Chapter 153: Maintenance
Since we had dinner plans yesterday, we wrapped things up without drinking too much. To avoid getting scolded by family and others for this gathering, I insisted on sending everyone off with some side dishes and snacks as gifts.
It looks like tomorrow’s rain will be worse, so I prepared extra side dishes. After cleaning up, I used [Teleportation] to return home.
Having indulged a bit too much at dinner, I decided to grill some autumn mackerel fillets and make grilled mackerel chazuke. Even though it’s called chazuke, I poured dashi over it, generously adding sesame seeds, mitsuba, and shredded nori. I savored it while flaking the mackerel apart.
Since I quickly bled and prepped it with salt and sake, there was no fishy smell, and the rich mackerel paired wonderfully with the refreshing mitsuba.
I wish I had some flying fish dashi. I wonder if they sell it somewhere? I also ponder whether it’s the same species as the flying fish back in Japan.
The water in Kanum has minerals that hinder the umami components from kelp and such from leaching out. Instead, it’s perfect for making broth by simmering meat, seafood, and vegetables.
Food that suits the land is always the tastiest. Since we have soft water, Japanese cuisine works well, but for stews, it’s best to fetch water from the forests of Kanum.
After finishing my mackerel chazuke, I played with Rishu, who was gnawing on the Ex-Staff. The Ex-Staff is lively when we’re outside, but it seems to have poor stamina, as it was unresponsive, almost like it had lost its screws. There was a time it came out drooling, so it’s probably in a deep sleep now.
I want to go to the forest tomorrow if it’s sunny, but it seems the rain in Kanum will intensify in the evening. It has stopped here, but the weather can be quite different just over the mountain range.
I spent some time naming the spirits and reading. I’ve been a bit busy lately, so I took the day to relax. Despite having slept in the morning, I felt sleepy at my usual bedtime and crawled into bed.
In the morning, I took a walk with Rishu, who was carrying the Ex-Staff in her mouth. Since I had been poking around yesterday, it was her turn to lead today.
Wild plums were blooming white flowers among long thorns. By the stream, a cluster of daffodils was in full bloom, filling the air with a lovely fragrance.
“Rishu, don’t eat the daffodils; they’re poisonous, okay?” I warned Rishu, who was unable to sniff properly with the Ex-Staff in her mouth.
Since I had been slacking off lately, it was time to tend to the forest and the fields. The rain in Kanum was quite heavy, so the forest would have to wait.
I cleared the vines tangled in the trees and trimmed branches to let sunlight reach the ground. I cut down obstructive trees and, conversely, planted trees to prevent soil erosion on the mountainside. The work is rather mundane, but it’s enjoyable to see the sunlight-loving spirits fluttering out from the hollows of the trees.
I cut the felled wood into manageable pieces to dry for firewood. The vines will be used for baskets, so I’ll [Store] them and organize them for easy use later.
In the afternoon, I moved on to the fields.
I tilled the soil to plant potatoes, taking care to make it soft as they prefer that. Next, I sowed seeds for the seedlings, using unglazed pots instead of planting them directly in the field.
The broccoli is nearing its end, but some are flowering to produce seeds, with yellow flowers resembling rapeseed blooming here and there. The remaining leaves from the harvested ones will be given to the livestock.
When you raise them, even the chickens’ behinds start to look cute.
I took care of the livestock, cleaning the shed and replacing the straw. While livestock droppings can be used as fertilizer, since they roam freely in a large area, I leave the ones outside to nature, away from the house. If it smells, it’s a sign that it hasn’t fermented properly, so it’s not suitable as fertilizer.
I mixed the straw, dried grass, and fallen leaves collected from the livestock’s bedding. With the addition of rice bran, it should eventually turn into good fertilizer. It’s quite labor-intensive, but my physical abilities come in handy.
Once I finished most of the work, I gathered some poppy and dandelion leaves growing nearby. Once they bloom, they become tough, but the leaves at this time of year are tender and often used in cooking here.
I also harvested some chicory that I’m currently improving. The chicory I know is pale yellow like napa cabbage, but this one is a vibrant green, packed with chlorophyll, and only about the size of my palm, with leaves that are partially curled, resembling green roses scattered on the ground.
The wild greens I brought back will be part of tonight’s dinner. The wild salad will be topped with chopped boiled eggs and cheese, along with two lamb chops. I’ll finish it off with soup and bread.
Lamb that has grown up eating delicious grass in this season is called spring lamb and is quite tasty. When they’re small, they can be a bit dry with less fat, while larger ones can taste a bit too mature, leaning towards the flavor of an adult sheep.
Thus, the lamb in the pantry is of medium size.
I took a big bite and tore into it. The lamb chop, with the bone still attached, has none of the gamey smell that larger sheep might have. Having the bone makes it feel like I’m really eating meat!
I served Rishu some bone-in meat and water. For dessert, I had a slightly bitter caramel sauce over baked pudding.
Now, if the weather is good tomorrow, I’ll head to the Demon Forest to play with the Ex-Staff. After that, I’ll drop by Naruadeid Island to check on the progress.
It’s about time for the carpenters and stonemasons to start gathering, and the building materials should be arriving little by little. I need to confirm if the extra materials I ordered for the forest sanctuary have arrived.
Buying building materials and furniture is quite conspicuous, so I plan to place various orders now and [Store] them away.
Well, once the house on the island is built, I can arrange for deliveries there. The land and house are spacious enough that it wouldn’t be strange to buy various things. They say there’s nothing you can’t get in Naruadeid, so I’m looking forward to shopping.
The only downside is the time it takes for transportation, but I’m glad I can do it without worrying about prying eyes.