Protective Person

There weren't a lot of people that could cut, prepare, and build with stone in Border Town. It had something to do with the small town development was quite slow, the previous lord didn't particularly need it, and the people would rather mine or being a hunter and gatherer that depend on the forest to earn a living.

From over two thousand residents living in Border Town, Roland could only recruit a few more stonemasons.

To make the big project successful, Roland urgently needed people like them. But limited as he was, the prince could only make do with only a handful of people suited for the job. Fortunately, with the help of capable people like Karl, the overall productivity increased greatly.

Karl was someone that not only can excellently handle stone on his own, he also had experiences with supervising and his recent years as the teacher of Border Town mean he also had ways to share his vast knowledge regarding the topic.

Although no craft could be learned in a short time, Karl skillfully taught people with no prior experience some basics that allowed them to make a rough work. Then they would leave it for the stonemasons to refine and finished the job.

Even so, Roland knew depending on one Karl alone to supervise the project while doing a lot more would be too much. He had talked about it with him early on to try gathering his former comrades from the old mason guild, the salary can be discussed, but even with the best result, it would take weeks. If the first snow fell before they decided to come, then Roland could only wait for the next spring.

He kind of regretted to not ask for skilful craftsmen in the trade with Willow Town, but he also understood it would be rather hard considering the season and it might delay the cargo a lot more days even if it can be done somehow. In any case, even before the stonemason said with certainty Roland already knew if it was just the wall, what the town had would be enough.

But he lacked firearms, and fighting demonic beasts with traditional weapons would be very difficult. He had some other projects that he let Carter supervised, but he knew even if they were successful, the value of them would be still much lower than the correct formula for black powder or a start of flintlock production.

That was why Roland figured he needed at least an additional line of defence.

Something that was known to have a great history of success in protecting castles and cities from sieges. Built from as far as ancient time. Something like a moat.

From what he knew and understood, the demonic beasts were basically an upgrade of previous, normal animals. Such beast, while had an overall increased in capability, the majority of them definitely would still find it hard to bridge a wide, water-filled moat. Even just a dry one could do, at worst it could still be used to delay the demonic beasts' advance.

The problem was, making a wide moat that was similarly stretched from Northern Slope to the Redwater River just as the wall it complimented would take a lot of digging. Not to mention, it still needed some works more than just moving the soil if he wanted it to be filled with water.

The place certainly didn't have something convenient like a water-proof liner, much less a very long one. But at least now he had managed to bring cement to the picture, even if it was not as good as he used to.

Actually, he might be underestimating the technology and skills of the medieval-like world too much at first. A moat was far from something new, especially since it was actually just a bigger trench. When he asked Karl, the stonemason reassured him that he fully understood how to make one, even with the ridiculous specification. He already knew soaking the soil at night would make digging easier the next morning for example.

For such a dependable person, all Roland could do to help was to share some of his knowledge about the modern method of construction for the stonemason to ponder on as well as ensuring the resources didn't run dry before the project completed.

There was also the issue whether the moat would freeze, as the battle would take place in winter. This was actually an important hypothetical problem Roland needed to solve before he started roughing the soil up.

Perhaps, there was no need to consider it. The probability of it was high, but the slippery surface seemed like another good idea for defence too. Only, in that case, the moat didn't need to be deep.

Roland ended the various thoughts swirling in his mind with a soft sigh. He knew whether he needed to compromise the moat, or even discarded it altogether depended on the degree of success in the trade with Willow Town more than anything else. Thinking about it at present was only asking for a headache.

He looked at the side and saw the construction of towers that were part of the wall. He didn't plan to make a lot or particularly magnificent since he was on a tight budget, but he still planned to make tower considering it could serve as a multifunction building. As it was tall, it could bring the guards a bird's eye view and stored inside it would be equipment and necessities.

The addition of towers would slow down the overall progress of the wall, but he believed it could be done.

No, it had to be done.

"Where is His Highness?"

A strong and sturdy looking man with a thick beard spoke. He was not particularly big, he had wide parts like his shoulder that when compared to his height that was not very tall, made him looked rather compact. Despite the rough appearance and his rather loud and deep voice, his current action was fawning a little girl next to him.

"Mr Pine, His Highness went out to supervise the wall project."

Sitting in front of the two was a young girl of seventeen years old. With her usual calm demeanour, Anna answered as a matter of fact.

The three were currently sitting in the cottage built on the castle backyard. Plenty of delicious food and a jar filled with fresh milk were placed on two levels cart. Regarding this matter, Roland never stingy and would let them eat an even better meal than he was sometimes.

"Is that so?" Tigui Pine, a small time noble rubbed his beard and said, "Should I come later?"

Pine was one of the few noble families living in Border Town, and Tigui Pine was the father of Nana.

Not too long after the reveal of Nana new identity, Roland personally went to the Pine family residence and had a closed discussion with the head of the family. For what seemed to be a reckless advance, it ended well.

Together with Anna, he managed to convince the overprotective father that he didn't mean any harm to his precious daughter only after Roland disclosed that he wanted the whole town residents to stay and wished Nana to help to fight off the demonic beasts with her miraculous ability that Tigui Pine delayed Roland and pending his other business all the way till evening.

Tigui drank the milk with a gusto that his beard turned white, not caring for his daughter laughing at him. His smile only grew wider from hearing Nana's sweet laugh, he took a spoon full of food and enthusiastically tried to spoon-feed his baby daughter.

Seeing such a good father, a father that would even defend his daughter from the world despite turning to a witch that most hated, at first it made Anna subtly down for the next couple of days. Roland noticed it and tried to comfort her in an almost desperate manner. Remembering it, Anna let out a faint chuckle unnoticeable to the two Pines.

"You can convey it to me." Anna had experienced being Roland secretary and knew most of his schedules and needs, she thought the last time Roland talked with Tigui Pine and said, "Is this about that project you talked with His Highness the last time?"

Roland had a lot of on-going projects, so many that he was busy every day. He had assigned capable and trustworthy people to be supervisors, like her former teacher and the chief knight, but it didn't seem he was going to relax any time soon.

Tigui Pine was of a noble family and his character was clear to see just from the talk about Nana. It wasn't hard to see that Roland wanted to rope him to one of his projects.

"Partially." Tigui gulped down the food from the refused spoon before saying, "I want to ask why he makes Nana continue doing such a thing."

Tigui knew Anna only recently, but just knowing she was Nana's friend made him had a good feeling towards her. Despite his agitation, he tried to speak calmly to not startled Anna.

"Such as?" Anna asked, wondering whether it was about fattening Nana up with a lot of delicious food.

"Making her scared by wounding small animals over and over again in front of her." Tigui had a complicated expression; he continued with more fervour, "You know how she is, I demand an explanation!"

"Father, don't scare sister Anna!" Nana protested from the side.

"Oh, sorry Miss Anna." Scratching his head, he looked a little helpless. "I lost my temper."

"It's fine," Anna said softly, she only felt admiration rather than fear or discomfort from hearing his firm words that were filled with concern. But regardless of what she felt, she could only answer truthfully, "Unfortunately, I also don't know about that."

Nana was just a 14 years old girl, who also the most innocent and pure heart that Anna knew. Her power seemed to reflect that, her wish for everything to be alright. But with Roland training regiment, it seemed that power was becoming a nightmare for both the livestock and the little girl. Considering Nana fondness for small animals, it was indeed cruel if one looked at it objectively.

"But I ask you not to worry," Anna said firmly, "The prince definitely have a good reason for this."

Regarding the issue, Anna was also kept in the dark. What she had was Roland assurance that what he did was for their best.

In that matter, Anna believed him.