We’re just waiting for the mortar to cure.
A day went by without any problems and I finished the lacquer coating.
Then, on October 12, ten days after production, it’s ready.
「 It’s ready! 」
「 「 「 Oooooh!! 」 」 」
The furnace, a tool to improve the quality of cooking, is now complete.
The furnace is placed just a few steps after entering the hideout.
It’s got a moderate intimidating air around it.
「 Let’s use the furnace to make breakfast right away 」
Arisa said and everyone agreed.
「 Then! Let’s go with fried eggs! 」
Eri sets fire on the furnace excitedly.
Furthermore, we got wood chips from the processing of building materials to increase the firepower.
The head of the flame shimmers from where the pot is placed.
「 There we go 」
She placed a bronze frying pan and spread olive oil on it.
The pan is made of bronze and the heat is strong so the oil immediately went hot.
「 I’ll make Hokage’s share first 」
She cracks open a chicken egg that we collected first in the morning to the frying pan.
Eri’s cracking eggs with one hand. She’s already accustomed to it through repeated cooking.
The eggs landed on the pan and quickly became fried eggs.
We saw this so many times before yet we still admired it.
「 As expected, the cooking scene looks better when there’s a furnace 」
Tanaka’s right.
So far, we only used the bonfire to cook.
That’s great, but still, it’s better to have a furnace.
「 This is perfect for Instagram! Let’s take photos! Karin, gimme your phone! 」
「 Okay 」
Karin turned on her phone.
Her phone’s the only one with a charge left.
Hers is the latest so it has solar charging.
It’s the same as Yoshiokada’s high-class e-reader.
We could use it as a power bank to charge other phones, but…
But, we’re conserving electricity just in case.
「 Eri! Flip the frying pan! 」
Arisa points the camera at Eri.
「 We’re doing sunny-side up so I don’t have to 」
「 Just do it! I don’t even know what you’re doing 」
Eri agreed and shook her pan.
「 Like this? 」
「 Yes! Like that. Next, I’m going to record it 」
「 Here I go! How was that? 」
「 Perfect! Isn’t this a great shot? 」
Arisa shows the photo to everyone.
She looks triumphant, and yeah, that was a good shot.
It shows Eri swinging the frying pan with her left hand.
The chopsticks on her right hand are poking the frying pan so she looks presentable.
「 Man, if only we had Wi-Fi then I’d upload this! 」
「 Uploading photos from another world would definitely go viral 」
Then, Karin took the phone from Arisa.
「 Well then, let’s put the sunny side up on Hokage-kun’s plate. Wait, aaaaah! 」
Eri screams.
I looked at the frying pan and figured it out.
「 I’ve done it now 」
The fried egg got burned.
You don’t even need to turn it over to figure out that the back is burnt.
It’s so burned that it’s pure black if you turn it.
「 It’s not a problem even if it’s burnt 」
I gave Eri my plate.
「 No, this is my mistake so I’ll eat it up 」
Eri puts the burnt fried egg on her plate.
Then, Tanaka comes in
「 Eri-dono, I’ll do it! 」
「 Really? Thanks~ 」
Hyoi.
Tanaka went and took the burnt fried eggs.
「 Huh? 」
Tanaka got confused.
「 That’s where you say “You don’t have to mind me, Tanaka-kun,” right? 」
「 Tanaka-kun said something selfish 」
Meiko mutters in amazement.
Sofia added “Unbelievable”
Amane then doubled down with “What a scum”
「 Tanaka-kun, that part of you makes you flop 」
Eri’s cold gaze pierced Tanaka.
◇
Next day.
Today is Sunday, so we’re just taking another break.
Recently, Sundays are starting to get pleasant.
I get to have baby-making sex with Karin after all.
We don’t feel obligated to have sex.
We’re passionate in our intercourse and I always cum inside her.
Even yesterday, we embraced each other and kissed while I creampie her.
By the way, the reaction of the people around me when it comes to procreation hasn’t changed as much as I imagined
Perhaps it’s because we’re living in a place that’s not Japan so they’re not in disdain.
As proof of that, I still have sex with Shiori and Amane.
I’m a reliable leader that gets to have sex with various beauties.
That’s how it feels when you objectively view my existence.
This doesn’t feel bad, it makes me grin.
I was in a good mood on Sunday, but a problem occurred
「 It’s really tough being a woman 」
「 Haha, I’m just glad it peaked today 」
Mana’s out of the picture because she’s on her period.
She didn’t take a step out of the hideout and she’s laying on her futon.
Her forehead is covered in sweat that it’s almost painful to watch.
I’m a guy so I don’t know but it seems that the pain from the period is dependent on the individual.
From what I heard from Karin, Mana’s case is quite heavy.
She always looks like she’s in pain when she’s on her period, but this time, it’s just horrible.
「 If you want something then just tell me 」
「 You’re exaggerating, I’m just on my period 」
I spent the day nursing Mana.
I become her hands and feet who do as she says, just like the legion of monkeys.
But, that’s where the problem arises.
She had her period before already, and it’ll pass by normally.
The problem is isn’t us, but the monkey army.
「 Uki! Ukiki!! 」
「 Ukikiki!! Ukiki!! 」
Starting with Rita, the monkey army comes to the hideout.
All of them are worried about Mana.
Especially since her face is pale, making them even more worried.
No matter how much Mana says that she’s okay, it was useless.
The monkey army only takes orders from Mana.
Even if they help us out, they only listen to Mana’s orders.
That’s how much of an absolute existence Mana is to the monkeys.
And so if Mana’s in danger, they can’t stand still.
「 Mana, can you ask the monkeys to do some work instead? 」
Karin comes to the hideout.
「 What’s wrong, is there a problem? 」
「 They just stopped working because they’re worried about Mana. Because of that, they interfere with our work instead of helping out. I’ll be taking over today, so can you give the monkeys near Mana the order? 」
「 Sorry 」
「 Don’t apologize. The monkeys’ assistance makes it easy for us. That’s why you should take a rest at times like this 」
「 Yeah, okay. I’ll do just that 」
Mana ends the work of the monkey army.
With that, the monkeys start to sit around her.
They speak to Mana with worried looks on their faces.
「 Hokage, can you help me out? 」
「 Sure 」
I’ll let the monkeys take care of Mana.
I swapped with the monkeys and helped Karin in her work.
「 I see. This is indeed… 」
I went out of the hideout and saw the situation.
The monkey army isn’t working.
Even if they’re treading wheat, they just step on the same spot.
「 I think we should lessen our dependence on the monkeys 」
Karin suggested as we divide our labor.
「 You’re right 」
The pain from the menses can be prevented.
There shouldn’t be problems in the future.
Besides, we don’t know how long we will have the monkeys as our allies.
If Mana’s resting off alone, then we can do it.
But, it would be bad if none of the monkey army is useful.
It’s like several people taking a break at the same time.
「 We’re too dependent on the monkey army 」
Our situation is that we’re using the full force of human labor and we’re also relying on the monkey army.
Even if we say that we’re reducing our dependence on them, it’s difficult to do it for real.
If we cover the work of the monkey army, other tasks will be understaffed.
「 It’s going to take some time, but we need to look to the future 」
「 What are we going to do? 」
「 Automation 」
「 Automation?! 」
「 Yes, we’re going to automate some of the work 」
There’s no room for manpower, so the only way to improve the situation is to automate.
「 Is it easy to automate work? 」
「 I won’t say that we can do it in a day, but yeah, we can 」
「 Wow 」
And finally, our work is reaching the automation era