The Island-Banished Noblewoman - Chapter 53, Chapter 54, Chapter 55, Chapter 56

Day 98 of Banishment: Fall, and Preparing for Winter (5)
And so.

"Amazing! Just by shaking down slimes, I can gather this much!"

… By catching slimes one after another and snatching the food they had worked hard to collect, Marylia managed to fill an earthenware pot to the brim with provisions!

"These are jujube fruits, right?"

The slimes had stockpiled large amounts of jujube fruits. They are sweet and tangy, delicious even when eaten raw, but if lightly boiled and dried, they become a long-lasting preserved food—perfect for winter storage.

"Which means there must be jujube trees somewhere. If I follow these little ones, maybe I can find them... ehehe."

Having lost their entire supply of jujube fruits to Marylia, the slimes apparently decided to head out in search of new food. Watching the slimes crawl along, Marylia leisurely followed them with her golems.

"Oh my, there really were trees here!"

After about 15 minutes at the slimes’ pace—a trip that would have taken Marylia less than 5 minutes if she walked quickly—she found a grove of jujube trees in the neighborhood!

"To think I missed something so close by... If it weren’t for the slimes, I’d never have noticed."

The slimes climbed the jujube trees, sluggishly and steadily, picking fruits at a relaxed pace.

… It was painfully slow!

"Well then, I’ll help myself."

Naturally, Marylia quickly outpaced the slimes who had arrived before her. She climbed the jujube trees nimbly, harvesting over 30 fruits in the time it took a single slime to pick one! Even if the slimes worked together, they were no match for Marylia.

… And so, Marylia harvested nearly all the jujube fruits. The slimes, with only about three fruits floating inside their bodies, looked somewhat dejected… Of course, slimes have no expressions, so this was purely Marylia’s imagination.

"Alright, I’ll collect those too."

Furthermore, Marylia even took the precious jujube fruits that the slimes had just managed to gather. How pitiful!

"Well then, thank you for your hard work. I will give you your payment."

… But then, Marylia smiled sweetly, gathered about five slimes in her arms, and headed back to her base. The golems also carried slimes in their arms as they followed her.

The slimes, traveling at over three times their usual speed, were promptly brought back to the base...

"Here’s your wages."

… where Marylia rewarded them with Peryton meat!

The slimes, seemingly satisfied, looked as though they were overjoyed with the meat that more than compensated for the lost jujube fruits. Again, slimes have no expressions, but Marylia chose to believe this.

"Hehe, if I collect taxes, I’ll redistribute them. After all, I am a noble."

Marylia smiled brightly as she shared the meat with the slimes. While jujube fruits are tasty, meat is a much rarer delicacy for the slimes. After all, they can forage plants and fruits on their own but have almost no chance of hunting meat themselves!

"I was low on salt, so this worked out perfectly."

This was also convenient for Marylia. She needed salt to preserve meat, and giving the slimes fresh meat as a substitute for the jujube fruits suited her situation well.

"Hehe, let me know if you find more fruits."

Marylia chuckled as she petted and poked the soft, squishy slimes lovingly.

Meanwhile, as the slimes contentedly carried their chunks of meat, Marylia prepared to head out in search of more provisions. But...

"It seems slimes are better at finding fruits. Let’s borrow their skills."

Thinking this, Marylia grabbed a few slimes at random. While she wasn’t sure how much effort they would put in after eating their fill of meat, she figured it was worth a try.

With this, she hoped her food search would proceed more smoothly...

"It’s going so well!"

… and it did.

In conclusion, relying on the slimes significantly boosted her food search efforts.

The slimes had a knack for detecting the presence of food. Whenever they sensed something, they would stretch their bodies in the direction they wanted to go, even while being held in Marylia’s arms. All she had to do was walk in that direction, carrying the slimes.

Thanks to this method, Marylia discovered several more jujube trees, and then...

"How fortunate to find a walnut tree!"

Yes, walnuts.

The slimes had led Marylia to a walnut grove, about a 30-minute walk by foot.

Walnuts, often thought of as delicious nuts encased in a hard brown shell, look quite different when still on the tree. These nuts are further surrounded by a green fruit-like layer.

Despite being called a fruit, this green layer is neither tasty nor pleasant—it is quite the opposite, bitter and unpleasant. To harvest the walnuts, the first step is to let the fruit layer decay and peel it off, leaving only the brown shell encasing the nut.

Marylia and her golems began collecting fallen walnuts from the ground. When the golems shook the trees, ripe nuts came tumbling down, which they diligently gathered.

After some effort, they amassed five large baskets of walnuts. If they were to harvest the unripe ones, they could collect even more, but that was a task for another day.

"Now, let's get these ready."

Marylia transferred the collected walnuts into clay pots and filled them with water. By soaking them, the outer fruit would rot away, revealing the familiar brown walnut shell beneath.

"As for this outer layer... there's really nothing to be done with it, is there?"

The juice from crushed fruit is notoriously sticky and difficult to remove once it gets on the skin. Moreover, it can cause itching. Deciding to leave the fruit layer to rot naturally, Marylia opted to take a break.

After lunch, she set out once more with the slimes to forage for more food. Following the direction the slimes stretched toward, she discovered a blackberry thicket.

"Oh, how lovely!"

The blackberries were plump and glossy, looking utterly delicious. Their large size was particularly appealing.

"If only I had sugar, I could bake a pie with these... but I don't have the luxury for that right now."

Marylia reminisced about her fondness for blackberry pies. Even while leading her army, she would order blackberry pies whenever she found a tavern or cafeteria offering them. The knights would often tease her about her enduring love for the dessert.

"I could really use a sweetener... but that might be too much to hope for right now."

While sugar might be a stretch, honey seemed more achievable. However, she knew finding it wouldn’t be easy; even back when she scoured the woods for beeswax to make leather armor, she had failed to locate any beehives.

"It’d be nice to stumble upon a beehive somewhere..."

Her persistence stemmed from honey’s excellent properties—it doesn't spoil, lasts a long time, and is an excellent source of energy. Perfect for preparing for winter.

"For now, I'll have to make do with boiled fruit juice."

Unable to find honey, Marylia resolved to extract and boil down blackberry juice, just as she had with oranges. The concentrated fruit syrup could be stored in jars and kept for winter. While the consistency would become incredibly thick and hard, rehydrating it would turn it back into a versatile fruit sauce.

"Fruits preserved in sugar are delicious... but maybe that's a project for next year."

Since sugar was not an option—unlikely to wash ashore—Marylia sighed and continued picking blackberries with her golems until they filled a basket.

As a reward, she gave the slimes pieces of Peryton bones. The marrow, though fatty, was nutritious and seemed perfect for the slimes.

***

"Not all of them seem to have returned..."

Marylia observed the slimes pulsing and wobbling in the fields while tilting her head slightly.

The sun was about to set, and the slimes should have returned by now. Then again, it was uncertain if they even recognized this place as their “home.”

Still, the fact that over 30 slimes had gathered here suggested they had some instinct to return to a familiar spot. This was further evidenced by a section of the field designated as their "food storage area."

Though Marylia muttered, "I didn’t approve this!" she decided against removing it. The way the slimes had diligently dug, heaped, and compacted soil to create small burrows was endearing in its own way.

While watching the absent slimes, she wondered if they had been eaten by other monsters. After all, slimes preparing for winter were essentially “transparent jelly blobs with floating food inside,” making them tempting targets for predators.

Other creatures would likely steal from them just as Marylia had taken their dates and blackberries.

"Nature can be so unforgiving..." Marylia mused, gazing into the distance.

But then—

"... O-oh? You made it back safely?"

From the twilight forest, the slimes came bouncing back. It seemed they had managed to avoid being eaten.

"Oh my~... I’m glad you’re okay."

Relieved, Marylia welcomed the returning slimes.

And then—

"... My, oh my!?"

Her eyes widened.

"... Honey!"

Yes! Floating inside the transparent bodies of the slimes was none other than golden, glistening honey.

----------

Day 99 of Banishment: Fall, and Preparing for Winter (6)
And so, the next day, on the 99th day of banishment.

"Alright! Lead me to the honey's location!"

Marylia confiscated the honey brought back by the slime and decided to take advantage of the fact that the slime, deprived of its honey, was intent on gathering more. She used this to have it guide her to the honey's source.

While it was an unintended hassle for the slime, Marylia hoped it would find consolation in the fact that it would undoubtedly benefit from the more efficiently acquired honey.

Thus, they set out.

After about 40 minutes of walking in the direction the slime extended, Marylia noted a slight improvement in their travel efficiency. It seemed the slime had finally understood, "This human moves where I extend!" Marylia, pleased with its understanding, occasionally patted the slime as they progressed.

However, she couldn't help but voice a lingering concern.

"There's just one thing I'm worried about."

Thinking aloud helped her organize her thoughts as she continued walking.

"Why did the slime only bring back honey?"

Indeed, this was the question bothering her. Honey, of course, is found within beehives. Beeswax cells brimming with golden nectar—that's honey. Naturally, finding honey also means finding the hive itself.

And within the hive, there’s more than just honey.

There are pollen balls, bee larvae, and perhaps even eggs. Most notably, there are always adult bees.

Unless something drastic happened to make the bees abandon their hive, leaving behind honey and the hive itself, one should expect to find all these components together.

Although slimes are soft, squishy creatures, they are surprisingly bold. Small creatures, like insects, are a delectable meal for them.

The fact that this particular slime brought back only honey, without larvae or bees, etched a small but definite unease into Marylia’s mind.

And, as fate would have it, Marylia's ominous hunches tended to be correct.

"Oh dear~"

After about an hour of walking deeper into the island's center, Marylia finally found the hive.

"This is... quite something."

Indeed, walking an hour towards the island's heart had led her to a truly massive hive.

Additionally...

"Those are huge."

The bees were enormous—each one the size of a dog or a cat!

Marylia immediately understood the situation. “So that's it. The slime only brought back honey because it secretly gathered what had leaked from the hive! It didn’t avoid the larvae or bees; it simply couldn’t get them!”

Yet there was no time to leisurely marvel at her deduction. The massive bees, their stingers gleaming menacingly, were flying straight at her!

"Ah, they're surprisingly fast~”

Indeed, the giant bees were quite speedy—about as fast as Marylia running at full tilt—and they were swarming in droves!

"... Retreat!"

Thus, Marylia promptly decided to withdraw. Getting swarmed and stung by bees of that size would undoubtedly be fatal!

Deploying her golems as a shield, she managed to escape. Meanwhile, the slime in her arms seemed reluctant to abandon the honey, stretching slightly toward the hive. Marylia gave it a light tap and said, "No."

"Now then... what should I do?"

Marylia pondered her next move—how to deal with that beehive.

Letting all that honey go to waste was out of the question. It was one of the island’s few pure sweeteners, with the added benefits of long shelf life and use as a preservative. Discarding such an excellent resource, along with the equally valuable beeswax, would be an unforgivable loss.

However, those bees were not something she could tackle immediately. Preparation was essential. After all, they were enormous—each the size of a dog or cat—and they could move as fast as Marylia running at full speed. Not to mention, there were hundreds of them!

Indeed, it wasn’t just their size that was a problem—it was their overwhelming numbers.

If it were only one or two, they might even be easier to handle than regular bees. Their large size made them an easy target for weapons, unlike the tiny, darting movements of normal bees. Size, while a strength, also made them easier to hit.

But hundreds of them? That was a different story altogether. While she dealt with one, five more would close in, and before long, she’d be surrounded by dozens.

Yes, the strength of sheer numbers was undeniable. Marylia herself relied on this principle, using her golems to overpower prey. Numbers were power—when she had them, it was an advantage; when the enemy had them, it was a nightmare.

And so, Marylia thought deeply. Very deeply.

When dealing with bees, the first idea that came to mind was to use fire or smoke to drive them out of their hive.

But simply chasing them out would only worsen the situation. It would mean facing all the bees at once, making the fight even harder.

What about burning or repelling them as they approached?

That, too, was risky. She couldn’t guarantee fire would be enough to completely subdue them, and there was always the chance of a burning bee spreading fire throughout the forest.

If the forest and her food supply burned, Marylia would be the next to perish. Fire required extreme caution; ideally, she wanted a solution that didn’t involve it at all.

After much deliberation, Marylia finally reached a conclusion.

"Now’s the time for the Mud Golems to shine."

Bees, as fragile creatures, have a critical weakness: their stingers. Once a bee stings a human, it dies shortly after. This is because their barbed stingers get stuck in elastic human skin, rendering them unable to withdraw. Against something soft, like slime, they could sting repeatedly, but against humans, it was a one-shot attack.

In short, a bee can only attack a human once with its sting. That was their Achilles’ heel.

So, if she could force the bees to waste their stings, she could reduce their numbers significantly.

Enter the Mud Golems—perfect for the job.

Golems, being non-living constructs, are impervious to toxins that harm biological creatures. They can keep moving unless their bodies are physically destroyed, making them resilient fighters.

That said, a Terracotta Golem could still be shattered by the giant bees’ stingers. With bees of that size, a single sting could crack and shatter the clay body.

But a Mud Golem? That was a different story entirely.

Their soft, pliable bodies wouldn’t crumble under the bees’ stingers. Moreover, by mixing glue into the mud, she could give the golems enough elasticity to grab onto the bees’ stingers and hold them. Once the stinger was stuck, the bee would have no choice but to sever it, leading to its demise.

And so, Marylia got to work boiling glue.

"I’ve got plenty of glue materials... Hehehe..."

Thanks to her recent hunt of two perytons, and earlier kills that had left plenty of leftover tendons, sinew, and scraps of hide, she had ample material dried and ready for glue production. Finally, these resources would be put to use.

"I really want a big iron pot... something that won’t crack over direct fire. A pot big enough for several of those bees..."

With such thoughts in mind, Marylia meticulously boiled glue.

The glue, once reduced and mixed into the mud, gave it a firm, rubbery consistency once cooled.

"Alright, shaping time—get to it!"

While the glue was still soft, Marylia quickly shaped one Mud Golem herself as an example. Her Terracotta Golems then took over the task, efficiently shaping more Mud Golems before the glue set. The more hands—or golems—on the job, the better.

And so, Marylia churned out a veritable army of glue-infused Mud Golems.

While they weren’t as versatile as Terracotta Golems due to their simpler construction, the addition of glue—and possibly some residual mana from the monsters it came from—made them more responsive.

Specifically, they could "change direction," making them far more practical. While they couldn’t follow complex commands like "come with me," they could understand simpler instructions like "step right!" and "move forward again!"

"Yes, the elasticity feels just right."

The cooled glue gave the golems a springy, slightly firm texture, tougher than human skin. This should allow them to hold onto the bees’ stingers effectively. Marylia had high hopes.

"Alright then, tomorrow... Hehe, tomorrow will be the grand honey feast... Ahahaha..."

Satisfied with her creation, Marylia smiled in anticipation of the battle—and the reward to come.

----------

Day 100 of Banishment: Fall, and Preparing for Winter (7)
And so, the next day arrived, marking the momentous 100th day of Marylia's banishment.

What could be more fitting to commemorate such a milestone? What could serve as the "victory toast" for this day of triumph?

The answer was simple: honey. Glorious honey!

"Alright, let's do this!"

Marylia exclaimed with a smile, surveying her army of Terracotta Golems and glue-reinforced Mud Golems.

"Forward, march!"

In pursuit of sweet victory and even sweeter honey, Marylia began her advance!

The journey to the beehive was smoother than the last time. This was largely because there was no need to rely on a slow slime guide this time around. Free from such constraints, Marylia proceeded swiftly and decisively.

The glue-reinforced Mud Golems, thanks to their composition, were faster and more agile than regular Mud Golems. Their reinforced bodies could move briskly without falling apart, a significant improvement.

Marylia watched the golems' energetic march with a contented grin.

Their goal was victory—and honey! For that, the massive bees would have to be dealt with.

"This won’t end as easily as with Baltoria. Unless... well, if they surrender properly, that’s fine too. Ehehe."

Smiling as she moved, Marylia finally arrived.

"There it is," she murmured.

Her eyes narrowed in delight as the beehive came into view. A few massive bees, likely worker bees serving as guards, hovered around the area. Their vigilance seemed mediocre, as they hadn’t yet noticed her approach.

"Mud Golem Unit, prepare to charge."

Observing the bees, Marylia’s lips curled into a smile as she issued the order.

The glue-reinforced Mud Golems, though largely unarmed, readied themselves to advance.

"Go!"

At Marylia’s sharp command, the golems surged forward in unison.

The plan was a success.

The massive bees immediately noticed the intruders and rushed to intercept them. But what awaited their stingers was the resilient, rubbery surface of the glue-laden mud bodies.

When a bee's stinger pierced the golems' gooey flesh, it was firmly caught by the gelatinous elasticity of the glue-infused mud. The stinger could not be withdrawn.

Unable to remain stuck, the bees were forced to sever their stingers along with parts of their internal organs, ultimately meeting their demise.

Yet the bees didn’t relent. They believed unwaveringly that their venom could eventually subdue the eerie, human-shaped intruders.

Once the scout bees were wiped out, bees from the hive began to pour out, fearlessly attacking the golems and sacrificing their lives for a chance to strike at them.

However, the golems were unaffected by the venom. No matter how much they were stung or exposed to poison, it was irrelevant. The golems were not living creatures but animated by Marylia’s commands.

The glue-reinforced mud, with its soft yet durable texture, rendered the bees utterly ineffective.

And so, the battlefield in front of the hive was littered with the corpses of giant bees, and no more emerged from the hive. It was likely that survivors remained, but they were no longer capable of fighting.

"I think that’s enough. Everyone, begin the collection."

Deeming the timing right, Marylia clapped her hands and instructed the Terracotta Golems to start the cleanup.

The Terracotta Golems stepped over the dead bees and approached the hive, dismantling its colossal structure.

The brittle wax combs cracked apart, and golden honey oozed out, gleaming brilliantly and releasing an intoxicatingly sweet aroma. It was a sight worthy of celebrating victory.

"Ah, if there are any survivors, leave them be. They might make a new hive next year. Leave about half of the hive intact."

Whether or not they understood her words, the remaining bees fluttered about nervously, fled, or retreated deeper into the hive. Marylia, who had no intention of killing those who didn’t resist, let them go.

After all, she had to think about the future. By sparing part of the hive, she ensured the possibility of another harvest next year.

“Ehehe, let's look forward to enjoying honey again next year."

Marylia chuckled softly, watching the golems diligently collect honey and dismantle the hive. Her smile was wide, her spirits high as she reveled in the sweet success of her endeavors.

Thus, having subdued the beehive, Marylia partially demolished it, securing a substantial amount of honey and the hive itself before making her way back to her base.

Just this alone amounted to a considerable quantity. Properly stored, it would ensure that she wouldn't run out of sweeteners not only through the winter but even into the next spring.

"Alright, everyone, good job. Go ahead and eat your fill."

As a reward, Marylia distributed bee larvae to the slimes. The plump, fat bee larvae were highly nutritious and delicious for the slimes. Giving each slime a portion, Marylia beamed with satisfaction.

"Now... I need to process this honey."

With that, Marylia leisurely stated her intention and promptly began her work.

"First, let's strain the honey."

The honey she had collected was mixed with remnants of the hive. The hive was made of beeswax—a dense, yellowish wax. Naturally, it contained many impurities, but obtaining beeswax was still a delightful outcome. Marylia happily set about separating the honey from the beeswax.

For larger chunks, she manually removed the wax, placing it in an earthenware container to let any residual honey drip down to the bottom. For finer debris, she strained the honey through a sieve and then through cloth, resulting in a smooth, golden liquid.

… However, this method left honey stuck to the cloth and the clay pot. Recovering all of it proved difficult. Even after wringing the cloth thoroughly, some honey remained. Marylia found a solution after thinking for a little.

"Let's add boiled water to dissolve and collect the remaining honey."

Marylia stuffed the honey-soaked cloth into the clay pot used for honey collection and carefully poured in freshly boiled water.

After letting it sit for a while, the honey adhering to the cloth and pot began to dissolve into the water. This made recovery much easier. Marylia promptly poured the diluted honey water into jars.

"If I leave it like this, it might turn into mead. Hehehe..."

By leaving the diluted honey in clean jars, it would ferment into mead. Marylia looked forward to this, carefully storing the honey water bottles on her home's shelves.

"Hehe, cheers to the 100th day of banishment!"

Marylia raised a hand-thrown, unglazed ceramic cup filled with honey water to celebrate this wonderful day.

It was the special "100th day." Wanting to make it grand, she had laid out a somewhat lavish meal on the table:

- A variety of wild herbs and salt-cured meat, along with a soup made by sautéing and simmering finely chopped lily bulbs.
- Steamed roots of a Man-Eater plant.
- Grilled peryton meat, seasoned with salt and herbs.
- Compote made from dried apricots, jujube fruits, and berries, simmered with water, orange juice, and a bit of honey.
- And, of course, the honey water!

Marylia rejoiced in the sweet flavors after a long time, letting out cries of delight. It was a splendid sweetness befitting the celebration of the 100th day!

"Ah, the victory mead is perfect..."

While it would have been ideal to include wine as well, she held back for now. Even without wine, the meal was more than sufficient to enjoy. Marylia ate happily, celebrating both her victory and her own survival.

"I need to work hard to mass-produce Iron Golems by spring..."

… And so, with her ambitions firmly in sight, Marylia laughed.

Marylia's true goal wasn't just surviving the 100 days of banishment, nor was it the honey or the Iron Golems. Her ultimate aim was to set foot on her homeland's soil once more. The Iron Golems were merely a bonus. Of course, life without these bonuses would be dull, so she absolutely intended to bring back an army of Iron Golems.

With renewed determination, Marylia decided to rest for the night.

Today had been tiring due to the honey collection and processing, but it was a pleasant exhaustion. Moreover...

"Beeswax is so versatile, which is great."

Marylia gazed at the remaining beeswax, her smile widening with satisfaction. After all, beeswax could be used for making candles, crafting leather armor, and even creating temporary molds or casts.

Securing beeswax before winter was a significant accomplishment. After all...

"That's right… I could melt it and mix it with oil to use as a moisturizer for my skin during the winter."

With this, Marylia could finally create her own cosmetics!

"Even after returning home, if my skin isn't in good condition, everyone will worry about me. Hehehe..."

… Returning home was her ultimate goal.

But merely returning home wasn't enough, of course. She needed to ensure she brought back a fully equipped army of Iron Golems. Naturally, she would include them in her return journey, as a life without them would be uninteresting.

Feeling rejuvenated, Marylia decided to sleep for the night.

Exhausted yet content from the day's honey collection and processing, she settled down, her mind at ease with the day's achievements and the preparations for the future.

----------

Day 101 of Banishment: Beauty and Health (1)
And thus, the morning of the 101st day of banishment arrived.

With the honey processing complete and countless jars neatly sealed and lined up in the food storage room, the day begins with a refreshing and pleasant atmosphere.

Marylia once again resolves to put her efforts toward winter preparations, focusing not on food this time, but on other aspects of survival.

What concerns Marylia now are health and beauty.

When it comes to health, winter is a season of vulnerability. The cold saps physical strength, and when vitality is depleted, illness becomes more likely. Falling ill in this land of exile would likely lead to death.

To avoid sickness, Marylia intends to focus on three key measures:

First, proper nutrition. This is an ongoing priority.

Without sustenance, survival is impossible. Moreover, insufficient nutrition can lead to poor health. To remain robust, it’s essential to ensure a diverse and plentiful diet.

Second, maintaining warmth. A matter of course. The brick house she built by summer's end serves this purpose well.

Exposure to rain and wind lowers body temperature, which in turn drains energy and leaves one more susceptible to illness.

Finally, hygiene.

Cleanliness is vital for removing dirt and impurities that could cause sickness. However, maintaining good hygiene on this island is no small feat.

For instance, Marylia currently bathes using soap and water, but continuing this practice during winter is perilous. Wet skin and hair in freezing conditions spell certain death.

Thus, Marylia has set her sights on building a bath.

She envisions a setup where she can soak in hot water to warm her body, promote blood circulation, restore health, and cleanse herself—all vital for staying clean and healthy.

And since she’s going that far, why not take it a step further and prepare some basic skincare products?

Specifically, she desires a cream to moisturize and preserve her skin's beauty—something entirely feasible with the beeswax and honey she has procured.

Mixing beeswax with oils creates a soft, creamy substance suitable for moisturizing the lips, hands, and other areas of the skin.

Honey diluted in a small amount of water can serve as a toner, aiding skin hydration.

Such practices directly contribute to maintaining beauty. These essential skincare items are a must-have!

Since arriving on this uninhabited island, Marylia has had no choice but to neglect her beauty regimen. However, with her eventual return home in mind, she cannot afford to remain this way.

“Marylia Odeil Tyfon returned from exile in a disheveled state”—she could not allow such rumors to spread. To stand as a figure capable of defying the nation’s pinnacle of power, she must be strong and radiant, exuding an aura of authority and magnificence.

And so, she began:

“Let’s see, I still have the fat I extracted from that kelpie, and some jujube fruit. Hmm, okay…”

Marylia promptly set out to make her moisturizing cream.

She retrieved a chunk of honeycomb made of beeswax and wrapped it in cloth.

Next, she filled an earthenware pot with water and added hot stones heated in the fire to create boiling water. With a resolute “Here we go!”, she plunged the honeycomb-filled cloth bag into the boiling water.

The result?

“Whoa! The beeswax is floating to the top! This is so fun, hehe!”

The molten wax seeped from the cloth bag, rising to the surface of the water. Marylia gleefully prodded the bag with a wooden stick, watching as more beeswax emerged and accumulated.

Since wax is lighter than water and impurities don’t dissolve, the beeswax separated cleanly from the honeycomb in this process.

Much like oil droplets floating in soup, the wax collects on the water's surface. Marylia, reminiscing about her military days, mused, “I used to love poking at the oil and making it clump together—bad manners, but fun!” She continued to prod the bag, thoroughly enjoying the process.

Eventually, the amount of wax became so plentiful that it formed a thick, solid layer on the water’s surface, rendering her earlier antics of collecting small droplets unnecessary.

"Alright, let’s leave it alone until it cools."

With that, Marylia set the earthenware pot aside. Once the hot water cooled, she would scoop out the solidified beeswax from the water’s surface, completing her high-purity beeswax extraction.

“Let’s work on the toner while we wait.”

Next, Marylia poured a small amount of water into a pot and added chopped jujube fruit.

Jujube is not only a source of food but also a medicinal ingredient. Marylia had heard in Fractalia that the decoction of jujube had beauty benefits.

After simmering the jujube fruit for a while, she strained the liquid and added honey.

“This much honey should keep it from spoiling! Ah, honey really is such a blessing.”

The resulting syrup made from jujube and honey could be used as a toner when diluted with water. While it was a hassle to dilute the syrup each time before use, it was necessary. The undiluted syrup could be preserved, but once mixed with water, it would spoil in about three days—even in winter.

“... Oh my, that’s yummy.”

The syrup, though a cosmetic product, turned out to be delicious! Marylia smiled as she sampled a small taste.

After sterilizing a jar, she poured the jujube and honey syrup into it, took a break for lunch, and then returned to her work.

“Alright, the beeswax should be ready by now!”

Peering into the pot, she saw the beeswax had solidified on the surface of the water. Marylia carefully upended the pot, retrieving the beeswax, and set about turning it into cosmetic cream.

She brought water to a boil in a pot and floated a smaller vessel inside—a simple bain-marie setup.

“Now, let’s melt the beeswax.”

As the beeswax chunks gradually melted in the smaller pot, they turned into a smooth liquid.

“There’s something so satisfying about watching beeswax melt.”

Smiling, Marylia added kelpie fat to the melted beeswax.

The kelpie fat, previously prepared, had been infused with rosemary branches, giving it a lovely fragrance. She carefully scooped the fat and combined it with the liquid beeswax. The two melded together seamlessly.

Once fully mixed, she allowed the mixture to cool in its container. Depending on the consistency—if too hard, she would add more fat; if too soft, more beeswax.

Thus, Marylia’s cosmetic products were complete. While her health remained a critical priority, her skincare regimen was now somewhat restored. This accomplishment signified a stable enough lifestyle to allow for such considerations, which delighted her greatly.

With her cream and toner base complete, Marylia spotted a slime nearby hoarding acorns in its body. She retrieved the acorns and, with the slime’s guidance, found an acorn tree and gathered a large haul.

Though acorns required leaching to remove bitterness, they were a valuable food source once processed. Rich in starch, they were as essential as lily bulbs and needed careful preservation.

Marylia mobilized her golems, using stone mills to grind the acorns, cracking the shells to separate them from the kernels. After removing the shells floating in water, she began boiling the acorn kernels to reduce their astringency.

She repeatedly boiled and rinsed the kernels, adding ash during subsequent boils to expedite the leaching process. Once sufficiently processed, the acorns were mashed, dried, and ground into a flour-like powder for long-term storage.

“Phew, what a chore!”

Processing such a large quantity of acorns was labor-intensive, but it was essential for surviving the winter. Marylia worked tirelessly.

“Once I finish with these, I’ll have to move on to the walnuts... so much to do…”

The walnuts were at the stage where their outer husks had started to rot, making them ready for processing. She would have to strip the husks and extract the inner nuts.

“So much work...”

After such hard labor, Marylia longed for a bath.

Despite cleaning herself with soap and water or occasionally bathing, she missed the soothing comfort of soaking in warm water—a luxury that remained elusive.

As winter approached, her desire to construct a proper bath grew stronger. She yearned to warm herself in hot water during the cold season.

“Alright. Let’s build a bath.”

And so, Marylia resolved to create a bath for the sake of both her beauty and physical well-being.

----------

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.

Next: https://www.patreon.com/posts/117421698