Someday Will I Be The Greatest Alchemist?

Northern Development 2

First thing in the morning, I teleported Maria to the Sanctuary, and once I made the round trip back, I quickly tidied up the campsite and resumed the road construction.

As I was working silently, Sophia and Marnie were directly beside me, guarding me. The knights dispatched from Valkyra Kingdom guarded me and subjugated the monsters in the vicinity of the road. The knights from Yggurle Kingdom were apparently subjugating monsters on their side too.
They said that after the city is complete, the safety of the roads, with its increased traffic, is ensured.

With so many watchful eyes, also known as the escorting knights, it was impossible to play hooky, so I had build the road in earnest.

「Takumi-sama, it might be over there.」
「We’re finally there?」
「One more burst.」

After a few days of constructing the road, the workers from Yggurle Kingdom who were working on the waterways of the planned construction site of the city came into view.

「Are they making those into water moats?」
「I wonder. I think an empty moat would be enough though.」
「It looks like they are using criminal slaves.」

Marnie noticed that the workers weren’t only Elves.

「The ones constructing the buildings were obviously the Elves, but criminal slaves are often used for hard labor like that.」
「Do they not want to use Earth magic and Alchemy that much?」
「The craftsmen are commoner elves, so I don’t believe they’re too fixated about it, but the elf supervising them doesn’t look too pleased.」

As always, the noble elves do not approve of the use of Earth Magic for public works. The craftsmen such as carpenters were obviously commoners, so they aren’t as negative as the nobles about the usage of magic outside of battles, but……

「If it were a blacksmith, there would have been no problem if they worked in the confines of a workshop, but a carpenter would be visible no matter what.」
「That’s really not convincing. Aren’t building field camps very tactical?」
「I apologize, Takumi-sama. To Elves, magic is something to directly damage monsters in subjugations and fight in wars. For that reason, Earth magic, which had the strong image of defense, was not popular.」
「Popularity……」

I thought it was more fun to create things using alchemy and Earth magic.

As I talked about this with Sophia, the knights of Yggurle Kingdom at the front and the civil official supervising the construction of the city had approached.
The knights escorting us will also stand at the front and support it.
After exchanging formal greetings, the elven official who carried the blueprint of the town approached us.

「You must be Iruma-dono. I am Baron Holt of Yggurle Kingdom, I oversee the construction of this city.」
「I am Takumi Iruma. Please treat me well for the next few days.」

The civil official of Yggurle Kingdom who called himself Holt looked dubious when I sad a few days but nodded, perhaps because he had learned about how long it took to complete Wedgefort.

「Then I have a request to make of you, Iruma-dono.」
「A request?」

I tilted my head when he said request.
Regarding this project, the allotment of work had been decided between Valkyra Kingdom and Yggurle Kingdom. Even if they do ask me something, I’m not sure there’s anything I can do.

「Yes. Regarding the plan, it is likely commonplace to build the buildings inside the city after erecting its protective walls, however, if it could be done, may I ask you to prepare the soil beforehand?」
「Umm, I don’t mind, but…… Will that be alright?」

This was not a safe region, it is the Savage Lands dotted with monster nests. That is why work inside the city is normally done after the city is surrounded by protective walls.

「That will not be a problem. Our Chivalric Order will handle the monsters.」
「Well, it will be a difference between doing it before or doing it after, so, if you say so.」
「Oh! You have my gratitude, Iruma-dono. Now we can start building the city.」

According to Holt, Yggurle Kingdom were transporting stone, lumber, and other building materials, so they would like to bring it in after the soil is prepared. Now that the construction of the city would progress even further, he shook my hand in gratitude.

「The demarcation has markings on the ground. Please prepare the soil inside it.」
「Understood.」

For a noble of Yggurle Kingdom, he acted courteously even to me, a commoner.
I went to the designated area, refined a large amount of magic power, imagined solid ground, and invoked Earth magic.

Gogogogoーー!!

Just when I thought that I heard the earth rumble, the ground swelled, and before long, flat land without any unevenness stretched as far as the eye could see.

「Takumi-sama, a mana potion.」
「Thanks. As expected, it was reckless to do it in one go.」

I drank the mana potion that Sophia handed to me as we moved to the remaining land that needed to be prepared.

「W-wh, what!? Did you finish more than half of it in one attempt!? Shouldn’t we Elves being using Earth magic more effectively!? No, impossible. My superior would judge me if I said such things.」

Holt-san was mumbling stuff in surprise, but I continued to do my job.

After I took a break and swiftly completed the soil preparation, Holt-san had revived and began giving instructions to carry the materials in or dividing the city districts.

「Now then, should I make today’s campgrounds?」
「That would be good. The sun will set soon.」

I made the campgrounds for Valkyra Kingdom’s knights, then I quickly build the one for our use. And so, today’s work was done.