Leaving the hut behind me, I got straight to business.

I used my [Crafting] ability—generating a stone wall.

It was a wall built by stacking stones together.

The wonderful thing about [Crafting] is that it handles the stone assembly for you.

You set the scale during generation, and the amount of [Stone Material] consumed changes accordingly.

I didn't just surround the hut; I enclosed the entire area where we could move around with some freedom.

The back of the hut was unnecessary since it faced a cliff, and I left one section open for us to enter and exit.

For that gap, I placed a [Wooden Fence] generated separately.

It was a single-hinged gate that could be locked by sliding a wooden board into the fasteners between the fence and the post.

The posts required embedding, but since I could now generate a [Stone Shovel], the work wasn't too difficult.

The handle was made of wood, while the spoon-shaped part extending from it was stone.

"This looks about right."

As soon as the job was done, Chiyu clapped and cheered, "Oh wow!"

"You're amazing, Sous-kun. With this, we should be able to stop any intruders."

"Besides, both the hut and the stone wall fit in my [Inventory], so moving around won't waste our efforts."

Because the fence posts were now buried and connected to the earth, I would have to pull them out if I wanted to store it.

Depending on the situation, though, leaving a bit of this behind wouldn't be a problem.

By the way, when you store a generated item in your [Inventory], it doesn't immediately disassemble; it simply appears labeled as [Hut] or [Stone Wall].

If you want to disassemble it, that's also possible. It’s a wonderful system where the materials used are returned without becoming scraps or garbage.

However, there is an exception: if the generated item itself was damaged, that portion would not be reverted back into raw materials.

For example, if a generated item made from [Standard Wood x100] had three pieces rotted or scorched...

Only [Standard Wood x97] would be refunded, and the remaining three would be lost.

During these experiments, I also discovered some grateful uses for the [Inventory]...

"You're amazing, Sous-kun. Or should I say, 'Sasusou'?"

"Don't shorten it."

"With that said, First-Tier Healing."

I wasn't particularly tired, but thanks to the white light, the fatigue drained away smoothly.

"You're amazing, Chiyu. Or should I say, 'Sasuchiyu'?"

Chiyu paused for a few seconds before speaking up.

"I feel like it'd make me happier if you didn't shorten it."

"Fair point."

I suppose that as long as the feeling of gratitude is there, even 'Thank you' turning into 'Azas' would be fine.

Still, deep down, being spoken to politely just makes me happy.

"By the way, Chiyu, does using your ability tire you out? Is there a usage limit?"

In cases like this, it's standard to worry about MP depletion or usage count limits in the early stages.

"I'm fine so far. Thanks for worrying."

"No, no. If you're okay, that's what matters. It's great to have my childhood friend here with cheat-level abilities."

"I'll just return the same line as-is, then. Are you doing okay, Sous-kun?"

"The thing is, I'm completely fine."

I've been using it to the point of anxiety, yet there's no sense of fatigue in actually using the ability.

In hindsight, I’d be scared shitless if it turned out that using this power was essentially borrowing against my life expectancy.

But there was no point in overthinking it.

"If so, there’s one thing I absolutely need you to create."

"What is it?"

My childhood friend looked me straight in the eyes, her tone solemn as she delivered the request.

"A bath."

"Oh... right."

I had completely forgotten about it.

If I were alone, I could just wash off with some available water, wipe myself down with a damp cloth, or maybe just endure it for a day.

But making Chiyu go through that was unbearable.

Well, if this was all we had, one thing would be different: I had a skill now.

"Is it difficult?"

"No. I can’t make a bath like the one at home, but something like a drum-tank tub should do."

"Oh my...!"

She seemed so happy that her eyes actually looked like they were sparkling.

I didn't have a metal drum on hand, but I had stone materials and the [Crafting] skill.

I built a base and placed a stone cylinder on top.

I didn't forget to install a circular wooden plank inside, either.

Without that, my feet would burn off and I’d die.

Using the placement function, I filled the inside with water; all that was left was starting a fire.

I summoned the massive flagstone and fire starter again, stole a quick glance at Chiyu’s imposing ass cheeks while grabbing some kindling, and began boiling the water.

"Chiyu, could you keep an eye on things until the water gets hot?"

I positioned some firewood near the bath and called out to her.

"Leave it to me."

My childhood friend gave a firm thumbs-up, so I left the bath in her care. Since we were at it, I borrowed some sparks to start a bonfire for dinner as well.

I placed a log chair I had just generated nearby and sat down, focusing on my [Crafting] skill.

The number of recipes had increased quite a bit.

Considering they only came from my imagination, that was a lot.

Guess the exploration had been worth it.

But there was only one item I was after right now.

What I wanted to make this time was soap.

Among all the various plants I had gathered, surprisingly, a recipe for "Oil" had been unlocked.

Probably vegetable oil.

However, due to an issue with the specific plants harvested, it was marked as "Not suitable for consumption."

I suppose you can't just eat all kinds of oil anyway, so I had no choice but to accept that.

The road to frying tempura is still a long one.

But even if it’s only a small amount, having some oil on hand would be helpful.

On top of that, by adding "Ash," "Water," and "Lime" to the mix, the recipe for "Soap" was complete.

The "Lime" had been generated from "Seashells."

Come to think of it, this [Crafting] skill can easily generate things that require heating, including earthenware and such.

But on the other hand, it doesn't automatically turn mushrooms into grilled mushrooms, nor does it heat water into hot water.

Perhaps that's because grilling mushrooms falls under "cooking," whereas boiling water isn't considered "crafting."

Where exactly is the line drawn between what counts as crafting and what doesn't?

That's something I want to explore in the future.

In any case, the soap was finished.

There was one more thing. I took off my school uniform jacket and shirt, then stashed my underwear into my Inventory.

I shaped it like a face towel and placed it in front of me.

Its absorbency might be inferior to a proper towel's, but it should still be good enough to wipe down my body.

I also stashed my school uniform jacket and shirt into the Inventory for now, deploying them in their original state.

"Behold."

Even though I'd broken a heavy sweat and explored the forest all day, they were as clean as if they'd just been washed.

Yes.

The dirt was registered into the Inventory as a small amount of "dirt" material, and the sweat was removed as "excess matter," resulting in—clothes that came out without a single thing sticking to them.

Is it the same phenomenon where only "salt" and "water" are generated from seawater, with no "brine" produced?

It seems there are things that the Crafting ability doesn't recognize, even though they can be absorbed or generated.

You could say this is a laundry method that turns that trait to our advantage.

"Sousuke, it's getting warm."

I heard my childhood friend's voice coming from the bathhouse.

"Oh, I'm coming."

Wondering how she would react to the soap and this new laundry method, I stood up.

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I stepped out of the hut and got to work right away.

Using my ‘Crafting Ability’ to generate stone walls.

The great thing about the ‘Crafting Ability’ is that it handles the entire process of stacking the stones.

The scale of the structure determines the amount of ‘Stone’ consumed.

I surrounded not just the hut, but also the area where we could move around.

Since the back of the hut was a cliff, I didn’t need to build a wall there, and I left one spot open for us to enter and exit.

There, I set up a 'wooden fence' that I generated separately.

It opens on one side, and can be locked by inserting a wooden board into the fence and post.

I needed to embed the posts, but since I could generate a 'stone shovel,' the work wasn't too difficult.

The handle is made of wood, and the spoon-shaped part that extends from it is made of stone. "That's all."

When I finished working, Senyuu clapped her hands and said, "Oh."

"Sure enough, Souchan. This should be able to block intruders."

「The hut and the stone wall can be stored in the ‘Inventory’, so it doesn’t go to waste even if you move them.”

Since the fence became connected to the ground by being buried, you have to pull out the posts to store it.

Depending on the situation, it might be okay to just leave it there.

By the way, when you store generated items, they don’t break down immediately; they are displayed as ‘Hut’ or ‘Stone Wall’.

It’s also possible to break them down, and the materials are returned to you without turning into scraps or garbage.

However, there is an exception: if the generated item itself is damaged, that part will not be returned as material.

For example, if there were three items made from ‘Normal Wood × 100’ that had rotted or burned.

Only ‘Normal Wood × 97’ would be returned, and the rest would be lost.

During this experiment, I also discovered a convenient use for the ‘Inventory’…

“Sure enough, Sasukun, shortened to Sasusou.” “Don’t shorten it.” “So, Basic Healing.”

It wasn’t much of a strain, but thanks to the white light, it quickly disappeared.

“Sure enough, Senyuu, shortened to Sasuchyu.”

Chiyou was silent for a few seconds before speaking.

"I feel happier when you don't abbreviate" "Yeah"

Well, as long as there's gratitude, I think it's okay if "Thank you" becomes "Azath" too.

Still, it's nice to be spoken to politely.

"By the way, Chiyou, don't you get tired using your ability? Like, usage limits and stuff?"

At first, these things usually come with problems like MP depletion or usage limits.

"I'm fine for now. Thanks for worrying."

"Nah, I'm glad you're okay. It's great that my childhood friend is a cheat and can help me."

"Just return the same line, okay? Are you okay, Souchan?"

"This is completely fine."

I'm using it to the point of being worried, but there's no fatigue from using the ability itself.

I get a little scared thinking that maybe it'll turn out that abilities borrow from your lifespan later on.

Well, there's no point in thinking about it anyway.

"I have something I really want you to make." "What is it?"

My childhood friend looked at me as if she had something important to say. "A bath." "Oh... right..." I had completely forgotten about it.

If it was just me, I could just take a quick shower or wipe myself with a wet cloth, or even go a day without bathing if necessary.

But I can't let Chiyo do that.

If it was just that, I wouldn't mind, but I have the ability now. "Is it difficult?"

"No, I can't make a bathtub like the one we had at home, but I can make something like a drum bath." "Wow...!"

She seems really happy, her eyes shining brightly.

I don't have a drum, but I do have stones and the 'Crafting Ability'.

I can make a base and set up a stone cylinder on top of it.

Don't forget to set up a round wooden board inside.

Otherwise, your feet will burn and you'll die.

I filled it with water using the setup function, and now it's time to start a fire.

I summoned the large stone pavement and fire starter again, and while glancing at Senyuu's impressive pan, I got the fire going. I started boiling the water.

"Senyuu, can you keep an eye on the water until it boils?"

I placed some firewood near the bath and asked her. "Leave it to me."

My childhood friend gave me a thumbs up and took over watching the bath, so I also made a small campfire for dinner.

I set up a round wooden chair near the fire and sat down, focusing on my 'Crafting Ability'. There are quite a few more recipes now.

It's a lot more than I would expect to just have appeared in my head.

I guess the exploration was worthwhile, but I only had one item in mind. I wanted to make soap this time.

Among the various plants I collected, there was a recipe for 'oil'. Probably plant oil.

But, perhaps due to the plants I collected, the description said it's 'not suitable for consumption'.

Not all oils are edible, so I suppose that's to be expected. The road to tempura is still long.

But it's still helpful to have even a small amount.

All that's left is to add 'ash,' 'water,' and 'lime' to complete the recipe for soap.

The 'lime' is generated from 'shells.'

By the way, this 'Crafting Ability' also generates things that require heating, such as pottery.

However, it doesn't automatically roast mushrooms into cooked mushrooms or boil water.

Mushrooms fall under the category of 'cooking,' and boiling water isn't considered 'crafting,' is that it?

Where exactly is the line between crafting and not?

I'd like to explore that further in the future. Anyway, the soap is complete.

One more thing. I took off my uniform and undershirt, and stored them in my Inventory.

I formed a face towel and placed it within reach.

Its absorbency is inferior to that of a towel, but it should be able to wipe my body.

I also stored my uniform and undershirt in my Inventory, and placed them as they were. "And how about now?"

Even though I sweated a lot and explored the forest all day, I look as if I've just been washed. That's right.

The dirt was registered as a small amount of 'soil' material in the 'Inventory', while sweat and other excess substances were removed, resulting in a completely clean outfit.

Is this the same phenomenon where only 'salt' and 'water' are produced from seawater, with no 'brine' generated?

Even though I've absorbed or created them, there are things that my 'Crafting Ability' doesn't recognize.

This is a washing method that takes advantage of that.

"Sou-kun, it's getting warm."

I heard my childhood friend's voice from the bath. "Oh, I'm coming."

As I stood up, I wondered how my childhood friend would react to the soap and this washing method.

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