Chapter 74 Explosions for Construction!
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Ayumu groaned three days later, the memory of having reluctantly accepted the canal construction project still weighing heavily on him. The reason was obvious: Mr. Kapon had coerced him into it, and now the budget was only half of what was needed. “Only half the budget… That means the number of workers I can hire is limited—ahhh!” he muttered.
Despair had him slumped across his desk, with nothing left but to groan in frustration. Of course, he could have appealed to Emperor Rai or Empress Sarendra—but even though he had temporarily saved the Crown Prince, that route felt impossible.
Years of serving the royal family—and especially under Kapon Rüdel, who had maintained the State Capital Livonia despite all odds, and Viness, a goddess treated as an evil deity in the Demi-human Continent—had left Ayumu summoning dubious conclusions about his own situation.
”Who do I trust? It’s painfully obvious…” he muttered, collapsing further onto the desk.
A sudden jolt of pain shot through the back of his head. “Ow!” he yelped as he sat up, only to see Ninim from the People of Birene glaring at him, a sharp quill in hand, while she sorted through documents. “What are you doing, just resting?!” she demanded.
Apparently, she had been gathering materials for him, but to her, it looked like he had been slacking off. The quill jabbed dangerously close to his head—fearsome, indeed. He silently hoped she could be at least a little gentle with his misfortune. But he knew that was wishful thinking.
Resigned, Ayumu began working through the materials Ninim had compiled, constructing a realistic, executable plan for the canal.
* * *
A year had been allotted for the project, yet a week later, the canal construction had reached its final stages.
”Alright, everyone responsible! Make sure the hole depths and spacing are accurate—final check! Is the explosives placement correct?”
Ayumu wasn’t acting recklessly. Using knowledge of demolition his father had possessed in the original world, he planned to blast even the hardest rock. Half the budget could suffice with the limited workforce, and the explosives had been stored away since the Yugan Empire—unused since military campaigns. No one could have imagined siege explosives would be repurposed for canal construction.
With only a year to complete the project, there was no time to dig meticulously. Patience was a luxury he could not afford.
At first, his plan had been called madness. “That foreigner’s done it again!” people said. But soon, they would have no choice but to reconsider their judgment.
”Evacuations complete? Fire!”
The blast caused a minor tremor, and a rumble of earth followed. A few moments later, water surged into the newly opened canal, sending splashes flying. The workers cheered loudly. It was a success.
Ayumu had spent a significant portion of the budget improving the workers’ welfare, earning their gratitude and admiration. Well deserved, he thought—after all, he had endured the most hardship.
He celebrated by throwing a feast, complete with abundant food and wine, to mark the opening of the canal. The canal was complete, and despite the chaos, he couldn’t help but feel satisfaction.
Notes:
• Empress Sarendra – Aare’s mother who expresses quiet resentment towards Aare’s existence.
• Viness – Goddess in the Holy Kingdom of Alyurein.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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