Chapter 293: The Town’s Appearance
“The Priest has gone, so let’s check the site,” I said, feeling a mix of fear and resignation.
Passing through the second Castle Gate, I arrived at the Town Square, where the Spirit’s Branch stood proudly in the center.
“Here, even with some noise, it’ll just surprise passersby,” I thought, relieved that it wouldn’t disturb anyone’s peaceful slumber.
Climbing up four or five steps, Auro opened the Door and we entered the Spirit’s Branch. The garden was still under maintenance, so it was locked to the public.
In the center was a flowing water garden, surrounded by a Corridor. The Corridor housed a shop, a caretaker, and a room for Spirit Dropping. Several sections without rooms had been transformed into small gardens, with black iron grilles replacing stone walls facing the square.
Our suspicious gardener, Charles, had intertwined climbing roses with the grilles. Though still in the growing phase, it would soon create a beautiful garden visible from both inside and outside. Aside from the fact that the garden’s master was a Haniwa, it was a splendid space.
“Since it’s a stone wall, if we install another wall and door in front of it, we should eliminate any sound leakage, right?” I mused.
“Yes, if we close off the Corridor in front of the Branch room, it would be possible, with your permission,” Auro replied.
“Please do,” I said.
“Understood,” he acknowledged.
As we discussed while checking the Corridor in front of the Branch room, I figured that if there was any sound leakage, it would likely be from this Door. With the Spirit’s Branch here, a Spirit of the stone wall would eventually be born, and when that happens, I’ll ask for soundproofing.
I wondered if a Wind Spirit could handle soundproofing. However, Wind Spirits are quite rare and tend to flit about wherever they please, making them unsuitable for a constant request.
When I opened the Door, a moment later, the Spirit Lamp near the entrance flickered to life. I had installed that one. A thin cloth hung from the ceiling, swaying gently in the faint breeze. No, it was the Spirits hanging around, playfully swishing and punching the fabric.
If only it looked like a delicate Ball of Light, it would have been beautiful. Maybe I should adjust the lighting when I visit the Temple.
On the pedestal at the end of the cloth sat the intricately crafted black-and-white branches alongside the Haniwa. Though they should be of equal status, the Haniwa’s presence was striking. Well, considering that the black-and-white branches counted as one unit, it wasn’t too strange.
The Haniwa seemed to crave sunlight, its face suggesting a longing for it. Keeping it in a dark place felt like a museum exhibit.
I had originally planned to create a round hole in the ceiling like the Temple in the Fortress City, but it seemed that would lead to sound leakage. Ah, perhaps if I installed soundproof Glass, it would work.
The Haniwa looked like it might move, but it remained completely still. It would be odd if it did move, anyway.
“What about the instruments?” Auro asked.
“Make a few of normal size and some about one-twelfth that size. We’ll place them here after the wall is built. Please arrange it,” I instructed.
I wasn’t sure if the Haniwa or the Spirits would play them, nor did I know how they would play. Besides, I only knew a few string instruments.
“Understood,” Auro said, placing a hand on his chest and bowing lightly.
“We need to decide on a caretaker for this place soon. On sunny days, I’d like them to open the Door,” I added.
“For now, let’s rely on the patrolling guards,” he suggested.
The patrols consisted of guards making rounds twice a day, along with castle staff doing the same.
The former was for security. They checked for fights, thieves, and ensured no one was placing goods in prohibited areas or setting up stalls without permission. They followed a set route twice a day. Additionally, designated personnel wandered around. It was still early days, so they likely had little to do with the few residents around.
The latter was necessary since the town was still under construction. They looked for inconveniences or issues that could be improved, checked unoccupied buildings, and monitored construction progress.
As Auro explained, we strolled around the town. There was a theater under construction, adjacent to a music hall.
The market had several shops open, with shoppers milling about. For now, it was mostly food and baskets—essentials for daily life—but it would surely become livelier soon. The main customers were likely the families of the resident craftsmen.
For the single craftsmen, we were currently offering accommodations in the barracks or staff quarters. The inn by the beach had opened its doors. —It seemed the recent Priest incident had activated two expensive rooms in the square’s inn. The castle had rooms too, but they seemed reluctant to show them yet.
The town was starting to take shape. A wide main street led from the port with its pier to the square, with three guard posts along the way. In case of emergency, there were several spots where iron grilles could be closed for defense.
Usually, the grilles remained open, and the arches connecting the buildings on either side were adorned with flags, creating a picturesque scene from my perspective.
The main street was designed with a gentle slope for carts and carriages, while the other alleys were narrow and winding.
Some areas had steep gradients, leading to stairs or abrupt slopes, often divided by waterways or dead-ending at houses. It was a structure that could easily confuse newcomers, but since the town wasn’t too large, one could find their way back to the main street within half an hour of wandering.
Here and there, small squares about ten tatami mats in size were set up as parks, providing gathering spots for the locals.
For some reason, the residents of Naruadeid had a habit of strolling in family units during the evenings, sitting outside and chatting with those they met. Whether this habit would take root here was uncertain, but it would serve as a convenient play area for children.
Overall, I had asked Charles to oversee the design, so the town was dotted with trees and flowers, creating an atmosphere of anticipation for their growth.
It was easy to get lost at first, but once familiar, one could find hidden paths or secret passages disguised as house doors. There were even spots leading to upper walkways beyond the doors—quite intriguing.
Wait a minute. Where is this town heading?
Something felt off. At first glance, it appeared to be a beautiful town with waterways winding through it, adorned with flowers and trees, but wasn’t there something strange about it? I had let my romantic inclinations run wild, approving ideas and suggestions, but now I wondered.