March 20th.
After finishing breakfast, Jin pondered the best way to secure a permanent water supply for his new base.
Laojun offered its counsel.
"My Lord, I recommend searching for an underground water vein."
"What do you mean?" Jin asked, looking slightly puzzled. It was a different suggestion than the one it had offered the previous night.
"I have finished organizing the data. First, please look at the map."
"All right. Let's head to Pegasus 2."
Jin walked over to Pegasus 2, which was parked beside the house. Inside the cockpit, the topographical map sent by Laojun was projected onto the magi-screen.
"I have updated the information on the local rivers and lakes with the latest data," Laojun explained.
"I see."
"There are several lakes to the west of your base, are there not, My Lord?"
"Yeah, there are."
"And there is a river that originates slightly further east from where we installed the large-class Warp Gate."
"That’s true."
At this point, Jin began to see where Laojun was going with this.
"The probability that an underground water vein exists between those western lakes and the eastern river is extremely high."
"I thought so," Jin said, nodding. "But I checked the ground when I was building the house, and I didn't find any signs of one."
"That is to be expected. Underground water veins flow atop impermeable layers. Since there is solid bedrock deep beneath this specific location, the water likely diverts around it."
"Ah, right." Jin scratched his head. Laojun’s logic was impeccable. "So you're saying if I search the area surrounding this bedrock—specifically in the shallower layers—I should find a vein?"
"Precisely, My Lord. I believe it would be more than enough to sustain the base's needs for the foreseeable future."
Jin nodded in agreement. "You're right. Even if we eventually dig a canal, it would require a thorough survey first. Let's start by looking for that underground water. Thanks, Laojun."
"I am glad to be of service."
Following Laojun's lead, Jin discovered a substantial underground water vein about one kilometer north of the house. It flowed through the fissures in the bedrock with considerable volume.
However, because the water had traveled a long distance underground, it was extremely hard and unsuitable for drinking in its raw state. Jin solved this by constructing a water purifier.
The water contained a relatively high concentration of alum (potassium aluminum sulfate) and magnesium oxide, both of which the purifier removed to soften the water. He decided to stockpile the extracted minerals to use as chemical resources later. Alum could be used as a color fixative for pickling vegetables like eggplant, and magnesium oxide could serve as a mild laxative.
That was the extent of Jin's personal knowledge, but he suspected the academic texts the Magus had brought to this world would have more detailed applications.
"Well, the concentration isn't high enough to be a problem, so this should be fine."
The water temperature was about fifteen degrees Celsius, making it a cold spring rather than a hot spring. Technically, it would be classified as an aluminum-containing spring, which was said to be beneficial for skin ailments. However, given the low concentration, its medicinal effectiveness remained to be seen.
"Boiling it won't be an issue. I'll just make sure all the drainage is purified before it returns underground. That should do it."
Jin smiled with satisfaction once the plumbing for the house’s taps and the bath was complete. With the water supply sorted, the house was finally habitable.
"Now for the garden..."
The area surrounding the house was currently a bleak expanse of gravel. Even the view from the windows lacked greenery. Though the planet's flora was recovering, it was still mostly limited to grasses and groundcover.
"I think I'll plant some trees and maybe dig a small pond."
Hourai Island was primarily centered around the Predecessor's laboratory, so he hadn't felt comfortable changing it much. But here, Jin could design everything to his own tastes.
"Watching a pond from the veranda, maybe keeping some goldfish... I used to dream about that back at the orphanage."
Jin looked back with a sense of nostalgia, remembering how he had once yearned for a modest home of his own.
"...I've certainly come a long way. Ah, over there—plant some of the shorter trees, please."
He murmured the instruction as he watched the Smith and Fores units working to shape the garden. He hadn't arrived with a fixed plan, but after three hours of trial and error, the landscape had finally reached a point where he was satisfied.
He surrounded the house with man-made hills about one meter high, planting them with shrubs such as azalea, Satsuki azalea, Sasanqua camellia, camellia, Thunberg spirea, Japanese kerria, forsythia, Reeves spirea, Japanese snowball, and hydrangea. Incidentally, he had decided to use the Japanese names for all the flora here. In a few years, once the foliage filled out, it would provide a natural screen for the house—though there was no one around to peek in anyway.
The total estate covered about five hundred tsubo. From the south-facing veranda, the pond was now the center of the view. While it leaned toward a Japanese aesthetic, it wasn't a stiff or formal design; it felt more like a pond one might find in a quiet park. He had also planted his favorite Sakura (query tree), along with fruit-bearing trees like Plum (plume), Peach (Persica), and Apple (apulul).
The north side of the property remained graveled, as he intended to build a garage large enough to house a vessel like Pegasus 2.
"What about the insect population?" he asked Reiko.
"Yes, Father. The native flower bees have been steadily increasing, so pollination shouldn't be an issue."
"Flower bee" was a collective term for pollinators like honeybees, bumblebees, and carpenter bees.
"It seems the Progenitors were quite concerned with ecological preservation. There were several protected zones established back then."
Though those areas had been left to grow wild after the Progenitors left Hale, most of the species had survived tenaciously. Reiko noted that the Progenitors' designs were nearly maintenance-free, which had likely contributed to the species' endurance.
"When was all this discovered?" Jin asked. This was news to him—at least to his current self.
"It was discovered four hundred years ago, when your previous self conducted a detailed investigation of Hale."
"I see."
"Yes. Even back then, you were already planning the redevelopment of Hale, partly with the intent of providing for No. 700672."
"Is that so?"
It seemed that even four hundred years ago, Jin had felt that leaving Hale in its desolate state was either a waste or simply too tragic to bear.
"You knew about all this, didn't you, Reiko?"
"I did... I am very sorry, Father."
"What are you apologizing for?"
"For not sharing everything with you."
Jin’s expression softened into a look that was half-wry smile, half-affectionate warmth. "If you're doing it because you're looking out for me, then don't worry about it."
He reached out and patted Reiko on the head.
"It's true that some things aren't as much fun once the surprise is spoiled. Like the solution to a mystery novel."
"If you ever wish to know, I will tell you."
Jin let the matter go with a relaxed nod.
For lunch, he prepared some rice porridge using the water from the newly installed lines.
"Yeah, this tastes fine."
If he had removed every single mineral, the water would have been as flat and tasteless as distilled water. He had calibrated the purifier to leave just enough trace elements while removing the harmful or excessive ones, and the result was a success.
"Now I just have to keep improving things bit by bit."
Having finished the day's major project, Jin smiled contentedly.