Chapter 11

"Are you going to build a water wheel?"

"Yeah. I thought Garam and Tooru could do it."

Garam, who reacted to the word "water wheel," called out to me.

"Ho. It's Joshua, is it? You're going to show us something interesting again, huh? Hahaha."

"We'll need Sequoia's help too. First, one water wheel. If we can, maybe three."

"Leave it to me. I'll get it done right away. It'll be good practice for my apprentices."

Garam pounded his chest in agreement.

Whoa, he started cutting down trees right there.

"Shouldn't the wood be dried first?"

"Of course. Do you think I'd overlook that?"

"Are you going to dry it with magic or something?"

"Aye. The magic passed down by the dwarves is all about making things. It'll be done soon. I'll have the water wheels ready by nightfall."

"Wow... Garam's serious."

"Hahaha."

If we need to dry the wood, I should ask Tooru and the others to cut the trees...

Ah, it's too late. They're already in a state where they can't be reasoned with.

Sighing and smiling wryly, I noticed Elie looking at me with concern.

"Master Joshua..."

"Garam and the others are like this. Ah."

"Is something wrong?"

"The other side of the river is a bit concerning."

I pointed to the other side of the Rubicon River.

Elie tilted her head, not understanding what I was getting at.

"There's a cliff over there."

Indeed, as Elie said, there was a steep cliff not far from the other side of the river.

This must be the cliff mentioned in Rumburg's report.

The cliff is about 200 meters high, with an angle of nearly 70 degrees, making it impossible to climb directly.

"I'm also concerned about the cliff, but look. There are no old trees on the other side."

"You're right."

"Even though the distance is close, the grass and trees are similar."

"...I'm impressed you noticed that! As expected of Master Joshua!"

It seems Elie noticed it too.

"Right. I thought the other side might have been devastated by some cause."

"That's the reason for your interest?"

"Yeah, if that cause is the same as the one we're looking for, we might find good materials."

The other side is about 20 meters away.

The water doesn't seem too deep, so maybe I can wade across.

I don't have to go now, but I seem to have a bit of Garam in me.

Once I'm curious, I can't help but want to confirm it.

Alright.

I squatted by the riverbank and touched the flowing water with my fingertips.

It's cold! It's still early spring, far from summer. It's too early to swim.

"Are you going to cross the river like that?"

Elie, squatting next to me, shook her head slightly.

"It's a bit cold, isn't it?"

"You can't! What if you catch a cold!"

"We could build a small boat or cross a bridge."

"Master Joshua, please come here."

Elie, blushing, put her hands around her buttocks and turned her back to me while still squatting.

"No, that's a bit... "

Elie, please don't carry me to the other side!

It would be fine the other way around...

"Am I not reliable enough...?"

"Ah, u, e, well, we don't know how deep the river is. Even if you carry me, we might get wet anyway."

Nice, I found a good reason. Well done, me.

"...I thought carrying you would be less embarrassing for you."

This time, Elie stood up and took a princess carry position.

No, let's move away from that idea.

She didn't seem to hear the part about getting wet because of the depth.

"No, I meant we might get wet anyway."

"You thought I'd dislike being carried? Don't worry. I'm a maid. You can trust me."

Elie placed her hands on her lower abdomen and bowed like a maid.

The words "maid" and "trust" don't connect at all. It's meaningless.

...It seems no matter what I say, it won't get through. We're talking about the same thing, but what we see is completely different.

There's no choice.

"Alright. I'll leave it to you, Elie."

"Then, I'll go ahead."

She slipped her arms under my knees and carried me in a princess carry in no time.

Elie's face was close, and the scent of her hair made my heart skip a beat.

She, on the other hand, seemed embarrassed by carrying a man and blushed, avoiding eye contact.

However, it's amazing she can lift me with such slender arms...

I'm not particularly tall or well-built.

But she's only as tall as my ear and has a slender, almost fragile build.

"I'm going."

"Whoa."

Elie took a few steps back, then a few steps forward, and with a quick step, she leaped high!

Whoa. Seriously?

We're flying. I'm flying.

Thud.

She landed on the other side and slowly put me down.

"Master Joshua, did you get wet?"

"U, um, no. Maids are amazing..."

"It's necessary to carry you in emergencies."

"S, so it is... H, ha. I wonder if Aruru can do the same."

"Aruru, being a cat person, can't carry you and jump this far. Please understand."

"No, it's fine if she can't fly."

I never thought "maid" and "trust" would connect like this!

I'm surprised. The maids in this world are scary. Seriously.

H, ha, ha. A dry laugh escaped me at this absurd fact.

"But, Master Joshua. Aruru has her own strengths. Being a cat person, she has excellent night vision."

Elie, who thought I was disappointed in Aruru, tried to defend her.

"That's amazing! Bandits might attack at night."

"Yes!"

Elie, who usually smiles modestly, beamed with a full smile.

She must be even happier that her colleague Aruru was praised.

Seeing her like this, I thought it was good that she was a maid. It's wonderful to be able to be happier for others than for yourself.

"Alright, let's check it out."

A little away from the riverbank, I took a small spade from my waist pouch.

I squatted and started digging the ground.

Hmm. I can't tell just from this. I'll take this soil back.

"Elie, can we go to the cliff?"

"I'll accompany you."

While we're at it, I'll collect some rocks from the cliff.

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