Chapter 39

Before the snow melts, it is a custom in Regol to gather a certain amount of accumulated snow.

It's called an ice house.

If it were a region where perennial snow remains, it would be one thing, but Regol is not such a place. Therefore, the snow that falls in winter is quickly gathered and packed into underground spaces as much as possible.

By doing this, the stored snow and ice do not melt even in the hot season, making it possible to preserve food and other items using the cold from the snow and ice, and various uses are made of it.

Ice is made by compacting snow or by pouring water and letting it freeze. If there were a large lake, it would be easy to get ice, but it takes a bit of effort.

The problem is the collection of snow for the ice house.

When it comes to collecting snow, the snow that falls in Regol is not much to speak of. If there is traffic, a path can be made, and the rest will naturally disappear.

The snow in the city is dirty, so if you want to collect it, you would gather it from fallow fields or pastures. You scoop up the top layer and collect it bit by bit... Of course, you do this in the cold, so it is an incredibly tough job. There is no heavy machinery either.

However, there is no need to worry too much. There are convenient people in Regol who can be mobilized at a low cost. Most of the troublesome problems are solved by these people.

They are criminal slaves, essentially serving criminals.

"This year, we have good tools, so the work should be easier—try your best."

The criminal slaves lined up in the fallow fields are diligently gathering the new snow. Scooping it up, collecting it, and piling it up in one place without stepping on the new snow, bit by bit. It is a very hard and labor-intensive task. The effort required is much greater than shoveling snow.

"Move, if you slack off, you'll get even colder."

The supervisor of the snow collection is a guard from Regol.

The job itself is quite boring, but since it involves criminal slaves, it cannot be left to civilians. Still, there is always a shortage of manpower.

This task is not limited to criminal slaves; guild members can also take it on.

"Oh, you're from the guild... Wow... Are you going to carry all that at once?"

"It's light, light."

I am currently performing the task of transporting snow, a bit away from the criminal slaves.

Gathering snow from a distance is easier said than done; it is a super heavy labor task involving multiple trips with a cart. The most difficult part is loading and unloading the cart.

Well, in my case, I have brute strength, so this is a piece of cake.

"Wow, but this compacting job is tough. I didn't expect it to be this difficult to make ice."

"Yeah, that's why it's a job for criminal slaves. You must have taken this job voluntarily. You're unusual."

"I did it last year too. It's a rare experience, and it's just for one day."

Building an ice house is not something you can do easily. It's still fun when it's fresh.

"Hmm... So, does this pay well if you take it from the guild? I don't think so, right?"

"No, it doesn't pay well. It's a job that Iron Class people take to make ends meet in winter."

"Really? Why are you doing it?"

"I told you, I just wanted to try a rare job."

"You're a weird one. But it's a relief that the work is progressing. It's tough to stand still in the cold."

The compacted snow is a bit white and cloudy, but it is easier to transport.

We pass it to the guards waiting on the cart, and for larger chunks, we use a tool similar to a log pick used at a sawmill to lift them.

With my strength, I can load the snow faster than the pile can be collected. I have enough time to help with the snow collection in the fallow fields.

"... You're a guild member, right?"

"Yeah, that's right."

As I carefully scoop up the snow to avoid mixing in dirt, a male criminal slave next to me spoke.

He had a sturdy leather band around his neck, indicating he was a criminal slave.

"Are you here to help someone escape? That's why you're hiding in such a place, right? This isn't a job for a Bronze 3."

He was trying to add some strange backstory to me.

It's not a profitable job, and I have no ulterior motives...

"I'm just doing this job because I want to experience building an ice house."

"... I see, that's all you can say, huh?"

Don't just make up a backstory for me.

"It's a misunderstanding. I did this last year too. Ask the guard on the cart; he knows me from last year."

"... You're really just taking the job?"

"Yeah."

"... Why?"

"Because I want to build an ice house."

"..."

The male criminal slave returned to his work, looking at me as if I were a crazy guy.

My heart was deeply hurt.

"That's what happened, Balgar."

"Sure, anyone would see that as the actions of a weirdo."

When I told the story of building the ice house at the guild tavern, Balgar said it without any mercy.

"True, jobs do decrease in winter, but it's tough to do the same job as criminal slaves..."

"Alex, didn't you do something like this when you were in the military?"

"Well, I did, but only as a supervisor. Actually working is cold and tough, so I'm not really motivated."

Supervising was just watching... The actual work was done by the criminal slaves, and I just had to manage them. It's a completely different experience.

"Didn't some monsters stray near the outer wall a while ago? What did you do, Mongrel?"

"Yeah, some guild members rushed out, but in the end, the guards took care of it before the guild members arrived. I stayed at the guild, knowing this would happen!"

"You're talking about not doing anything as if it's a big deal..."

"Well, I don't have any ranged weapons. Should I throw stones from the top of the wall?"

The guards here are not so idle that they would open the gate to deal with monsters outside the wall, and they are not complacent.

"By the way, Mongrel, weren't you practicing archery?"

"Is that true? I've never heard of it."

"No, I'm not good with a bow at all. I have one, but I can't hit anything."

"Still, if you have one, you must be able to handle it to some extent. I'm surprised... I never thought you'd be into ranged weapons."

"No, I can't even hit a tree 5 meters away."

"More amateur than I imagined..."

Amateur is fine. In my case, I'm probably stronger throwing the arrows like darts.

"It's a waste that you practiced for a while. Being able to use a bow doubles the prey you can hunt... Since you talk to Artemis' children a lot lately, why don't you learn from them?"

"You're right. Not just Lina, but Ulrika too. You should take the opportunity to learn."

"..."

"You look so reluctant..."

"Do you really dislike the bow so much, Mongrel?"

To be honest, it's tiring. Collecting arrows after each shot is especially tedious...

Can't I just throw stones?

"Once spring comes, it will get busy again. Now is a good time to practice while you have free time..."

"Hmm, you're right... I'm tired of loafing around in the tavern... Lately, Dick Bart is often there, and the atmosphere is strange..."

"Yeah... Our guild leader... He's a good guy, so don't misunderstand..."

"I know that."

"I know, but it just feels... strange..."

Balgar belongs to a laid-back group and doesn't often team up with the guild leader, Dick Bart.

Being in the same party with unfamiliar people is quite unusual. I guess Balgar respects him, though.

...For Lina and the others, it might be easier to teach me archery in the training ground than to be in the tavern, which has turned into a harassment space with Dick Bart around.

Archery practice is tedious, but I'll think about it. I have free time, after all.