kscans

Chapter 202 - Revisiting the Wood Workshop

Hearing about a magician's staff, Yuri's thoughts turned to Faren. Since Faren would be helping him produce Magic Stone Tools from now on, shouldn't he give him a staff or two? Adon pondered Yuri's question for a while. Faren aside, perhaps it would be best to give one to Professor Magam? After a moment of careful consideration, Adon announced his conclusion.

"I'll speak to Faren-kun and Professor Magam when I feel it's necessary. You don't need to worry about it, Yuri-kun. Also, I think it's best we keep this from the elves. I'd like to avoid this becoming an even bigger deal than it already is."

"Ah, you're right."

He had completely forgotten about the elves, but it certainly seemed better not to let it slip. They were already this excited about the Magic Stone Tools alone. There was no telling what kind of commotion would erupt if he carelessly revealed the existence of Rosewood staves.

"Oh, in that case, should I not make a staff for myself either?"

"You don't need one in the first place, do you?"

"Well, you have a point."

Realistically, he had never felt a lack of firepower, and carrying a staff and being treated like a magician was a poor strategy anyway.

"But, well, perhaps it would be a good idea for you to make a scabbard for a dagger or something out of Rosewood. Just to have done it."

"I see."

As the conversation shifted to scabbards, Yuri remembered why he had come here. He needed to ask about wood paint. When he asked Ems, he was referred to a shop they did business with, so Yuri decided to head there another day. He was a little relieved to hear they did retail sales, as there were occasional amateurs who built their own furniture.

Paying Yuri no mind, Adon and Ems were lost in a discussion about netsuke. In this country, the custom of hanging something from one's waist was not common. However, for small items that weren't a nuisance, it was sometimes less trouble to hang them from the waist than to carry them by hand. Above all, it was an accessory. It was not something to be shown off ostentatiously, but something worn casually to avoid gaudiness. Since it was made of wood, unlike gems or precious stones, it was less likely to crack or chip. And even if it was Rosewood, it was made from scrap wood, so the raw material costs wouldn't be that high. Rather, it would be a test of the labor and skill involved in the crafting.

"Rosewood is a bit hard, but a slightly softer wood would be easier to work with. Things made from other woods might surprisingly be well received too."

"If that's the case, it might spread among the common people. The material is scrap wood after all, and it doesn't require any special tools. I'll have a craftsman make a few prototypes."

"Good idea. You mentioned they could also be attached to bags and such as decorations, not just hung from the waist."

"The problem is the motif. We can just have Yuri-kun help us with that."

Yuri felt a little unable to accept that his participation in the plan had become a settled matter without his knowledge. Well, it wasn't that much trouble. It was a small price to pay for his stay in Laurenzen. More importantly, there was one thing Yuri wanted to ask, even though he knew he might be stepping on a landmine.

"Adon-san, I forgot to ask earlier, but are there no Rosewood pipes?"

Adon looked at him blankly. He didn't seem to understand what Yuri meant. Ems looked the same.

"A pipe, you say? Well, as far as I know, pipes are, well, made of silver, or perhaps ceramic."

This country had a smoking culture, but rolled cigarettes had not yet appeared. Yuri had been mindful of that, but his attention hadn't extended to the materials used for pipes.

"Huh? You don't have briar pipes? What about meerschaum?"

"Briar? Meerschaum?"

His father in his previous life had been a pipe smoker, so in Yuri's mind, pipes were directly linked to briar. He didn't know if heath grew in this country, but surely wooden pipes must exist. Was Rosewood scrap not suitable for pipes? His question had been born of that simple thought, but it seemed that not just briar, but the very concept of a wooden pipe was unknown. Incidentally, in this country, commoners used clay pipes, while the slightly wealthier used silver pipes. Some also used brass pipes, but they were not numerous. Now, a new material for pipes had been introduced. There was no way Adon wouldn't jump at the chance, and the same went for Ems, who had just heard of a new possibility for wood.

"A Rosewood pipe, eh? Might be good for showing off."

"It's not just any wood. We'll have to see how it affects the taste."

"I'll have this made along with the netsuke. Depending on how it turns out, I might be able to bring it up with the nobles who ordered the Rosewood."

As for the briar and meerschaum, it was decided that Ems would discreetly look for the former, and Adon for the latter.

It was after their discussion seemed to have settled that Yuri timidly made a request to Ems. He asked if he could have some sawdust.

"Sawdust? Well, it's only good for kindling, so you can take as much as you want. What are you going to use it for?"

Yuri had his eye on the sawdust as a material for particle board, but he couldn't just honestly say that.

"Oh, I use it for kindling where I live. It's perfect for tinder, and it's not bad as fuel either. I hear you can make charcoal with it too, but I don't know how. I'm surrounded by trees, but it's surprisingly difficult to get fuel. In the beginning, I was trying to use heartwood for firewood."

As he said that, the expressions on Ems and Adon's faces turned dramatically sour. Realizing that precious heartwood had been on the verge of being used as kindling, Ems hastily gave his permission, telling Yuri to take as much as he wanted. Hearing this, Yuri cheerfully began stuffing sawdust into a cloth bag.

"Where did you get a bag like that?"

"They're useful for all sorts of things, so I buy them in bulk every time I come here to Laurenzen. For storing things I've bought or gathered. Oh, and you can use them for sandbags too."

""Sandbags?""

Yuri explained how to use sandbags to the two perplexed men. As a result...

"Ems, could you keep quiet about this for the time being?"

"Sure, I don't mind. What are you planning to do?"

"I don't have any immediate plans. But I have a feeling this isn't something we should be spreading around lightly."

Yuri had no objections either.