Published: July 26, 2025
From today, we would finally begin making paper.
I was fully fired up. So much so that Lutz told me to calm down because I was too excited.
Today's tasks were to cut down the trees that we had identified based on what I learned at the lumberyard and what Lutz had heard from various people. Then, we planned to steam the wood on the riverbank, soak it in the river once, and finish removing the black bark in the forest. The peeled black bark would be taken back to the warehouse to dry.
Since the prototype only needed to be postcard-sized, not much material was necessary. However, steaming for several hours meant we needed a lot of firewood.
Working in the forest would make gathering firewood easier, and we could pick up more before running out. Although carrying the pot and steamer would be tough for Lutz.
So, early in the morning, I went to borrow the warehouse key and fetched the pot and steamer. Since we'd continue working in the warehouse after returning from the forest, I told Mark to keep the key with us.
Preparations were perfect, but something unexpected had happened.
"Lutz, are you okay?"
"...Yeah."
Lutz answered, but seeing him with the pot and steamer strapped to his back, he looked anything but okay. He seemed like he was about to collapse at any moment.
The cause was simple.
We had considered the weight so that Lutz could carry both the pot and steamer. Lutz said this much weight was manageable. But he hadn't anticipated carrying both together to the forest.
"Should I carry just the steamer?"
"That’s impossible for Myne."
"...Got it."
If Lutz said it was impossible, then I probably couldn't manage it either.
All I could do was cheer Lutz on and go to the forest without pushing too hard. As usual, several children walked with us towards the forest.
"Lutz, what's that?"
"What are you planning to do in the forest?"
The children were curious about the pot and unfamiliar steamer that Lutz was carrying on his back.
"Making paper with pot and steamer."
Lutz spoke little, probably because the load on his back was heavy, giving brief answers.
Though he sounded grumpy, the children, full of curiosity, kept asking questions.
"Huh? What are you making?"
"Doing something interesting, right?"
"...No. Whether I become an apprentice depends on if this works or not. Don’t get in my way."
"I see. Got it. Good luck, Lutz."
The endless questions I thought would continue stopped the moment they heard that this was necessary for Lutz to become an apprentice.
I didn’t understand why the children backed off so easily, so I asked Lutz later. Apparently, although jobs were often found through parental introductions, popular workplaces attracted many applicants. In such cases, parents might change their requests, but some places had something like entrance exams.
Interfering with the selection exam was absolutely forbidden among children, since they might be retaliated against later or rumors of interference could make it hard for them to find jobs.
Ah, I see. Increased competition for popular jobs is universal, it seems.
At the gate, I met Otto, who cheered me on with "Do your best." Seeing Lutz carrying the pot and steamer, he probably figured out we were starting paper-making.
"Yeah, I’ll do my best. Ah, Father, I’m off."
Dad has been a bit sulky lately because I always hang out with Lutz, but when I waved, he gave a complicated look between a frown and a grin. It was clear he didn’t like how close I was with Lutz and Otto, but was happy I waved to him.
"Ugh, I’m tired~ Heavier than I thought."
Lutz put the pot and steamer down by the river and rolled his shoulders.
"Good work, Lutz. Want to take a break?"
"No, once we start steaming, we’ll be watching it for about a bell's toll, right? I’ll rest then."
Saying that, Lutz began stacking stones on the riverbank to make a hearth to set the pot on.
As expected of Lutz—efficient and no waste.
Compared to Lutz, who’s used to outdoor work, I’m an indoors person even including memories from my previous life. I have almost no experience; it’s usual that I’m useless here.