Over the course of several days, Rest worked tirelessly to establish a distribution route for people and goods between the Marquis Rosemary Territory and the Count Clover Territory.
There was a world of difference between a paved road and raw, exposed earth. This was especially true for horse-drawn carriages laden with heavy cargo. Being able to travel without the fear of getting bogged down in ruts or mire significantly slashed both travel time and transportation costs.
As he leveled the ground, Rest also fashioned moats and defensive walls along both sides of the road. Naturally, he used magic to accomplish this. These fortifications drastically reduced the risk of monster ambushes. While flying monsters and bandits remained a potential threat, he had already hired adventurers to patrol the route on horseback at scheduled intervals.
Even if travelers were attacked, the damage would be minimal.
Rest felt a surge of pride in his handiwork. He had done a good job. He was prepared to bask in the satisfaction of a task well done... but unfortunately, this was only the beginning of a new tragedy.
"I hear Lord Clover has constructed a magnificent highway in his territory. Truly remarkable."
"............"
One day, a man arrived at the base currently under construction. He was a familiar face: Andrew Aiwood, the Second Prince of the kingdom. He had arrived without any prior notice. Standing behind him, his aide, Yusgos Betrus, wore a deeply apologetic expression.
"I’ve been attempting to maintain the roads in my own territory as well, you see," Andrew continued. "Unfortunately, progress hasn't been nearly as swift as yours. Supplies are limited, and I lack the specialized manpower required to level terrain with magic as you do. I can’t exactly mobilize the Court Mages for my personal projects, after all."
"I see..."
"I must say, I’m quite envious. If only I possessed your bottomless well of mana."
"............"
Andrew kept shooting Rest meaningful, expectant glances. It wasn't hard to guess what he was after. In short, he wanted Rest to help him with his own roadwork.
He really does use me whenever it’s convenient, Rest thought.
Still, he understood the Prince's reasoning. If a job that usually required a massive amount of manpower and materials could be completed by a single person, any leader would want to exploit that efficiency for the sake of the budget.
Though I shouldn't toot my own horn, I’m surprisingly good at this sort of thing, Rest admitted to himself.
Perhaps it was the innate artisan spirit of his past life as a Japanese man, but the highway he had recently finished was exceptionally well-crafted. The width was perfectly uniform, spacious enough for two carriages to pass each other comfortably, and built with every safety consideration in mind. Andrew had likely come to him after seeing the quality of the work for himself.
"If only someone were willing to help, I would provide a most generous reward," Andrew mused. "I wonder if there is a kind soul like that out there somewhere?"
"If you are suggesting that I am that 'kind soul,' Your Highness, you are mistaken," Rest countered.
"Oh?"
"I am currently swamped with the development of my own territory. I don’t have the luxury of spending my time elsewhere."
"Is that so? How disappointing." Andrew spread his hands and gave a dramatic shrug. "And here I thought that since you’d finished exterminating the monsters at your base and completed your highway... and since the rest of the work would be left to architects and construction experts, you might have some free time on your hands."
"Ugh..."
"It seems my information was incorrect. If that's the case, I must offer my sincerest apologies. Perhaps I should bow my head and beg your forgiveness?"
The statement was a blatant threat. For a mere noble to force a member of the royal family to bow his head was an unthinkable social catastrophe.
"Your Highness Andrew..."
"Actually," Andrew said, his tone shifting, "something quite interesting was discovered in the territory granted to me. Lord Clover, are you familiar with 'Rainbow Crystals'?"
"Rainbow Crystals? The ones used in high-end jewelry...?"
"They aren't the sort of thing you find just by looking. We happened to strike a vein while digging a well. It’s nothing short of a miracle."
It was the name of an incredibly expensive ore with an extremely low mining yield. They were said to form in areas saturated with mana, regardless of the terrain. As the name suggested, the gemstones shimmered with seven colors. They were highly sought after for accessories and were considered the ultimate gift for a lover or a wife.
"Lord Clover, you have many lovely ladies in your life, and you’ll surely marry one day. I imagine you’ve started thinking about engagement or wedding rings?"
"............"
"Even if you placed an order with a jeweler in the capital, a stone the size of a pinky tip would cost as much as a mansion. Not to mention, you'd be on a waiting list for a decade without even knowing when a stone might arrive. I was planning to give one to my own beloved... well, never mind that."
Andrew flashed a mischievous, calculating grin.
"If you agree to help me, I can give you priority access to the crystals. Naturally, I’ll provide enough to make gifts for all four of your fiancées."
"............"
Rainbow Crystals. If he presented rings made from gemstones that even the highest-ranking nobles rarely saw, how would the girls react? They would be overjoyed. That much was certain.
"Fine," Rest said with a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping. "I’ll do it."
"You have my gratitude, Lord Clover."
"But are you sure about this? The crystals are likely worth more than the cost of the road construction itself."
"I don't mind. Money isn't everything." Andrew smiled, though his gaze seemed to drift toward a distant horizon. "My work has piled up so much that I have no time for myself. I haven't even been able to slip away for a tryst with my beloved. If your help buys me even a little bit of leisure, it’s a small price to pay."
"............"
Andrew wasn't officially engaged to anyone, so it seemed he really did have a secret lover. A forbidden romance across class lines, perhaps? Rest decided not to pry.
He would be conscripted into labor for a few days, but if it meant seeing his fiancées' smiles, then he supposed it was a small price for him as well.
With a resigned shake of his head, Rest prepared to begin road maintenance for a territory that wasn't even his own.