Chapter 3: Losgow, the Village of Hot Springs and an Iron Ore Mine

Chapter 3: Losgow, the Village of Hot Springs and an Iron Ore Mine

The job of an assistant secretary was, bluntly speaking, boring.

I became Lyle-senseis assistant, who was in charge of making clean copies of detailed reports and drawing up official documents. However, the amount of work wasnt that big a deal.

Losgow was a small settlement located at the foot of Ye Mountain, with a population that could be, at most, 200 people.

At the outskirts of this village, there is a small iron ore mine that falls under the direct jurisdiction of the country, unlike this village that belongs to a local feudal lord. If one was to include laborers and blacksmiths living near that mine, or perhaps, even wandering adventurers, like Louise, the population shouldnt be more than 300 people.

Certainly, this village feels like a miniature garden.

Even though I said my job includes drawing up official documents, it doesnt really amount to much.

I can understand why Lyle-sensei decided to work additionally as a private tutor of children, as he had too much spare time.

Still, there was a benefit even in drawing up these boring documents.

While I had been checking on and writing various documents intended for this places king and feudal lord, I finally was able to understand this villages topography and characteristics.

Even the distance separating here and the royal capital wouldnt take more than 4 days of travel by stagecoach to traverse.

Reversely, it would probably mean the kingdom itself wasnt that big.

Either way, I want to try to go to the royal capital of Silesie.

However, theres something Im more concerned about.

Lyle-sensei, are there any hot springs in our village?

I guess. If you want to enter a hot spring, youve gotta dig one with a shovel.

As I was told, apparently, there is no convenient place here in which hot water will gush out. Rather, the place along the river on the outskirts of the village would become a hot spring if you dug there.

Somehow, it feels different. I wonder if its due to the appearance of this plain hot spring located in this dry river bed.

Well then, shall we enter together this time?

Yes. no, Im not quite good when it comes to entering with someone.

Ah, sensei-made an unpleasant face. I guess hes right, as theres no way for us to enter together.

Thats because it wont do if we dont hide our private parts.

Were I to insist on doing that too much, I would worsen his Excellencys mood, so I decided to stop.

More importantly, it isnt something to be concerned about right now.

Lyle-sensei, does this hot spring contain sulfur?

Ohh, I see you can understand it well. It does, as theres a volcanic crater, which exposes them, nearby.

Thats right. The presence of a hot spring doesnt necessarily mean theres sulfur, however, there are lots of instances where a sulfur mine would appear whenever theres a hot spring nearby a volcanic crater.

The erudite Lyle-sensei, known for his intellectual thirst and vigor, seems to also be a 1st class alchemist, who does field works besides merely drawing up documents, such as checking this surrounding for mineral resources.

I shall ask him for more details regarding this place later.

Are there also mines with niter in them?

Niter, you say? There are none in the surrounding area. If you want niter no matter what, how about ordering some from royal capital, or producing it by yourself?

Were I to order niter from far away, the size of the budget I would need for my plan would probably skyrocket.

I know this from a manga, but, certainly, niter should be a product obtained from fermentation of animal dung.

I think I should be able to make it if I boil down soil from areas that had been previously used as a toilet for livestock and humans.

I will ask Lyle-sensei, whos a professional alchemist, for more details regarding that as well.

Having sulfur, niter, and charcoal, I should be able to create gunpowder.

Could it be.. youre thinking about making gunpowder?

Ohh, did you notice?

As expected of Lyle-sensei and this medieval times fantasy world.

However, I was surprised he could notice that.

Hmm, could it be that gunpowder is something commonly used in this world?

I thought about marketing it as my own original technique, but.

I too have never made gunpowder before. I have only read about it being applied before in some distant empire during a war, in history books.

I see, so gunpowder has already been used in a war.

However, it would mean then that gunpowder isnt commonly found in the Kingdom of Silesie.

Despite the item having already been invented, nobody seems to have recognized its effectiveness yet, I guess.

In that case, it may be possible for me to follow my original plan.

There was a fear that someone would steal my idea, but, I had already decided to tell Lyle-sensei my plan.

Lyle-sensei has been taking care of me a lot, so I dont mind if he steals the idea.

Actually, Im thinking about making bombs created with gunpowder and marketing them for the purpose of open-pit mining.

I see, so by creating explosions, you could dig a hole until you hit bedrock? Thats an amazing idea. Ive never heard about such a method. Is that something Takeru-dono has hit upon?

Thats right. Its a technique Ive hit upon.

Well, its merely rock blasting, but still.

Thats why Lyle-sensei, if you gaze at me that much with your eyes radiating with respect, Ill become embarrassed, so please stop.

Theres no way for me to tell him my knowledge is something Ive gained from a different world.

Obviously, manufacturing bombs takes time and I dont know if I can market this item, However, if things work out, this might become a source of income.

Lyle-sensei. If its fine by you, can I have you help me with the production and sale of gunpowder goods? Of course, Ill reward you appropriately.

Yes, I dont mind. Despite me having lots of free time, Im deeply curious about manufacturing of gunpowder. Also, I dont particularly mind the money.

Was Lyle-sensei the type of a person that valued knowledge above money?

Well, I guess hes even more remarkable than the tribal chief of this village.

Naturally, I plan to manufacture gunpowder, but, since the iron ore pit belongs to the Kingdom of Silesie, Ill allow myself to make use of Lyle-senseis reputation when marketing it.

A person of doubtful origin, like me, might be able to pass through any obstacle, rather than having to traverse them.

Scene Change

For the time being, Ive decided to check on the site where the sulfur is being collected when going to the hot spring located on the dry river bed.

Because going there alone would be tedious, I decided to call someone to tag along with me.

The first person who came into my mind was Lyle-sensei, however, I was denied by him to associate with me in bathing together as fellow men. I wonder if Louise will agree to come with me.

And then, if I hide for a long time somewhere in this surroundings, will I be able to watch some precious bathing scene involving Lyle-sensei?

Takeru, are you thinking about some dirty things?

Arara, you can tell?

Not like Im particularly thinking about anything dirty, since Lyle-sensei is a man. Even if I was to see bathing scenes involving a man from time to time, it shouldnt be considered a crime.

Rather, it should be fine for fellow men to take a bath together, but, for some strange reason, Im feeling guilty.

Well, its fine either way. Lets enter quickly.

Ummm I think its the right time to ask, but, are you really fine with us entering together?

No matter how much of a flat-chested child Sara-chan is, it felt a bit awkward.

Since its quite bothersome to dig two holes in separate places, it cant be helped but have a mixed bath.

Takeru, are you the type of person who gets aroused by looking at naked children?

..No, I guess Im not, even if Im told that.

My mom told me I should be careful, because there are people like that, but, isnt it fine if youre not like them.

Youre right. I guess its all about protein.

Since it would be troublesome if I were mistaken and reported as a lolicon, I decided to stay composed.

Sara-chan peeked at my face with her upturned eyes as if searching for something.

The pink-colored lips of Sara-chan, whose appearance was vivid, changed into a smile.

I wonder, if Im not being made fun of.

For a high schooler to be ridiculed by a girl 5 years younger, what will people think about that?

Somehow, it felt like she was putting on airs. As I was thinking so, Sara-chan suddenly undressed and became naked.

Uwa, I guess in this world theres no concept of underwear.

Or perhaps, its because of her being a child born in countryside?

I couldnt think of anyone I could compare her with, so I didnt know.

No good, my heart is beating fast. Dont panic! A hero who comes from another world isnt supposed to panic!

Takeru however much it is, Ill be embarrassed if you stare at me that much.

Sorryyyyy!

I guess it will be a breach of manners if I stare at her too much. Protect me, my manners! Come to me, my seat belt!

I quickly undressed and submerged inside a natural bathtub.

Speaking of which, I thought Sara-chan had no chest at all, but, it turned out she actually had some. On that chest of hers, which was around the size of a small wooden bowl, there was plumpness.

The tips of her slightly bulged chest resembled cherry blossom-colored petals, however, the area near her crotch was still smooth like that of a child.

Oh my, Im really staring at a childs body, which is probably wrong by any means.

The situation suddenly felt like the one with an R18 setting.

Sara-chan quickly entered into the bathtub.

The hot water was white and cloudy, so as long we submerged inside the spring, it would be fine even if something was to explode.

Id rather you not ask me whats going to explode.

This feels goodddd.

Yes, indeed, it feels like being reborn.

For Sara-chan, it was probably something just pleasurable.

However, for me, it was a bath which I could enjoy again after half a month.

The climate here was much drier than in Japan. Therefore, even washing your body with hot water would suffice, still

As expected, you cant call yourself a Japanese if theres no bath!

I thought so from the bottom of my heart, or better to say, shouted.

Being a Japanese is about baths!

Ive decided to come to a spring more often.

Thats right, dont you use soap?

Soap, its that thing that creates bubbles, right? Ive never used anything as expensive as that.

Certainly, if memory serves me rights, there wasnt even something like that in this villages only general store.

Despite there being towels, there is no soap?

Hmm, would you like to try if there was one?

If I say I want ittt~, will you buy it for me, Takeru?

Oh my, so you already know how to coquet a man at this age? Indeed, shes a scary kid.

Despite Sara-chan being a child, she can sometimes say things like an adult woman.

Perhaps, its because of the short life span in medieval times.

Shes still a 12-year-old kid, but, unless she quickly becomes an adult, she will probably die.

This what you call living fast, isnt it?

Who wouldve thought the 17-year-old me would be teased by a girl this fast.

Certainly, thats a frightening speed for a fantasy world.

Ill try and see if I can get a hold of some soap.

However, I wont be buying it, you see.

It should be fine if I try to make it.

Hee? As expected of Takeru, whos a literary man.

Somehow, it felt like I was being revered.

For some reason, it looks like Sara-chan imagines a literary man as someone who draws amazing graphs together with Lyle-sensei.

In comparison with that cheat-like level pundit, Im merely just the sort of person who possesses half-baked modern knowledge. However, I do want others to place their expectations on me.

If I remember correctly, soap should be easily made with oil and ash.

Provided its true that soap is expensive, maybe its possible for me to turn this into goods for sale too.