y the end of the day we arrive at Vahl, it already dark as it around 10 p.m. We were greeted by the gate guards, an got in the village easily. We all goes to Klein house since it already too late for Zilver Ondiep to ask the village chief for accommodation. In the end the girl will used my room while the four of us will be sleeping in Klein room. Finally I seen the so mysterious room, which actually isn't that mysterious. His room isn't that different if I compare it with the guest room which become mine. The difference is only there so many weapon being displayed on the wall, also couple of chest. No, it more accurate if I said 5 chest. It seem those chest are filled with his old party members belongings. I see that is where he found those equipment. In all honesty he also don't know what is inside those chest, since he never open it except he really need to.
"Hmmm... how does 4 grown up sleep in a single bed?" said Drat when he saw the single bed on Klein rooms.
Yep, the answer is obvious, there no way it fit! In the end we only chatting and sleep on couch while those winning janken take the bed. We do the janken while closing our eyes. Since it will be unfair if me or Klein open our eyes, our agility are that high to be able to make a change of movement in a split second. Also no magic permitted, yeah basically it pure luck. Of course I am losing the game and end up on the couch. It not like the winner sleeping right away tho. But yeah our talk isn't that important or interesting. We only talk about which subject should we teach and the schedule until midnight passed.
The next morning we woke up when the second bells rang through the village. With sleepiness I do my routine start from making water to face my face and took a dump... Yeah, the stink of that pit make my head clear. I should make a house and school soon enough, I don't think I'll be able to do this anymore. It really disturbing, and dirty.
"Morning." Klein already up when I come back inside.
"Morning Klein, you've finally up."
"Yeah, I guess all of us are oversleep."
"I think so too. It normal tho, after all we've been swayed on the carriage for 7 hours yesterday."
"True, carriage is much more tiring sometimes."
Then at that time the girls wake up followed by Glen and Drat. While they wash their faces I prepare a breakfast. I regretting right now, for forgetting to buy ingredient for making a dish. With the little ingredient I can only make a simple congee but with a grain not rice. It still tasty tho... I hope so. I indeed feel it was different from what I am expecting. But since everyone eating it blissfully, I think it alright.
"Then I'll get going, I need to meet the village chief."
"Oh you need something from Chief?"
"Well I think I need to get my own house after all. I keep thinking about it yesterday, also you guys can't keep using village chief house to home stayed there too. So I think it better if we make a house for ourselves and maybe the school too."
"... Making house and school building ain't a small things you know."
"We can just used magic, can't we? Also can someone take the order from the carpenter?"
"What order?"
"It only us that goes there Charavgi, well I'll go take the order from there then."
"Thanks Klein, then see you later."
So I walk to village chief house at once, it my first time going to his house alone. Hmmm... What should I said I wonder. I met with other villagers on my way, as we exchanging greetings before parting away. It working hours after all, so most of them are busy, or got something to do outside. Still I starting to like Vahl Village, since they all kind people and I haven't seen any discrimination going in the village. When I arrive the village chief was... Meditating? It kinda interesting, since I can feel the nature mana get a fluctuation around him. He seems like blending with nature himself. Now he makes me curious about himself, I mean I know he is a village chief but I never seen his stats at all. I cast identification silently as usual.
Name : Rocthic
Lv : 29
Ras. : Human (Male)
Job : Village Chief [Druid]
Title : Village Chief.
HP : 2010/2010
MP : 3100/3100
STR : 131
DEX : 102
INT : 310
VIT : 210
LUK : 20
Attribute: Earth
Skill:
Arithmetic Lv. 10
Leadership Lv. 11
Farming Lv. 12
Mana Breathing Lv. 5
Magic:
Nature Magic Mastery Lv. 3
Fertilizer Lv. 3
Ivy Bind Lv. 2
Plantation Lv. 2
Breeze Lv. 2
Blessings:
• Nature Lover (Increasing earth fertility)
Oh... He got an interesting magic, I see so that is mana breathing. Seems like it from his "Druid" job. Maybe nature magic need nature mana, so that why it wasn't mana detection and mana control but it mana breathing. Which mean, the mana in his body is made from nature mana. Well honestly I don't know if he is strong or not. Maybe village chief got a pretty normal stats? It no use since I don't have any comparison, all those people that I have been identified got a ridiculous stats. Since he is meditating on the yard, I decided to wait until he is done. While I am trying to imitate his breathing.
[Skill Mana Breathing has been acquired]
Oh... I feel refreshed when I doing so. Is this why he still healthy even tho he looks old? I continue to meditating besides the village chief until he finally open his eyes. He doesn't seems surprised when he looks at me. It more like he took interest on why am I here. So, I stopped at the same time.
"Good afternoon village chief ."
"Good afternoon to you too. It been awhile since the last time you come, I heard you guys go to Houten. When were you come back?"
"Yes, we just come back yesterday night, since it almost midnight when we come back all of us stayed in Klein house."
"I see, have you done your business then?"
"Yes village chief. We already purchased all the things for teaching and studying."
"That good, then why are you here now? Isn't it supposed to be tomorrow?"
"Yes, the school planned to be started by tommorow. I come here for a different reason. It about our housing. We were thinking to build our own house, also a school building. If possible I want to rent or even purchase the land on the northside of the village."
"Oh, so you guys wanted to build your own home. It is possible I think. Let me check the Village Log, and see if the place you wanted is free or someone already own it. Please come in while I check it, do have a seat anywhere you like."
So I made myself comfortable by sitting on the sofa from before. When I sit down, while bringing some tea on a tray.
"Oh long time no see Grace."
"Afternoon Mister Charavgi~~ it been awhile, here have some tea while waiting for grandpa."
"How have you been?"
"I am doing good, I guess? I don't have anything to do outside helping grandpa and cleaning the house."
"That good then."
She seat down in front of me, as she put down the tea set on the table. She then pour me some tea in the mean time.
"Mr. Charavgi I heard from grandpa that you were planning to build a school for the children."
"That's correct." I answered her whilst sipping my tea. Honestly I don't know much about tea, so I can tell the difference between tea. But I think it some kind of herbal tea? Since it give a different taste from the usual tea that I was drinking on Earth.
"Then can you hire me?"
"Hire you?"
"Yes, as I said before, I don't have much things to do. Also most of the village business was handled by grandpa, while I only help by bringing things or accompanying him."
"Is that so? It might be rude, but what do you plan to teach?"
"I can teach them how to do housework!"
"... Are you being serious right now?"
Her face look serious, but it unbelievable. How can't do a housework?!
"I am serious. What with that face?"
"No, no... The fact that you think to teach them do a housework itself already questionable for me. Who can't do a housework anyway?"
"That... My grandpa?"
.... Village Chief how terrible are you at that? How the heck can you arrange people works when you can't even do a house chores? At that time I can hear a loud sound from the other room, then followed by a footsteps. It the Village Chief, with a book in his hand.
"Thanks for waiting." He then open the book, and a map. It definitely Vahl Village map, with number on each house also field. Then he open up the books.
"Well, according to the logs here, the field on the northern side of the village is owned by the village from here to here. While this place is owned by Ben, while this one is owned by Jack. That is the land that can be rented or sold. While those owned by a villager you need to ask them directly, they indeed give me a price of 15 and 13 gold coin if you want to buy it without negotiation. While those that owned by the village will be rented for 30 copper a month, the size is around 8 times this room size. While if you want to rent it yearly it will be 3 silver coin, and 3 gold coin if you purchase the land."
He pointing on the maps whilst saying those to me. It really cheap.... I mean around 100m² for only 5M IDR or around 300 USD? Is this for real? The price for land is really cheap compared to Earth. Well I need at least 500m² for school building and 200m² for our housing. I planned to make 6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, dinning room, and kitchen. While for the school I planned to make 3 classes, 2 outside field, indoor field, teacher office, and bathrooms. Yep the indoor and outdoor field will took space. Maybe I should check the place first since the maps is kinda vague.
"Hmm... Can we check the place first?"
"Indeed it much better that way."
"Aaa, after all we plan to make a school beside our house too. So I planned to make at least 3 classrooms, our office, also field which outdoor and indoor."
"Is that so? Then let's we go there."
"Can I followed you guys?"
"Sure, we can also talk about the things from before on our way."
We then goes out at once to the northern side of the village. Since people busy with their own work, we didn't meet anyone on our way. Grace keep appealing me to hire her as a teacher, while we walk down the road.
"I can clean the house in 20 min!"
"... Grace why do I feel like you're much more suitable to be a janitor?"
"Janitor?"
"It people which work on cleaning up a building. For short they kinda like a maid, but they didn't serve anyone in particular. Their only work is to clean up the building."
She thought something then with full of energy she replied my joke seriously.
"Then hire me as janitor!"
Yep she somehow applying to be a janitor for the school now. I can't even laugh at her, since it plausible plan. If we indeed make a school building, we will need someone to clean up the building. Even if we didn't make the school building, she still end up cleaning the village chief house either way. But the thing is we doing this for free! Will she keep it up without any payment? I even plan to do cleaning by ourselves before. Also Zilver Ondiep didn't do it for free, since Klein going to teach them before. While now it different reason tho after they seen Rivari. Still, they didn't do it for free from the start.
"You do realize that we doing this for free right?"
"I know, but isn't it good since it mean I can contributing for the children growth? As the village chief granddaughter, I need to contribute for our village too."
She said those, somehow it unbelievable reason. It rare to see someone being selfless, also I got a feeling she got another agenda. But that indeed helpful since we can focus on teaching, also there is no reason to decline her if she even said those.
"Fine then." So I somehow hiring her as a janitor. She seems so happy and mumbling something.
"Fufufu... I... Klein..."
... I see her aim is Klein! As I thought it wasn't the real reason. The village chief seems satisfied somehow when he heard our conversation. He even nodding himself with a blissful face. His face seems like saying "my useless granddaughter finally do something". As he laughed when he heard my agreement. We passed a big boulder as we walk. Then not too long we arrive at the location, it was the field where those kids, which proclaiming as Vahliance, training in secret. The fields is around the perfect size honestly.
"Here we are. So by the map, from the edge until that tree over there is owned by the village. While from the tree there until the boulder from before is Jack land. While it width streched from the flower bed over there until that slope."
When we arrive the village chief explaining the land border to me. Yep it perfect, also I don't need to buy Jack land. Since the field owned by the Village already big enough to build all the building I want.
"I see, so how much is it village chief?"
"Ah? Is this land satisfied your need? It going to be hard to make a building here since the land is a slope."
"Yes, it big enough, also you don't need to worried about the slope."
"Is that so? That is good then. How about 2 gold coin and 40 silver since it only around 1/5 acre? I cut it by 20% since the you made the school for us. But I can't cut it down more then that, since I need to make a report to Sir Dilan when the next tax collector come. Also by the next tax, you need to paid the taxes."
What?! That right, Vahl is included in Pratje territory. So of course he need to make a report to the Lord. Still tax eh?
"How much the tax is?"
"Usually the villagers paid it with grain. It around 20% of their field size."
"Err... Can I paid it with coin?"
"You can, by your land size it should be around 6 silver."
... Is it cheap? But seriously I don't know if it cheap or not. One meal in Kitten Lounge is around 30 copper, so it 15 meal in Kitten Lounge? From the start I don't know how much a bag of grain can be sold. Still is that mean 20% of the grain harvest around this big can be sold for 6 silver? No... If I think about it, each household got at least 1 acre of land in this Vahl. While this place is only 1/5 of their field. With 37 household and 250m radius, it indeed around an acre per house hold. So every harvest they paid aroun 30 silver a year, then it mean they yield at least 1 gold and 20 silver a year after being cut with tax. So it mean they can eat on Kitten Lounge for 400 days? That indeed cheap then. Also their expenses is much lower since they didn't need to buy grains, and they cooking their dishes by themselves. Is it possible that Vahl Village actually a rich village? I mean with that kind of income they can purchase another acre in 10 years, no?
"That cheap..." I mumble without thinking.
"Fohoho... It wasn't that cheap actually, since usually we can only harvest 40-50% of what we sow. It already a great harvest if we can reach 70%. Still Sir Dilan is a great Lord. Whenever our harvest didn't reach 40% he will lower it to only half."
I see... I forget it wasn't a modern age here, where every field got a good harvest. If it was that much I guess it pretty high then? Once again I am reminded how my common sense failed me. It wasn't cheap but it wasn't high too. Also that old man indeed a decent Lord, and grandparents. He knows leniency to his peoples, he wasn't a complete muscle brain. I guess he wasn't a General for nothing.
"I see then, here is the payment. Normal prices is fine Village Chief." I give the Village Chief 3 gold coins. He kinda reluctant to accept it.
"Please accept it. Just think the 60 silver as a payment for Grace."
When I said those, Grace turn her head to the chief. Then he nods his head. The chief then wrote something on the logs. He then give me a document.
"Please sign this document."
He gave me the logs and feather pen. On the logs, stating my ownership of the land, size, location and date of purchase. After reading and checking it twice I finally sign the documents, which he slipped back in the logs.
"Then with this, the land is your ownership. I can recommend you to a carpenter to build the house and school."
"Ah... Sure, but I don't think I'll need it. If my plan failed, then I'll meet him."
"Oh you already got a plan, then if you need it do come to his carpentry. It on the north-east." The chief said those as he pointing the village map. I think, it the Hobbit carpenter from before. Then he and Grace parting, since he said he still got a work to do. Which make things easier for me, because I prefer no one see me doing the experiment.
"So what should I do first?"
Thinking like that, I draw a blue print of the building on the ground or more like a draft. Yes, let's we try to flattening the ground first. I imagine the ground raised up as I pour my mana to the ground. The ground slowly raising, to not make a commotion I control the mana flow. I got a feeling I can raised it up all at once, but I am afraid people will be alert by a tremors.
[Magic Earth Control has been acquired.]
[Magic Earth Mastery has been acquired]
[Magic Earth Wall has been acquired]
[Magic Earth Control has been level up to Lv. 3]
[Magic.....]
A string of notification can be heard as I am mending and flattening the ground. Yep... It succeed, in an hour the ground finally flattened, and the slope from before can't be seen anymore. It raised by 3 meter I guess? Yosh then next is, I poured my mana on the ground once again on the edge of the field. Yep I plan to make my house here, so I hardened the ground with magic by imagining the chemical bond tightening. It slowly formed a granite tho... I know what soiled composed of so all I imagining is gathering the silica, and alumina then tightening their bond. I never thought it will become a granites. Well most soil got those after all but their bonds are loose since half of it contain a gasses like oxygen, methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide also a water. So I guess this what happened when you tightening the chemical bonds and removing those things. So around 120m² granite were made. Then I make a wall with Earth Wall. It succeed... But it surface is really rough like the floor, it wasn't a smooth surface like I wanted. Well I guess it can't be helped. For now I'll made it like a box, I forgotten one things tho... Right now I can't see anything! I am completely close myself inside. Danyum... At once I am walking to one sides and make a hole for door, then window, also a hole to goes down from second floor. Yes I made a second floor first! It was dangerous, I might die from suffocation. It isn't even funny if I died because of that. Also I realized why no one build a house with magic, the mana consumption is ridiculous. Well they might be able to make house from normal Earth Wall that basically a dirt, but just to make a foundation like mine it already took 600K of my mana. Even tho my Mana Control already reaching Lv. 37, if they didn't have Mana Control as high as me it will be much more. Then the 4 m wall with thickness around 10 cm and width around 44 m took 200K mana. Ah also the roof took a the same amount of mana too. So it ridiculous to do this, except they got a collosal amount of mana. It the first time I am using this much of mana in few hours. The flattening part didn't even matter for me tho.
Now all that left is smoothing the floor and wall inside. How do I pave this stone... Granite is tough after all. Let's try that, I used wind based magic that based on vibration and try to make it a super high density! Yep it work, it cut the unpaved floor and make the surface even and shining. Hmm... I can hear another string of notification in my head, to clear the dust from the room I used wind magic once again and blown it out. Now the floor is nice, next I used Earth Wall make the rooms then shave it uneven surface once again. Then afterwards I goes out and raised the wall until it reaching 7m height with an Earth Pillars that basically a granite too. Well the second floor is only a bedrooms around 20 m² and a hall way which is 2 m width. When I saw it outside, it seriously look like a box if there is no roof... Well I don't have any talent to design a house. Also there is 9 pillars, 4 on the edge, while the other is crossing the center. It width facing to the village, so I plan to make a door on the right side which is near the stair. After a break for 30 minutes, I continue building the wall. Then a make the living room, dinning room, kitchen and bathroom. So when you open the door to the inside it will be a hallway and the stair. The room next to it is the living room which connected to dinning room that I separated by wall. Behind the dinning room is kitchen, while beside it is the bathroom. Of course I make a western toilet, and also a big bath tub. The problem is water source... I guess I should think about it later on, what I am dissatisfied right now is it too plain... Granite that being polished indeed can give a different color but still it too plain. Also I am successfully changing the floor color for the bedroom. Still tho.... It plain! Yeah I repeat it 3 times since I feel it needed.
Yep, let's cut some wood! Let's cover the living room, dinning room and bedroom with a wood planks. Or maybe painting it? Sadly I didn't buy any paint from Houten. While there is no one selling those here. When thinking those I made the school with the same method, it only one floor tho. By the fourth bells, I am done making the house and school. It took me longer then I thought, since I need to take a break to let my mana recover. The field is pretty normal, as I only harden it slightly, so do the indoor field. All I need is furniture, door, window and those planks for covering the wall. So I decided to visit the Hobbit carpenter which I still don't know his name. He never state it before. When I reach there, Klein also there.
"Oh, you come here by yourself in the end?"
"I just wanted to give cha order to this brat."
They greet me when they saw me.
"Ah, good evenings. Yeah I just realized I need some wood too."
I give my greetings and asnwer Klein question.
"Cha need a wood? What kind of wood dit Cha needs?"
"Why do you need a wood suddenly?"
"I need a wooden planks around 2m long, with 20 widths and it preferable if it thickness only around 2 cm."
"Ooo, what specific planks Cha need. It almost like Cha want to used it as a flooring. How many did cha need?"
"You really made a house?!"
"Aaa, kinda as many as possible. I also need... Hmm.. 13 door that 2.4 meter height and 80 cm width. There also 50 window frame that 40×80 cm, 6 bed, 30 desk..."
"Wait wait wait... That a long list of order! What kind of house did you make?!"
"..."
"Ah? Hmmm... Normal house? That's right how about this, you come with me and see it by yourself?"
"That good. If I seen it I can think how much did you really need."
"That will be really helpful."
So we walk back to the house and school building that didn't have a door, or window