Kotone's Class 1-S had been assigned a plot of land just as spacious as Monaka's Class 1-B.
Thanks to that, even though two houses were being built at the same time, they did not interfere with each other at all.
The Celestial Carpenters kept glancing over at me while they worked and laughing.
"Look at that brat. He's seriously trying to compete with us."
"The only house a guy like him could build by himself would be a shabby shack."
"He just wants to show off to Kotone-sama, so he's attempting something way beyond him."
But their expressions quickly froze.
"H-hey… look at that foundation…!"
"That kid is actually building a proper foundation!? Is he seriously planning to make a real house!?"
"And at an insane speed!?"
"H-he's working alone, so why is he progressing faster than us!?"
"Hey, stop spacing out! Hurry up!"
Once the foundation was done, I took a short break.
Monaka and Kotone immediately rushed over as if they had been waiting for the chance.
"Good work, Leo-kun! Let me wipe your sweat!"
"You must be tired, Master! I brought you some water!"
Monaka gently wiped my face with a white handkerchief.
Kotone held a wooden cup of water with both hands, brought it to my lips, and helped me drink in small sips.
The Celestial Carpenters watching this dropped the timber they were carrying with a loud clatter from sheer shock.
"N-no way…? Why is Kotone-sama taking care of him…?"
"And she looks so happy doing it…!?"
"Hey, isn't that the saint Monaka-sama standing next to her!?"
"Why are the saint and the shrine maiden—both prestigious young ladies—doing this for some random kid!?"
"Just who the hell is that brat!?"
"Damn it, I'm so jealous~~~~~~!!"
Fully grown adults were stomping their feet in frustration, completely ignoring their own work.
Meanwhile, the house was completed.
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Kinohi House
Quantity: 1
Quality Level: 41 (Material Level 24 + Dexterity Bonus 5 + Job Bonus 12)
A spacious single-story house made from high-grade, high-quality Kinohi timber.
Thanks to the various bonuses, it has strong resistance to earthquakes, fire, and rot.
It has a pleasant scent that provides a relaxing effect for those who live inside.
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When Kotone saw the finished house, she looked so enraptured that she seemed ready to ascend to heaven.
"F-fwaaaah…! I-it's magnificent…!"
Monaka was also rejoicing as if it were her own achievement.
She clasped her hands together in prayer and hopped up and down excitedly.
"Waaah! Amazing, amazing! It's so incredible!
To build such a splendid house! Le-kun, you're way too amazing!"
The Celestial Carpenters were pinching their own cheeks, desperately hoping this was all a dream.
"This can't be real…! No matter how you look at it, this is impossible…!"
"A student kid built such a magnificent house all by himself…!"
"And the timber, the design, the appearance, everything is perfect…!"
"We couldn't build something like that even if we stood on our heads…!"
But it was not quite finished yet.
After catching my breath, I asked Kotone,
"I'll build the fence last, but you don't need a gate, right?"
Still half-dazed, Kotone answered,
"Y-yes… For a shrine maiden's residence, it is customary not to have an ordinary gate…"
The houses of the saint and the shrine maiden had no gates.
This was said to represent the spirit of compassion that "refuses no one who comes."
For the same reason, I had not built a gate when I put up the fence around Monaka's house.
"Then I'll give you a special service since there's no ordinary gate."
I set aside some Kinohi timber for the fence and began crafting with the remainder.
It was not particularly difficult.
First, I lined up the planters I had brought on the ground, placed stones underneath to create space, filled the planters with water, and floated the Hanezu flowers I had picked on top.
Then I stuffed firewood under the planters and lit it.
The planters had fire resistance, so they did not burn.
While waiting for the water to boil, I worked on something else.
I took four pieces of the leftover Gisu timber and carved them into a unique shape.
The moment Kotone saw the parts, her eyes widened.
"Master, is that perhaps…"
"Yes, it's exactly what you think."
Just then the water in the planters began to bubble.
Monaka peered in and let out a delighted "Waaah!"
"It's beautiful…! The water has turned such a vivid vermilion!"
"All right, this looks ready too."
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Hanezu Dye
Quantity: 60
Quality Level: 33 (Material Level 16 + Dexterity Bonus 5 + Job Bonus 12)
Vermilion dye extracted by boiling Hanezu flowers.
It is highly fragrant and has a calming effect.
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I submerged the carved Gisu timber into the planters filled with Hanezu dye.
"Um, Le-kun. What exactly are you doing?" Monaka asked.
"This is called 'plant dyeing.' It's a technique where you extract pigments from plants to dye other materials."
After waiting a while and pulling the wood out, it had been beautifully dyed a deep vermilion.
All that remained was to assemble it…
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Kinohi Torii
Quantity: 1
Quality Level: 74 (Material Level 57 + Dexterity Bonus 5 + Job Bonus 12)
A torii gate made from high-grade, high-quality Kinohi timber dyed with high-quality dye.
Thanks to the various bonuses, it has excellent weather resistance.
It has a pleasant scent that inspires devout feelings in those nearby.
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Just as a saint lives in a cathedral, a shrine maiden lives in a building called a "jinja."
A jinja has a distinctive gate called a "torii."
Kotone was so shocked that her mouth hung open wide enough for her jaw to drop, and she was speechless.
Instead, the Celestial Carpenters began making a fuss.
"That brat even made a torii! He's completely full of himself!"
"Hey brat! Once you build a torii, this building is considered a shrine!"
"Don't you know that only we Celestial Carpenters are allowed to build shrines!?"
"The gods will be angry! No, even if the gods forgive you, we won't!"
"If a kid like you builds a proper shrine, it'll ruin our business! Hey boys, let's smash this fake shrine to pieces!"
"Yes! Building a shrine without qualifications is an act of disrespect toward the gods, you delinquent student! We'll wreck it and make you reflect on what you've done!"
Before anyone realized, the vice-principal had taken the lead, carrying a huge wooden mallet used for construction tools.
The vice-principal and the Celestial Carpenters charged toward my house with battle cries.
But suddenly the cloudy sky flashed, and
…Dongaragasshaaaaaaaa——————————————n!!!!
A massive bolt of lightning poured down from the heavens and struck the charging men like divine judgment.