My name is Yame.
The island manager.
I was quite shocked to find that the value of gold coins has risen considerably since the era I used to know.
So this is the passage of time.
Right now, we're building a raft together with the Village Head, who came to the island for a day trip.
Freshly felled wood contains moisture, making it unsuitable for building a raft.
Because it's heavy.
And sticky, too.
However, the trees felled by the Village Head are... for some reason, dry.
They aren't sticky, either.
Is this magic as well?
Well, if I fretted over every little detail, I wouldn't survive long.
Since it's usable even right after being cut down, I'll take it as a win.
With the High Elves and Lizardmen pitching in, the raft was finished in no time.
It was large enough to hold about five adults.
No sails.
Just enough to float.
For the time being, we carried the raft to the sandy beach, and the Village Head and three Lizardmen climbed aboard.
Each held an oar in hand.
And so, they set sail.
...
The raft was promptly pushed back by the waves, returning right to the sand.
They tried three times, but failed every time.
The waves are just too strong.
The Village Head pondered the situation.
Waves don't just push toward the shore.
There are spots where currents flow from the shore out toward the open sea.
The Village Head said those are called rip currents.
Apparently, they're dangerous spots you have to watch out for when you're by the coast.
We set up floats in various places along the shore... and searched for one that drifted out to sea.
Found one.
The float was drifting toward the open sea faster than expected.
I see; that really is dangerous.
If we put the raft here, we can set sail.
We hauled the raft over.
Before the Village Head and the others could even board, the raft was swept away toward the open sea.
Then the waves flipped it, smashing the raft into pieces.
..................
The Sea Race retrieved the scattered pieces of the raft and the floats we had deployed.
Ummm, Village Head.
When it comes to rafts, wouldn't it be safer to ask the Sea Race rather than trying to figure it out by trial and error?
Look, the Sea Race folks are eager to give advice, too.
Thank goodness.
He listened without arguing.
A raft drifting down a river and a raft paddling out into the ocean are completely different beasts.
When paddling out to sea, if you don't take measures against the waves, a raft will just break apart immediately like it did earlier.
As a countermeasure against the waves, rather than building the raft like flat planks, it's better to shape it out of logs.
If you want to carry multiple people, it's best to line up log-shaped rafts and place planks on top of them.
I see.
In other words, first gather the wood into the shape of logs, and...
Wait.
If that's the case, wouldn't it be better to just use thick trees as logs directly?
The Village Head realized this, too.
He said he'd bring large logs the next time he visits the island.
Since there aren't many thick trees growing on the island.
When we asked the Sea Race for more details, they told us that rafts in general are unsuitable for venturing out to sea.
It's not impossible, but they wouldn't recommend it.
Is that so?
And here I thought we could manage with a raft made by lining up wood like flat planks.
If it's a small plank carrying just one person, it might work, but with multiple people shifting their center of gravity, it requires considerable structural strength.
That's good to know.
After relaying what the Sea Race said, the Village Head brought some logs, gave up on rafts, and carved boats out of the timber instead.
He joined two of those boats together to make a catamaran... a catamaran boat.
It seats two, but because it's a catamaran boat, the seating is split across two separate hulls.
The rowers sit side-by-side.
When the Village Head sat on one side... it was difficult to balance their rowing strength, and the boat wouldn't go straight.
So the Village Head gave up on riding it, letting two Lizardmen who were in perfect sync board and set sail.
Ooh, it's moving properly!
It smoothly reached the open sea.
They even had the composure to wave at us watching from the beach.
I waved back.
The catamaran boat is remarkably stable.
It's holding up even as it rides the waves.
Amazing!
Just as I thought that, a slightly larger wave rolled in, breaking the connecting joint and capsizing the catamaran boat.
It seems it couldn't withstand the ocean swells.
The two Lizardmen on board were rescued by the Sea Race.
No injuries.
Thank goodness.
And so, the Village Head and the rest of us realized that our techniques were still far from sufficient to venture out to sea.
Ah, Village Head.
Shiso-sama is here to pick you up.
It's about time to head back.
Still, you got soaked by the waves, so you'd better change your clothes before leaving.
There's heavy snow piling up in the village, right?
If you go back like that, you'll catch a cold.
After seeing off the Village Head and Shiso-sama as they returned to the village, I looked around the inn's common room.
A mountain of supplies was piled up inside.
Gifts for the island brought by the Village Head during his visits.
...I wonder if this newly crafted shield is for me.
I'll gratefully put it on display.
Now then, as for these supplies... they need to be moved to various places.
Perishable food that needs cooling was already stored away when it arrived, so there's no rush for that.
I wonder where I should set up the magic tools from Village Five.
If the Tracking Cart is left outside... it might get blown away when strong winds hit.
It might be safer to have storehouses built alongside each house.
Oh, this large box for cooling things goes in the kitchen.
Yeah, looks convenient.
...
I can't do this alone, someone lend a hand!
An Inferno Wolf returning from island patrol reported that all was clear.
Good boy.
Once you wash your paws, you can get under the kotatsu.
Here, your horn covers.
Hm?
Ah, that's the magic tool for blowing air that the Village Head brought.
I think the Village Head called it a fan.
This doesn't go well with a kotatsu?
Ah, a kotatsu is for warming up, while a fan is for cooling down.
I guess they clash.
Though the kotatsu's Heat Retention Stone was removed, so it isn't actually warm right now.
Well, if the Inferno Wolf using it says so, I'll comply.
I went to obediently put away the kotatsu...
The Inferno Wolf looked at me with an utterly exasperated expression.
As if to say: the one you should be putting away is the fan.
Personally, I feel like the fan would be more useful, though.
For now, the kotatsu stays as it is.
I adjusted the position of the fan so its breeze wouldn't blow toward the kotatsu.
Dinner was the meat brought by the Village Head.
Only, we didn't eat indoors, but outside.
Right on the sandy beach, in fact.
We set up a wire grill over a bonfire to roast skewered meat and vegetables.
The Village Head called it barbecue style.
The High Elves were in charge of adjusting the fire's heat and the height of the grill.
The Lizardmen handled cutting the ingredients, like the meat and vegetables.
I skewered the cut meat and vegetables one after another.
Apparently, it doesn't strictly have to be on skewers for barbecue style, but since we're cooking over a bonfire, having them skewered is much more convenient.
These skewers were also provided by the Village Head; for some reason, the handles resist heat, but from the middle to the tip, they conduct heat normally.
I wondered if it was a magic tool, but the Village Head said it was just standard smithing technique.
Hmm, very convenient.
I wonder if these skewers were made using the shells I gave him before?
I hope so.
If shells gain value, it will become a source of income for the Sea Race.
While I was pondering that, about ten members of the Sea Race arrived.
Carrying seafood in their hands.
Nice.
Let's eat together!
The High Elves divided the bonfire and prepared a new grill.
The Lizardmen's ingredient-cutting speed kicked into high gear.
...
I can't skewer all this alone, so Sea Race folks, help out too!
Just copy what I'm doing.
Don't skewer the shellfish, just put them right on the grill in their shells.
For the shrimp... let's take off the head and tail, then peel the shells.
The fish... over to the Lizardmen.
Just roughly chopping them into chunks is fine.
Fish that aren't suited for grilling can be tossed into the pot for soup.
Ah, two of you High Elves, looks like we're going to run out of plates, so go grab some from the inn.
And bring some sake while you're at it.
We won't have enough otherwise, right?
The barbecue on the sandy beach was lively and delicious.
Village Head: "The island is warm even in winter, isn't it?"
Yame: "Compared to places with heavy snow, yeah. But when the wind kicks up, the island gets cold too."
Commentary: "Because typhoons hit it, the island's location is not directly on the equator."
Yame: "Two High Elves! Go get plates and sake!"
High Elves: "Understood!"
Yame: "Don't all of you go!"
Lizardman: "If it's just cutting, we can manage anything."
Yame: "Even fish?"
Lizardman: "If it's just chopping into chunks... filleting them is impossible for us."
Yame: "...I wonder if they could spare one of the Oni maids to send over here."
Lizardman: "Indeed."
Birds and Chickens: (Waiting for a share of the food)
Slimes: (Waiting for scraps)
Inferno Wolf: (Lounging comfortably under the kotatsu, utterly confident that Yame will bring over meat)