Having finished our first dungeon exploration without being troubled by the Zealots, we returned to Volton.
Among the copious amounts of drop items, we sold off the unneeded ones to the Adventurers Guild and the Papeck Company. From the treasure boxes, the jewels didn’t interest the girls all too much so we sold about half of them. There were massive amounts of gold coins too, so my fortune increased once again.
A short while after, on a day we planned to take slowly, a summons from Margrave Volton arrived.
「Sorry for calling you out today. Without delay, I have a concern I want to request of you, Iruma-dono. I wonder if you are aware that the southern side of my territory, all the way to Triaria Kingdom, is an undeveloped land uninhabited by people?」
「Yes. If I’m not mistaken, since it is a ruined region with many monsters, I hear that it is land ignored by that Triaria Kingdom.」
South of Valkyra Kingdom, West of Lomaria Kingdom, North of Triaria Kingdom, there is an undeveloped land surrounded by three countries. On the east side of the continent, from the south of Samandour Kingdom up to the east of Gnomstoll Kingdom, there are almost no undeveloped lands that don’t belong to any country, however, these savage lands enclosed by 3 countries is vacant.
「In the past, there was a time when Triaria Kingdom invaded to claim the territory, but they failed and the country went into decline. This was 600 years ago. Since then, Triaria had been taking its time recovering its national power. And so, while it’s not like I can’t ask others aside from Iruma-dono, may I ask you to pioneer a village in an area 100 km south of Volton?」
「…………Umm, didn’t I just hear from you, the Feudal Lord, that this is a land that no country wants to be involved with, though?」
When I said that, Margrave Volton laughed.
「I’ve heard the report regarding the outer walls of Bohd Village. Didn’t you create sturdy protective walls in no time? There is a location with a river and a spring 100 km straight south from Volton. I want you to start developing a community centered on those water holes.」
As for the monster threats, apparently they think that a sturdy protective wall can be made quickly if it’s me.
The undeveloped area surrounded by those three countries is said to be difficult for armed forces to directly march in. Margrave Volton said that it is a savage land where a few small scale monster nests have accumulated. Monsters sense human presences and gather towards it. It may be possible for a party of adventurers, but monsters would gather endlessly if an army was marching through.
In the past, with Triaria Kingdom’s attempt included, there had been no successful reclamation of this land. Because the monster encounter rate is high, many people are mobilized to build a base, which in turn invites more monsters in.
「Were they not able to put up a barrier?」
「Iruma-dono, there is no barrier magic user able to put up an extensive barrier. In the time needed to build protective walls, they were unable to withstand the attacks from monsters. Even so, at 150 km south of Volton, perhaps because there are still few monster nests in the area, the number of monsters inhabiting it are not much different from the outskirts of Volton.」
「Then why has it not been used?」
「Honestly speaking, it’s not worth the cost. That area is undeveloped so if soil is not maintained in good condition, agriculture is not possible. Furthermore, there is no path from Volton to it either.」
Hearing the detailed discussion, there’s more to this conversation.
As a matter of fact, Margrave Volton and Earl Rockford shelter the populace that failed in the reclamation and abandoned their villages within the Valkyra Kingdom. Left as they are, they will all fall into slavery, so they’re apparently considering the reclamation of undeveloped areas. They seem to be under the assumption that I might somehow be able to develop the area to one that can pay taxes within three years.
「The residents of the former pioneering villages are informed that they will be exempt from taxes for three years. However, they’ve already failed in creating a reclamation village once, therefore it is not possible to entrust it to them as it is. And so, this is where I would like Iruma-dono’s assistance.」
When I asked why the reclamation village failed, apparently it was that, as hard enough as it is to reclaim land, the heavy taxation of foolish nobles had caused it to shut down.
「In the place 100 km south of Volton, rather than call it a village, I would appreciate it if you to make a fort.」
Triaria Kingdom has a previous offense of going so far as to circumventing through the savage land surrounded by the three countries to invade Yggurle Kingdom, so Margrave Volton stated that there is significance in fortifying their defenses from the south of Valkyra to its west.
「If it’s 100 km on a Demon Horse, then information will reach Volton in 1 day.」
「Yeah, if they make a detour to Yggurle Kingdom, they would pass near the planned reclamation village. It has significance in surveillance too. Also, this is a national project, so a budget will be allotted by His Majesty. The migration and guarding of the pioneering people will be left to us.」
There’s no way I can decline if they’ve planned it this far.
「From this period until things go, to some extent, as planned, Iruma-dono, you are able to commute to and from your house in Volton with your carriage, no?」
It is indeed possible for the current Tsubaki.
As a matter of fact, after the fight with the Earth Dragon in the dungeon, Tsubaki had reached the max level and has since evolved. That evolved race is 【Dragon Horse】[1], and the intensity and gloss of her scales have improved and are more intense. Her attribute values have increased overall and she has acquired a dragon-like breath of fire.
「………… a frontline fortress?」
「Ouh, so you understand. Well, Triaria will not likely invade Valkyra, but our country has diplomatic relations, as well as trade with Yggurle. Even Triaria will be constrained when our country constructs the fort.」
I was told that when we enclose it in protective walls and complete the canals and water wells, the pioneering people will be transported.
「Ah, if possible, please make a sewage system and septic tanks too.」
「The scale of that village will be for how many people?」
「In the future, we would like 2000 soldiers to be stationed there.」
「Err, that’s not a village, that.」
If there’s 2000 soldiers, with the families of knights and reclamation people, it would be a legitimate town.
「It’s talk for the future. Please keep that in mind.」
「Haa, then please include road construction work into the budget.」
「Ooh! So you’ll also undertake the road construction. Alright, a budget will be issued by the Margrave Volton house as well. If all goes according to plan, we must also make a road to Lomaria Kingdom.」
From the planned land reclamation up to the frontier town of Lomaria Kingdom is apparently 300 km in a straight line. Once a highway connects Volton to the reclaimed land and then to Lomaria Kingdom, it would have large implications on the military and economy.
「We must have His Majesty make negotiations with Lomaria Kingdom.」
The discussion kept getting bigger and bigger.
Returning from Margrave Volton’s castle, I had the girls listen to today’s discussion.
「It would be work using Earth magic for Takumi-sama and Maria, then myself with Spirit Magic, wouldn’t it?」
「Yup. I think I’ll have Laeva, Kaede, and Titan be our guards.」
『Master, I too, can manipulate earth.』
It would seem that since Titan was originally a Stone Golem, he can modify and strengthen stone and earth.
「Is that true? Then work will go well.」
Although it would be a day trip, it would be better to have food provisions, so Sophia and Maria went shopping.
Laeva and I, after scouting the location of the unnecessary rocky mountains in the vicinity, had discussions on the blueprints of the town as we drew it.
***
Footnotes:
Sphy’s Note:
Thanks for reading! This was a scheduled update, so I can’t respond to comments immediately. Also, I’ll be out of town for the weekend, so next update might be delayed because I can’t work on it. See you all next time~
Still about Tsubaki. Nope. She did not turn into a centaur, sorry. XD