Chapter 5
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Oakwood (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Two days.
A time that was short if short, long if long.
But in those two days, the miracles that unfolded on the construction site were so unbelievable even to me, the one at the center of it all.
"Heave-ho! Turn it! Turn it!"
Whirrr!
The massive wooden wheel sliced through the air with a resounding hum as it spun.
Inside it, I ran without spilling a single drop of sweat.
Thanks to Rodentia's blessing, Endless Sprint.
My legs moved on their own, as if powered by engines.
And it felt amazing!
"Wheee!"
Was it the instincts of a rat?
Boredom didn't even cross my mind.
The thrill pulsing through me with every stride!
Was it Rodentia's encouragement?
My heart pumped away like an tireless engine.
As the rope connected to the crane grew taut, a massive stone block rose steadily into the air.
A weight that normally required four grown men grunting and straining to budge.
Yet here I was, handling it alone—and humming a tune to boot.
"Hah... hahaha..."
"Does that make any sense? A Ratkin pulling that kind of power?"
The foreman uncle spent the entire second day with his mouth agape.
The laborers who had scoffed at first were now looking at me with awe beyond mere shock.
"Hey! Grab that rope over there! The kid's going so fast the stone's shaking!"
"Y-yeah, got it!"
Before I knew it, I had become the ace of the construction site.
My pace was so blistering that the material haulers couldn't keep up and were left panting!
By dusk, when work wrapped up, the wall repairs were ahead of schedule.
"Thanks a ton, little rat! We can hit the deadline thanks to you! We were about to eat a massive penalty fee— you've bought us a decade's worth of breathing room!"
The foreman uncle clasped my small hand in his thick paws, eyes brimming with emotion.
His gaze upon me seemed misty somehow.
"Come back anytime, and I'll double your pay! No, scratch that—how about specializing as a crane operator? Room and board included, plus hazard pay!"
"Aw, I'm just passing through on my travels. I'll take the sentiment, though."
I politely declined and pocketed my wages.
It was hefty.
"Take care, little giant!"
"Steel ankles! We'll remember!"
I left the site amid the laborers' cheers.
I wondered when they'd even come up with that nickname.
My body ached a bit, but with my pockets full, the fatigue melted away.
I clutched my earnings and headed to the makeshift carpentry shed in one corner of the site.
'Gotta grab those scraps I eyed yesterday.'
A rickety tent serving as a roof housed an old carpenter with a fluffy white beard planing away.
The sharp scent of sawdust hit me.
A smell that stirred memories from my past life.
"Excuse me, Grandpa."
"Hm? Oh, it's the rat girl who powered that crane earlier. Impressive for such a tiny frame."
The grandpa paused his work, recognized me, and chuckled heartily.
I got straight to the point, as politely and eagerly as I could.
"Any spare wood scraps I could have? And maybe some tools you don't use...?"
He tilted his head at my request.
His eyes drifted to the pile of waste lumber in the corner.
"Scraps? That stack's all knotted or warped—unfit for furniture. Good for kindling, maybe a few decent pieces... Take what you need. But what's it for? Starting a fire?"
"No, just whittling something. To pass the time."
"Heh heh, a rat whittling wood? You've got a fun hobby."
Grandpa grinned with interest and rummaged through his battered toolbox.
"Tools... Hmm, let's see. This carving knife's edge is dull, and this chisel's teeth are chipped—good enough?"
The carving knife he handed over had a polished-smooth handle from years of use, its blade dulled at the tip.
But it was more than enough for me.
"Yes! I can sharpen it! Thank you!"
I bowed deeply.
I sifted through the waste pile, picking the best pieces.
Solid offcuts with fine grain, elastic wood chunks.
"Maple? That one's ash?"
This world's woods felt similar yet different from Earth's.
My senses were all I could trust.
I even scooped up stray thin metal sheets and nails rolling on the ground.
I snagged polishing materials too.
Rough cloth studded with sand grains.
I pressed a few coins into Grandpa's palm.
"It's not much, but..."
"Heh heh, wasn't looking for payment. Such a polite one. Here, take this as a bonus."
Grandpa tossed in a small file from a shelf corner.
Essential for grinding metal.
"Thank you! You'll be blessed for this!"
"Yeah, yeah. Handle it carefully—no injuries."
With my haul secured, I stopped by the village general store.
A bag of hardtack and a wheel of cheese joined my travel pack.
Unwrapping the cheese released a pungent, nutty aroma that pierced my nose.
The hamster wheel in my bag immediately started rumbling.
Rodentia's illusion nearly burst out of the wheel.
I smirked and sliced off a thin corner, slipping it into my bag.
"Here, eat up, milord! An offering."
Swish.
The thing munched away with a look of utter bliss.
Cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk.
Hard to tell if she was a goddess or a gluttonous hamster, but her simplicity was a relief.
'Do rats even like cheese?'
Back in my past life, I'd heard it was a media stereotype, not fact.
'Whatever, this is another world—rats loving cheese must be normal here.'
Anyway, time to hit the road.
Oakwood was a full day's walk from the village.
Packed heavy, it might take longer.
And as a Ratkin, my short legs meant even smaller strides.
But a carriage?
One day, easy.
A regular wagon bound for Oakwood sat at the village entrance.
A freight cart loaded to the brim.
Word was, pay up and they'd take passengers.
The driver was sweating as he sorted the cargo.
"Mister, heading to Oakwood?"
"Yup. But the cargo hold's packed—no room."
The driver tsked, pointing to the mountain of wooden crates.
Apple boxes and grain sacks filled every gap.
"Roof okay? I'll cut you a deal."
"Sure! That works!"
"Heh, nimble as a rat, huh? Don't blame me if you fall—hold tight."
"Yes! Thanks!"
I paid a few coppers and scrambled atop the roof.
The hard wooden roof wasn't bad with my pack as a pillow—cozier than the stuffy interior.
"Yah!"
The cart lurched forward, and the world opened up.
Leaving the village, vast plains stretched golden before us.
Red sunset draped the horizon.
Cotton clouds above turned pink.
Waves of silvergrass swaying in the breeze.
A natural vista even my past life hadn't shown.
Clean air, free of smog or dust, filled my lungs.
"Nice view."
I nibbled hardtack while soaking it in.
This was the charm of travel.
But the reverie was brief.
With leisure came practical questions.
I pulled out my crumpled map from my pocket and unfolded it.
A pricey travel guide from the store earlier.
"Milord, this is Winster Kingdom, right?"
Rodentia's form replied in an arrogant pose.
"So, what's Oakwood like? Map says it's the kingdom's biggest city in the west. Anything famous? Good eats, local specialties?"
I showed her the map.
But Rodentia glanced and cocked her head.
Her eyes wavered.
"...Pardon?"
She gazed at distant mountains with a wistful look.
"..."
Ah.
I got the picture.
This self-proclaimed goddess had been out cold for centuries at least.
Time for mountains to change dozens of times.
Humans building kingdoms, cities, even cranes.
While nations rose and fell, she snoozed blissfully in her wheel.
Bottom line: Neither of us knew squat about this world.
Me, a country bumpkin with zero clue; her, an ancient god with outdated info.
What a duo.
"Sigh... Guess we'll figure it out when we get there."
"Yeah, Oakwood has a big public one."
"...Don't actually eat the books. You'll get fined. Or kicked out."
I sighed and opened my pack.
Bumpy rooftop ride or not, sitting idle made me antsy.
I unpacked the long wood scrap and tools from earlier.
Scrape, scrape.
I peeled the bark with the carving knife.
Then smoothed key spots with the sanding cloth.
Familiar sensations returned to my hands.
Wood scent filled my nostrils.
Past-life memories flowed through my fingertips.
This girl's small hands were precise.
A bit short on strength, but somehow faster and more accurate than before.
Ratkin trait? Or my talent as Reti?
As I pondered, Rodentia spoke up.
Rodentia halted her wheel, peering with curious eyes.
"Making a weapon."
I pulled out my battered crossbow from my bosom.
The dungeon kludge.
Blessing kept it together so far, but it was done.
The string was frayed out; stock-to-prod joint loose.
Time to retire it.
"This was just temporary. Now for the real deal."
"Yep. Not just strapping a prod to wood—proper structure from the ground up."
I sketched a blueprint on the scrap with the knife.
"Real trigger mechanism, sights too. And... a buttstock."
In my past life, I'd dabbled in woodcraft.
Hobby level, but folks praised my work.
I'd even built a crossbow once.
Copying a design, but the memory was vivid.
"Oakwood should have better materials. For now, I'll shape the body with this. Curve the stock to my shoulder, balance the fore-end for..."
My eyes sparkled as I explained.
To reach the Pantheon Temple with Rodentia, I needed coin.
And a weapon to protect myself.
This crossbow would be my sole partner in this harsh world.
Strength begets light, as they say.
"Get excited, milord. It'll be a hundred times better than the dungeon hack job."
"A hundred? That's creepy."
The cart raced across crimson plains.
From my hands came the cheerful scrape of knife on wood.
Shavings scattered on the wind.
The sky darkened to deep blue.
In the distance, beneath the evening sky, Oakwood's twinkling lights seemed to flicker.