Another World Metal Factory

Chapter 51

Waiting in front of the bathhouse, Penny and Kara came out. Penny emerged with a bright expression, her slightly damp hair fluttering.

“Did you wait long?”

“No. I just came out too.”

“It was so nice and warm!”

Kara said to Timothy with a bright smile, and Timothy stroked his wet daughter’s hair.

“It felt so good to rub my body with the rough cloth. After scrubbing like that and getting in and out of the water, my skin became so smooth.”

“The water was super slippery!”

Penny chattered to her husband, seemingly very pleased with the bath, and Kara also expressed her enjoyment like her mother.

“It seems you both liked it.”

“It was really good. When would I ever get to use such hot water so freely?”

Penny said, holding Timothy’s hand.

And so the three of them headed to the cabin.

******

Perhaps tired after the bath, Penny and Kara fell asleep on the bed, and Timothy was spending a leisurely afternoon sitting in the rocking chair.

As Timothy was relaxing while watching the sunset, the innkeeper, Shellen, approached him, pulling a handcart.

“Are you resting well?”

When Timothy nodded, Shellen smiled brightly and began to unload the items on the handcart.

“What’s this?”

“It’s dinner.”

Shellen replied as she set up two U-shaped pieces of metal connected in an X shape on the wooden deck floor and placed a half-cylinder-shaped object on top of it. Timothy, curious, got up from his seat.

Then Shellen began to place various items on the large wooden table next to it. Tongs, cutlery, and knives.

Finally, placing a cloth-wrapped object on an iron plate, Shellen smiled brightly.

“Dinner? Isn’t this raw meat?”

Timothy asked as Shellen unfolded the cloth. They were chunks of meat, sliced a bit thick.

“Yes. You can grill it yourself. Here are the vegetables, and the sauce and salt are here.”

“Grill it myself? The guest?”

Timothy asked, and Shellen replied while pouring charcoal into a bucket inside the half-cylinder.

“Yes. For families, we prepare it so you can grill it yourself.”

“Hmm. What’s wrong, Timothy?”

Meanwhile, Penny came out of the cabin and spoke.

“The innkeeper is here. Is it dinner preparation?”

“Yes. I’m preparing it so the guests can grill it themselves.”

“Oh my. We grill it ourselves? That sounds fun. Timothy, you can grill well, right?”

With Penny saying that, Timothy couldn’t say anything.

Seeing Timothy scratching his head, Penny smiled and poked him in the side.

“You boasted about grilling a whole pig in the battlefield.”

“Well, that’s true… Alright. I’ll grill it.”

Shellen smiled slightly and hung a gas lamp on a hook on the deck pillar. The area around the table brightened.

“Then, have a pleasant time.”

Shellen said goodbye and left, pulling the handcart, and Timothy picked up the poker and stirred the charcoal. The red-hot charcoal emitted heat.

“Then I’ll wake Kara up and come out. Grill well.”

Penny went inside, and Timothy sighed briefly, then placed the iron grill on top and heated it.

Seeing the iron grill adequately heated, he used tongs to lift a piece of beef fat. As he placed the fat on the grill, a sizzling sound could be heard.

After applying the fat, Timothy moved it to the side and placed the meat on the grill. Three pieces of meat, bigger and thicker than his palm. The grill was full once the meat was placed.

While the sizzling sound and the smoke with a delicious smell rose, Kara, holding Penny’s hand, came out rubbing her eyes.

“Did you sleep well?”

Timothy asked while flipping the meat, and Kara approached with a bashful smile.

“Yes. Are you grilling, Dad?”

Timothy nodded while sprinkling salt and seasoning on the meat.

“Yes. It’ll be done soon, so sit at the table.”

Kara nodded and went to the wooden table, climbing onto a chair. Then she showed interest in the gas lamp hanging next to it.

The gas lamp, brighter than lamps, candles, or torches, seemed fascinating to her.

“You’ll hurt your eyes staring at something so bright.”

At Penny’s words, Kara blinked and sat properly on the chair.

Meanwhile, Timothy placed the cooked meat and vegetables on a plate and brought it to the table.

“Here. It’s all cooked.”

Kara, rubbing her eyes as if they were dazzled, smiled brightly at the sight of the meat in front of her.

“Wow! Dad grilled it!”

“Haha… It’s been a while since I grilled, so this one’s a bit burnt.”

Timothy placed the slightly burnt piece of meat in front of himself.

“It’s the first time since the war, so I’m not sure if it’s cooked well.”

“It looks well cooked. What are you talking about?”

Penny said while cutting Kara’s meat with a knife, and Timothy also took out his knife, sliced the meat, and brought it to his mouth with the tip of the knife.

“Again, again. You’re eating like that. There’s water here to wash your hands, so eat properly.”

“Ah… Alright.”

At Penny’s scolding, Timothy pulled the water bowl closer, washed his hands, and wiped them with a cloth.

The meat was of quite good quality, so it was very good. Timothy smiled as he watched Kara munching on the meat.

“Is it delicious?”

“Delicious!”

Kara replied with a bright smile to Timothy’s question.

“It’s been a while since we all sat down and ate like this.”

Kara said while putting grilled vegetables in her mouth, and Timothy was slightly shocked by those words.

“That’s right. Dad is always busy.”

When Penny also said that, Timothy couldn’t say anything. Thinking about how much he had neglected his family with the excuse of being busy, he felt sorry for them.

“Here. Have a drink, honey.”

While Timothy was thinking, Penny brought out something. It was a small glass bottle.

“It’s wine. We should have a drink, right?”

“That’s good. It feels empty without it.”

When Timothy said that with a bright smile, Penny laughed as if amused and poured wine into a wooden cup. Timothy drank the wine in one gulp.

“Ahhh. Good! This!”

“Is the wine delicious?”

“Kara has to wait until she’s a little older to drink.”

Penny poured another glass of wine into Timothy’s wooden cup and one into her own.

******

After leisurely finishing dinner and enjoying a pleasant conversation over wine, Kara started to doze off.

Seeing that, Penny picked up Kara and went inside the cabin, and Timothy roughly cleaned up the table and sat on the rocking chair.

The slightly hot weather had cooled down to a suitable temperature with the cool breeze blowing in the night.

Timothy lightly sipped the wine in his glass. When was the last time he felt this comfortable?

Although he always drank, it had been a long time since he felt pleasantly drunk like this. It was enjoyable.

“Are you resting?”

Penny asked, coming out after opening the door. Timothy turned his head slightly to look at his wife and smiled.

Penny was wearing the dress she had bought at the Orc Village earlier. Her round, white shoulders were revealed outside the sleeveless dress.

“Does it suit me?”

“You look beautiful in anything.”

Timothy reached out and pulled his wife towards him. Penny sat lightly on Timothy’s lap and wrapped her arms around his neck.

They looked at the lake. The moon in the sky was reflected and shimmered on the lake.

“Is Kara asleep?”

“Yes. She’s sleeping soundly. She must have been tired today.”

Timothy pulled his wife’s shoulder, bringing her closer to his body. As his wife’s face came closer, he spoke casually.

“I think it would be nice to have a son.”

Penny’s eyes widened, and she looked at Timothy before bursting into laughter.

“Hahahaha.”

“What’s so funny?”

Penny said, wiping her eyes.

“It’s similar to what you said when you proposed to me. Back then, you said let’s have a daughter who looks like me.”

Timothy scratched his head. It was because he suddenly remembered that time. A red hue, different from the flush of alcohol, appeared on Timothy’s face.

“I see you remember.”

“I feel foolish for forgetting it.”

“I’m a little upset.”

Penny brought her lips to Timothy’s, and Timothy hugged Penny tighter.

***

Timothy woke up at dawn. There was no particular reason. He usually woke up around that time.

Even though it was a small manor, managing it required him to spend long hours battling paperwork. Therefore, he always woke up early.

It was the same when he went to the Lord’s city to work. So waking up early in the morning had become a habit.

Of course, since he had come to rest now, it wouldn’t matter if he slept more. However, he woke up out of habit.

Yawning loudly, Timothy carefully crawled out of bed, trying not to wake his wife sleeping in his arms.

Although it was a slightly rough bed filled with straw, it was enough to sleep on last night.

Timothy covered his wife’s tossing body with the blanket and put on his shirt that he had taken off.

Finally, wearing straw slippers, Timothy slowly walked out the door.

“Haaaam!”

Timothy finally stretched and inhaled air into his lungs. As the cool morning air entered deep into his chest, his slightly tired brain seemed to awaken.

He moved his feet towards the foggy lakeshore. As he slowly walked, someone caught Timothy’s eye. It was a man sitting on a chair, casting a fishing rod.

Timothy knew who the man was. As he slowly approached, the man acknowledged him.

“So, did you rest well?”

“It’s a nice place.”

Timothy replied, and the Factory Manager turned his head slightly to look at Timothy.

“Would you like a drink?”

The Factory Manager offered a green soju bottle, and Timothy received it and sniffed it slightly. A strong alcoholic smell penetrated his nose.

Timothy lightly touched the bottle to his lips and took a sip of soju.

“Ugh… Quite strong liquor.”

“Once you get used to it, there’s nothing better.”

The Factory Manager took back the bottle that Timothy handed him and brought it to his own mouth. They were silent for a while.

Only the sound of the wind shaking the branches, the waves lapping on the lake, and the birds chirping in the forest surrounded them.

It was the Factory Manager who broke the silence.

“So, are you still thinking of getting rid of the inn?”

Timothy shook his head.

“If things continue like this, there won’t be any problem with paying taxes.”

The Factory Manager chuckled and lightly lifted and lowered the fishing rod.

“Did you do all that? The giant windmill-like thing, the laundry machine, the bright lights, and all that.”

“Well, yes. I made the rickshaw too. The inn and the Orc Village were other people’s ideas. The Orcs also cooperated and helped. I didn’t do it all.”

Timothy nodded and looked at the Factory Manager.

The Factory Manager said nothing, just lifted the fishing rod, changed the bait, and cast it back into the lake.

“You. Have you considered working under the Lord? With your skills, he could treat you well.”

The Factory Manager scoffed at Timothy’s question.

“I’m already struggling to avoid work, so what are you talking about? What good is an old, worn-out metalworker like me?”

“No. The things you’ve made are incredible things that have never been seen or heard of before. It’s a waste for someone who can create such things to just be a blacksmith.”

“Get out of here. I hate troublesome things. I’m already busy with work and don’t even have time to rest…”

“What about money or honor?!”

“I have enough money to live on by running the factory, and I don’t need honor. Oh!”

As the bobber plunged into the water, the Factory Manager quickly jerked the fishing rod. The rod bent like a bow, and the Factory Manager groaned as he pulled it in.

After a while, a fish as big as his forearm appeared on the rod and rose above the water.

“Oh my. Quite a big one came up!”

The Factory Manager shouted as he scooped the fish up with a net, and Timothy looked at him.

“Think about it for now.”

“I’m comfortable now, so don’t worry about it. Rather, would you like to take this? The innkeeper will cook it deliciously.”

Timothy shook his head at the Factory Manager’s question.