Chapter 656: Supplies and Preparations
After returning from the Land of Ruin, the next plan is to head to the Demon Forest or the Labyrinth with everyone and visit Chris’s hometown. We’ve got a lot of fun activities lined up!
I need to get ready.
It’s a morning with no plans.
First things first, I should take care of the house. I ground flour the other day and made some jars. Cleaning will be quick with [Storage], and laundry—tomorrow’s collection day. Alright, let’s get to it.
I rip the sheets off the bed in the House and transfer clothes and towels from the laundry basket to the bag. I also gather the kitchen towels. Rishu follows me around from behind, occasionally playfully nibbling on the string that closes the bag.
I do laundry twice a week, so it’s not like I’m doing it out of the blue. I’d like to be a bit more diligent, but in this world, doing laundry once a week is already considered quite frequent.
Securing clean water is tough—thanks to the river flowing from the Demon Forest, Kanum can manage it, but the hard water really damages the fabric. When I wash, both the laundry and my hair end up feeling rough!
I’ve got a laundry service with a Spirit helping me, so for now, I’m managing with what I consider “normal” by Japanese standards. Even with the twice-a-week service, it stands out, so I can’t push it any further.
You want me to do it myself? It’s a hassle!!!
Ah, but what if I could use the waterway or stream in the mountains to create a washing machine? Unlike Kanum, the terrain here isn’t flat, so in some places, the current is pretty strong.
Right now, I’m soaking things in a net. I’ve picked up some walnuts and other sturdy items that won’t get damaged easily. Just soaking them in water makes them clean!
I guess I could create a whirlpool in the stream and ensure the laundry doesn’t float away. Our water is soft, after all. I’ll ask the Spirit for a gentle finish.
For now, I’ll insert a board in a spot with a good flow to create a barrier—ah, if there’s a gap between the boards, water will flow in. If I arrange them like a mortar, they might bump into each other and swirl around inside.
I adjust the width and angle of the boards while observing the water flow. Rishu mimics me, peeking in beside me. Rishu’s back of the head is adorable; everything about him is cute.
“Fuhahaha!”
“Gurun gurun!”
“Hyah!”
“So fun!”
“Tanoshii!”
It seems the Spirits are enjoying it too. Is this a water slide?
I drop a bath towel and adjust the whirlpool again. The towel gets twisted, but should I make it shallower? Is it too deep?
And so, the first washing machine is complete. Due to its structure, it’s set up outside, so I’ve also created a drying area nearby. I just strung a line!
It’s a rough wash, but I still plan to keep the twice-a-week laundry service, so this is good enough.
For lunch, I have sausage, karaage, tamagoyaki, and rice balls. The vegetables will be in the soup.
It’s a luxury, especially the rice balls, which can’t be found in this world.
Rishu gets bones. Since we have two meals a day, it’s a snack for him.
Well, it’s more of a crunchy delicacy for him. After being crushed, he doesn’t eat them right away.
Wanwan eats them, though. The crushed bones are either chicken feed or spread in the field.
I’ve heard that they eat Dragon bones, so it seems bones have flavor too. Is it a matter of preference?
Since it’s a delicacy, I can choose what I like. I’ll actively collect Dragon bones.
I’ve given most of what I had to the Earth Folk. They were thrilled about it.
I squeeze Rishu, who’s gnawing on the floor, with my foot while reading a book.
I’m rereading Grandfather Paorul’s book. It’s like confirming the things I saw and felt in the Land of Ruin.
Thanks to my Magic Talent and [Appraisal], I can extract knowledge after reading it once, but it’s not enough to just accumulate knowledge; I need to discern “what” and “for what purpose” to use it wisely.
I want to train the part of my mind that connects different pieces of information and “thinks.” How to train that is a mystery, though.
In terms of knowledge, Haulon is definitely ahead, but what I aspire to is more like Retze.
After lounging around for a longer lunch, I’ll spend the afternoon making preserved food. Not for home, but for adventures.
I’ll make lightweight and easy-to-eat jerky, cut hard cheese into manageable pieces for further drying, and prepare dried fruits, dried vegetables, and small portions of seasonings and powders.
I’ll also take care of my entire set of equipment and pack it into my bag. By the way, it doubles as an emergency grab bag, so I do this regularly. I’ll eat the preserved food that was packed first.
Since Kanum has the same items, I’ll organize those too. I’ll also drop off the laundry bag at the rented house.
I’m hitching a ride on Dean and the others for the collection. I left some bread for dinner too!
Daily supplies and preparations.
Back in Japan, I could just buy things when needed, but here, it takes time and effort, and I don’t dislike the feeling of living steadily!
It’s only possible because I have plenty of help from the Spirits!