Chapter 142 – Container-House-Style Base

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Translated by Sylph

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The next day. After a fair amount of trial and error, I completed a connectable container-house-style base.

Without delay, that evening I started making container houses at the campsite spot by the road and tried connecting them together. Part of the walls were made removable, and the containers were connected with no gaps between them.

As a result, a base about the size of a small public hall was completed. Around forty tatami mats, maybe. It is fairly large, but it would be difficult for tens of thousands of soldiers to rest in it.

Because it is made of wood block, it is sturdy and far lighter than something made of metal. It seems the deciding factor will be how many can be loaded onto wagons.

As an experiment, I tried seeing how much could be combined, but once the width went beyond ten meters, it seemed the durability would drop unless columns were placed in between. So basically, I decided to connect bases that are each ten meters wide.

When containers were connected between them like corridors, the base could be expanded without difficulty.

“H-How is it!?”

Asked that by Orto, who looked utterly exhausted after making a large number of container houses, I nodded that for the time being it seemed fine.

“All right. Let’s call this completed. We could make second and third floors too if we wanted, but this time it’s only a temporary base, so that isn’t necessary. Everyone, good work.”

When I told them it was complete, Orto and the others threw both hands into the air in delight. Laughing at the sight of the adventurers going around inspecting the temporary base they had built themselves, I racked my brain over solving the next problem.

If we’re going to transport a large number of imitation container houses, we’ll need large wagons. It’s getting a little dark, but maybe I should make those too.

Thinking that, I tried making a wagon with a special shape like the chassis of a truck. I made the tires large so they wouldn’t get stuck on grooves or steps, and the loading platform so that it could carry large objects.

And while I was completely absorbed in making things, Till called my name with a troubled look.

“Um, Lord Van? It’s about time…”

“Eh? Ah, my curfew…!”

The moment I heard Till’s words, a chill ran down my back like ice sliding over it. That’s right. It had already gotten dark.

Even though my curfew had been extended from dinnertime to sunset, if I couldn’t even keep that, I would definitely get scolded.

“I-I’m going home! I’ll work hard on the rest tomorrow!”

“Yes!”

At my words, Till and Kamushin answered with serious faces. Arte, incidentally, was nodding with a wry smile.

Then, noticing that something was off with us, the adventurers hurriedly opened their mouths.

“Lord Van, are we done for today!?”

“What about the pay… the reward for completing the request…!?”

Turning back to those shouting adventurers while waving both hands, I replied.

“It’s fine! Come collect it at the lord’s residence later!”

I answered and turned on my heel to leave, but Orto, who had raised one hand, stopped me.

“Ah, Lord Van…!”

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

Pressed for time, I answered Orto. Then Orto pointed behind me with a difficult expression.

“Some important-looking people have come from the adventurers’ town.”

“Important-looking people?”

What could that mean? Thinking that, I turned my face in the direction Orto was pointing. Then I saw a group of about twenty people heading this way from farther down the road.

At the front were Jalpha and Ventury, and lined up with them were the king and the other nobles.

Then Ventury, who had been walking at the head, saw the trial container house and opened his mouth.

“Ooh…! When did another building like this get made…!?”

Saying that, the nobles began inspecting the state of the container house. Among them, only His Majesty came walking straight toward me.

“I received a report that something interesting had been made, so I came to inspect it.”

His Majesty explained how he had come here while smiling cheerfully. Then he shifted his gaze to the container house and lifted the corner of his mouth.

“I still do not know how easy it will be to defend, but you’ve made something quite interesting. Could you try making one in front of us?”

“Ah, understood. Orto-san, would it be all right if you put up one unit?”

When I called out like that, Orto readily agreed and built one container house. By now they were completely used to it, and four adventurers could assemble one in about two minutes.

At that sight, His Majesty and the others widened their eyes.

“To think it can be completed faster than a tent for camping…”

“It seems considerably sturdy.”

“If it’s for temporary use, it’s more than sufficient.”

Those sorts of murmurs came from all around. Since everyone’s attention was already directed this way, I might as well finish with a simple explanation.

“These temporary bases can be connected together and used, so they can adapt to a variety of terrains. For example, if there is an open space along a mountain path, they can be installed as shelters and rest stations. Also, I think they would be difficult to transport with normal wagons, so I’ve prepared dedicated wagons. One of these can carry ten temporary bases.”

When I explained that, His Majesty nodded in satisfaction. While many of the nobles were impressed by the container houses, there were also some who turned their eyes toward me, their creator.

“…Is this really the kind of thing a child thinks up?”

“I heard Baron Van is not even ten years old.”

“Apparently he was sent off to the frontier because he had no aptitude for the four elemental magics, but…”

As such words were heard, several pairs of eyes were drawn in turn toward Jalpha. Perhaps feeling those looks, Jalpha remained silent with a furrow in his brow.

For a while yet, the topic of me and Jalpha would surely keep circulating among the nobles. Ha-ha-ha. Too bad, Daddy. You didn’t know what you were seeing.

While I was thinking that and smiling, Espada appeared from behind Jalpha wearing an even more difficult expression than usual.

“Ah, Espada. We were just talking a little about the bases we’re planning to set up temporarily…”

Delighted inwardly that I had a good excuse, I began to explain, but Espada gave a deep nod and opened his mouth.

“Yes. Please prioritize that. However, before His Majesty came this way, the curfew time had already passed, so as promised, there will be an additional two hours of study.”

“No wayyy!?”

At that utterly unexpected sentence, I let out a huge scream right in front of His Majesty and the other nobles.