Chapter 360: Memories of the Dangerous Lighthouse
“Come to think of it, there isn’t a lighthouse in Naruadeid.”
Here, the staff are waving torches and lighting bonfires. I’ve seen them in the northern regions, so it’s not that they don’t exist. With so many ships coming and going, why is there none in Naruadeid?
“It’s a commercial city, after all.”
“Shipping is the main focus, right?”
Soleil’s response feels a bit off.
“If ships were set ablaze, that would be a problem. Naruadeid is neutral.”
Another mysterious answer.
As I pursued the conversation, I discovered that lighthouses here were military facilities. Well, it seems that technology has been lost to time—apparently, during the era of the Fire Spirit, there was a great lighthouse on the Dragon Continent.
Even now, on clear, sunny days, you can see the continent in the distance, and there are records that the great lighthouse could also be seen from here. It seems they used something like a reflector to amplify the light. That reflected light was aimed at enemy ships, incinerating them before they could reach the shore.
It might not just be a matter of technology, but also the strength of the Fire Spirit. Now, with the emergence of the Ball of Light, it seems we’re transitioning into the age of the Light Spirit. Perhaps, instead of fire, we could use light to achieve the same effect—thinking about it like that is downright unsettling.
If I ever see a lighthouse, I’ll make a dash for it. Fortunately, detailed nautical charts of this inland sea are available, and as long as I don’t get too close to the shore at night, I should be fine. The sea is usually calm, after all. There are even ships carrying Spirits.
I’m not quite sure how to use it, but I bought a compass because it’s retro and cute. Navigating the night sea requires knowing the position of the stars, and there are many constellations here that are different from those in Japan—it’s romantic. Of course, you can see the stars from Kanum as well, but there are few with names.
By the way, the scale I bought, also drawn in by its retro charm, has been quite handy for making healing potions. It may be retro to me, but in this world, it’s still in active use…!
“Well then, let’s head up.”
“We’re only halfway there…”
Soleil suddenly wobbles.
Without the ability to teleport, moving up the stairs is a bit of a hassle. No, I shouldn’t complain; this is exercise too.
“The kitchen and dining area.”
“Ugh, the equipment, the equipment has changed… The pots and dishes…”
Well, the plates themselves haven’t changed. Maybe it’s just the shelves for storing the dishes that are different?
“It’s quite cool in here.”
“Ah, that’s because of the Cooling Plate.”
There’s one in the workshop too, but I haven’t activated it yet.
Actually, while I was in the middle of decorating, I thought about needing humidity control as well, so I’ve paused the decorating process for now.
“Ugh. With this beauty, even heat management… The sink is strange…”
I had a faucet made for the sink.
However, since the water flows continuously from the waterway, closing the faucet just means the water stops flowing into the sink and drains away instead.
“Is this a fireplace?”
“It’s called a Cooking Stove.”
I answered Auro’s question, but he didn’t seem to get it.
It’s designed to hold a rice pot for cooking, and right now, it fits perfectly. The black iron looks so stylish.
There’s one in the House, and I made one myself later, installing it in Kanum’s card room, but the one made by the Earth Folk here seems much more practical.
The equipment in the House is a blend of my memories and what’s possible here. While I could recreate everything, anything that doesn’t exist here costs a lot of lifespan as payment, so that’s out.
For materials that are available here, I’m trying to replace them as much as possible to cut costs. I gave up on IH and gas ranges, redirecting those resources to the toilet and bath. I have no regrets.
“Let’s skip this for now and check out the upper floors.”
So, I bypassed the storage room and guided them to the bedroom. Soleil reacted to the interior, the furniture, and the bed mattress. Faramia gently offered a cushion, while Kiel carried Soleil up the stairs.
The stairs are too narrow for a stylish carry. Thank goodness it’s not a ladder. Apparently, the upper floors originally had a ladder that could be pulled up in case of an enemy attack. The stairs were added later.
We skipped the storage room and the rooftop bath.
“Alright, let’s eat. I’ll also show you how to use the Cooking Stove.”
I declared this and tossed in some firewood to start a fire.
“I’m worried about scratching this table…”
Sitting at the dining chair, Soleil leaned over the table, removing her ring. There’s a cushion between her face and the table, and she’s looking at me while still leaning down.
A chin-rest cushion. It kind of resembles Rishu in his laid-back posture.
This stove isn’t meant to heat the room, so the chimney inside is short, disappearing quickly into the stone wall and venting outside.
First, I placed the kettle on the stove. I didn’t want to keep them waiting while the food cooked, so I planned to bake the pie I had prepared. I’d toss it in once the fire was a bit more even.
Today’s menu includes Tempura Udon, cold tofu, green beans with sesame dressing, and Caprese salad with tomatoes. I’ll add eggplant to the tempura, using the eggplant and tomatoes grown on the island.
I want to introduce the Changeling to Japanese cuisine, but the crucial ingredient—rice—is missing. To be precise, I haven’t yet acquired the rice from this world that can be crossbred.
I need to go out and search for it.