Chapter 235 – New District of Termwills

“Alright. Shall we begin then?”

Leaving through the Eastern District gate early in the morning, I headed to the construction site. Rotating my arms lightly and cracking my neck, it was time to start work.

First, the outer wall. Next, the underground sewer system, then the main street. The hot spring facilities would come after ensuring safety at the construction site and completing the infrastructure. Once those aspects were taken care of, the construction of the new district should progress rapidly.

The work began from one section of the outer wall. First, I would turn the parts corresponding to the outer moat into Golems, then use those Golems as material for the outer wall. Using Petrification Magic to turn them into stone, I repeated the process of stacking, hardening, and reinforcing, matching the height as I extended the outer wall.

I could keenly feel the gazes from Merchants and others lining up in front of the gate trying to enter Termwills… but I shouldn’t pay too much attention to it.

Well, what can I say. While the outer wall is a massive structure compared to something like the theater, its structure is ultimately simple. It’s just a matter of creating guard posts for soldiers and watchtowers at regular intervals, plus making pathways for movement along the top.

The structure in this area is… well, just improving the precision based on the existing outer wall. What requires the most care is the exterior. Removing any handholds to prevent climbing. Filling the gaps between stones so tightly that not even a sheet of paper could slip through.

Caduceus, transformed into a bird, was flying around overhead. This was to verify from a bird’s-eye view whether the outer wall was being constructed according to the scaled model.

“This should make climbing difficult.”

Sheila said while touching the surface of the sheer vertical wall. Attacks by foreign tribes or bandits are virtually nonexistent within Verdgar’s central territory. If asked what the outer wall is preparing against, it would primarily be a defense against Monsters.

“What about you, Irm? How is it?”

I asked Irmhild, who was on the upper pathway of the outer wall. Irmhild had been testing the pathway’s usability – drawing a Bow from behind cover, making motions as if shooting an arrow, then hiding again – but eventually nodded.

“Hmm. I think it’s good. I thought the cover walls might be a bit high, but probably most soldiers are taller than me, so this height should be fine.”

I see. Then let’s proceed like this.

The hot spring town that will become the new district isn’t particularly large in scale. So the extension distance for the outer wall isn’t that significant either… well, probably finished before noon. Once this is done, next is the underground sewer system. This time, by using the excavated material from that sewer to pave stone roads, the main street will be essentially complete.

“This is… astonishing. I never imagined you’d already extended the outer wall this much. And this smoothness of the wall…”

While I was progressing with the work, around noon, it was Chancellor Howard who arrived. According to what King Melvin told me, Howard loves hot springs and is apparently incredibly excited about the new district.

“Well, the material is just the earth and sand from the outer moat. Since digging the moat and procuring materials for the outer wall happen simultaneously, it’s progressing reasonably well.”

“Is that so, is that so.”

Howard had a beaming expression. I heard he usually refrains from direct contact with me as one of King Melvin’s direct vassals… but his love for hot springs seems genuine.

According to King Melvin – after the theater’s Great Success, there was talk that if I built a public bathhouse, good attendance could be expected, so starting with the hot spring-loving chancellor, the senior officials are quite enthusiastic. Apparently, that discussion even developed to the point of adding one more district to Termwills, albeit small-scale.

In essence, since people will likely gather, Verdgar is putting serious effort into properly developing the area. That’s why even while I’m building like this, materials are being rapidly transported in at an accelerated pace.

Currently, an area around the ritual site is generating a Barrier similar to that of a Temple, thanks to the power of Spirits and the Moon Goddess. Once the outer wall extension is complete, the hot spring town should become quite secure in terms of security. The ritual site is a facility where Shrine Maidens are stationed at the Tephra Shrine. It was originally planned to be walled off from a crime prevention perspective anyway.

The main street running through the center of the hot spring town. Public bathhouses in the central area of the hot spring town. A plaza with a fountain. Accommodation facilities and a Market arranged. The Tephra Shrine located slightly away from the center. Further out, therapeutic bath facilities. A stay facility doubling as a clinic, allowing those coming for the therapeutic baths to rest quietly and recuperate.

Following these construction plans, after enclosing with the outer wall, the next step is to lay sewer pipes throughout the new district. Digging, hardening, and finally making it flow into Termwills’ sewer system.

“My, the famously rumored Otherworld Ambassador’s Magic Construction… I’ve truly enjoyed witnessing it.”

The chancellor watched my outer wall construction for a while, but eventually seemed satisfied, nodding with a cheerful demeanor.

“I’m afraid I cannot attend to you properly.”

“No, no. If I were to barge in uninvited and furthermore disturb the Otherworld Ambassador, I would receive His Majesty’s scolding. I’ll be cheering for the completion of the hot spring town from the shadows.”

Saying that, the chancellor left with his escort soldiers. The outer wall was completed not long after that. Now, all that remained was to create a passage in the original outer wall separating the hot spring town and Termwills’ town.

“Theo, lunch is ready.”

“Understood. I’ll be right there.”

Grace, who had been preparing lunch at the ritual site, came to call me.

Hmm… Finished before noon, as expected. At this rate, I should be able to start working on the sewer system and main street too.

After having lunch at the ritual site, we decided to gather at the gazebo for a short break and have tea together. Alfred and the others from the workshop also showed up at the ritual site.

“Theodore. I have something to discuss.”

While relaxing with a teacup, Claudia spoke.

“Hmm, what is it?”

“I want to visit Mt. Tephra once. Just as this place became an enclave of Mt. Tephra, if I make a contract with Tephra over there, by making a part of the mountain a pseudo-section of the Labyrinth, I can connect it here and enable transportation via teleportation.”

…Hmm. In that case, we could protect the people of the Zilbolt Marquis household and the Marquisate’s residents in an emergency. Unless we create stone monuments, only Claudia should be capable of teleportation between two points.

“But that would depend on whether Marquis Zilbolt agrees, right?”

Having a direct route from a foreign country within one’s territory… in the current situation, it would be reassuring as insurance, but for a lord, it means taking on risk.

“That would require making a contract with Marquis Zilbolt as well. How about entrusting the decision to seal and open the direct route to the Marquis?”

I see. Once the current situation calms down and the need is over, it can basically be sealed. They would hold the key, and only Claudia would have the means for transportation. Create an emergency passage, but once its purpose is served, neither side can use it. As for communication methods, we have Tephra even if we can’t provide Communication Devices.

“Would it not hinder my movement?”

“Tephra is just moving between her own mountain and the enclave. We’re creating a new path in the portion borrowed from Tephra, so it won’t interfere.”

“Then I have no objection.”

Tephra nodded as if relieved, then smiled and nibbled on the cookies Grace had baked. Somehow… Tephra seems to have taken a liking to the ritual site and is fitting in strangely well. The sight of Seraphina and Rosemary’s Familiar Ambrum relaxing together in the gazebo is quite an unusual combination.

“Speaking of the Marquisate of Zilbolt, it’s near the Marquisate of Fobrester, isn’t it? Across the sea, so to speak.”

Ashley said while tilting her head in recollection.

Come to think of it, there was that verbal promise too… about going to Marquis Fobrester’s place to train his Knight Order.

“…Should we accompany Marquis Zilbolt when he returns? Making it a form where we also visit Marquis Fobrester.”

If it’s for escorting Claudia and Tephra, well, that should be within the scope of my duties as Otherworld Ambassador.

“Then I’ll inform Ophelia. Since the envoy hasn’t been decided yet, there should be time to send a letter to Marquis Fobrester at least.”

Alfred said.

“An envoy, huh. The selection does seem difficult.”

There might be Demons involved, and half the purpose is going to complain to their Crown Prince, after all. The selection would have to be careful.

“Her Highness Stephania says she wants to go as the envoy herself… but it seems her father is trying to persuade her not to.”

“Stephania disliked Crown Prince Zadias. And since it seems there are people in Silvatoria she owes favors to, just watching with her hands tied must be frustrating for her.”

Rosemary analyzed Princess Stephania’s feelings like that.

The First Princess, Princess Stephania. She holds territory in the north and should be familiar with Silvatoria too. Indeed… given that it will be difficult negotiations, Princess Stephania might be the right person for the job. Still, King Melvin will likely show reluctance.

I don’t know how the persuasion will turn out, but if that happens, the selection of escorts will become important too.

Hmm… Once the maintenance is finished, should I make an appearance at the Royal Castle? Tephra will also accompany us to testify to Marquis Zilbolt’s innocence, and it’s already becoming an incident involving those Demons.