It’s a cold day. While it doesn’t snow often, making the school uniform the same throughout the year, chilly days are normal. The weather was cold enough that I could get by with a layer of clothing underneath. In my previous life, although I didn’t live in a snowy area, I lived in an area with enough snow to cover the ground, so I didn’t mind too much.
Not so long ago, it was autumn, but now it’s winter.
The Dolknes territory has completed the autumn harvest and is preparing for the Founding Festival in a few weeks. The New Year will be in the middle of the Founding Festival, and our wedding day will be two months after the New Year.
We secured the attendance of Patrick’s brother, Gilbert, who was our biggest concern in organizing the ceremony.
The wedding preparations are progressing steadily. Or, it went smoothly before I realized it. The invitations were sent out before we knew it, and we had ordered the outfits for Patrick and myself.
Many other things need to be done for the ceremony, including building a new building. This includes the ceremonial hall and accommodations for the guests. The arrangements for furniture, carpets, etc., to be placed in the building are also in progress.
There was already a festive or celebratory mood in Dolknes, which was in the midst of a construction rush. Every day, I went to the dungeon to secure financial resources while looking at them from the side.
For construction purposes. Patrick’s earth magic plays a big role in preparing the foundation.
I tried to go to the construction site to work hard, but I was stopped by people around me who said it was too dangerous. Incidentally, I wasn’t the one in danger, but the unfinished building was. Everyone was concerned about the risk of me becoming a demolition worker. No Yumiela? Good!
Like gasoline that powers an engine, dynamite that shatters a huge rock in its path, or a nuclear bomb that blows up a huge meteorite, there are always situations in which hazardous materials can be useful. There will always be a stage where even Yumiela, who was said never to know what would trigger the world’s end, can shine.
And now I am standing on the best stage. A large number of logs were in front of the starring role.
“Which ones can I carry?”
“I want everything you have here.”
“I understand. I’ll just move it right along.”
This is the Archiam territory. This place is about halfway between Dolknes territory and the capital.
The road from the capital to Dolknes territory also passes through this area. Archiam territory is located along the highway that runs east-west across the kingdom, and if you go north from there, you will arrive at Dolknes territory.
The Dolknes territory is experiencing a lumber shortage due to increased new construction related to weddings. Hence, we have come to the Archiam territory, which is famous for its high-quality timber.
The person in charge, whose name I forget, looked over the rows of logs and said,
“I’m sorry to say this now, but it’s impossible to transport the lumber manually, right? We prepared the logs after we heard you were buying them locally, but Archit company also transports the lumber.”
“It’s all right. The time seems to be a little tight, so I’ll carry it.”
I remember now. The company was Archit Company of the Archiam territory. The name might have been chosen from the company’s geographical location, but the resemblance confused it.
They seem to be a company that used to be mainly in the construction business. They have several high-level, powerful carpenters and earth-attribute wizards, and although it costs money, they can shorten the construction period tremendously.
Furthermore, it seems they handle everything from sourcing building materials to transportation and furniture making. Their business model appears to be to make a profit by doing everything within the affiliated company, so it would be better to leave the transportation to them. However, I don’t have enough time for this.
“It will be transported by land to the Dolknes territory, which will take some time, but the Count has assisted us in other departments. As for the cost, I’m prepared to estimate a loss—”
“Sorry, but it’s no problem.”
But no matter how strong the Count is, it’s still somewhat… difficult to carry this to Dolknes.”
Huh? Was this guy worried about my power?
From the looks of it, it’s a cedar or something harvested, and the branches in the way were removed, but it might be incredibly heavy.
I’ll check it out just to be sure. I grabbed one lined log with both hands and lifted it. Holding the end of the log, the wood became flexible and bent like a bow.
“Oh, this much won’t be a problem.”
“I’d heard stories, but never to this extent.”
He looked genuinely surprised. It’s one thing to know about it as information, but it’s different to witness it.
Carrying the log this way wasn’t easy, so I lowered it to the ground and then carried it again. It seems like it would be better to carry it on my shoulder around the middle. One on each side… no, two on each side is good. The weight doesn’t matter; it’s whether you can hold them up with your arms.
Four at a time. It will take more than ten round trips, but it will be over soon if I run.
Two are carried on the right shoulder, and the next is on the left. Lifting them up is hard, but it’s okay, and I’ll be fine. Let’s go with four at a time, as planned.
All that’s left is to run toward Dolknes and say goodbye to the person in charge.
But I can’t see him because the logs block my vision. I turned my body to the right to see where he was.
Then, I heard a whoosh and the sound of a log cutting through the wind. Just a little later, I heard his scream.
“Whoaa!”
“Oh! Excuse me!”
I turned around at a sensible speed. However, as swords are faster at the tip than at the hand, the tip of the log was also considerably faster. Combined with its weight, it would have been extremely powerful. A direct hit would be dangerous. I was in a position to commit murder just by turning around.
“I’m fine. I managed to avoid it.”
Thank God. I could hear his voice from behind me.
Thinking I had turned the wrong way, I turned around to apologize again.
“When you turn your body around, you endanger the people around you.”
“Ah.”
My warning to avoid danger came a little too late. He was about to get up, but I could clearly see the log grazing over his head this time. This thing is strong; it could take down a vampire.
I’m truly sorry. One wrong move could have resulted in injury, and I apologize sincerely.
I bowed deeply. At the same time, two rows of four logs were slammed down on both sides of him with a deafening thud.
“I deeply apologize.”
“Heek!“
Twice just above his head, then simultaneously on both sides. Am I a disaster?
I can’t put the person in charge of the Archit company in any more danger. Without moving my body at all, I said.
“Please, run away. Move out of the log’s range of attack. While I’m still standing.”
“Y-yes!”
He got up and ran as if he were a hare.
It would have been enough to say, “Please stay away from me, it’s dangerous.” I feel delayed embarrassment.
Afterward, I apologized and thanked him for taking more distance from me than necessary, and I began to move. I ran with special care when changing directions so as not to cause an incident that would knock out a line of merchants.
This job was going to change Yumiela’s image. A fighting machine plays a big role in the transportation business! It was supposed to be like that, but I ended up looking like a fighting machine.
The word ‘courier’ has a whiff of illegality, and I was even thinking of a good title such as ‘legendary delivery man’ or ‘transporter,’ but it looks like those ideas must be shelved.
◆ ◆ ◆
The errand quest to deliver dozens of logs to the designated locations was carried out without any trouble except for the first one.
The person assigned to the Druknes territory, who was also a member of the Archit Company, dropped off the last of the logs at the location appointed.
“This is the last one.”
“Thank you very much. I appreciate your help. By the way, I hope I wasn’t rude to those over there?”
I wonder if it would count as rude to have attacked with logs about three times… and then I thought for a minute and realized he was checking in.
“No, it was more like I endangered them.”
“Ah…… if you said so. Anyway, thank you for your hard work. This should help us complete the construction on time.”
“If it’s physical labor, I could help you more.”
“I appreciate your help, but I won’t need it anymore. Other construction materials, especially large ones, can be found in and around the Dolknes area.”
When it comes to other heavy items, say… bricks or stones, if you can get them in the territory, that would be great.
It would make me happy to see more industry activity in the territory. But the Archit company isn’t benefiting from this. Damon, the representative, said they have been good to us, and it would be good not to take advantage of them too much.
“Should I buy other things from them as well?”
“Don’t worry about it. Our main focus is on construction. When we found good quality logs nearby, we used that.”
Am I too worried about it?
It’s hard to transport those logs normally. Since water transportation is impossible from Archiam to Dolknes, they would have to be transported overland on the same road I took. It will be a pain to transport the small logs by lining them up and rolling them down the road. And there are a lot of gentle uphills.
Would it have been convenient if the logs had been taken from Dolknes territory? There were plenty of trees in the mountainous Dolknes territory.
“Couldn’t we have used some of the trees around here?”
“It’s difficult because the forests in Dolknes territory are mostly hardwoods. Besides, cutting trees in the mountains is very labor intensive.”
I see. So you need coniferous trees like cedar and cypress. That being said, better visibility in the mountains in winter would be nice because the broadleaf trees’ leaves have fallen. No wonder forestry is difficult in the mountains. It’s easier to cut cedar trees on level ground.
Despite the mountains surrounding us, there wouldn’t be a shortage of lumber. The problem is less of an issue now that there are no trees that could be used to build a large mansion, but if the Dolknes territory develops, there could be a situation where there is not even wood for ordinary houses. It would be difficult to build people’s homes of stone.
I’m starting to worry about the future, whether decades or centuries from now. Since the person I was talking to was a professional in this field, I decided to ask him a few questions.
“I know it’s far into the future, but do you think we should do some reforestation?”
“That would be wonderful. There might be a shortage of lumber in the future. Cutting down trees will require a lot of work, but planting trees in the mountains would be a good idea. Surely your children’s and grandchildren’s generations will thank you for it.”
“I see. Well, I’ll give it a try when things settle down.”
I didn’t think he would agree with me.
Several decades from now, there will be a serious lumber shortage, and it will be as if the retired former lords were the ones who saved the day. I hope I will be remembered as a wise ruler.
I will plant cedar and cypress trees for the future!
“…Huh?”
“Is everything all right?”
“No, it’s nothing. Thank you for your advice.”
“I’m happy to help. If you need to arrange for saplings, please contact the Arcit company.”
While pondering what to do next, I parted ways with the company representative.
On the way back to the estate. While walking slowly, I pondered about the girl who appeared in my brain.
When I decided to start a reforestation project for the future, a friend from a previous life popped into my mind. In my mind, my friend was desperately trying to communicate, but I had no idea what she was trying to tell me.
She was wearing a mask, wearing glasses even though she normally wears contacts, and frequently applying eye drops. Is it a cold?
I got it! I’ll be careful not to catch a cold! Anyway, I’m going to plant a lot of cedar cypresses!
Even though I nodded vigorously, she didn’t disappear from my mind. I know, I know, I’ll wash my hands and rinse my mouth properly.
I struggled to get my friend out of my mind, but she disappeared immediately when a voice called out to me in the real world. I stopped and looked at the voice’s owner.
“Yumiera-san! This way!”
It’s a nice intention, not sure how good it would result xd
Thx for the chapter!
Now she should realize to be careful with her strength