"Well then, shall we get started?"
A lineup of women who looked thoroughly uncomfortable stood before me. The reason they were lined up was—
"We literally just mass-produced a batch not long ago, so how can they eat this much... no, how can they even manage to eat this much..."
It was because the sweets that should have been produced in considerable quantity had been virtually wiped out at yesterday's girls' gathering. Sure, I had given them permission to eat and entrusted the batch to them, but I never imagined that sweets I thought would last a whole month would be gone in a matter of hours.
"We'll need these going forward — both for dungeon dives and as refreshments when guests visit. The same amount as last time... wouldn't be nearly enough, so make more than that. Once Reni judges that you've clearly made enough, you can split the rest among yourselves. Alright, I'm counting on you."
The moment I told them the extra sweets were theirs to do with as they pleased, the mood visibly shifted. Especially among Amour and Aura.
The mass production of sweets was to be handled by the women from yesterday's gathering minus Aina (Primera was off duty, so Albert had brought her along), as well as Albert, Cain, and Garat — the three of them had been offered snacks as their condition for helping since they said they were free, but they ended up offering to assist the women instead. Meanwhile, Grandpa, Jin, and Lion were assigned to clean the bath under Aina's supervision while the women worked on the sweets. Whether it was because she regretted eating too many sweets along with everyone else, Aina agreed right away when I asked her to supervise Grandpa and the others — and she was quite enthusiastic about it. To be fair, Aina wasn't the only one who overindulged, and half the reason she ate too much was because of Aura, who kept piling sweets on her to stay in her good graces, so I told her not to worry about it. Still, knowing her personality, she probably couldn't help but dwell on it anyway.
"...Should I maybe give a salute for their noble sacrifice?"
I muttered that under my breath, but... right after, I heard the sound of plates breaking, so I put off the salute — and by the time things settled down, I had completely forgotten about it.
"Breaking plates is one thing, but don't hurt yourselves."
"Sorry..."
"My apologies..."
After making sure Amour and Aura had taken the rebuke to heart, I headed back to my room. It was time to start working on the Golem.
"I've gotten my hands on some new materials and some interesting ones, so I might as well start from scratch."
Since the original hadn't progressed much anyway, starting over wouldn't require significantly more effort. If anything, having obtained what was essentially a perfect reference model, my work speed should only go up.
"Who would've thought that skeleton I picked up in the dungeon would actually come in handy?"
For the Golem I'd be giving to Primera, I planned to build it with an inner core that served the same role as human bones, then attach armor around it. So a skeleton shaped like a human (whether it was actually human bone was still unclear) made for an excellent reference model.
"And then, this 'Hydra's—
sinew' I received as a reward from Jin and the others.
"...!"
On the way back, I'd dissected the Hydra and harvested some sinew that could be used for the Golem.
"First, I'll thin out the thicker sinew and thread it through the Golem's core..."
It was a tricky job, but Hydra sinew retained considerable strength even when thinned down, so it never snapped no matter how roughly I handled it. I managed.
After connecting the entire skeleton-like Golem frame with sinew, I wrapped the thin connective tissue found at the seams of the muscles—the so-called "tendon strips"—around the core, taping them into place.
"Still, at this rate, people are going to think it's some kind of skeleton or mummy monster."
With bandages covering its entire body, it really didn't look like a Golem.
"Now, if I attach some temporary armor... does it start to take shape?"
Once I fitted the armor I'd made with earth magic, the monstrous look vanished entirely and it became unmistakably a Golem at first glance. The armor was made from hardened earth, so it had roughly the durability of stone, but it wouldn't hold up in real combat. The Golem's output would likely overwhelm it, and it would break apart mid-fight.
"I'll make another set just like this... and take this Golem over to Kerry. I'll have him forge proper armor to match these specs, and in the meantime, I'll work on making real armor."
I crafted another identical set of the hardened-earth armor that was fitted to the Golem, then used those as templates to forge proper armor out of Mithril and enchanted iron.
That was enough for today—I'd consult with Kerry before moving forward. When I made it back to the dining hall,
"This is... incredible."
In the few hours I'd been absorbed in my work, the dining hall had transformed into a confectionery production factory. Aina was directing the whole operation. She must have finished cleaning the bath and made her way over.
"Aina commanding everything, Primera baking the pastries, Jeanne and Aura mixing the pancake and pastry batter, Albert and Cain grilling the pancakes, Amour and Renie assisting the three bakers while making toppings, Garat and Menace with Lion handling transport and sorting of finished goods, and the cleanup trio sitting in seiza waiting for dishes to come in... now that's what I call efficient."
The pastries requiring careful monitoring of temperature and browning went to the meticulous Primera. Batter preparation, which demanded precise measurements, was handled by Jeanne and Aura, who were seasoned cooks. Mass-producing pancakes fell to Albert and Cain, who were used to working in tandem. The fickle Amour was assigned to toppings—something nobody would particularly miss if left undone. Meanwhile, Renie kept Amour on task while filling in wherever fine detail was needed, assisting with the baking. For Garat and Menace, who had never made sweets before, the experienced Lion issued directions while moving finished treats out of the way and portioning them out. Overseeing all of them—directing the whole operation while also lending a hand wherever needed—was Aina. And the three who were completely dead weight sat quietly in seiza, waiting for dishes to come in.
"Aina must have been the one who assigned all those roles, but it's seriously efficient. Especially how she got the cleanup trio to wait patiently like that."
Grandpa, Jin, and Lion—those three were unlikely to be any help with pastry-making, which required a lot of fiddly detail work, and even less likely to sit still and sort things quietly. (Garat and the others might sneak a bite here and there, but they had enough dexterity to get the job done and the social awareness to read the room.)
So there wasn't much they could do besides wash dishes, but those three would undoubtedly cause all sorts of trouble if left to their own devices during idle time.
That was why they had to wait in seiza. Having learned firsthand just how terrifying Aina was during the cleaning—or so I figured—those three now obediently followed her orders.
"Lord Tenma, we've made double the amount of snacks you consumed yesterday. Right now, everyone is busy making the snacks they need. And here are your portions. Please accept them."
"Ah, thanks."
I was just about to say, "Maybe it's time to stop?" but... Aina still seemed full of energy and drive, and I felt too intimidated to stop her. Besides, the other women also appeared intent on continuing—they noticed me but hadn't paused their work. On the other hand, the men kept glancing my way, but...
"I'm heading over to Kelly's for a bit, Aina!"
I pretended not to notice. Well, there didn't seem to be any room for me here anyway, and visiting Kelly had been part of the plan originally; this just moved it up a bit.
"So you've come running to me for shelter... huh? Well, you're more than welcome to visit!"
I quietly handed the assortment of snacks to the exasperated-looking Kelly, and his attitude did a complete 180 as he welcomed me in.
"Well, it's not just that I ran away—I brought these because they actually turned out okay... or at least, that's what I'm telling myself."
When Kelly saw the golem fitted with its provisional armor, he silently handed the box of sweets to a female dwarven employee and began examining the golem from various angles.
"Given this size, I can make three full suits of armor."
"Right, that's fine for this type of golem. But I'd also like to commission one additional unit. That one will be a different shape and probably larger, so I'd like to place the order after all three are done."
"Understood. So, what's the image for the three suits?"
"Something like knightly armor, with minimal decoration."
When I gave that order, Kelly brought over several sheets of paper with armor designs. We first chose a base shape from those, then discussed the finer details.
"Alright, let's start with this design then."
"Thanks. I'll leave the golem here—you can use it as a mannequin."
I left the golem behind because I thought having the real thing would make the work easier, but Kelly strongly insisted I take it home.
"If it gets out that I have something like this, robbers will definitely come swarming. I've got the size locked in my head, so just bring it over whenever. For now, I'll make one and we'll see how it goes."
I thought he was being overdramatic, but according to Kelly, there were plenty of people who would risk danger just for the chance to get their hands on an unfinished golem of mine.
"Alright then, I'll get a replacement ready, so just wait a moment."
Sure enough, Kelly might've been right, so in place of the Golem, I used earth magic to quickly craft a life-sized Golem doll on the spot. It was roughly the same size as the Golem I was about to leave behind, but since this was just a doll and not an actual Golem, it wouldn't move.
"This should work. The durability seems decent enough, and since it's about the same size, it should make the work a lot easier. By the way, once the armor's all done, would it be alright if I kept this doll?"
As expected, having an identical (if immobile) figure on hand made the finer details much easier to work with. Kelly wanted to keep it in the workshop not just for the work itself but also as a convenient display for the sample armor once the crafting was finished. For my part, it was just something I'd thrown together with earth magic, and bringing it home would only be a nuisance, so rather than smashing it and tossing it as trash, I agreed to hand it over to Kelly for disposal.
"Then, give me about two weeks to finish the armor."
Whether it was because he'd secured the doll or not, Kelly cheerfully set about his preparations… but behind him, the female dwarves had gone pale in the face. Some of them were even thrusting what looked like bundles of order forms at Kelly, but he just laughed and ignored them.
Since there was clearly no stopping Kelly now, the female dwarves resigned themselves to it, their shoulders slumping as they headed back to the forge. I felt bad for them, but I was also curious to see the finished product, and I knew Kelly wouldn't listen even if I told him to put the armor on the back burner. So, as an apology of sorts, I decided to present the female dwarves with some handmade potions, nutritional drinks, and a gift box of fresh-baked treats from today.
"They accepted it, but… they didn't seem as happy as usual."
On the way back from the workshop, I couldn't stop thinking about Kelly and the female dwarves.
"Kelly, you're not gonna get stabbed in the back someday, are you?"
Kelly going on a rampage wasn't exactly unheard of, and I was worried that the female dwarves, who bore the brunt of it all, might eventually snap.
"Well, before it comes to stabbing, they'd probably just leave first, so it should be fine… surely… probably…"
If a fight broke out, I'd bear some responsibility too, so I resolved to step in and do whatever I could between the two parties as I hurried back to the mansion.
"Tenma-sama, here are the extra sweets."
What awaited me upon returning to the mansion was… the sweet aroma drifting from the dining hall, and Aina waiting there with an additional batch of sweets stacked up. Incidentally, mass-producing sweets was still underway.
"Aina… how are tonight's dinner preparations coming along?"
Since it was almost dinnertime, I asked while hoping the sweets weren't actually going to be tonight's meal… and Aina quickly averted her gaze. Not just Aina—the other women who'd been keeping an eye on me while continuing their baking did the same. Only the men shot me looks that said "Thank goodness someone finally said it!"
"I'll make something simple for dinner, so once what you're making is done, I need you to handle ventilation and cleanup."
I couldn't very well tell them to stop mid-batch, so I let them know to wrap things up once the current batch was finished. The women looked somewhat sheepish, while the men finally wore expressions of relief, as if they'd been liberated.
"I'll help."
"I'll help too."
"Then, Reni, could you wash the rice and cook it a little on the firm side?"
Both Aina and Reni offered to help, but I asked Reni specifically. The reason I didn't ask Aina was that if I didn't have her supervising the sweets-making, someone was bound to make a huge mistake.
"If it's rice dishes, I could make some kind of side to go with it."
"Then could I ask you to make miso soup?"
The reason I asked Reni was that I'd be making something close to Japanese cuisine — or, in this world's terms, something similar to southern cuisine — and Reni, who was accustomed to cooking it, was the ideal choice.
"It's a large quantity, but it's simple, so it might even be done before the cleanup is finished."
Muttering to myself, I tossed soy sauce, sake, and sugar into a large pot and set it over the fire.
"Tenma, is the miso soup looking about right? It seems a little thin to me, though?"
I gave it a taste myself, and it seemed like this was just about right.
"This side just needs a little more simmering, so shall I go ahead and get the dishes ready?"
With that, Reni moved to prepare a rice bowl and soup bowl for each person, plus a few large plates — but we wouldn't be needing rice bowls or large plates, so instead I had her bring out donburi bowls.
"It'll be ready in just a bit, but how's it going on that side?"
Since dinner preparations were nearly done, I asked Aina how the sweets-making was progressing, and she told me all that was left was wiping down the tables.
"Alright, the rice… looks like it's finished steaming. Go ahead and portion it into the bowls."
I left the rice to Reni and took the filled donburi bowls, ladling the pot's contents over them one by one.
"Now add the miso soup and it's done… Hey, come get your food — it's ready!"
What I'd just made was, in my previous life, the beloved beef bowl known for being "fast, cheap, and delicious." Well, the name just happened to be the same as the iconic version of that phrase, but it was relatively easy to make and could be produced in large quantities, making it perfect for times when there wasn't much room for a proper meal. It was also ideal for moments like now, when everyone in the house was starving.
"Second helpings!"
"Get it yourselves."
Just like that, with the three big eaters — Amour, Jin, and Garat —
"No way I'm losing! I'm going for seconds too!"
When there's someone like Lion who needlessly competes for more, the rice bowls—which are easy to prepare by just scooping rice and piling on toppings—can be left to sit once you've set them up initially. However,
"Save some for my share too!"
"Me too, please!"
you have to watch out, because sometimes your own seconds disappear before you realize it.
"Well then, Tenma-sama, I'll be heading back now."
After dinner, Aina took her share of the snacks and returned to the royal castle.
"Alright, time to get to work. As for the bath... maybe later."
I'm worried Grandpa and the others might cause a commotion in the bath again, but Lion and the others are heading straight home without bathing, and I told Jin and the rest to go in at staggered times, so yesterday's fiasco shouldn't repeat. On the women's side, the chaperone Aina has left, but Primera is heading home too, so it should return to the usual calm—no particular reason for anyone to get rowdy.
"Should I fine-tune the first one before starting on the second and third?"
I made the adjustments to the first unit while being careful not to throw off the temporary armor fit, then used that as the foundation to build the second and third units.
"By the second and third ones, you really start to get the hang of it. Well, even so, morning's already here..."
I kept at it because things were going smoothly, and before I knew it, it was already light outside by the time I finished.
"All that's left is making the armor out of Mithril, but that's definitely not something I can do at the mansion."
Magic iron and regular iron can be processed at the mansion, but Mithril requires a proper workshop to handle. The only workshop that might work is Kelly's, but he's probably swamped with my commissions, so I can't use it.
"Hmm... I just need to make the armor for one unit first. I'll ask the King if I can use the workshop in the royal castle. Sure, it might not be as convenient as"
"a proper, professional"
"workshop, but it should still be better than working from home."
I've heard the royal castle's workshop isn't the kind of place where you forge weapons from scratch, but rather handles emergency repairs, minor fixes, and maintenance for weapons and equipment. However, I confirmed during my last visit that they have a proper kiln, so they might actually be able to process Mithril. I'll ask, and if it doesn't work out, I'll have to look elsewhere—but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
"Chris or Luna will probably stop by soon, lured by the snacks, so I can ask them to relay my request to the King at that point. Until I get approval, I'll work on making the internals for the additional unit. Well, I need to sleep before that, though..."
To make sure I didn't forget what I'd just decided, I jotted down a note and stuck a piece of paper reading "Do Not Disturb" on the outside of the door, then settled in for a nap.
I must have fallen asleep the moment I slipped under the covers, because the next thing I knew, it was well past noon. I might have overslept a bit, but I didn't feel any of the sluggishness that comes with sleeping too long — I could probably get right back to work. But,
"Before that, I should ask someone to pass along a message."
I glanced out the window and spotted the royal carriage, so Luna had probably arrived. Thinking that, I headed to the dining hall, and sure enough, Luna and Chris were there eating snacks. However, there was one small difference from what I'd expected—
"Oh, you're finally awake."
"Tenma, I've heard your daily routine has been getting rather sloppy lately, so do try to keep yourself in order."
That would be Lady Maria and Lady Isabella. Moreover, whether they'd heard from Aina or Jeanne, Lady Maria gave me a mild scolding with a slightly reproachful tone.
"I'll do my best to be more careful going forward. Lady Maria, there's actually something I'd like to ask of you..."
It felt a bit awkward to make a request right after being told off — especially one related to the very reason for the scolding — but she granted my permission without any fuss. She did say she'd need to check her schedule after she got back, though, so the earliest I could have the workshop would be tomorrow or the day after.
"Thank you very much. I still have some work to finish, so if you'll excuse me."
I didn't know the exact date, but with Lady Maria's approval, borrowing the workshop itself was now a done deal. Ideally, I wanted to finish the internals of the last unit before then. So, even though I knew it was rude, I excused myself to get back to work — at which point Lady Maria sighed in exasperation and simply said, "At least take care of your health."
"It'd be great if I could make the armor for the last Golem too... but that might be a bit too ambitious."
Muttering to myself, I returned to my room and set to work on building the final unit.