Chapter 794 - Chapter 8: New Year of Year 201 of the Sertorian Kingdom Calendar
I spent the year-end and New Year at the Ghost Mansion. We even had a year-end banquet just among ourselves. In the Class of 175 and the Associate Class of 175, those not participating were Beowulf and Miana, but this is also an annual tradition. For the others, while the period before and after was hectic, the year-end itself was spent leisurely.
Once three days had passed since the new year, those who were going to start moving began to move. Beatrix went to Morandine, and Mary returned to the Royal Capital.
Those who remained managed the shops... especially Shop No. 4.
In the Flatlands, when it becomes the severe winter season, the roads leading to the southern plains become blocked by snow. That said, since the Light Infantry Corps is also there, we can move by Teleport in an emergency, and there are also bowls. Besides, since they also clear snow from the highways between settlements, movement by carriage is also possible. The Class of 175 does mobile sales. It's inconvenient, but everyone is spending their time without problems.
At the beginning of the year, since Miana isn't here, there are no new breads or sweets at Shop No. 4. We sell what the mothers bake using the bread oven in the back yard of the Ghost Mansion. Lyudmila can fly the bowl... incidentally, Lyudmila learned new high-level earth magic, Sand Storm and Stone Pillar... her growth speed is incredible... so she can make a large bowl. Transporting products is possible. The mobile sales in the snow-covered Flatlands were welcomed.
This year, we also started the Boar Hot Spring earlier than usual. This is Lyudmila's specialty. After all, she can use Prominence. Adjusting the water temperature should be easy.
The Boar Hot Spring is winter-only. Since silica mining is also on break during the winter when it's closed by snow, mobile sales are the focus. Shop No. 4 is mostly closed. The Boar Hot Spring goes around each settlement in turn. In early January, Miana hasn't returned from the royal palace, so Beowulf isn't here either. Matilda is also busy. The shop minders were Will, Bonnie, Fiona, Germana, Flora, the triplets, and me, with three or four of us forming a group and taking turns. As for boiling the water, it's of course Lyudmila, and we leave it all to her.
The bathtub is a simple assembly-type one, consisting of a wooden water tank with an iron plate bottom placed on top of a kiln built with stones. Since it's only used in winter, we had been storing it in the farm shed once March came. Previously, the bathtub was also made with Clump Sand each time, but because it gained popularity, a dedicated facility was completed.
The water was also melted from snow using the stone-roasting method, but now it's all magic. It's become easier as Lyudmila has grown. We fill the bathtub with water using Shower. We throw in several Fire Balls to make it hot water. After that, we do the same with the water tank of the hot water kiln, then keep warming it by putting Fire Balls in the kiln. We periodically pour it into the bathroom and add water with Shower for the amount that decreased. Lyudmila is doing this series of tasks alone. Even though it's for a limited time, it must be quite a hassle. However, the person herself, far from complaining, seems to be doing it happily. She's apparently happy that good hot water is made.
She's an agricultural researcher, so she's a so-called scholar. If I say she's strange, she probably is.
After enjoying the open-air bath with the hot water Lyudmila made, I went to give a drink to Lyudmila, who was stuck by the kiln.
"Good work."
"Ah, Jeanne. Thank you. How was the water?"
"It felt just right. You made it hot today because it's cold, didn't you?"
"Yes. Since there's Warm, the changing room should be warm enough, but the journey is cold, so the water cools down quickly."
"Everyone was happy. They said it's thanks to Lyudmila-san."
"Ufufu. Those words are the best."
It's hot water boiled by a super-beautiful girl with an outstanding style. Some old men are happy just with that.
"Because I use water produced by magic instead of melting snow, it's easier for the Fire Ball to warm the water, and the temperature is harder to drop."
"Heh, is that so?"
I didn't know that.
"Count Vectis taught me. It seems there's that kind of effect between things produced by magic."
Surely, the principle of Prominence being enhanced to Megiddo Fire by Holy is likely the same.
The hot water kiln is inside a hut made of wood. The changing room is too. Previously, we gave up on rainy or snowy days. Now it's not a problem even if it falls a little.
"Previously, there was no ceiling and the walls were snow, weren't they?"
"That's right. Before, it was like being by the fire because it was cold. Now that it's stable, I can take a break, so it's become easier."
Lyudmila points to the Warm magic circle placed on the boarded floor. Since it's a little away from the kiln, she can take a break. Being by the fire is indeed warm, but if you stick too close, you'll get blisters.
"Since the walls aren't snow anymore, it's much warmer, isn't it?"
"Truly so. Ah, speaking of snow, starting this winter, snow will be used for another purpose."
"Another purpose?"
"Yeah. I thought of something new."
It's apparently a new business for the Class of 175 that was applied for and approved by the royal palace.
Snow becomes water when it melts. If we transport it to a reservoir, it becomes a precious water resource. The Flatlands originally don't have a river in the center. There's only a mountain stream flowing from north to south at the eastern edge. Since it's decided to leave the eastern part undeveloped, the water from that river isn't drawn to the Flatlands. Drinking water is sent by Teleport from the second water pipe drawn from Nakanohara Lake and stored in several stone reservoirs. And then there are wells. However, that alone is not nearly enough for agricultural water. Agricultural water is stored as snowmelt and rainwater in several man-made ponds built along the northern mountains. From there, it's flowed to the entire farmland of the Flatlands using man-made waterways. Each pond is quite large, and in an emergency, water from the Nakanohara River can be sent by Teleport, so there's no worry of it drying up, but it's not more than enough. Lyudmila fears a large-scale drought in summer and wanted to use the snow that falls in winter as much as possible.
As a countermeasure for water shortage, Lyudmila devised a method where, instead of just flowing it into the waterways after clearing the snow, which would be a waste, they build regulating ponds to store it.
Last year, as part of the water and sewage management business, they apparently built several new vertically long ponds, almost like moats, with more width than the waterways, along the undeveloped Northeastern Forest. From there, it flows into the waterways. Since it's part of the place where development was delayed, there's no problem. Snow is thrown into those ponds, named Regulating Ponds, more and more to store it. The waterways basically flow from the northern water source to the south, and then from east to west. They also set up a water source in the east to increase the water volume. At the same time, the storage capacity also increases. Since it's built at the edge of the forest, it also serves as a deterrent against magic beasts.
Lyudmila, who is doing agricultural reform on Vectis Island, apparently struggled quite a bit with how to secure agricultural water throughout the year. It's a water measure that grew out of that. In this case, it's more like civil engineering work than agriculture, but for Lyudmila, who originally favors water and earth magic, it must have been a fun task. She apparently worked quite hard.
And so, the regulating ponds were completed, but collecting snow is another story. Once it piles up, it won't fly with wind magic. Once it freezes, Clump Water is also impossible. Fortunately, the period covered in snow is the agricultural off-season. Clearing snow from the highways was added to the labor tax, and the Class of 175 took on the transport. We originally have permission as a transport company for bear hunting. In short, it's an expansion of the business.
"Does transporting snow make money?"
"Yeah. The country will provide it."
That's quite generous.
"They'll buy the Teleport magic circles for sending snow. In other words, it becomes sales for Shop No. 7."
Beatrix apparently installed the magic circles as a parting gift. The regulating ponds have a protrusion on the east side, and there's apparently a simple stone hut-like thing. The magic circle that becomes the exit is installed on that wall. If the entrance is activated and snow is sent, the mechanism is that snow accumulates in the regulating pond. There's a person in the hut who warms the pond water with fire magic. Since they basically only send it during the day, it falls on the water surface and melts except when it's excessively cold. That's how they store water. Eventually, she wants to set up a water tank on top of an embankment or something to develop the water system, but for now, she wants to prioritize securing water.
"Then, it becomes part of the development funds for our town, doesn't it?"
"Right, for the Eastern Plains."
Since the business owner this time is Shop No. 4, the sales of Shop No. 7 will belong to Shop No. 4 after deducting necessary expenses. Since Shop No. 4 manager Miana has declared she'll work without pay because she's royalty, the entire amount after subtracting the maintenance and management costs of Shop No. 4 from the profit is paid to the Class of 175. That is calculated separately from personal assets and is separate from the so-called quota for personal burden. Up until now, Shop No. 3 and Shop No. 4 had been earning, but since last year, Shop No. 7, which the Sertoria Royal Family and Regnentes Royal Family designated as a purveyor, has grown rapidly. Magic tools have different unit prices. Especially Teleport is really expensive. Since the demand in the Royal Capital area is almost a monopoly, it seems a considerable profit was made. However, because it's an annual contract, most of the profit is concentrated in October when the contract was made.
"Then, the people of the Flatlands will do snow shoveling as labor tax during the winter."
"Yeah. If they finish their labor tax in the off-season, their labor tax from spring onward will decrease by that much. They won't have to have their labor taken during the busy farming season."
It's a welcome story. They have to do snow shoveling around their homes anyway. They just need to transport that snow to the magic circle. Since the bandits will clear the highways, horse-drawn carriages can be used. If they pile up the snow avoided at the roadside, it'll be finished just by loading it onto the magic circle.
Surely, a lot of snow will gather.
The installation of the magic circles is already finished, and they are apparently gathering snow. It's better to have plenty of water. The residents also seem to be participating actively.
"Then, will you manage the magic circles in winter?"
If snow accumulates, it's sent. Since there are many magic circles, it must be hard.
"Yeah. But, there's something else I want to do besides that."
"Something else you want to do?"
"Yeah."
"What are you going to do?"
"Um, development of the Eastern Plains, I guess."
Eh? In the middle of winter. That area is covered in snow. The wind is strong and it's incredibly cold.
Previously, we moved trees to build a highway connecting the Eastern Plains and the Royal Capital area. Since Little Serena alone couldn't do it, the Marcelo Company took on the task of instructing the destination. It was more than just cold. Without Warm, I would have frozen to death.
"Little Serena and Serena told me where it's best to develop. They said the wasteland along the highway is best. Because we don't have to cut down trees. It's better to leave the forest as it is as much as possible, right? So, I'm thinking of building a work hut on the wasteland near the highway and starting on securing a water source. But, there are some trees growing, so I'm going to have them moved."
I see. That's how it goes. I've heard it's better to move trees in winter.
Hearing the details, the place where we did practical training for the Demon Lord subjugation seems to be good. That area was indeed wasteland and had few trees. That's why it also became the highway construction site, but there was still wasteland. To the east of the highway, a large river flows. If we build a waterway that passes under the highway, we can get water. Lyudmila seems to be thinking the same thing, and eventually, she wants to build a waterway to draw water to the wasteland along the highway. She has apparently already created a development plan and submitted it to the King.
"Where is the destination for moving them?"
I can guess to some extent, but I'll ask just in case.
"Near Renata's forest. The place Jeanne is recovering."
Just as I thought. But it's appropriate.
"I want to make a detailed map, so could you help me? It's not every day, and the days we go will only be about half a day. Everyone is busy, and I can only ask Jeanne. I also called out to Will and Bonnie, but they seem busy this winter. Fiona said it's okay if it's not a day she goes for training."
Hmm. Indeed, everyone has become busy. Beatrix spends time in Morandine with the Dragonewt. Beowulf is doing bridal training at the royal palace. Mary has New Year's greetings for customers. She won't go north, but she'll likely go to Regnentes, Primordia, and Medioland. Matilda is making prosthetic limbs and should be at the main shop even if not every day. In the first place, moving trees to expand flat land is something she hasn't participated in even once. So, if Will and Bonnie are no good, it's only me.
I don't mind. Within the range of time allocation I heard, there should be enough time for mouse extermination.
"It's fine. If it's just making a map, it'll be over by the end of January, right? I'm free in January."
"Are February and March no good?"
"I think I'll be doing bear hunting. Bonnie should be participating too."
"Bonnie said she won't participate this year. Because she'll be busy."
If Bonnie, who participates every year, is busy, that means something. The Henry Party is plotting something. Against Engrio, or against the epidemic... If it's epidemic countermeasures, I, who was handed a magic circle for sending letters, might be summoned too.
"Then, February and March are also fine. But if a sudden errand comes up, sorry then."
"Yeah. It's for epidemic countermeasures, right?"
"Yes. There are various things."
"Also, can Germana go too?"
"Probably. I'll ask her."
In the end, Germana also ended up going. Fiona will go when she can, so it's a maximum of four people. Since Lyudmila operates the bowl, she can't use magic during that time. Germana has high detection ability and can use middle-level magic even outside caves. She can even use dark magic. It'll be reassuring with Fiona and her.
When we actually made a plan, because of the mobile sales in the Flatlands and mouse extermination, the schedule became unexpectedly full. However, as long as no problems occur, I won't be using any magic other than Warm. I'm the one in charge of looking at the map. At this point, I just need to make the scrolls for Anti-Sepsis, so it shouldn't be that difficult.