Hearing Valetta’s answer, Kazura looked towards the villagers, they already finished assembling the waterwheel.
As expected, since they had made the parts themselves, they could quickly assemble it.
「What? It’s true. Then, let’s take a break until the waterwheel get dry.」(Kazura)
「Yes, you’re right.」(Valetta)
Even if the new waterwheel had been assembled, the old waterwheel needed some time for it to get dry.
Since there was no need to install it in hurry, they decided to take a break for a moment.
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After the villagers – who had just finished assembling the new waterwheel – took a break for 30 minutes and drank the water from the river, they would detach the old waterwheel.
Kazura wanted to join in detaching the waterwheel, but the villagers replied,
「If it just detaching it, we can do it ourselves. Kazura-sama can take a rest.」(Villager)
Together with several villagers who weren’t participating and Valetta, Kazura watched the villagers performed the task without a problem.
Thanks to the scorching sun the waterwheel had become sufficiently dry, so they were able to safely remove the waterwheel from its bearing without their hands slipping.
They then dug up the bearing that was fixed to the ground, because of their physical strength the villagers were able to finish the task quickly, and they replaced it with a new bearing made from wood.
In the same way as the waterwheel from Japan, because the pumped water was constantly flowing through the bearing, they could completely cool the heat generated from friction.
「Well then, let’s install the new waterwheel.」(Villager)
The villagers who declined Kazura participation raised their voice as they lifted up the assembled waterwheel that had been laid down in the ground.
「Finally the waterwheel that we have put together will turn...... I’ll go and remove the board that blockade the waterway.」(Valetta)
「Thank you very much..... I wonder if it will turn properly....」 (Kazura)
While Kazura was anxious about the technicality, they had finished installing the waterwheel no. 2. After this they only needed to make the river water flow in the waterway.
When Valetta had confirmed that the waterwheel had been installed,
「I will now remove the board」(Valetta)
She declared to everyone and removed the wooden board that blocked the waterway from the river.
The flowing river water pushed the blade of the newly installed waterwheel no.2 and it slowly started to turn.
「Oh, it’s turning, it’s turning. The turning speed is irregular, though......」(Kazura)
The water wheel began to turn. Seeing this, the villagers clapped hands or bumped shoulders with each other to show their joy, meanwhile Kazura was checking the waterwheel from the side with serious expression.
Valetta returned to Kazura’s side with a board in her hand.
「Kazura-san, how is it?」(Valetta)
「Hmm..... Yes, I think this is fine.」(Kazura)
Hearing Kazura’s reply, Valetta showed a smile of relief on her face and gazed at the aqueduct that flowed from the turning waterwheel to Grisea village.
Compared to the old installed waterwheel, the amount of water that was pumped was only about half, however waterwheel no. 2 still properly sent river water to the village.
「Then, since we’ve finished replacing the waterwheel safely, let’s dismantle he old waterwheel now and then return to the village.」(Kazura)
「Kazura-sama, can’t we just take the old waterwheel back to the village just as it is?」(Villager)
Hearing Kazura’s words, one of the villagers that stood beside the detached waterwheel made a suggestion.
「Although it would be better if we transport it as is, but I think it would be too heavy to carry it to the village, right?」(Kazura)
Even though the separate waterwheel parts were not that heavy by themselves, as a complete set the weight was about 400 kg.
Though it would be possible for them to transport it somehow if they took turns in carrying it, since the waterwheel lacked places for good grip, it would be a difficult task.
「It will be alright, I think that we can carry it in turns, right guys?」(Villager)
「Yea! We can just carry it just as it is!」 (Villager)
As the villagers spoke that, 6 people were holding the waterwheel that was lying on the ground – 2 people in the front, 2 in the back, and 2 on the side. They then started to walk at a steady pace towards the village.
The two people on the side were only there to support the balance, so it ws only 4 people that were actually lifting the waterwheel up.
The remaining villagers were also walking behind the group carrying the waterwheel.