Chapter 205: The Island’s Condition
The next day, I headed to the Tower.
I wanted to go on a long run with Ash, but he was busy showing Lilith what life was like here, taking on a request from the Adventurer’s Guild with the butler and one other person.
Today, I was taking a boat from Naruadeid to the main building. I chatted with the old boatman and got some juicy rumors.
It seemed that news about recruiting settlers for the island was circulating in the town. However, people were suspicious of the notices about waterways when there were none, and the requirement to change clothes and do laundry at least every two days. They seemed to be keeping their distance.
But honestly, not changing clothes in this heat is…! Should we provide clothes for the islanders?
I called over some children who were keeping their distance and sweetened them up with candy to gather information about the island. The things they discovered on their own, along with their parents’ grumbles, were quite amusing and enlightening.
With their bright spirits, just one piece of candy made them beam with joy, and talking to them made the world feel brighter and more wonderful.
When I first arrived on this island, it wasn’t dark, but everyone seemed desperate to earn a living. While their hard work hasn’t changed, that desperate feeling has faded. The island is probably moving in a good direction, which is a bit reassuring.
I climbed the slope from the seaside village, passing between old yet newly renovated houses that had been touched by time. Perhaps to prevent enemy advances, the paths were narrow and quite convoluted, but some houses had been torn down to widen the roads and create waterways.
Even so, the area was still intricate, with many stairs and slopes. They had connected new buildings with arches and constructed new structures in the widened spaces, showcasing the stonemasons’ impressive work, resulting in a maze of charming alleys.
The waterways meandered through these alleys, flowing above and below ground, intertwining with the culverts.
The steadfast defense hopes of Kingin remain unshaken… I thought about bringing a carriage through the main street, but the maze-like alleys are so enjoyable that I now think this was for the best.
They built public restrooms, expanded the flowing waterways to slow the current, and created several spots for drawing water. Some inns and eateries, as well as well-placed homes, even set up water sources inside. Apparently, the rent for those places is quite high.
Though the area is covered in stone, patches of ground remain, and I asked our gardener to plant something that fits the overall concept of the town, so soon it should become a beautiful alley, not just stone walls and cobblestones… I might be passing the buck a bit.
I also extended the waterways and sewers to the coastal village, but since it required tearing down some houses, it’s still a work in progress. Half the families moved to the new town above after the water was diverted, while the other half remained by the beach.
The remaining families agreed to rebuild their homes, so that will happen after the town’s renovations are complete. We might need houses with boat garages or temporary inns—just adding what becomes necessary.
As I exited the alley and stepped into the plaza, the brightness and openness were refreshing. Directly ahead was the Spirit’s Branch, where the waterway from the castle entered and branched out to circle the island.
I said goodbye to the children and headed to meet Soleil, greeting the working stonemasons and carpenters along the way.
In the main building’s hallway, Marlu was busy mopping.
“Good work.”
“Yep, I’m doing my best~”
Marlu seemed to be in high spirits; it turned out she really enjoyed cleaning.
In this world, the floors of hallways and dining rooms are covered with Nettle and other herbs with sterilizing properties, which are discarded a few times a year. It’s a bit dynamic, and you really have to be careful not to drop anything on the floor… I’ve heard there might even be dead rats mixed in, which made me wonder what to do when I found out.
However, it’s true that wearing hard-soled shoes or cloth shoes on cobblestones can be tough on the feet. But with the heat, I’m currently debating whether to lay down carpets.
“Soleil, hold onto this.”
“What is it?”
I entered the office and made a request to Soleil.
As I stepped in, Faramia, who had been waiting, bowed and moved to the next room.
“A Confectionery Preservation Jar. I stopped by the break room earlier, and it was already empty.”
It seems that it’s normal for the staff to slack off in random places, but they set up a break room for tea.
I had divided cookies and candies into jars labeled with dates for two weeks, but all the jars were empty before even a week had passed. It seems there are some adults who can’t control themselves.
“Ah…”
Soleil averted his gaze, as if he understood.
At that moment, Faramia returned with a tray holding cups.
“Thank you. Distribute these once a week. And here’s a little extra for you two.”
She handed over four preservation jars and two long wooden boxes. The wooden boxes were the bonus.
“Can I open them?”
“Go ahead.”
As I replied, Soleil passed the box to Faramia.
I took a sip of the lemon water Faramia had brought, with a mint leaf floating on top. I wished for ice, but that would be too extravagant of a request.
“It smells nice… It looks delicious.”
Faramia opened the box, and as she revealed the gauze soaked in rum, Soleil, who had been peeking in, murmured.
I had thought cookies and candies might be a bit repetitive, so I made a fruitcake packed with nuts and dried fruits. With plenty of rum and sugar, it should last quite a while at room temperature.
“Well then, thank you. That was a treat.”
As I said that and stepped out of the room, I heard voices from behind the closed door.
“Soleil, will there be bloodshed over the distribution…?”
“Perhaps… But if we let each person cut a piece and choose in the order they cut, it should work, right?”
Soleil is sharp! But that might lead to screams when Auro, who has no interest in sweets, is cutting.
Wait a minute. Is the competition for sweets among our staff so fierce that it would cause them to sound so pained? Surely it can’t lead to actual bloodshed, right?