304 - - The Fire of Asha

Good morning.

A fascinating two consecutive holidays. Yesterday I logged in early in the morning and was a little girl for almost the whole day--five days if you don't count the breaks and sleep--so I'm relieved to be back to normal and have a high field of vision. <, so I used it on Sunday, when we all had the day off. I'm closed on Mondays, so it's a rare double holiday!

It is still early in the morning, so I kill time by producing and wait for everyone to wake up. Today I am going to Fuso.

If possible, I wanted to go to the hot springs with the whole group as a consolation trip for the general store, but thinking about it, the enemies are strong and it is not safe for Lapidus and Noel. We'll build a hot spring in the house, but first we need to get some lumber and do something about the house.

When I asked Kuzunoha what he wanted, he said something about a northern or a western pair of houses, which sounded like a sleeping quarters, but would I really be able to build it?　Or should it be something else similar?　I'm worried. He wants to increase the number of foxes in his household, so he hopes it will be spacious.

Good morning, sir.

"Good morning."

He stops his smelting and turns to Noel, who calls out to him and gives him a reserved hug. It seems that she wakes up earlier than Lapidus in the morning to prepare medicines. Recently, he seems to be working on the guild's requests with Lapidus. I would like him to enjoy his childhood more slowly, but I guess it's just the environment.

But I can't stay with him all the time, so I try to hold him when I see him and have a lot of skin-to-skin contact with him. It's time for brushing in the morning.

Good morning.

"Good morning, Lapidus!"

Cal and Lapidus woke up too.

"Good morning, let's move to the living room, it's too small."

For some reason, Lapis seems to like to lie down on my lap to be brushed, which makes me feel like I'm brushing a dog. He has a lot of hair and it's long, so does it make him tired to be brushed sitting down?　His tail is also fluffy.

I heard that it's possible to cause an ear-pulling event, but how do you do it?　In this world, ear cleaning is basically unnecessary because of the life magic. There is no toilet in this world, but there is a toilet only in the house where there is a stomachache event, so there must be some kind of flag.

"Oh my God, this is delicious!"

I made cinnamon French toast for breakfast and Camilla loved it.

Cal, Reno, and Noel seem to like it too, but Galahad, Eagle, Lapidus, and Krulkan are not so good or not so good. Black is a mystery, since he snatched a sausage and retired to his bunk.

The main meal was French toast, a small loaf of bread and butter, corn soup, vegetable salad, sausage and bacon, and a Western-style breakfast. --What shall we eat in Fuso?　

"Homura, I have a favor to ask you."

"What?　That's unusual."

After lunch, while I was drinking tea, I received a request from Reno.

"Could you be present at the battle between Mr. Partin and the Green Dragon and the Fire Dragon in half a month's time?"

"Two against one?　I'm pretty sure I'm being courted by two of them."

And I think those two were on my kill list. Especially the green dragon that attacked Luba's hometown.　

"One by one, in that order. I'm hoping that Seiryuu will be there as well. ......"

Apparently, they have no problem with a one-on-one challenge, but they are concerned about the possibility that two of them might challenge them without complying with the terms of the agreement. This is the year of the tree, and the power of the green dragon will increase. It may be a blue dragon to suppress the fire dragon, but the green--wood strengthens the fire.

"Okay, let me know when you set the date."

"Thank you very much."

By the way, you don't mean the blue dragon, do you?

We've been waiting for you.

I'm going to Fuso at the meeting time. I and Galahad and the three of us are transferred. The location is a shrine in the section of the Nishi family where Sakon is. Sakon, Amane, and Ruba had already arrived to pick us up.

Cal will join us later. It will take some time to get there after finishing his work at the general store and walking from the other location. Fuso is a place where ordinary cavalry can't fly because of the pressure of the seal, and cavalry is usually forbidden without permission. I think I've seen Bahamut flying around, but I'm not on it, so I guess it's safe.

It's been a long time.

Sorry to call you.

"It's been a long time, thank you for today."

Luba apologizes and Sakon bows his head.

"No, I had some business to attend to. Can you tell me about a nice hot spring later?"

"Hot springs?　In the territory of the West, there is a hot spring in Yufumine. I will write a letter of introduction.

"Thank you."

"Is that man not here this time?"

After some light introductions and greetings from Galahad and the others, Amane asked. Is it about Peter?

"He's not here right now, can I call him later?"

I think I'll go to Fuyao Palace and log in when I get back.

"Okay, whatever."

Amane turns away a little grumpily.

"Cal--Lancelot will be here later."

"Oh, um, yes!　I've got contacts in the North family, so I'll go get a letter of introduction to the hot springs too!　Yuzufumine is also good, but the North House still has some snow on the ground, so it's the North House for this season."

I'm not sure what's going to lead to a referral for a hot spring.

"Yuzufu-mine..."

"The season that suits you, Master Lancelot, is winter or spring!"

"......Yes, it is already a little hotter in Yuzufumine than in Shirakogawa. If it were a little earlier, the fresh greenery would be beautiful, and if it were in autumn, there would be the famous morning mist and the autumn leaves would be beautiful.

It seems that Sakon's pride in his country was overpowered by something in Amane. Amane, by the way, is not a member of the northern family, nor is she related to them in any way.

I am a little worried that I might shatter Amane's dream of becoming a <>, but I will ask her to give up or to think that Cal is a different person. I was planning to just ask for an introduction and come back later, but I guess I'm going to end up in a hot spring.

I'm going to ask for an introduction and come back later, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up in the hot springs. I'll pick you up at Sakon's house tomorrow at five after noon.

Amane leaves, saying something like, "I'll have to make arrangements right away.

"Did she just come to give me a message?　Homura told me about your traveling companions, right?"

"You're a fan of the old man?"

I've been a little busy.

The three look over at the basket Amane is in.

"Galahad met the three of you for a little while when he was wearing his pajama gear."

"Oh, yes, there he is. But at least tell me it was during the attack on Agravain."

"Sakon is a legitimate son of the West family, right?　Did you let someone like that see you dressed like that?"

"They kicked me out before I had time to change!"

Should I keep quiet about the fact that I was seen by a woman of a higher rank?

Now, to the house of fire.

"Sorry for the noise."

Eagle, the man who kicked Sakon out, smiles and apologizes with a "I'm not like them" look on his face.

On the way, we buy some grilled dumplings. I wonder if they are Isobe dumplings because they are wrapped in seaweed.　I need to get some seaweed. Nori, kelp, dried bonito flakes, and some koji at the koji shop. Also hinoki saplings for Noh masks, camphorwood, cinnamon, and magnolia. By the way, Peter wants to make Japanese chests of drawers, and he has asked me for paulownia wood as well.

Well, Peter may not be able to make it in time, but let's invite him to the hot spring.

"Homura, didn't you say someone stopped you from eating skewers dressed like that?

"I'm not wearing a mask, so please be safe."

"You're out."

"I think I'm out."

Luba is laughing without making a sound.

The four of them are terrible.

Cloak appraisal result [Please don't put a stain on it, I have a feeling that you're not going to do that.

Hand armor appraisal results [......mm]

I can clean the stain with my life magic, no problem!

"Come to think of it, was there only one fire shrine protecting the fire?"

"At first, fire houses existed in many places. However, over the long period of time that they were sealed, the original presence of the gods faded away, and the fires that had been protecting them disappeared without any apparent reason.

It is said that here in Fuso, the fire of Asha burns only under special conditions, and that the fire that is transferred to the furnace for forging does not last more than 20 days.

The reason why there are so many crafts and forges in spite of the limited skills is because of the seal that Lusha, the god of gold, gave to the swordsmiths.　I descended Kuzunoha and it came out.

We're here.

A long staircase and a forest of Shinto shrines before us. I feel as if I have arrived or not?

As I passed through the torii gate, I felt a slight change in temperature. The sound of birdsong and the rustling of leaves ceased for a moment, as if it were an event area, and then we began to hear them again. Perhaps it was because the road we had walked on was not paved and a little dusty, but the air here was clean and calm.

The air here is clean and calm, perhaps because the road we have been walking on is not paved and a little dusty. It's too much trouble to keep a poker face in front of the big guy, so I try to hide it.

"Are you the one with the fire of Asha?"

"Yes, but where should I light it?"

An old man with a beard, dressed like a Shinto priest, came out to greet them. He was accompanied by two others dressed the same, but in different colors of hakama, and they were behind the bearded priest, their hands folded in their sleeves and their faces hidden by their sleeves, which were raised to eye level.

I'd like to get on with my shopping, so please keep the formalities to a minimum. I don't mind the refreshing feeling I get in this place, as if my back is straightened.

This way, sir.

He looks at me from head to toe once, then turns away to guide me. The two priests raise their hands slightly in a slight bow and follow me.

We passed through the hall of worship and entered the main shrine beyond. The bearded priest stops and bows in front of the noren. Following him, I bowed my head, and the two priests turned to the left and right and opened the noren.

In the dimly lit room, there was a candelabra in the shape of a flower with a shiny transparent stone the size of a walnut.

"Put the fire of Asha on the vajra stone of time.

A vajra stone is a diamond. I have an image of it being expensive in Japan. ....... And I thought it had to be 600 degrees Celsius or something like that to burn.　Does it burn?　I heard that if it burns, it won't even leave ashes, but it won't burn unless the conditions are right, right?　It would be embarrassing if it didn't burn.

I take out two black stones with flickering flames, <>, and strike them lightly with my heart pounding.

"I think we should transfer the fire to ......."

Before Sakon could finish his sentence, the transparent stone turned white and the vajra stone began to burn, emitting an orange glow.

"Oh!　Oh, wow!"

"<> is on fire!"

The candelabra with the vajra stone on it reflects the light and illuminates the room. The decorations in the room also reflect the light and light up the fire of .

I was relieved to see that the "Fire of Asha" was correctly identified.

"It's quite beautiful."

In a room with deep shadows, the white gemstones burning as brightly as white in the fire of asha are beautiful. It is a special gemstone, and so far it shows no sign of burning out.

"Oh!　Oh, wow!"

The bearded god was talking like a fur seal, and when I looked at him to see what was going on, he was shedding copious tears. Why did he just light a fire?

"I thought it was to transfer the spark of that burns somewhere. ....... Maybe you can always turn it on after it goes out ......?"

Ruba muttered in dismay.

"That method is troublesome, and if we transfer it from the kamado, it could be a or a ."

"In the garden?"

"You have a record, don't you? ......"

I am the one who looks away from Camilla's words with rapt attention.