The voice belonged to a child, though it was hard to tell for sure beneath the large robe, mantle, and mask.

  "I heard about you from Marie. She said someone was making clay crafts and starting a shop here. There’s something I’d like you to make for me..."

  "I see. Well, as long as it's not anything too massive, I can probably manage it."

  "Then, I’d like a flowerpot, please. About this size."

  The child handed me a blueprint for a flowerpot about this big.. It was a full-scale sketch, with even the thickness drawn in detail.

  "Wow, this is well-drawn. A-anyway, come on in."

  I felt nervous, even though the customer was just a child. But it was only natural—this was the very first customer I’d ever invited inside.

  The entrance was structured like a wide earthen floor that led all the way to the kitchen in the back. I guided the guest to a chair I’d set out, when—

  "Waaaah!?" A scream rang out.

  There, in the corner, was the Haniwa. He had let out a shriek at the sight of her. I suppose it’s only natural to be startled the first time you see a Haniwa.

  "I-it's okay, it's okay! Don't worry. She’s harmless."

  Flustered by the embarrassment of having my first creation seen, I stammered.

  "I’ve never seen such an eerie-looking golem before."

  "No, she’s not a golem... she’s a Haniwa. Right now, she’s basically just a decoration."

  "A Haniwa? A decoration? ...Aren't you scared of it?" "Nope. Anyway, she’s perfectly safe, so don't worry."

  I patted the top of the Haniwa’s head. No response. She was still asleep. She’d mentioned being forced into a sleep state, and I was glad the screaming hadn't woken her up.

  "I see... Well, anyway, please just give it a try! How long will it take?"

  "Is it that much of an emergency?"

  "Yes... actually, I broke my grandfather’s bonsai pot..."

  "Ah, the classic trope for a boy in a national anime."

  "...Huh?" "No, never mind."

  "Anyway, I’ll help you, so please make it quickly! The neighborhood association meeting only lasts until 9 PM tonight! If I don't finish it by then, I'm definitely busted!"

  With that, the little customer pulled back his hood.

  "..."

  The face that appeared... was made of bricks.

  "So you're... a Golem."

  "Yes. A Mini-Golem. I’m small, but I can handle heavy labor. Though I don't have much stamina."

  "In that case, I’ll knead and fire the clay... can you go gather some firewood for me?"

  To be honest, the only thing I’d ever fired before was in a home oven.

  I’d seen this done before.

  Hopefully.

  "Yes, sir!"

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  The Golem boy dashed outside with great energy. No matter the species, 'kid-power' is the same everywhere.

  "Alright, I've got to make this fast." I couldn't let him outshine me. I mixed the remaining clay and kneaded it all at once.

  "A mix that won't crack... right."

  I’ve always been good at this. For some reason, it just works out through the feeling in my hands alone. Since I didn't have a pottery wheel, I shaped it by hand. If he likes bonsai, I’m sure he’ll appreciate this.

  ***

  A few minutes later, I lined up the finished pots on a wooden board. Before I knew it, I’d made six of them. Well, they might crack during firing, so more is better.

  "I'm back!" The Golem boy returned, cradling a mountain of lumber.

  "Welcome back. Alright, let's try firing them outside."

  I carried the pots out on the board.

  I remembered a late-night documentary.

  I stacked the wood the way I remembered.

  Airflow first. Heat second.

  That’s what the guy on TV had said. I think.

  "First, we dig a hole. Just big enough to line up the pots in a circle."

  "Are you sure this will work?"

  He shifted from foot to foot.

  "The meeting ends at nine..."

  My hands felt heavier than usual.

  It was just a flowerpot.

  But it was my first job.

  Besides—

  this wasn’t my old world anymore.

  If I was going to build something here,

  I couldn’t afford to hesitate.

  "On it!"

  He began digging with the intensity of an excavator.

  In an instant, a hole about 20 centimeters deep and 2 meters in diameter was complete.

  "As expected of a Golem... Now, fill it with the firewood."

  I laid out the wood so the heat would be even, then arranged the vessels with spaces between them.

  "Eh, you already made six of them?"

  "Well, yeah. Since it was an emergency, and the shape is simple, I can make them pretty quickly. I couldn't be too picky about the details, though."

  "I only needed one..."

  "They might crack when fired, so just in case. Besides, six pots are easier to arrange."

  "You really are a pro!"

  The Golem boy's eyes sparkled.

  "You bet."

  I answered proudly. Without mentioning that today was my first time, I began covering them with brushwood just like I’d seen on TV.

  That was when I noticed. "...Hm!?" I froze.

  The flames hadn’t even wrapped around the pots yet.

  And yet—

  The clay was already hardened.

  I picked one up. It was warm. Solid. Finished.

  "...What?"

  "Wait, are these already finished?"

  I picked up a vessel and held it up to the light.

  It was definitely fired.

  "How is this possible?"

  All the other pots were beautifully fired as well.

  "Could this be... my cheat skill?"

  "This is... an Other-Worlder's cheat skill...!"

  The Golem boy whispered, sounding deeply moved.

  "Thank goodness! I have to go swap it with the broken one right away! Here is the payment!"

  Ten thousand Gel.

  The first money I had earned in this world.

  Custom orders are expensive, but maybe this was normal for a first job.

  "Since you helped me... I’ll give you a discount!"

  I imitated Marie, trying to create a sense of getting a good deal.

  "Thank you so much! I'll come again!"

  The Golem boy replied happily and prepared to leave.

  "Wait a sec, what's your name? I'm Kutani."

  "I'm... Igora Golem."

  "That's a nice name. Good to know you, Igora."

  "Yes! I look forward to working with you!"

  Igora cradled the finished pot carefully and headed down the hill.

  ***

  "...Who was that?" When I returned inside, a grumpy-looking Lurdona, fresh from her nap, muttered.

  She questioned me while glaring with judging eyes.

  "Uh, good morning?"

  "Morning. ...But it's useless to try and hide it. I saw everything from the window."

  She crossed her arms and looked away sharply.

  "Even though you have a Haniwa like me... falling for a hunk of bricks like that. You cheater."

  Since you’re both made of earth, I wish you’d just get along.

  She puffed her cheeks.