Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord

Water supply, electricity, gas, internet and telephone, and roads. The lifelines of each city’s infrastructure.

For instance, if the water supply stopped functioning and there was no water for an entire year, people could still filter or boil water from rivers or ponds to get drinking water.

However, it would undoubtedly have a huge impact on daily life and work.

The same applies to roads. Even if you have cars that enable fast logistics, if the roads are unusable, they become useless. When transport of goods and movement of people are restricted or obstructed, the economy grinds to a halt. In some cases, human resources might be lost as well.

This is true even in a world without automobiles.

I’ve given all these plausible reasons, but the most important thing is just one: my butt hurts.

“I’m making them one after another!”

“Yes!”

Like a wanko soba challenge, I kept turning the lined-up trees into wooden blocks one after another. However, this time, they weren’t square bricks but flat, plank-like shapes.

Moreover, they were laid tightly, almost like pouring concrete, to match the shape of the ground. It might be more accurate to say the unevenness was filled in with liquid wooden blocks.

Since these wooden blocks became integrated with rocks and tree roots, they likely won’t shift unless they crack.

Furthermore, now that I can make wooden blocks even while lying down, as long as I have materials, I can build roads at about one meter per second.

“Whoaah!”

“Don’t lose to Lord Van!”

“Cut, cut, cut!”

In front of me, trees were being felled with loud thuds, and the surrounding knights cheered. Meanwhile, I immediately processed the felled trees into wooden block roads.

Gradually, it was starting to feel like some kind of competition. I wasn’t going to lose. With that determination, my speed laying down roads improved.

Perhaps because of this, before I knew it, I was absorbed in improving the mountain path for three hours.

“Alright, it’s definitely time for dinner break!”

When I gave up, the knights who had been cutting trees further ahead sat down on the spot. Everyone was utterly exhausted.

At that moment, a rumble echoed as a large tree was felled.

“Hmm? Is it already that time? The sun still seems pretty high.”

Though everyone was exhausted, Dee seemed different. He looked at the sun with a puzzled expression.

Just how energetic is that old man?

“Lord Van! Look over there!”

While sitting on the carriage bed, watching Dee with an exasperated expression, Til came closer and called out loudly. Following her gaze, I saw a line of container house-like bases bearing the Van-kun seal.

“Oh! There’s a perfect place to rest!”

“Yes!”

I couldn’t help but high-five Til in joy. The accumulated fatigue seemed to vanish as I ran toward the completed containers.

“Oh! They’re really well made!”

I said, tapping the walls and doors. Perhaps because I’m short, but for temporary structures, they were quite large and splendid bases. I built them sturdy enough that His Majesty could rest there with no problem.

“They’re really impressive,” Til said with a smile, followed by Kamushin who arrived later, laughing as he spoke.

“Maybe the march stopped because they were fighting over these bases.”

“I see. In that case, I can’t be too mad.”

We shared a laugh over the casual chat. Then, Arte appeared, accompanied by Arb and Row.

“Shall we camp here?”

“Yes. Let’s add two more bases so everyone can rest. If we take turns, everyone can get some sleep.”

Answering Arte’s question, Arb and Row placed their hands on their chests and replied.

“Yes! Then, we’ll get started building bases immediately!”

With lively voices, they replied, then, for some reason, whispered happily to each other before turning to the other knights.

“Arb’s First Squad! Row’s Second Squad! Don’t lose! Build the bases quickly!”

“Row’s Second Squad! Show the results of your special training! Let’s work hard!”

When the two issued their commands, their subordinates responded and dashed off. Apparently, they had been competing like this before. No one questioned it; the contest just began.