Chapter 63

When I went to the guild and was given detailed instructions about the upcoming operation, the first thing I was asked to do was to stuff a large amount of building materials into my item box.

However, these were not materials for a proper outer wall construction, but just something to pile up.

It was more of a barricade than a defensive wall.

Until the area was secure enough for craftsmen to enter, proper construction was impossible, so the materials for the outer wall were unnecessary.

Moreover, the materials for the outer wall were currently being processed and were not ready to be transported.

However, this did not reduce the amount of cargo; rather, it increased.

Instead of using the materials to build a solid structure, I had to cover a certain area with just their mass and volume.

The amount of building materials required for this was enormous.

"Excuse me, I've come to receive the building materials as requested by the guild."

"I've heard about it. This is the material. ... But are you really going to carry this all by yourself? It looks more like a mountain than building materials."

The man pointed to a pile of rocks that was only nominally called building materials.

It was about 20 meters high, with a base radius several times that.

Apparently, these were waste rocks left over from coal mining in the area long ago.

"Yes, that's right. ... But this seems more difficult to store than to transport."

"Is that how it works?"

"That's how it works. I'll start storing it, so please step back. There's a risk of collapse."

This place was a bit away from the town, and I had confirmed that no one was around except for the guide, so I started storing the materials as soon as he stepped back.

I fully utilized my item box, walking straight toward the center of the mountain.

Recently, I discovered that by focusing on my item box, I could store things within about a 50 cm radius of myself.

Using this, I could store the mountain from the edge, cutting it down as I moved toward the center.

It was like digging a tunnel through a mountain made of just piled rocks.

Naturally, the mountain collapsed with a loud noise, and debris fell on my head, but I expanded my magical armor as a precaution and stored it.

When I reached the other side, the debris had formed two small hills, divided by the path I had taken.

I returned to the starting point by cutting down the larger of the two hills in the same way, and I could see the guide standing far away with his mouth open.

Feeling bad about keeping him waiting, I approached him and spoke.

"It might take a while, so it's okay if you go back to the town."

"Ah... No, it's fine. I can watch this rare sight until I get bored."

"Is that so? I understand."

Since there was no problem, I returned to my work.

The initial dramatic collapses became less spectacular as the height decreased, and eventually, only a few rocks fell when I passed through.

I ran around the site one more time with my magic and finished the job.

Incidentally, I tried touching the ground once, but it couldn't be stored.

Thinking about how far it would be stored if it could, I was relieved it couldn't.

If the entire town were stored in my item box, it wouldn't be funny.

After that, I stored the other pile of debris in my item box, received a large amount of food from the guild's warehouse, and left Fotoren.

The operation itself was to begin at Desibatoru.

When I arrived at Desibatoru, more than 100 adventurers had already gathered in front of the guild.

About two-thirds of them were carrying large shovels on their backs for digging.

These were the elite adventurers selected to fight on the front lines in the Broken campaign.

After the temporary base was set up, and the city was built, ten times as many adventurers and craftsmen would join to complete it, so the number would increase even more.

"Ah, Kaede, you're here. Have you secured the building materials and food?"

When I landed on the ground, the mayor greeted me.

"Yes. (If the building materials are the pile of debris) I've brought them. The food is in tons."

This time, the prepared food was mainly dried meat and buckwheat flour.

The 5 kg bags were stored directly in the item box.

It would have been nice to have proper meals, but there weren't many quick and easy options for the battlefield.

There was about 50 kg of bread, but it was hard and not very tasty.

If I had the time, I thought about sharing some of the food I brought personally.

"Alright, I understand. When you arrive, please place about a ton of buckwheat flour on the ground."

"Sure, no problem... Why?"

"I don't think someone who can solo a wyvern would be easily defeated, but there are always possibilities. It's best to have enough food for a retreat, but slowing down the advance speed is not good."

"I understand. I don't plan to die, though."

By the way, speaking of not dying, there was that medicine.

"A new medicine has been developed recently. Would you like to use it at the guild? We have permission from the Alchemist Guild to use it here."

"I haven't heard about this. What kind of medicine is it?"

"It... No, it's a health recovery potion that can bring someone back from the brink of death. I used it on a former adventurer who was dying from illness, and their health recovered to their prime."

I handed him a bottle of the medicine.

To be precise, it was an improved version of that medicine.

"This container... It's indeed from the Alchemist Guild. It says 'Ultra Super Health Recovery Potion Revised.' Is that the name of the medicine?"

"Uh... Probably. I didn't know the medicine had a name."

The naming could have been better.

"Ultra" and "Super" are redundant, and it's called "Revised" even though it's the first practical use.

Maybe the researcher came up with the name after an all-nighter.

"Maximum effect measured at 350, 175 per half bottle... Is it a diluted elixir? It would be helpful if we can use it, but using it without permission might cause trouble with the country."

The mayor looked at the cap of the container and asked.

The "maximum effect" is the same as the health recovery amount.

There must be a way to identify it on the cap.

"Drinking it diluted won't change the effect. It's a genuine new medicine made entirely from current materials. I have plenty, so feel free to use it. If you can promote it, it's free."

"I'm curious about what happened at the Alchemist Guild, but I'll gratefully accept it. ... By the way, why does Kaede have this? Did you make it? No matter how unconventional you are..."

"No, I didn't make it. I brought it as a favor from the Alchemist Guild, who provided it to protect the town (and also to get a test subject and a record)."

And I provided one type of material, but that's a minor detail.

"I see, the Alchemist Guild has done a great job. I'll distribute this to the participating adventurers."

The mayor started distributing the medicine.

Once everyone had received it, he began the final confirmation of the operation and started the advance.

In short, they would gather, defeat monsters, and charge forward, with me building a wall a bit inside the Broken site, setting up a defensive line, and digging a trench slightly behind it to prepare for the construction team (adventurers and craftsmen who couldn't participate in the charge).

I would be responsible for reconnaissance from about 100 meters above the advancing adventurers.

If necessary, I planned to use fire magic to burn the monsters, but I was told not to use it unnecessarily, so I would focus on reconnaissance for now.

Looking down at the adventurers from the sky, they were indeed elite, showing no signs of danger even in a charge into a monster-infested area.

Their movements seemed random, but they were actually carefully considering the appropriate distances for their weapons.

The main mages, who should be in the rear, were not following due to endurance and speed issues, so the rear was slightly forward, relying only on archers.

The adventurers, who had covered nearly 60 kilometers in less than two hours, began to clear the surrounding monsters.

I also descended to the ground and started defeating monsters over a few kilometers.

Once the clearing was complete, it was time to start building.

"Clearance complete! Hold the defensive line! ... Kaede, I need the wall."

The one giving the orders seemed to be an A-rank adventurer.

He didn't stand out in terms of power, but it was probably a matter of leadership.

"Understood!"

Following the leader's orders, I started building the wall at a slightly narrower point inside the Broken site.

I flew and dropped debris, setting up a makeshift barricade.

Even though the width was narrow, the length was about a kilometer, so the wall wasn't very high, only about 2 meters.

However, even that would be useful.

I didn't expect the temporary base to have perfect functionality, which is why only elite adventurers were involved until the trench was completed.

"The wall is complete!"

"Understood! Everyone, retreat behind the wall. Group A and B, start digging the trench. Group C, defend!"

Among the three groups divided to balance the fighting power, the one without shovels was assigned to defend the wall and the rear, while the rest set up about 100 meters behind the wall and started digging the trench.

The digging was expected to continue non-stop for a week, which was the biggest challenge of this operation.

Since I didn't belong to any group, I was free to act unless it was an emergency.

... Can I use magic for this digging?