Isekai Nonbiri Nouka

Chapter 873: Even Tier Is Doing Her Best

On the frozen reservoir.

Children are enthusiastically pushing and sliding blocks of ice about the size of a cushion.

The blocks glide across the surface and collide with each other, making a satisfying “thunk” sound.

The game the children are playing isn’t curling, but something more like an ice version of marbles.

They take turns sliding the ice blocks, trying to knock their opponent’s block out of a designated area.

There are no detailed rules yet.

They just started playing this morning.

At first, they used frozen slimes, but they decided it was too cruel, so they stopped.

Now, they’re using blocks of ice created by the ice monster.

The ice monster insisted on making the blocks dense, so they make a sharp sound when they collide.

Normally, ice hitting ice wouldn’t make such a sound.

The weight of the blocks makes it difficult to slide them accurately, but that only makes the children more motivated.

Well, as long as they’re having fun, all is well.

The ice monster, watching the children with warm eyes, continues to produce ice blocks for new players waiting in line.

Hakuren and Guronde are also playing with the children.

On the shore of the reservoir, Guronde’s companion, the orthros Oru, waits patiently.

Though Oru is concerned about Guronde, he refuses to step onto the ice after taking a spectacular fall earlier.

He wasn’t hurt, but the children’s concern seems to have bothered him.

Now, he’s reluctant to join even when Guronde calls him.

Still, no one laughs at him for it.

I pat both of Oru’s heads and suggest practicing walking on the ice when no one’s around.

I’ve fallen on the ice twice myself.

By the way, I wondered if playing on the reservoir might disturb the pond turtles hibernating at the bottom, but apparently, unless there’s a massive explosion that evaporates the reservoir, it’s fine.

The turtles don’t mind anything happening above the ice as long as it’s not in the reservoir itself.

I confirmed this with the turtles when they were still awake, so I’m certain.

-0-

On the waterway at the north of Big Tree Village, the golems created by Tier were lined up, breaking the ice that had formed over the channel.

If left alone, the entire waterway would freeze over.

This is a necessary task, one that someone regularly performs during winter, but this time, Tier was handling it.

「I need to contribute too, or my position will be… 」

It seems she wants to increase her presence in the village now that there are more angels.

I think her presence is already more than sufficient.

Presence.

Oh, I see.

She needs to show the other angels that she’s working for the village.

It’s not that she hasn’t been working.

Tier tends to stay in her room, doing research, which makes her less visible.

She is definitely working hard for the village.

Tier is one of the original members of the Big Tree Village.

Alongside Loo, she acts in a deputy village chief role, looking out for the residents of each village.

Moreover, although the role is increasingly filled by the civil servant girls, she still serves as the contact point for negotiations with Howling Village.

Her knowledge of magic is on par with Loo’s, making her advice invaluable in those areas.

One cannot discuss Tier’s contributions without mentioning her golem creation.

Tier can create golems, and not just human-shaped ones.

She can make golems of various forms and from materials beyond just earth, including iron and even liquids.

This is said to be an incredibly advanced skill.

Using her golem creation, Tier has produced numerous prototypes, especially for the mountain elves.

An example is….tube pipe.

A pipe is a hollow cylinder, but the size of the hole is crucial.

It must be perfectly sized for its intended purpose.

If the exact size is known from the start, that’s ideal, but often, it requires repeated adjustments to get it right.

This process can be quite tedious.

Generally, eyeballing it suffices, but sometimes millimeter-level precision is needed.

In those cases, asking Tier to create the pipe in the specified material and size is a lifesaver!

Beyond pipes, she also creates gears, screws, and other components that require precise adjustments.

The mountain elves have started to rely on Tier to create prototype parts before beginning the final production.

So, Tier is certainly working for the village.

However, Malbit or Ruincia probably advised her to do so in a more visible way.

Most likely, it was Ruincia.

I can easily imagine her saying it while playfully taking Aurora away.

Maybe Tier decided to come outside for a change of pace.

She’s been cooped up with Loo for a while, working on something.

-0-

Dinner.

Tier and Aurora sat at the table with me.

I thought Tier might have reclaimed Aurora, but since Ruincia is here too, it seems that’s not the case.

Aurora is…

Between Tier and Ruincia, talking to both of them about the subject.@@novelbin@@

I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable.

I’ll do my best as well.

Well, let’s make tonight’s dinner the topic of the conversation.

「Village Chief, tonight’s dish… it’s different from usual. 」

Ruincia said so after thinking a little.

Tonight’s main course is oden.

Tier and Aurora nodded in agreement with Ruincia’s observation, but they couldn’t quite put their finger on what was different.

The truth is, the taste is the same as always.

However, the texture of the ingredients like chikuwa and hanpen is different.

Usually, the oni maids make them by hand, but this time, we’re experimenting with mass production using large machinery.

「Mass production? Oh, from the other day? 」

Tier seemed to recall.

I had asked her to help prototype a mixing screw.

The oni maids approved the taste, but… what do you think?

「If we consider it as a mass-produced product, the taste is more than adequate. 」

Ruincia said, then asked if it would be sold in Village Five.

Actually, the plan is to sell it in Shashaato City.

Mio requested dishes using fish, and with kneaded products like these, we can create various types with room for expansion.

「Is it really possible to make that many kinds? 」

Thanks to the screw Tier helped design, yes.

By swapping out the screw, we can adjust the mixing speed and density according to the ingredients.

The mountain elves wanted to automate the screw replacement, but I suggested making it removable for easier maintenance and cleaning.

If we adopted an automatic replacement system, the machine’s size would more than triple. In that case, it’s far better to prepare three machines with different screws.

The mountain elves were disappointed, but not everything needs to be automated.

If adding a bit of manual work significantly reduces costs, it’s worth doing.

-0-

Oops, I changed the subject.

Aurora is once again doing her best to keep things going between Tier and Ruincia.

Just as I was thinking of a new topic, Aurora turned to me.

「Father, please try to visit Roze Maria, Laladel, and Tormane more often. They’re feeling lonely. 」

Ah, yes, you’re right.

I should make it a point to visit them more.

However, whenever I try to arrange a time, Gran Maria and the others suggest another day.

「That’s because Mother Gran Maria and the other’s rooms are messy. If father says you’ll visit often, they’ll clean them up, so it would be helpful if you could be there more often. 」

Messy?

Are Roze Maria and the others okay?

「Roze Maria and the others are well protected by Grandma Raz Maria. They’re fine. 」

…..areh?

Then why do I keep getting put off until another time?

「When you visit Roze Maria and the others, you end up talking to Mother Gran Maria and the others too, right? 」

Ah, I see.

While I don’t usually meddle in Gran Maria and the other’s personal affairs, if I see a messy room, I might bring it up.

To avoid that, Gran Maria and the others would need to tidy up first…

Considering their personality, they’d probably just come to me to chat instead of having me go there and ask them to clean things up.

「That’s why we’re asking you, Father, to encourage them to tidy up. 」

Got it.

I’ll make sure to remind them to keep the room clean and mention that I’d like to see Roze Maria and the others.

「I’m looking forward to it. 」

Aurora said, then glanced at Tier, who quickly averted her eyes.

Ah…

Could Tier’s room be messy too?

Given that Tier is the researcher type, it wouldn’t surprise me.

If that’s the case, she should tidy up as well.

When I said that, Aurora bowed her head and thanked me.

Hmm, it seems the real purpose of this conversation was to have me remind her mother, Tier, to clean her room.

Since directly telling her didn’t work…..she decided to involve me.

「Oh, and Father, I’d like more little brothers and sisters. 」

…..

So that was the main point of all of this.

It’s a sweet request, but I can’t help but feel Ruincia’s influence behind it, especially with her smiling like that.

「Raz Maria-sama and Suarurou-sama have mentioned it as well. 」

I-I see.

Aurora, you really go through a lot.

「No, it’s truly my wish to have more little siblings. I’m looking forward to it. 」

Children are a blessing.

Let’s take our time and hope for the best.

Yes, be patient.

And Tier, Ruincia.

I’d like to have a talk after dinner.

It’s about Aurora’s education.

Please stay behind.