Chapter 95
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Moving - 4
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Helen's words left him utterly dumbfounded.
What was a road?
It was a network connecting villages and even cities—a concept akin to the nation's veins.
Of course, building one cost a fortune. That was why roads were seen as national projects.
And she was saying they were going to build one?
All the way from the Saint Kingdom to here?
"Does the Saint Kingdom have so much money it's rotting away?"
"Not quite that much. We're only paving the unpaved stretches, so the cost won't be prohibitive."
"Even so, it can't be easy."
According to Elsia, the Empire's western region lagged behind other areas in development.
Monsters were plentiful, and unlike elsewhere, there was no local hegemon to keep things in check.
The west's reality was that defense took priority over road-building.
That was why small merchant groups like the Catkit Merchant Company outnumbered large caravans.
And Lugeron Village sat at the very edge of that western frontier.
Connecting a road from the Saint Kingdom all the way here? The expense alone would eat up a full year's national budget, at least.
"The Saint Kingdom sure is impressive."
"That's part of it, but most of their technicians toil away on pitiful wages."
Camilla revealed one of the Saint Kingdom's shady underbellies.
"Lady Bonita's sleep has dwindled even further because of this project."
"What a letdown from the Saint Kingdom—driving their workers this hard."
"Th-that's not it!"
Seeing Camilla's playful tease, Sian joined in with a joke of his own. Helen's flustered flailing was so cute he wanted to pinch her cheeks.
"The people of our Saint Kingdom serve for the nation's future out of profound faith."
"Hold on—isn't that only possible because you're nymphs?"
Nymphs were a cheat-code race.
Aside from their inability to fight directly, they excelled in every way.
Immortality was standard, and they boasted goddess-level beauty.
They didn't even need regular meals—a sip of water could sustain them for months.
That was why the three nymphs freeloading at his house worked virtually for free, and it seemed the Saint Kingdom exploited them similarly.
But applying that to other races too...
"The Saint Kingdom really is an exploitative hellhole..."
"Eek, no it's not! The Saint Kingdom is..."
Helen's eyes welled up at his teasing, and to clear the misunderstanding, she launched into a hours-long lecture on the Saint Kingdom.
Of course, that didn't change the fact that it was an exploitative nation.
Everything okay over there, dwarf?
...
"I'm keeping these three with me from now on?"
Once Sian declared he wouldn't go to the Saint Kingdom,
Helia, Forres, and Ravi—dispatched for Ciel's sake—found themselves in a bind.
Returning home would be ideal for them, but Sian couldn't give up his hexagonal all-purpose babysitters, so he threw a tantrum at Helen.
"I said I won't go, but you guys broke the promise first, right?"
"Yes, we'll do as you say, Sian. But do they have to be these ones specifically?"
"No big reason, but Ciel's gotten attached to them."
The three nymphs, including Helia, had been caring for Ciel in his busy stead.
Naturally, bonds had formed. Separating now would devastate Ciel, wouldn't it?
"It's an honor."
"We will serve the hero for life."
Despite not returning to the Saint Kingdom and having to stay in Lugeron Village, the three nymphs were thrilled.
Contrary to his expectations, they didn't seem eager to go back.
The Saint Kingdom really was...
"Tch."
"Helen?!"
Seeing her click her tongue, Sian's suspicions solidified.
"S-Sian, that's..."
Her slip of true feelings embarrassed her, and she flushed, floundering about. She was especially scatterbrained today.
Camilla, practically her daughter, stepped in to explain.
"For a nymph, becoming the guiding light of a household is a profound honor. It's fulfilling their role as God's proxies."
"Really?"
"Yes, and if that household is of divine lineage, it's even more glorious."
"Ah, got it."
So for nymphs, babysitting Ciel was like a dream job.
"Then I can work them to the bone without issue."
"Does the hero have no conscience?"
"Conscience doesn't fill bellies. And Camilla, if you're bored, help with the move too."
"Me?"
"Yeah, we need building materials. Take some folks and log over there."
Camilla blinked at his request.
She couldn't fathom why he'd assign mere logging to her—a third-rank knight.
"What? Don't wanna?"
"No, it's just been ages since I got treatment like this."
"Too bad it's not your first time."
Amused by his quip, Camilla gave a faint smile.
"Understood. Logging over there, right?"
"Yeah, Tom'll show you the ropes."
"I'll wrap it up quick."
With that, Camilla led a few holy knights into the forest.
Aura masters like them could harvest a massive haul of blackwood this time.
"Sian."
"Hm?"
"Is there nothing I can help with?"
"Not really."
Building a house—a mansion, no less—demanded tons of labor, but he didn't need much from the nymphs.
Only Forres, who could talk to nature, got roped in occasionally; the rest tended Ciel in the divinely built home.
"I see."
"If you're bored, watch Ciel with the others."
"I want to do something more helpful for you, Sian."
"No need to go that far..."
He was already grateful for the road alone.
Giving more would just burden her.
She's so mom-like.
Like a mother fussing to do one more thing for her kid, Helen pondered with a hand to her forehead, then clapped and spoke up.
"I forgot something."
"What?"
"I'll give you the expedition reward I promised—right now."
"You already paid the fee."
He'd received a hefty sum as expedition compensation.
Elsia, the family accountant, was buried in sorting it out.
Lately, he'd realized her workload was overwhelming.
The growing fortune was too much for one person, plus she handled his secretarial duties. He'd need to hire help when he could.
"Not the money—the treasure."
"Ah."
One of the three promised items.
A national treasure from the Saint Kingdom.
"Clark said he'd repay double the double, so that's at least two treasures, right?"
"Th-that would strain even our Saint Kingdom. And wouldn't divine-legacy treasures burden you too, Sian?"
"I'd love 'em if they're OP."
"That's why we've prepared what you might call the Tower of Wisdom's essence—a national treasure."
"What's that?"
"An Inventory, crafted by aptly combining a divine legacy with subspace magic."
"Inventory?"
The sudden game term threw him off.
As Helia said, there must be another reincarnator in this world just like him.
"Hehe, don't be shocked. This little bracelet holds vast quantities, without adding any weight."
"How much does it hold?"
"About five tons by weight."
"Like a semi-truck's payload. Nice... but why doesn't the Empire use yards and pounds like you guys?"
"Pardon?"
The world's units were the biggest headache.
He'd struggled endlessly with measurements alien to his past life.
What the hell was an acre based on?
But the Saint Kingdom used familiar terms.
"As you know, Sian, our Saint Kingdom has a few reincarnators."
"Like me?"
Helen shook her head side to side.
"Not every black-haired person remembers their past life like you. Perfect recall is rare—only a handful, including our Tower of Wisdom lord."
"Really?"
Excitement at possibly meeting a fellow countryman fizzled into nothing.
"And not all black-haired folk are reincarnators like you. Necromantic revivals or reincarnations can manifest souls as black-haired too."
"Fascinating."
Black hair didn't guarantee a reincarnator, per Helen.
"Anyway, the Tower lord poured his heart into this treasure. You'll love it."
"Hmm... let's see."
Skipping the details, Sian slipped on the bracelet Helen offered.
A blue holographic glow appeared before his eyes.