Chapter 67
I introduced the squirrels.
Fluffy circles around the squirrels... Is it happy?
It's hard to tell, but I think so.
Fluffy is just a ball of fur with tiny eyes, so it's hard to read its expression.
Crow and the others don't seem to have a problem.
They don't panic when they see the squirrels and simply carry on.
Chai and the others seem to have accepted them without a problem, too.
They seem to freeze for a moment, but then they look at me and nod one by one.
The baby ants and little ants flee into the hole the moment they see the squirrels.
...Huh? They ran away?
Looking at Shuri, the squirrels seem kind of frightened.
I approach Shuri and pat Shuri's head.
Perhaps after watching me, one of the squirrels—the representative, I suppose—nods.
Let's trust that they're okay.
...Do squirrels eat ants?
The baby ants and little ants come out of the hole. They're still a little scared, but they seem all right.
Karen comes home.
For the past few days, Karen has been going out in the morning and returning in the evening.
I have no idea where Karen has been going.
The perch Karen made in the yard... Did it get bigger again?
We'll need a slightly larger perch.
When I try to introduce the squirrels to Karen, they panic and flee toward the wooden deck.
They climb straight up a pillar and onto the roof.
...I check with Karen. It's okay.
Even when I call the squirrels, they only stick their heads out through a gap in the sunshade.
Let's try one more time. They're okay, right?
Karen nods.
It's okay. Come on down.
When I beckon, they cautiously climb down... then cluster together a little distance away.
Hmm...?
Ants < squirrels < birds... I look at Karen.
It's not a matter of size, either. Could it be strength?
I don't know, but I think it's safe to assume there isn't a problem.
Anyway, now that I've made new companions, let's eat.
The baby ants are unexpectedly fond of fish.
At first they were meat-eaters, but ever since fish sauce became available, everyone except Shuri eats fish.
I'll grill the fish Fluffy brought back—did it catch them?—as today's main dish.
I did scare them, after all.
Fish lightly marinated in fish sauce and sweet fruit.
The baby ants, little ants, and squirrels fight over it.
The ants seem to be all right now.
The baby ants and little ants win... There are simply too many of them.
There's still more, so don't look at me like that.
Seeing the squirrels' tragic eyes, I hurriedly grilled more fish.
They were supposed to be so frightened they'd hide in their holes, but what was that all about?
After eating, the squirrels realized Karen was nearby and froze.
Food is important.
...
The rock I brought home, mottled with yellow-green.
For now, I'll assume it's iron ore.
Getting the iron out... I can't imagine how to do it.
How do you even get iron out of a rock?
I imagine melting it at a high temperature... and give up.
All I can picture is myself getting burned.
Iron... I picture having to heat it until it glows red-hot... Impossible.
I try cutting a small piece off the rock.
I imagine removing the visible yellow-green part from the rock and use "Discharge."
Something yellow-green rolls out beside the rock.
There are all sorts of shapes, but did it work?
When I bring a magnet close to it, the magnet doesn't stick.
...?
When I bring it near the rock, the magnet sticks.
??
Could the rock itself actually be the iron ore?