Chapter 51

It had been over ten days since the day Xavier and his companions engaged in battle on the Salt Road. On a certain afternoon,

Aula, as usual, was continuing her work in the office, going through the documents that had just been delivered by a "Small Wyvern" from the fortress at the edge of the kingdom. She sighed deeply.

"...Huh. So, the son of the Margrave Gazier failed in the extermination. Well, identifying the obstacle that was blocking the road and bringing back that information can be considered a success in itself."

It's a bit of a hassle, Aula thought, and while still seated in her chair, she rotated her neck. The sunlight streaming in from the window made her disheveled red hair shimmer.

"Well, if the report is correct, and the target was a well-organized group of over fifty dragons, then a force of about a hundred men was indeed a bit too much to handle. I don't think Lord Xavier's judgment was wrong at all."

"I understand."

Aula, still facing forward, replied curtly to Secretary Fabio, who had spoken from behind her.

Aula also agreed that Xavier's judgment was not wrong.

The current Kingdom of Carp is still in the midst of reconstruction from the great war. Even if they are not the direct subjects of the royal domain, able-bodied young men in the territories of local lords are precious resources.

The extermination of the "Dragon Swarm" was successful, but the military force was reduced by half. Therefore, it cannot be called a success.

In that sense, the third son of Margrave Gazier made a rational and accurate judgment, which is not what one would expect from a young man on his first campaign.

At least Aula did not consider this "failure in extermination" as a negative point for Xavier. However, it was also a fact that Aula could not wholeheartedly welcome Xavier's judgment.

"Now, the initiative for the 'Dragon Swarm Extermination' will shift from the Gazier family to General Pujol."

Aula said this and sighed deeply.

Under the pretext of a "suburban exercise," the elite thousand troops led by General Pujol have already begun marching to the fortress.

They might have already arrived at the fortress.

In any case, the initiative in this matter has already shifted to General Pujol.

Aula, who could not move from the capital, could only watch the progress silently.

"Well, it's fine. That man will resolve the situation in some form or another."

While Aula did not trust General Pujol's personality, she did trust his abilities as a warrior.

It was a bit unfortunate for the Margrave Gazier and his son, who wanted to enhance the reputation of the next lord, but the restoration of the Salt Road is urgent. If the restoration of the Salt Road is delayed, the direct damage will be to the territory of Margrave Gazier. Even if their plans are somewhat thwarted, they will have to endure. However...

"Indeed, it is unlikely that General Pujol will fail. The problem is whether he will use this achievement as a stepping stone for further advancement."

As usual, Secretary Fabio, with his thin face, maintained an expressionless demeanor, and with a tone devoid of emotion, he said this.

"...I understand. Well, I'll do some groundwork for the aftermath."

Aula, with her right elbow on the armrest of the chair, propped up her cheek and sighed again.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

Back in the days when Zenjiro was still a primary school student, he heard an anecdote on a talk segment of a TV music program.

It was an episode from a musician's poor pre-debut days, in response to the question, "What was the toughest part-time job you experienced during that time?"

The musician answered immediately, "It was the part-time job of installing air conditioners."

Because the rooms that needed air conditioners didn't have them, and the rooms were so hot that they needed air conditioners.

In a room without an air conditioner, he would sweat profusely while working, and once he finished, he would immediately head to the next job site, which also didn't have an air conditioner.

The part-time job of moving from one air conditioner-less space to another in the scorching heat of summer in Japan was akin to a grueling ordeal. That's what the musician said, and at the time, Zenjiro, munching on a senbei in an air-conditioned living room, laughed and said, "Ahaha, I see."

Now, why is he recalling this story from over ten years ago? It's simple.

"Damn it, sweat got in my eyes! I can't see the level's reticle!"

"Lord Zenjiro, are you alright!?"

"Lord Zenjiro, be careful of your footing!"

Currently, Zenjiro is sweating profusely in a harem in a different world, which is so hot that he wants to go to Japan for a summer retreat, doing an unfamiliar "air conditioner installation."

"…Alright, the backboard installation is complete…!"

Zenjiro, who managed to install the air conditioner's backboard on the bedroom wall, said this with a satisfied expression, as if he had completed a major task.

"Lord Zenjiro, here's a towel."

"Ah, thank you, Dolores."

Zenjiro, receiving a well-chilled wet towel from the tall maid standing beside him, wiped the sweat from his face.

"…Phew, I feel like I'm coming back to life."

In this hot bedroom, he climbed a ladder leaned against the wall and worked on an unfamiliar task. "Coming back to life" is not an exaggeration.

With the help of several maids, he had them hold the ladder, and had them press the backboard with their hands while he worked. He managed to successfully attach the silver metal backboard to the wooden pillars with long screws, ensuring it was level.

"I'm grateful to the carpenters. I caused trouble for Aula yesterday, so I'll thank her later."

Zenjiro, looking up at the newly installed backboard, muttered this.

Yesterday, to install this air conditioner, he had to get special permission to bring in carpenters to set up wooden pillars along the wall of the bedroom. The pillars were reinforced with crossbeams to ensure that the heavy air conditioner would not fall, even in the worst-case scenario.

The white marble wall, with wooden pillars attached and diagonal crossbeams in between, looked quite unsightly, but there was no choice.

He couldn't drill screws into the marble wall. While this world has nails for stone and electric tools to drive them, unfortunately, Zenjiro didn't have the foresight to bring such specialized tools when he came to this world.

In any case, after wiping his face with the cold towel and taking a breath, Zenjiro noticed the maids standing around him and called out to them.

"You can use the cold towels from the refrigerator without hesitation. And drink plenty of water from the water jug. If you don't, you might really get heatstroke or dehydration."

The maids, who had been supporting the ladder and holding the backboard for Zenji, had been doing quite a tough job.

They needed to lower their body temperature and replenish their fluids to avoid real health issues.

"Yes, thank you."

"I will take you up on your offer."

The maids, who were sweating profusely, thanked Zenjiro sincerely and headed to the living room next to the bedroom, where the refrigerator was located.

Zenjiro, left alone in the bedroom, spread out a stack of papers on the bed, which he had printed from various websites in Japan, titled "How to Install an Air Conditioner Yourself," and reviewed them again.

"Alright, I've installed the backboard level and firmly on the wall. Next, I should test if the indoor unit can be hung on the backboard without any problems. After that, I'll run the pipes, electrical wires, and drainage pipe through the hole in the wall..."

As Zenjiro said this, he turned his gaze to the right of the backboard, where a round hole was drilled through the thick marble wall. Of course, the hole was slightly downward to prevent backflow of drainage.

"But, well, craftsmen are amazing in any world. The size and angle of the hole are perfect, just as I ordered."

Zenjiro, looking up at the hole drilled to the right of the backboard, let out a sigh of admiration.

The hole was drilled by a royal stonemason yesterday.

The stonemason, using no electric tools, managed to drill a hole through a stone wall thicker than Zenjiro's upper arm, a feat that was so impressive it left him in awe.

Apparently, high-ranking stonemasons attached to the royal palace can use earth-element "spirit magic." They cast "softening of stone" before drilling and "hardening of stone" afterward, but even with that, the skill required is still remarkable.

Zenjiro will run the pipes, electrical wires, and drainage pipe through this hole and connect them to the outdoor unit.

Zenjiro, wiping his face with the towel that had become warm, folded it again and used the still cold inner part to wipe his face once more. He then raised his voice as if to muster his resolve.

"Alright, let's start by connecting the indoor unit's pipes. After that, I'll run the pipes and other components through the hole and install the outdoor unit! Outdoor unit installation, huh..."

In this scorching heat, he will have to perform the same level of work as he did just now, but this time in the courtyard without any shade.

"…Sigh."

Zenjiro couldn't help but glare at the sunlight streaming in from the open window and sigh.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

While Zenjiro was sweating profusely in the harem courtyard, relying only on the shade of the parasols held by the maids, Queen Aula, having finished her work in the office, was visiting the palace's rear garden.

Aula, surrounded by guards armed with white leather armor and short spears, walked with a steady, large stride, stepping firmly on the overgrown grass.

Compared to the front garden, which serves as the palace's facade, and the middle garden, which can be used for outdoor parties, the rear garden is a rather barren place.

However, it is larger than the combined area of the front and middle gardens.

This space is provided for the craftsmen who serve the palace to work inside the palace when necessary.

Stonemasons cut stones here, carpenters roughly shape wood, blacksmiths repair the weapons of palace knights, and leatherworkers handle the repair of armor.

In a sense, this is the "artisan district" of the palace.

The palace also has large-scale fields, an excessive number of wells, and pastures for livestock. Looking at these areas, one can understand that the palace is designed to withstand a siege in an emergency.

Fortunately, there is no history of the capital being engulfed in war during the great war.

When the craftsmen noticed Aula's presence, accompanied by her guards, they momentarily stopped their work and bowed slightly.

"Hmm. Well done. Continue your work."

Aula, acknowledging them with a brief word, walked past.

Craftsmen working in their workshops are allowed to omit formalities even when addressing the king. This is surprisingly flexible.

Aula, who gathered the attention of the craftsmen, walked briskly to a wooden hut that had been built this year.

Standing next to the palace's waterway and equipped with a water wheel, the hut clearly shows that it is a new addition and is quite favored.

In front of the hut, several men in dirty work clothes were standing at attention, waiting for Aula's arrival.

"Your Majesty, Aula.