Twilight Alchemist 38

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38. Since We've Gone Through The Trouble, It's Time To Shock Them To The Core, Isn't It?

The newly established Golden Dawn Village was located on the banks of a great river, carefully chosen by Leafan.

The area surrounding the battleground with the dragon was intended to be turned into a granary zone.

It seems there's a reason to convert rocky terrain into farmland. If Leafan decided it, I should trust her judgment. 

I'll ask about the reasons later.

Wheat fields are being cultivated, with plans to intersperse shelters throughout.

In thick stone huts stocked with several days' worth of provisions, one could hunker down even against a dragon.

Since the village is about an hour away, adventurers would come flying if anything abnormal happened.

"Well, Akindo, we're saved."

"Oh, no problem at all. I'm  thrilled to be engaged in such a major trade again."

Akindo, one of the merchants who had been visiting the village since the beginning, led a caravan of hundreds.

Compared to other merchants, he was exceptional, not swayed by immediate profits but possessing a long-term vision.

What he brought were large quantities of volcanic ash and lime.

"But what do you need such things for? If I can get paid for it, I'm a lowly merchant who would even put my soul on the scales, so I'll deal with you sincerely."

"Oh, it's nothing particularly unusual. They're needed to produce special stone materials."

"With volcanic ash and lime... stone materials?"

"Yeah, along with alchemy-made potions, some fine gravel, mix them with water, and it turns into a thick liquid. When it solidifies, it becomes as hard as seamless rock."

"That's incredible! But even if it's hard and seamless, how strong is it really? It can't compare to actual stone, can it?"

"No, it's actually comparable to rock. Look, we made a shelter for testing over there. Feel free to try it out with whatever you like."

"Is that okay?"

"It's made for strength testing, so it's been hammered away for a while now."

"I see."

Upon Akindo's request, guards attacked the shelter with weapons and magic.

"This... is sturdier than I imagined."

"Right? But the downside is we need a ton of volcanic ash and lime."

"Nevertheless, you still need more? What exactly are you making?"

"The world's largest fortress city."

"...Oh."

"Not surprised?"

"Well, it's a bit late for that. So, can I continue to entrust you with our transactions in the future?"

"Yeah. But in return, until it's finished, keep this under wraps as much as possible. Gather what you need before the prices skyrocket."

"Of course. And after the city gets completed?"

"Oh, I'll have to consult with Professor Javil, but I plan to disclose it along with the potion recipe. Though it might get halted by the Earl at the border."

"Likely, yes."

"In that case, won't Akindo benefit greatly?"

"Oh no, not at all. If this method spreads to ordinary households, then as someone who has secured the materials in advance, I'll be in high spirits, but it's just a small part of the future consumption of the nobility."

"Then that's fine. Anyway, we need a lot of it. I'm counting on you."

"Leave it to me. After all, volcanic ash is an endless nuisance from the volcano. I can supply as much as you need."

According to Kyle's fortress construction plan, completion was expected in twenty years. 

However, flipping through Jabil-sensei's book and discovering the Alchemy Hardened Rock was what made it interesting.

This Alchemy Hardened Rock.

As described earlier, it's gooey when freshly made but hardens over time, becoming as tough as bedrock.

Moreover, it's almost pure white, giving it a very luxurious feel.

As a result of experiments, Leafan found that it had greater strength than the royal capital's walls.

Leafan was outstanding.

Though she often seemed absent-minded, in reality, she was so capable that without her, the pioneering village wouldn't function. 

As the head of the production guild, she was knowledgeable in economics and had contributed in all aspects to the village's development.

Most of my vague ideas wouldn't come to fruition without her cooperation.

This time, she discovered that embedding metal tendons inside the walls would significantly increase their strength if we were to build massive walls.

If this method spreads, the defense of the Maugalia Kingdom would increase by about three levels.

Concurrently, we were also examining the feasibility of constructing a huge bridge across the river.

With this Reinforced Alchemy Hardened Rock technology, it might be possible to build the dream of humanity, a large bridge across the river.

The construction of the fortress city was progressing under the assumption that the bridge would be completed.

Unlike previous wall constructions, there was no need to transport massive stones from distant quarries by carts, making it significantly cheaper and shorter in construction time compared to ordinary fortress construction.

While acquiring and transporting volcanic ash required some money, the benefits outweighed the costs.

After all, volcanic ash was constantly falling in a certain area. 

It was inexpensive. Most of the expenses were transportation costs.

One of the superior aspects of Alchemy Hardened Rock was that with a wooden frame to pour it into, it could be shaped as desired, eliminating the need for craftsmen to fit rocks together like a puzzle.

In exchange, Leafan and I have become experts in a way.

Craftsmen who came to reside in Golden Dawn Village have disclosed everything from materials for alchemical potions to creation methods.

There will be more experts in Alchemy Hardened Rock soon. Exciting times.

Other convenient items made with Alchemy Hardened Rock included warehouses and lumber drying rooms.

The warehouse remained the same, but was easy to construct large items and was durable, much to the delight of the residents.

The other lumber drying room looked like a warehouse, but inside, it was packed with lumber.

Using alchemy, they smoked it with evaporated moisture.

What would usually take several months to dry wood was done in about a week.

Thanks to Alchemy Hardened Rock and wood, Golden Dawn Village, no, Golden Dawn Fortress City, made tremendous strides in development.

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"Um... Is it really okay to have such a magnificent church...?"

"Of course!"

"Hey, Jitaro, why are you answering?"

"Oh, um, sorry..."

"Well, whatever. As you can see, this city is going to be huge. So, this kind of church is necessary."

"Wo... Will I be suitable for it?"

"Just do your best there."

"I'll help, Craft!"

"Thank you, Jitaro."

"Yaaay!"

Stop with those incomprehensible shouts. 

Also, Azul is a priest. 

I don't think he's really thinking about marriage or anything, you know?

"Craft-onisaan!"

"Hey, Ed."

The mischievous leader of the wolf boys, Ed, came bounding over.

"Teach me magic!"

"What about your studies?"

"Well, about that..."

"Lately, Ed and the others have been studying pretty hard."

"Huh?"

"Right!? Right!?"

"Just compared to before, you know?"

"Aww..."

"Hmm. Alright, let's try some basics once a week."

"Yeah!"

"Is that okay, Craft-kun?"

"Yeah, I was planning on teaching them anyway."

"Then that's good..."

"From evening till dinner, bring everyone over, okay?"

"Got it! Craft-oniisan!"

It's good that they're so lively.

Maybe I should give them Mana Potions and try some extreme Spartan training.

That was a method I came up with, including pranks, but I didn't realize what would happen to the villagers who frequently used Stamina Potions.