Chapter 63

Yoshira soaked in the warm bath, the water reaching up to his shoulders, and he let out a sigh with a blissful expression on his face.

The size of the bathroom in the Nelson residence was about the same as a six-tatami room in Japan.

The bathtub, which was square, was about the size of two tatami mats, and it seemed to be made of marble.

There was a step inside the bathtub where one could sit and enjoy a half-bath, and when seated, the water would reach up to the middle of the abdomen.

The bathtub was connected to the bathroom wall, and there was a ten-centimeter square hole in the wall for pouring in water.

If the water was too cold or too hot, one could shout instructions through the hole, and the servants on the other side would add water or hot water as needed.

In the corner of the bathroom, there was a stone stove.

This was used for heating the bathroom, and in winter, stones were heated in the stove, and water was poured over them to create steam, which warmed the entire bathroom.

Next to the stove, there was a small window in the wall for removing and adding firewood.

The ceiling was equipped with a chimney for ventilation, making it possible to enjoy a comfortable bath even in winter.

Yoshira had imagined that the bath in a lord's mansion would be much larger and more luxurious, but in reality, it was surprisingly compact.

The bath he had used at the Nelson residence was similar, so this was probably the norm for baths used by the nobility in Isteria.

However, Yoshira found that a bath of this size made him feel as if he were staying at a small hot spring inn, which he actually preferred.

"Ah, it's going to be busy from tomorrow. I wonder if the fertilizer I brought will be enough..."

Yoshira had brought a total of 45 tons of fertilizer, but the grain-producing region of Isteria was vast.

Even with such a large amount of fertilizer, he was a bit worried if it would be enough to revive the grain-producing region.

However, the fertilizer Yoshira brought had extraordinary effects, and by adjusting the application rate, it could cover a considerable area.

He would need to use a calculator later to determine the exact area that could be covered.

"The crops in Gricia Village had turned into creatures. I wonder if diluting it to one-fiftieth would be okay..."

Incidentally, the fertilizer Yoshira brought this time was cow manure compost.

In Japan, when spreading this compost, the application rate is about 2 kilograms per tsubo (3.3 square meters).

"Maybe I'll have some ice cream after the bath... Ahh!?"

Yoshira, who had been soaking leisurely in the bath, suddenly screamed when he realized he had forgotten something important by casually mentioning "ice cream."

He had completely forgotten about the frozen foods he had transported from afar.

"What happened!?"

"What is it!?"

"My chocolate mint bar! My premium melon sherbet!"

Hearing the scream, a young maid and a guard rushed into the bathroom, and Yoshira quickly started drying himself with a towel.

"Master Kazura! What happened!?"

"Clothes! Get me some clothes!"

While drying himself with a towel, Yoshira asked the flustered maid to get his clothes.

The guard, after confirming there was no abnormality in the bathroom, looked puzzled at the interaction between Yoshira and the maid.

"Master Kazura! Please calm down! What happened!?"

"If I don't calm down, the ice cream will melt!"

Although he felt embarrassed about being seen in such a state, Yoshira was too worried about the ice cream.

He quickly put on his clothes and rushed out of the changing room.

The maid and the guard, left behind, looked at Yoshira's back with a stunned expression.

"...What's a chocolate mint bar?"

"I've never heard of it..."

The guard, after answering the maid, checked the bathroom and changing room again for any abnormalities and then left.

The maid, after seeing the guard off, muttered to herself, tilting her head in confusion, and began cleaning the changing room and bathroom.

"Chocolate mint bar... Hmm, what is it?"

Yoshira ran down the corridor at full speed and burst into the room Nelson had prepared for him.

He rushed to the stack of cardboard boxes in the corner of the room and pulled out a cooler.

"Is the contents safe!?"

Just as he was about to open the lid, Yoshira stopped and immediately pulled out an analog alarm clock from a Boston bag nearby.

It was 2:45 AM.

Recalling the duration of the dry ice he had placed in the cooler, Yoshira shuddered.

It had been 12 hours and 45 minutes since the dry ice had run out, and the ice cream inside was probably all melted.

He wasn't sure about the frozen vegetables and processed foods, but he needed to start the refrigerator quickly to prevent them from spoiling.

As Yoshira sat on the floor in front of the cooler, the door was knocked on.

When he responded with a weak "Come in," Isaac and Haber entered the room.

"Master Kazura, we were about to go home... What happened?"

Seeing Yoshira sitting on the floor, Isaac and Haber looked bewildered.

Yoshira turned to them with a face that looked like he was about to cry.

"...Please help me."

"What do you need help with?"

"Help me start the refrigerator..."

"Ah, I see."

It seemed they would need a bit more time before Yoshira could rest.

Fifteen minutes later, Yoshira, accompanied by Isaac, was carrying a generator to the courtyard adjacent to the room.

He received a gasoline can from Haber through the window and handed it to Isaac.

After opening the lid of the gasoline can, Yoshira inserted a hose.

He opened the fuel tank of the generator and used his mouth to suck the gasoline up the hose, then sealed the hose with his finger and used the height difference to transfer the gasoline to the generator's fuel tank.

Haber, looking out the window, observed the scene.

"What a strange-smelling liquid..."

Isaac, holding the gasoline can, wrinkled his nose at the distinctive smell of gasoline.

"This is called gasoline... It's a special liquid infused with the power of the spirit of strength. It has a very bad reaction with fire, so you must never bring it near fire."

"Really? Does a spirit of strength exist?"

Yoshira, improvising an explanation, was surprised that Isaac took it seriously.

It seemed that in this world, there was no such thing as a spirit of strength in their beliefs.

"Yes, it exists. There are various spirits that resemble it."

"Resemble it?"

"...Yes."

Feeling a great sense of guilt for lying, Yoshira decided it was too late to deny it now.

Moreover, explaining the properties of gasoline directly would not be a good idea.

If it were known that gasoline could burn or explode, anyone would think of using it as a weapon.

It was better to say it was a liquid infused with the power of the spirit of strength and keep its true properties a secret.

"What would happen if it were brought near fire?"

"..."

"...Master Kazura?"

"...Anyone who intentionally does that will die from a mysterious force."

"...What?"

"They will die from a mysterious force."

"So, the spirit of strength is a terrifying existence..."

Hearing Yoshira's terrifying explanation, Isaac shuddered while holding the gasoline can.

It was understandable to feel fear when holding something so dangerous.

By the time they finished talking, the fuel tank of the generator was full of gasoline.

Yoshira had Isaac put down the gasoline can, removed the hose, and closed the lids.

"Haber, can you get the black cord behind the refrigerator?"

"The cord... this one?"

"Yes, that one."

Yoshira received the power cord from Haber through the window.

"Should I extinguish the candles in the room?"

At that moment, Haber, looking worried, glanced at the candles in the room.

He was unsure how far away he needed to be to be safe after being told that getting too close to fire would result in death.

"No, that distance is fine."

"Is that so?"

Yoshira plugged the power cord into the generator, confirmed that the load was at one-quarter, and turned it on.

Immediately, the generator began to vibrate and emit a low, rumbling noise.

"...Hmm, it's quite noisy."

It was late at night, and the Nelson residence was quiet, so the noise was quite noticeable.

If the noise was this loud at one-quarter load, it would be even louder at full power.

"It's a deep, rumbling sound. It sounds like the agricultural transport vehicle in Gricia Village."

"Yes... Hmm, this is going to be noticeable..."

With such a loud noise, someone would likely come to investigate.

It would be best to set up some kind of cover and have someone keep watch.

"Isaac, can you find a guard to keep watch so no one sees this?"

"I'll keep watch myself. I'll make sure no one comes near, so please rest assured."

Thinking that he would be more reassuring to Yoshira than another guard, Isaac immediately volunteered to keep watch.

"No, you're probably at your limit. If you don't rest, you'll collapse..."

While feeling touched by Isaac's offer, Yoshira gently declined.

Isaac had been doing intense workouts in Gricia Village and had been riding a horse during the march the day before.

His face showed signs of fatigue, and working any more could cause him to collapse.

"No, I'm fine. I can keep watch properly, so please rest assured."

"Isaac, why don't we take turns keeping watch? It's too much for one person to do alone."

Seeing Isaac's stubbornness, Haber, who had been watching from the window, suggested taking turns.

Haber also looked tired, but he was in better shape than Isaac.

"Hmm, that's a good idea..."

Yoshira was grateful for their offer but worried about their well-being.

Only a few people recognized him as Graciel, and if they were to collapse, it would be a problem.

It seemed he would need to give them a doping treatment soon.

"Alright, I'll leave the watch to you two."

"Understood."

"Sure, leave it to us!"

Yoshira, agreeing to their watch, received a determined response from Isaac.

Haber also responded positively, but Isaac seemed more enthusiastic.

"I'll arrange a room for a nap."

"Alright. I'll keep watch, so come relieve me in an hour... Oh, and get something to cover this."

"Understood."

"Ah, Haber, wait a moment."

Yoshira stopped Haber and ran back to the room.

He took two bottles of Lipovit from the Boston bag.

"Here, take these. Yes, Isaac, you too."

Haber took the Lipovit, looking curiously at the light-blocking bottle with a label.

Isaac also took the Lipovit through the window and looked at it in his hand.

"This is a secret medicine from the land of the gods. Drinking it will completely restore your health, and you'll feel even better than before."

"Really!?"

"Wow!?"

Hearing Yoshira's explanation, the two looked at him in shock.

He deliberately called it a "secret medicine" to differentiate it from other foods.

This way, the Lipovit he gave them would be seen as having special effects.

It would also serve as a cover for the other foods he brought from Japan, which might have special effects.

"Is it really okay for us to take such a thing!?"

"You've both been so dedicated to me. This is just a small token of my gratitude. To open it, twist the top to the left and drink it all."

"Master Kazura... Thank you so much!"

Isaac, clearly moved, held the Lipovit with tears in his eyes.

Haber, still in shock, stared at the Lipovit in his hand.

"Also, this is our secret. Don't tell anyone else, okay?"

"Understood! I'll drink it now!"

Isaac bowed deeply to Yoshira, opened the Lipovit, and drank it.

Haber followed suit, opening the Lipovit and drinking it.

"It's... delicious."

"Right? It's quite good. Drink it all."

Isaac, after drinking about half, commented on the taste.

Haber also looked surprised by the taste.

"I thought a secret medicine would be very bitter, but this is delicious."

Haber, after commenting, drank the rest and moved his limbs to check his condition.

"It won't take effect immediately. It will take some time."

"Is that so..."

"Please keep watch well. I have a bit more to do, but I'll go to sleep after that."

"Leave it to us!"

"Please rest well."

After watching Haber leave the room, Yoshira closed the window.

"...Alright."

Yoshira, with a serious expression, walked to the cooler and knelt down.

He nervously touched the seal and unlocked it.

"Please, please..."

He prayed for the contents to be safe and quickly opened the lid of the cooler.