Chapter 82: Step 82 to Greatness: Every Settlement Needs a Cellar
As they returned, Hannah, Mika, and Tsukika were already there, cracking coconuts and taking out their edible parts so they could use the shells as makeshift bowls to boil water. But mainly to boil brine so that they could finally purify the salt.
Mika was using a stone to crack open the large coconuts, while Tsukika used her short blade to separate the white flesh from the hard shell.
At last, Hannah was placing the edible part in a leaf basket while arranging the empty shells.
Adrian saw the huge shells and was taken aback. He had expected the coconuts to be large, but not so large as to cover their faces and still have a three-finger gap left.
Although it wasn’t a permanent solution, it was enough till Sera managed to craft actual pots.
Hannah looked up and grinned, seeing that the others were there.
"Perfect timing, folks!" she exclaimed, waving her hands over her head. "We got the goods!"
Sera, Adrian, and the tribeswomen walked to them with big baskets full of fish and crab. The second Hannah saw it, she was more surprised than they were after seeing the coconut shells.
"...and here I thought I would be the one surprising you," Hannah clicked her tongue before breaking into a smile. "We got seafood and salt! Master! You know what it means, right!?"
Adrian chuckled and nodded.
The primary goal was to preserve the fishies, but seeing Hannah lick her lips, Adrian knew she was thinking something else. Something along the lines of a... stew.
It would be a bit bland with only salt, but it was better than just having meat all the time. Besides, they also had some herbs that the slimes had scavenged from nearby on Root’s request.
Add in some sour berries, and the stew would be a decent meal. However, before all that, Adrian had something else to show the ladies.
It would be a crime not to let them use the bathhouse.
Besides, they were all drenched in sweat and dirt from work. It was the perfect excuse as well. But before all that, he had something else to show them.
"Take the stuff and follow me," he said, walking inside the longhouse.
Once inside, he led them to the nearest room. The bed and everything else had been removed from there, leaving an empty room.
"Master, what is this about?" Sera asked, looking confused.
If Adrian thought they could use the room to store things, he was mistaken. After all, there was a large open window there without any glass to stop the outside wind from entering.
If they tried storing things there, it would all turn rotten within hours. Seeing their confused faces only made his smile wider as he took out a [Small Underground Storage Pit] card.
Although it was called an underground pit storage, in truth, it could be used anywhere as long as there was ground.
He was planning to put a storage near all production facilities, such as the farmland, salt quarry, etc. That way, the produce could be hidden safely and preserved for a long time.
Adrian used the card, and a soft glow appeared on the floor of the empty room. The ground cracked open smoothly, revealing a set of stone stairs leading down to the ground, just like it did yesterday for the underground cavern.
The hole was larger than the previous underground cave entrance, but the area inside was much smaller.
As usual, Adrian walked down first, and as soon as he did, he was hit by a cold updraft wind. The underground cellar was well ventilated with small air channels built into the walls, keeping the temperature cool and dry.
The floor was smooth stone, and the walls were reinforced to prevent collapse. It was the perfect place to store food, seeds, and other perishable items without worrying about spoilage or theft.
"An underground cellar?" Hannah asked, stepping inside. "Sheesh, it’s cold in here."
The others were surprised as well.
"It’s cool and dry," Mika commented. "No insects would appear here either since it’s all sealed up."
"Alright, just put everything here and come with me," Adrian smiled. "I got more surprises for all of you."
Surprises had become a part of their daily routine. However, since each surprise had been better than the day before, they readily followed him.
Adrian led them into the underground cavern. While going there, he kept setting up more cellars. One near the farmland, one near the arrow tower, and another one at the salt quarry.
"Master, we have already seen the mines here," Sera said as they entered the cavern. "Are you going to tell us about their uses?"
Adrian shook his head and kept gesturing to them to follow. While he was going to sleep, he knew the women would naturally explore the area around.
However, judging by how the bathhouse had remained untouched, he knew that the girls either hadn’t seen it or didn’t bother to go inside.
Either way, Adrian could surprise them now.
Adrian stopped in front of the sliding obsidian door of the geothermal bathhouse. He slid it open with a smooth motion and stepped inside, gesturing for the women to follow.
As soon as the women saw what was inside, their eyes widened. Even Tsukika couldn’t keep her cold face anymore. After all, such baths were a part of her culture, but the bath before her felt even more luxurious despite its rawness.
Unlike Tsukika, Sera and Hannah’s attention went straight to the soap stored on stone shelves.
"Soap! Master, you even have soap here?" Sera exclaimed, picking up one of the bars and sniffing it. "It smells a bit earthy, but even so, this is amazing!"
The tribeswomen, however, were shocked by something else entirely. They stared at the steaming pools of warm water with wide eyes.
It was their first encounter with such a thing. After all, they had always bathed in the cold water of the stream.
"This is... a miracle!" Rixxa exclaimed.