Chapter 218: Scaled Hot Springs (1/2)

Chapter 218: Scaled Hot Springs

“For example; what would happen if we were to splash water into high temperature oil?”

“…That would be crazy dangerous. The people that have done that probably received heavy burns, and maybe even create a fire. What’s with that example, Shiki?” (Makoto)

“Why is that?” (Shiki)

“Water and oil don’t get along. If you were to do that, the hot oil would fly around and might become a big disaster. That’s why when cooking deep-fried food, there’s the need to be careful of not letting water in. Even if it’s only a small amount, it would be dangerous.” (Makoto)

“That…would I be able to understand it with this textbook, with the so called phenomenons that are written here?” (Shiki)

“The physics textbook? Shiki, if you are to bring something out, it has to be a cooking book.” (Makoto)

Seriously.

That Shiki, what does he intend to do by suddenly bringing out several physic books?

Something like ‘what would happen if water is poured onto hot oil’ should be written in books that teach how to make deep-fried food.

—Outskirts of Kaleneon.

In the place that was once a reservoir, there’s me, Shiki, Ema, and the Eldwas’ Elder, moreover, there’s also Ruria who had gotten better now.

The Draupnir was slowly swaying inside the magma as per usual and emitting heat.

It isn’t showing any signs of going out of control.

Even though it did go out of control when it left my hand. Just what’s going on? I don’t understand at all.

If Ema, the Elder, and Shiki, are able to understand something, it would be great.

Shiki threw me a strange conversation and was derailing a bit though.

I separate from the three who were gazing inside the hole that was once a pond, and sit on a bench that we made with a tree.

“Waka-sama, there’s a lot of points that differ, but the explosion that Serwhale spoke about, probably happens in Waka-sama’s world as well.” (Shiki)

“Eh?”

“I think it is close to the phenomenon called vapor explosion. Do you know about it?” (Shiki)

Vapor explosion.

It is a word I feel I have heard before.

Though, I feel like it was from a novel or a manga.

Did I learn that in physics?

I do remember about dust explosion though.

It was famous because an explosion incident of this type occurred in a mine and caused deaths.

Vapor explosion huh.

Could it be…

“Ah, could it be you were referring to that when you were talking about the oil and water just now?” (Makoto)

“Yes. As a phenomenon, I think it is a befitting comparison. The basic explanation of a vapor explosion is that when water makes contact with a high temperature material it will vaporize precipitously.” (Shiki)

“…”

Radical vaporization.

Meaning it vaporizes all at once huh.

It is true that the Draupnir fell into the reservoir with a temperature that was a lot higher than I anticipated.

And, that explosion occurred.

As a result, the water was gone and had become like muddy lava.

There’s no doubt that the water in that pond had all evaporated in a short amount of time.

So that was the steam that robbed me of my vision at that time huh.

…I didn’t think Shiki was studying in physics already.

Moreover, he is in the position of teaching me.

In physics, I liked the calculations quite a bit, but as a subject, it was one of my weakest points. I feel slightly miserable.

“Even if a small ring were to become a high heat source, I don’t know yet if that could create an explosion of that scale though. There was no explosion energy formula written in the books after all. In the first place, the ring should have been blown away somewhere by the explosion, and yet, the Draupnir is right there, so I am just saying that the phenomenon is close to that of a vapor explosion though. What Serwhale called a natural result is probably referring to this phenomenon.” (Shiki)

That’s true.

If the water evaporated and created an explosion after the ring touched the water surface, the impact of it should have made the ring fly out somewhere.

It is not such a heavy object after all.

It is a phenomenon that can be explained by science, but there’s no doubt that the explosion had fantasy elements in several points as well.

“It shouldn’t have emitted such high temperature to begin with, so as expected, it is an unfortunate accident. I was able to properly control it when it was in my hands though. How complicated. A vapor explosion huh. Let’s remember that.” (Makoto)

“When the water vaporizes, the volume increases by more than a thousand times, and there’s the chance that the heat of the ring contributed in adding fire into the explosion. The hydrogen probably also suffered an outbreak, so it is a possibility…but with the estimated power it should have had, it is still…” (Shiki)

…

What Shiki was saying was about to leave the limits of what I understand.

I have studied a decent amount, but my life was basically using the bow.

If we were to do a test now, I would probably get lower scores than Shiki.

But how is it that he is able to get so much practical knowledge when there’s no teacher and only has books as reference?

As I thought, Shiki is impressive.

“I understand now what happened at that time. And so, now we have to think about what to do about it. Eva and the others can’t do anything about it, so maybe it should be better to remove it from here and take it back to Asora.” (Makoto)

“It is pretty stable, so I think it is possible to put it to practical use just like this.” (Shiki)

“Wouldn’t it be dangerous for the town if there’s a magma pond at their vicinities?” (Makoto)

“It will most likely be a big blessing along with the hot springs that were excavated in the mountains of Kaleneon. Also, even if it is close to the town, it is not a distance where children would be able to get close to. If there’s an idiotic adult that falls into this place, that person wouldn’t have lived long anyways, so it is not something we need to mind.” (Shiki)

“I see…” (Makoto)

“This heat can be used. The snow in the surroundings of the pond has melted and the temperature is high. For Kaleneon, it can currently be used as a place to throw away the snow. The current state is that hills of snow have been piled up around all the place after all. With that, it will probably affect the functions of the town as well.” (Shiki)

“But it is far for a disposal, right? It is true that there’s the need for a place to dispose of the snow though. Narrow alleys are buried after all.” (Makoto)

Even in the parts of Japan that were faced with tremendous snowfalls, there were aqueducts made for the melted snow, did they have some sort of vacant land to temporarily gather the snow?

…But I haven’t lived in a part like that, so I don’t know.

In Nakatsuhara, the snow would pile up a few centimeters once every few years, so there was obviously no countermeasure for the snow, I think.

And in truth, when that happened, I remember the trains and busses were in great disorder.

When I was young, the snow was simply something to be happy about, but when snow fell in the senior high school exam, it was rough.

I felt like I was being confined inside the bus.

“If it’s only a distance like this, we can use the dwarfs and adventurers to perform the maintenance. If they stayed shut in the town, their skills will simply grow duller. The hot spring that Tomoe-dono is working on will most likely have the piping underground, so it will take some time before it can be brought to the town.” (Shiki)

Using the hot spring to deal with the melted snow was a proposal that was done to deal with the snow in the next years, so there’s no problem in that.

“Waka-sama.”

“Ema, and the Elder-san. Did you guys grasp something?” (Makoto)

While I was thinking about whether to speak about the proposal of Shiki to Eva, Ema and the Elder approached us.

When I checked, I could see Ruria was also walking towards us.

“Yes. Thank you very much for bringing us with you.The internal magic power stored up in that Draupnir has changed into heat and working stably as a heating device. I estimate that it will be able to maintain its current state for around 5 years.” (Ema)

5 years.

It really lasts.

“But the process in which was used to reach that state, bluntly speaking, I don’t understand it. I discussed with Ema-dono, but can we have Waka-sama do several trial runs of what you did and create Draupnirs similar to that?” (Elder)

“I see. If we make trial runs of the same circumstances, there’s the chance that a similar Draupnir might come out.” (Makoto)

Then that’s a plan.

Shiki also said that it would be okay for Kaleneon to use it, so it seems like it is better if that magma and ring are not retrieved.

I was thinking about scooping it out with the arms that I haven’t used once since the incident in the demon race territory, but it seems like there will be no turn for it.

“Looking at the moment it is created, we can research it from zero. I think that by doing that, we will surely be able to utilize the Draupnir in a near future.” (Ema)

I nod at the petition of Ema and the Elder.

“Understood. When you have prepared a place to test it, tell me. I will do what I can.” (Makoto)

“Thank you very much!”

“Regarding this place, just like Shiki said, we are thinking of having Eva and the others think about the method to utilize it. Regarding the mountains, Kuzunoha will be dealing with it, so you will be able to use the help of adventurers.” (Makoto)

“Yes. Thank you for hearing our plight.” (Eva)

I am the one that wants to lower his head, but Shiki lowered his head deeply before I did.

The hot spring was a success and the reservoir was a failure, but it is great to see that there’s a way to somehow utilize the reservoir one.

“Raidou-sensei! That pond of bright red fire, it seems like it will stay like that for 5 years!”

“Ruria, for a person that has recently recovered from a cold, you are pretty energetic.” (Makoto)

“Well, of course! Looking at something like this, makes my motivation spring forth!” (Ruria)

“Motivation huh.” (Makoto)

“This is something I thought since the time you were a customer of ours but, the things that you do and the things you accomplish are all things that can’t be imitated by others, Sensei.” (Ruria)

Ruria was in an excited state.

She had taken off her winter clothes and was holding it between her arms.

It is certainly true that those clothes are not necessary around here since it is hot and it would just make you drenched in sweat.

“In regards to that, I think that Shiki was the one who was the strangest one of the two though.” (Makoto)

“The cream Nabe, right? It is true that that was a product with a mysterious popularity and only a limited amount of people ordered it. By the way, I don’t understand what’s good about it at all.” (Ruria)

“That’s how it should be.” (Makoto)

“I have tried using ingredients from these areas to make such cream, like a soup with thickness, but it is not sweet.” (Ruria)

“Yeah yeah. If it were something like stew, I would understand.” (Makoto)

“In a forest slightly further away from here, there’s a delicious bird that’s used for those kind of dishes. When this place is given proper maintenance and it is made as a base or a resting point, we will be able to secure a good amount of those as ingredients. I am happy!” (Ruria)

Forest.

Ah, the one that Ruria is pointing at huh.

If there’s one base point along the way to the town, it would be in a distance that’s good enough to make it possible.

It doesn’t feel like the forest would be able to provide much in a deep winter though. At the very least, it seems like there’s an edible bird there, so there might be worth in going.

“A bird huh. Now that you mention it, does the bird called Snow Bird taste any good?” (Makoto)

I remember the bird that Serwhale defeated.

If it tastes good, I don’t mind bringing it here next time.

“…Sensei, to get that you would need to go to those mountains over there, so I haven’t prepared one of those before.” (Ruria)

“Ah, I see.” (Makoto)

“The Ares Bird that appears in that forest is troublesome, but not to the point of being impossible to hunt.” (Ruria)

“Ares Bird. It has a more troublesome sounding name than Snow Bird though.” (Makoto)

It sounds like a God of war.

“Compared to them, not at all. In summertime they have a bright red body and move in flocks, so it is difficult to defeat them, but their individual strength is not worth of mention. In winter, their bodies turn pure white and slip into the snow as they slowly move in it, so it is hard to find them, but it is easier to hunt them than in summer. By the way, the taste changes depending if it’s summer or winter, but no matter which it is, both taste good.” (Ruria)

Turns completely white in winter, wait, is that a *ptarmigan* or something?

In summer they are easier to find, but you have to deal with them in flocks.

In winter they are easier to hunt, but are harder to find.

A bird that is somewhat troublesome.

“At first, the meat was hard and stinky, so I thought it was impossible to eat though. The only things I can do are related to food, right? That’s why I find things that can be made into food like crops, animals; and try to make ways to prepare them. The Ares Bird is high grade and can be obtained in great numbers, so I did my best.” (Ruria)

“You researched and found a way to eat it?” (Makoto)

“Yes. It is no good to always rely on the food of Sensei’s place after all. The people of Kaleneon have to find a way to fill the stomach of the people living in Kaleneon. Right now I am in the middle of researching a method to process the surplus of summer to preserve it.” (Ruria)

“That’s impressive.” (Makoto)

Seriously.

I have never tried to research the way to eat in a delicious manner a crop that I have seen for the first time or a meat.

Japan was abundant in recipes after all.

The preparation method of the ingredients that I obtained could be found in the internet or books.

Even if it is possible to check with magic if it is poisonous, this is pretty impressive.

“That’s not true. Sensei is the impressive one for being able to create a pond like this. Having a place as warm as this even though it is winter, I have begun to think that it will be possible to somehow overcome this year’s winter. There’s many ways to utilize it after all!” (Ruria)

Melt snow.

Get warmth.

……

…

What more? Apply magic to it and do a lot of things.

Yeah, a lot of things.

True, there’s a lot of things huh.

“…Yeah, you are right. I am happy to know that it will prove useful.” (Makoto)

“This is no time for me to be catching a cold! Even though I only did something I was not used to, how embarrassing.” (Ruria)

“‘Something you are not used to’?” (Makoto)

“I accompanied the adventurers to try better preparation methods of mamonos in the actual spot. The wounds and exhaustion of that time left me in bed for a while.” (Ruria)

“When you say ‘preparation methods’ are you talking about ways to beat them?” (Makoto)

“No way! Things like draining the blood, and how to divide the cuts of the meat. Leaving aside the raw materials, when it comes to ingredients, the cases where the adventurers just grab a random portion of it are many. And many of those cases, they bring portions that are not suitable as food.” (Ruria)

“…”

…There’s so much to it.

It is certainly true that depending on the type of fish, the way of fishing and breeding changes.

If they are not treated as materials but ingredients, the way that the adventurers deal with it can certainly be considered sloppy.

Even if Ruria teaches them the appropriate process, the problem is if whether they will actually put them into practical use.

“In the end, the ingredients that are processed with the correct method will increase in worth, so we would be able to buy it at a higher price. So there’s advantages for the adventurers as well. Even if there are times when they can’t do it, when they have the leeway to, they have the option to, so it helps us out.” (Ruria)

It feels like she saw through me.

“Like a fated relationship between the workers and the strong?” (Makoto)

“…Onee-chan and I want to be of help after all. There’s not much I can help in regards to politics, so it is just the least I can do though.” (Ruria)

Ruria makes a strained laugh.

The government is a den of thieves.

I think that Ruria is doing the right choice.

There’s strong and weak points for everyone.

If Ruria does what Ruria can do and she is able to contribute to Kaleneon in that way, I think that’s fine.

But saying you can’t in anything is most likely self-depreciating you way too much.

Even I understand just how important is food for a country.

The many techniques that Ruria will create in the future will become a strength for Eva, no doubt about it.

No matter how they say it, they are properly helping each other out.

…Ah, I see.

“Eva is having it hard as well, but we will help out too. When spring comes, the snow will melt, and the cultivation of new land will progress. The lack of workers can be obtained by soliciting the Adventurer Guild. It is fine to support Eva, but try not to burden too much of it by yourself.” (Makoto)

Zef said that Kuzunoha is beginning to deviate as a company.

One of the reasons why is because we don’t really depend much on anyone else, maybe?

If there’s things a company lacks, the company will obtain it from another place.

Just like how craftsmen obtain their materials; an obvious thing to do.

But if the Kuzunoha Company wanted to, we would be able to resolve everything with just Asora.

When taking that into account…it is certainly true that we are different.

When you are lacking something, depending on other companies is the obvious thing to do, but there’s no harm in not doing it.

Even if the company changes into a country, that basis won’t change.

Then if a country requires an important supply from another country in order to maintain itself and ends up depending on it, it will become a certain weakness.

Is the thought I reached to when thinking about Kaleneon.

In that case…won’t it be pretty hard to destroy Kuzunoha Company from the outside?

It seems like it wasn’t only me who had a high defensive power, Kuzunoha Company does too.

Yeah.

The way of dealing with companies that Zara-san and Rembrandt-san told me about, there are quite a lot of those that can’t be used against Kuzunoha.

The employees are a force to be reckoned with, and there’s also Asora that holds us like a family.

The stocking that we do in public is a simple front, so there’s no problem if we were to lose that.

In the first place, if they were to interfere in transportation related stuff, we can just teleport.

We have enough support from our customers that we are already on the point that even if we were to gain enemies in Tsige or Rotsgard, we would be able to laugh it away.

Our balance is enlarging every month, so there’s no issues with money for the time being.

It has only been a few years since we began, but…at some point in time, we have become quite the troublesome company.

Meeting Rembrandt-san at an early stage had a big effect in it as well, but the number one reason of it was because everyone is doing their best. I am truly grateful.

“Yes, I will do my best!” (Ruria)

“Shiki! We are returning soon. What about you two?” (Makoto)

After looking at Kuzunoha Company again and getting a better opinion of it, I was strangely moved.

I call out Ema and the Elder that were at my side.

Whether they will be going back to Asora, or go to the town.

The two have comrades and subordinates in the town, so I have to ask them first what they will be doing.

“I will be accompanying everyone to the town. We will have to revise the plans of this and the hot springs. There’s a number of Highland Orcs that can be placed for the snow disposal, so I have to talk about those topics with Eva.” (Ema)

Ema is strict with Eva.

But it is not like she is just whipping her.

I secretly think that she is actually expecting things from her.

“I will also go check out the work and state of the young ones. I also have an interest in the hot springs, so after that, I was thinking about helping out Tomoe-sama. Is that okay?” (Elder)

“Got it.” (Makoto)

Eh? There’s no reaction from Shiki.

He is facing the pond with his eyes closed, his right hand on his mouth and muttering.

“But even if it were to reach the limit amount of Waka-sama’s magic power that it can store…the efficiency of the heat conversion has…activated as a result…no matter how I think about it, the price of both formulas are not equivalent…” (Shiki)

“Shiki!” (Makoto)

“But if that’s the case, that’s practically…” (Shiki)

“Shiki!” (Makoto)

“!!! Yes, what is it?!” (Shiki)

“…We are returning. Is something the matter?” (Makoto)

“Ah, understood. I am sorry. I ended up falling in deep thought about something trivial. It seems like the subject called physics is more interesting than I thought.” (Shiki)

“…Well, keep it in moderation, okay? And so, Tomoe was going to be shut in the mountains for the whole day, right?” (Makoto)

Shiki walks at my side as I began to walk.

The topics like magic and agriculture are already plenty difficult to study, but on top of that, he is trying his hand on physics as well. It can’t be helped that I am worrying if he will be okay.

If he is stuffing himself too much with things, I should have him rest sometime.

At this rate, I feel like he is shaving off his sleeping time to read books.

“…Yes. She was pumped up saying that she will make it take form in two days. Mio-dono is also together with her.” (Shiki)

“Mio too? That’s rare. Does she have an interest in hot springs?” (Makoto)

“It seems like her interest is not in the hot spring itself though.” (Shiki)

While holding his forehead, Shiki speaks as if having difficulty in saying it.

So it isn’t a direct interest?

“Is it related to the beautifying elements, or the health side?” (Makoto)

“No, I think Mio-dono is interested in the custom of mixed bathing.” (Shiki)

“Mixed…bathing?” (Makoto)

What the hell?

Mixed baths in hot springs?

No well, there were mixed baths in Japan as well, but…they are not common.

Most of the hot springs are divided in men and women.

When there are cases where there is only one, they normally divide the times of usage.

The times when mixed bathing in hot springs was normal should be around the Edo period…

Edo?

Don’t tell me…so that’s what it is?!

“Yes. Tomoe-dono thinks that it is a standard that hot springs are mixed and she has explained that to Mio-dono. As commemoration for safely finishing the maintenance of it, she said it is the norm to have four people entering the bath first.” (Shiki)

“F-Four…” (Makoto)

“Of course, counting Waka-sama, we all make four.” (Shiki)

Shiki says this straight.

What a pitfall…

We are talking about Tomoe who employed the *Ryo* in the currency of Asora even though it is slightly irregular.

It is certainly true that it was possible.

I should have thought about it in an Edo manner.

“About us four entering…were those two looking forward to it?” (Makoto)

“Of course. Even I am interested in this thing called hot springs. I am looking forward to it.” (Shiki)

“Is that so…” (Makoto)

Well…I will just prepare myself.

In any case, having a mixed bath inside that white-out mountain, it is obvious that there will only be steam and snowstorms, so the only thing that will be coming out of it is a wry smile.

I feel sorry for Tomoe though.

From the beginning, it was a hot spring that I dug for the sake of the town, so it can’t be helped that the location of it is a popular dangerous mountain.

I hope she is not trying to make it a high quality hot spring district.

As long as they don’t get glued to me, I will be able to make it through.

It is the same as entering the hot spring with your family.

Even so…I should have told them to divide it in male and female beforehand.

What a blunder.

“It seems Tomoe-dono was planning on making quite a lot of different types of outdoor baths and seemed to be truly having fun.” (Shiki)

“Eh?” (Makoto)

Why aren’t you dividing those between men and women?!