One week has passed since the coronations of the various nations concluded. Today marks the beginning of the development of Prada Village. Yuri’s plan was also supported by His Majesty Reinhardt, and personnel were immediately assembled.
Due to the underwater nature of the work, Undine and Water Dragon Dragonewts will be the primary participants, with a total of approximately 100 individuals. The Order alone comprises 35 Undine and Water Dragon Dragonewts, while the Crafters, including a small number of other races, total 68. Flam and Rebecca will be occupied with this for a while, and Raus and Carol are also participating as guards. Marina also mentioned she would help out occasionally.
Naturally, we will assist as well, but since the work is underwater, we can’t help much in that regard. While we can operate underwater using Ozone Balls, our limit is about 30 minutes, with a cooldown period of at least an hour. So, we can only intervene if dangerous monsters appear.
The work will take place from 9 AM to 5 PM, with lunch provided by the feudal lord. Regarding accommodation, temporary housing will be constructed in Prada Village. The contract is for two months, but it’s uncertain if the work can be completed within that timeframe, so extensions are possible depending on the situation. However, priority is given to Undine and Water Dragon Dragonewts, which has led to complaints from the Crafters. We explained thoroughly to the Crafter’s Guild beforehand, but it seems the issue stems from recruiting with favorable conditions for those ranked C or higher. The income for low-ranking Crafters is just enough to get by with delivery requests from the Crafter’s Guild, so I can understand their complaints. However, since the work site is at the bottom of Veil Lake, there’s nothing that can be done about it. There have been past attempts to devise underwater breathing magic, but none have ever succeeded, and I was also completely unable to achieve it.
“Everyone, thank you for responding to my call today. The project we are undertaking from today is to construct a port in this Prada Village, which faces the Nadal Sea. I cannot say how many nobles and traders have wished for a port in this very location.”
Since Amister does not have a port facing the Nadal Sea, the only ways to trade with Alegria or Libertà are through Valentia or Retisencia, or by using flying mounts. Both methods incur significant expenses. Therefore, past Amister Kings and provincial governors have also considered constructing a port in Prada Village, but the shallowness of Veil Lake has led to its abandonment each time. Furthermore, while Undine and Water Dragon Dragonewts can work underwater, the presence of monsters has always been the main issue. The most well-known monsters in Veil Lake are the C-rank monsters Blue Lake Bull, Blue Shark, and Lake Bee, but B-rank monsters are naturally present as well. Near Prada Village, S-N rank monsters like the Ridoceros have even been confirmed. Aquatic monsters exhibit strength beyond their rank when underwater, so we cannot allow work to proceed without guards. However, only Undine and Water Dragon Dragonewts can provide guard duties underwater, and few have evolved to High Class. This is why large-scale development has not been possible until now. In fact, only seven individuals from the High Order have been mobilized this time.
However, we now have two Ancient Undines, Flam and Rebecca. Flam is also an Ancient Crafter, allowing her to play a central role not only as a guard but also as a worker. Moreover, since Prada Village is also the hometown of Flam and Rebecca, it is easier for the feudal lord, Yuri, to propose this project. The primary reason Yuri decided to proceed with the development of Prada Village was Flam’s presence.
“As explained beforehand, the work will be conducted underwater. We have also arranged for guards, so Crafters, please work with peace of mind.” It has also been communicated to the Crafters that the Ancient Undine will be on guard duty during the work. This is precisely why so many Crafters have gathered.
“Necessary items will be brought in as needed. We will also be providing sake on Friday nights as a form of congratulatory reward. We are also considering allowing those who wish to refresh themselves at Feel.” This is a proposal made possible by the presence of Ancient Classes who can utilize Traveling. From Prada Village to Feel, it takes six hours by mount or nearly ten hours on foot. It is simply not a distance that can be covered in a single day. The fact that one cannot easily go out to town during the development period is another reason why this development has been avoided. Yuri is putting considerable effort into this development. That is why he has arranged for guards to prevent dissatisfaction among the workers, and is paying attention to details like food and drink. If the workers are unhappy, efficiency will decrease, and in the worst-case scenario, the development itself could be halted. I would think about employing them under the same terms as well.
“If the work is completed ahead of schedule, there will be an increase in remuneration as per regulations. It will be difficult, but please do your best. Furthermore, the supervisors will be my elder sister, His Excellency Manalease Mika mi Lapislazurite, the wife of my fiancée, His Excellency Yamato, Madam Primrose Mika mi Fraydlancia, and Madam Mina Mika mi Fraydlancia. Madam Flam Mika mi Fraydlancia will be in charge of instructions during the work. Especially Madam Flam is an Ancient Undine, so please do not hesitate to ask for her help if anything comes up.”
As Yuri stated, Mana, Prim, and Mina were appointed as site supervisors for this development, and Flam as the work supervisor. While they don’t need to come every day, and the civil servants dispatched to Feel have been brought along, allowing them to delegate, work will also be conducted in the forest on the opposite bank, and this area is at the foot of Mylight. Therefore, precautions against Orcs are necessary. Thus, it has been decided that one of them, including Lydia, Ludia, and Athena, will always come to Prada Village. Naturally, I will be there too, but I need to visit not only Prada Village but also Memoria and Deseo, so I can only come about twice a week. Today is the first day, so I am in Prada Village, but tomorrow I will be in Deseo and the day after tomorrow in Memoria, my schedule is already packed. I feel sad just saying it…
Side: Flam
The development of Prada Village begins today. Yuri-sama, who has become the feudal lord of Feel and Prada Village, has informed the Crafters and Order members gathered at Prada Village of the conditions once again, and the work has commenced. For Rebecca and me, this is the development of our hometown, so we are compelled to put in our full effort.
“Flam-san, Rebeca-chan. Looking forward to working with you.”
“The pleasure is all mine.”
The first person to approach us was Marin-san, a High Undine who participated in the First Platoon of the Torencia Dispatch Unit and has been appointed as the First Order for the Prada Village Guard Unit. We participated together in the Slume Lord subjugation battle in Torencia, and rode in the Tree-made Multi-functional Beast Carriage owned by Wing Crest during the advance on Solenne. As fellow Undine, we had many conversations. Marin-san is from a port town south of Amister and was appointed to the Royal Order after her return. Rex-san personally traveled throughout Amister to search for suitable candidates for the Order assembled this time, but there were only seven High Undine and Water Dragon Hydragonewts, and some of them were holding positions as Order’s Master or Sub-Order’s Master. Therefore, by Emperor Reinhardt’s decree, Marin-san of the Royal Order was dispatched.
“I was surprised when I heard that even Rebeca-chan evolved into an Ancient Undine.”
“Marin-san, you’re also level 59!”
“That’s true. Well, I’m not as fixated on evolution as you are, so I’m satisfied with my current level.”
Indeed, you said something similar when I evolved during our advance. As proof of that, Marin-san’s Emerald Order’s Coat is an early model made from Winger Drake hide. Marin-san has also been awarded the title of Jade Knight and promoted to A-rank Order, but due to material constraints, about half of the A-rank Orders still use the early Emerald Order’s Coat made from Winger Drake hide. Currently, there are no issues, but once one evolves into an Ancient Undine, deterioration due to magical exhaustion accelerates. Therefore, Emperor Reinhardt and Rex-san are considering a plan to have the Emerald Order’s Coat remade from P-rank monster hides as soon as possible.
“However, at such high levels, there is a possibility of evolution. It would be best to have your new coat exchanged sooner rather than later.”
“Wing Crest also had trouble with that, didn’t they? Well, I’ll think about that later. More importantly, it seems the workers are ready, so let’s go in and wait.”
They’re ready? We need to check for monsters, so it’s natural for us to go in first. In that case, I should go ahead.
“Understood. I’ll go in first then.”
The Undine used to release their human transformation magic on land to avoid getting their shoes and boots wet before entering the water, but it was a hassle to move around. However, with the Scaff developed by Mako-san, we can stand even on the water. Once we’ve released our human transformation magic in that state, we can simply drop, and this usage has become possible. Both Rebecca and I, as well as Marin-san, have released our human transformation magic in the same way. Therefore, I believe that it is now more common for Undine to enter the water using this method.
“It doesn’t seem like there are any monsters around here.”
“It seems so. Then, Rebeca-chan, can you go tell the workers?”
“Understood!”
Rebecca, on Marin-san’s request, returned to shore and, after a while, returned swimming with the workers protected by guards.
“The first tasks are surveying, excavation, and leveling. We need to ensure a depth of at least 10 meters.”
During the work, I am in charge of giving instructions. The reason is that I am an Ancient Hunter and an Ancient Crafter, and also the wife of His Excellency Flam Fraydlancia. Although my Hunter rank is E, my Crafter rank is G-S, so I honestly feel it is presumptuous to give instructions. However, as Madam Flam Mika mi Fraydlancia, I have no choice but to do so. Although I cannot come every day, Rebecca or Marin-san will act as a proxy to give instructions, and the leader of the Crafters is a P-rank Crafter from Feel. Therefore, I believe there will be no disruption to the work even in my absence.
“Alright, let’s start with the survey first. Everyone, carry out your assigned tasks.”
Following the instructions of that leader, a male Water Dragon Dragonewt named Grava, the Crafters, armed with surveying equipment, swam out. Grava-san is a first-class architect and also designed and built the Esmeralda Tenchaku Residence. It was through that connection that I approached Grava-san to lead the development team, and he readily accepted, seeing it as a major project. Ah, the Esmeralda Tenchaku Residence was completed two days ago, so they are currently in the process of moving. Therefore, Yuri-sama has returned to Feel.
According to preliminary surveys, the depth on the Veil Lake side is 7 meters, but in some places, it is only about 6 meters, so meticulous measurement is required. Today will likely end with surveying, but to ensure smooth progress of the work starting tomorrow, cutting corners is not allowed. Furthermore, since this is development that will lead to the further prosperity of Feel and Prada Village, the Crafters from Feel and Prada Village are full of enthusiasm. While observing their efforts, our Order, led by myself, Rebecca, and Marin-san, will remain vigilant of our surroundings. Although we are close to Prada Village and no monsters have been sighted, Prada Village is not covered by a barrier, so we cannot afford to be careless.
Honestly, I would like to help with the surveying, but I am studying as a seamstress and have done very little studying as an architect. I can give general instructions, but specialized tasks must be left to Crafters like Grava-san.
The surveying was completed smoothly, without any significant problems or monster attacks. Since the work is constantly being done underwater, both the Crafters and the Order are quite tired. However, thanks to that, we can begin leveling work tomorrow. We will also need to excavate the lakebed, so I plan to join the work starting tomorrow, but I will also provide robust guard duties. I will work hard to build a port and help Prada Village prosper.
