The Rock Bath Experiment
"Developing two magic tools: one incubator for raising Cocotte chicks, and another for hatching eggs from the start?"
"Yeah, I know you're busy, but could you manage it?"
"How were Cocottes raised in their nests?"
I speculated, mentioning the warm stones.
"Do the warm stones heat up from sunlight?"
"Who knows?"
"I'll examine the stones, so please give me some warm stones."
"They're being cut at the stone workshop right now, so extras should be fine."
"What are you using them for?"
"I was thinking of lying down in the hot spring bath to warm the body."
I want to make something like a bedrock bath from my previous life.
"If the hot spring steam or water heats the warm stones, then for raising Cocotte chicks, we could build a shed near the hot springs, lay the warm stones on the floor, and put straw on top."
"That makes sense. Chicks could be raised that way, but hatching eggs probably wouldn't work."
"Why not?"
"Eggs need to be kept at a constant temperature, right?"
"Is that so? If it's similar to how birds raise them, the eggs are wrapped in the parent bird's feathers."
Maria started muttering under her breath, thinking a bit in her head, then suddenly.
"... I have an image for the hatching magic tool, so I'll try making it once the warm stones arrive."
"Changing the subject, did Nanally say anything?"
"She already made swords for women and asked to have female knights test them."
"And the results?"
"I asked her to tell you directly."
"That way, improvement points can be heard straight from them."
"Yes. Also, Nanally said she'll cooperate on developing daily life magic tools."
"That's good."
"Yeah, the hot spring crystals seem to have worked wonders. She understood the need for boards that withstand high temperatures and said she'd hurry development."
"Not just the hot spring crystals, but toothpicks are needed too."
"She'll make them once the design is ready."
"Please do."
"Yes, Young Master Reinhardt, that rock bath thing—please install it in the mansion soon."
Her eyes are serious as she says please.
"Once the stones come back from the workshop."
I need to expand the bath area soon.
"Hardt, finish the rock bath before we return to the capital."
"Brother Chris, there are only three days left."
"If we miss this, we can only use it a year later. Hurry up, Hardt."
"No way..."
To fulfill my selfish brothers' requests, I had some of the stone slabs cut to 0.8m vertical by 1.5m horizontal by 2cm thick transported to the mansion.
The next day, next to our family-exclusive hot spring bath, I asked Hamilton and Kamuela to use earth magic to create a dome-shaped simple hut.
The dome hut's ground is set so fresh hot spring water constantly flows over it, and on top, I placed two beds with warm stones fitted into wooden frames.
Each bed uses three stone slabs.
In this world, there are plenty of people over 2m tall, so three slabs make 2.4m.
The beds have rust-proofed iron mesh stretched at the bottom of the wooden frames. The frames are double-layered, with warm stones fitted into the inner frame, and the space between inner and outer frames filled with the gravel stones used in the hot spring crystal hut.
To avoid walking on dirt until reaching the slabs, I placed handmade slatted mats for easier walking.
I shaved the wood for the bed frames and mats and sanded them so no splinters would poke bare feet.
These handmade beds and mats were made by Meyer, Wilson, Tom, and the other gardeners as an experiment. Maria handled the rust-proofing on the iron mesh.
We finished it in one day.
I only gave instructions, though...
In the evening after completion, my brothers used it right away.
Since it was a special occasion, I urgently asked Rosalina and Marissa to make work-clothes-style garments from pele fabric. They said they couldn't in one day, so I called in helpers to divide the work.
To everyone I pushed hard, I gave matcha sweets and payment, please forgive me with this.
My brothers changed into the pele fabric work-clothes-style garments in the bath area and entered the dome hut.
I entered in normal clothes to explain.
"First, pour hot spring water from the watering can onto the gravel stones in the wooden frame. Then lay a bath towel on the stone slab and lie down."
My brothers poured the hot spring water onto the gravel as I said, laid bath towels on the slabs, and lay down.
"If it gets too hot or you feel lightheaded, leave the dome. Otherwise, come out whenever you like."
"It warms gently and feels good."
"Unlike the hot spring, you can stay long."
"If you sweat too much or get thirsty later, drink water."
Explanation done, I left the dome hut.
With hot spring water flowing, the dome wasn't cold, it had just the right humidity and temperature, and my brothers looked comfortable.
I want to try it soon too.
What do you think about this chapter?
