Saichi Village.
It was a settlement situated on the outskirts of Hamususu, a town about twenty kilometers north-northwest of Resonare, the royal capital of the Norha Principality.
It numbered around ninety households.
According to the intelligence Jin had gathered beforehand, the exact count was eighty-eight.
Its primary industry was agriculture, with wheat as its staple crop.
Climatically, the area received a fair amount of rainfall, though it fell mostly during the winter.
This was because the prevailing winter winds from the north carried damp air over from the northern sea.
Conversely, clear, dry weather persisted throughout the summer, so the villagers cultivated winter wheat—sown in autumn and harvested in spring or early summer.
During the summer months, the fields were left fallow.
If they could immediately sow seeds again after the harvest to practice double-cropping, their yield would simply double.
Because there were no issues with soil sickness or repeated cultivation thanks to Soil Control, double-cropping was entirely feasible as long as water was plentiful.
Of course, the available labor force was also a factor, so Jin intended to assess the local conditions with his own eyes.
On August 8, Jin visited Saichi Village, accompanied by Reiko and Hope.
To avoid startling the villagers too much, Hurricane was parked some distance away, and they made the final approach using Eagle Unit 1.
Even so, the villagers were quite taken aback...
"Er, my name is Jin Nidou. I have been commissioned by the Duke to develop this village and make it a better place to live."
Introducing himself in that manner, Jin showed the letter of authorization from the Duke to the Village Chief.
"Well now, this is certainly an official document... You said your name is Jin-dono? And what, specifically, will you be doing?"
The Village Chief, Aik Nibiki, who was in his late forties and still in the prime of his years, looked at Jin with searching eyes.
"First will be the development of infrastructure."
"Infra...?"
Realizing the word "infrastructure" meant nothing to him, Jin quickly clarified.
"First, we will dig wells. After that, we'll create a reservoir pond. We will also install sewage facilities."
For now, Jin figured this was about as much as could be accomplished in a short timeframe.
"I-I see...?"
However, unable to fathom such an undertaking, the Village Chief looked at him as though he were speaking in tongues.
"Proof is better than argument, so let us get to work....We won't cause any trouble for you or your people. We'll handle all the labor on our end, and the costs for materials and such are covered by the Principality."
With that explanation, Village Chief Aik was finally convinced.
"If that is the case, then by all means, please proceed."
"Leave it to us."
Even as he replied, Jin felt a twinge of regret that he hadn't brought an official along from around Hamususu.
He realized that having a total stranger suddenly appear and declare, "I will develop your village," would naturally leave anyone bewildered.
That was careless of me...
Jin decided he would pretend to go fetch materials later and bring an official back with him.
Just then, however—
"Oh, Jin-dono! You have already begun, I see."
Calling out with these words, Ministry of Technology Undersecretary Nahams Marow arrived aboard a golem carriage.
"O-Oh, Marow-sama!"
It seemed the Village Chief recognized Nahams Marow.
"Village Chief, this gentleman is an honored guest of our country, and one who is providing us with tremendous aid. See to it that you show him the utmost respect."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
He arrived at just the right time, Jin thought, breathing a sigh of relief.
In truth, however, Laojun had anticipated this very scenario and dispatched Deus Ex Machina to send an official to the village.
"Maquina-dono, welcome."
Duke Keith Tennick de Norha personally greeted Maquina at the airfield.
"Greetings....I was told Jin was here?"
Maquina was configured to speak in a rougher tone compared to Jin, but naturally adopted polite language when addressing the Duke.
Since Hurricane was not on the airfield, Maquina feigned noticing Jin's absence.
"Yes, Jin-dono mentioned wanting to establish a 'model district' first, so he has gone to a nearby village."
"Is that so?...Is anyone from your government accompanying him?"
"No, Jin-dono went alone."
Here, Maquina paused thoughtfully for a moment before offering some advice.
"That seems a bit thoughtless. If possible, it would be wise to dispatch someone from your country."
Maquina explained that the locals might be bewildered by what an unfamiliar outsider like Jin was doing and might prove uncooperative.
"Jin does not really consider such political matters, you see."
At this, not only the Duke, but also the Chancellor, the minister of general affairs, the Ministry of Magic, and the minister of technology—who had all gathered to welcome Maquina—grew visibly flustered.
"I-Indeed, that is very true."
The Duke, looking somewhat rattled, issued an order to the Chancellor.
"Dispatch someone at once."
"Right away....Minister of Technology, is there someone suitable?"
The Chancellor turned to the minister of technology.
"Yes. In that case, let us send Undersecretary Marow. He has visited that village several times before."
The minister of technology recommended Ministry of Technology Undersecretary Nahams Marow.
"Then I shall transport him near the village aboard Aristotle. It can easily carry a carriage," Maquina offered.
"Oh, that would be a tremendous help!"
The officials of the Norha Principality expressed their heartfelt gratitude.
And so, the golem carriage and Ministry of Technology Undersecretary Nahams Marow were able to reach Saichi Village in short order.
"Thank you for coming. It was a huge help."
Jin expressed his sincere gratitude.
"Not at all. On our part, leaving everything entirely to you, Jin-dono, and abandoning you to the task would be utterly irresponsible," Nahams Marow replied, conveying the Principality's stance as he walked alongside Jin.
"Maquina-dono gave us the advice, and that is why I rushed here, albeit a bit late. I hardly have the right to act proud about it."
"No, not at all."
Even while maintaining the conversation, Jin was probing the earth for underground water veins.
"'Grand Search'...This spot should do."
Once the location of a water vein was pinpointed, digging a well was child's play. Naturally, he made sure to choose a spot where no Master core was present.
"'Dig.' 'Toughening.' 'Forming.'"
"Ohh!"
In an instant, a shaft was excavated, the surrounding soil rose to form a parapet, and a well was complete.
Jin felt a twinge of nostalgia, reminiscing about the past.
"Now, we install the pump we prepared here... Reiko, Hope, give me a hand."
"Yes, Master."
"Yes, Father."
What they had prepared this time was a deep-well pump. After all, the water vein in this area lay some thirty meters beneath the surface.
"That's one."
"Oh, that was remarkably fast!"
"And that makes two."
"As expected of Jin-sama!"
Jin dug one well after another, installing pumps in each.
His working pace was roughly one pump every ten minutes.
In the end, Jin successfully installed wells in ten different locations before the day was out.
"..."
Nahams Marow, who had remained by his side the entire time, voiced words of admiration at first, but by the end, he was so astounded that he could not utter a single word.