Chapter 439 - What is Needed for the Architecture Skill
"The roof repairs are finished, aren't they?"
"Yeah. The damage was less than I expected, and I'm glad we finished it during the day."
Night in IRO is a continuation of the day, but with both roof repairs done, only the wall repairs remain.
On the backyard side of the bedroom, there was a large hole about knee-high, which is probably how the Bolyzerat got in. They likely made the hole too.
"Oh, I can see it now. From here, it's the bedroom roof."
"That's the part with the different colored roof, isn't it? That's amazing!"
For now, the repaired sections were made with Stone Wall magic, different from the original tiles, making them easy to spot due to the color difference.
After both repairs were finished, I tried sprinkling water, and there were no leaks, so it should be fine.
"Oh, Carpentry skill reached level 7."
"The skill level cap breakthrough is in sight!"
"There are other players who have already broken through, right?"
"Yes. The advanced skill is Architecture, apparently."
"I knew it. I want to get the Architecture skill too."
With Civil Engineering skill, I can check the structural integrity of ancient ruins and cave walls, but not buildings.
If I can see building integrity with the Architecture skill, it would be easier to construct more complex buildings, and I want to acquire it before building the watermill hut…
"Shou-kun might be a pioneer again!"
"Huh? Why? Haven't other people already… acquired it?"
"No. It seems something is required as a prerequisite, and it's currently unobtainable."
Seriously…
But what could be the prerequisite for Architecture? Does the Civil Engineering skill need to be MAX?
Hmm…
"~~~?"
"Oh, sorry. Pan and I are working, so Sweee and the others can go play."
"~~~♪" "Kururu~♪" "Nya!"
I watched Sweee and the others, accompanied by Leda and Roy, head around to the mansion's backyard towards the Marone Tree. Lupi just lay down where she could see me.
Now, time to start working… or rather, I need to get some lumber first.
"Ryu"
""Ryuu~""
"Oh, that helps. Thank you!"
It seems the Urisks, following Pan's instructions, went to get lumber on my behalf.
Alright, then I'll quickly clean up the damaged wall sections.
"Is that white wall made of earth?"
"Is it plaster? It looks Western-style, so diatomaceous earth?"
"I don't know…"
My apologies.
In IRO, apparently, it's fine to use White Clay mixed with sand and straw. I confirmed this with Natto, so it's correct.
For the sand, I reused crushed tiles by Granulation magic, and for the straw, I used dried, chopped Kohaku.
"Well, both are basically clay that you apply to the wall and wait for it to harden. Once it dries, it'll become the original white wall."
Before that, I need to remove all the collapsed parts.
Using a mining pickaxe, I vigorously chipped away at the wall around the collapsed section.
I plan to strip off the revealed wallboards and replace them with new ones. That's what the lumber is for.
""Ryuu~""
"Thanks. Can Pan and the others make replacement wallboards?"
"Ryu!"
Pan, holding a saw, told me to leave it to him.
Alright, I'll quickly strip off the wall then.
...
...
...
[Carpentry skill level has increased!]
"Oh, yes!"
"Congratulations!"
After reattaching the wallboards, I applied plaster? Diatomaceous earth? over them, and it was complete.
I'm glad I had a trowel ready. I think it would have been much harder without it.
"Even so… it feels out of place with just this part clean."
"Are you going to fix the other walls too?"
Of course, I also re-plastered the inside, so I'm currently in what was the bedroom.
The color of the existing wall to my left is still dull. I wonder if it would clean up if I washed the surface?
"Maybe the floor first. For the wooden flooring, I feel it's faster to replace it than to wash it."
"That's true. It feels like something might remain even if you wash it…"
"Right."
The kitchen and bathroom (?) have tile flooring, so I'll try scrubbing those. If they don't look good, I'll replace those too.
"Oh, what about the stove?"
"I forgot! Lupi, let's go check!"
"Woof"
I patted Lupi's head; she was right beside me.
After preparing the wallboards for me, Pan and the others went to help Sweee with the flowerbed maintenance at her request.
"This area is tiled, huh. Well, probably because it gets dirty."
The tiles can probably be made with Pottery, so it's just a matter of effort.
It's really helpful that Pan and the others can help when there's a lot to do…
"Last time, rats appeared after I checked the stove, didn't they?"
"Yes. Just when Shou-kun was trying to find out where the Magic Crystal Stone was."
To the right upon entering, the stove, workbench, and sink are lined up.
This stove was said to be portable.
"I guess I can place it in the dirt floor area of the Mountain Cabin until I move."
The number of people I cook for has increased, so being able to make several things at once is helpful. In fact, the kitchen I made in the port warehouse is much easier to use.
"Can it be moved?"
"Probably? This mansion shouldn't be within Nina's range… Nina?"
I called out, but there was no reply. It's like talking to empty space… the same as talking to Mion, I guess.
"Should we draw a line once we move in?"
"Yeah. I mean, if someone like Argenta-san comes, I'd want to be notified."
The work itself is simple, so Pan and Shal could help, but I'll have to extend the magic conduits.
Thinking that, I appraised the Magic Stove again.
[Ancient Magic Stove]
A stove for heating and cooking. Usable by consuming mana from the included Magic Crystal Stone.
Cooking: Can be used for heating.
"And that's where the included Magic Crystal Stone was, I remember."
"Yes."
Right, right, and I thought there might be something if I opened the storage below it.
The rats don't seem to have opened this part, but… I'm scared if bugs come out.
"A blessing."
"Woof?"
Lupi looked like she was asking 'Why?', but I'm confident I'd scream if a black thing came out…
"Mion. Bugs might come out, so you don't have to force yourself to watch, okay?"
"I-it's fine!"
Hmm, I don't want to make her uncomfortable, but… if she watches the archive anyway, it's the same.
No use worrying too much, so I'll just open it quickly.
"Phew. It's dark… a light."
When the Light Spirit illuminated the inside of the storage, I saw what looked like cooking utensils I'd seen even at home.
"Shou-kun, that's…"
"Ah—, yeah. I think it's a food processor."
I'll appraise it, just in case.
[Magic Food Processor]
A device that processes food ingredients using the power of mana. Primarily used for cooking.
Basic Magicology: Becomes usable by installing a Small Magic Crystal Stone.
I made one that spun blades with Rotation Magic, but this one's performance must be leagues better. A little disheartening…