Chapter 88

After the residential construction came to a temporary halt, we immediately plunged into the busy week of major civil engineering projects. Hehe.

Everyone is so dedicated that they end up in such a strange state of excitement.

It's true that the development of infrastructure is urgent. However, if we work ourselves to the point of collapse and end up overworked, it will all be for nothing.

Therefore, I give strict instructions to ensure everyone takes breaks, and I keep a close eye on it. No, I'm not at the construction site all day, though.

It's only been three days, but I think the progress is quite remarkable.

In this world, there are no civil engineering vehicles or electric tools, but there is magic.

The bridge beams are completed at a speed that seems impossible for manual labor! The bridge beams, with their concrete core clad in red bricks, are already impressive structures on their own. Some of these beams are hollow inside.

The plan is to use a siphon system to draw water from the bridge, pass it through the bridge, and supply it to the aqueduct. I took inspiration from ancient Roman aqueducts, but I'm a bit anxious about whether it will work. The mechanism did function in the model, though.

By the way, the beams will be connected using Roman-style arches. This is based on the easy assumption that a similar form will work better.

But it really is amazing to see it being built so quickly. They might be working on the siphon maintenance holes right now.

The construction of the aqueduct is proceeding in parallel with the construction of the water channels from the square side. The water channels in the city are being built underground.

There are three reasons for this. One is that there are roads and buildings on the ground, and as the area becomes more densely populated, the water channels could become a hindrance. The second is the risk of disasters such as flooding if the water channels are on the surface. The third is the health issue of mosquitoes and other insects breeding in the water.

Building the water channels underground is labor-intensive, but the effort will pay off. Considering the future, I decided to go with the underground option.

While I was looking at the bridge beams with Alr at the banks of the Rubicon River, Torre, who was carrying a large mallet over his shoulder with great enthusiasm, came over.

"It's proceeding according to the model."

"The model was intricate, but it requires considerable skill to implement in reality. It's a challenging project, but I'll continue to rely on you."

"What are you saying! We're not building a bridge over a sheer cliff. I will definitely bring water from this aqueduct to the central square."

"Torre designed it. It will surely deliver the water. After completion, we need to think about how to maintain it."

"Initially, we can take turns maintaining it. Not only the siphon, but in a few decades, the bridge and the water channels themselves will also need maintenance."

"True. By then, the population will have increased."

"Indeed. Thanks to Joshua, the population is steadily growing."

"Y-Yes."

According to the report I received from Charlotte this morning, the population is slightly over 1,400. At this rate, it might exceed 2,000 in two months, or even one month.

I'm glad we planned the infrastructure to accommodate tens of thousands of people when designing the city. Given the current population, the infrastructure seems excessive, but with such a robust water channel and aqueduct, we won't need to expand in the future.

Once the basic infrastructure is in place, I want to start building facilities to make life more convenient... There's still a lot to do. I want to try developing vehicles, and livestock and agriculture are just getting started. The shopping district hasn't even begun yet.

No good. Thinking about the overwhelming amount of remaining tasks makes me feel crushed.

A certain level of planning is necessary, but we shouldn't be greedy. Let's take it step by step.

"Then, Joshua, I'll head back to the site."

"Make sure everyone takes breaks."

"I'll use your name to ensure that, so it will be perfect. Hehehe."

We waved to each other, and I watched Torre walk away towards the riverbank. At that moment, a strong wind blew through, and I remembered that I had left Alr unattended for a while.

When I glanced at her, she was smiling and nodding.

"Alr."

"Yes!"

Her skirt fluttered in the wind, but she answered cheerfully without holding it down.

"I've been focused on watching the construction site, and you must have been bored, right?"

"No, I was watching you, the hill, the bridge, and the moving reeds!"

"I should have told you to play with the reeds while waiting."

"Alr is not a child anymore! So, it's fine!"

"O-Oh, that's good. Then, let's go for a walk to the other side of the hill after visiting the blacksmith."

"Yes!"

Alr's ears twitched in excitement.

The other side of the hill is still unexplored, and it's worth going. We might find some valuable minerals since the hill has glass sand.

But that's just a surface excuse. My true intention is to let Alr, who has been so devoted, have some fun once in a while. It will also be a good change of pace for me.

Tomorrow, I'll go for a walk with Ely too. Should we go west or east? The cliffs where saltpeter can be found might be a good option.

◇◇◇

The construction site is impressive due to the hard work of the citizens, but the blacksmith's workshop is a completely different scene. Both are surprising, but here, the excitement comes from the experimental results.

Who would have imagined that something unprecedented is happening in this small blacksmith's workshop? The fusion of magic and science, and the development of new technologies, make my heart race.

Not as much as a penguin, but if I were shown how electricity can be turned into a magic stone, I would be captivated.

From the experimental results so far, we have learned that when electricity is converted into mana and minerals are placed in a container filled with mana, they become magic stones containing mana. Here's a summary:

- Ordinary stones: Magic stones

- Glass sand: High-quality magic stones (three times the mana of ordinary magic stones)

- Quartz: Ultra-high-quality magic stones (twenty times the mana of ordinary magic stones)

- Coal: Combustion stones

- Saltpeter: Gunpowder stones

- Copper: Orange copper

- Iron: Blue metal

- Silver: Mithril

- Gold: Orichalcum

- Platinum: Adamantite

- Bronze: Damascus steel

- Aluminum: White metal

There are also other metals like lead and tin, which we want to test in the future.

However, we need to scientifically investigate the properties of each magic metal to understand how to use them. We know some characteristics of well-known magic metals like mithril and blue metal, but...