Prologue:
The Plan to Build the Strongest Fortress City
HOWDY, Y’ALL. IT’S ME, VAN. EVERYONE’S IDOL.
I’d been told to repair a busted fortress smack dab in the middle of the battlefield. You know, the kind that’d be under constant fire from missiles in my world. I also had orders to defend it if the enemy struck. If someone heard about all this without context, they’d probably think I was being sentenced to some new form of torture.
But despite it all, I was brimming with determination. The fire and passion in my eyes were probably visible a mile away. After all, I was on the verge of getting my hands on foods I’d long since given up ever tasting again: curry and rice, fluffy pancakes, and even ramen. For that dream to become a reality, though, I had to be able to do business with the Central Continent, a region known for its plentiful spices and other ingredients. This meant we had to take Yelenetta, which functioned as the gateway to that region.
Delicious food. That was what drove me on!
“All right! First, we need to gather materials! Everyone, collect all the pieces of the fortress you can and put them where they need to go.”
“Yessir!”
Armed with my instructions, the members of the Seatoh Village Chivalric Order split into their respective squads and got to work. Members of the other orders stayed behind to take on other jobs.
I needed to remain mindful of the fact that most of these people outranked me by a long shot. They were older, too, the kind of nobles who, under normal circumstances, would have no reason to acknowledge any requests I made of them. In my world, this would be like the president of a tiny startup issuing orders to the president of a giant corporation: definitely not a job for the faint of heart.
Fortunately, I had the king behind me. His authority lent me the power to work the nobility to the bone. After all, time was of the essence!
“Um, Viscount Pinin?” I said. “I hate to ask this of you, but I would love to repair the busted gate on the north side of the fortress. Would it be too much to ask you to gather timber, stone, and metal?”
“Hmph. As you wish. I’ll set my Chivalric Order to the task. How much do you need, and when?”
“Thank you so much! This is a priority. I’d like four two-horse carriage loads of metal, then twice as much stone…”
“…Understood. By when?”
“Within a week, I suppose.”
“A week?! That might prove to be a bit…” Viscount Pinin trailed off.
I looked up at him. He was a middle-aged man, veins visibly bulging just under the skin of his bald head. I waved both hands. “Ah, please don’t worry! You’re not the only one I’m asking! I was thinking of talking to Viscount Farina as well.”