(ED: The clasps are fastening hooks that you can use together with a rope of sorts to attach things together. http://f.tqn.com/y/jewelry/1/S/S/6/spring_ring_clasp.jpg)
(TL: Remember that Kazura and others didn't familiar with building machinery like a waterwheel.)
In any case, the aqueduct had been finished, so the waterwheel also had to be finished soon.
「Sorry, the waterwheel’s assembling hasn’t been finished. But it will get finished soon, so can you dig a hole here for the waterwheel support pillar? Also, please install the wood aqueduct that will send the water to the aqueduct.」
「Yes, I understand. Everyone, even if the work is difficult, do your best in assembling the waterwheel. If this is finished then our village won’t need to be troubled by the water shortage anymore.」
The village chief addressed the villagers who were taking break.
「All right! Let’s do it!」
The villagers were shouting loud and start to resume assembling the waterwheel.
Kazura gave the tape measure to village chief so he could measure the depth of the hole. Then, together with Valetta, he started to assemble the waterwheel.
✦✧✦✧
「Good, it’s finished!」
「The installation of the support pillars for the waterwheel is also finished. Then we just need to insert this metal support in here and here, right?」
「Yes, and while you insert it, please treadled it numerous times to harden it, tightly fixed it in place, please.」
20 minutes had passed since the work resumed.
The work is almost finished; the only step left is to install the waterwheel.
Kazura instructed the village chief to prepare the support pillar, so that it will be firmly fixed, the base need to be treadled many times.
「Good. Now, shall we finally connect the waterwheel to its support? Everyone, please help lift the waterwheel.」
Hearing Kazura calls, the villagers that had come to watch simultaneously gathered to help lifting the waterwheel.
Because the waterwheel size was smaller than the number of attending villagers, most of the villagers could not help to lift the waterwheel since there were no room for them. Still, they try to help by cheering with their voice.
「Please place the waterwheel axle at the indentation in the support pillars. The axle must not be too loaded, so put down both of them slowly.」
The axle was made from metal so it can’t easily bend even if loaded too much. Still, it is better to be careful when placing the bearing.
The bearing is made from metal, so there is no need to worry about it wearing out.
(TL: I still don't understand why Kazura worried about the bearing if it not easily wear out...)
「Well then, after installing the wood aqueduct that will receive the water, connect the channel to the river. Valin-san, can I ask you to do that?」
「Yes.」
Hearing Kazura instruction, the village chief gathered the villagers to install the aqueduct that will receive the water. Then, they dug connection between the channel with the river upstream and downstream with the shovels.
Because there are height difference between the downstream and the upstream, water from the river didn’t enter the channel from there.
There is a need to ensure that the channel had some water depth, so there is a sill made of wood with the depth about 30 cm near the downstream.
Also, to not prevent erosion on the channel’s wall, it had been reinforced using wooden boards.
「Don’t connect the channel and the river yet... Hey, everyone! Gather, please! We will start operating the waterwheel!」
Hearing the village chief calls, the villagers who were resting at the riverside and the children who were playing in the distance, started to gather.
When the village chief confirmed that everyone had gathered, the dirt that separate the channel with the river was removed with shovel.
With the barrier removed, the water from river start to enter the channel at once.
Then, the waterwheel tympanums were pushed by the flowing water and the waterwheel began to turn little by little.
「Ah! It began to turn...... Amazing! To raise the water that high!」
Exclaimed Valleta who were standing beside Kazura when she see the bucket that attached to waterwheel tympanum bring water from river and put it at the higher wood aqueduct one after another.
The surroundings villagers also were shouting with joy and start chasing the flowing water at the wood aqueduct.
「Kazura-san, we also will run after it!」
[Wh...? Run? Running to the village from here? How far is it?... Wa... wait a moment! Don’t pull! Are you serious!?]
Kazura’s hand is forcefully dragged by Valetta. While seeing the back of the villagers who chasing after the water, the village chief was grumbling,
「Hey hey! They didn’t tidy the tools.」
Opposite to what he said, he was smiling with joy. While shaking his head, he put the shovels and hammers inside the pullcart.