Chapter 80

After dealing with various disturbances and incidents related to the family home, the development of the uncharted territory had finally begun.

I, who was granted the majority of the uncharted territory, became the Baron of Baumayster by royal decree and was to inherit the main family.

It's a small detail, but if I didn't do this, the knight's family that Herman, my older brother, inherited would be the main family, and the baron's family would be the branch, which would be a strange situation.

The exchange of the main and branch families occasionally occurs. It's a matter of the rise and fall of the times, but it's only called to distinguish between closely related noble families, so nothing really changes.

Since they are essentially different noble families, even if one party commits a crime, there is no system of collective punishment. In most cases, family members of the unharmed family are taken care of, which can be considered a kind of insurance system for noble families.

In cases where there are no children, it is also common to adopt a child from there.

The uncharted territory south of the mountain range, where I, the baron, am the head of the main family, will be the guardian. Below that, the old Baumayster main family, which Herman, my older brother, will inherit, and the sub-baron's family, which Paul, my older brother, was given.

In the future, it is planned to grant knight's territories to the children of Amalie, my sister-in-law.

However, the nephews cannot use the Baumayster surname. They will use the surname of Amalie's family, Mainbach. The vassals will also be accepted to some extent due to their connection to the Mainbach family. Because Kurt's actions have ruined the privileges, it is necessary to show some consideration.

As for Amalie's treatment, she plans to stay to raise her children.

"Since you're still young, aren't you considering remarriage?"

"There's no good place for a divorced woman with two children. At best, I might become a second wife to a retired man, or at worst, a concubine to a merchant. I won't marry again. I have to raise my children properly."

To prevent her from becoming like Kurt, she plans to teach them proper reading and arithmetic.

"Besides, I can't go back. What would they say at my family home..."

For the Mainbach family, Kurt's failure must have been a bolt from the blue. If they had handled it properly, the Baumayster territory would have prospered due to the uncharted territory development boom. Now, the wife they married off has become a former wife accused of attempted assassination.

Naturally, they can't ask for any benefits from us. If Amalie returned, she would only be a nuisance.

"I will move to Paul's new territory with my father-in-law and mother-in-law."

My father, who had retired, would make things difficult for Herman if he stayed in the Baumayster territory, so it was decided that he would move to the territory Paul was developing.

Paul's territory is also starting from scratch, so my father's experience as a lord will be useful. Additionally, the families of the co-conspirators who participated in the attack on me, along with Kurt, will also move there.

They might be the biggest victims. To suddenly be told that their grandfather or father was a co-conspirator in an attempted assassination of a noble.

The co-conspirators participated in secret and did not consult with their families. It wasn't something they could casually consult about, and by the time they found out, the head of the family was already gone.

In any world, the families of criminals receive prejudice. To avoid this, they decided to move to the new territory.

However, Paul's new territory is nearby. There is a wetland that could become good farmland, and I plan to use magic to clear it as soon as possible.

The houses will be relocated by Baron Rembrandt.

"Recently, Baron Baumayster has been in a hurry."

As always, he spoke in a strange Kansai dialect, but it seems that Finance Minister Lookner has asked him to prioritize working with us. If we don't, there's a possibility that our privileges will be significantly reduced due to the incident with my brother.

"I'll bring some souvenirs and visit."

"Please do. To the children, Baron Baumayster is a hero who slayed a dragon."

"He's also the one who killed their father."

"I'll talk to them about it when they're older."

After seeing my father, mother, and Amalie move to Paul's new territory, the development of the Baumayster barony finally began.

The first thing to decide is where to place the main base of the barony.

"Should we put it by the sea?"

"No, it's divided by the Demon Forest, so let's not."

Many people suggested placing it by the sea, but due to the Demon Forest, it's difficult to secure a large area of land.

Considering future expansion, it's difficult to place it by the sea. Therefore, it was decided to place it in the central plain, accepting that we would use magic-powered airships for transportation. We plan to build a city with a larger population than Breichburg, considering future expansion.

Additionally, we will build a port for multiple sizes of magic-powered airships nearby. We will also build smaller ports in several inland locations to facilitate movement within the territory.

Fortunately, we have magic-powered airships. We have secured several that can be used for exploring underground ruins, so there should be no problem creating new routes.

There is one airship per week on the route from the capital to Breichburg to Bauburg.

By the way, this Bauburg is the name of the central city where the main base of the Baumayster territory will be located. The name sounds somewhat German, which I think is due to the naming sense of the important people in the center.

Additionally, we will run three airships per week from Breichburg, which are relatively larger but still small. Currently, they are expanding the port in Breichburg.

In the Baumayster territory, we will first build ten small ports in locations where relatively large towns will be constructed, and we plan to start operating small magic-powered airships as soon as possible.

This is for transporting the materials needed for development. The kingdom will provide the ships and personnel, and the ships will be purchased, while the personnel, including veterans from the air force, will train new employees hired by us.

In the future, we hope that the Baumayster barony will independently operate all but the large ships.

Additionally, we need to construct ordinary roads and a port for sea vessels along the coast. Once this is in place, cargo can be transported by ship from other noble territories in the south. Nobles with territories along the coast in the east and west are also looking forward to increased trade. Laborers are already being sent by ship.

Furthermore, we need to construct flood control measures for large rivers within the territory, which are prone to flooding during heavy rains.

We also need to construct roads leading to the new territories of Herman, the new lord of the Baumayster territory, and Paul, who is developing the sub-baron's territory, as well as to other planned city locations.

"Even looking at the plan, it will take a lot of time, won't it?"

"Of course, it will."

Roderich, who is scheduled to become my steward and chief vassal, moved a pile of development plans on his desk and stacked documents related to finance and personnel, which were three times as high.

The amount of documents is at a level I haven't seen even in my previous life as a businessperson. My defensive instinct quickly produced the words, "Roderich, do your best!"

"The development will start with the arrival of support and introduced personnel."

First, we plan to build a large stone residence that will also serve as the government office at the planned site of Bauburg. We also need to construct a town with expansion capabilities and a port for magic-powered airships.

"Until this is completed, nothing can start."

Roderich grabbed my shoulder firmly, preventing me from moving to go hunting in the Demon Forest.

"To shorten the construction period, I have a mandatory request for you, my lord."

"Wait! I'm a member of the Adventurer's Guild!"

"You registered with the Civil Engineering Guild when the Baumayster knight's territory was developed, didn't you?"

The establishment of various guild branches is still in the future, but the procedures can be handled later.

"Of course, I will pay the request fee."

"Roderich, you..."

In the end, I couldn't refuse and was engaged in land leveling work at the planned construction site of Bauburg. Following Roderich's and the newly hired construction experts' instructions, I used magic to flatten the vast plain and divided the land for the government office, town, and main roads.

Additionally, I decided the location of the port for magic-powered airships nearby and used instant teleportation to fly to a certain location with them.

"I see, a large amount of good stone can be obtained here."

At a certain location in the uncharted territory, there is a rock face where good stone can be obtained, and I was guiding Roderich and the others there.

"How much do you need?"

"As much as possible!"

"..."

Due to Roderich's unreasonable request, I started collecting stone. I used the wind-based magic Wind Cutter to cut large stones and the water-based original magic Water Cutter to shape smaller ones.

This Water Cutter magic was inspired by a machine I saw in my previous life that cuts materials with water pressure.

Once a certain amount of processed stone was collected, I stored it in a magic bag and transported it to the stone storage area at the planned construction site of Bauburg.

While working on land leveling and land division, the construction of Bauburg began about three days later.

Even without a port, magic-powered airships can land on flat land if they are not too large, and the first group was already building temporary housing for laborers while simultaneously starting the foundation work for the Baumayster residence.

The residence, which will also serve as a defense base in emergencies, is planned to be similar to a castle. They started the construction by digging the ground and laying the foundation.

"My lord, the foundation work is taking too long. I have a mandatory request."

"You..."

I was tasked with digging a large and sturdy foundation. However, Roderich has become quite resilient.

When he found out that he was recognized by the late Baron Lookner, he said, "I have not a drop of that man's blood in me."

He even stated, "I don't want his title or property."

In the end, the Lookner barony was discontinued, and the property was confiscated, so there was no need to worry about it.

"Should I give the Lookner barony's property to someone else?"

"No. I don't want a single cent of money that man touched."

He was a man with a good economic sense, having a merchant for a mother, but there were some things he wouldn't compromise on.

However, later, Finance Minister Lookner probably felt bad and gave a considerable amount of cash out of his own pocket.

"Next, we need to construct the main road that will serve as the town's main street."

"You..."

Still, it's work, so I used civil engineering magic to level the road and dig ditches on both sides for rainwater drainage. The hired laborers then laid the stones and filled the gaps with concrete.

In short, I did the major part, and the rest was done by a sea of people.

"My lord, you're making a fortune."

"Is that so?"

Financially, I have entrusted most of my money to Roderich, but it is still my asset. However, when I do civil engineering work, Roderich pays me from my own assets, which then becomes my asset again.

I doubt there are many nobles who have such a peculiar experience.

If I separate my personal assets from the Baumayster barony's assets, it might be better, but nobles don't seem to have such a concept. Some nobles set a fixed allowance for themselves, but most use the money for their territory's management or for their own indulgences as they see fit.

"The construction is progressing quickly, and we're not using many people. The expenses will decrease, but we can advance the second phase of the plan earlier. Still, something feels odd."

"My lord, tomorrow we will work on the river nearby."

Roderich handed me a blueprint, but of course, the concept of flood control exists in this world as well.

Changing the course of the river, dredging the riverbed, creating floodplains, and building levees are not much different from what has been done in ancient and modern times on Earth.

Additionally, we need to construct the foundation for the irrigation canals leading to Bauburg.

"Should I do it this way?"

"Yes. We will send people for the detailed repairs later."

As usual, I will do the major part, and the rest will be done by a sea of people.

"Let's do the land leveling and road construction in Bauburg first, and we'll do the river work tomorrow."

After three days of hard work, the land leveling of Bauburg was completed. At this point, only a vast plain with roads laid out in a grid pattern existed, without any paving.

Exceptionally, there were a few stone buildings under construction and temporary housing for the construction workers. Additionally, a few buildings relocated by Baron Rembrandt were present.

Merchants had already arrived by small magic-powered airships to cater to the construction workers, but they were selling goods on mats.

"The first group of the security team we recruited is more elite than expected."

This is because they are all recommended by Military Affairs Minister Edgar, who made Vilma his adopted daughter and pushed her to be my concubine. They are well-trained from military families and have left the military or security forces to come here.

As the first group, they will patrol to maintain security, hunt to protect the construction workers from wild animals, and assist in construction under the guise of engineering training.

"Wild animals. There are many aggressive ones."

"Here, I have a request."

"Seriously...?"

In the end, I was tasked with building a temporary earth wall to keep wild animals away from the planned outer wall of Bauburg. I ran out of magic and couldn't return to the residence that day.

"There are temporary accommodations."

"You're a devil, Roderich."

Since I couldn't return, I decided to stay in the temporary housing. The uncharted territory doesn't get cold at night,