The construction rush didn’t end with the house.
Next came a workshop, a drying shed, and a smokehouse. According to Ria and the others, we needed dedicated spaces to process the harvest, so we set to work. They were particularly adamant about the smokehouse. I didn't mind at all; smoking meat would allow us to preserve it for much longer, which was a huge plus in my book.
As for the harvest itself...
This year, I put extra effort into growing various seasonings alongside our staples like tomatoes and potatoes. I managed to harvest the pepper, which is currently drying. The lemons haven’t borne fruit yet, and since the wasabi is in a water paddy, it isn't ready either. On the other hand, the sesame, chili peppers, and ginger have all been successfully harvested. The olives haven’t produced anything yet.
Next year, I want to try growing cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, cumin, and bay leaves. Eventually, I’d like to try my hand at making curry. For now, I’ll focus on variety over volume when it comes to spices. It’s all for the sake of delicious food.
The staple crops were a bountiful harvest as usual. Ria and the high elves have been systematically handling the crops that require drying and processing, like the wheat and rice. It’s a massive help.
With the waterway and the bathhouse finished, I started thinking I wanted some bamboo to use for simple fencing. However, bamboo spreads through its root system, and I was worried it might take over the fields if I planted it in the wrong spot. I decided to try growing it in a ten-meter square patch in a corner of the forest, a short distance away from the main area.
It was mostly an experiment. That was shortly before Rafa and her group arrived.
Now that winter is almost here, I went to check on the progress and found that magnificent stalks had grown. Interestingly, they only grew within the ten-meter square I had plowed. Nothing had sprouted outside that boundary. As I suspected, things only grow where I’ve tilled the soil. Still, considering how fast bamboo grows, it would be a disaster if it started spreading beyond the plowed areas. I’ll count this as a success.
I cut down a few stalks to bring back and use as timber. The simple cups I made by just cutting the bamboo were lightweight and quite popular.
Winter finally arrived.
Life in the new house has been comfortable. Kuro and the others often come over to hang out, likely because there’s so much space now. They’ve taken to enjoying games of chess near the brazier I set up in the middle of the hall. They look far more elegant than I do.
Ria and the other high elves plan to spend the winter making iron goods. They’ve been glued to the forge—which hadn't seen much use until now—smelting and processing iron. It makes me feel a bit guilty that I can’t help them with that, so I’ve been putting my all into the cooking instead.
The power of seasonings is truly great. No matter how busy they are, everyone—except for whoever is pulling a shift at the forge—now makes it a point to gather punctually for meal times.
With the food improving, I’m starting to crave miso and soy sauce. I also want dairy products and eggs. I need to figure out a way to get my hands on them... though I suppose there’s really only one way. I have to buy them from someone who has them.
I hadn't been very interested in the outside world until now, but having Lu, Tia, and Ria come here from the outside has made me more aware of it. There are other people out there. There must be towns and villages, and there's a high probability they have cows and chickens. It might be worth sourcing supplies from them, or maybe I should just buy some livestock directly and raise them here.
Well, that’s a plan for a little further down the road...
Come to think of it, I’ve been building fields here whenever I please, but I wonder if this land belongs to someone. Am I going to get scolded for trespassing?
“Lu.”
“What is it?”
“This place... does it belong to anyone? Like, is it someone's territory?”
“This place? You mean right here?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t think it belongs to any specific person, but in terms of influence, I suppose it falls within the Demon King’s sphere of influence.”
“The Demon King?”
“Yeah.”
“...Are we talking the Demon King?”
“That’s the one. Is there a problem?”
“Well... do you think this Demon King will complain if I just keep making fields and houses here?”
“Is that what you were worried about? It’s fine. It’s a sphere of influence, but it isn’t his 'territory' in the legal sense, so he won’t come by to collect taxes. Besides, did you get any help or support when you built this place, Husband?”
“No, none at all.”
“Then it’s perfectly fine. If you’re the one who built this place, then this is your territory.”
“Is that really how it works?”
“That’s exactly how it works.”
I see. So that’s how it is.
Still, the Demon King... I wonder if he's a terrifying person. I started to feel a bit anxious, but then I forgot all about it while I was busy cooking. There's no use fearing a Demon King I haven't even met.
For now, I have more immediate matters to deal with. Five more women have joined us.
Like Ria's group, Rafa and the others all have the slender, graceful appearance of college or high school students. Every single one of them is a beauty. It feels wrong to even complain, but...
I find myself constantly battling my own sense of self-restraint. It’s all about the shelves. I have to prepare many, many shelves in my heart to compartmentalize these thoughts.
Hang in there, me.