Former Villager A Chooses an Architect

The next architect entered the room.

"My name is Antonio. I handle a wide range of projects, but I specialize in harmonizing multiple structures to create beautiful, cohesive landscapes."

"I see. Antonio, please, have a seat."

"Thank you, My Lady."

Antonio sat before us and, following Filippo’s lead, spread out his portfolio.

"As I said, I am Antonio. I pride myself on being the finest architect in Ramslett when it comes to townscapes. Please, look here. For example—"

Antonio proceeded to highlight his achievements with as much flourish as he could muster.

But that wasn't what we were looking for. If we just wanted someone to put up a few buildings, we could hire any architect off the street, I thought.

We met several more candidates after him, but the result was always the same. Each one spent their time boasting about past projects; not a single person spoke from the perspective of comprehensive town planning.

Was I going to have to do everything myself?

Just as I was sinking into a state of resignation, the final architect arrived. He was a short man in somewhat scruffy clothes, but even from across the desk, I could see his hands were gnarled and calloused. Unlike the others, this was clearly a man who spent his time on a construction site, not just behind a drafting table.

"The name's Domingo. I’m a journeyman architect. I was brought here by royal decree, so I’m light on the details. I heard you're looking to build a town from scratch?"

"How dare you be so rude—" the butler began.

"Step back!" Ana commanded.

"My apologies, My Lady!" The butler, properly chastised, retreated into the shadows.

"Domingo, thank you for coming," Ana said, quickly summarizing our vision and the requirements for the new settlement.

"…A town centered around a temple, huh?" Domingo rubbed his chin. "It’s not a bad idea, but is that temple really necessary? If you build a massive shrine and nobody shows up to pray, it’ll be a pathetic sight."

"The temple is to honor a Divine Revelation," Ana explained. "The temple must come first; the town is being built to support it."

"A Divine Revelation? I see. Well, that changes how we have to look at things. Tell me, does this Revelation forbid you from rebuilding the temple later?"

"Once the temple is built, we cannot destroy it."

"Hoh. Then what about renovating the area around the temple?"

"That is not prohibited."

"Then it’s simple. At first, you build only what’s strictly required by the Divine Revelation. Then, as the town grows, you build a second, larger temple that completely encloses the first one. A double-layered structure. That way, the inner temple is protected from the elements so it’ll last longer, and the outer shell can be expanded or renovated whenever you need. It grows with the town."

I blinked. I hadn't thought of that. It’s a shell-and-core approach.

"Since you'll only have devout believers at the start, you keep the initial cost low," Domingo continued. "Once the town hits a certain size, you use taxes and donations to fund the outer structure. You won’t be throwing money away on a giant, empty building on day one."

"That sounds incredibly pragmatic," I said. "And what about the rest of the town?"

"Well, you grow it bit by bit, obviously. Building a massive city all at once is a waste of time if there are no people to fill it. Besides, there’s something more important than the buildings."

"And what would that be?"

"Roads. I don't care if it’s a town or a temple—if people can't get there, it’s useless. If it's by the sea or a river, you need a harbor. Your roads need to be wide enough for carriages to pass each other comfortably. And I don’t know the terrain yet, but if the area gets a lot of rain and turns into a bog, you’re going to need proper paving."

Wait, I thought, this guy is actually the most reliable one yet.

"You also need to secure the routes," Domingo added. "If your merchants are getting slaughtered by monsters or bandits on the way in, the whole project is a wash."

He was right. We’d have to hire adventurers to protect shipments, and even then, you couldn’t account for every disaster.

"Is there anything else we should be concerned about?" Ana asked.

"Maps. You can’t lay a single stone for a road or a house if you don't know the terrain. Once you have a map, everything else is just a matter of having enough coin and enough hands."

"Very well," Ana said, then turned to me. "Allen, do you have any questions for him?"

"Yeah. Domingo, when we start the town, I want to ensure the infrastructure—specifically hygiene—is handled from the ground up."

"You mean you want a full sewage system?"

"Exactly."

"Hoh. I heard you were a Hero, but you’re more concerned with the commoners' lot than I expected."

"I... beg your pardon?"

"Ah, don’t mind me. It’s just rare to find someone who actually gives a damn about sewers. Most nobles don't think about what happens to their waste."

"……"

"Fine by me. If you’re going to do it, you’d better do it from the start. I’ll need to see the land before I can figure out the grade, and keep in mind, it’s going to cost a fortune."

"But without it, we’d be inviting a plague, wouldn't we?"

The Royal Capital of Centlaren, where I grew up, had a decent sewage system. Even so, there were plenty of unsanitary corners. I shuddered to think what a town would look like without any drainage at all.

"Right you are," Domingo said, his eyes turning distant for a moment. "Exactly right."

He shook himself and stood up. "Alright! If you want my help, just say the word. I’ll put everything I’ve got into helping you build this town."

"Thank you, Domingo."

I wasn't entirely sure what had sparked his sudden enthusiasm, but he seemed motivated.

"Allen, anything else?" Ana asked.

"No, I'm satisfied."

"Understood. Domingo, you may go."

"Right."

The journeyman architect bowed and left the room.

"Ana, what did you think?" I asked as soon as the door closed.

"I think Domingo is by far the best candidate."

"I agree. He was the only one actually looking for solutions to our specific problems."

"Indeed. His idea for the double-structured temple was brilliant."

"Exactly. The other guys were just trying to sell us on their 'artistic vision.' They didn't seem interested in the actual logistics."

"Then it's settled."

"Yeah. Let's hire Domingo."

And so, we decided to entrust the future of our town to the journeyman architect, Domingo.

Notice:

Volume 5 of the manga adaptation of Villager A Wants to Save the Villainess was released today, February 9, 2024. The story has finally entered the Academy Arc, where Allen must confront the Scenario of the Otome Game. Please check out the beautiful and detailed artwork of Miyoshi Meguro-sensei, featuring Anastasia, Amy, and the rest of the cast.

There are also limited-edition store bonuses available. If you're interested, please pick up a copy!

2024/06/08:

I have launched a new work titled The Exiled Young Girl's Territory Development Chronicles. It’s the story of a reincarnated Villainess who is exiled at age eight. She becomes a lord in the sticks and starts making skeleton monsters to help her people, only to accidentally trigger an industrial revolution. I’m writing it to be a light, breezy read, so please give it a look!

https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093078833538977/episodes/16818093078842382216