175 - - Episode 173 Preparation of Birdhouse

I returned to the Fountain House with my new apprentice, Gina. There is a lot of work to be done, so let's get through it one by one.

After the introduction of Belle and the others, the Great Spirits are introduced to Gina. Since we are in a hurry, let me give you a brief explanation. We'll have to do it properly when we have time.

"Dene, Nomos, Dolly, did you encounter any problems?　Were the aquatic life and small animals okay?"

"Well, a few small fish died, but other than that, I think everything is fine.

"The small animals are a little calmer now that they know there are no foreign enemies. The soil is also fine so far.

"The plants are doing well. The second forest we created is producing fruit without any problems.

I wonder how many of the little fish are left?　Well, other than that, everything seems to be OK, so we'll ask for more details later and get to work.

"Thanks for taking care of everything. I'll let you know the details later. In the meantime, I'll get the aviary and the new house ready before nightfall, and when I'm done, I'll serve you the drinks I bought for you."

It's a pattern that every time I thank them with drinks, but it's difficult because they are so happy and I feel it's all right as long as I serve them drinks. I've never seen Sylphy and her friends' appetite for things other than drinks and new menu items in all the time I've been with them. It's a little difficult to thank them with food, so I don't know what to do.

"Well, I heard you bought some distilled liquor, but when are you going to start distilling it?　I want to get started on it as soon as possible, since I have to let it sit for a while before I can drink it. I've already prepared a larger distiller.

The conversation turned to spirits, as if the alcohol was the impetus for Nomos to remember whiskey. In fact, he had already enlarged the distiller. I told him he was free to do as he liked, but he's working fast.

I understand that they want to distill quickly in order to drink it as soon as possible since it takes time, but I'm a little scared of what could happen if they fail to do so. I remember reading in a comic book about a student at an agricultural college who can see bacteria that if you let the sake sit in the ocean, it will mature faster.

I'm afraid it would go bad in a barrel if I try it, but can I cover the barrel with glass or something?　With Dineh there, it might be a good idea to let it sleep in the sea. Should I try a little pattern of laying in bottles?　I'm not sure about ...... and I'll try both.

"I've got a lot of work to do, so distillation will have to wait a few days. I just remembered a way to speed up the aging process, so let's try that too.

"What?　What kind of method is that?

Nomos bites. Naturally, Sylphy, Dine, and Dolly are lined up behind him. The anticipation was so great, I shouldn't have said that now.

"Well, we'll talk about that over drinks at night. Well, we'll talk about that over drinks at night.

He placates the slightly disgruntled Great Spirits and prepares to work. I have to give instructions to Belle and Gina and the others. The Great Spirits will do as they please, except for Sylphy.

"I'm sorry Sylphy, but you'll have to watch the guavard. Sarah and the others should show Gina how to communicate with the spirits. Belle and the others will help too.

I give them instructions for the time being, and after sending them off on their merry way, I think about the aviary. Well, if we release the birds into the forest, we won't know where they are. Besides, it's too big to use a whole block for ten guavards.

We could use an empty block as a dividing line. The place is ...... inside the base, where the great spirits will protect them, and it will be difficult to keep the birds near the living space. The most remote place in the outer block. ...... should be far from where you plan to release small carnivorous animals.

That would be ...... the easternmost block and second from the south. Let's get on with it.

****

Move to the desired block and surround it in a 30 meter square with rocks. It's easy, just take the rocks out of your magic bag and line them up. Later we'll get Tulu to help us get under the rocks.

Next up is ...... the birdhouse, or ...... just as long as we can keep the wind and rain out of it. It's not going to rain, though. We are going to let the birds free range in this 30 meter square, so they should be able to come and go between the shed and the outside whenever they want.

The problem is the inside of the aviary. Should we hollow out a big rock and cover it with rice straw?　But then, if a guavard lays eggs, we might miss it by hiding in the straw.

It would be difficult to cover the entire area with straw, since the straw would need to be replaced. Let's divide the bedding area and spread straw only there. This will limit the number of places where they can lay their eggs.

Taking out a large rock and using a pioneering tool for the first time in a long time for craft purposes...... though I am using it wrongly, sawing the rock and scooping it up with a shovel. .......

I think of the contents of the pioneering tools while digging out the inside of the rock. There are quite a variety of tools, but I don't know how to use them all. I check them when I have time, but I don't have much chance to use them because I don't do anything advanced in my pioneering.

I'm basically satisfied with building out of rocks, and although I have bought some nails and such, I don't use them. Should I make something more by myself?

The problem is that now that I have a lot of money, I can get things I would rather buy. Once the house in Fountain is settled, I'd like to at least make use of the tools for Sunday carpentry. At this rate, I'm completely out of treasure.

While thinking, I hollow out the inside of the rock, and use the magic wrench to clean out the unevenness of the inside. It's just a rock box, but it's not for cooking, and it should be enough for a place to sleep, a food box, and water to drink.

The bed is completed by making several rock boxes and spreading rice straw on them. On the other side of the bed, we should set up a food box and a water container. I have never kept birds before, so I don't know if this is a good idea.

I paid attention to the points I heard from the villagers on how to keep the animals. ...... Well, I heard that the animals are quite vigorous and bold, so I believe they will be fine. If you can make a contract with the spirit of life, you can ask him about various things.

Speaking of which, can I do breeding?　I think it was something about selecting birds that lay eggs well and breeding them, but I can't always observe them, so I guess it's difficult.　

"Sylphy, lay the guava bird on this rice straw.

When I ask, Sylphy manipulates the wind and gently lays the guavard on the bed. The sudden change of environment may surprise them, but I hope they will do their best to lay eggs.

"He'll wake up after a while, right?"

"Yes, there will be some discrepancies, but it should happen without any problems.

Okay, thank you. More guavards won't be enough to make a contract with the spirit of life, so please do me a favor when you go out to catch animals again.

"Yes, this much is always fine. It will be dark soon. We'd better hurry.　Deane and the others are looking forward to the banquet."

Oops, that's right, I can't be satisfied with the birdhouse now that it's finished. Next up is my home. My home, that sounds good.

"Okay, I'll hurry."

I take Sylphy and head for the center. Well, it's my home and I want to choose the right place to put it. Should we remove the boundary between the center block and the block of spirit trees to make a larger living space?

There is a big spirit tree in the back and lawn around it. It would be nice to see a large fountain in front. First of all, let's store the border rock. Touching the rocks, I quickly put them in my magic bag. The large space ...... doesn't seem that big because of the large spirit tree.

And the border between the lawn and the central block doesn't feel right. I think I'd rather make the center part a lawn too, except for the field. Gina's here too, and tomorrow we can all seed the lawn and let it grow.

"Yes, I'll put my home here. It's a nice place, isn't it?"

If we set it up so that the waterway is right behind it, it will be easy to connect the pipes for the magical tools, and very convenient.

Yes, I think it's a good place. Shall we set it up right away?

"Well, I don't want to crush the lawn, and I need to get the ground cleared. Well, I don't want to crush the lawn, and I need to get the ground leveled. It's our home, where we all live together."

"Hmmm, yes. That's a good idea. I'll go get Dine and the others, and you go get Sara and the others.

"Yes, please."

I could summon him, but it would be quicker if Sylphy moves in the neighborhood. We'll have to call Sarah and the others anyway. I leave Sylphy and head for the place where Sara and the others are training.　　

I enter an empty block and find Gina and the kids happily making noise. They look like they're having a good time.

"Well then, those spirits who like rough bird meat, move over here, and those who like orc meat, move over here.

Gina says, and the spirits move to the one they prefer. Or rather, Sarah and the others are moving together.

The result is that Sara, Kikka, Tul, Rain, and Uri are the rough birds. Marco, Belle, Tamamo, Fukuchan, and Mame are the orc meat group. That's a pretty good split. I'm ...... more of an orc meat guy. Well, the best meat for now is dragon meat. I'm thinking about ...... and now I want to eat it. I think I'll have a wyvern steak for dinner tonight.

"Hey, guys. How's the training going?

"Yoo-tah, Belle, you've done a lot of work, cu-cu-cu-cu-cu-cu-cu-cu-cu-cu-cu-cu-cu-cu-cu-cu-cu-cu-cu."

When I called out to them, Bell and his friends came charging at me as if to praise me for my efforts, so I thanked them and petted them around.

"I told sister Gina how to get along with the spirits, as Master had taught me.

"Yes, and I asked a lot of them."

Mame did her best, too."

Then she told me what Sarah and the others had done, and I patted her on the head and thanked her. In a way, Sara and her friends are my brothers and sisters. But for my part, I'd like to ask them to be my guardians once I've trained Gina.

Well, Sara and Gina have been close to me from the beginning, and I don't think they'll be able to take advantage of me since they're newcomers. Gina doesn't seem to have a bossy personality either.

"How was your training, Gina?"

"It was great. You guys really listen to me. Is it because you're a contracted spirit of the master?"

Yes, I think so. They all have a proper consciousness, so they answer when I talk to them. But I think that even the floating spirits will answer if they are conscious and curious.

Looking at Bell and the others, it seems to depend on their mood. Also, it's hard for a genie to answer if you don't make it a choice.

"I see. In the labyrinth city, I didn't tell anyone that I could sense the spirits, and it never occurred to me that I could talk to them. I just knew from my father's mood that I shouldn't get involved."

Well, parents must have heard rumors of a genie who causes misadventures and so on, so it's no wonder they have to be wary of their children.

"Don't be afraid of them, they are actually good kids. They will answer you if you are sincere."

I sound like a teacher. That's pretty good. I've got to get my house in order. I'll show Gina my mastery another time.