Chapter 11

"Can you see it?"

"Hmm, it's a bit vague. It's hazy."

I am currently undergoing training in sorcery. The training I am doing now is the most basic of basics, the training to see souls... but it seems I don't have any talent for it.

"It's not that Almus is extremely untalented. You're just a bit on the bad side among boys. Since it's the basics, if you keep at it for three years, you'll definitely get it."

"Three years... By the way, how about Yuria?"

"Three days."

"Isn't that a huge difference?"

Yuria is just a monster. I feel relieved.

"Basically, the difference in talent in sorcery is huge. Ninety percent is talent."

"Then is effort completely useless?"

"Not at all. If it's anti-curse techniques, anyone can learn them unless they're a complete klutz."

Klutz... So, I'm just a bit on the bad side, so I should be fine.

"Two curses make a hole. This is the common sense of curses. Casting a curse is much harder than protecting yourself from one. For an average sorcerer, even casting a curse on someone who doesn't know about sorcery is a fifty-fifty chance. If the person realizes they've been cursed, the curse won't work. They can easily repel it with their willpower. But for someone at my level, cursing Almus to death would be easy."

"Didn't you say that you can easily curse plants that don't have willpower?"

I think you said something like that.

"Right. That's why crops need to be protected by barriers. Basically, defense is stronger. It takes three people to break a barrier set by one sorcerer. I'm as strong as a hundred people, so this rule doesn't apply to me!"

Yuria said this while puffing out her chest.

Don't brag so much.

"Anyway, you need to be able to perceive the world of souls before we can talk about anything else, so try hard every day. Just meditate a little before you go to bed."

"It's like weight training."

"It's the basics. I meditate every day too, before I go to bed."

In the end, it's about putting in consistent effort every day.

That's the same for sports and sorcery.

"By the way, how valuable is salt? Is it harvested from the sea? Or is it rock salt?"

"Salt? It's quite valuable. Basically, it's rock salt. If you boil water, you need a lot of firewood."

I see. It's a valuable item.

I don't want to trade it for iron tools. I want to keep some for self-defense. So, I should either dig for rock salt myself or make some specialty product...

"Do you want anything?"

"What's that? Are you giving me a present?"

"No, not exactly. I was thinking that if we could make something to trade for salt. Just for reference."

"Hmm, I don't know... How about pottery?"

"Pottery?"

Pottery is common, isn't it?

"Sometimes people from a place called Kirisia come across the sea. The pottery they bring is completely different from what we use, and it's very strong. The colors are beautiful. That's why it's very popular among the nobility."

"I see. Our pottery is indeed fragile and the colors are dull. Thank you. That's a good tip."

I'll think about it when I get back.

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

First, the characteristics of the pottery we use.

It's thick and fragile, and it's red.

This is due to the iron in the clay oxidizing. Ferrous oxide is the culprit.

Basically, the pottery in this area is fired in the open air. This results in a large supply of oxygen, causing this to happen.

So, what should we do?

We should fire it underground.

We need to build a pit kiln.

In a closed space, heat is less likely to escape, and it can reach much higher temperatures than firing in the open air.

Finally, we should block the smoke vent and the firebox with firewood. This will reduce the supply of oxygen.

If the supply of oxygen is reduced, ferrous oxide won't form. Instead, it will form ferric oxide.

This ferric oxide is black. In other words, black pottery will be produced.

In other words, Sueki pottery.

I'm not an expert, but...

In any case, we can make better pottery than what we currently use. I don't know how it compares to the pottery brought by the Kirisians.

So, we need a pit kiln to fire Sueki pottery.

A pit kiln, as the name suggests, is a kiln built underground... in other words, it's hard labor.

Do we have the time for this? Don't we need to do farm work?

No, we don't.

In fact, we are incredibly idle right now.

We've finished harvesting turnips, and we're currently growing clover. Clover is almost like a weed, so it doesn't require much care.

We might have trouble removing it next year.

So, we have plenty of time.

"Alright, do you have your shovels? Let's get started."

"Where are we going to build it?"

Soyong said, holding her shovel.

"On a slope. I remember there's a nice slope over there. We'll build it there."

"Are you digging just for salt?"

"It's not just for salt. If we can't harvest wheat, it's convenient to have something to trade for food."

Iron tools are limited.

On the other hand, we have a lot of clay and wood for firewood. We don't have to worry about them running out.

Besides, a pit kiln can be used to make various useful things besides Sueki pottery.

There's no downside to building it.

"Let's go!"

"Okay!!"

And so, the construction of the pit kiln began.

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

We started by cutting down the trees on the slope.

Our main workforce is all ten-year-olds. The work didn't progress slowly...

"Alright, the fifth one!!"

"...Almus, are you really the same person? You're definitely stronger than an average adult."

Tetra's exasperated voice overlapped with the sound of the tree falling.

That's right, I have a blessing that enhances my physical abilities.

The griffin guy said the effect was subtle, but it's enough to cut down trees.

Right now, I have the physical abilities of a well-built adult male.

It's really convenient. But I wish I had the ability to read minds or the strength to pull up trees with one hand.

I shouldn't be greedy, I guess.

In any case, the work progressed smoothly.

Five days passed, cutting down trees, mowing weeds, and digging the ground.

Finally, it was completed.

Since I'm a complete amateur, I made it with a "this should do" feeling, so I can't expect much in terms of performance.

But since I'm not trying to make extremely beautiful pottery, it should be fine.

"Next is craft time."

Kneading the clay and shaping it.

I'm actually good at this kind of tedious work.

In elementary school, I was praised for having a good touch during a pottery experience in fifth grade. I have some talent.

I got a five in art in middle school too.

"You!! You did it!! I'll get you back!!"

"Stop messing around, you bastard!!"

"Hey, boys! The clay is flying! Ah!! It's on my clothes!!"

"Stop it..."

"...Just a bunch of idiots."

Are they not serious about doing crafts?

Ron, Rozward, and Soyong started a mud war.

Tetra and Gram, who are pacifists, gathered around me and started to evacuate. They probably think the mud won't reach me.

I continued working silently.

Making convenient cups, large pottery for cooking, plates, and water bottles.

We need to make a lot since we'll use them ourselves as well as for trade.

Damn, am I the only one taking this seriously?

"Hey, make your own dishes."

"I know."

Only the pacifists responded. The ones in the war didn't hear me.

It's so disappointing...

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

"Finally, they're done."

I took the cooled Sueki pottery out of the pit kiln.

It has a nice gray color.

When I tapped it with my finger, it made a high-pitched sound. It's quite strong.

"Wow!!"

Tetra looked at the cup she made, seemingly moved.

Making your own is really satisfying!!

"Ugh..."

"Haa..."

Ron and Rozward looked dejected.

Their pottery must have been too thick or something, and it broke.

"It's because you were playing around."

Soyong said, folding her arms.

To me, you were playing around too...

"Well, there are plenty of chances. Let's make better ones from now on. We have plenty of time."

When I said this, Ron and Rozward's eyes lit up.

So, we continued to mass-produce Sueki pottery during the clover cultivation.

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

"Here, it's a present."

"Really! For me? Thank you!!"

Yuria hugged the Sueki pottery happily. Is she really that happy?

"This is very strong. How did you make it?"

Yuria asked, tapping it with her finger to check the sound.

"It's a trade secret. By the way, can we trade this for salt?"

"I think it's enough."

I see. That's a relief.

"Where should I go to trade for salt? It's a valuable item, so I need to negotiate with someone important, right?"

"Right... How about I bring it to you?"

What!?

For real?

"I'll give you a cup of salt for three of these pots."

"Is that okay? If you give it to me, it's easier."

If I had to negotiate with the village chief, it would be one thing, but I don't want to negotiate with a noble or the king of a country. I'm still a child. In the worst case, it could be taken from me.

The Griffin's authority is paper-based, so it's weak against physical attacks.

So, if Yuria brings it, that's the best.

"Sure. I think I'll make a profit with one pot. Is that okay?"

"Alright. I don't mind. Thanks in advance."

And so, the pottery-salt trade agreement was established.