CH 145

The second  ......

"Wow, this is called "Sumigamana". It smells strange."

"The wood is carbonized by the heat, so that's why it smells like that. It can make some people sick, so if you get sick, Mel, tell me, will you?"

'Yes, okay."

Yesterday, Father came, and today Mel and Danae came.

Cookie and Biscuit, perhaps not so fond of the smoke aroma, seemed to be keeping an eye on things at a distance from Mel, which was unusual for them.

Mel wanted to come while I was working on it, but I told her not to until I finished it because it was dangerous.

When I told her, she puffed out her cheeks and got cute and angry, saying, "Even Mel wants to do some teddy bear ministry.

When I asked Mel to weave the chimney lid with straw, her face lit up.

"Yes, I'll do it."

'I'll help you, Meldie-sama. Let's do it together."

Mel seemed to enjoy braiding a lid with straw for the first time.

Danae had done something similar before and was very skillful in teaching Mel how to do it.

As I was thinking back to that time, I noticed Mel looking at me with a questioning look in her eyes.

'Hmm?　Mel, is there something' on your mind?"

'Yes, Ni-chan. Where is the 'lid' that you and I made together?"

"Yes, that's right. I'm using it now as a lid for the chimney. I can't show you the top of the kiln and the chimney because it's dangerous, but Mel and Danae helped me a lot."

" ...... hehehe!"

Mel had a big smile on her face and was beaming with joy at my words.

Danae and I smiled as we watched.

After that, Mel was very interested in the charcoal kiln and asked me many questions, to which I kept on answering.

The third day after the fire was set: ......

'I was very curious about the structure of the kiln, so when I finished working on it, I asked if this was the charcoal kiln Rid had built so I would like to take a look at the inside of the kiln when you are finished.'

"I see.　Then I will call Sandra before I move on to the next task.'

Today was the day of the magic lesson from Sandra, but when I told her that the charcoal kiln had been built successfully, she insisted on seeing it and would not listen.

I had no choice but to move her to the charcoal kiln, where I was giving her the same explanation as I had given my father.

She smiled and nodded at my words and said.

"It's looking good . ...... By the way, is Ellen here?""

"Ellen?　I think she's on the kiln right now, checking the smoke."

After I said that, I had a hiccup.

I wondered if Sandra's real goal was to meet Ellen.　I thought so, but it was already too late.

Ellen must have heard our voices, because she popped up from the top of the kiln and looked at us.

"Did you call for me, Master Rid?'

"Huh?　No, .......'

'You must be Ellen. I teach magic to Master Rid. My name is Sandra Ernst."

Sandra dared me to put her on the spot with my words.

I wonder if she sensed that I did not want to let Ellen met her.　

Ellen seemed to recognize Sandra's full name as a "nobleman" when she heard it, and she hurriedly got off the top of the charcoal kiln and said she would clean her clothes a little with her hands.

'Sandra, it is my pleasure to meet you for the first time.

When Ellen finished, she bowed her head.

Sandra looked a little apologetic and hurriedly spun the words.

'Ellen, please raise your head. I am no longer a noble, so you can treat me normally. I have been researching magic in various ways, and I would very much like to talk with you."

"?　Is that so?　That's great then !"

The actuality that you can get a lot of these things is that they're not really that difficult to find.　I'm very happy to hear that.

I was stunned to see that, but I said to her as if to offer a helping hand.

Ellen said it clearly and with confidence, which surprised me.

When I asked her if she had any charcoal-making experience, she looked at me with a puzzled look on her face and then said,

"What?　You can smell the smoke, see the color, hear how the kiln sounds, and feel the heat, right?　Don't you feel it, Master Rid?　The difference in the atmosphere, the smell of the smoke, and the sound of the charcoal being made." ......

"Sorry. but I don't understand that. ...... I guess that's what makes you a craftsman or a Dwarf."

"Oh,...... I never really thought about it, but now that you put it that way, I guess you could say that."

Ellen smiled at my words, as if she had an idea of what I was talking about.

After that, she instructed me to seal the burning opening, which also serves as an air inlet, and the chimney with soil and a lid.

This would "shut down" the kiln.

"Now all we have to do is wait for the fire to calm down. Master Rid, I'm looking forward to seeing it ".

'Ellen and Alex have done a great job of getting me to this point. Thank you so much for your support ."

When I replied to her with a smile, Ellen smiled happily and shyly.

◊

About 10 days after we turned off the kiln, the temperature in the kiln dropped and we could safely go inside the charcoal kiln to work.

Now it was safe to work inside the kiln.

After that, the wall that had been used as a fire opening was broken down to make an entrance into the kiln.

At this time, the " clay " and other materials used in the wall can be reused for the next creation.

When we broke the burner entrance and looked inside, we saw that the finished charcoal pillars were standing in a row, just as they had been when the wood was set in place.

Ellen saw the scene and with a big smile on her face, she said excitedly.

'Rid-sama, this is great , there are so many coals, , with this much I can make a lot of things ".

I was a little stunned by her expression, "...... Ellen, I don't plan to use this charcoal only for making weapons........"

The inside of the charcoal kiln was indeed a sight to be seen.

I have never seen such a scene of pillars of charcoal standing in a row.

After Ellen and I checked the inside of the charcoal kiln, we cleared the ashes and fine charcoal from around the doorway to make it easier to get through, and then brought a "stretcher" made from wood and cloth.

This was to carry the completed charcoal out of the kiln.

As we moved the charcoal onto the stretcher, the light, dry sound of the charcoal echoed around the area.

The charcoal was ready to be used.

Ellen is checking the state of the charcoal after it is removed from the kiln.

She is checking to see if the charcoal is carbonized all the way through by cutting it with a small saw-like tool called a "charcoal cutter.:

After examining a few sticks, she smiles broadly.

"No problem, Master Rid,. It is a good charcoal. I think that when you are able to mass produce it, it will enrich everything from the creation of weapons to the lives of the people in your territory. Congratulations."

"Thank you, Ellen, for your help ......."

I heard Ellen's words and responded with a big smile on my upset face.

At the same time, the voices of cheers roared around the area from everyone who worked together with me.

On this day, charcoal was made for the first time in Bardia territory by charcoal kiln.