Afterstory Episode 16: The Former Townsperson A Conducts a Survey

As we flew along the river, I spotted a small hill rising from a plateau above the cliff line. There appeared to be a reasonably wide, flat area at the summit—it looked like an ideal spot for construction.

The hill was surrounded by dense forest, a clear sign that the area was rich in water. It looked suitable for farming, too. Wouldn't this be the perfect place for a new town?

"Allen, what do you think of the top of that hill?"

It seemed Ana was thinking the exact same thing.

"Yeah, I agree. It looks promising. Let’s take a closer look."

"Yes, let's."

I steered the nose of the craft toward the hill and began recording topographical data into the Vuitol 2, leaving no stone unturned.

"...There don't seem to be any private residences," I noted.

"No," Ana replied. "This is a frontier region, and the monsters haven't been cleared out yet."

"I see. I wonder if that's part of the reason my father-in-law decided to leave this place to us."

"...That may be so. Even in a place like this, it is our duty to exterminate monsters so that the people can live in peace."

"Right. I feel the same way."

Ana nodded with a serious expression, but I caught a glimpse of something like a mixture of joy and regret in her eyes. She probably feels like this was something she should have finished back when she was still part of House Ramslett.

"Still, having monsters around actually has its perks for a town," I said, trying to lighten the mood.

"That... is true."

It was a pragmatic reality. Monsters weren't necessarily all bad. Their presence meant a steady supply of Magic Stones, which would draw in adventurers. When adventurers gathered, the inns would profit, and so would the merchants. That demand would then trickle down to the people providing food and consumables, keeping the economy in motion. That was how a town developed.

By the time those thoughts had run their course, I’d finished surveying our target area.

"Alright, I think that covers the basics. Let's investigate the surrounding area just a bit more and then head back."

"Understood."

We finished the remaining survey work and turned back toward Wiechen.

◆◇◆

Upon returning to Wiechen, we visited my father-in-law’s office just as he was finishing his administrative duties for the day.

"Father-in-law, we've just returned."

"Ah, you're both back. Well? Did you find a suitable location?"

"Yes. We found a perfect hill a short distance inland from the coast, right along the river."

"Ho?"

"I’ve put together a topographical map; it looks something like this. We still need to investigate the soil quality and other factors, but..."

I handed him a piece of parchment where I’d transcribed the survey results.

"Hm? What is this?"

"It’s a precision topographical map. The thin lines represent ten-meter elevation intervals, and the thick lines are fifty meters."

"Hm? Hmmm... A-Allen, you only visited that location for the first time today, did you not?"

"Eh? Yes, that's right. I built a surveying function into the Vuitol 2."

"Good grief... to think such a thing was even possible..." My father-in-law’s expression darkened into a frown.

"Father, Allen is using this power for the good of the people—"

"I am well aware that Allen isn't the type of man to harbor malicious intent," he interrupted. "However, if the world finds out a map this sophisticated can be produced in a single day, it will cause an international incident."

"But Father-in-law, is my 'unusual' nature really news at this point?"

"True enough... but if a map like this fell into the hands of those Est Empire people, well..." He pinched the bridge of his nose, his brow furrowing.

I see. He had a point. I hadn't even considered using it for an invasion, but a map of this quality would have made the Est Empire's attempt to conquer the Sentlaren Kingdom significantly easier. As for the reverse... I doubt our side could have capitalized on it as effectively.

"But Father," Ana argued, "a map like this makes development so much more efficient."

"Indeed. However, this level of precision must be treated as a state secret. It’s a potential powder keg."

"Understood," I said. "I’ll make sure any maps I give to others are significantly less detailed."

"Good. See that you do." My father-in-law nodded, his expression remaining stern. "Now then, where do you plan to establish the labyrinth?"

"On the summit of that hill. We’ll build a temple to enshrine the God of Wind and the Goddess of Ice, then construct the labyrinth beneath it."

"I see. If you want to ensure a steady stream of faith, enshrining them from the start is a wise move. Do you have an architect in mind?"

"No, I actually wanted to consult you about that, as well as the general town planning."

"I see. I’ll dispatch our kingdom’s finest master craftsmen for the temple. As for the town, you two should design that yourselves. Though, a town centered on a temple usually follows a fairly standard layout."

"Understood."

"Also, I'll lend you these." He handed over a stack of papers.

"What are these?"

"Maps of the kingdom’s major cities. They should serve as a useful reference."

"Thank you very much!"

After providing a few more reports, we excused ourselves from my father-in-law’s office.