Chapter 558: Banquet Preparations
The food is ready, the fur-lined winter gear is good to go, and the earmuff hat is perfect. The decorations of silver and gold are just right!
Before visiting the Earth Folk, I decided to do some shopping on the Trade Island of the Northern Lands. The first time I came here, I stood out in my black robe, but this time, I’m wearing the clothes and shoes I bought here.
After wandering around a few times, I finally got the hang of shopping. Actually, I had heard initially that silver bracelets can be used as currency. In other words, if you don’t wear a decent amount of gold and silver accessories, people tend to shy away from you.
The Trade Island has a good mix of goods from Nakahara, and while transactions are done with gold and silver coins, it seems that wearing some jewelry puts others at ease.
So here I am, jingling with unfamiliar accessories. I have three necklaces with varying lengths, each adorned with gold coins, two rings, and several bracelets made of gold and silver.
With everything prepared, I used 【転移】 and was immediately hit by the cold.
I wondered if I should have brought Dan-chan along as I blended into the market crowd.
The most common sight here is the stocky, bearded folks. They’re not just fat; it’s all muscle, hidden beneath thick cloth and fur clothing.
Next are those dressed in a mix of Nakahara culture. Their builds are a bit slimmer. They seem more muscular than me, but still not as much as the stocky ones.
Finally, there are the tall, muscular individuals wearing little more than fur cloaks. Their arms are longer compared to the others, and the women are also impressively built, making it hard to know where to look.
Despite the practical fabric, the embroidery is beautiful. Well, I suppose the embroidery is primarily meant to enhance durability. The thick cloth, backed with leather, must require a lot of strength to stitch.
While not all of it is visible from the outside, some embroidery threads peek through to the back, showing simpler patterns on the reverse side.
Since I don’t plan to use any clothing or tents, I’ll just buy a few belts. I can hang them on the wall or lay them on the sideboard. Oh, Soleil would probably be delighted to receive something so unique.
For Ash, I’ll get a sword maintenance kit. A good whetstone and deer hide for finishing. This area is rich in iron, and while swords and spears are sold here, everyone seems to have a Spirit Sword, so there’s little demand for them.
This place is abundant in iron products. They seem to extract iron ore, but most of it is made from orange-colored soil. The iron found near water, known as swamp iron or lake iron, is referred to by the Northern Folk as golden water or golden soil. I’ve never seen it, but I wonder if it’s a color similar to Japanese bengara? Rusty red?
They roast it until it’s powdery, place it on firewood, and then melt it down into crude iron—at least, that’s what the Earth Folk said. Apparently, due to the influence of the Water Spirit, sometimes a marbled blade with unique patterns can be created.
For now, I’ve come to a rough understanding that the orange or red soil stands out more than mining, making it easier and less labor-intensive. Though, in some places, the soil might be frozen.
As I wandered through the market, I bought some decent sake from various stalls. If I buy everything from one place, my 【収納】 gets cramped… I also grabbed some fried fish as a snack.
I couldn’t resist buying a large fish that looked like a trout, deep-fried whole. They remove the insides, make cuts about an inch apart on both sides, and fry it. When they sell it, they cut it into four pieces, about five centimeters each, right at the cuts. It’s meant to be torn apart for eating, and the salt flavor and crispiness are just right, with the white meat being fluffy.
Now that I’ve bought the sake, it’s time to head to the Earth Folk’s settlement. I accidentally ate a bit, but it’s definitely a banquet now. I’m worried they might be disappointed with the quality of meat after the dragon meat feast, but there’s nothing I can do about it.
“Soleil of the Island, welcome!”
“Let’s give him a warm welcome, brother!”
“Welcome, brother!”
Gamri and the Earth Folk greet me with all their might, making me feel a bit embarrassed.
“This is a little something for you.”
I present the barrel sake, the bottled sake I bought from the Northern Lands, and the food.
“Oh, a banquet!”
“It’s a banquet!”
“A banquet!”
As they say this, they carry my offerings away in a bucket brigade. They’re headed to the hall where they usually eat and drink. The Black Iron Pit is lively today as well.
Surrounded by the Earth Folk, I slowly follow the flow of food and drink. Recently, I’ve finally started to distinguish the genders of the Earth Folk. Also, I’ve realized that those with short beards are still in their teens.
“How’s the progress on the hut I ordered?”
I ask Gamri, who’s walking beside me.
“Oh, it’s almost done! I wanted you, Soleil of the Island, to be there for the final touches, so I’ve been waiting without attaching the last part!”
“We’ve been waiting!”
“We’ve been waiting for Soleil of the Island!”
It seems it’s nearly complete.
“I’d like to invite folks from other settlements for the unveiling!”
“Others from the settlements are involved!”
“In tools!”
“In carvings!”
“In beautiful curves!”
“In polishing!”
As always, conversations with the Earth Folk spread like a round of song.
“That’s fine, but can you decide on a day for everyone to gather? I’ll look forward to seeing the hut until then.”
So today is just a banquet. I’ll have to come back later. I need to procure some meat! The Earth Folk prefer something with a good chew, so I can’t choose Wagyu as the main dish.
What should I do? Should I go hunt a Demonized Dragon?