Day 90 of Banishment: Fall, and Preparing for Winter (1)
"Uhh, well then, let’s think about my plans moving forward."
With that said.
Marylia began sketching out her ideas on the ground with a tree branch to determine her next course of action.
"My major goal moving forward is definitely mass-producing Iron Golems. That’s certain. But before I can get there… there are two constraints to overcome."
Marylia let out a heavy sigh. The challenges before her were significant.
"The first constraint is resources… At this rate, the iron sand will run out. So, I absolutely have to quarry the mountain rocks and soil. And the other is… time and seasons!"
"I need Iron Golems as soon as possible. Even just one or two would be incredibly useful. They could handle a variety of tasks independently, and I absolutely need at least one before winter arrives."
The significance of an Iron Golem could not be overstated.
Creating even a single one required an enormous amount of iron, making it undeniably difficult to produce. However, even a single Iron Golem would be an immense asset.
Yes, an asset. As a combatant, it was far superior to a Terracotta Golem, and it was also excellent for supporting daily life.
After all, even vague commands could convey Marylia’s intentions. For instance, saying, "Gather firewood further inland from the center of the island," would be enough for it to collect firewood on its own. That’s how capable Iron Golems were.
… Compared to simple baked clay, iron was leagues ahead. In strength, compatibility with magic, and of course, in its scarcity and the difficulty of processing!
"But to make an Iron Golem, I’ll need much, much more iron sand. Refining low-quality iron ore is even harder, and for a primitive furnace, iron sand is preferable... Still, just how much iron sand would it take to make one?"
Yes, creating an Iron Golem was a significant challenge.
Naturally, it required iron. Tools for processing the iron were finally coming together, but without the raw materials, there was no progress to be made!
"… Eventually, I’ll absolutely have to set up a large-scale iron sand refining system. Doing things piecemeal like this won’t allow me to produce 100 Iron Golems within three years."
Marylia’s goal was to create at least 100 Iron Golems. Without that as her offering, there would be no point in her exile.
However, mass-producing Iron Golems meant that large-scale iron sand refining awaited! While Marylia had no qualms about landscape destruction, the prospect of setting up such a system was daunting.
It would require building multiple dams to store water, solidifying the bottom of the reservoirs with clay or something similar, and cutting down large trees to make planks for massive troughs.
… It was, in short, a colossal undertaking. Not something that could be done in a day or two but likely requiring ten days or more. And such a large-scale operation would need manpower. Specifically, an Iron Golem.
"… I don’t even have an Iron Golem to create the facilities needed for refining iron sand to make Iron Golems!"
There it was again! The inescapable paradox, akin to "not having clothes to go buy clothes," reared its head here as well.
And on top of this endless loop, another adversary loomed.
"And then, winter will come…"
Yes, the adversary was *winter*.
While this deserted island was somewhat warmer than the Fractalia Kingdom, it would still become cold enough in winter for snow to accumulate!
"When winter comes and the monsters go into hibernation, hunting for food will become difficult. That means I have to stockpile a lot of food before autumn ends. I have a house, but I’ll need coal and firewood for heating, and I’ll need to make warm clothes, too."
Preparing for winter involved a surprising number of tasks.
First, food collection. In autumn, the trees would likely bear fruit, mushrooms would grow, and monsters preparing for hibernation would become more active. Marylia would need to forage and hunt during this time to stockpile enough food to last through winter.
Next, insulation. The house’s design left gaps between the roof and walls for ventilation, but these would need to be sealed to retain warmth.
Marylia also needed warm clothing. Processing animal hides would take time, and this was a task she couldn’t delegate to the golems. Thus, Marylia’s hands would be occupied, leaving her unable to direct the golems for a while.
"In terms of priorities… food has to come first. I can’t afford to die before I set foot on the soil of my homeland again!"
And certainly not before she got the chance to trample on the king’s face. That’s Marylia for you. Naturally, food preparation took precedence over iron sand refining. After all, if she couldn’t survive winter, creating Iron Golems would be pointless.
"Sigh, there’s so much to do… But I think I’ve got a clearer picture now."
Having written out her thoughts and priorities on the ground, Marylia nodded. Putting her ideas into writing helped clarify her thinking.
"First and foremost, iron production has to come first. Even just one… I have to make at least one Iron Golem."
Thus, she arrived at her conclusion.
…B efore winter arrived, Marylia would create at least one Iron Golem.
"Stopping all work during winter doesn’t suit me. Having a deputy who can work outside all day during the winter would be a big help. If I push hard enough, I should be able to make one during autumn. Even without fully setting up an iron sand refining system, I could gather enough iron sand to manage at least that."
Marylia aimed to create just one Iron Golem initially because its presence alone would dramatically increase her capabilities.
Iron Golems were excellent golems. They could essentially act as Marylia’s deputy. For instance, they could oversee the Terracotta Golems, allowing Marylia to relax indoors during winter.
She believed that creating a single Iron Golem was feasible, even without fully implementing an iron sand refining system.
"Even if I can’t fully set up a large-scale refining system, I’ll need to at least disrupt the upstream soil to prevent iron sand yields from dropping. Just waiting for storms doesn’t suit me."
Ultimately, her goal was to conduct large-scale iron sand refining and create 100 Iron Golems. However, for now, she planned to forgo proper waterways and channels, opting instead to let soil naturally erode into the rivers to boost black sand levels.
The idea was to replicate the effects of a storm: erosion and sedimentation from rain and wind that produced iron sand deposits in the riverbed.
So, for now...
"Alright then, let's start by collapsing the upstream soil. We'll use the soil to create a reservoir and then build a dam. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Hehe."
With a cheerful smile, Marylia set off upstream with her golems.
The plan was to collapse rocks and soil further upstream, ensuring that the current collection point at the waterfall could serve as the endpoint for gathering iron sand.
Accompanied by 13 Terracotta Golems, Marylia ventured higher and higher along the river.
Meanwhile, the remaining golems were assigned as follows: two for salt production, two for operating the furnace that fired terracotta parts, and three for mining and transporting the clay needed for building the furnace. Efficiency required multitasking, after all.
Clay, in particular, was a critical resource. Each time iron was produced, a new furnace needed to be built. While some of the previously used clay could be recycled, completely reused clay wouldn't stick together properly, necessitating fresh material.
"Summer's almost over."
As they walked through the forest and up the mountain, the end-of-summer atmosphere filled the air.
Lilies bloomed in full glory, jujubes began to ripen, and chestnut-like trees bore spiky, plump burrs. Autumn was imminent, and before long, the chill of winter would creep in, likely within two months.
"I need to hurry."
Muttering to herself, Marylia smiled at the lilies, saying, "I’ll dig these up to eat on the way back." It might be harsh on the lilies, but for Marylia, starchy food sources were vital.
And so, upstream they went, deeper and deeper into the wilderness.
"Oh my, look what we have here."
Finally, or perhaps inevitably, a monster appeared. Recently, no monsters ventured near the waterfall where she collected iron sand—Marylia’s repeated victories had instilled a clear "stay away" message among the local creatures. While it made hunting less entertaining for her, it was a testament to her growing reputation.
However, the monster that appeared today wasn't the usual gryphon or peryton.
"A wyvern, huh? My, how extravagant! Ehehe."
Before them stood a small, winged dragon—a wyvern.
"All units, prepare for stone-throwing! Throw from one direction only—don’t hit our allies!"
Following Marylia’s command, the golems immediately picked up stones at their feet and began hurling them.
Even poorly aimed stones could hit the target if enough were thrown. The stones flung by the golems and Marylia tore holes in the wyvern’s wing membranes.
Enraged, the wyvern dove at them, hellbent on tearing them apart.
"You should’ve stayed hidden if you didn’t want to die."
Smiling sweetly, Marylia waited for the wyvern to close in.
"Iron is strong, you know."
And with that, she swung her pickaxe, cracking the wyvern's skull open with a sickening crunch. The pickaxe pierced through its brain, killing it instantly. Once the creature fell to the ground, she slit its throat, hung it up, and began the blood-draining process. "We’ll pick this up on the way back," she remarked with a grin.
"Phew, that was risky. So, even flying creatures live here… How annoying."
The wyvern had been a formidable foe. Without iron tools—though a pickaxe wasn’t exactly a weapon—it might have been a tough battle.
Fighting flying monsters like the wyvern required ranged weapons or the courage and skill to provoke them into attacking and then finish them off in close combat.
"Well, I guess this just proves how dense the mana is in this part of the island..."
Naturally, the wyvern didn't fly solely by the lift generated by its wings. It also used magic—essentially a "flight spell"—to stay aloft.
This meant it was a creature abundant in mana. Such creatures were born in areas with high mana density.
"Maybe there’s something really significant about this island…"
Marylia stopped mid-thought, swallowing her words, and refocused on the scene before her.
"Alright, let’s get back to work!"
… Having driven off the wyvern, Marylia stood before a steep riverside cliff. Exposed granite and weathered soil awaited her—a promising site to begin excavation.
Without hesitation, Marylia decided: this was the place to start collapsing the terrain.
What do you think about this chapter?
