Once the village children grew old enough, they spent their mornings studying and their afternoons working. Playtime only started after their chores were done.
Personally, I felt that as long as they kept up with their studies, they didn’t really need to work. However, the mothers eventually persuaded me that giving the children roles was an essential part of their upbringing. Since the children didn't seem to mind, I allowed it.
That said, I’ve had to reflect on the fact that I’d been somewhat indifferent to the actual nature of their labor. I had heard descriptions of their tasks, of course, but since I hadn’t performed many of them myself, I didn't truly appreciate how difficult they were.
To remedy this, I decided to join them.
First, I helped clean the pens for the cows, horses, goats, sheep, and chickens. The Beastman girls were the primary caretakers, and since I was just assisting, I figured it would be easy. I was wrong; it was surprisingly heavy labor. Carrying the manure to the designated disposal area was particularly grueling. I was very nearly tempted to pull out my Universal Farming Tool and turn it all into soil on the spot.
For the time being, I asked the Mountain Elves to build some handcarts. Since they would be used in and around the pens, I requested large wheels to handle the uneven ground. On second thought, maybe a simple wheelbarrow would be better. I canceled the carts and asked for wheelbarrows instead.
A wheelbarrow, huh? Using one took me back to my first days in this world, back when I was all alone.
Next was brushing the coats of the cows, horses, goats, and sheep. The Beastman girls handled the bulk of this, and while I was technically an assistant, I performed the same tasks they did. One point of caution was that each animal had a specific brush, so I had to be careful not to mix them up. I also had to monitor the animals' health and report anything unusual to the girls.
I borrowed the tools and got to work. The cows and horses were obedient and gave me no trouble. I’d brushed them before, so I knew what I was doing. The goats and sheep, however, were a different story. For some reason, the goats kept trying to headbutt me.
"Hey now, wait your turn. Line up..." It was useless. Why did they follow the Beastman girls’ instructions but not mine? Perhaps it was simply the difference between the person who fed them and the person who didn't.
The sheep wouldn't even come near me. They bolted the moment they saw me coming. I felt a bit dejected by their rejection, but Kuro’s children saw my plight and rounded the sheep up for me. I thanked them, but then a realization hit me—was their help the reason the sheep were afraid of me? I really hoped that wasn't it.
Collecting eggs was another job for the children. While the High Ogre Maids handled the bulk of it, chickens apparently lay eggs at all hours of the day. Some lay in the early morning, while others wait until noon. The maids let the chickens out and gathered the morning eggs, but the children were responsible for searching the coop for any laid later in the day. It sounded tedious, but since each bird tended to favor the same nesting spot, the children told me it was easy once you got the hang of it.
I let the children guide me to the hidden eggs. They were exactly where they said they’d be. One thing I noticed, however, was the size of the baskets. They were adult-sized, which looked awkward and difficult for the children to carry. I decided then and there to weave some child-sized baskets for them.
Then there was the village cleaning. Since every household managed their own interior cleaning, the children’s job was garbage collection. They collected bins from designated spots and replaced them with fresh ones. The bins weren't exactly heavy, but they weren't light either, and their size made them cumbersome for small arms. A wheelbarrow wouldn't quite work for transporting multiple bins, so I asked the Mountain Elves to design a specialized garbage bin transport cart.
Next was cleaning the waterways and reservoirs. This task was primarily handled by the Lizardman children rather than the whole group. They removed fallen leaves and stones that had settled in the water. They were strictly forbidden from going to the waterways outside the village, as monsters and magic beasts made those areas too dangerous; the adult Lizardmen handled those sections.
I wanted to help, but the water was still freezing. I couldn't do it. I tried to think of tools that might make their work easier, like underwater goggles or snorkels, but the Lizardmen had no use for such things.
"I'm sorry," I told them. "If you ever need anything, just say the word. Don't be shy about it—you don't even need to use a Reward Medal."
Then came the honey harvesting. The Beastman girls worked with Zabuton’s children to bottle the honey, and the children’s job was to collect the finished jars. I noticed the lids were sealed exceptionally tight. I asked if it was to stop the children from sneaking a taste.
"No," they told me. "It’s to keep the fairies out."
I see. Do the fairies really try to steal it that often? I’d have to have a word with the Fairy Queen and ask her to keep them in check. It would be fine. If I threatened to reduce the amount of honey used in her desserts, she would listen.
The next task was exercising Kuro’s children. This just involved throwing flying discs or balls for them to chase. I did this myself from time to time, so I wondered if it really counted as "work." However, the moment I picked up a disc, Kuro’s children gathered with such incredible intensity that I realized I couldn't just stop.
I also checked in on the blacksmithing assistance. The children didn't do any actual smithing; they just fetched tools and raw materials from the storehouse. The instructions were clear, and Gatto had established strict off-limits areas to ensure their safety, so there weren't any issues. What caught my eye was how patiently Gatto explained each step of the process. I’d assumed a craftsman like him would just make them learn by watching, but I was wrong.
"It’s better to teach them what they're actually doing," Gatto explained. "They stay motivated that way. Plus, I have a bit of an ulterior motive—I'm hoping to spark an interest in smithing in a few of them."
I understood that feeling perfectly. I couldn't help but hope that at least one of them might take an interest in agriculture, too.
Finally, there was the cooking assistance. This involved washing ingredients and doing prep work like peeling vegetables. The children were quite skilled with their knives, but watching them work made me nervous. They told me that as long as they used the proper grip, they wouldn't cut themselves, and that healing magic was always available for emergencies.
That was reassuring, but I still went to Gatto and had him forge a peeler. I demonstrated how to press the blade against the skin and pull.
Cheers erupted—mostly from the High Ogre Maids. I laughed. I remembered being just as shocked the first time I’d used a peeler. It was such a convenient tool; I couldn't believe I’d forgotten to introduce it until now. I apologized for the delay and mentioned that you could even swap the blades to make crinkle cuts. I immediately put in an order for enough peelers to supply all the children and the maids. Gatto had his work cut out for him.
That covered the children’s seasonal chores. I never intended to take their efforts lightly, but actually doing the work made me realize how demanding it truly was. They mentioned that during harvest time, they also had to process crops and pack them into barrels and boxes.
I hadn't understood their contribution nearly enough. I apologized to them and offered my sincere thanks. I’d tried to improve things where I could, but that was only from my perspective.
"If there’s anything else that feels inconvenient, don't hesitate to tell me," I told them.
For now, I set to work on the child-sized egg baskets. I needed to make enough for every child in the village. The Mountain Elves had worked hard on the wheelbarrows and garbage carts, so I decided to handle the weaving myself.
"Hm? What is it, Alfred?"
Alfred, Tiselle, and Urza had approached me. They told me they wanted to help weave the baskets since they were the ones who would be using them—and they wanted to thank me for helping with their chores.
"Thank you," I said, smiling. "Well then, let's make them together."