131-119 Cut a huge tree (3)

I'm not sure what to make of it, but it's a good idea.

I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

It's true. And it's not like this tree is particularly big. ......

We chose this tree because it is a walnut tree, but there are many trees around that are thicker than this one.

The dindle tree that had brought us blessings in the beginning was especially huge, but it's hard to say, because even a tree that grows normally around here has the potential to become a 'giant tree of the region' in Japan.

So, what's next, branching?

"Well, yes. If there are branches, they won't fit in the magic bag, so we'll have to cut them off.

Toya holds up the axe, and Yuki also picks up the saw.

Because of the size of the tree, a single branch could be as thick as a tree trunk.

If we take our time, we will lose the day.

But our thoughts were not on the matter, and my search for the enemy received a response.

Huh, ......, looks like we have a visitor.

Was that too much noise?

If it's just the sound, I'm sure the sound of me cutting it off was loud enough. ...... I wonder why?

What?　By chance?　What's the enemy?

This reaction is a sculpted ape.

I can feel the hassle and the mass of reactions coming together.

That's the trouble with ...... post-processing, isn't it?

I'm not sure if I'll be able to leave it here, considering that I'll be logging here in the future, or if I'll have to collect it and bury it on the way back.

Perhaps because of the large number of sculpted apes that attack at once, I once left a corpse there after I killed it and returned home, only to find that it was still there when I went back later.

Fortunately, the temperature was not too high, so the corpse was not decomposed, but I had to deal with it.

Since then, I've been burying scarp-apes after defeating them. Digging holes has become much easier thanks to earth magic.

Leftovers from dismantling orcs and a few goblins will disappear in a day or two even if left unattended, but the number of scarp-apes seems to exceed the processing capacity of the forest.

Let's make this quick. Fortunately, Nao has plenty of magic power, right?

"Yeah. I'll give you a big hand.

As the sculpted ape came into view, we all took up our weapons.

We were all armed.

The swarm of Scarp Ape was easily destroyed in a short time, and all of them were stored in my magic bag.

Each one of them is weak, so once you get used to them, you won't have much trouble killing 20 or 30 of them.

The problem is that you can only sell magic stones, so you can't make much money.

"This means I have to drop branches from the ones I cut, right?

While I was walking around collecting the corpse of the scarp-ape, the work was still going on, but the branches themselves were large and needed to be cut down further, so it was not a smooth process.

We had one axe and one saw in our hands.

Haruka and Yuki had small machete-like knives, but they could only cut off a few centimeters of the branch. They are a little short on hands, or tools.

"Why don't we just leave the branch and go back to ......?

Yuki suggested, a little disgusted, but Haruka shook her head and denied the suggestion.

It's a waste of money. The branch is thick enough to be used as wood.

"That's true. Since we cut them down, we should use them as efficiently as possible.

Hmm, I wonder if the thin branches can be used for firewood and ...... smoking?　It's walnuts.

I'm not sure what to make of it.

Smoking ...... is good. It's so elegant.

It's a good idea to have a smokehouse in the garden.　In this world, people won't complain if you burn it in the garden.

Oh, in Japan, ....... Yeah, in Japan, you can't even have a bonfire, it's a bit cramped.

Smoked fish is delicious!　I've only eaten commercially smoked food.

I've only ever eaten smoked salmon, smoked cheese, and the like, but I like the flavor of smoked food more than I thought I would.

In Japan, we would have to buy ingredients from supermarkets and it would cost a lot of money, but nowadays, we can get a lot of meat and fish if we want to, and we can collect chips like this.

Above all, as a way of using one's leisure time, smoking is not bad in that it is both a hobby and a practical use of one's time. Especially in this world where entertainment is scarce.

I think I'd better buy another axe or two when I come back next time, though, and leave the smoking aside for now. In the meantime, cut it down to fit in the biggest magic bag you can find. I'll collect them.

All right.

It's too big for firewood, but there's no time.

I spread out the magic bag I made to carry the oak on the ground, and collected the branches that were cut into large pieces and threw them into the bag.

We all continued to work like this for less than two hours.

Finally, all the branches were cut off and the huge tree was transformed into a piece of wood.

"Well, do you want to put the whole thing?　Into a magic bag?

Toya's axe had chopped off the thin end, but it was still over twenty meters long.

Considering its volume, it would probably weigh more than ten tons.

It will fit, right?

"It should, right?　What about the weight, ......?

Even if we reduce the weight by a factor of 100, it will still weigh more than 100 kilograms.

No, I don't know exactly how much I can reduce it.

"You had a lot of orcs in there. Didn't they weigh that much at their peak?

Come to think of it, there was a time when we had over fifty orcs in there.

Considering the fact that I didn't feel much weight even then, the weight reduction is not even a hundredth.

The more important question is, can you lift this tree?

Certainly.

The magic bag in this world does not just touch the object and poof!

You don't have to lift it completely, but you do have to shove it into the bag by yourself.

It is because of this limitation that we made a magic bag with a large mouth so that orcs can be pushed into it.

I guess I'll have to lift up one side of the bag and cover it with the bag from the base.

The weight of the bag will be affected by the weight of the bag, so as long as we can lift up the base of the bag and cover it with the bag, we can ignore the weight of that part.

The weight of the bag is affected by the weight of the tree, so if you can lift up the base of the tree a little bit and cover it with the bag, the weight of that part will be negligible.

...... No, shouldn't you start from the thin end?　Once it's in the bag, you don't have to think about balancing it, right?

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

I'm sure you're right. I'm not sure what to do.

You can also use a rope to lift it up with a pulley if you need to.

If you can't, we'll try that. In the meantime, can you help Toya and ...... Natsuki?

Okay.

Toya and Natsuki move to either side of the top of the tree and put their hands on the trunk, while Haruka and Yuki set up their magic bags on the other side.

Let's go, then.

Yes.

Toya and Natsuki nodded to each other and lifted the tree trunk, and Haruka and the others put the bag on the tip.

Don't move toward the base of the tree.

Haruka and Yuki had no problem simply supporting the bag, but Toya and Natsuki had to walk sideways while changing the position of the bag, which seemed to be a bit difficult.

Natsuki, are you okay?

"Yes, it's not as heavy as I thought it would be. It's a little hard to hold and move around, though.

I guess so. There's got to be a better way. .......

...... Why don't you put a log underneath it?　If you lift the back of it and push it, it will go into the bag.

Oh, Nao, you're so smart!

That's a good idea, but will the log roll on this uneven surface?

Well, you could use a ...... board under the log, or even a roller. How about using rollers like the ones used to unload trucks?

It's a board with countless rollers lined up, and you put the load on it and rattle it around.

It doesn't affect the condition of the ground.

One or two rollers would be fine, but if you could make one with a wider width, you could put it under a fallen tree and push it into the bag at once.

I think I can do that. You'll need a sturdy shaft, bearings, and bearings, though.

That's not a problem, is it?　If it works well, you can use it for a few minutes at a time, right?　I don't think durability will be much of a problem. Tommy will do fine. --Nao, help me lift the base.

Yeah, I got it.

While we were discussing how to improve the efficiency of our work, the bag was being packed and most of the tree was disappearing into the magic bag.

As I neared the base of the tree, where the weight was heaviest, Toya told me to join him and I lifted the tree and threw it into the bag.

"Well. I'm a little tired. I'd really appreciate it if you had some tools like Nao said.

"What?　You're forcing Tommy to do something he doesn't want to do again?

I don't think it's an unreasonable request. ...... Well, I'm sure he's been helpful in many ways.

Should I think of something to thank you for?

I'm paying you handsomely.

But still... I mean, you've given us exactly what we want, without having to explain any of the details.

Despite the minor differences, Tommy's knowledge is similar to ours.

Therefore, it is easier to communicate with him than with Mr. Gantz.

For example, if you ask for something like a Japanese sword, Gantz would have to explain what a Japanese sword is, but Tommy would not have to.

By the way, when I went to order the naginata, I heard that Toya had asked you to make a mincer for him.

At Natsuki's words, Toya shook his head with a surprising expression on his face.

I'm not asking you to do anything.　I was just saying that it might be useful. I just thought it might be useful.

You solved that problem by building a food processor.

Yeah. Just the other day, Haruka and Toya had completed the food processor in their spare time.

No, to be precise, Haruka did most of the work and Toya just made the blades as Haruka told her to.

In addition to making hamburgers, the magic-powered food processor is already being used to chop vegetables and fruits for the inspiration sauce.

If you're going to order a roller, you might as well give something back.

"Well, I'll just make some time and go fishing with Nao. He said he wanted to go fishing.

By the way, he said he trained for it.

Just for fishing?　But in this world where entertainment is scarce, maybe that's the way it should be.

...... Yeah, right. That's good, isn't it?　It's not too dangerous for the three of us there.

Haruka nodded, and Yuki looked up at the sky and warned us.

"Hey, guys. It's a good idea to talk about it, but don't you think it's time to hurry up?　It's getting late.

We looked up at the sky and saw that the sun had gone down and it was turning into the evening sky.

It's also true. Will there be time to process the scarp-ape?

"It's too much work in the woods. Let's do it in the meadow. It'll save time.

Okay. Let's go home then.

As if hurried by the darkening sky, we left the forest, dug a hole in the grassland, buried the Scarp Ape after removing the magic stone, and returned to the town of Raffan somewhat quickly.