The site for the new village was finally decided.
It lay across the river to the west of the Village of the Great Tree, a short distance to the south. In a straight line, it was... maybe ten kilometers away? Since the river flowed from the north toward the south-southwest, the new village was actually a bit closer to the water.
"What was the reasoning behind this spot?" I asked.
"First, the hierarchy of the river dictates that we cannot be upstream," Ria explained. "Therefore, we naturally looked downstream."
"Hierarchy?" I blinked, a bit perplexed.
"Yes."
"Is that... really necessary?"
"It is," she said, her eyes clear and unwavering.
I see. If she said it was necessary, then I suppose it was. I decided not to press the issue.
"All right. So, downstream... but why on the far side of the river?"
"So that if the new village ever attempts a rebellion, we can use the river as a natural barrier to stop them."
A rebellion?
"Is that something we really have to worry about?"
"It is a possibility we must account for."
"Is it really that important?"
"Yes."
I-I see. So it was that serious. I decided it was best not to think too deeply about it.
"There are no large monsters or magical beasts near the chosen site," she continued. "Zabuton’s children and Kuro’s children will be able to handle the defense quite easily."
"I see. That makes sense."
Come to think of it, I’d thought Kuro and the others were practicing a bit of voluntary birth control lately, but they had been working quite hard this year. Perhaps they were trying to bolster their numbers to provide security for the new settlement? Or maybe they were anticipating the increased food supply that would come with the new harvest?
It was probably a bit of both. That aside, Masayuki, who had quite a few partners himself, had a very weary look in his eyes lately. He had my deepest sympathies. I understood his plight all too well.
I brought my focus back to the task at hand. "The location is clear. So, should I head out and start clearing the forest?"
"That is the plan, but there is one task I would like you to handle first."
"Hm?"
"A bridge."
"A bridge? Oh, right. We'll need one to cross the river."
"Yes. Considering the transport of materials from here on out, having a bridge will be a massive help."
"That’s true. Wait... how have you been getting across until now?"
"We’ve been using a few shallow spots to wade across. Kuro and his pack usually just jump over it."
"I see."
"Since we intend to use the waterway as a path, I would like the bridge built near it."
"Got it. Just show me where."
"Yes. We're counting on you, Village Head."
And so, the first group of the New Village Construction Team set out. I acted as the representative, accompanied by eight High Elves—including Ria—who served as the primary construction personnel. Five Lizardmen joined us as the heavy labor force, while ten of Kuro’s offspring served as guards. Kudel was assigned as our regular liaison.
The river was roughly five meters wide. The depth varied from one to three meters depending on the spot. The banks weren't sandy but made of rocky ground, sitting about a meter lower than the surrounding terrain. A short distance to the north, there was a waterfall about seven meters high; our waterway drew its water from the top of that fall.
We decided to build the bridge a little downstream from the waterfall. When I thought of a bridge, I pictured a suspension bridge, but Ria and her team had a different idea.
Following their lead, I used the Universal Farming Tool to fell a massive, thick log and lay it across the river. I secured both ends so it wouldn't shift and then shaved down the top to create a flat walking surface about a meter wide. With the tool, the work was finished in a flash.
"Is this sufficient?"
"Yes. Let's put up a few more, if you don't mind."
"Understood."
I ended up installing five bridges across the river, all within sight of one another.
"Wouldn't it have been better to line them up to make one wide bridge?" I asked.
"If we build a bridge that's too wide, large monsters or magical beasts will be able to cross it easily."
"Ah, right. Good point."
I really did have to be careful about that sort of thing.
"Could you also clear the land on both sides of the bridges? It will make it easier to spot approaching threats."
"You got it."
I felled the trees and tilled the ground with the Universal Farming Tool. Leaving it as bare dirt felt a bit depressing, so I decided to try growing some grass to cover the area.
With the bridges finished, I expected to start on the village next, but there was more work to be done.
"Now then, Village Head. Follow this direction."
I began carving a path toward the planned construction site. A road was definitely a necessity. I cut down the trees, and the Universal Farming Tool’s hoe form turned the stumps into fresh soil instantly. I made the path about five meters wide.
"We will handle the perimeter security and hunting," Ria said.
"Understood. Just let me know if I start veering off course."
"We will."
I worked in silence, carving the road until the sun began to dip. Perhaps because I had grown so accustomed to the tool, my pace was much faster than it had been in the early days, but the trek still took several days to complete.
"So, this is the spot?"
"Yes."
I wasn't an expert on what made a location good or bad, but I trusted Ria's judgment.
"Village Head. This tree."
Ria led me to a single, magnificent tree. It was the same variety as the one at the center of the Village of the Great Tree.
"We would like this tree to be the center of the new village."
"I see. That makes sense."
I began tilling the area around the tree. Since Ria and the others were handling the layout of the buildings, my job was simply to clear everything else into a vacant lot. I had to be careful not to let my mind wander, though—if I thought about anything specific, the tool might cause crops to sprout spontaneously. It would be a shame to plow over perfectly good sprouts, and I didn't want to turn the whole place into a field and ruin Ria's plans.
I emptied my mind and swung the tool. After several days of labor, I had created a vast, open clearing centered around the great tree.
Next, I dug a well. We had been carrying water in canteens until now, so the well made life much easier. After that came the outhouse. Outhouses are vital, after all. I secured some soft grass for wiping and set up a tub for washing hands. I’d have to bring some Slimes over soon.
A great tree, a well, an outhouse, and a massive supply of timber from the cleared forest—the foundations were set. Since the actual building construction hadn't started yet, I decided to build a small shrine near the base of the tree. It was a place to honor the two deities: the God who sent me to this world, and the one who had likely provided the Universal Farming Tool.
The High Elves helped me, and the shrine was finished in no time. I carved the statues for the two deities myself. They turned out quite handsome, if I do say so myself. Just like in our home village, I carved statues of Kuro and Yuki to stand guard like guardian lions.
As a bit of a playful touch, I also carved a life-sized statue of Zabuton... but I wasn't sure where to put it. The roof of the shrine seemed like a good spot, but it felt a bit disrespectful to place it above the gods.
While I was pondering the problem, several of Zabuton’s children scurried over and carried the statue up into the branches of the great tree. I guess that was their preferred spot.
"I don't mind, but make sure you secure it so it doesn't fall."
As I spoke, I realized that dozens of Zabuton’s children had already arrived and made themselves at home in the canopy above.