Chapter 89: Let's Modify the Tents

I returned to the workshop from the southern undeveloped lands using Teleportation Magic. “Good work today, Ophelia. Thank you as always.” “Good work to you too, Lord William. Will you be returning to the mansion?” “No, I’m going to do a little crafting at the workshop today.” “I see. Please don’t overwork yourself.” After seeing Ophelia off at the workshop entrance, I went to the workshop cafe.

I took a breather while drinking tea at the cafe. I wonder if I can make something so everyone on the exploration team can sleep well even in the wetlands. As I was thinking, Theo came to the seat next to me. “Master, good work. How is the situation with the exploration?” “Ah, Theo. No one has major injuries, and it’s going smoothly. But near the lake, the humidity has risen, and the bugs have increased. I’m worried that everyone won’t be able to rest properly at night.” “I heard the southern undeveloped lands were vast grasslands, but there are lakes and wetlands too? I’m surprised.” “Yeah, there was a big river too. It makes me realize again that we didn’t really understand the undeveloped lands.”

As I was talking with Theo, Baker-san came over holding a plate. “Lord William, good work. If you’d like, please have this. It’s a new creation.” A fragrant pie sat on the plate, wafting a sweet scent. It looked like it was baked with red fruits inside. “Thank you, I’ll have some… Oh, it’s sweet and sour and delicious. Is this cherry?” “Correct. Since you taught me how to make apple pie the other day, I tried putting cherries in.” “It’s very delicious. I feel like it gives me energy.” “I’m glad to hear that. You had a difficult look on your face.” Baker-san’s kindness touches my heart. That’s right, if I bring these pies as refreshments, everyone on the exploration team will likely get energized too.

“Baker-san, if possible, I’d like to bring these pies to the knights as refreshments. Could you make some more?” “Yes, we have cherries in stock, so I can make plenty.” “Thank you. Then, could you make them when you have time tomorrow?” “Yes, then I will hand them to you tomorrow morning.” “No, no, I’d feel bad if you pushed yourself. You shouldn’t overwork.” “It’s okay. I am getting proper time off, and I’ll come early tomorrow morning and go home early in the evening.” Is that alright? I am determined not to make the workshop an exploitative workplace. “Lord William, you are usually laid-back, but lately you’ve had a stern expression, so I know you are doing something difficult. If my sweets can be of use, I am happy.” “Thank you, Baker-san. I guarantee they will be very useful.” Baker-san is a good person. I am very grateful.

Leaving the cafe, I decided to return to my room in the workshop to think. Theo accompanied me. I hope I can make a tent that prevents flying insects from entering and allows us not to worry about bugs crawling on the ground. First, countermeasures against flying insects. “Can’t we make a tent that bugs won’t enter?” “The humidity is high and bugs are appearing, right?” There are no insecticides in this world, and it’s probably impossible to make some suddenly. While thinking about various things, I remembered the mosquito nets from my original world. They aren’t used much anymore, but I saw one when I went to my grandmother’s house in the countryside. I heard that in the old days, people would psych themselves up to enter and exit quickly so that mosquitoes wouldn’t get in with them. “Theo, do we have strong plant fibers?” “Umm, I think we have hemp.” Facing the hemp Theo brought, I picture a mosquito net in my mind. Then, visualizing a size that attaches to the tent entrance, I activate the skill. Yeah, I made it exactly as I imagined.

“With this, we have countermeasures for flying insects, but there seem to be crawling bugs too.” “Crawling bugs, huh? Even if we pitch the tent as tightly as possible, it would be difficult to completely prevent them from entering through the gaps.” Hmm, what should I do? “I thought sleeping on beds would be better, so I considered storing and bringing large tents that can fit beds, but…” The exploration team sleeps with cloths spread on the ground, but with a bed, crawling bugs won’t suddenly get into the bedding. Besides, the effect of humidity will be less than sleeping on the ground. “But if we bring many large tents, we need a wide and flat place to put them. Many trees grow near the lake, and even if we ask the Elves to move the trees with magic, there are so many it would be difficult, and we shouldn’t waste magic power in a dangerous place. Also, the land was uneven, so finding a good spot seems difficult.” “It seems quite difficult.”

Come to think of it, the Elder called Teleportation Magic “Space-Time Magic.” Moving instantly is magic related to time, and moving far away is Space Magic, I suppose. If I have become able to use magic that handles space, can’t I make a tent with expanded internal space? If I expand the interior of the tent, I can place beds, and it will be fine even without a wide space. I placed a tent in front of me and closed my eyes to concentrate. I visualize a tent where the internal space is expanded—looking like a normal tent at a glance, but having space to put beds inside. I want to make a tent where everyone on the exploration team can lie on beds and recover from the day’s fatigue. Wishing for that, I concentrate on the image.

When I activated the Production Skill, a tent appeared after the warm light faded. It doesn’t look different, but was I able to modify it properly? When I tried entering the tent, the inside had become spacious. Alright, this seems workable. When I tried putting beds in, I was able to fit four simple wooden beds. I attach a mosquito net-like mesh to the entrance of the space-expanded tent. There are 25 people in the exploration team in total. Since four people can fit in one tent, I should make seven. Since Theo helped with duplication, we were able to make seven immediately.