Chapter 172 - Chapter 2: Construction in the Flatlands
Greenery is increasing in the fields of the Flatlands.
Now that spring has arrived and weeds have revived, we decided to release the goats we keep at the Ghost Mansion.
For now, only one will be released, so tying it to a wooden stake with a long rope should be fine.
The fortress, transported by Marcelo-san's magic, had become a pile of rubble in the Flatlands.
Since it couldn't be left as is, it was apparently broken apart with explosives, and then the Goblins reprocessed it into stone materials.
The sight of Goblins, each holding a chisel and a pick, swarming the remains of the fortress and transforming them into stone materials must have been quite impressive. The Goblins also seemed to have made good earnings, as civil engineering work had stopped during the winter.
With Wilson-san's support, transportation was quick, and before monster-hunting Jaegers entered the Flatlands, the materials were safely stacked as stone and transported to the Northern Pass and the Central Fortress.
The stones processed by the Goblins were instantly moved using Teleportation Circles set up by Marcelo-san.
Wilson-san floated stones one after another, and the Jaegers diligently applied mortar.
While hunting wild boars and foxes in the Flatlands, I was simply astonished to see buildings being constructed one after another.
Since we also obtained stone materials for our house, they went ahead and built us a two-story stone house with a basement. The first floor has a shop that also serves as a Marcelo Company counter, a kitchen, a dining room that doubles as a lounging area. Outside, there's a well, a rainwater cistern, a stone oven for baking bread, a smokehouse, a small chapel, and even a stone bath.
On the second floor, four bedrooms were created, along with sleeping spaces. All rooms, of course, have fireplaces.
Going up to the rooftop, there's a bell tower with a small room and a bell hanging. The rope hanging from the bell extends down to the basement. The basement contains an ice storage room, a regular warehouse, and a cage for the Teleportation Circle that connects directly to Marcelo Company.
A toilet and a livestock shed were built a short distance away. Applying sewage treatment technology, the toilet was designed to dig a hole and bury three jars, then cover waste with soil mixed with cut weeds to create compost, which took up a considerable area.
As a result, the residential area and livestock shed alone spread over half the area of the fields, but since it was enclosed by a stone wall, the livestock should be protected even at night.
The entire field was enclosed by a wooden fence. Bottles containing wolf urine were hung, so foxes and wild boars probably won't come.
After discussing it among ourselves, it was decided that once the furnishings were complete, Beatrix, I, Lyudmila, and Bonnie, along with Flora and Fiona, would take turns staying overnight in the hut. Mary will also come once a week.
One night, two days each.
Although there were anxieties, Lewis-san's order to "protect the Honorary Captain of the Jaegers" meant that two Jaegers would be stationed there on rotation.
However, I think they were more interested in the Teleportation gatekeeper and Angelica-san's bento than our security.
"It's amazing what can be done in three months, isn't it?"
Beatrix and I gazed at it together.
Currently, only the stone parts, apart from the Teleportation cage, have been completed, so it's hard to call it a habitable place.
However, we can gradually buy and arrange the furnishings.
Actually, this was a thank-you for the Jeanne's Beak developed by Marcelo Company.
"I never thought Jeanne's Beak would lead to this."
"Call it the Beak-go."
I still feel resistance to having my name attached to it.
"But they're doing all this just for transporting sea fish to the Royal Capital?"
"Yeah. Honestly, I was surprised."
Apparently, it was even considered for an award, but there was an opinion that it was inappropriate for Marcelo Company to always receive awards.
The substitute for the award was Wilson-san's help.
It seems Henry-sama put in a good word, and he might have come in his stead since he couldn't go far during winter.
"I apologize for having you come all this way."
After all the construction work was finished, I thanked Wilson-san, who was making his rounds.
"Don't worry about it. You've helped us in many ways. This is nothing."
He says 'nothing,' but the quality of the building is that of a large farm owner.
"Anyway, the order was to dispose of the fortress remains quickly. It must be kept secret, but it was a great help to have you all, who are on good terms with the Goblins and Jaegers."
"Are we helping a little?"
The brazen mage asked something.
"Ah, not just helping, but your stories are the talk of Henry-sama and His Majesty the King's circles!"
That makes me happy. It was good that I listened to various people's complaints during the banquets I was invited to several times.
"There's a word, 'reform,' isn't there? Sertoria is currently in a period of reform, and Marcelo Company has been the catalyst for most of it."
"Is that so?"
Beatrix and I exchanged glances.
I wasn't aware we had done anything so grand.
"Think about it. The establishment of the Paratroop Jaegers is due to Flight Magic. The development of field uniforms starting with Green Marble, attack methods using magic circles and holy water, the improvement of farmland using clover and niter production being tested in the Royal Capital area, and the realization of high-speed mass transport using the Beak-go. Aren't they all Marcelo Company's ideas?"
Come to think of it, that's true. After all, there are three advanced mages, they can draw magic circles, and use Teleport. On top of that, there are spirits and ghosts.
"Are we, perhaps, amazing?"
"Yes. I think so. This level of construction is cheap."
Hearing that, Beatrix immediately puffed out her chest.
"Then it's only natural for us to have it done, right?"
"Don't get carried away. Only this country would go this far. In other countries, it would be at most one gold coin."
He lightly flicked Beatrix's forehead with his fingertip and laughed.
Beatrix, who was hit, exaggerated her pain, but her face remained smirking.
"By the way, I hear you've learned new magic."
Lyudmila learned Clump Sand. With this, she's an intermediate mage.
For us, it's a long-awaited tilling magic.
Lyudmila, delighted to have learned it, tilled the fields daily, and as a result, all our available land has been cultivated. However, since the soil is poor, only clover and oats are planted.
"Did Jeanne learn elementary magic?"
That's right. I learned new magic, but it was an elementary magic called Resist. It's a magic that allows one to withstand environmental changes that would normally have a harmful effect on the body, such as extreme heat or cold, to some extent. It's convenient. Surely, the Goddess must have taken pity on me, seeing me freezing on a high mountain in the middle of winter.
Just to test it, after casting the magic, I held my hand over a fire, and I was fine even when I brought my hand close enough to normally get burned.
"Isn't it a decoy-attribute magic? If you're strong against physical attacks and resistant to heat and cold, you'd be fine even if a dragon bit you or breathed fire on you. As expected of the Dragon Killer-sama."
The mischievous mage was smirking.
You were with me when I defeated the dragon!
Anyway, with this, I have two types of physical resistance, heat and cold resistance, and since I have the stone Flora gave me, I also have poison resistance.
As someone who uses Light on the front lines daily, I'm grateful.
The number of times I can use it has increased, and I can also use amplification magic, so I should be able to contend with somewhat stronger opponents.
Everyone's magic control, including Mary's, has improved, so monster subjugation efficiency has also increased.
If Beatrix, I, and Bonnie are together, we can defeat three wild boars in one attack. We can also defeat bears by freezing their feet and using Amplified Holy.
As always, when Matilda participates, there's a final decisive battle, but since the number of monsters we can defeat at once has increased, we have more time for development.
On the other hand, when Beatrix isn't around, rat extermination still relies on Angelica-san. Rat extermination was surprisingly profound.
"Lyudmila. Are you going to increase the clover again this year?"
I called out to Lyudmila, who was sowing clover seeds in the test field.
She plans to make one field clover and another wheat.
This is to get pig feed and straw for the piglets the Class of 175 will raise in the summer.
Next year, she plans to flip them over and check the difference in wheat harvest between the tilled wasteland and the land where clover was cultivated.
"Yeah. It's still not enough. Let's increase it more, and when it's enough to release bees, let's release sheep. Probably next year."
As a result of discussions between Adolf-san and Wilson-san, Lyudmila's agricultural test field was placed next to our fields. She is now the chief, using four fields and three people.
Those three people are Jaegers. Since they also do farm work, when one is in the field, two are gatekeepers for the Teleport, and if anything happens, they are to pull the rope extending from the bell tower to the basement to ring the bell.
In short, farm work is a side job, but since the harvested produce is split with the Jaeger Unit, it's not a bad deal, apparently.
By the way, the previous test field is being effectively used as a clover nursery.
"Good work. Shall we eat our bento?"
When I called out, the bandits came, as if they had been waiting.
Of course, we ate the bento Angelica-san made.
"I never thought the Jaegers would be doing farm work."
When Beatrix asked, the reply was that self-sufficiency is a basic principle for Jaegers.
I haven't seen it, but there's apparently a field near the fortress.
"You're good. You even know how to make furrows."
Chief Lyudmila also seemed satisfied.
"What about at night?"
"Someone else is scheduled to come. This will be a reconnaissance base for the entire Flatlands, so we'll have someone keep watch from the third-floor bell tower."
"This will be the Jaeger Unit's base?"
"Only until development begins. When development starts, the Royal Guard will come. Then, a Royal Guard station will be built. Some of the Kingdom Army stationed in Nakanohara will also come. It's until then."
It's true that stone materials were obtained and the Northern Pass and Central Fortress have been considerably improved, but the crucial main road is not yet connected. The start of development might be earlier than expected, but it will still take about a year.
"So, development might start around this time next year?"
"That's right. And the Nakanohara Jaeger Unit is widely rumored to be disbanded."
"What will happen?"
"They'll probably be assigned to the Central Army's Light Infantry."
He said it nonchalantly.
It would be lonely if they went to the Royal Capital.
We fought together many times.
Angelica-san's votes would also decrease.
"Are you going to the Royal Capital? I'll be lonely."
"Oh, you'll be lonely, you say?"
"Because we fought monsters together so many times."
"You say such nice things. But rest assured. Only our affiliation will change; our posting will be here. However, we won't be dressed as bandits, but in Green Marble."
He was smirking.
I was teased again.
"But why would you be assigned to the Central Army? You'll be in the same place, right?"
"Because the Jaeger Unit doesn't officially exist. This is a development area, right? Settlers will also come. We can't call ourselves the Jaeger Unit to such people. So, we'll probably be assigned here as the Central Army."
What a hassle.
"What about the Paratroop Jaegers?"
"Same thing. The Central Army Nakanohara Light Infantry Corps is the official name, and what we do will be the same as before. We'll till fields, hunt, be self-sufficient, and hunt monsters."
"What about the Honorary Captain?"
That's right, I forgot.
I was invited as a guest to the inauguration ceremony on April 1st.
That's the day after tomorrow.
But if it's disbanded, then I'm relieved of my duties.
If it's just once, then that's fine.
"Same thing. Honorary Commander of the Central Army Nakanohara Light Infantry. Just a re-reading of the title. Please continue to serve, Honorary Captain Jeanne."
What do you mean, 'please continue'?
"Then I can brag about it, right? I mean, I was told not to talk about it until now."
"You can talk about it as much as you like. Maybe even make another puppet show script."
"Absolutely not!"
"We're not the ones making the script."
"Then don't say it!"
"We're not the ones saying it either."
I looked at Beatrix, who was smirking.
Damn it. She's definitely going to spread it.
"Don't tell Paul-san. It'll be terrible later."
"I won't. It'll spread on its own anyway. You inspect them every April, don't you?"
"Please continue to serve, Honorary Captain Jeanne."
I hit him with an Amplified Light.
"Oh, an amplified version! I can brag about this to everyone!"
He laughed and ran away.
Damn it. Lately, I feel like I'm being taken advantage of.
Even Lewis-san, with his eyes closed, is pretending to be blinded and rolling on the floor.
I need to think of a new punishment.
When I consulted them, they said it was fine as it was.
"Isn't it good because it's a promise?"
"The other party is happy too."
"They might be disappointed if you use other methods."
Bonnie, isn't 'disappointed' a strange word?
"It's become a good luck charm, hasn't it?"
"It's probably just the Nakanohara Jaegers spreading rumors casually."
"That's true, but soldiers from other regions all knew about it too. At this point, even if it started casually, it's become a big deal."
This is how bad rumors spread, I suppose.
"Oh? It's not a bad rumor. Isn't it an honor to say that if you're illuminated by Jeanne's Light, you'll return safely?"
"That's right. Everyone is anxious."
"If everyone feels safe when Jeanne illuminates them, then do it for them."
This is bad. It's three against one.
When did it become like this?
"You're a priestess, so you should relieve the soldiers' anxiety before battle!"
"I-I know that without you telling me!"
Good grief, why does it always turn out like this?