Isekai Nonbiri Nouka

Chapter 838: Shrine and Pond

Small floating gardens have become rental aquariums.

In Village One, they used it as a small pool just like I expected.

The little children are so happy.

That’s something good to see.

-0-

In Village Two, it is being used as a water trough.

They said it is convenient because they can carry water from the river or well at once.

Well, that’s true.

Since they are floating, even children can take care of them.

The children were happy since they got more responsibilities.

-0-

In Village Three, they were used as tubs for washing vegetables.

The height can be adjusted since it is floating so it can be used while standing.

They wanted to have two or three more in the village so they requested that we include the floating garden on the reward medal exchange list.

I will discuss it with Loo first before deciding.

-0-

In Village Four, they tried to use it as an elevator in the castle but failed because Loo had restricted the height at which it could float.

Thus, they used it as a luggage carrier for higher places.

Should we remove the height restriction of the floating garden in order to use it as an elevator?

Loo put the height restriction on it because she’s thinking about the safety of the user in case it flew away.

「Ah, this is a difficult problem, isn’t it? It would be great if everyone’s from a race or can use magic to fly but if not, height restriction must be implemented.」

Gou said so and the restriction remained.

-0-

In Village Five……

「One is not enough.」

Youko complained.

Well, I guess so.

That’s expected.

Given that there’s only one, it seems like the village council had a fight over how to use it.

Sorry.

However, won’t it be a problem if we refuse to give more?

「You won’t crave what you’re unaware of.」

I see.

「Unfortunately, they already heard about the installation of aquariums in Shashaato City. If it won’t be a problem, why don’t you give it to us until after the installation is complete? It would be great if you can prepare 20 or so. If you need reward medals for it, I’ll gladly pay.」

Understood.

I’ll talk to Loo.

「Please.」

By the way, how is the one floating garden being used?

「……」

Why are you not answering?

「The village council hall is on top of the mountain and it’s the middle of summer.」

Yeah, it’s great there on sunny days.

「It became a water tub where you can soak your feet in.」

……

「Of course, not all the council members can soak their feet in it at the same time. Therefore, the right to use it is chosen via draw lots in the morning.」

Ehto, what can I say……

That, can’t they just use a regular bucket?

「If you’re going to use a bucket, the water level is quite low and even if you put ice on them, they’ll get lukewarm in no time. Furthermore, if you want to move around, you have to wipe your feet. However, if you’re using that floating garden……」

There’s plenty of water so the water temperature won’t rise as easily and you can even walk around barefooted.

「Uhuh. Some even tried to take it home with them so they were banned from using it. In short……it’s very popular.」

I-I see.

Ehto, that’s…

「I know. I also think that it should be used in a more meaningful way. However, that’s the result of the meeting. I have no choice but to comply.」

Perhaps a heated debate happened leading to a situation where whichever option was chosen, there would be cons, and as a temporary measure, the proposal that was initially put forward was adopted?

……

I think so.

Let’s just keep it that way.

-0-

Since I’m already in Village Five, let’s check out the shrine.

My purpose is to check the white bones of the whale that we got during the parade outside the village.

It’s been a while since it was put in the shrine so I’m wondering how it was doing.

I asked Kon, the silver fox who’s managing the shrine.

「The whale god? No particular problem.」

Good to know.

「However, seeing that shitai, there were those who started coming and offering bones……」

I see.

What did you do then?

「I told them to not do so because raw bones would smell bad.」

Hmmm.

Yes, that’s true.

Raw bones smelled unexpectedly bad.

There are all sorts of things in bones and no matter how much you clean one, there might still be bits of meat left in them.

I guess they needed to be thoroughly dried or burned before offering them.

No, well, I brought the whale bone as it is so I’m not the one to talk.

However, I thought there shouldn’t be any problem since it was dry.

So, have they started bringing them dried then?

「See for yourself.」

Several small rooms in the shrine had been turned into bone mounds.

Ehto, what gods are in those rooms?

「That one’s the pig god’s room.」

……

「Next to it is the cow god’s.」

……

「And next to it is the chicken god’s.」

You mean……

「They are bones that came directly from ramen street.」

The bones used for the soup?

「Seems like it. They are certainly not raw.」

That’s……

Is this some kind of harassment against the shrine?

「No, they are heartfelt gratitude from ramen businessmen. In addition to the bones, they also place several medium copper coins.」

Ah, I see.

「It helps us run the shrine but the pace at which the bones are being offered is too much……if we don’t do something, they will overflow into other rooms. I’m already having a headache on what to do.」

I guess so.

That’s……

How about we build a dedicated shrine?

A shrine for ramen aside from the pig god, cow god, and chicken god’s rooms.

Let’s have those who’ll offer bone from ramen there.

Ah, also, burn the bones to make ashes after a certain period of time.

「Can we build it on the shrine premises?」

Of course.

「Thank you very much.」

We’ll probably receive seafood bones and shells too.

Make it big enough.

「As you wish.」

-0-

After checking out the shrine, we headed for the pond at the foot of the mountain where the shrine is located.

Kon accompanied me.

If they had something to say to Swan and Black Swan, it would be time for her to say it.

I knew that they might not be able to say what they wanted to say to them in my absence.

With that in mind, we approached the pond and found that there were many people there.

What is this?

Why are there many people around the pond?

「They are guests desu」

Kon explained so.

What kind of guests?

I thought Swan and Black Swan were having performances or something, but I was wrong.

On the surface of the water were eight swans.

Yeah, normal sized swans or rather, common sense sized swans.

Each of those swans was wearing hats with different colors and capes with numbers on their backs.

In other words……

「It’s a swan race. Three laps around a course that goes around the poles installed in the pond. The system is to guess which swans will finish first and second.」

What?

「Any swan who flies is disqualified. You can purchase betting tickets over there. If you buy tickets after praying at our shrine, you will have a better chance of winning.」

That’s great.

No, I know that races like this one exist.

I heard that there are rat races in the royal capital as well.

Even in Big Tree Village, the kuros were racing.

So, I don’t deny its existence.

What I wanted to deny is……

「Sixxx, gogogo!」

「Go, right there! Body blow! At least be number two!」

「Did it just fly? Did it just fly? Ah, it isn’t disqualified, right? Its feet are still on water. Safe? Noooooooo!」

Not those people……

「Fufufufufufufufufufu」

But Swan who can’t stop laughing getting profit.

I want to deny her existence.

-0-

Swan, come over here for a minute.

There was cheating in that race just now, right?

You made them adjust to make the best profit, right?

It’s even quite obvious.

The swans are having fake fights in the middle of the race.

You ordered them, right?

Where’s Black Swan?

Eh? Black Swan’s on it too?

Am I going to get in your way of earning a living?

Living expenses?

To eat and drink in Village Five?

I see.

Call Black Swan.

You can’t since you’re managing the dividend?

Understood.

Then, after the race is over.

Call her.

I’m not asking you to stop the race.

I’m asking you to stop cheating.

「You want to make things exciting without any tricks?」

If you overdo it, some people will lose themselves due to gambling.

That’s not good.

Especially since it’s in front of the gods.

Have a fair and square game.

Everything will be fine.

Fair and square games are a lot of fun.