Chapter 42
(Kyle Calendar
Year 504: Age 11)
Operation at
the Teigun Settlement ③
Translator : PolterGlast
【⚔History of the Solis
Barony⚔ The Land of Hope】
Kyle Calendar Year
510, Teigun, the mountain of death, revives.
The bounty of the
earth, sleeping in the northwestern foothills, was awakened by a traveler.
The red steel stone,
covering the cliffs, brings great fortune.
The land of Estol,
shrouded in the mist of death and on the brink of ruin, rises again through
this blessing.
In the land of Teigun,
life is breathed back into it, and the people welcome it with cheers.
***
It was the second day
of our visit to Teigun. Today, everyone was inspecting various locations
according to their respective tasks.
"Even so, the
budget required is enormous. What are your thoughts on this?"
Remaining in the newly
constructed government building, which looked like a slightly large house from
the outside, were just the three of us: me, Raymond-san, and Anne.
Miseri-san, Sara,
Elan, Mary, and Sasha were confirming the spring water source and investigating
other potential water sources and wells.
Claire and Carleen
were surveying the planned town construction site.
Christoph and Clan
were surveying the planned checkpoint installation sites.
Rosa and Mia were
investigating plants, especially medicinal herbs.
"Frankly,
although I had somewhat expected it, I am also a little troubled. There is a
limit to how much development funds we can get from the baronial
family..."
Yes, even though the
Solis barony was not poor, expenses were high due to the strengthening of
military forces, the recruitment and preferential treatment of new citizens,
the maintenance of the mercenary corps, the cultivation of new farmland, and
the disproportionately large number of mages we employed.
An ordinary baronial
family would have gone bankrupt long ago at this level of expenditure.
"We need to think
about new revenue sources, and on a considerable scale."
Despite the serious
topic, Raymond-san was as calm as ever.
Raymond-san, you're
laughing for some reason even though I'm talking so seriously.
"Yes, I imagine
it's not a very easy matter."
"You must be
plotting something again, aren't you? Please tell us quickly," Although he
didn't say this aloud, his expression clearly showed that he thought so.
"It's best to get
money from where it is, to procure it from someone who has it in amounts
incomparable to Father."
When I muttered that
to myself with a laugh, he laughed back.
I couldn't tell
myself, but my face must have looked like that of a villain plotting something
again.
"Your usual
deep-seated plans, I have high expectations!"
Ah, there was someone
else here with an even more villainous face.
So, that's what they
thought.
For the time being, I
scratched my head and tried to play it off, imitating the words of a fictional
military strategist whom I personally revered alongside Zhuge Kongming.
After dinner that day,
everyone gathered again to report and share the results of their respective
surveys and inspections.
First, it seemed that
the preliminary survey (by Miseri) had allowed the inspection to proceed more
smoothly than expected.
First, Elan (earth
mage) reported.
"Constructing
sewage facilities is possible if we have multiple earth mages. For the time
being, I think we can implement wastewater treatment for a scale of 2,000
people within a few months, but constructing sewage for 10,000 people will take
a considerable amount of time."
Next, Sasha (water
mage) reported.
"We seem to have
found potential well sites. I've discovered several candidates.
However, I think we
need to change the planned location of the town in relation to the position of
the underground water veins.
Constructing
reservoirs is possible, but I think it would be preferable to surround the town
with a moat and use that as a reservoir."
Christoph (wind mage)
reported on defense.
"I think we need
to consider the construction of the key defensive checkpoints from two
perspectives: against people and against monsters. The narrow passes at both
ends are very suitable for checkpoint construction."
Today, we had a broad
overview and roughly determined certain things, so tomorrow we would go into
more detail, conduct inspections and test excavations, and confirm everything.
Miseri-san was wide-eyed
and astonished at this progress in just one day.
Here, there was a
skilled earth mage (Sara), and two earth mages who had gained experience in
flood response and endured the training of Commander Weiss (the ogre).
And there was also a
water mage (Sasha) who had received the same training, and individuals who had
studied urban planning, civil engineering, and domestic affairs, receiving a
minimum level of specialized education.
Each of them had their
own [solution] to the challenges and possessed the ability to implement it.
"Am I... even
necessary?"
Losing confidence,
such words even escaped her lips.
"It's because
there was accurate preliminary research and problem identification."
Claire spoke before I
could follow up.
This team was
reliable. I grew more confident in that.
※
The next day, each
person in charge continued their investigations from the morning.
"Okay, today,
thoroughly identify yesterday's challenges and solutions. So we can create a
plan as soon as we return."
"Yes, sir!"
Everyone replied
energetically and dispersed to their respective tasks.
During that time,
Raymond-san and I visited the settlers in the settlement and promised to
improve their future convenience and secure employment.
※
The day after that,
everyone passed through the corridor on the Demon Realm side and rode on
horseback to the edge of the Demon Realm.
It was the first time
I had come this far, including in the [previous history].
Before my eyes spread
a bamboo forest, now a distant memory, but once a familiar sight.
【Those who proceed through the bamboo forest, do not
forget the taboos of the Demon Realm】
This was an unwritten
rule that those living on the edge of the Demon Realm and those entering it
must never violate.
Those who did not
abide by it would be given the first and last opportunity to learn the taboos,
with their own lives as a sacrifice.
Even if they did not
wish it...
I vividly felt an
invisible wall that never allowed the intrusion of those with incomplete
knowledge, preparation, or ability.
"This is...
beyond here is the Demon Realm, isn't it?"
"It feels
incredibly scary."
"I feel an
overwhelming presence, something like that."
Claire, Sasha, and
Elan finally managed to voice their respective feelings.
"To live in
Teigun, you need to know this, that's why everyone came here today.
Town planning to
protect the citizens from the monsters that overflow from here, I want you to
consider this as the top priority."
We performed a rite of
passage to live in Teigun.
Soon after, we joined
up with my brother and Commander Weiss's group, who had been conducting
exercises on the edge of the Demon Realm, and began our return journey.
In contrast to the
experienced mercenaries, my brother's Iron Cavalry Corps was exhausted, and
some were mentally quite drained.
My brother, however,
was in excellent spirits.
On the return journey
to Teigun, while proceeding through the narrow path called the Corridor,
Christoph and Clan each stated their thoughts on the checkpoint installation
locations and defense methods, asking Commander Weiss for his opinion.
"Installing a
checkpoint at this narrowest point is a foolish move."
"What do you
think of this proposal, Takuhir-sama?"
Commander... please
don't suddenly pass the baton to me.
"Um..."
Seriously, everyone on
horseback is looking at me... I don't like this...
"I think it would
be easy to install a checkpoint here. However, the path is narrow, and the
checkpoint would inevitably be small. It would be fine if the number of enemies
were the same, but...
If possible, I think
it would be better to install the checkpoint closer to the flat area, where the
narrow path suddenly widens, and if we could simultaneously target the enemies
as they emerge from the narrow path, we could always face them with an
overwhelming majority."
I continued, feeling a
little relieved as I saw the Commander nodding at my opinion.
"And... if
possible, it would be ideal if we could set up some traps along the way in the
narrow path to divide the enemy, block their retreat, and attack them while
they are trapped in the narrow path."
"That's correct.
I agree."
The Commander (the
ogre) smiled pleasantly.
After stopping by the
Teigun settlement once, the group began their return journey to the town of Est
via the town of Fran.
The mages each carried
their homework...
※
Soon after departing,
while proceeding through the narrow path towards the town of Fran, I requested
a short break.
"A short break
this early?"
"There was some
terrain that caught my attention, and I'd like to take a look."
Leaving the overall
command to a dubious-looking Weiss-san, my brother, Raymond-san, three earth
mages, Anne, and the guards and I proceeded deeper into a rocky valley off the
main road.
About fifteen minutes
after passing the peak of Mount Teigun on our right, it suddenly spread out
before us.
Cliffs stained with
reddish-brown mottled patterns, a completely different scene from what we had
seen so far, appeared on both sides.
"This is it!"
While shouting in my
heart, I started running.
The reddish-brown
striped cliffs stretched far into the distance.
Yes, the banded iron
formation I had been searching for!
In the [previous
history], it would be discovered six years from now, an iron ore deposit with a
high level of both reserves and quality, suitable for open-pit mining.
It was the Teigun
mine, with iron ore deposits said to be among the best in the Kyle Kingdom,
which became one of the factors that economically saved the Estol territory
after the plague spread and caused many deaths.
"I see, so you
plan to utilize the surrounding mines to build the town... is that it...?"
Raymond-san laughed
loudly, as if a mystery had been solved.
"The rest is
politics. First, please lend us your strength in persuading Father!"
"Understood."
Raymond-san gave me a
respectful bow with his best smile.
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