At the base of the World Tree in the residential area, Aegis, the phoenix chick, was busy working on a project.
He had gathered a massive amount of lumber from somewhere and was now cutting it to size with a saw, smoothing it with a plane, and meticulously processing the wood with a chisel. Judging by the quality of the material, it looked like lumber from Village Five.
As I watched the pieces take shape, it became clear he was crafting parts for a building. I wondered if he was moving out of the mansion, but he shook his head. Apparently, he was building a house for the Eagle.
I called it a house, but the Eagle already had a nest high up in the branches of the World Tree. When I asked if something had happened, Aegis explained that the current nest was a bit too exposed, so he wanted to make something better for his friend.
That was quite kind of him. I had never actually seen the Eagle’s nest myself, but I assumed it was just a typical bird's nest. Aegis was clearly a thoughtful little bird.
However, looking at the components, it seemed he was building a standard one-story house. It even had a door. I started to ask how exactly an eagle was supposed to use a door, but the Eagle cut me off before I could finish.
The Eagle’s gaze was firm. It told me it wouldn't let Aegis's hard work go to waste. No matter what kind of house it turned out to be, the Eagle was determined to master living in it. I had to admire that spirit, though I hoped it wouldn't attempt anything physically impossible for its species.
Aegis, on the other hand, was truly special. I watched him handle the plane with such expert, full-bodied movements that it was hard to believe he was just a chick.
I moved a short distance away and peered into the flowerbeds outside the High Elves' house. I wasn't looking for flowers; I was looking for the Mountain Elves hiding among them.
"It was you all, wasn't it?" I asked. "You're the ones who gave Aegis those carpentry tools."
The High Elves standing beside them looked on with pride, as if they were the ones who had raised him. They were clearly his technical instructors. I didn't actually mind—it wasn't a bad thing at all. I just hoped they would show the village children as much enthusiasm as they showed Aegis.
When I mentioned this, they told me that Aegis had the best memory and natural aptitude of any student they'd ever seen. I could only offer a silent prayer of encouragement to the village children.
"Since you're all free, would you mind helping me with something?" I asked.
Watching Aegis had inspired me. I decided I wanted to build a small structure in the mansion's courtyard. It wasn't going to be a grand house, just a single Japanese-style room. My vision was a tea room with a doma entrance and a space laid with four-and-a-half tatami mats. I wanted one wall to be made of fusuma sliding doors, a thatched roof, and a nice engawa porch.
As for what the room would be used for... well, I hadn't quite figured that out yet. I told myself that building it was the goal and I’d worry about the purpose once it was finished.
I found a sunny spot in the courtyard, though I had to shoo away a flock of chickens that had occupied the area. After marking the perimeter with rope, I consulted with the High Elves and procured the necessary lumber. Since it was just a small, one-story hut, I didn't think it would take much, but an entire building still required a significant amount of wood.
I expected the processing to be a chore, but more help arrived. More High Elves and Mountain Elves joined in, followed by the beastman girls and several of Zabuton’s children. With their help, the work flew by. Even Kuro’s children showed up to watch. I told them not to overexert themselves and that their moral support was plenty. It was quite heartening to have them there.
The hut was completed in just three days. I was once again reminded of the incredible efficiency of "human-wave" tactics.
The tatami mats were custom-made to fit the dimensions of the finished room. While they weren't the exact standard size from my old world, I insisted they were "four-and-a-half mats" anyway. I figured I could worry about standardizing measurements for the rest of the village later.
The fusuma were also masterpieces. The Mountain Elves had crafted intricate wooden lattice-work inside the frames before covering them with paper. They looked far more luxurious than the simple doors I had imagined. The Mountain Elves were truly impressive.
The thatched roof was handled by the High Elves. Despite my vague explanation of how thatching worked, they produced a perfect roof. Apparently, they used a type of grass that was durable enough for the job even if it wasn't technically miscanthus. I didn't mind—I wasn't even sure exactly what qualified as miscanthus anyway.
Standing back and looking at the finished product, it really did look like a proper tea room. I considered removing a section of the tatami to install a hearth for a kettle. I wasn't sure if I'd ever actually use it, but the aesthetic was important.
I lay down on the tatami and took a deep breath. The scent of the rush grass was wonderful. I had built a tatami room in Yoko’s mansion in Village Five, but she had effectively claimed that as her own. I was determined to defend this one.
To celebrate the completion, I decided to hold a barbecue to reward everyone who had helped. I was a bit worried about having an open flame so close to a brand-new thatched roof, so we set up the grills a safe distance away. I invited everyone, even those who hadn't helped with the construction, figuring they had been busy with other village duties while I was "playing" with my tea room.
"Practice for the martial arts tournament?" I said to some of the residents. "That's fine too. Eat up, I’ll keep the food coming!"
The next day, I went to check on Aegis. He was in the process of moving his finished house to the top of the World Tree. The giant silkworms living on the tree were doing the heavy lifting, using their silk to hoist the structure up. Several of Zabuton's children were assisting as well. There wasn't much I could do to help, so I simply watched the process.
The house had a door, and I still wondered how the Eagle would manage it. Maybe it would just leave a window open?
Aegis wasn't finished, though. He was already working on a bed, a table, and a set of chairs. They looked like fine pieces of furniture, but I hoped he was considering the Eagle’s anatomy. I started to suggest removing the backrest from the chair, but the Eagle caught my eye and gave me a sharp glare. I decided to keep my mouth shut.
I left them to it and headed toward my new tea room, thinking I’d spend a relaxing afternoon there.
When I arrived, however, I found the tea room had been completely occupied by the chickens. They were inside the room, on the porch, and even perched all over the roof.
I felt something inside me break. I realized I had lost.
I wondered if I could at least salvage the tatami and fusuma, but the mats were already shredded and covered in filth. The doors were full of holes. When I reached for one, a chicken looked at me as if to ask why I would take their insulation right as the weather was getting cold.
I left them alone. My tea room had officially become a new chicken coop.
Later that day, I cleared a new section of land for a field. It was right before the autumn harvest, and I had plenty to do, but I just felt like moving. I wasn't tired, exactly, but tilling the soil helped clear my head. I didn't plant anything, since winter was around the corner, but I felt much better after the work.
High Elf A: "It looks like the house Aegis built is finished."
High Elf B: "The way he joined the lumber without using pillars is remarkable. Quite a feat."
High Elf C: "The fact that he used no nails at all is the most impressive part."
Hiraku: "...Wait, what? No pillars or nails? Like the Azekura style used in the Shosoin storehouse? Seriously?"
Aegis: "(Looks incredibly smug.)"
Mountain Elf: "Um... isn't it just a log house?"
Hiraku: "The chickens stole my tea room!"
Ann: "You were far too soft on them. Chickens are every bit as rowdy as the goats."
Hiraku: "But they never caused trouble at the mansion or the shrine before."
Ann: "That is because we made sure they understood the rules." (She said this while calmly sharpening a kitchen knife.)
Hiraku: "Oh... right. I see..."
Once this busy season is over... I'll think about my next project then.