Chapter 333: Pot Set
Well then, today is Haulon’s day of rest.
I feel like I learned everything I wanted to know about practical magic yesterday, but there are still various other things I want to ask. I’m expecting some fantasy-like episodes to come up, so I asked if I could inquire tomorrow, and it turns out that would work.
The butler gently suggested, “Please allow Lord Haulon to rest,” and I reflected on that. I had dragged the old man into the forest for two days in a row and made him drink too.
So, today, I came to the Northern Lands to check on the progress of the furniture. To get to the Black Iron Pit, I first have to navigate through a complex valley and then through a series of intricate side tunnels.
Since I’ve been here before, I used [Teleportation] to shortcut through the valley. For the side tunnels, I just followed the direction indicated by the navigation stone Gamri gave me. The smooth, dark gray stone has white arrows drawn on its surface, and those arrows move.
It’s like a compass, but instead of pointing to cardinal directions, it shows the correct path. When it’s time to enter a side tunnel, the arrow points that way, and when I need to go straight, the arrow does too. Watching the stone as I progress is a bit fun.
“Excuse me,” I said as I passed through the corridor. The unfamiliar Earth Folk looked at me suspiciously, but when they saw the stone in my hand, they silently retreated.
The passageways connect the mine shafts and natural caves, and the artificial parts are a bit low for me, being taller than the Earth Folk. Once I enter the natural cave, the ceilings soar high above, and the passages are quite varied in size.
In those passages, there are irregularly shaped dwellings resembling burrows. The Black Iron Pit produces a lot of iron, so they craft swords and wrought iron furniture—pitch-black iron grates, stair railings, gates, and decorative nails.
Outside, it’s incredibly cold, but inside, especially in the workshops, fires are roaring, making the deeper parts of the cave quite warm.
“Oh! Island’s Soleil! My brother!!”
Gamri and his companions, as boisterous as ever, slapped my back repeatedly.
“Here’s a gift. How does it look?”
I presented a large quantity of brandy and the aquavit I made, a distilled spirit from potatoes. Aquavit is a Nordic drink.
It’s flavored with dill, coriander, anise, and citrus, making it dry yet fruity and smooth. I had somewhat remembered how to make it when I visited the Northern Lands last time. [All Cooking] is really convenient.
As I packed it into an oak barrel, Kadal showed interest, and before I knew it, it had become the perfect drink to pair with fish dishes, but it’s quite strong, so I haven’t shared it with anyone except Kadal so far. Just one bottle.
“Oh, alcohol! Thank you, brother! The door decorations are nearly finished. The furniture is still being worked on by the carpenters. It’s a shame we can’t process the Goddess’s Great Tree, but the best woodworkers among the Earth Folk are leading the charge. However, when it comes to iron, I’m the best!”
Gamri never forgets to assert himself.
While Gamri was talking, the barrel of brandy was passed around like a bucket relay among the Earth Folk, who were all exclaiming, “Alcohol! Alcohol!” until it was set on the table.
With a crack, the top of the barrel was opened, and a ladle was plunged in, pouring cup after cup. There were fewer than ten chosen ones in the workshop, but they could easily finish off a barrel.
Before long, cups filled to the brim with alcohol were passed into everyone’s hands, including mine.
“Alright, let’s raise a toast! To the Goddess’s Great Tree! To Soleil, the owner of the beautiful tower! To us, the craftsmen of the Black Iron Pit! Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
As Gamri raised his cup, the others echoed him. A loud cheer rang out, and everyone tilted their cups back, the sound of their throats swallowing echoing through the air.
“Oh! This is good alcohol!”
“The aroma is delightful!”
“The strength is just right!”
And then the noise escalated. The Earth Folk seem either rowdy or sullenly quiet; it’s one or the other. Among friends, they might be cheerful? Their normal conversations can sound like shouting, especially when alcohol is involved, it gets quite raucous.
Once you get used to it, you realize they’re a merry group of drinkers, which isn’t unpleasant. My own spirits are lifted, and my mood rises.
“Island’s Soleil! The pots you requested are ready!”
I was the one who asked the legendary craftsmen for a pot set, including a Chinese wok, a stockpot, and a pot for the fireplace.
“Oh, thank you!”
“It’s nothing; it’s just a pastime for those of us with free time. Morik of the Sulfur Valley said his distillation apparatus is nearly complete. He’s usually slow with his work, but when it comes to good alcohol, he’s surprisingly quick, and it makes me laugh.”
Gamri laughed heartily.
Last time, I got to see the work process, but this time, that’s not happening. They told me it would be ready in about half a month, so I should look forward to it. It’s half about keeping their techniques secret and half about wanting to surprise me with the finished product, I suppose.
They showed me the rough shape and design direction last time, and even in its rough state, it was impressive, so I’m looking forward to it.