Chapter 75

It has been exactly a week since I started calling Penguin and Sequoia to the morning meetings.

Agriculture, handicrafts, housing, and technological development... With so many things happening simultaneously, even if I had multiple bodies, they wouldn't be enough.

Amidst this intense workload, I mainly supervised the residential construction.

While occasionally dealing with Garam and Torre, who would come by from time to time...

Thanks to that—

I squinted, looking at the Insulae lined up on the opposite side without disturbing the people laying the stone paving.

Hmm, they really work fast.

I didn't expect them to build this much in just a week.

Of course, the carpenters and their apprentices have been working hard. But it's also thanks to the many people who helped with the manual labor, even if it was just a little, because it's their own homes.

And above all, the existence of magic is significant.

There are various types of magic related to construction techniques, starting with spells to dry wood.

It's ridiculous how they can instantly dry concrete and mortar.

However, I am not in the residential area but in the commercial district.

Of course, people live here too. It's a combination of residences and shops.

Unlike the residential area, the Insulae here are designed with the ground floor as shops.

But the corner of the Insulae I am looking at now is different.

Let me explain...

"Master Joshua!"

A man with curly hair and brown skin bowed his head towards me.

He was on the ground floor of the Insula in question.

I gave a nod to Ellie, who was walking beside me, signaling that we were going to Paul.

Thanks to my guidance, she finally started walking beside me without needing instructions.

It's unsettling to always have her in guard mode, standing firmly behind me.

"By the way, Ellie."

While heading to Paul, I called out to Ellie, who was walking in step with me.

She stopped abruptly.

No, you don't have to be so tense waiting for the next words... but that's just her serious nature, I guess.

I chuckled and covered my mouth, but she didn't seem to mind, just raising her chin slightly to look at me.

It was really just a casual comment, and I started to feel hesitant about saying it.

But I'm the type who doesn't read the room and just says it anyway.

"I think it's refreshing to tie your hair up. Is it easier to move this way?"

"Y-Yes, y-yes."

Oh, did I step on a landmine?

You know, Ellie usually has long, lustrous black hair that flows in the wind. Today, she has it tied up at the back.

I thought this way, her hair wouldn't get tangled, and it would be better for moving around as my guard.

Oh no, she's blushing so red, and her fingertips are trembling.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to criticize."

"N-No, not at all. It's not like Bartolo said something about my nape or anything..."

"Nape?"

"N-No, n-nothing. I-It doesn't suit me, does it? I-I'm not as lively as Arle."

"No, no, that's not true. I think it's good to change your image sometimes. Besides, isn't it easier to move with it tied up?"

"Y-Yes, if you say so, Master Joshua."

"Ah, Ellie."

"Y-Yes!"

"Paul is waiting. Let's go."

Realizing that anything I say will fluster Ellie, I pulled her hand, which was as red as her face, and headed to Paul.

"How is it? Is the strength sufficient?"

"No problems. The upper floors should function well as storage."

As soon as we arrived, I immediately asked Paul about the matter.

He narrowed his already thin eyes and smiled. Paul, who usually stands expressionless with sharp eyes and a sharp face, looks surprisingly gentle when he smiles.

"Good, that's great! Reinforce it if necessary. Grains are heavy."

"Yes. In addition to the concrete you developed, Master Joshua, we used iron rods for the foundation. Honestly, I think it's stronger than the walls of the capital."

Heh, heh, heh.

So, it's perfect. Wonderful, wonderful.

I plan to use this Insula as a food storage facility for a while.

Knowing that the citizens are distributing food individually, I planned to create a place where they can work under a roof and store food safely.

That's why it's a special Insula.

The construction area is about twice that of other Insulae. It might be too large for the current population, but I'm hoping it will become a central wholesale market in the future.

Floors two to four are all designed as storage.

Concrete is fragile if you just pour it into a mold.

So, the blacksmiths inserted iron stakes and coated them with concrete. This Insula has an iron frame inside.

In other words, it's a reinforced concrete Insula.

I've been mainly supervising residential construction for a week, but it was to see this construction.

Of course, I've been getting help from Torre and Garam. They were excited to assist with the new technology.

"The brick finish is also fine. It won't peel off."

"It looks similar to other Insulae, but the strength is in a different league."

"Exactly. But, Master Joshua, there must be more to it than just reinforced concrete."

"More than just reinforced concrete?"

"Yes. There must be another purpose for you to experiment with reinforced concrete here."

"Of course, Paul. This is a test. I did think it was necessary to use reinforced concrete here."

"Of course! The way Torre and Garam were acting... I suspected there was more to it. You always think several steps ahead."

While Garam and the others' eyes were bloodshot, it doesn't seem like it's because of something else...

Of course, there is something else.

The reason I explored reinforced concrete is a big part of it.

There was a reason I chose this Insula as the target. I wouldn't want it to collapse easily.

It will be the center of food distribution in the city of Neraque.

"Have you heard about the bridge construction? I want to make it as sturdy as possible."

"I see. Bridges can be easily destroyed by floods. With this material, we might be able to build a bridge that won't collapse!"

"We'll have to see. Building a bridge will be a challenging project. We'll also be testing new technologies."

"That sounds exciting. Residential construction is settling down, so can I participate in the major construction projects from time to time?"

"Sure, but won't the carpenters need you?"

"Don't worry about that. We've been together since coming to Cumberland."

"Got it. I'll rely on you within your limits. It's reassuring to have Paul around."

I shook hands firmly with Paul.