re also doing well in that regard 」
Mana nods saying “Yeah”
「 Until two weeks ago, all of us had pale red clothes or uniforms, but we’re wearing much more colorful and pretty clothes now 」
「 We also enhanced our fishing rods! 」
I meditated and made various checks in my brain but I can’t find any problems.
The weather seems balanced, and everything’s ready.
「 Let’s continue with this pace 」
「 「 「 Roger! 」 」 」
That’s how we spent the first day of October.
◇
October 2, Wednesday.
Day 77 of living in the other world.
It’s another clear and refreshing day.
「 Karin, Kageyama, Tanaka, and Yoshiokada, please collect shells 」
I gave instructions to the four after breakfast.
The four of them looked at me in surprise.
Karin asks as the representative.
「 I don’t mind, but what are we going to do with seashells? 」
「 Just the usual. We’re going to bake them, and crush them to powder 」
「 I think we already have enough 」
Karin shifts her gaze from me to the bucket.
It’s filled with so much crushed shell powder.
There are three of them too.
「 We’re going to be consuming them fast. I’m planning on making a furnace too 」
Furnace enhances the quality of food.
Its fire is more powerful than a bonfire, and the shape is easier to handle.
At the moment, we can use it to boil something, but we can use it to cook rice in the future.
「 Okay. Leave it to me 」
I convinced Karin and the boys with my explanation and they went to the seashore.
After that, I gave instructions to the others and we began our work today.
◇
I made the furnace by myself.
It’s easy to make because we have all the materials.
First, pile up the stones to form a shape of a furnace.
Unlike in the modern age, it’s difficult to make things uniform here.
So, there will be gaps between the stones, but that shouldn’t be a problem.
I’ll apply some mortar to the gaps between the stones.
Mortar can be made from crushed shell powder.
Using the powder and sand, mix in water, and it’s complete.
Mortars are material that’s still used in construction even today.
When it hardens, it becomes strong and quite resistant to heat.
It’s a great material for making a furnace.
Then, once the furnace is in shape, I have to make sure that there are no problems.
Where does the smoke exhaust to? What is the optimal size of the holes for the hanging pots?
If there are no other problems, what’s left is for the mortar to solidify.
「 Huh? Done already? 」
Eri called me as I’m resting after I finished coating the mortar.
She’s still going strong today, getting ready for dinner.
Her cooking skills and handling of ingredients are far superior to mine.
「 Normally, this is already finished. Once it hardens, it’ll be usable 」
「 Normally? Is Hokage-kun’s special made? 」
「 I had to put some countermeasures for cold just in case. 」
Mortars are strong against heat, but they’re weak to cold.
It becomes brittle when the temp goes below zero degrees Celsius, which is below freezing point.
Unlike modern mortars, our mortar is weak
So, when it gets cold, it risks cracks and damage.
「 I’m also going to lacquer this furnace 」
The effects of lacquer coating are tremendous.
After all, the word lacquerware does exist.
Our soft mortar can level up with lacquer.
It will be as cold-resistant as high-quality mortar.
「 That kind of technique existS? 」
「 No, it’s just something I came up with 」
「 How are the effects? 」
「 It’s okay. Believe in lacquer 」
Eri laughed
Then, she said “Okay” with a smile.
「 It’ll take some time for the mortar to cure. And if we apply lacquer the day after tomorrow, we won’t be able to use it for another ten days 」
「 I’ll try out fried rice once the heat is up and we have some rice 」
「 Please make some huge arm swings when you do 」
「 Look forward to it! 」
I helped Eri with her work, chatted around, and we’re done with our day’s activities.