Hey?　Does this really help?
　It's going to be okay. Trust me.

　Are the kids for real?　The ashes are sown in the field with a look of "I'm not sure what to do".

　This area gets a lot of rain in the winter and the amount of rain has increased recently.
　The rain is slightly acidic because of the carbon dioxide in the air.

　The fields here are absorbing the rain, so the soil should be slightly acidic.
　And wheat is vulnerable to acidic soil.

　So it needs to be sown with ashes to neutralize it.
　That's why we are sowing ashes.

　There are different plants that prefer acidic or alkaline.
　You have to be careful about that.

　This field is one and a half times larger than the area where we grew turnips.
　There are many reasons for this, but the main reason is that my physical abilities have improved.
　I can take good care of them.

　Next time we'll use homemade fertilizer.
　I lift the manure in an earthenware bowl.

　It's cattle and goat dung, not thrown away, but hardened in one place and fermented with forest leaves.
　We didn't make it very far in time for the turnips, but we can use it now.

　The kids told me there was no way they were going to put cow dung in the field, but I convinced them that the nuts we eat all the time grow in forest soil mixed with animal dung.

　I considered human feces, but I don't like it myself and I'm afraid of parasites, so I don't do it.
　Parasites and parasites are too disgusting.

　I added the fertilizer and ashes and now I stirred it up.
　I have to make sure it's spread all over.

　The cow and I and the kids work together to plow the field.
　We work pretty fast.

　My strength and the cows' strength is greater than anything else.
　I'm sure it's more efficient than the efficiency of a normal farm.

　Let's call it a day. Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, we'll finish the work.
　'Yes!　I'm tired. Let's get some food.
　What did we have for dinner today?
　It's always the same.
　You mean nuts....
　How does Master Gryphon collect so many nuts?

　The kids are talking and getting ready for dinner.

　When I first arrived, it was pretty awkward.
　We were all strangers from different places.
　And there were also many children who couldn't get over the shock of being abandoned by their parents and were stunned.

　Now they don't look like that.
　Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.

　Let's go?
　Tetra pulls your clothes on.
　"Yeah. I know.
　I headed for everyone.

　...I wonder how many kids would leave me next year if there wasn't a famine.


______________________________.


　Farming, there's a big difference between when you're busy and when you're not.
　'Yeah...'

　It's been a few weeks since we sowed the wheat seeds.
　When I'm not plowing or harvesting, I'm doing farm work: pulling weeds and getting rid of pests.

　Pulling out the weeds is not so hard if you do it every day. Even small children can do it.
　The pests don't appear so much, thanks to the insect repellent chrysanthemum extract.


　By the way, I've seen more and more people in the forest lately.
　'Because winter is coming. They're feeding the pigs acorns and gathering nuts while they're at it. It's quite serious that there are people in the forest who are afraid of Master Gryphon's wrath.
　Tetra says with a thoughtful look on her face.
　'Do you think any of the kids will be abandoned this winter?'
　'I think we cut off those who can't feed themselves in the summer, but there's a certain number of people who don't plan ahead. But if there's a bad wheat crop the next season, there will be a lot of them.

　I can only hope it's not a bad crop.

　Will the gryphons be able to support the newcomers?　
　I don't think I can...
　And in our case, whimsy was a big reason.

　'King Domorgal and King Gilbed don't have time for war. 'It's ridiculous to lose laborers and sorcerers to war. The soldiers should be returned to the peasants and the sorcerers to the mine spell.
　'What else does witchcraft have to offer for warfare other than curses and anti-curses?'
　You can ask that woman, Yulia, or whatever she is.
　Tetra said grimly.
　'That's mean.

　'Tell me about it,'
　So pat me on the head.
　Here.
　I pat Tetra's head. Tetra laughs happily.

　'Then let me tell you something. Did you know you can put a soul on an animal?
　Yeah. I know.
　'Then we'll talk fast. We put our souls on eagles and dogs to scout out the enemy and so on. Naturally, the enemy will shoot them with bows and arrows to prevent them from doing so. If your soul is shot through with your soul on top of it, it can cause serious damage to your soul. They can also create flames and wind. It would take dozens of people.

　That's great. Especially for reconnaissance.
　It could be used like an airplane, depending on how you handle it.
　Birds carrying things like bombs, dropping them over the heads of the enemy.
　It could also be used as a bomber.

　It's very simple, but it can be used in more ways than you might think.

　Hey. I'm thinking of inviting Julia to the village after the fall and winter. I want you to learn about witchcraft. Is that alright with you?
　"...I have no particular objection to Almus's policy.
　He seems to forgive me.
　Good.

　"Well, by the way...
　What?
　It's cold out there, isn't it?
　....

　Tetra affirmed in silence.

　The season is gradually approaching winter.
　Somehow I can tell that the winter cold in this region is no different than in Japan. On the contrary, it's that cold.

　Everyone wears clothes made of processed animal fur that the griffon gives us occasionally, but there is only enough for one of us. It's cold and unbeatable.

　'It looks like we'll be spending a lot of days inside the house in the winter.
　I need a warm fireplace.
　I need to get some wood for it while I'm at it.

　
　What to do....

　That's right. Let's make that one. While we still can.

　What's going on?　Alms.
　We're going to go chop wood now.
　It's a good day to have an idea.



_______________________________.


　Charcoal has many advantages.

　The major advantage is its long burning time. The fire power is stable. And it does not emit smoke.

　Naturally, there are drawbacks.
　In terms of pure firepower and thermal efficiency, burning wood directly is faster.

　In fact, wood is the basic fuel for fireplaces and the like.

　So you'd really like to use wood for heating, but it produces smoke.
　It would be nice if we had a chimney, but we don't have a chimney in our cave house.

　If we try to keep warm inside the house, we'll be smoking.

　Now, how to make charcoal is not so difficult.
　If you heat it up in a low oxygen area, the wood will not burn, it will replace the charcoal.

　Heating in a low oxygen environment.
　I know of a facility like that somewhere!

　So we'll use the anagama.
　Did you have to do that last one?

　Shut up. I've explained it to you, so be thankful.

　'Anyway, if we can get charcoal, it won't be frozen or smoked in the winter.

　I pack the wood into the hole kiln.
　It can't be done if there's too much air in it, so I lay it down as much as possible and put dry dead leaves in the gaps.


　'Then I'll ignite it.'
　I light it with my torch.
　The wood inside begins to burn.

　'After a while, I'll plug the fire and smoke openings. Let it burn for a day and we'll have some charcoal.
　Not much different than a spheroid?
　'Well, as long as it doesn't react with oxygen, we're all on the same page.
　Hey?　What is oxygen?

　Explaining oxygen.
　I'm not sure I can explain it very well...

　Oxygen is what's needed to burn things. It's a form of air. Without oxygen, things don't burn.
　Hmm. Isn't that oxygen burning?
　Shit. Don't get me started on the tedious part.
　I'm in the humanities, so I don't know if I can give a correct answer to a scientific question like that.

　Well, the burning is caused by carbon, a substance in our bodies, combining with oxygen. Therefore, is it correct to say that oxygen is not burning, but oxygen is burning it?
　Hmm. I think I know what it is.

　I'm starting to get confused too.
　Was this the right definition of burning in the first place?　It's also combustion that binds iron to oxygen, right?　I thought you were limited to carbon?　What's the difference between burning and burning in the first place?
　General terms and chemical terms?

　Speaking of which, my high school teacher said that oxidation isn't a reaction between oxygen and other substances that combine, or something like that.
　Oxidation is also when matter is deprived of hydrogen.
　As I recall, oxidation is when a substance loses electrons.

　That's not oxidation.
　I don't know what that means.
　I don't want you to use the term to cause misunderstanding.

　I learned that oxidation is the combination of matter and oxygen when I was in junior high school.
　Don't change the claim.

　I don't understand.

　"Hey, Light. What's the matter with you?
　'No, it was nothing. I was just thinking about it for a minute.