8 - Chapter VI Completion of Provisional Residence

In front of a large chunk of rock left to make a room, we think about what kind of room we will make.

With the size of this rock, I can make at least two rooms. Since I have never even studied architecture, I decide to leave the walls thicker even if the room will be a little smaller. Considering that the ceiling is to be supported, would a width of about 50 centimeters be enough?

I don't know what to think, so I'll just make a room and see what happens. Let's make the room with the doorway as the kitchen and the bedroom next to it.

It's hard to make a bedroom because there is no bedding in the room. If we make a bed out of driftwood, it would be softer than a rock.　Plants would make things a little more comfortable, but there aren't even any weeds in the land of the dead. ...... Once again, we've been sent to a terrible place.

We make a doorway, and from there, taking care of the thickness of the walls, we build up two rooms of about six tatami mats each. Well, I just sawed out the inner part, so it's just a building with walls and a roof, but it's a lot better than the cave I was in yesterday. The only thing I'm worried about is whether the ceiling will collapse.

Oh, I forgot to build a toilet. I can make do with a small one here and there, but ...... a large one would be tough. But I don't feel like making a hole in the rock to make a big one. I'll make a toilet in the place where the bottom is soil though it's troublesome.

I am satisfied with the result. I go outside and push the wall from various places. Hmmm, it doesn't move at all. ...... Can I assume it's safe just because it doesn't move when I push it by human power?　If I hit it with a hammer, it might shatter into pieces, so what should I do?

"Aren't you going to make windows?"

While I was wondering whether I should consider it completed or not, Sylphy asked me a more difficult question.

"Well, I've thought about it, but I'm not sure about its strength, and I don't know what might happen, so I'm not going to do the windows. We can lock ourselves in just by putting a rock at the entrance/exit. If I can get some more wood, I'll rebuild a comfortable house."

"It's supposed to be a temporary dwelling."

"Yes, we might be able to find a better place elsewhere, and there's no point in making a too elaborate house."

"About right."

Before you know it, a young genie enters the house and complains that it is pitch-dark. It's no wonder, since the only place light can enter the house is the doorway.

"It's almost sunset, should we take the rest of the day off?"

I don't know. I just ate two slices of bread in the morning and I want to eat something filling for dinner. I also need to level up by killing zombies and skeletons at night.

Death Lizard was easy to beat, but too powerful. Let's practice with zombies and skeletons, which seem to be easy to beat, and try to make a contract with Sylphy as soon as possible.

"I'll set up the kitchen so we can eat until dark. After we're done eating and it's dark, I want to go out and kill some zombies and skeletons, will you join me?

"You're up for it. Okay. I can only tell you where the monsters are, but I'll help you.

"Tetsudau!"

"Thank you. I'll do my best to get a contract as soon as I can.

"I'm looking forward to it. We're melting in the wind, so give us a call before you leave after dinner. We'll know as soon as we go outside and call out."

"Okay. Okay, good luck."

We parted from Sylphy and the young genie and went into the room to make some simple furniture with rocks...... how to make it.

First of all, we turn up the light bulb to make the room brighter. Let's see, first we need a table and a chair. Get out a rectangular rock the size of a table. Get a square rock that is just the right size to sit on. ...... done. Is that all right?　Well, it's a temporary dwelling, so why get hung up on it?

Next, we should build a place where we can cook ....... I want to build something like a brick grill at the campsite, but I don't have a net ...... and no cooking utensils, which is inconvenient.

I'll check the pioneering tools to see if there is anything I can use. Hmmm, unfortunately there are no cooking tools or tableware. I think we need cooking tools and tableware for pioneering. .......

I'm not convinced somehow, but what's not there can't be helped. Let's see what we can do. Fuel is branches from the sea. The dishes can be made from driftwood, but the problem is the metalware. We have to do something.

While checking the pioneering tools, a tool catches my eye. Didn't I read in a comic book that this can be used as a pot?

Take out the magic shovel and check it out. ...... Yeah. It works. You can change the size of the shovel, and it's got a notch in it so you can cook with it. It's not as useful as a proper cooking tool, but it's better than nothing. The cartoon would be useful too.

Okay. Let's make a baking stand out of rocks. We can simply carve out a rock in the shape of a baking stand. If the heat from the flames breaks the rock, it can be quickly rebuilt if it is a simple structure. Worst case, if the fire hits the shovel, we should be able to make it work.

Done!　The top of the rectangular rock is hollowed out with a magic shovel to make room for burning wood. Since it is difficult to get air in with the shovel on top, use the magic chisel and hammer to make a hole so that air can enter.

The hammer is the size of a hammer and when you strike the magic chisel, a hole is made. I'm a little worried about its strength.

"Let's give it a try."

I will miss you if no one answers. I take out a piece of driftwood I picked up in the sea. They say there is no rain in the land of the dead, so it is dry. This is fine for firewood.

I put the small branches into the grill and light them with the magic of the seed fire. It takes a while, but the fire grows big enough to put a bigger branch on the fire. The fire is now burning well. Even though it is dry, there is a little smoke. And it smokes because there is not even an air vent. It is dangerous to use fire if the entrance and exit are blocked.

I clean the shovel, adjust the size, and put it on the grill. That's good. We're out of water, so this time we'll have frozen pasta carbonara. It's microwave-safe, but if we heat it up, it should be edible.

I rip open the bag and put it on the shovel. Oh no, the heat is too strong. I pull the shovel away from the fire and lower the temperature.

Oh, no. If I hadn't done so, the carbonara would have been burnt all around and the inside would have been cold. Next time, I should let the pasta melt at room temperature to some extent before cooking. There is one leftover carbonara and two Neapolitan pastas in the freezer.

I'd like to get some water and move on to instant pasta since there are not many of them left. I bought five packs each of Miso, Shoyu and Tonkotsu flavored bagged noodles.

I can easily eat up to three servings of each. I want to beat myself up for not buying the salt flavor. I've heard that it's better not to buy it when in doubt, but I should have bought it this time.

Oh, by the way, I bought aluminum nabeyaki udon noodles. I think there are four kinds: tempura udon, gobo-ten udon, kitsune udon, and sukiyaki udon. I can use those as a pot.

I think it says something about not reusing them or using them for other purposes, but it's another world, so it can't be helped, right?　Then cup noodle and cup yakisoba containers can be used as plates.　

The carbonara has melted, and I'm about to stir it when I realize. I don't have chopsticks. I hastily took out two twigs, washed them, and used them as chopsticks.

I washed them and used them as chopsticks.　I warm it over a distant fire while unraveling it with a ...... I feel the gratitude of civilization sinking in. I really want a microwave oven. Or a gas stove will do.

I heat up the pasta while begging for something and finally it's done. Some of the sauce is a little burnt, but it's good for a first time. The shovel that serves as a frying pan is shrunk down to the size of a plate and placed on the table.

This time we eat with chopsticks, but when I have time, I will make a pair of chopsticks and a fork. We also need spoons. Knives are not ...... wooden knives, so we will use magic survival knives instead.

Slurp the pasta with a slurping sound. That's vulgar. But delicious. I had only two slices of bread this morning and missed a meal last night. It's been a while since I've had a decent meal, and I'm tempted to devour it, but I restrain myself and savor it.

You continue to chew your meal, and when you finish the last bite, you feel sad. What should I do with the carbonara sauce left on the shovel?

It's embarrassing to lick the shovel directly even if no one is watching......!　Take out a piece of bread and wipe off the remaining carbonara sauce with the bread. I would like to just eat it, but I store it again in my magic bag.

Now the next time you eat the bread, you will have a piece of bread with carbonara sauce instead of a piece of tasteless bread. Thank goodness for the time stop function.

However, I have finished a two-liter bottle of black tea in this meal. I bought instant coffee and tea bags, so I can enjoy it for a while as long as I can get water. But the only non-alcoholic drink I have left is a two-liter bottle of black tea.

If I don't get water soon, I will end up quenching my thirst with alcohol. I have bought some sugar sticks for instant coffee, but I should have bought the plastic packet of sugar marked with a rose anyway. Sugar is precious in other worlds. That's the image of the novel.

If I had known that I would be sent to another world, I would have bought as many things as I could afford, even if I had to borrow money. I can think of so many things I need now. It would have been so different if I had at least bought water.

Shovels and chopsticks are cleaned and stored. The chopsticks are automatically stored in the magic bag and the shovel in the pioneering tool. Convenient.

Speaking of convenience, washing is more convenient. ...... If this magic could be taught in Japan, it would be very popular among housewives and make them very rich. But that's impossible because it would be a big deal when the magic is available.

Okay, I'm feeling empowered after a nice meal. Let's level up by defeating zombies and skeletons.