CH 195

Chapter 195 : Reusing The Remaining Hot Water

「Alright, now that I’ve checked the inside of the house, it’s time to make a field outside.」(Mark)

「Can I watch you make the field?」(Ester)

「You don’t need to ask. Of course, you can.」(Mark)

「Yaay! Let’s go then!」(Ester)

She looks so excited.

I could imagine a dog’s tail wagging on her waist just like when she reunited with Celine a couple of days ago.

As soon as we put our shoes on, Ester grabbed my hand.

While being pulled by Ester, I went outside and looked up at the sky. It seems like I still have plenty of time before evening.

「Mark, where do you want to make the field?」(Ester)

「Hmm… Maybe there.」(Mark)

After looking around for a moment, I decided to create the field between the house and the outer wall. Not too far from the house and not too close to the outer wall.

For the time being, I think I’m going to grow various vegetables like tomatoes, cabbage, and cucumber. After checking the villagers’ reactions, I will focus on growing the most popular one.

Also, I’m going to grow Segilia Grasses, but I’m not going to trade them because I’m going to use them to make potions.

I’ve used many potions during this trip so far, so I need to start stocking up.

Besides, I think I’m going to make potion bath every day to heal Celine after working hard on her Portal Stone.

「Alright. I’m going to work now, so… can you let go of my hand?」(Mark)

「Ah! I’m sorry!」(Ester)

When she let go of my hand, Ester made a sad face for a second, but then she smiled again.

「So, what are you going to grow? Vegetables?」(Ester)

「Yeah. I think I’m going to grow tomatoes, cabbage, cucumber, and also medical herbs called Segilia Grass.」(Mark)

「Hee~ Can I help you?」(Ester)

「You want to help? Of course.」(Mark)

I handed some cloth bags containing seeds to Ester and explained to her how to sow them.

While I was explaining, she was nodding her head excitedly like a child.

「I’m going to cultivate the soil with earth magic. Once I’m done, you can begin to sow the seeds.」(Mark)

「Alright! Fufu. Working together with a friend is so much fun!」(Ester)

Ester looked so happy.

It seemed that while Celine was gone for about three years, Ester always spent her time alone, playing and practicing in the woods, so I can understand why she is having so much fun playing with me.

Well, since we have officially been friends, I do want to know her more.

I have a feeling that I won’t get bored while staying in this village for the next three months.

――――――

While we were working, Ester told me about this village and about her childhood, and in exchange, I told her about the world outside the village.

We finally finished the field after working for about an hour. Now it’s time to water the field.

I’m thinking of using the remaining hot water I stored in my Item Box since it contains E-grade potion.

For now, I’m going to use Celine’s remaining hot water that I stored a while ago.

I made an earthen watering can with earth magic and filled it with Celine’s remaining hot water, but then I realized that the water was hot. Well, of course. It’s hot water after all.

I didn’t think watering the field with hot water was a good idea, so I decided to cool it for a while by sending a cool breeze I created with the combination of wind magic and water magic.

However, while doing that, I got a good idea.

Why don’t I make a hole in the ground and dump the hot water in it? I can cool much more hot water at once.

With that in mind, I created a 1m x 1m hole with 30cm deep in the ground. I hardened the surface so the water wouldn’t leak and poured Celine’s remaining hot water into it.

「Hm? Hot water?」(Ester)

「To be exact, it’s the remaining hot water that is used for bathing. I don’t want to waste it because it contains E-grade potion, so I stored it in my Item Box.」(Mark)

「Hee~ So it contains potion. I see~」(Ester)

Looking at the hole filled with hot water, I got a good idea once again.

I hardened the ground around the hole so that my butt wouldn’t get dirty when I sat down, and then I took off my shoes and shocks, put my feet in the hot water, and sat down.

Hmm~ It’s not bad. Not bad at all.

I had never been to an ‘Ashi-yu’ in my previous life because I thought going to a hot spring was better, but now, I think I can understand why people enjoy it.

*/TL: Ashi-yu means Japanese footbaths.

They’re not as large as hot springs, but you can enjoy hot water and relax without needing to take off your clothes.

It has charms that hot springs don’t have.

I think it’s perfect if you want to take a short break after working.

「Ahh~ It feels good. Ester, come. Join me.」(Mark)

「Hee~ I’ve heard that people in big cities bathe in bathtubs where they can soak their entire bodies in hot water, but I’ve never heard of baths where you only put your feet in hot water. How interesting!」(Ester)

Ester hurriedly took off her shoes and knee socks, put her feet in the hot water, and sat down facing me.

「Whooaa~ It feels so good~… Ahh~ I don’t want to move from here… Say, Mark, do you mind if I soak my body in it? I’ve never bathed in a bathtub before. Well, it’s not a bathtub, but I want to know what it feels like.」(Ester)

Hmm… If I gave her permission, she would immediately take off her clothes for sure…

Luckily, she doesn’t know that it’s Celine’s remaining hot water because if she does, she would definitely have taken her clothes off and jumped into the hot water without asking my permission.

「Umm… I don’t recommend it. It’s cramped after all. Don’t worry, I will prepare a proper bath for you later.」(Mark)

「Really!? I’m looking forward to it!」(Ester)

Ester grabbed my hands and smiled cutely at me.

If I wasn’t an adult mentally, I would probably fall in love with her at this moment.

That innocent cute smile of hers was murderous.

「Anyway, let’s take a break for a while. The rest we need to do is water the field, so it won’t be that hard.」(Mark)

While saying that, I took out two cushions from my Item Box and handed one to Ester.

「Okay~ Thank you, Mark.」(Ester)

I put my cushion behind me, and then I laid down, resting my head on the cushion.

「I used a lot of mana today, so I’m pretty tired. I’m going to take a nap for a while.」(Mark)

「Alright. Good night~」(Ester)

Lying down while soaking my feet in hot water is really relaxing.

It didn’t take long for me to fall asleep.