XI - Construction and Seeds

With the manpower available, what would have been a task spanning several days for me alone was swiftly accomplished by the significant number of people we had gathered. I was able to focus on cutting down trees.

Pulling out my Heavenly Blueprint, I crafted several large pots with lids using the clay collected by the second group. The onlookers stood in awe, witnessing a miraculous transformation of raw materials into finished products in the blink of an eye.

It occurred to me that this was the first time everyone had seen my ability in action. To preempt any potential misunderstandings, I promptly explained that it was a manifestation of my blessing. Surprisingly, they accepted it without much inquiry.

To continue the process, I assigned another group to fill the pots with ash derived from the materials we had burned earlier. Meanwhile, the stone gatherers arrived, each carrying as much as they could manage. Even Majka, the loyal hound, was carrying a sizable stone in her jaws, and her saddlebag was filled to the brim.

Such a good girl, indeed.

With all the materials in one place, I set to work constructing a structure reminiscent of a small English country house for Lucia and her father.

Onlookers stood in awe, their jaws dropping as they beheld the sight. Some of the builders, eager to begin construction, even dropped their tools, voicing their astonishment, 'What's the point of having us here anymore?'

I reassured them, 'Your time will come soon.'

The house, fashioned from clay fire bricks and timber, took shape just as I had envisioned. It stood proudly with two stories, the upper floor serving as their living quarters while the lower floor would serve as a hall for events and meetings. Rooms were also included for their servants and guards.

While furnishing would have to wait for another time, the immediate priority was providing them with a roof over their heads.

Without the aid of the Heavenly Blueprint, our endeavor would have been laborious and time-consuming. We would have spent days crafting bricks, processing wood, crushing stones to create manufactured sand, and producing quicklime from limestone. Even with ample manpower, the construction process would have taken several more days.

Despite my attempts to explain the purpose of wood ash and the pozzolanic reaction, I was met with blank stares. Simplifying matters, I informed them that by mixing wood ash with quicklime and aggregates, we create a lime-ash mortar. This mixture not only facilitates easier work but also results in a final product that is more durable and resistant to moisture and weathering, among other benefits.

All eyes turned towards me with hopeful anticipation, as if each person awaited their turn to receive a house. However, time was not on our side. Even with the aid of the Heavenly Blueprint, constructing homes for every family would require at least a few days.

Furthermore, I was the sole individual capable of felling trees in this forest. Despite this challenge, I couldn't bear to disappoint them. The guilt of placing them in this predicament fueled my determination to assist them in any way possible. Taking a deep breath, I set off towards the woods once more.

I swiftly felled as many trees as possible, while the others transported the timber back to the construction site.

With ample materials at hand, I returned to build shelters capable of accommodating nearly everyone: boarding houses.

This concept was novel to them, so I took the time to explain its function. This structure contained numerous rooms spacious enough for a family of four to comfortably sleep and store their possessions.

I designed the building to include a communal dining area and washrooms. However, incorporating toilets proved to be a challenge. It required meticulous planning to prevent any contamination of our water source by waste. 

Then, I encountered a minor issue during placement. It was imperative to ensure the ground was level; otherwise, the Heavenly Blueprint would not permit construction.

While I was removing stumps from previously felled trees using Mana Burst, the guards came running fully armed and ready for battle. They were alerted by the explosions caused by my ability.

I'm sorry, it was just me. It was the only solution I could think of.

I directed the builders to diligently level the ground to the best of their ability until the Heavenly Blueprint allowed me to erect the structure.

It was already dark by the time I finished constructing these boarding houses. Despite my hunger, I felt no fatigue; in fact, I felt strangely invigorated. Perhaps it was because I had achieved my goal for the day and witnessed the smiles on everyone's faces as they began moving in.

Just as I was about to head home for dinner, Lucia seized my arm, mirroring my earlier gesture, and led me to where everyone was gathered.

They prepared a feast for us who worked on the houses. Those who hadn't participated in the construction had prepared dinner for everyone. I was nearly moved to tears by their cheers and expressions of gratitude as I walked through the crowd.

Lucia caught my eye and offered a grateful smile before joining her father.

With no tables or chairs yet, some sat on the leftover logs from our construction work, while others settled happily onto the forest floor.

Although I had considered fashioning tables and chairs from the logs, I realized it might not sit well with those who had worked tirelessly throughout the day. Similarly, taking food back to my house to eat alone would have been disrespectful.

As I stood surveying the scene, Lucia called out to me and invited me to sit with her and her father.

Seated, a servant placed a wooden spoon and a bowl of stew before me, accompanied by a piece of dark, crusty bread. The bread was so hard that it could double as a weapon if thrown with enough force.

Nonetheless, I couldn't complain; the simple pleasure of eating bread was a luxury in itself. I struggled to recall the last time I had enjoyed such a meal.

Inspecting the stew, I found it to be a hearty mix of vegetables, mushrooms, and pieces of meat.

Lost in thought, I realized I had been staring at the food for quite some time before it dawned on me.

It completely slipped my mind that they hadn't arrived here empty-handed. I noticed a stockpile of fruits, vegetables, and even farm animals. Yet, these weren't here yesterday, so how did they appear overnight?

Before I could inquire about it, Lucia's father, Eogan, approached me.

"It's wonderful to finally have a conversation with you, Egil."

"The pleasure is all mine, Your Highness."

"Please, call me Eogan, or Mayor Eogan, if you prefer. Ho ho ho!"

"Alright, Mayor Eogan, got it."

"If you were curious about the food, it's thanks to my ability called Storage."

He proceeded to explain his ability. He could transport an unlimited quantity of items and even living creatures to a separate dimension that only he could access. When stored in his ability, they remained in a state of suspended animation. Cooked meals retained their warmth, and perishable goods remained fresh.

The only limitation was that live humans couldn't be stored within.

Did that mean he had stored deceased individuals in his ability before?

"Thank you, Egil," Eogan expressed.

"I would've been eager to assist in any capacity, but my physical form is no longer capable."

"You're a compassionate leader, Mayor. From what I've observed since yesterday, you've shown concern for your people and haven't abandoned them."

"I was a feeble king and couldn't halt the enemy's advance into our nation. This was the only action I could take for them," he admitted.

"The gods didn't forsake us. We took a chance by sailing to this island to begin anew, and fortunately, we encountered you," he concluded.

I found myself unable to speak. How could I confess that everything had begun with my reckless use of power, without a single thought to the consequences?

I offered him a smile and began to eat. The meal was satisfying, and I expressed my gratitude to everyone before returning home.

As I lay on my bed, sleep eluded me. I couldn't shake the feeling that this was karma in action.

"Goddess, where are you?"