The house of the tribal chief was big. The building itself, if compared to the house in which Eiji lives in, was much newer and had no traces of holes or patching.
ā Well then, what are you capable of?
What awaited Eiji, who was called to meet the tribal chief, was this sort of question. It was a hoarse voice. On the sun burnt, lightly black skin were numerous freckles and wrinkles. The old womanās name was Bona.
She was short and hump-backed. Although she is said to be in her fifties, her look was frighteningly old. In Eijiās eyes, Bona appeared to be more likely in her seventies.
Perhaps itās due to a diet low in nutrition and harsh working conditions every day that made her appearance looks this old. However, there was something different despite that. Her clear pupils were brimming with wisdomĀ and aĀ strong will. Bonaās small posture seemed grandiose. Perhaps itās the proof that inside, sheās a person with outstanding skills.
So Iām being tested ā thought Eiji, feeling his spine muscles becoming tense, as he was trying to repel the sharp look directed toward him. Because Eijiās origin was still unknown, it was rather worrying for the chief. However, EijiĀ knew what he was capable of, and what he could doĀ to make a contribution to this village. His self-belief in his skills was more than enough.
ā I can make things.
ā Like?
ā We can make use of facilities such as watermill which uses water force, tools which can easily grind wheat, scythes and hoes, or the item called pickaxe. I can make all of them throughĀ the process of forging.
ā That sounds amazing. What do you think Jane[1]?
ā Itās fine with me. Heās been here for two weeks and I havenāt notice anything violent in his conduct, so I see no problem. Whatās more, our villageās only triumph card is leather, and that alone wonāt be profitable in trade.
ā I agree. Getting high quality scythes and hoesĀ made would surely make the difference.
ā Whatās more, if Tanya, who hasnāt married yet, takes a liking in him, I will be more than happy.
ā Heh? Thatās really favorable. Since that girl lost her husband, she has never welcomed any other man, so she probably feels lonely. Therefore, we have to consider this positively.
The tribal chief, Bona, nodded deeply as she agreed. Guess that would officially mean acknowledging Eiji as a member of theĀ village. Even though he had expected this to happen, he felt somewhat relieved byĀ this outcome.
ā Fine. In that case, I order you, who isĀ in charge of blacksmithing, to make farming tools. Since thereās a lot going on during the harvest season, you will be exempted from any farm work. Otherwise, you wonāt be able to focus on your task.
Eiji started to make necessary plans inside his head. As long there are certain tools provided, a blacksmith will be able to make everything. Nevertheless, at the beginning, lots of devices and facilities are needed.
First, a furnace is required. Then items, such as: an anvil, iron hammer, fire tongs, chisel, bellows, whetstones, and a water mill. In addition to the firewood needed to make charcoal, mined ores are important as well.
For the time being, using clay to make a furnace would be fine; however, even if you have the required materials, making tools would take a lot of time. I wonder if using a stone as a substitute to strike the iron would work. ā thought Eiji. Having a hammer made of bronze would be fine, stillā¦.
ā I need to make a furnace and create theĀ forging tools from scratch, so it will take around three months. In that time Iāll get the necessary tools.
ā Thatās quite longā¦isnāt it?
ā If that time will allow you to make farming tools, then I could wait, but I donāt know if we can afford to feed you for three months without your labor havingĀ any fruits to speak of. You know, our village isnāt that abundant. So thereās really no helping it.
Thatās some harsh words there. So this is what it means to live a harsh life, I wonder ā thought Eiji. But giving up would mean abandoning your work halfway; also, it would lead to a bad reputation.
For a craftsman, making tools is bound with responsibilities. Because of that, just saying a simple yes wonāt be enough. As Eiji noticed the anxiety in Janeās eyes, he braced himself.
ā Once it becomes successful, Iāll produce over and over again. Even in farming, when you sow seeds, you cannot hope for aĀ harvest the next day. I would like you to understand that for the labor to bear fruits, it needs time.
ā Well, thereās some truth in what you say. Ok, Iāll tell this to everyone. The wheat and barley is distributed per person, so you donāt have to worry, but Iāll make sure you become useful.
ā Itās fine as long as you understand. I donāt want to make you give in, as much as possible, so rest assured.
ā In exchange, if I you happen to fail, Iāll make sure you work really hard.
ā Thoseāre some scary words coming out of your mouth.
ā Give it your best, Iām counting on you.
Bonaās eyes, which were hidden under wrinkles, sparked with light. For the sake of lifting the hunger of many human beings, it didnāt matter who produced a better outcome.
Despite feeling goosebumpsĀ running down his spine, Eiji nodded resolutely.
āāāāāāāāāāā
ā Uff, that tribal chief sure was an amazing woman.
ā Sheās considered a lady of character whoās bearing the responsibility of our village on her shoulders. Indeed an amazing person, isnāt she? Everyone is willing to listen to her without any complaints.
-I could understand that alone because of her amazing aura. With that itās decided that I will work as a blacksmith, but just for a while, I think Iāve got some time.
ā Is that so?
ā Thereās a lot to do, however, it all needs time and has to be done in order.
After having an audience with Bona, Eiji went back to Tanyaās house. Just remembering the talk made Eijiās stomach feel uneasy. To think that he could say his thoughts so blatantly,Ā evenĀ he impressed himself.
Using a bronze knife, Eiji hit the bamboo. Once he cuts into it, he swings it up and down and then nails it. The sound of the knife cutting in could be heard. In comparison to the iron, bamboo is way much lighter, and he could feel it reverberating throughout his body, which was full of muscular pains. *Sigh*, I want to make tools with iron, at least the ones which should be around me ā thought Eiji.
Having gathered seventeen pieces of teeth, the only thing remaining would be to insert them through the made holes in senbagoki.
This too, I want to remake someday using iron ā he thought. Hence, making this using bamboo would eventually cause it to break. As iron is more resistant and tougher, it means that the labor would become much easier.
ā What do you plan to do from now on?
ā I would like toĀ findĀ a place where I could get my hands on mineral ores and clay. In addition, I need some wood materials, so if you could me introduce to a lumberjack here.
ā Thereās a person named Phillip, the lumberjack. Because heās traveling a lot between the village and the mountain nearby, he will probably know where to get these materials.
ā Tanya, do you have any plans today?
ā Most likely, Iām going to do some more threshing using the senbagoki. Then knit some straw, and prepare the meal. Thanks to you my work became much easier.
I wonder how many times was I thanked ā thought Eiji. But since this is a really exhausting job, being useful made him happy.
I should make a winnower, so as to separate theĀ chaff from the grain. Once Iāve got time, I would like to make it as well ā he thought.
Eijiās head was full of inventions he wanted to make, but for this reason he needed more wood, so as to produce more charcoal.
āāāāāāāāāāāāāā-
ToĀ the east of the village, thereās a river flowing in a north-south direction. As Eiji walked along it, he noticed an unpaved path. Because the big stones were removedĀ and there was no sight of grass, it was clear that people use this path regularly. While walking north from the river, slightly elevated hills started to appear. Due to the lumbering techniques and the low population, densely overgrown trees couldĀ be seen not far away from the path. It was a forest.
The inside of the forest was dark, making itĀ seem like one couldnāt enter easily. While proceeding along the path and climbing the hill, a big barn house could be seen. It was probably a forester lodge. In front of it, there was a bullock cart restingĀ with a bull grazing nearby.
Seeing Eijiās silhouette approaching, the bull didnāt seem to be afraid, instead it looked at Eiji with itsā rotund eyes. It was chewing grass, while dribbling some drools and mooing.
The closer Eiji approached towards the bull and the lodge, the clearer the sound of a working hatchet could beĀ heard.
ā Good morning.
ā G-good morning.
The guy, who was lumbering the tree, seemed to be bigger than what Eiji expected. He was around two meters tall. His body was covered with thick muscles, and his exposed arm was as big as a girlās waist. He had deep red hair, blue eyes, and squarish face. His mouth area was coveredĀ with a beard.
ā Philip-san, my name is Eiji. Since today, Iāve been officially recognized as aĀ member of this village. Because my work concerns using lots of woods, I came here to greet you.
ā Itās Philip, my pleasure.
He didnāt seem to be the talkative type, and used few words,making him look like a person with a mental impairment. While feeling the overwhelming power coming from this giant, Eiji could notice that under the clumsiness of this person were traces of kindness.
ā Philip-san, Iāve heard that you travel a lot to the mountain, so maybe you would happen to see clay, iron, bronze and tin? By clay I meanā¦
ā U-understood, I have. The clay is this way, iron ore that way, bronze was on the other side. I found them, because I was once asked toĀ by other villages.
All the directions which he pointed to were inside the deep overgrown forest. Entering it forcefully would probably mean getting lost. As for Eiji, who had no survival skills, reaching the destination without getting lost would be impossible.
ā Pardon me, I may be interrupting your job, but could you guide me there, at least once?
-ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦
Philip inserted his hatchet into the partially lumbered tree. After seeing Philip nodding without uttering a single word, Eiji felt a sigh of relief.