Volume 6 Chapter 29-5 Concrete Road
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”I see, I see. That looks really fun.”
”Will it really work the way it looks?”
”But I still want to try it. Let’s just make it!”
The dwarves’ eyes are shining. Some are already picking up shovels and digging tools. Maybe it’s the alcohol, but they’re super excited. This kind of mood is common with them—just like Mr. Zenom. Dwarves often start building things without planning, just because they get excited.
”Let’s not jump right into making the real thing. Why don’t we make a small model first? About 1/24 size.”
”A tiny one?”
”What are we gonna do with a toy?”
”Why that size? 1/24 sounds kinda random.”
It’s actually a common size for plastic models. It’s easy to understand the size that way. If I were working alone, I might go with 1/32. But if we’re doing it as a group and having fun, I thought something a little bigger would be nice.
”If we want to make water flow through it, this size makes it easier to build the tiny parts.”
”Hmm. Should we use the same materials as the real one?”
Wait, are we really making this out of concrete? If so, we could’ve made it even bigger. But okay, it’s not impossible.
It looks like Master Ragul really wants to use concrete for everything. He’s even using thin concrete plates for the mold. He’s serious.
The apprentices are working fast. They’re calling out to each other and doing their jobs without much talking. It feels like watching bees build a hive. But bees act by instinct—these guys are making something new for the first time. What’s going on?
If I help, I might just get in the way, so I stay quiet and watch. I use my editor skill to record the process.
Instead of just using volcanic ash as it is, they’re using it like cement powder. It seems different from how the builders in the capital do it.
They finish pouring the concrete before the sun comes up. The master even made a tiny concrete ship at 1/24 scale. Honestly, wood would’ve been fine for that part.
”With this weather, we’ll have to wait ten days before we can test it with water.”
The master says this with a happy face, looking at the finished model.
”Really? That long?”
In the royal capital, I saw concrete harden in half a day. I thought dwarf tech would be better, not worse.
”You know a lot, but not everything, huh? Concrete might look hard fast, but to reach stone-like hardness that lasts a thousand years, it takes years. Still, it’s strong enough to use after about ten days.”
So dwarven concrete can last a thousand years? If that’s true, it’s even better than what we have on Earth.
I really want to use this stuff when I build my country.
”Yes, there’s still a lot I don’t know. I thought I could do this alone, but it’s clearly too much. If you don’t mind, will you help me build my country? I don’t have much money yet, but I can get you all the concrete materials you want.”
Even if the kings of other countries bring piles of gold, it’s not easy to hire dwarves. What they really want isn’t money—it’s rare materials and fun projects.
In that way, I think I have a chance. And honestly, building this model canal together was really fun.
I take out some white valley sand from my magic bag and make it float in the air to get their interest. If they help me, I promise they’ll have all the concrete they need.
”Oh? A magic bag, huh. What are you planning to make, big brother?”
”First, basic things. Roads, water pipes, ships, harbors. Then water cleaning plants, sewage drains, shipyards, and concrete factories.”
”You’ve got big dreams, but no money, huh? Are you planning to build everything with concrete?”
At first, I thought I’d slowly cut and shape stone. But now I know it’s much easier to get concrete materials than I thought.
And if Master Ragul helps, then we can do a lot.
Still, I need to be careful not to make a boring gray city out of all concrete.
”I think it would be good to make blocks and pipes in a standard shape and size. That way we can mass-produce them.”
”I don’t really get what you’re saying, but it sounds cool. Can we really get all the stuff we need?”
”I checked the sand and volcanic ash yesterday. Want to come see it?”
I take them to the storage site and keep piling up materials until the foreman finally shouts at me to stop.
”You’re kinda clueless sometimes, big brother. Also, I need fuel. I need it to heat the white valley sand. I have a magic fire tool, so a magic stone should be good.”
So they need heat for the cement process. Magic stones… maybe I can borrow some from Ms. Mahal. I’ll ask her when I go deliver that letter to Ms. Nina.
Still, baking sand… I wonder if Salamander’s flames could do it? Might be worth trying.
Either way, I got strong helpers when I least expected it. I know nothing about construction, so having real pros to talk to is amazing.
When I draw my city idea on a big board, the foreman’s eyes start to sparkle. Dwarves don’t hold back when they’re into something. Well, it’s my country—so I’ll let them go wild a bit.
Even though I didn’t sleep, I feel wide awake. My mind is clear, and ideas keep coming. I feel super excited… but maybe a bit too excited.
Notes:
• Mr. Zenom – Tough dwarf blacksmith from Toyoata Village. Repairs weapons, improves accuracy. Charges 100 gold/arrow. Becomes protagonist’s strict master. Assigns hard tasks like pre-dawn cleaning, firewood, water pumping. Owns well-equipped forge. Challenges protagonist to prove ideas.
• Ragul – A dwarf and a master craftsman on the temple. His appearance is typical of dwarves, with a sturdy build and a beard. He is kind-hearted, offering the narrator a place to stay. His relationship with the narrator is that of a temporary host and a fellow enthusiast of craftsmanship.
• Ms. Mahal – A talented alchemist and old friend of Mr. Zenom’s; she is knowledgeable about homunculi and leads the protagonist to a secret underground passage.
• Ms. Nina – Doll Princess (Auroora 217), renamed by the protagonist. Beautiful blonde, ~168 cm, slim waist. Wears adventurer attire. Made from artificial parts and wooden limbs, resembling a princess. Knowledgeable, can read, write, and use basic healing magic. Reliable partner, often saves the protagonist with her skills.
• Mahal – A talented alchemist and old friend of Mr. Zenom’s; she is knowledgeable about homunculi and leads the protagonist to a secret underground passage.
• Nina – Doll Princess (Auroora 217), renamed by the protagonist. Beautiful blonde, ~168 cm, slim waist. Wears adventurer attire. Made from artificial parts and wooden limbs, resembling a princess. Knowledgeable, can read, write, and use basic healing magic. Reliable partner, often saves the protagonist with her skills.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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