If I had to sum up this summer in a single word, it would have to be "pool."
The catalyst was Urza, Nart, and the Beastman boys taking to the reservoir for a swim. They were all wearing the swimsuits Zabuton had made for them, but the reservoir was shaped like an inverted pyramid. It was dangerous because the water became quite deep toward the center. Furthermore, while we didn't use the reservoir for drinking water, it served various other purposes, so I really preferred they didn't swim in it.
Consequently, I built a proper pool on the west side of the village. For a water source, I used the runoff being returned from the reservoir to the river. The water was pristine, thanks to the purifying efforts of the slimes.
The initial pool was about one meter deep, fifteen meters long, and three meters wide. I cut bamboo into thirty-centimeter segments and threaded them onto ropes made by Zabuton to mark the lanes. Now, they could even hold races.
"It’s too narrow," they complained.
So, I expanded it. Since the depth didn't seem to be an issue, I increased the length to twenty-five meters and added four lanes. That seemed to satisfy Urza and her friends. It had taken me two days to get it to that point. Reflecting on the time I used to spend digging waterways and reservoirs, I really felt like I had grown.
Once the pool grew in size, it wasn't just the children who showed up; others began to flock to it as well. However, the current depth was far too much for little ones like Alfred and Tiselle, yet it was too shallow for the adults. To be honest, it was even a bit deep for Urza and Nart, but they played there regardless, seemingly unbothered. I just hoped they wouldn't drown.
At any rate, I decided to build more pools. First, I created a Small Children's Round Pool. It was thirty centimeters deep and about three meters in diameter. I finished that one in no time. I strictly forbade the children from entering it alone and set up a rotation of adults to act as lifeguards. I made sure to tell them I was entrusting Alfred and Tiselle to their care.
Next came the Deep Pool. I made the depth two meters at both ends and three meters in the middle. It was fifty meters long with five lanes. This project took about five days. The Lizardmen looked quite comfortable swimming there; I noticed they used their tails to propel themselves. I already knew they could do that, of course, but seeing it in person was impressive.
I felt like something was missing, and then it hit me. I installed starting blocks. A pool just didn't feel complete without them. I had to explain that they were for standing on at the start of a race, not a place for the winner to stand and celebrate. I understood the confusion, so I built a proper podium as well. After that, I reiterated that the blocks were strictly for starting. I considered adding a diving board, but I figured it would be too dangerous unless I made the pool even deeper, so I scrapped that idea.
By now, a massive crowd had begun to gather. Everyone changed into the swimsuits Zabuton’s group had produced and dove right in. Before I knew it, the High Elves had even constructed changing rooms. Even Kuro’s offspring were swimming. They were surprisingly graceful in the water.
Wait, even the horses? Was that an escape? No, they had riders... Ah, the High Elves were riding them into the water. I made sure to tell them to hose the horses down before letting them in.
"Village Head, could you perhaps make the pool a bit larger?"
The area had become incredibly congested. There was an overwhelming lack of space to actually swim. However, the real issue wasn't just the size; it was the fact that people trying to swim laps were getting mixed up with those who just wanted to lounge and cool off.
It couldn't be helped. I called for volunteers and got back to work.
Ten days later, I finished a course-style pool that looped around the existing structures. It was two meters deep and about five meters wide. I wasn't entirely sure of the total length since it wound all over the place, but since it encircled both the 50-meter and 25-meter pools, it was quite substantial.
As I prepared to fill it, the others offered to use magic to produce the water. I gladly accepted. Once the channel was full, I had the adults enter the course and walk in one direction to generate a current. Once a steady flow was established, I tossed in tubs and barrels to serve as substitutes for swim rings.
The villagers didn't seem to grasp what I was doing at first, but Urza was quick to catch on. She hopped into a tub floating on the flowing pool and began a leisurely tour of the course. Seeing her, the others followed suit one after another... though I had to warn them that if too many people piled onto one tub, it would sink. Still, they seemed to enjoy the slow pace.
With that, I finally managed to separate the serious swimmers from the relaxers. The flowing pool turned out to be a massive hit. I was happy about it, but I told Zabuton's children they didn't have to stay by my side out of politeness. They could go enjoy the current too. They took me up on the offer immediately.
I tried to relax in the 50-meter pool by myself, but it felt a bit lonely. Eventually, I gave up and joined everyone else in the flowing pool.
The area around the pools had become quite lively. In addition to the changing rooms, outhouses had been built in various locations, and several food stalls had cropped up. The High Ogre Maids and the Civil Official Girls were running them, dressed in swimsuits and aprons. They looked quite comfortable, though I made sure to tell them to be careful while working near the heat.
The stalls offered curry, a ramen-like dish, a yakisoba-like dish, shaved ice, and juice. There was alcohol as well, but I set a strict rule: if you drank, you weren't allowed back in the water. Because of this, the Dwarves would play in the pool with everything they had before retiring to the tables by the stalls to enjoy their food and drink. It went exactly as I had anticipated.
The curry was the most popular item by far. I knew it was delicious, but some of the kids were getting it all over their faces. I told them to wash up before getting back in the pool.
As for the ramen and yakisoba, they were dishes I had tried to recreate from my memories but couldn't quite get right. It might have been more accurate to call them soup pasta and fried pasta, but they certainly weren't bad. They had become popular enough to be staples at festivals and martial arts tournaments. I suppose I just had a personal hang-up about calling them "ramen" or "yakisoba" when they weren't perfect replicas.
"Village Head, here is your Soy Sauce Ramen with Extra Meat. Sorry for the wait!"
The names had already stuck with the villagers, so I decided not to let it bother me. I took a bite. It really was delicious.
Hakuren, the Sake Slime, and the cat were lounging poolside in a spot where they wouldn't get splashed. It was a bit of an odd trio. Hakuren was pregnant, so I cautioned her not to let her body get too cold. As for the Sake Slime, it could drink as much as it wanted. The cat was stretched out right next to it. I made a mental note to consult Gatto about making a specialized iron hairbrush for the cat later.
In the pool, Tia, Granmaria, and the other Angels had found their own unique way to have fun. They would hover over the water, then plunge in at an angle, dive deep, and resurface before taking flight again. They looked just like water birds. Their long dives made me a little nervous, so I asked them to be careful not to hit the bottom. When they asked for something to use as a target, I provided them with some cloth balls.
Lu spent her time relaxing in the shallow pool while watching over Alfred and Tiselle. She was really acting like a mother. I found myself wanting to play the fatherly role too, but she quickly put me to work. I ended up running off to fetch more juice for everyone.
Before long, a new routine established itself: people would play in the pool during their breaks, and then head home for a meal and a relaxing soak in the bath. Chilled barley beer was a huge favorite. The Dwarves even demanded that I increase the barley acreage for next year to keep up with the demand.
That was the essence of our summer. Now that autumn was approaching, I felt a pang of loneliness at the thought of closing the pool. I consulted with the Civil Official Girls, and we decided to hold a pool closing event. It was really just a massive village-wide barbecue. Apparently, these kinds of events were good for helping people transition their mindsets for the new season.
"With gratitude to the pool for keeping us cool."
We'd see it again next year. The barbecue was fantastic.
Even though the pool was technically "closed," the water from the reservoir would continue to flow through it on its way to the river. Because the water was always moving, we decided to keep using the facility as Reservoir No. 2. The Lizardmen seemed to be having a great time "managing" Reservoir No. 2, but I decided to look the other way.
"No, Urza, you can't go in."
"Aww, boo!"