The Island-Banished Noblewoman - Chapter 57, Chapter 58, Chapter 59

Day 101 of Banishment: Beauty and Health (2)
Building a bath was no small feat.

After all, Marylia needed a large enough container to hold herself, one that wouldn’t leak a single drop of water.

“Hmm... I feel like I’ve been through this before...”

Indeed, Marylia recalled a past experience.

“That’s right, I tried to make a container for soaking hides during tanning…”

Yes, Marylia had previously attempted to create something similar to a bathtub!

“... There it is.”

In the space that had turned into a makeshift storage area under her first roof, she found the enormous earthenware vessel she’d once made. Though it had split clean in half during firing, she had repaired it with mortar.

“... I can make this work!”

Without delay, Marylia climbed into the oversized pot. By sitting down and pulling her knees to her chest, she managed to fit inside. It worked!

“So, if I fill this with water and add heated stones… I can turn it into a bath.”

Deciding to give it a try, Marylia enlisted her golems to help fill the large earthen vessel—now repurposed as a small bathtub—with water.

“... It’s quite a hassle to fill it up, but with the golems, it should be manageable.”

Although a proper water supply would have been ideal, that wasn’t feasible just yet. Perhaps if she could construct a wooden trough, similar to the one used for collecting iron sand, she might be able to bring water closer to her home.

“Now, let’s add the heated stones…”

She began adding stones that had been heated in a fire, one by one, into the water to warm it.

“... Oh, this works surprisingly well.”

After adding about twenty stones, the water reached a comfortable temperature. Given the small size of the tub, overfilling it would only lead to spillage once she got in. This meant she didn’t need a large amount of water after all. A small tub had its merits.

“Well then, here I go… Ah, a bath! Finally, a bath!”

With excitement, Marylia carefully stepped into the tub and eased herself in.

“… Hmm. Yes, it’s a bit cramped, but… this is wonderful. Hehehe.”

She was utterly content.

The long-awaited bath rejuvenated Marylia’s spirits. She lathered herself with soap, washed her hair, rinsed off the suds and dirt with water she had heated separately, and even used the leftover bathwater to do some laundry.

“… I’m so glad I cut my hair short. If it were still long, leaving it wet would have been dangerous in this cold.”

Without towels, she used fabric from a dismantled petticoat—made of fine linen—to dry her body and hair. It worked well enough.

“After bathing, I’ll need to dry my hair by the fire. Should I build a separate bathhouse? But then, drainage would become a bigger issue…”

Bathing was enjoyable, but it also presented new challenges.

“… What should I do about the wastewater?”

Indeed, the question of where to dispose of the bathwater loomed large.

When empty, Marylia could manage to lift the tub on her own, but once it was filled with water, it became too heavy. While she could use her golems to transport it, the disposal itself required more thought.

“In Balthoria, they used to collect wastewater in a pond, let it sit for a while, and then release it. The dirt would break down, right?”

Simply dumping the water would pollute the nearby river. While the waste from one person wasn’t significant, dirtying the area around her base wasn’t ideal. She needed a plan.

“Okay, I’ll dig a pit for drainage, line it with clay, and connect it to the river with a channel. I’ll also add a dam to regulate the flow… Oh dear, this is starting to feel like an iron mining operation... Also, it might be better to build the bathhouse closer to the river. Ugh, this is a lot of work!”

And so, Marylia found herself overwhelmed by the sheer effort it took just to enjoy a bath.

Still, a bathhouse was essential. Without one, bathing in winter could be a deadly endeavor.

She also needed to install a fireplace to heat stones and dry her hair after bathing. The bathhouse itself had to be warm and comfortable inside.

Such was the life of Marylia—full of challenges, but driven by the determination to improve her living conditions, one step at a time.

“Let’s see, I’ll make it brick-built... and for the flooring, I’ll go with wooden planks. As for the bathtub…”

Marylia glanced at the tub and made her decision.

“… I’ll try adding a drainage hole. It’s strange, isn’t it? Patching up a crack only to intentionally make a hole later.”

Thus, Marylia began to grind away at the unglazed bathtub to create a hole.

“Slow and steady. If it cracks again, that would be a disaster.”

Carefully, little by little, she worked. The unglazed bathtub was fragile and prone to breaking if too much force was applied in one spot. A methodical approach was key to success.
After alternating tasks with the golems to carve the hole, Marylia conducted a simple experiment.
With a hole in place, the tub could no longer retain water. When preparing a bath, this hole would need to be plugged.

“Alright, to plug the hole when filling it with water…”

Marylia scanned the area, her gaze landing on a slime that had just returned with a load of chestnuts. She promptly snatched it up, claimed the chestnuts, and said:

“I can use the slime as a stopper.”

She shoved it snugly into the bathtub’s hole with a squish!

The slime fit perfectly, plugging the hole successfully. As long as the slime was there, Marylia would have no trouble keeping the tub sealed during her baths. Thus, the slime officially became her bathing companion.

With that settled, construction of the bathhouse began. Fortunately, there were still plenty of bricks left from when she built her house, so she set to work arranging them to form the structure.

She paved the floor with bricks, coating them with mortar, and planned to add wooden planks on top later to make it warmer underfoot. The spots for the bathtub and drainage pipe were marked, and she dug a hole to create a basic filtration system. She also designed a fireplace and chimney and decided the door would be made just like the one for the food storage—tightly sealed with planks.

“Planks are wonderful.”

Marylia beamed as she watched the golems skillfully cut the planks for the floorboards and door.
Thanks to the iron tools she had crafted, working with wood had become much easier. This development meant she could now build proper doors!

“… I’ll replace the door on my house later, too.”

As winter approached, Marylia wanted to eliminate as much draft as possible to avoid freezing. Smiling at the thought, she ordered the golems to make an extra door.
Thus, on the 110th day of her exile, the bathhouse was completed.
It was a modest space equipped with a small tub, a fireplace, a little shelf for soap and linens, a stool, and a small table to relax while drying her hair. Though simple, its presence made a significant difference—having a bath was a luxury that could not be understated.

“Let’s put out two types of soap: rosemary and orange… Oh, this is so fun! Hehehe…”

Life on the island was monotonous, with no real entertainment. Merely surviving could drain one’s spirit, even if the body endured. That’s why a bath was essential—not just for hygiene but also for preserving her mental and emotional health.
Thrilled, Marylia gently removed the slime, which had been acting as the bath stopper, and released it back outside. The slime, unfazed, bounced away to presumably gather more chestnuts.

“Alright, the food supplies are coming along nicely too…”

Marylia checked the food storage while cheerfully thinking about the returning slime and its future harvest.
Inside the storage, bags of starch extracted from lily bulbs and the roots of Man-Eaters hunted in recent days hung neatly from the walls. Dried and boiled Man-Eater stems were also preserved.

Suspended from the ceiling were slabs of meat—thoroughly salted, dried, and smoked to remove all moisture. The sight of the hanging meat was both practical and awe-inspiring.

On the shelves were jars of food preserved in clay pots—chestnuts, pine nuts, acorn flour, and dried jujube fruits. Rose hips picked by slimes had been preserved in honey, while bottles of boiled-down orange and berry juices gleamed beside them. There were also bottles of salvaged liquor, barrels of wine, and, of course, honey.

“Thanks to the slimes, I’ve been able to gather so much!”

Smiling brightly, Marylia reflected on how indispensable the slimes had been to her food-gathering efforts, especially for securing honey.

“Well, I’ll keep gathering food to the very last moment…”

Spotting a slime bouncing near the storage, Marylia murmured, “Ah, I should catch it and retrieve more food,” while muttering to herself.

“… And perhaps the sand iron is piling up by now.”

Winter was drawing near.
Yet before the snow arrived, it seemed she would finally have her Iron Golem ready in time.

----------

Day 115 of Banishment: Iron Golem (1)
When I visited the familiar riverside to check on the iron sand harvesting, I found the Terracotta Golems busily at work, as usual.

"Oh my... you've gathered quite a bit."

The amount of iron sand collected was impressive. Likely due to the upstream erosion efforts, the efficiency of iron sand gathering had increased significantly, almost rivaling the yield seen after a storm.

"This should work. All right, let’s get started. First up—charcoal production. Hmm, with this much iron sand, I’ll need... quite a lot of charcoal."

Marylia sighed at the thought of the daunting task ahead but began reconstructing the charcoal kilns.

By the 115th day, after a painstaking process of gathering wood and setting up three charcoal kilns, everything was ready. The iron axe had been a lifesaver, as had the assistance of the golems, speeding up the work dramatically.

"All right, light the kilns!"

With the kilns ignited, the golems diligently operated old-fashioned bellows to fan the flames, ensuring the wood inside reached the necessary temperatures. It would take over a day to fully carbonize the wood into charcoal.

Meanwhile, Marylia turned her attention to the iron-smelting furnace.

"Let’s see if it’s dried out properly... Building this again was such a hassle."

Each time iron was extracted, the furnace had to be dismantled to retrieve the metal, requiring it to be rebuilt from scratch—a laborious process.

Using clay and crushed fire-resistant material from the previous furnace, she had crafted a new, slightly larger and taller furnace to accommodate the greater quantity of iron sand. The added height was crucial for achieving higher temperatures.

"Now, I hope I can produce enough iron for an Iron Golem..."

Creating an Iron Golem required a significant amount of iron to craft a human-sized suit of armor, down to the intricacies of articulated fingers. But the main concern was whether there would be enough raw materials.

The refining process would inevitably reduce the iron sand, as impurities were removed. Moreover, the quality of the iron depended on numerous factors, from the iron sand’s composition to the conditions of the charcoal and airflow, making the results unpredictable.

"If it turns out like last time, I should be fine... I think."

Her anxiety was understandable. The presence of an Iron Golem during the harsh winter could be a game-changer, yet this might be her last chance to refine iron before winter’s arrival. Even if successful, the process of crafting the golem would take time.

"Well, worrying won’t help. I just have to trust that it’ll work out."

Determined, Marylia prepared herself for whatever outcome awaited.

—-—---------

Day 116 of Banishment
The charcoal was finally ready.

"Perfect! This should even leave some extra for indoor use during winter."

Breaking down the kilns, Marylia extracted the charcoal. Two of the kilns had performed exceptionally well, yielding fully carbonized, high-quality charcoal. The third kiln had some issues, but the usable charcoal was carefully sorted for the smelting process. The rest would be reserved for indoor cooking and heating.

Charcoal, unlike wood, burned with minimal smoke, making it ideal for indoor use.

"All right... let’s get started. Everyone, gather up!"

With the preparation complete, Marylia called for the golems, who gathered around her. Smiling brightly, she surveyed her hardworking team.

"Now, we begin the smelting process! Let’s make this a success!"

… With her heartfelt prayers, even the golems mimicked her, awkwardly striking a "praying" pose. Of course, they weren't truly praying—just imitating the gesture. Still, seeing their movements filled Marylia with a renewed sense of optimism that this ironworking attempt might succeed.

Thus began another fiery struggle.

They lit the furnace, steadily warmed it up, and alternated layers of charcoal and iron sand, all while furiously fanning the flames to boost the heat. This process was repeated tirelessly. Occasionally, they opened side vents to observe impurities being expelled, all the while hoping that iron would finally take form.

It was unbearably hot, given the continuous stoking of the fire. Marylia found herself musing, "Maybe doing this in winter would feel much cozier..." But that was a thought for another day.

For now, the priority was the iron golem. If she wanted one before winter, this was the only chance. Marylia pressed on, orchestrating her golems and managing the ironworking.

—------------------------

The morning of the 119th day of banishment.

"Looks like the furnace has cooled down... yawn~"

The fire in the furnace had persisted until yesterday evening. A large amount of iron sand meant extended operating hours for the furnace, and naturally, Marylia had little time for breaks. Exhausted, she had gone straight to bed once the fire was out, though her fatigue lingered even now.

"Still sleepy... but I can't wait to see how the iron turned out. Time to dismantle the furnace."

She instructed the golems to break apart the furnace. Just like before, a mass covered in impurities emerged.

"Now then, how did it turn out...?"

There was no telling until they broke it open. Heart pounding with anticipation, Marylia directed the golems to strike the lump with rocks, shedding the impurities...

… and there it was.

"It looks like there's enough... somehow! Thank goodness!"

Before her lay a shimmering mass of iron. While it wasn't an extraordinary success, it was enough—barely. But barely was all Marylia needed. If it was sufficient, it was fine.

"Alright, now we need to shape this into parts right away! Everyone, let's do this!"

Marylia felt her exhaustion lift slightly as she rallied the golems.

"... But maybe I’ll nap a bit more first..."

Realizing her body wasn’t keeping up, she quickly retreated. Leaving the golems to clean up the furnace and refine the iron, she prioritized a bath and rest. Marylia needed sleep!

Later that day, after a good rest.

Finally refreshed, Marylia began the intricate work of crafting the iron golem.

"You'll each create parts that match your own forms, alright? Let’s see... Unit 1 and 2, handle the fingers. Unit 3 and 4, the neck and head. Unit 5 and 6, the arms. Unit 7 and 8, the chest and abdomen. Unit 9 and 10, the legs. Unit 11 and 12, the feet. Units 13 and onward, assist wherever needed."

The Terracotta Golems nodded in acknowledgment, examining their forms as reference. With clear examples, even Terracotta Golems could accomplish this level of task.

"Once your parts are ready, bring them to me for engraving."

Marylia planned to craft a golem unlike any she had made before.

Typically, she skipped steps like engraving specific runes onto golems, as it was tedious. However, engraving boosted structural strength and mana conductivity, ensuring the golem would respond more effectively to her commands. This time, she would painstakingly engrave each component, down to the smallest joint of every finger.

Since raw materials were scarce, Marylia decided it was worth the effort to make this golem her very best.

"Hehe, what kind of companion shall I create? It needs to be durable for safety, but speed and intelligence are crucial too. Then there’s compatibility with me... Oh, this will be quite the project. Hehehe..."

With an excited smile, Marylia sketched glyph designs onto leftover cockatrice hide parchment using ink brewed from acorn shells and a pen made of peryton feather.

Creating such a "special one" was rare for her. Usually, golems were crafted for sheer numbers, prioritizing quantity over quality. After all, having many golems was often more advantageous. But this time, she relished the chance to pour all her knowledge and skill into one exceptional creation.

The next day, she began hands-on work.

While the Terracotta Golems diligently forged parts using iron and jade hammers, Marylia engraved intricate runes onto each component. Piece by piece, she etched with a fine chisel, careful not to make a single mistake.

"Hehe, my eyes are getting tired~"

The detailed work strained her eyes and shoulders, but she found joy in the process. Gradually, with precision and determination, the iron components were imbued with her runes.

The Iron Golem's completion was finally within reach!

----------

Day 120 of Banishment: Iron Golem (2)
Marylia was engraving runes onto each piece of iron.

With a small chisel struck by a stone serving as a hammer, she meticulously etched the runes, little by little.

"From an anti-rust perspective, mana fixation is a must, isn’t it? I'll apply some oil for maintenance, but there will inevitably be places I can’t reach... I could dunk it in an oil bath every day, but that feels excessive too."

As she muttered to herself, she inscribed runes on the arms, legs, and torso—runes to fixate mana. These were, essentially, runes designed to strengthen the essence that transforms mere material into a golem. In other words, they were for solidifying the pseudo-life force of the golem.

Golems are essentially objects imbued with life or a soul via magic. Strengthening that life force's bond with the material ensures the body doesn’t deteriorate. In this aspect, it is similar to necromancy, which also requires securing a body against decay by reinforcing its pseudo-life.

In fact, Marylia had adapted this rune for golem use from one taught to her by a necromancer acquaintance. Marylia had a knack for such inventive tweaks.

"Sharing memories with me would be beneficial too. It would be great if it could use the tactics and swordplay I know right from the start."

Next, she engraved another type of rune on the Iron Golem's head and torso. These two rune types dominated the overall design since they were the crux of this golem.

What enhances a living being's survivability?

One factor is undoubtedly the robustness of the body.

A fragile body doesn’t survive long. Marylia herself was a sickly child, and she doubted she would have survived being marooned on an island with that frail body.

Hence, she had engraved the rune for "reinforcing the pseudo-life force of the golem."

The other factor is knowledge.

The ability to avoid countless dangers comes from experiences and memories—essentially, knowledge.

Knowing how to hunt prey, gather food, counteract poisons, or process metal—these kinds of knowledge were what kept Marylia alive.

The same applies to golems. Faced with predators in winter or encircled by ravenous monsters, their survival depends on knowing how to react. They must identify the weak points in enemy formations to minimize damage or find alternate paths back to base if stranded.

For these reasons, Marylia engraved runes allowing the golem to "share memories with Marylia."

This way, her Iron Golem would inherit her experiences and knowledge, enabling it to make swift, informed decisions—whether to evade an enemy, signal her base, or take a detour when trapped.

"A sturdy body is crucial, but intelligence is just as vital."

With a cheerful smile, Marylia carefully engraved the runes into the components, stroke by stroke. She worked with precision, wishing the Iron Golem a durable and loyal existence.

"I have to give it the best tools to thrive."

Near the furnace, the heat stirred her hair, leaving beads of sweat on her forehead. Wiping her brow, Marylia cast a tender gaze at the components in her hands.

The golem's completion was near.

The work continued through the afternoon.

Once accustomed to handling the chisel, her pace doubled. "It’s fun when you get the hang of it!" she remarked, grinning as she diligently carved the runes at an incredible speed.

"Let’s use up every bit of the remaining space for runes. Hehehe, next up is strengthening its physical capabilities… hehehehe."

The essential runes for mana fixation and memory sharing were complete, but there was still empty space on the components. Without hesitation, Marylia began engraving supplementary runes.

These new runes focused on physical enhancements. Not for pseudo-life force fixation, but for improving its "muscle strength" and "stamina"—as they would be in a human.

Technically, these runes optimized the flow of mana. One mechanism allowed mana to swirl and accumulate, then release in bursts of accelerated motion. Another stored excess mana, feeding it back into the system when needed.

In short, these mechanisms enabled brief bursts of high-speed motion and efficient, energy-saving operation. While the golem wouldn't be capable of marathon-like endurance, it could outpace Marylia for a few seconds when necessary.

Once she finished the runes for speed enhancement, she filled the tiniest gaps with protective runes, leaving no space unused. For an Iron Golem, the effort was worthwhile.

Unlike Terracotta or Mud golems, which had limited potential for improvement, Iron Golems offered far greater enhancement potential. It was akin to increasing a value of 1 by 10% versus increasing 1000 by 10%—a much more significant gain.

Knowing her labor would pay off, Marylia poured all her effort into the task, her eyes shining with determination.

She engraved runes tirelessly until the night.

By the time the moonlight faintly illuminated the sky and the sun's last rays had vanished entirely, Marylia had skipped dinner, engrossed in admiring the completed components.

"… It's done."

Bathed in the faint light of both the sun and moon, the engraved patterns shimmered brilliantly.

The assembled body was humanoid, slightly larger than Marylia herself.

It was the Iron Golem.

Surrounding it, the Terracotta Golems fidgeted nervously. They seemed to sense the arrival of their new leader, though in reality, it was simply Marylia’s own anticipation being reflected in the golems’ behavior.

With a mix of anxiety and excitement, Marylia approached the Iron Golem and gently placed her hand upon its form.

"It's a bit late to say 'good morning,' so instead…"

As she spoke, mana began to flow from her hand into the iron body.

The lifeless chunk of metal started to transform into a golem.

"… let me welcome you instead: 'Welcome.'"

The Iron Golem slowly rose, standing upright in the growing dusk. It gazed down at Marylia, who beamed warmly up at it. Then, in a display of chivalry, the Iron Golem knelt on one knee, took Marylia’s hand, and placed a kiss on the back of it.

At long last, the Iron Golem was born!

"Ah… I may have gone a little overboard with its engraving…"

Immediately after its activation, Marylia collapsed from exhaustion. Fortunately, the Iron Golem swiftly caught her and held her steady. "Thank you," she murmured with a smile, leaning against it as it helped her into the house.

"Engraving that much really takes a toll during activation… I probably should’ve waited until morning."

Lying in bed, Marylia reflected on her choices.

Though proud of the exceptional Iron Golem she had created, she realized that the excessive runes had demanded an enormous amount of mana for activation.

"Well, now I know. Next time, I’ll be more careful. Although… I doubt I’ll go this rune-crazy again."

Despite the lingering headache and dizziness from the mana depletion, Marylia remained optimistic. A good night’s rest, she reckoned, would solve her problems. It was, after all, a long day of meticulous engraving followed by a sudden burst of magic to bring the golem to life.

For now, the Iron Golem was complete, and Marylia had gained valuable insight for future creations.

"Rest well tonight," she told the golem with a soft smile, "because starting tomorrow, you’ll have plenty of work to do."

And with that, Marylia decided to call it a day.

The next morning. Day 121 of banishment.

Marylia awoke bright and early—but not without cause.

"… So hungry."

Having skipped dinner to rest and recover her mana reserves, her stomach demanded immediate attention. Still, despite her hunger, she was in high spirits. After all, the Iron Golem was here now!

"Good morning! I’ll be counting on you to work hard today."

And so, Marylia handed a clay jar to the golem.

"First task—go fetch some water for me."

Without needing further instruction, the Iron Golem walked toward the stream behind the house, filling the jar with water before returning.

The runes were functioning perfectly. Sharing her memories with the Iron Golem had ensured that it "knew" the location of the water source from the start!

"Thank you kindly. Please pour some into the pot for soup—just enough for breakfast."

Nodding, the golem carried the jar inside and filled the pot to about seven-tenths full. It then carefully placed the remaining water near the hearth for later use—an action Marylia hadn’t explicitly requested but was pleased to see nonetheless.

Its ability to interpret vague instructions and act efficiently, using her shared memories, made the Iron Golem incredibly reliable.

Beaming, Marylia watched it work with satisfaction. The effort she had poured into creating it had truly paid off!

With its help, Marylia prepared breakfast: a hearty soup of dumplings made from lily root scraps, meat, and wild greens.

After stepping outside to gather more wild herbs, she shivered slightly at the chill in the air.

"… It’s getting colder. Winter’s coming soon."

The crisp autumn wind served as a stark reminder of the season's progression. Wrapping her arms around herself, Marylia began planning the day's tasks.

"I really need to start making winter clothes."

She had been so engrossed in creating the Iron Golem that her preparations for winter remained incomplete. Now, with the season fast approaching, there was no time to waste—she needed to stockpile supplies, craft essentials, and ensure everything was ready for the long, cold months ahead!

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