Vol. 1 Chapter 2.7 – Early October, 1566 — Part Three

The well-drilling apparatus Shizuko was using was a simple geological surveying tool known as a hand auger.

Normally, an auger, a drill-shaped boring device, is inserted into the ground and manually rotated while applying downward pressure, cutting through the soil to create a borehole for collecting and examining samples.

It is particularly suitable for collecting and examining moderately firm cohesive soils and sandy soils within the soft soil layers extending several meters below the surface.

Because it is manually operated, its efficiency decreases significantly once the drilling depth exceeds three meters. Nevertheless, it remains a commonly used tool even in modern times for individuals conducting well surveys.

“I’m sure there’s an underground water vein here.”

Wolves possess hearing and a sense of smell far superior to those of humans.

According to one study, wolves are said to be capable of detecting sounds within a radius of six miles (approximately 9.5 kilometers) in forests, and up to ten miles (approximately 16 kilometers) in open terrain.

In terms of frequency, they are said to be able to hear sounds above 25 kHz, with some researchers even claiming that their hearing extends as high as 80 kHz.

However, when it comes to wolves, their most remarkable sensory ability is undoubtedly their exceptional sense of smell.

They can distinguish between various odors, gather information about their companions’ activities from scents clinging to their bodies, and detect the scent of prey from great distances.

‘Perhaps he noticed the scent of water and is telling me to dig here.’

Shizuko considered the possibility that Kaiser had detected the scent of water.

Of course, this was merely speculation. She would have no way of knowing whether it was true until she actually dug into the ground, and there was always the possibility that she was completely mistaken.

Since they had little time left to search for another location, digging where Kaiser had indicated was something of a gamble.

“Heave-ho… Hm?”

After digging approximately three meters into the ground, the resistance she felt through the hand auger suddenly changed.

Rather than drilling through hard soil, it felt more like she was digging into the sandy bed of a river.

Suppressing her growing excitement, Shizuko removed the contents of the auger. Just as she had anticipated, it contained a clump of sand saturated with water.

“This might actually work…!”

She estimated the distance between the borehole and the village by eye.

Although it was a little distance away, it was not particularly far.

The area was not exactly spacious but there were no dangerous features such as cliffs nearby.

There was enough room to construct a well shelter, so it would also be possible to protect the well from rainwater.

‘Could I have drilled into a spot where rainwater has filtered into the ground and is flowing downward…?’

She had been prepared to dig approximately four to five meters, but considering that the soil had suddenly become waterlogged at a depth of around three meters, there was a strong possibility that the underground water vein flowed along the mountain slope.

She could not tell whether the water came from the river seeping underground or from rainwater that had been naturally filtered through the soil. Regardless, she had successfully cleared the first stage.

“Heave-ho…I think we should be able to get some water soon…”

“Just a little further, I reckon… Oh, we’ve got it, Village Chief!”

After digging another meter or so, the underground water they had been searching for finally entered the auger.

The next hurdle was determining whether the underground water vein was suitable for drinking.

Even if they successfully located an underground water source, it would be useless as drinking water if it was contaminated by something.

Kinzo poured the water collected inside the auger into a small wooden tub.

At first glance, it appeared to be clean, fresh water, with no noticeable odor or impurities.

However, if the water was contaminated with minerals, there were cases where its condition could not be determined by appearance alone.

“Kaiser, can you drink this water?”

Since she had no equipment or chemicals with which to test it, Shizuko decided to place her faith in Kaiser’s keen sense of smell as a wolf.

If Kaiser refused to drink it, there was a strong possibility that the water was contaminated by something.

Kaiser lowered his head into the tub and sniffed the water. Shizuko watched him with her heart pounding in anticipation.

Eventually, after finishing his inspection, Kaiser began drinking the water from the tub with his usual unconcerned expression.

Seeing Kaiser drink the water, Shizuko concluded that the underground water vein at that location was suitable for drinking.

At long last, they had reached the stage where they could begin digging the actual well.

“Alright, we’ll dig here. That said, we only need a few people for this, so could everyone else bring over the tools?”

The well Shizuko intended to construct was not a conventional round, hand-dug well, but a bored well created using a drilling method.

A conventional round well required workers to dig their way down into the ground, which meant taking precautions against dangers such as being buried alive or exposure to underground gases.

It also produced large quantities of excavated soil, requiring separate workers to dig the well and remove the earth.

Since this method required a considerable workforce, it was far too dangerous in mountainous terrain where securing stable footing was difficult.

In contrast, a bored well was constructed by using specialized tools to drill through an impermeable layer (a geological stratum that does not allow water to pass through), inserting a bamboo pipe into the aquifer (underground water-bearing layer) beneath it, and drawing the water up through the pipe.

It required little space, could be constructed by a single worker, and produced only a small amount of excavated soil.

However, depending on the location, the amount of water available could be limited. Both methods therefore had their advantages and disadvantages and neither could be considered universally superior.

Tagosaku and the others returned carrying the necessary tools after approximately twenty minutes.

The site was relatively close to the village, making the journey back and forth to the well reasonably manageable.

Once all the tools had been assembled, Shizuko decided to keep only Kinzo and Tagosaku to provide the necessary manpower, while Nisaku and Daiichi would return to Nisaku’s village ahead of them.

Even an outside observer could tell that Nisaku was pushing himself well beyond his limits. However, he took pride in his responsibilities as the village’s leader, so directly telling him to rest would likely only make him more stubborn.

Therefore, Shizuko instead entrusted him with the task of accompanying Daiichi back to the village to inspect the tub being used to filter the water.

Although Nisaku maintained a displeased expression on the surface, Shizuko, Kinzo and Tagosaku did not miss the quiet sigh of relief he let out.

After watching the two men set off on their return journey, Shizuko began preparations for installing the well.

However, Kinzo alone would be responsible for the actual digging. Tagosaku’s role was simply to hand him the tools Shizuko requested, while Shizuko herself would do nothing more than instruct Kinzo on how to install the well.

Having several people working in such a confined space would only reduce efficiency. Furthermore, Shizuko believed it would be better for villagers like Kinzō and Tagosaku to learn the procedures themselves, rather than having her be the only one who knew how everything worked.

“Village Chief, I’ve finished installing it just as you instructed.”

Kinzo had spent some time adjusting the bamboo pipe used to draw up the water and after approximately an hour, the installation was finally complete.

All that remained was to connect the components they had prepared beforehand. Since Kinzo had assembled them several times in the past, he managed to complete the task without any difficulty, even without Shizuko’s instructions.

Another twenty minutes later, the bored well was finally completed.

Shizuko poured some priming water into the hand pump and began moving its handle up and down.

The value of this well depended on whether water could be drawn up safely and easily.

If operating it required some special knack, the number of people who could use it would be limited.

“Ohhh!”

However, Shizuko’s worries proved unfounded. Simply moving the handle up and down caused water to gush vigorously from the spout.

Kinzo let out a delighted cheer as he began collecting the water in a wooden tub.

Once a sufficient amount had accumulated, Shizuko stopped operating the handle and peered into the tub alongside Kinzo and Tagosaku.

“That’s some mighty clean water!”

“Doesn’t look like there’s any dirt in it either.”

“It takes a little while for the water to start coming out but with it looking this clean, I think we’ll be fine.”

The three of them exchanged these carefree observations as they gazed at the clear, unclouded water.

The only remaining task was to construct a path leading to the well, but that was not something Shizuko and her companions needed to take charge of personally.

Nisaku’s villagers could build it however they preferred.

There was no need to dictate every little detail, and doing so excessively would only make her seem as though she were trying to hold her generosity over their heads.

“Well then, shall we gather our tools and head back to Nisaku-san?”

“Sounds good. It’ll be getting dark soon, so let’s hurry back.”

“Yeah… Wait, where are Kaiser and the others?”

Looking around, Shizuko noticed that Kaiser, König, and Wittmann were nowhere to be seen.

Wondering where they had wandered off to, she peered a little farther into the surrounding area.

There, she found all three wolves playing with a tree branch that was hanging down toward the ground.

“Hey! Time to head home!”

At Shizuko’s call, Kaiser and the others each gave a bark before running toward her.

Upon reaching her feet, all three affectionately rubbed their bodies against her legs.

“Alright, alright. Be good now, okay?”

After patting their heads several times, Shizuko set off toward Nisaku’s village.

Ten minutes later, Shizuko arrived at the village. She entrusted the tools to Tagosaku and asked him to return to their own village ahead of her.

“Everyone else is probably worried too, so please go back and give them an update for now.”

“Understood. I can tell them everything’s alright for the time being, yeah?”

“That’s right. It’ll probably take a little longer before we start seeing the full effects, though. At least we’ve finished the well, so I think that should solve their water shortage for now.”

“Right you are. Well then, Village Chief, I’ll see you later. I’ll head back with Daiichi-san.”

Apparently, Tagosaku also suspected that Daiichi, much like Nisaku, had been pushing himself beyond his limits, judging by the wry smile accompanying his words.

Since it was a rather awkward matter to address, Shizuko simply returned his wry smile and left it at that.

After confirming that the filtration device was working and teaching the villagers how to construct one themselves, Shizuko descended the mountain together with Kinzo.

Before leaving, she received more words of gratitude from the villagers but the praise left her feeling somewhat embarrassed.

After all, in her own mind, she had merely offered them a little advice.

Several days after the problems facing Nisaku’s village had been resolved, Mori Yoshinari paid Shizuko a visit.

However, this time, he had not come alone. He had brought a certain individual with him.

“…A personal attendant… you say?”

“Indeed. You may also regard her as your liaison with me.”

Sitting with her posture straightened, Shizuko turned her gaze toward the person standing behind Mori Yoshinari.

It was a girl of around nine years old. Judging by her appearance, Shizuko had the impression that she was a quiet, reserved child.

“My name is Aya. Please do not hesitate to command me in any matter.”

Noticing Shizuko’s gaze, the girl named Aya spoke while prostrating herself so deeply that her forehead nearly touched the floor.

Feeling as though she was acting rather high and mighty, Shizuko straightened her own posture and bowed her head in the same manner as Aya.

“I-I look forward to having you here as well.”

Although Shizuko thought she had greeted her properly, both Mori Yoshinari and Aya wore rather peculiar expressions.

Wondering whether she had made some mistake, Shizuko let her gaze wander as she desperately tried to think of something to say to smooth things over.

However, the more flustered Shizuko became, the more troubled their expressions grew.

“…This is the first time anyone has ever bowed their head to a personal attendant.”

“It is a first for me as well.”

Hearing those words, Shizuko recalled exactly what the role of a personal attendant entailed.

A komazukai (personal attendant) was a woman who served a person of high social standing, attending to their needs and performing various miscellaneous duties.

It was essentially an occupation reserved for women, with men almost never serving in such a capacity.

By contrast, a kosho (page), a position held by men, derived its name from the term koju (attendant or retainer). During the Sengoku period, pages served close to military commanders and performed various personal duties.

In times of peace, they primarily fulfilled secretarial roles, while during war, they formed part of the force responsible for defending their lord’s headquarters and main army to the very end.

Since one of their most important responsibilities was to protect their lord even at the cost of their own lives, pages were expected to possess extensive knowledge, first-rate martial skills, and impeccable etiquette.

The position was so demanding that anyone lacking these qualities could hardly hope to fulfill its responsibilities. Consequently, many pages went on to distinguish themselves as close retainers of their lords upon reaching adulthood.

“Well, never mind. That is part of your charm as well, Shizuko-dono.”

“Hauah! N-no, I am entirely unworthy of such praise!”

“From now on, whenever you have something to discuss, please communicate through Aya. Our lord is a busy man, so we wish to avoid wasting his valuable time whenever possible.”

“Y-yes, my lord! I shall do as you command.”

Mori Yoshinari nodded with a pleasant smile at Shizuko’s response before turning toward Aya.

“From this day forward, serve Shizuko-dono with all your heart and sincerity.”

“Yes, my lord! Even if it costs me my life, I swear I shall fulfill my duties as Shizuko-sama’s personal attendant with distinction!”

‘S-so cool!’

Aya’s resolute declaration carried the air of a warrior sworn to protect her lord, and Shizuko could not help but find her incredibly impressive.

“Indeed. I shall be counting on you.”

Mori Yoshinari spoke with a warm smile on his face.