Unable to turn away the kids that risked their lives to come to the Sanctuary, and also for the Great Spirits who had accepted them, I had to think of the kids’ futures.
Kaede and Maria were busy making clothes for the kids. The older kids helped while being taught.
Marnie and Lulu-chan were occupied with making large amounts of food.
Laeva was busy with smithing and alchemy. Especially so because transmuting advanced potions without a transmutation circle was challenging.
The only ones free were Sophia and Akane, but they seem to be busy helping the Great Spirits?
「Ｍａｓｔｅｒ， ｐｌｅａｓｅ ｇｉｖｅ， ｕｐ ａｎｄ， ｌｅｔ ｕｓ ｍａｋｅ， ｔｈｅ ｈｏｕｓｅｓ．」
「Mm, right.」
As a result, Titan and I built houses with Earth Magic. One would have been enough for those kids, but Undine says that we will need a number of them so I was told to make a lot.
The location chosen was an open lot of land slightly seaward from center.
Frankly, I had planned on leaving the children in an orphanage in Volton, but the Great Spirits, for some reason, opposed it.
Building a one-story house made of stone was no longer that difficult. If I split the work with Titan, it wouldn’t take that long to create enough houses for a largish village. We had put off adding the interior, windows, and furniture though.
Since a river flows from the spring to the sea, they wouldn’t be troubled for water, but just in case, I dug a well and established a sewer system and septic tanks as well as installed Toilet Purifier MDs to prevent the pollution of the Sanctuary.
「For starters, we’ll do the windows and furniture tomorrow.」
「Ｉ ｗｉｌｌ， ｅｎｔｒｕｓｔ ｔｈｅ、 ｇｌａｓｓ ｔｏ Ｍａｓｔｅｒ．」
「Yep, gotcha.」
Since it would be dangerous if the kids fall into the well, I had installed a hand pump from the start.
I had also prepared a field close to the constructed house. I want the kids to work together to do the farm work. I’d be happy if the eldest ones, Wappa and Colette-chan, rise up and lead the younger children.
When I came back to the area by our house, the tiny Catkin girl Sara and human little girl Shirona were playing around and chasing a butterfly. It brings a smile to my face just seeing the small children frolic with their short legs.
When they had struggled to reach the Sanctuary, they were unable to move from hunger and fatigue. But, maybe because of the kids amazing vitality, once they had been given food, cleaned in baths, and properly rested, they had grown healthy in a few days.
Being similarly Catkin, Lulu-chan was proactive with the care of the kids. Lulu-chan had been a slave the moment she was born, so she must have considered the circumstances of the kids.
「Ah! Takumi-samnya!」
「Takumi-sama!」
Sara-chan and Shirona-chan, who were having a fun time chasing around a butterfly, saw me and rushed over in a trot. I caught Sara-chan and Shirona-chan who had leaped and were falling onto their knees, holding them on each arm.
「(If they’ve gotten this attached, there’s no way I could abandon them)」
When the older kids like Wappa and Colette and younger kids like Sara-chan and Shirona-chan were being given three delicious meals a day and a warm bed to sleep in, of course they’d grow emotionally attached to us.
The other kids had also become cheerful. At first, they couldn’t even laugh nervously, but slowly they started displaying smiles on their faces.
Wappa and the kids were settling in, beginning their life in their new home.
They did their best to prepare the food with Maria and Marnie’s help. They cultivated the field and raised birds similar to chickens, even starting egg production.
Since we weren’t always going to be in this Sanctuary, we’ve discussed and arranged it so the kids could have a fulfilling life.
During the time we’re not around, Undine and the other Great Spirits watched over the kids. For Shirona-chan and Sara-chan who are still dependent on others, I discussed with Undine and the others how the kids need to be by someone. If possible, I’d like for them to be in the care of an adult, but even though it could be said that they’re not at the center of the Sanctuary, they are normally able to come and go to area where Great Spirits’ house, my house, and the house the Princess Mimir lodges in when she comes over are. It was still difficult selecting people though.
Around one month since the different nations had stationed their troops on the outer edge of the Sanctuary, Wappa and the kids have also gotten used to the life here, and working the fields had been well thanks to Dryas. Little Sara-chan and Shirona-chan were also helping the best they could.
Private armies of avaricious nobles try attacking the barrier almost on a daily basis, but of course, no results came out of it.
On one such day, there was a family that passed through the barrier. Rather than saying they passed through the barrier, Undine and the others had allowed them through.
「They’re not Catkin, are they?」
「Yes, they are the Fairykind Cat Sith[1].」
What came in were bipedal cats.
There were two 140cm adults(?), and two small children. I don’t know what their ages are, but I think they’re spouses and children.
Their finger and body structure doesn’t seem to be different from a person’s. I couldn’t help but remember the cat wearing long boots.[2]
The father-like Cat Sith walked up to me in a waddle, fell on both his knees and bowed.
「Please, we implore nyou. Please nyallow us parents and children stay here.」
「Please nya.」
「「Pease, nya.」」
The mother and children stood by the father. It looks as if I made the Cat Siths kneel in front of me.
「Please raise your heads. The fact that you are able to pass through the barrier to this Sanctuary means that the Great Spirits had deemed you acceptable. Please be at ease. For now, we’ll prepare a warm meal for you. Marnie, Maria, could you do that please?」
「Yes. Well then, everyone head this way please.」
Marnie and Maria ushered the Cat Sith family.
「Hey, what are the Fairykind?」
「They are largely bound together with Elves and Dwarves, however, the Cat Sith are more close to fairies than them, and they are a rare species few in numbers in this continent too.」
According to Undine, the Cat Sith are not as powerful as the Elves and Dwarves. They seem to be a quiet and docile race, and their numbers are said to be decreasing in recent years.
「Certainly, I haven’t seen them even in Volton.」
「They are fundamentally a race that make small settlements and live in hiding. Still, it appears that lands they can live in with peace of mind are scarce.」
The connection between the spirits and fairies is strong, and Undine had said that she wants to shelter the virtuous Cat Sith. I have no objections to sheltering the Cat Sith pursuing a place to live in. Actually, since I could ask them to take care of Wappa and the kids, the Cat Sith couple are a godsend.
However, this small current turning into a large muddy stream was something I couldn’t imagine at the time.
***
Footnotes:
1. Cat Sith – https://www.scotclans.com/cat-sith-celtic-mythology/
2. Puss in boots reference
