Chapter 50: 50 William the Carpenter

Chapter 50

50. Carpenter William

The steward Chakhar chose the construction site for the squat toilet in the northeast corner of the outer fortress.

This location was far from the gate of Mountain Forest Fortress, separated from the inner fortress by walls, and a considerable distance from the main building where Ronin resided, ensuring there was no worry about odors drifting over.

Through their recent interactions, Chakhar had come to understand his master’s particularity about cleanliness—such as bathing daily and changing clothes every day—almost more meticulously than some noble ladies.

But Chakhar did not find this strange.

Every noble had their peculiar habits, and Ronin’s relatively quiet preferences were quite manageable.

Digging a hole, placing a clay pot, and then covering it with wooden planks completed the simple squat toilet.

However, there was no time today to build a shelter, leaving it as an open-air squat toilet.

Ronin gave a brief look and nodded in acceptance.

There was little technical complexity to this primitive squat toilet, and with the detailed drawings he provided, anyone could accurately construct it.

“This is basically it, just the pot is a bit small.”

He offered Chakhar advice for improvement: “There are over twenty servants in the fortress. You should ask that Carles to make a few larger pots. Or see if any mason can dig a non-leaking pit in the ground to replace the clay pot—as long as the waste doesn’t seep away, it’ll meet the requirements.”

There was no cement here, and Ronin wasn’t sure if any material could serve as a sealant substitute, so he initially chose the pot.

“Yes, master!”

Chakhar noted this suggestion. “I already went to the blacksmith shop this afternoon and asked. Carles assured he could make larger clay pots, though it will take some time.”

Making clay pots wasn’t difficult; even ordinary people could craft small pottery jars themselves.

Ronin nodded. “Either method, or both together, can work. After all, the fortress can’t have just one or two toilets.”

“Additionally, tell Carles the fortress won’t seize his labor. Encourage him to produce the pots confidently and ensure quality!”

This was a minor matter. After giving instructions, Ronin left the site, leaving Chakhar pondering how best to satisfy the lord’s expectations.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t imagine using waste water for fertilization—could vegetables grown that way still be eaten?

And the master, who valued cleanliness yet was engrossed in building toilets, seemed to embody two extremes.

Despite his doubts, Chakhar meticulously carried out Ronin’s tasks without contradiction.

“Come, let’s go ask the town mason,” he said to the two servants beside him.

On another front, the manservant Gallon arrived at carpenter William’s home with guards.

The uncle was instructing his son on crafting a cabinet.

Seeing Gallon and the guards approach, his face immediately changed.

The news of Princeton’s betrayal of the lord had spread widely; even those bedridden in town knew a bit, and William was no exception.

For days, he had been restless, unable to eat or sleep properly.

He feared being implicated for having worked under Princeton to build the fortress cabin, accused of colluding with the traitor.

He once considered leaving Mountain Forest Town with his wife and son but ultimately gave up.

Though the Williams were free citizens, hastily leaving their lifelong home to survive in an unfamiliar city was daunting.

Fortunately, after two days, he noticed the lord hadn’t pursued his supposed guilt, even sending the mysterious light-attribute magician, Lord Ellron, to aid the injured.

He realized the lord of Mountain Forest Fortress might truly be benevolent.

Yet what he feared still arrived—the fortress guards came to his home.

Upon seeing them, William’s heart plunged into cold water, chilling him thoroughly.

“Sir, what is this about?” he nervously inquired.

Gallon felt a momentary daze; being addressed as “Sir” was a novel, peculiar sensation.

Indeed, serving the lord in the fortress was the right choice.

Despite the respect, Gallon recalled Ronin’s instructions, maintaining a polite demeanor, even performing etiquette learned from Chakhar.

“Uncle William, I am Gallon, manservant to Baron Ronin of Mountain Forest Fortress. Today, I’ve come to invite you to the fortress. The master seems to have a task for you.”

Hearing this, William’s tension eased slightly, though he remained somewhat uneasy. “What might the lord require of me?”

Gallon shook his head.

He didn’t know Ronin’s intent, but considering the master’s afternoon experiments with the wood and now seeking a carpenter, it likely related to the black ironwood.

But learning from experience, he refrained from speculation on uncertain matters.

“I’m not sure. You’ll know once we go to the fortress.”

Gallon added, “The master is waiting there. Don’t let him wait long.”

“Yes, yes, sir. Please wait a moment; I’ll accompany you to the fortress right away.” William hurriedly fetched his tools for backup.

Soon, Gallon brought the carpenter to the outer area of the inner fortress’s main building.

Once assured the lord wasn’t punishing him, William’s mood improved. Looking at the main building he had overseen, a sense of accomplishment welled within him.

For a carpenter, nothing brought more joy than witnessing one’s masterpiece.

After a brief wait, a figure emerged from the main building.

William straightened up, maintaining a respectful posture.

Compared to his distant glimpse of the lord at the pasture, this time he saw more clearly.

The lord, true to noble lineage, appeared noble and handsome, exuding calmness and elegance that inspired admiration and reverence upon sight.

“Your subject, William, is delighted to meet you, respected lord!” William solemnly bowed and greeted.

“Delighted to meet you, Uncle William!” Ronin responded quite amiably.

Such address left the old carpenter momentarily overwhelmed, unsure how to reply.

“Today, I summoned you mainly to show you something.” Ronin led William to the black ironwood log nearby.

“This is wood from the Black Forest?” Carpenter William recognized the log’s origin instantly.

Ronin’s eyebrows lifted. “You’re familiar with it?”

This question touched upon William’s pride, prompting a hearty laugh. “Master, it’s not boasting, but I’ve visited every forest in Mountain Forest Town and know all types of wood!”

Ronin smiled, listening attentively.

Regardless of exaggeration, recognizing the Black Forest log instantly earned William respect from Ronin.

“The trees of the Black Forest are extremely hard. Princeton once considered using them for this building, but cutting them proved too troublesome, eventually abandoned.”

“Unable to serve as construction material, woodcutters avoided the effort to haul them for firewood. Over time, we neglected the Black Forest.”

This surprised Ronin; he hadn’t known Princeton discovered the Black Forest earlier, nor that he’d failed to recognize black ironwood’s value despite finding it.

Truly a stroke of luck.

“Uncle William, the fortress servants praise your skill, and I wish to witness it firsthand.”

Ronin pointed to the log on the ground. “Black ironwood’s hardness suffices for making chest guards, shields, and attacking spears. I ask you to craft a set for me.”

Upon hearing this, William the carpenter stood stunned.

For a long time, he had believed that wood was solely for building houses or crafting furniture; he never imagined it could be developed into armor and weapons.

Upon hearing Ronin's words, his mind suddenly opened up, and he exclaimed in amazement, "Master, you truly are a genius!"

Looking at the tree segments on the ground, his mind was already envisioning armor and spears. He also believed that, relying on the hardness of black ironwood, anything crafted from it would undoubtedly serve its purpose effectively.

William suppressed his eager heart that longed to experiment and began to seriously ponder how to proceed with the crafting.

"Master, making the items you mentioned shouldn't be a problem. But you know how hard black ironwood is—it would be quite challenging for me and my son to cut and transport large quantities back home."

Black ironwood was not only hard but also very heavy.

Even lifting this segment of wood, which was just over a meter long, was difficult for an ordinary adult man.

It would be even more daunting for William and his son alone to haul it all back from the distant west.

"Don't worry about that. I will arrange manpower for you. You and your son should focus your energy solely on crafting, not waste it on transporting and cutting."

"Additionally, for helping me craft these items, you must keep it confidential, and I will also provide you with extra compensation."

William, upon hearing that the lord not only did not force him into labor but was even willing to pay, was instantly overwhelmed with gratitude and joy.

"Praise you, Master, you truly are a benevolent and enlightened lord!"

He spoke while humbly bowing at a ninety-degree angle: "William is delighted to serve you!"

"Very well. I will draft a reasonable compensation plan and crafting schedule for you."

Ronin nodded and smiled, "Before that, you can take these tree segments back and study them thoroughly. It would be best if you could produce finished items as quickly as possible!"

Thank you, Master Midnight Crimson Rain, for your reward, and thank you all masters for your votes~

(End of Chapter)