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Chapter 410: All the Staff are Lively

How should I say this…Soleil seems to be a pervーah, no she’s just admiring a fine piece of art, so dearly, huh.

The Earthkin also replaced the doors of the storage room on the first floor of my tower. They left the shelves and other parts inside the room, but they seemed ready for assembly. This is the last room to be fixed; I’m going to assemble the parts later once everything is in place. The raw materials for the other rooms had been stored here, and we also held the party inside this room, after all.

Actually, I don’t have to do anything since it’s a storage room in the first place, but I’m not okay fixing everything else and then leaving this room as it is…! I bet Soleil will still swoon over the hastily built makeshift tables that the Earthkin made for the party, though.

The office desk that I gifted Soleil was first assembled in the wider storage room before being carried out of the tower. I remember her shouting 「Don’t get it wetttt!! 」while clinging to the front doors. The desk was wrapped in cloth for protection, so I didn’t get to see her reaction when she removed it.

Sorry, seems like they’re gonna make new doors for the other store room too…

I felt a bit uncomfortable as I put the souvenir box on the side table. The Earthkins also made this box, but it’s a bit rugged and boorish since those folks prefer spartan and solid built when it comes to things like this.

I’m into that rustic vibe too, so let’s tell them to make the furniture for the forest house match that style. The greenery I planted grew pretty well and they’re bigger now, blending perfectly with the flora of the forest.

「The game boards and pieces come in two sets, so you can use it with four players. 」
I removed the lid and showed them its contents.

This board game is similar to chess and they play it in Nalluahdid. The pieces are delicately crafted from formosan sweetgum and ebony by the Earthkins. I took the seamless checkerboard with the contrasting colors and lined the pieces on top of it.

「Hicc…! 」
Soleil froze.

「Please, please, gently now, yes, please be very very careful, alright? 」
Soleil’s voice was quivering.

This is just a trial set made from the ebony, you know. The sweetgum came from Dogu’s lake too. The bough…is actually the size of your regular log, so even with the twigs, you can already make plenty of trinkets.

「Amazing. 」
What a rare sight, Kiel seemed moved.

「Even Kiel can recognize how superb it is… The artisan who crafted this must be exceptionally skilled. 」
Auro was all smiles.

I really can’t tell if Auro and Kiel get along with each other or not.

「It’s gorgeous. Hmm, how should I put this, the pieces are like jewels, bewitchingly lovely to the point that I’m scared to touch it. I wonder how much a single piece is worth… 」
Soleil was in a daze as she stared and appraised the items in front of her.

Uh, sorry but those pieces are completely covered with my fingerprints, though I did wipe them before giving it to you guys.

「And here too. 」
Two more trinkets from the twigs ー an inlaid wooden box and another box with parquetry.

Thanks to Dogu-chan’s colossal trees, the morale of the carpenters had been boosted to the max, but it was only so-so for the other craftsmen. I also gave them spirit ores and the like, but apparently, only the best of the best artisan chosen among them had the privilege to work on it.

And so, relying on my fuzzy memories and vague knowledge, I introduced the Earthkins to the world of karakuri boxes and puzzle boxes and other challenge boxes, as well as music boxes and locks and keys. Keys already exist in this world, but it wasn’t anything complicated, so I also told them about the more intricate ones ー even though I don’t have any idea how it’s made!

The Earthkins were currently preoccupied with those stuff. I bet they’re gonna end up making beautiful pieces characteristic of Earthkins, but I’m also pretty sure that it’s enough of a challenge for them to make the structure out of the wood waste.

The Earthkins’ fingers are so thick, so I wonder how they can make those intricate designs.

「They’re stunning too…Parquetry and inlays usually make the surface of the wood rough, but this one feels so velvety, and oh my, just look at that gloss, it’s so shiny that you know it’s a fingerprint magnet just by looking at it. These inlay… is this a pearly turban seashell? And this, is it walrus tusk? Ivory is pretty mainstream around here, but this is on another level of gorgeous. 」
Soleil was still in a daze, but she didn’t forget to do her commentary. Well, she also explain things well even when shrieking ーI can’t help but keenly feel that she’s a true blooded businesswoman, and it’s strange, but I’m also moved.

Soleil was practically sighing, totally entranced. She’s even kneeling down so that she can get closer to the side table. Faramir had slipped the cushion underneath her before her knees touched the floor.

Uh, Faramir, aren’t you gonna stop her? Or do you approve and support her eccentricities or something? The relationship between these two is also strange.

「And here, snacks for you guys. 」
「Alright, tea time. 」
Kiel immediately interjected, but Faramir also promptly slapped his outstretched hand away.

In one fluid motion that continued after that slap, Faramir started putting the game boards, pieces and small boxes away. Auro wordlessly helped her, ignoring the entranced Soleil as he wrapped the board with the soft cloth and placed them back into the box.

「Ahhhh, lemme look at them for a bit more, just a bit more…!! 」
「They may get dirty because of the snacks and tea. 」
Faramir continued what she was doing without a change in her expression.

「Ugh…. 」
Soleil hung her head dejectedly. Sorry, but Kiel has a tendency to go wild! Can’t do anything about it!

「Soleil-sama, we need a suitable display shelf for these. 」
「Yes, I’ll order it. It should be made with glass so that we can see inside! 」
Soleil seemed energized again because of Faramir’s words. She immediately raised her head, her eyes sparkling. She’s quite simple, huh.

「Ah, I wanted you to play it like normal, though. 」
You can also put something inside the small boxes.

We had to stash the snacks for all the staff right away and put it inside the locker. I hope the Earthkins can come up with a complicated and intricate lock soon, because this key has been through some deadly midnight battles and has been picked a few times already.

What is going on with my island for everyone to fight tooth and nail just for the snacks?

「These nightly battles have enhanced and improved our abilities and skills. Currently, we have a few individuals who can sneak into the bedrooms of kings from major kingdoms…. 」

Auro breezily said.

….What the heck are they training for?