...It's Water!
Today was another relentlessly busy day, just like always.
The Totori were dancing their kkuungsil-kkuung dance to grow the crops.
The Elite Goblins had formed teams and set out on patrol.
The remaining goblins stuck close to the Totori, helping tend the fields.
In the midst of it all, Rin was zipping this way and that.
"Kieee!"
"Kkuuung..."
-Got ittt! Coming right uupp!
Rin darted around at top speed in response to calls from every direction, sprinkling water everywhere.
Having even one mid-level spirit made a real difference—water shortages were far less severe now.
But that doesn't mean we're swimming in it.
I watched Rin flit by overhead.
To be precise, we were just barely scraping by. Back when it was only lower spirits handling things, we were always short on water. Now, we were hanging on by a thread, making ends meet.
If the population grew even a little more, or if even one more kid was born... we'd be right back to shortages.
Especially since...
I opened the Village Window.
Village Window
Satisfaction: Average
Cleanliness: Good
Safety: Level 4
Satisfaction's dropped.
Probably the water issue.
This won't do.
My leaves rustled as I pondered.
Time to make our own water supply.
Like an irrigation canal or something.
But...
How do I even build a canal?
I'd need concrete for that. Who was I gonna get to make it? I wasn't some civil engineering grad.
I let out a metaphorical sigh, my branches swaying.
Maybe a well instead?
In my past life, I'd watched those wilderness survival shows. They'd covered digging wells.
Yeah. A well. That seemed doable.
Decision made, I asked the water spirits nearby.
Any chance you could find an aquifer around here?
They went kkuung... and exchanged glances.
-Hard to see that deep underground!
Hmm. Must be because it's earth territory.
Just to be sure, I asked the earth spirits too.
What about you guys...?
They shook their heads.
-Too tough for us...
Big trouble.
Then the water spirits went Aha!
-Rin might be able to!
-Yeah! She's mid-level!
-Closer to water, so she can do it!
I perked up.
Oh, really?
Rin was busy, but finding an aquifer was priority one.
I called out right away.
Rin!
She fluttered over at the sound of my voice.
-You called? Why why?
Could you check for an aquifer nearby?
Rin nodded eagerly.
-I can do it!
Awesome! Do it now, please!
-Okay!
Rin cupped her hands together, and water droplets began gathering above them.
Clear, swirling with a rainbow of colors. Beautiful, rippling water.
I couldn't help but stare, mesmerized. Even the nearby Totori and goblins gawked at it.
Then Rin pressed down hard on the orb.
Pop!—it burst, soaking into the ground.
She closed her eyes and focused intently.
Did it work...?
The other spirits explained as I watched.
-She sent a water orb connected to her underground!
-When it finds the aquifer, Rin will sense it!
Oh.
Cool. So now we just wait.
It didn't take long. Rin's eyes snapped open.
She fluttered off in one direction, pointed at the ground, and shouted.
-Here! Water below!
Great.
We'd found it.
But...
How deep?
Rin went kkuung, fluttered up, and hovered.
-From here...
Then she zipped to the opposite spot and stopped.
-To about here?
Hmm. Roughly five meters.
Perfect. Let's do this.
I wriggled my roots up to the surface.
One wouldn't cut it, so I twisted several together into a thick drill.
Then I slammed it down hard where Rin pointed.
Rumble rumble rumble!
The ground shook as it bored in fast. Houses wobbled.
As I punched through, Kan, Tori, and Tabu approached.
"May I ask what you're doing, Master?"
Oh... Water's short, so I'm digging a well.
"A well?"
Kan looked stunned.
"Kkuung?"
"Kkuung!"
Tori and Tabu blinked in surprise.
Yeah. About five meters down should do it.
Kan puffed out his chest proudly.
"Leave that to us goblins! Rest easy, Master!"
Tori and Tabu raised their hands eagerly.
"Kkuuung!"
"Kkuung!"
Begging to take over.
The spirits swirled around me too.
-Us too!
-We can help!
Everyone stepping up together. It warmed my core.
Awesome. Let's build this well as a team!
"Yes, sir!"
-Yay yay!
"Kkuuung!"
They all shouted back with enthusiasm.
And so, Operation Well began.
"Kieee."
"Kieeeek!"
The goblins dove underground first, digging furiously.
-Hurry!
-Move it! Move it!
The spirits gathered the excavated dirt and hauled it out.
Meanwhile, the Totori scattered to hunt for stones to line the well walls.
I told them,
Stones are key. They need to fit tight for clean water.
The Totori nodded and dashed off.
"Kkuung kkuung!"
I kept helping dig with my roots.
This hole's coming along faster than I thought.
Soon we'd line the walls with big stones, gravel the bottom...
One snag, though.
Charcoal would be perfect.
Those survival shows said it filters the water.
But making charcoal here? Tough. Needed to burn wood without oxygen for a long time.
As I mulled it over, the spirits overheard and gathered.
-What's charcoal?
-Food?
Uh... It's wood burned black...
They tilted their heads, then...
-I can do that!
Huh?
The fire spirits had clustered up.
-Black wood, right?
-We make that all the time!
-It's our toy!
For real?
-Yeah! We can do it now!
The fire spirits giggled and picked up a fallen twig of mine.
Then...
They shoved it straight into their mouths.
...What?
It fit? They crammed it in, cheeks bulging like snakes swallowing huge prey.
...Not bursting?
The other spirits cracked up.
-No burst!
-Burst means no spirit!
-More! More!
The fire spirit, mouth stuffed with twig, cupped its hands and strained with a kkuung.
Whoosh!—its body shifted from red to blue-hot.
Temperature rising.
Then—
Ptoo! Out came the twig.
Whoa! Incredible!
Perfect black charcoal.
The fire spirits beamed.
-Can't do big trees though...
-This size works!
-Okay?
More than okay! Perfect!
They lit up with excitement.
-Wooow!
-We helped!
-More help!
They raced to stuff twigs and strain away.
Charcoal: solved.
Meanwhile, digging finished. Goblins and Totori stacked stones neatly.
Nice nice!
Great teamwork—fast progress, wrapping up already.
Gravel the bottom, layer charcoal, heavy stones on top, finish with fine pebbles...
"Done!"
"Kkuung!"
"Kieeeek!"
-We did it!!
Cheers erupted.
Just a well, sure. But our first group project. It tugged at my heartstrings.
The sun began to dip.
Dinner time soon.
The Totori danced their kkuungsil-kkuung, crops shooting up.
Goblins sat beside them, sharing the harvest.
"Kkuuung~!"
"Kieeeek~"
Goblins and Totori laughed and played.
They're all such good friends now.
The mood showed in the Village Window too.
Village Window
Satisfaction: Very Good
Cleanliness: Good
Safety: Level 4
Nice nice.
I watched contentedly when Rin fluttered up.
-Hey! Look over there! Quick quick!
Hm?
She pointed at the well.
Kan stepped forward first, peered in...
"...It's water!"
His low voice carried awe.
"It's really filling up!"
I sent mana to check.
Trickle trickle.
True. Crystal-clear water rising slowly.
Kan grinned wide at me.
"As expected of Master's foresight!"
Tabu and Tori beamed and nodded.
Rin and the spirits swirled around me, giggling.
-Right!
-Best friend ever!
-So smart!
-Cool!
-Thrilling!
-Sexy!
-Kyaa~!
...Sexy's a stretch, isn't it?
Plus... it wasn't even my idea. Credit to those survival shows.
Still...
Seeing everyone so happy is great.
That warm thought was interrupted.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Urgent footsteps.
Goblin scouts, panting as they burst into the village.
"Kieeeek! Kieee!"
Desperation in their cries.
Kan's face hardened.
I asked,
What's wrong?
He whipped toward me.
"Magical beasts... they're approaching!"
What?
...Magical beasts?