Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord

Feeling exhausted after everything, I decided to end today’s work after completing just one building of the Bell Rango Trading Company.

Since I planned to construct the other shops the next day, the main street of the adventurer’s town would only be completed in appearance for now.

All that was left was to gather the employees for each store, and it would be perfect.

“Looking at it like this, it’s quite a sight. I’m not Bell, but maybe it really would look cooler if we rebuilt the other Bell Rango Trading Company shops to match this look,” Bell said with a laugh.

His eyes glimmered faintly as he spoke.

“W-well then, how about rebuilding the first shop and warehouse we built in the adventurer’s town...!” Bell hurriedly suggested.

But I smiled and shook my head left and right.

“No, no, that might be good too, but it’s better practice for the carpenters. Let them build lots of buildings,” I replied.

Bell’s shoulders slumped in disappointment.

It was unfortunate, but I had to raise the technological level of the territory. That way, Van-kun’s miscellaneous chores would gradually decrease.

Putting the downhearted Bell aside, I thought about consulting for each store next. Having used various general stores, I wanted to help Van-kun mass-produce popular shops bustling with customers.

Just as I thought that, a bunch of small, bearded figures emerged from the shadow of the shop, causing me to give up on the idea.

“There are only ten days left until the promised deadline...! Eight days for the furnace, one day for the wind delivery box!” they declared.

“Huh!? The days haven’t decreased!?” I exclaimed in surprise.

Checking carefully, Havel crossed his arms, snorted, and spoke fiercely.

“Of course! Seeing so many massive shops being built like this, that’s how it is! If we put our backs into it, we can finish in three days, right!?”

Havel pointed angrily at the freshly completed shop, and the other dwarves nodded in agreement.

“I’ve never seen a town get built this fast.”

“This is cheating.”

For some reason, the dwarves pointed at the newly built Bell Rango Trading Company shop with what sounded like angry complaints.

“That elevator too, but adding or removing walls at the end is the worst,” one said.

“The worst?”

I tilted my head at their claims. Then, the dwarf who had complained stamped the ground several times and explained.

“Once we build something, we can’t change it later. Carpenters are the same, but blacksmiths too. Even if someone says ‘make that sword a bit longer’ after it’s finished, it’s impossible. But with Lord Van’s magic, all that can be done easily. For us craftsmen, that’s pretty unfair.”

One muttered that, and the others nodded in agreement.

I understood. Whether it was wood or metal processing, being able to easily modify finished products was certainly convenient.

Though using magic consumed mana, it was far easier than actually doing blacksmithing or carpentry. The working hours couldn’t compare.

“I see. In that sense, maybe it’s lucky to have this magical aptitude?”

I said while crossing my arms, and Havel and the others nodded vigorously and stepped closer.

“Exactly. That’s why we must devote ourselves fully to furnace construction now.”

“For the sake of us who have no choice but to do painstaking blacksmithing.”

“Let’s hurry, let’s hurry!”

They all spoke simultaneously, pushing me forward as we headed to Seato Village.

“Hey, isn’t this a bit too forceful!?” I protested.

But they didn’t listen at all. Thus, Van-kun, who was supposed to be the lord, was forced into a harsh working environment by the dwarves’ relentless grip.

By the way, Espada took over inspecting the shops and carried out the consulting I had wanted to do. As a result, the shops opened at a level probably much higher than I could have managed, and they received excellent reviews from the adventurers. Frustrating.

Meanwhile, Van-kun spent consecutive days from early morning until dusk working on furnace construction. Apparently, the taller the furnace, the more metal could be produced. But really, wasn’t that too much?