Chapter 252: Making A Castle Together With Everyone
After each of us finished introducing ourselves, Tornell looks up at the sand castle I made - perhaps he had been curious about it since some time ago - and yells.
「Even so, this is awesome! Hey, Alfried-sama, what castle is this?」
「Oniichan! I told you to be more polite when you talk!」
Kuina warns the lively Tornel.
I already don’t know which of them is the older one here.
「We really don’t care about that you know, and there is no one else here, so it’s fine to use your usual way of talking. Right, Eric?」
「……no, no matter if they are residents of the territory or not, it’s important to give them a feeling of distance――」
Covering Eric’s mouth - who was trying to make a remark that ignore the situation -, I talk to him in a small voice.
「It’s because you say such bothersome things that you can’t make friends of the same age, you know」
「Uuh!」
「There is no one else here, so it’s fine to do so for a while」
I certainly think that it’s important to draw a line between nobles and villagers, but I think it’s all alright to loosen up a little when you’re still a kid. As I saw it, both Eric’s parents and Luna-san appeared to be magnanimous.
「When you grew up being untactful then I think people of your same age will not talk to you since people will be daunted by you being a noble, don’t you think?」
It’s different for the second son who will not become the lord of the territory, but Eric is considered to be the next lord.
So when it turned out like that, it will become all the more difficult for the people of the same age in the village to talk to him, and if he continues to grow up like this and become the lord, there’s no doubt that he will only be able to make a business-like relationship with the villagers. In addition, Eric has a sullen face, so it’s all the more reason for others not to talk to him.
Since he is a noble that is not really a bad thing, but as expected it’s bad for the people in his village. I mean, he wants to get along with the villagers, right.
「……that might be so」
After thinking about it for a while, Eric speak in a convinced tone so I let go of my hand from Eric’s mouth.
「……aah, I also don’t mind. Just talk to me like usual」
「……ha, haa」
So he said, but Kuina looks confused since Eric’s face is so sullen.
’Is he angry?’ I understand that she’s clearly thinking something along those lines.
「The two of them said so, so it’s fine, isn’t it?」
On the contrary, Tornel casually replies. To be more specific, he’s more like Koryatt villagers.
「Still, I’m not used to this yet, so please allow me to stay like this」
「I’m going to talk to you normally, a’ight!」
「Aah, I don’t mind, as long as it’s easier for you guys」
It’s still our first meeting after all, so it should be fine as long as they found it easier to talk to us.
「Then, Alfried! What castle is this?」
「Yeah, this is the castle in the royal capital, Misphilt castle」
「Oooh! So this is the castle where the king lives, huh! Our house is nothing compared to this!」
「I have never seen the real thing, but it looks like I can get a rough image of the castle just by looking at this」
After I explain it, Tornell and Kuina are looking around the castle with sparkling eyes.
It’s not so bad if the village is located near the royal capital, but even Eric’s territory is far from the royal capital. If you are the villagers here, it’s natural that you haven’t gone to the royal capital before.
I’m also feeling happy when I look at the two people looking happy.
「Even then, how did you make this castle? I went to the sea yesterday and there is still no amazing thing like this here, y’know?」
「Ah, you’re right」
「I started making it using Earth magic earlier」
「Ueehh!? For real!?」
「No way!……right?」
Hmm, so such reactions will come out if this kind of huge sand castle suddenly appears here?
Then I use Earth magic to show them two of them as they look at me with eyes of doubt.
Immediately after, the sand in front of us wriggles, and then a small gate started taking shape in front of the royal castle.
「Uooooohhh!? No way! So magic was something awesome like this, Kuina!?」
「Eeh!? I don’t know!……but, I’ve heard that noble-sama can use magic more amazing than us commoners can use, so those noble-samas will be able to do it right?」
「……no, if you use this guy as the standard, then all of the nobles in the kingdom shouldn’t be able to put up with it, y’know」
Eric says as though groaning when he heard the two of them talking.
「But, Shelka was also skilled in magic, and nobles who are proud of their magical abilities should be able to do something like this, right?」
「Don’t use the kingdom noble’s most outstanding girl with magical abilities as a standard, will ya. Moreover, Shelka is a genius who experienced an unusual case of skipping grades in the Magic Academy」
I knew that Shelka came from a traditional, magic-using noble house, but I didn’t think that Shelka herself was that amazing of a person.
I was thinking that the noble in the royal capital would be able to use magic normally like her, but perhaps I should change my perception of them?
「Uoooh, amazing. Even the back is being built perfectly!」
「Oniichan! Your hand! You can’t touch it as you please!」
Kuina warns Tornell, who was captivated by the sand castle as he unconsciously touched the wall of sand.
「No, it doesn’t matter since it won’t immediately crumble even if you touched it. And there are still places like the castle gate, interior, or garden that are about to be made, so if you like, how about making them together?」
「Ooh! Is that okay!?」
「Eeh! Uh, but still, we can’t really participate in modifying such amazing work」
Tornell’s response went as expected so I ignore him, and although Kuina is reserved, she looks somewhat happy to be asked to participate.
Although she’s also feeling reserved about it, the feeling of wanting to participate is also huge in her. It’s probably something like that, right?
Come to think of it, Kuina said that she was the daughter of the village’s decorator when she introduced herself.
She might really like making things out of something like this.
「You certainly said that you were the daughter of the village’s decorator when you introduced yourself, right? The castle gate, the roof, they will look dull if they stay like that, so I want to ask for your help in decorating them though……」
「I can’t help you in making the castle personally, but I also help my father back home so I think I will be able to help in making the decorations 」
Ooh, I succeed in persuading her. Since she’s the decorator’s daughter, then let’s look forward to her design skill.
She’ll no doubt will make the Misphilt sand castle more vivid in appearance.
「Ah, but, I’m not as skilled as Kuina, so don’t expect me to do the decoration」
「Eh? Is that so? Then, what does Tornell usually do?」
He said that he’s not skilled and don’t feel confident in his decoration skill even though he’s the son of a decorator, I wonder what he means by that?
「I usually gather the materials for the decorations, like shellfish and coral, magic core fragments, or fish and monsters’ fang! Then Kuina and my otouchan processes them and then kaachan connected them together」
「Ooh, so it’s like that. That’s amazing」
I unconsciously feel admiration toward him when Tornell throws out his chest and he says that.
I see, so even though he doesn't know if he is not very good at processing so he’s contributing to his family by doing other things, huh?
It’s easy to say so, but that’s not something you can do easily.
I’m a little worried when I see Tornell’s appearance and his speech and conduct, but he completely takes pride in the work he does.
「Oniichan, is good at diving in the sea after all. He supports our family by collecting the materials for our decorations while learning as a Harpoonist’s apprentice」
Kuina was a bit harsh toward her brother Tornell, but her words sounded somewhat proud of her brother. In the end, she probably respects her brother.
「Hou, a Harpoonist’s apprentice, huh. That’s amazing」
Even someone who doesn’t praise others that much (Eric) also unintentionally expresses his admiration toward him.
In addition, the sea is a dangerous place. Furthermore, there are even monsters that live in the sea and attack people in this world, and the degree of danger at sea sharply rises. And yet, Tornell - who continues to dive in the sea - looks like an adventurer and appears amazing.
He has an occupation that I’ll definitely be unable to do.
「I’m not that amazing though. Rather than that, let’s just complete this totally awesome castle」
Tornell says while scratching his head looking shy, maybe he’s embarrassed because we praised him.
「That’s true. Well then, shall we finish the Misphilt castle?」
「Ou! What should I do?」
Tornell was saying that she was clumsy with his hands. So rather than giving him to do the small, detailed works and the like, I should probably let him take care of the rough parts of the castle.
「Then Tornell will flatten the ground of the castle」
「Ooh, so I just have to flatten the ground, eh. Then that’s easy!」
「There is also the work of carving the veins of the leaves in the garden though?」
「No no, flattening the ground is important after all so I don’t need that one! ‘kay then, I’ll go flatten the ground!」
Tornell went inside the castle hurriedly, I guess he doesn’t like the job of carving the leaf's veins.
As I saw him off, Eric called out to me from behind.
「What should I do then?」
「Right. Eric should decorate the castle gate together with Kuina. I mean, Eric has already seen Misphilt castle and its gate, so you can help her, right?」
「Tha, that’s right. Eric-sama, I look forward to working with you!」
「I don’t know whether I can help or not, but please take care of me」
How is it, it’s a consideration mentioned casually, supported by such theory.
When people are working together as a group, a sense of unity will automatically grow between them. This is the first step toward Eric’s 'Friend Making plan'.
They are still stiff toward each other, but by the time this work is done, they would become a bit more frank with each other.
Okay then, let’s take care of adjusting the whole castle and the missing parts with magic.
I went under the castle gate that is able to let a single adult pass and enter the castle.
There is a straight road that leads toward the royal castle and a large garden after I go through the castle gate. In the garden is a verdant green lawn, brightly colored flowers blooming and split into a number of flower beds.
Of course, it was only roughly made using Earth magic so they are not colored. Even the veins of the leaves are not carved on them. So I would have to shape them one by one with magic.
Although, I will do it later when I have the time, I will just postpone it for now and start from there. The details will only be done after the whole structure is finished.
As I walked into the garden, I saw Tornell as he diligently flatten the ground in the garden with his hands and feet.
As expected, even though it’s just flattening the ground it’s going to be tough doing it with just your hands and feet alone.
Noticing that, I create a tonbo using Earth magic and give it to Tornell.
「Oh? What’s that strange stick? A harpoon?」
「It’s not a harpoon. It’s called a tonbo, a tool to level the ground. Just by pushing or pulling this thing, you can easily flatten the ground, you know」
「Push? Pull?」
Tornell tilted his head in confusion, I guess he didn’t understand it even when I explain it to him. Since it’s like this, I borrow the tonbo from Tornell and show it to him.
And when I push and then pull the tonbo, the bumpy grounds start changing and became flat in an instant.
「Ooh! So you do it like that! Let me try it too!」
Tornell yells in excitement, maybe he wanted to try it himself after seeing me do it.
When I quickly hand the tonbo over to him, Tornell started pushing and pulling the tonbo in the same manner as me.
*zuzazazaza*, such sounds of the soil being pushed and pulled resound.
How nostalgic. What was it again, right there was a time when I helped my friend who was having a club activity to flatten the ground for fun. I liked the sense of doing the work where I can do it so mindlessly, and I can also become immersed in it for hours.
And in the end, I pointlessly flattened half of the sports ground that time.
「I don’t know how this thing works, but it has become easier to flatten the ground, it’s convenient! I want this!」
While I was thinking about the event that took place in the past, Tornell yelled happily.
「I made it using Earth magic anyway, you can have it. It doesn’t cost money to make after all」
「Really!? Is that okay!?」
「Un. Though I don’t know when it will break」
I never gave any tool I made with Earth magic like this. It’s a consumable tool anyway and I’ve compressed my magic power and hardened it as it is, but I wonder how long it can maintain its form?
When it comes to a tonbo, as expected people will use them quite a lot, so it probably wouldn’t be able to keep its shape that long, huh.
「Thanks! If I have this then I can even make the place in front of our shabby house more pretty!」
Unlike the big cities or the royal capital with their cobblestones, the villagers in the countryside and the likes are mostly on dirt roads. Naturally, it’s impossible to cover the road in a wide range, however, it would probably still be able to make the road in front of one’s house look pretty.
「Now then, after you’re done with the garden do so, continue to the other side of the castle. After that please take care of the outside of the castle gate」
「Ou! Leave it to me!」
Even when I calmly increase the extent of his workload, Tornell still replies happily, perhaps it’s because of the joy of receiving the tonbo.
「But the ground will be hollowed if you put too much strength in the tonbo so be careful okay. Just do it moderately」
「Uwaaa!? For real!? It scraped a hole!」
I wonder if it’s really okay? You’re going to flatten them, so stop when the ground became bumpy or something, all right?
here
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