Chapter 95 - Veronica (1/2)

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

All the management personnel of the camp were gathered, and they discussed their future path in Gawain’s tent.

Amber was rather restless as she sat in the seat beside Rebecca. She would turn here and there to survey the surroundings from time to time as if searching for a chance to sneak out at any time. After noticing that Gawain had absolutely no intention of letting her go, she could not help but grumble, “Say, just hold a meeting if you want to, why must you have me here… It’s not like I understand those things you’re saying.”

“Keeping you within sight is mainly to prevent you from going out and being a nuisance to others,” Gawain responded casually; he ignored Amber’s expression of baring and gnashing her teeth in the next second. He went directly to the subject. “I gathered everyone because I wanted to first explain one thing — the crisis has yet to pass.”

Rebecca’s eyes instantly widened as she stared blankly at Gawain. “Ah? Haven’t we already repelled those monsters?”

“That’s the key.” Gawain shook his head. “We only repelled them once, but would they not come anymore?”

Everyone present gazed at one another, whereas the farmer Norris, who was at such an occasion for the first time, instinctively shrunk his neck. He wasn’t startled by what Gawain said; in fact, he hadn’t even paid attention to Gawain’s words. This down-to-earth farmer only felt especially awkward to be here, given his status. Every single person around him was someone he had to look up to in the former days, but they were now all seated with him. This made him exceptionally nervous.

On the other hand, Hummel, who was seated beside him, was doing pretty well. Although this blacksmith was also of humble birth, as he was responsible for smelting steel for lords year in and year out, he had lots of experience interacting with aristocrats. At present, he appeared to be perfectly calm and collected.

Heidi noticed Norris’s nervousness, but she did not say anything. Instead, she carried on with Gawain’s subject. “Ancestor, haven’t you already verified the integrity of the Great Barrier? Its self-repairing capability…”

“It has indeed repaired itself, but I’m not sure if it will be compromised again,” Gawain said. “Everyone, we have to be clear on one thing — although we have just resolved a crisis, it is far from an absolute, complete victory. The Great Barrier isn’t a creation of the gods. Even if it was a miracle, it was a miracle from seven hundred years ago. The monsters that wandered out from the Gondor Wasteland are enough to illustrate that this barrier isn’t almighty. Now, this barrier is aging, so we have to be prepared for the possibility of it malfunctioning again.”

Amber held her chin and muttered, “Then we should simply just run…”

“Where to?” Gawain glanced at the half-elf. “Once the Great Barrier collapses, the pollution will spread throughout the entire continent. Besides, do you think everyone is like you? Able to dart away several hundreds of kilometers at the first sign of trouble, and able to survive in some casual nook or cranny?”

Following that, he waved his hand. “I’m reminding all of you only because I don’t wish for you to let down your guard too much. I do not mean to say that the Great Barrier that has stood for seven centuries is about to collapse anytime. I’ve confirmed it the last time. Overall, it is still operating normally. The hole was probably just a ‘small problem’. According to the blueprint from those days and the general endurance of the elves’ creations, it is unlikely to completely collapse in the next few decades, so no need to be too nervous.”

The crowd present only heaved sighs of relief then, while Sir Philip went on solemnly, “Even if that’s the case, our victory has had a great deal of luck. If the enemy’s numbers had been slightly higher, if the effect of those traps had been slightly lesser, if those monsters had been slightly luckier when they set off the traps, the outcome of the battle would have been the total opposite. The constitution of aberrations is far beyond that of humans. Moreover, when their numbers are enough, just the auras they emit would be enough to kill all living beings within an extensive range. When their numbers increase by one, the pressures that the soldiers have to face is more than double. Our victory… isn’t that comforting.”

This honest young knight had undisguisedly vocalized his inner thoughts, and it also happened to be what Gawain wanted to say. “That’s right. We cannot be hoodwinked by this victory. Our camp remains very vulnerable in all aspects. Now, we’ve merely settled down here. We’re still far from gaining a firm foothold. That is why I called all of you together, to speak about my subsequent plans.”

Heidi spoke up curiously, “Subsequent plans?”

“Build walls, store up grains, increase population, increase production of steel,” Gawain said while tapping lightly on the surface of the desk. He then looked towards Rebecca, “How is the progress with baking ‘cement’?”

“Um… I’ve yet to succeed,” Rebecca said with slight dejection. “Actually there has been some progress. A type of porous rock extracted near the iron mine combined with clay has produced something very similar. But many tests are still required to determine the optimal ratio, temperature, and baking duration. At this point in time, since the furnaces’ have been putting almost all effort into producing crystals, the progress of ‘cement’ is very slow.”

In other words, she had already seen the light?

Gawain was rather pleased at heart. He looked at Rebecca who was a little lacking in confidence. “Not bad, having found the direction is the greatest progress. Your most important task now is to make the best use of time and come up with a truly usable cement formula, the faster, the better. In addition, the production of ‘Rebecca Crystals’ cannot stop. Retain at least a third of the furnaces to be baking crystals at all times, and set aside a group of people to specially handle the washing and selection. The newly built warehouse at the southwest of camp is yours. Use it to store those crystals.”

With that, he turned to Norris. “How about the land cultivation?”

The old farmer stood up instinctively but sat down slightly embarrassedly again. He was only done organizing what he wanted to say a few seconds later. “One hectometer of cultivated land has been opened at the eastern and western sides of camp respectively and planted with sweet-wood roots and fire-leaves. The magic of Lord Druid and the potions that he created were both especially effective. The speed at which the crops are growing is scarily fast. We might be able to harvest even before Frost Month arrives, and we would have a surplus after feeding everyone—”

Gawain cut Norris off. “You are the Agricultural Manager. You do not have to address people of the same rank as Lord. In fact, you do not have to address me that way either. Call me by my official title or aristocratic rank.”

Norris peeked a look at Gawain rather nervously and repeatedly agreed. “Yes, yes, Duke…”

Whereas Pittman who was beside him wore a glum face. “It’s so rare to have someone address me that way. Can’t you let me enjoy it for a few more days…”