Chapter 4: A new house
…
The next day, I decided to camp, so to speak, on the mountain, enjoying the magnificent view I had.
Stepping out of the wooden block I had built for the night, I stretched slightly, appreciating the breathtaking scenery.
The rising sun directly struck the mountain with its light, bathing it in orange hues over the snow-covered peaks I had yet to explore.
Because, yes, I wasn't even at the highest summit, but where I was standing was enough for what I wanted to do.
Once again, I observed the side of the mountain range overlooking the beach below.
Alright... I was going to settle down there, build myself a small house for now… a field and a new mine to find some obsidian. I had delayed the creation of the enchantment table and the portal for too long…
Memorizing the surroundings one last time so I wouldn't forget the way, I started descending the path back toward my current home.
---
The journey back was much faster since going downhill was far less troublesome than climbing up. Plus, having already marked the path, I didn't have to think too much, I just had to run straight ahead.
I gathered all my resources, leaving behind seeds, flowers, saplings, and other small, easily replaceable things.
Taking one last look at my wooden shelter, a faint smile formed on my lips, my eyes slightly emotional. I couldn't help but feel something, knowing I was leaving my starting point… my first home in this world…
"Whew… Even though it's just the beginning, I've made quite some progress… I'm not going to destroy this house. No. Who knows, maybe it'll serve someone else someday…"
Gripping my sword, I stepped to the entrance of my simple home and carved a message into the wall: Mazino's House.
Stepping back slightly, I smiled one last time before turning my back on a part of my story…
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Taking a deep breath, I turned away from my first home and began my journey toward the first spot I had chosen from the mountain.
The trip was quick, the relatively flat terrain allowing me to move forward without much difficulty.
After a few hours of walking, I finally saw the location. At first glance, it wasn't bad. There was enough space, a stable ground, so I wouldn't need to terraform too much. Even though it was a bit far from both the beach and the mountain, the land was still decent.
I decided to check out the nearby cave.
Approaching its entrance, I peered into the darkness inside. I could already hear faint growls from deep within, a clear sign that creatures were lurking inside.
That was already a problem. But on top of that, the opening was massive. If I wanted to secure the area, I'd have to seal it off entirely. And considering the size of the hole, that would take hours of work and resources I'd rather not waste.
*sigh*
"Well, I'm not going to bother with that. I don't mind working hard, but I'm way too lazy to seal off an entire cave! Next spot."
Gripping my sword again, I set off toward my second choice, slightly further north, near the mountains.
As I climbed, the terrain became steeper, the slopes sharper, and the cliffs more imposing.
Then, upon reaching the top of a small hill, I saw it.
A pure masterpiece of nature.
An immense cliff stood before me, forming the perfect landscape for a castle-worthy construction.
I moved closer, assessing the terrain. The place was ideal. The cliff offered natural protection, and the open space in front of it would allow for an inner courtyard or even a village.
Crossing my arms, I pondered.
It was too perfect for just a simple house.
This was the perfect place for my domain… my castle… my fortress! But for now, I just wanted to build a small house and gather resources little by little to make that castle a reality.
Turning toward my third option, I continued walking, this time heading toward an area a bit further from the mountain but still close enough for me to return easily.
The path was pleasant, with a light breeze carrying the scent of flowers through the air. After a few more minutes of walking, I heard the distinct sound of a river.
Pushing forward, I finally arrived at the perfect spot.
The river water shimmered under the sunlight, bordered by trees that offered refreshing shade. The land was flat and spacious, and most importantly, there was enough room for a large farm.
A smile spread across my face.
"Perfect, perfect! This is where I'll build a real house."
Without wasting a second, I began laying the foundations of my house. Night was approaching, and I had no intention of sleeping under the open sky.
I pulled out my axe and started chopping down some nearby trees. I needed to clear some space for my house.
Each swing of the axe echoed through the air as the trunks fell one by one. Once I had gathered enough resources, I began the construction.
First, I laid the foundation with oak logs, creating a solid and aesthetic frame.
Then, I alternated between planks and logs to add depth to the walls, avoiding the flat, monotonous look of simple wooden cubes.
Additionally, I gave the structure more depth by placing pillars slightly in front of the walls, creating an extra layer of relief.
Placing my hands on my hips, I observed my construction, thinking about how to improve it.
"Yeah, it already looks pretty good, but I can still make it better…"
I quickly installed a wooden plank floor inside, so I wouldn't have to walk on bare dirt.
I also placed some cobblestone around the house to add texture to the ground.
Then, I grabbed my iron shovel and collected some clay near the river.
The goal? Make bricks to add some details to the facade.
Gathering enough clay was a bit of a hassle, but after some time, I had what I needed. I also took the chance to hunt some fish along the way.
---
Back at my construction site, I set up a furnace and started cooking the clay. While the bricks heated up, I worked on the roof's framework.
I decided to use brick stairs to give the house a proper look and break the monotony of wooden materials.
Placing the stairs was a bit tricky, especially when they randomly flipped upside down, but after some adjustments, the result was worth it.
Once the bricks were ready, I placed them strategically on the walls to break the uniformity of the wood and add a bit of character to my build.
Then, I built a stone fence around the house to clearly define my space and avoid getting ambushed by creatures at night. I also added a gate at the entrance.
Finally, I lit up the area with a few well-placed torches. The effect was immediate, the warm glow danced against the wooden and brick walls, giving my freshly built home a cozy atmosphere.
I stepped back to admire my work.
"Not bad… really not bad… now, I just need to finish the interior."
Inside, I placed a brick staircase in one corner to lead to the upper floor.
For the upper floor, I laid down wooden planks as flooring and created a brick circle in the center, just like on the ground floor.
This floor would be my bedroom, so I built a wall in front of the stairs and installed a door leading directly to my private space.
I placed my bed, a chest, and crafted a white wool carpet using the wool from the sheep I had hunted.
"Well, it's nothing too fancy, that's for sure… but hey, I'm not a carpenter, and I can't craft real furniture, so… for now, this will do."
Back on the ground floor, I made a wooden chair, well, more like a bench, but it would have to do.
Then, I built a table in one corner and placed a wall in the middle of the room, dividing the space into two.
On one side, I set up a storage area with chests, and on the other, a cobblestone workspace for my furnaces.
I also crafted some hoppers, placing them above and below the furnaces to automate them with chests.
That way, I could smelt multiple things at once without any hassle.
While crafting the furnaces, I remembered there were some different types of furnaces.
I crafted them, and put them in the space.
Sitting down for a few moments, I could only admire my work with satisfaction.
With a wide smile on my face, I closed my door and decided to enjoy my first meal in my new home.
Night was slowly falling, and this time, I was in a real house, ready to farm more, expand my territory, and ultimately… venture into another world.