126 - - Episode 124 Road to Sanctuary?

We collect aquatic plants and animals from the spring, ask Sylphy to help us, and hurry back to the spring house...... but Sylphy is in charge of everything, so Sara and I are relaxing while watching the four pots. I feel a little sorry for Sylphy, but there is nothing we can do about it.

Sarah and the others are talking excitedly about what happened in the beautiful spring, probably because they enjoyed swimming around freely in the spring. If we got what we wanted and the kids had a good time, then our plan was a success.

We arrive at the house of the fountain in a state of secret self-satisfaction. When Sylphy gets serious, he is very fast. She says goodbye to the welcoming belles and quickly moves to the pond in the forest, holding back her skinship.

The plants and animals will weaken if the environment is not prepared quickly. The problem is that I have seen something about the act of water adjustment that is necessary when moving fish and other animals, but I don't remember ...... the details. As someone who has only kept goldfish from a goldfish scoop, I'm a bit worried. Let's do what we can for now.

I will ask Dine and Rain to put the mud from the spring into the pond so that the water will not be muddy. Next, we take out only aquatic plants from the pot and plant them in the pond.

The magic of underwater breathing has not yet worn off, so we finish planting the plants without any problems. What else can I do?　Can we let the creatures go now?

"Oh, Dene. Can you make the water in the pond the same temperature as the water in the pot?"

Maybe, but a sudden change in temperature is not good for fish. Just a guess.

"It's easy. Just make sure they're at the same temperature. I've got it!"

Ha!

"Oh, thank you."

I can't think of anything else. We've done our best. Let's let our luck run out and release the fish. Working with Sarah and the others, we slowly lower the pot into the pond and slowly release the aquatic animals in it into the pond. The small fish, frogs, shrimp, crabs, and insects in the pot will scatter into the pond.

"Yuta, do you want more fish?"

Bell, who had been peering into the pond with me, asked me. A very difficult question.

"Well, I don't know.　I've done what I can do, now it's up to the fish to do the rest. Oh, and don't play in the canal with Rain for a while, lest the fish get spooked."

"Okay. Belle, I'm going to go fish!"

Belle flies over the pond in a huff and looks into the pond with a serious expression on her face. Are you cheering for me?　

"Master. What are you going to do now?"

"The sun will be setting soon. We'll have dinner and call it a day. Tomorrow I'll start exploring, and Sarah and the others will start training.

I'll ask Sylphy to have Sarah and the others destroy the nest of the undead. It will be tough on the kings, the rich, and the generals, but the knights and the mages should be able to train for a group fight. It's hard when there are so many of them.

There's nothing we can do but stare at the pond, trusting in the life force of the creatures and plants and go back home.

"Sylphy, Dene, Dolly, thank you for today. What would you like?"

You've helped me a lot today. I should at least offer you a drink. The three of us...... joined Nomos before we knew it, and the four of us started talking. Didn't Nomos say he had something to do?

"Yuta, how many kegs of sake are you going to serve us?"

It must be terminal when you ask me with ...... kegs. Spirits don't become alcoholics, do they?　

"I've got another one tomorrow, maybe a keg."

At my words, the great spirits began to put their heads together and consult with each other. I wonder why it is so funny to see Belle and the other spirits gathered and discussing with each other, but when the Great Spirits are discussing, it looks like a barrel of wine floating in the air. While I was watching them, Dine spoke to me with a determined look on her face.

"Yuta, please help your sister. One more barrel!"

...... Behind Deene, the Great Spirits are looking at me with expectant eyes. Is that right, Great Spirit? But a barrel of sake is probably too much for them, and they've been good to me, so I guess it doesn't matter. Should we have bought up a few more barrels of sake?

"Okay. I'll get you another keg."

The Great Spirits in high spirits. In a way, it's very cheap and helpful. The spirits are now asking for more alcohol, but I calm them down and tell them to wait until after dinner. It is not good for Sarah and the others to see the sight of alcohol being consumed in the air, because it is bad for their education.

After dinner was served and Sarah and Belle were put to bed, ale, white wine, and snacks were served and the feast began.

"Oh, are you drinking today, Yuta?"

Sylphy looks at me and says, "That's unusual. I like to drink, but I haven't had much since I came here.

"Yeah, a little bit. I want to know what's going on with the sanctuary. Nomos, tell me what's going on."

Hmm?　I don't mind if you have a drink."

That's why my eyes are telling me to get my drink out. I don't think we're going to get anywhere unless we drink. I serve the requested keg of ale and the keg of white wine, and set out the glass mugs.

"Dine. Chill the keg of ale for me.

"Yes, sir."

Dine freezes around the barrel.

"Deene, since you changed the temperature of the pond water, why don't you just lower the temperature normally without freezing the barrels?"

"Hmm?　We've lowered the temperature. But it gets warm quickly, so we freeze around it to keep the temperature low. Isn't that great?

Deane beams with pride. It sure is amazing.

"Oh, yeah, it sure is. Yeah, it's great, Deanne."

I'll take that as a compliment for now. Nomos starts to make a fuss about drinking quickly. He pours ale directly from the keg into a mug and makes a toast.

We gulp down the ale with a gulp. The ale is chilled in the hot land of death. Too bad there's no carbonation, but it's just the way I like it.

"But Yuta's right, a glass mug makes the drink taste better.

Sylphy is in a good mood and compliments me. She praised the glass mug at the drinking party at the inn, too. Nomos made it.

"Yes, I like the cool look of this one, but I also like the way it feels in the mouth and the way it reduces the woody aroma.

Dolly is beaming. Well, there's no way to get rid of the woody aroma of the cask, but even a different mug makes a different impression. Dineh and Nomos, who, by the way, does not give me any compliments, have already poured their second cup into their stomachs.

"Yes, not only glass, but also ceramic cups are suitable for drinking.

"Wow, a ceramic cup. I'd like to try that.

What do you mean?

After Sylphy, Nomos came to take a bite out of the ceramic cup. I won't tell you what I think, but if it sounds like it will make your drink taste good, you'll join in the conversation.

I'll tell you later. But first, tell me about the sanctuary."

"Hmm?　Oh, I see. But we haven't made much progress. I've spoken with the Spirit King, and it seems that the current location is not enough to designate it as a sanctuary.

"Hmm?　So this won't be a sanctuary then?"

I feel both relieved and disappointed. I heard that if it becomes a sanctuary, spirits will be able to materialize without any difficulty.

It would have been a good learning experience for both Bell and Sarah. ...... It is a little disappointing to think so. If they could have skin-to-skin contact with Fuchu and the others, Sarah and the others could have gotten to know the spirits better.

"You said for now. I don't know what will happen next. But it's not a bad feeling to talk to them. He said it would be good if the broken balance of nature could be restored and if there was at least one place where the spirits could move freely. It's up to you from now on, Yuta.　

Well, that means there is a possibility for it to become a sanctuary if we work hard to develop it. I'm a bit afraid of the idea of a sanctuary, but if it will be a place where Sylphy and the others can enjoy themselves without any difficulty, then it's worth the effort.

I was originally planning to develop the area, and I'll try to do my best while taking into account the opinions of Nomos and the others.

"Okay. I'll start with what I can do and ask for your advice. Is there anything that needs to be done immediately?"

"Well, there's no specifics on what to do. If Yuta continues to pioneer and the Spirit Kings are satisfied, it will become a sanctuary. So do what you want without thinking too much. We like places where there is a balance of nature.

Does that mean there is no right answer?　It depends on the spirit king's mood. It seems even more difficult. And while he says to do as he likes, there is a request that he likes nature.

...... simply means that we should continue to cultivate the land while respecting nature. No, it's a dead land, so we need to increase the amount of nature before we take care of it. It's a lot of work.

.................. Let's drink anyway. I want to escape to drink now.

****

"You, if you don't get some sleep, you're going to get sick."

"I know, but I can't stop thinking about the food. Martha, this food is amazing. The possibilities are endless.

"I know, I've tasted it. I know that fried food is delicious, but the endless possibilities won't help you if you get sick, so go to bed!

She forces her husband, who is looking longingly at the kitchen, to go into the bedroom and clean up the kitchen. It has been two days since Yuta gave him the recipe, and my husband has not slept a wink as he studies it.

The thickness of the ingredients, the temperature of the oil, the frying time, the amount of breadcrumbs, seasonings, he can't seem to stop thinking about it, his scary face getting even scarier as he ponders.

I and Karruk would be fine with it because we could see that my husband was happy, but I can't show it to the female customers who have been increasing in number lately. They will be too scared to come.

But things have become strange since I met Yuta. He was wearing unusual clothes and had a mysterious atmosphere, so I asked him about it and he told me about a dish I had never seen or heard of.

The number of overnight guests at the inn has decreased due to Yuta's trouble with the Adventurer's Guild, but the number of customers who come to eat meals has increased, and the profit has doubled. I think I should stop being an innkeeper and turn the inn into a diner.

Even the fried food this time is shockingly delicious. My husband still hasn't done enough research, but in a while I'll contact a gourmet girl in the guild of commerce.

She told me to be sure to let her know if I learn any new dishes and if she approves of them, not only the staff of the guild but also a lot of customers will come to the restaurant. I'll be busy again.

I'm just worried that Yuta is making a big fuss at the Adventurers' Guild after getting the recipe for fried food. I heard that he defeated a fire dragon, and I was surprised to see that he was a very strong guy even though he doesn't look so strong, but is he going to be okay?

I hope he doesn't do something reckless with the kids, but I wonder what's going to happen to Yuta. I'm worried about him.