How's that?　Do you see it?
　'Hmmm, that's subtle. It's hazy.

　I was training in witchcraft right now.
　What I'm doing right now is the basics, the training of seeing souls but apparently I don't have the talent.

　It's not that Almus is not extremely talented. It's just that he's the worst of the boys. It's the basics, he'll learn them in three years.
　Three years... by the way, where's Julia?
　"I'll be three days.
　...Isn't that too much of a unit?

　So Julia is just a monster. I'm relieved.

　''To begin with, witchcraft is very much a matter of talent. Ninety percent of it is talent.''
　So all the effort is in vain?
　''Not true. Anyone can learn the art of mine curse unless they're a very cruelty-free person.

　A twirling parlor.
　I'm a bit of a bad person, so that makes it okay.

　"Cursed is like having two holes. This is common knowledge of curses. Casting a curse is much more difficult than protecting yourself from it. An ordinary sorcerer is only about 50-50 when casting a curse on someone who doesn't know how to do it. If the person is aware of the curse on him, the curse is not valid. It's easy to get rid of it by force of will. It's easy to curse Almus to death if you're in my class, though.
　As I recall, a plant with no will can easily cast a curse?
　I think she said something like that.

　Yeah, yeah. That's why the crops have to be protected by warding. Basically, it's more of a defense. It takes three people to break the warding that one sorcerer has put up. I'm a hundred man power, though, so this law doesn't hold true!
　Saying that, Yulia stretched her thin chest.
　''Don't brag about every single thing.

　''At any rate, if you don't become aware of the world of spirit spirit spirit, you won't be able to talk about it, so do your best every day. You just need to meditate a bit before going to bed at night.
　It's like a strength training exercise.
　It's the foundation. I meditate every day, too. Before I go to bed.
　So, in the end, you have to work hard every day.
　That's no different for exercise and witchcraft.

　'By the way, how much is salt worth?　From the ocean?　Or is it rock salt?
　Salt?　I guess it's valuable in its own way. Basically, rock salt. If you boil water, you'll need a lot of wood.
　Oh, I see. Valuable.
　I wouldn't want to trade for ironware. And I want to keep some ironware for self-defense. So I'll either have to dig up some rock salt myself, or I'll have to find some specialty food...

　Is there anything you need?
　'What's that. Are you going to get me a present?
　No, I don't mean that. I just thought it would be nice if I could make something that could be traded for salt. Just FYI.
　''Well, I don't know if you can say that all of a sudden... Speaking of strong, is it earthenware or something else?
　Pottery?

　You can find earthenware in ordinary places.

　Once in a while, people from the Cilicia region come across the ocean to visit us. The earthenware they bring is very strong and different from the ones we use. They are very durable and the colors are beautiful. That's why it's so popular among the royalty.
　I see. The earthenware we use is certainly fragile. Dirty colors. Thank you for that. That's good to know.　

　Let's think about this as soon as we get home.

________.


　First of all, the characteristics of the earthenware we use.
　Thick and brittle. And red.

　This is due to the oxidation of the iron in the clay. The culprit is ferric oxide.
　Basically, the earthenware in this area is fired in the open air. This causes a large amount of oxygen to be supplied to the pottery and this is what happens.

　So what should we do?
　You can bake in the ground.

　We can make a hole kiln.
　In the enclosed space, the heat is less likely to leak out and the temperature is much higher than open-air firing.
　Lastly, the smoke entrance and the fire mouth are blocked with wood. By doing so, the amount of oxygen supply can be reduced.

　When the supply of oxygen is reduced, no ferric oxide is produced. What is created instead is ferrous oxide.

　This ferrous oxide is black in color. This means that black earthenware is created.

　In other words, a Sue ware.

　Well, I don't know the details either.

　Anyway, we can make something better than the earthenware we are using now. I don't know which one is better than the earthenware brought by the Cilician, though.

　By the way, in order to fire the Sue ware, we need an anagama (a kiln).
　This anagama kiln, or literally a kiln in the ground, is in other words, hard work.

　Do you have the time to do such a thing?　I think you have to do some farm work.

　That's not true.

　In fact, we have a lot of time on our hands right now.

　We've finished harvesting the turnips and what we're growing now is clover. Clovers are half weeds that don't need much care.
　In fact, next year, I'll have a hard time getting rid of them.

　So I've got plenty of time.


　So you've got a hoe, right?　Let's make it fast.
　Where are you going to build it?
　Sojourn said as he held the hoe.

　'A slope,' he said. If I recall, there was a nice slope over there. We'll make it there.
　You're digging the ground just for salt?
　It's not just for the salt. It's better to have something to trade in for food if you can't get wheat or something else to eat.
　Ironware is finite.
　On the other hand, there is a lot of clay and wood for firewood. I do not worry about running out.

　Besides, various useful things can be made for the anagama other than Sue ware.

　There is no harm in making it.

　Let's go!
　'Oh!'
　Thus began the making of the hole kiln.

_______________________________.


　The first step is to cut down the trees on the slope.
　The main forces are all ten-year-olds. The work was never slow.....

　'Okay, the fifth one!
　"...Armes, are we really the same person?　For all intents and purposes, I'm more powerful than the average adult.
　The sound of Tetra's dismay can be heard in concert with the sound of a tree falling.

　Yes, I have a blessing that increases my physical abilities.　
　The griffon bastard dismissed the effect as subtle, but if it's enough to chop down a tree, this is enough.

　Right now I'm as physically capable as a muscular adult male.

　It's really useful. But if possible, I wanted the ability to read minds or a level of physical ability that would allow me to pull through a tree with just one hand.
　I shouldn't be so extravagant.

　Anyway, the work went smoothly.


　Five days have passed since I cut down the trees, cut the weeds, and started digging the ground.

　Finally, it was finished.
　Is this what a novice would look like?　Because it is a kiln made with the sense of "I am not expected to make a performance.
　However, it is not a problem because I am not trying to make a splendid earthenware.

　Next, it is the time of the craft.

　I connect the clay and shape it.
　In fact, I'm good at this kind of humble work.
　When I was in the fifth grade, I was praised for my good technique in a pottery class.
　And my art in junior high school was a five.

　'Ted!　You son of a b*tc*!　Payback!
　"You've got to be kidding me!
　'Hey boys!　The clay will fly. Ah!　It's on my clothes!　This!
　No, don't...
　They're all Abo.

　These guys ain't going to do any serious crafting.
　Ron, Rosward, and Sojourn started a war in the mud, led by Ron, Rosward, and Sojourn.

　The pacifists, led by Tetra and Gram, gathered around me and began to evacuate. I guess that means they won't be flying in my direction.

　I continue to work in silence.

　A handy-looking cup, a large earthenware vessel used to boil things. Plates and water bottles.
　Not only do we have to replace them, but we're going to use them too, so we have to make a lot of them.

　Shit, I'm the only one who's making this stuff seriously.

　"Hey, make your own dishes, man.
　I know.
　Only the pacifists will answer. It doesn't reach the ears of those who are at war.
　It's so vain........

_______________________________________________________________.

　It's finally done.
　I took the cooled Sue ware from the anagama.
　It was gray and a good color.

　When I flicked it with my finger, it made a high-pitched sound. It must be quite strong.

　'Oh!'
　Tetra looks impressed with the cup she made herself.
　I knew it would be nice to make my own!

　Uh.....
　'Huh...'
　Ron and Roseward are dreading it.
　I don't know if the earthenware they made was not thick enough, but it's cracked.

　'That's what happens when you play with them,'

　Seo-yeon says with crossed arms.
　To me, it looks like you're just playing around too.......

　Well, there's plenty of opportunity for that. We've got a lot of opportunities to make a good one. There's plenty of time.
　When I said that, Ron and Rosward's eyes lit up.

　And so we continued to mass-produce the suet while the clover was growing.

________.


　Here's your present.
　'What!　Me?　Thank you!
　Julia happily hugs Sueki. Is she that happy?

　This is very durable. How did you make it?
　Julia played it with her fingers and listened as she checked the sound.
　'It's a trade secret. By the way, can we trade this for some salt?
　I think that's enough.

　Okay. That's a relief.

　'Where do you want me to change the salt?　It's so valuable, you'll have to talk to someone high and mighty to get it, right?
　'Well would you like me to bring it to you then?'
　Huh?
　Seriously.

　"I'll give you an earthen cup of salt with those three vessels.
　Are you sure?　It would be so much easier if you gave it to me.
　I don't want to negotiate with a nobleman or the king of a country, let alone with a village chief. I'm just a kid. The worst thing that can happen to me is they'll take it away from me.
　Gryphon Authority is made of paper, so it's vulnerable to physical attacks.

　So if Julia can bring it to me, it's better.

　''Not at all. I think I'll gain one earthenware vessel's worth, okay?
　"Well yes. I don't mind. Good luck next time.

　Thus, the Pottery Salt Exchange Agreement was signed.