Chapter 10

Dispensing my company. The rest of the day was spent doing renovations to the workshop. There are a few projects that will require the forge from now on. And I got the feeling bandits are not the only problems we’ll have.

First is cleaning up. A burst of magic and all the dust and smaller debris are gone. After that is levitating away the ruined parts of the roof.

For remaking it, I’ll just use new wood from storage. Some water magic and they’re perfectly cut into planks and beams.

Next is putting everything into place. Some adjustments, and I’ll also substitute the covering for stone made shingles.

The place is a little simple looking, so I’ll redo part of the floor with wood, and the heavy work area with a perfectly formed stone flooring.

The old forge and tools will be left as is, but I’m installing my personal forge besides it. Fitting the pieces into place again is harder that it looked like when I unassembled it.

Last work is covering the wall holes and reinforcing the structure with magic. Wards can be left for another day.

The final result is a beautiful stone and wood structure. Not too bad if I say so myself.

As I’m stuck appreciating the awesomeness of my work. I’m approached by someone I know.

“Wow! How can you work so fast?”

“Eh, I’m awesome like that. How is it going Aida?” Said the humble me.

“It’s alright. I am finished with my duties, and came to see if you needed something.”

“What do you do? I heard about an apprenticeship.” I couldn’t help but ask.

“I work with elder Zaina. She’s the village’s healer. She’s teaching me all about medicinal herbs and medical treatments. I know she might have looked a little bit suspicious, but that’s because she spends way too much time with her concoctions.” She said while helping me put back the old tools in place.

“Just don’t tell her I told you that.” Said the giggling elf.

The next visitor was the chief while parading on top of Balto.

“Why is my dog so easy? Have you no shame!” I said to the happy looking ball of fur.

“Good evening! This good boy here has been helping me hunt this afternoon. Nice work with forge by the way.”

“Good evening mother. It’s getting late. Why don’t we go back home together?” Said Aida while petting the Fenrir.

“Wasn’t you the one who got afraid when you rode with me?”

“Well,” Said the now slightly red elf trying to avoid my gaze. “It’s different when I have to hold on to someone.”

For all that this bashful elf looks strong. She also has a cute side. I couldn’t help but think so.

After getting Balto back to his stable. Our evening was spent in the Chief’s house, where I will apparently be living from now on. I tried to say it wouldn’t be necessary, as I could very well crash at the forge. To the adamant refusal from mother and daughter.

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Next day. I begin making the wards for the forge. These are simple ones mostly to keep curious ones out of potentially dangerous experiments.

I’m also setting space aside for the Micro-Rune artifact. The housing for it requires some work, but it’s not something urgent for now.

After Noon I’ll go find Raja again to help me with the next project. Exiting the village, I can see in the distance Balto together with the rest of the Hunters bringing game and preparing it.

“Hello. How may I help you?” Said the elf coming down from its perch.

“Hi. Since I got the forge ready. I need to check with you what else needs doing. I was thinking of making a new proper wall for the village.”

“Listen here. I know you’re good with magic, but making a proper wall is a long-term project that we simply don’t have the resources or the manpower for it.”

Pointing at the currently frayed log palisade, she continued.

“Even repairing the current palisade to acceptable levels has been a challenge with most of the villagers busy with maintaining the crops. If we don’t harvest till end season, we’re going to starve. And you want us to build a stone wall?”

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Actually, I won’t need further help, I just want to make sure if I’m building it in the right place.”

“If you’re really sure you can do it. Go ahead. Just follow the palisade’s contours, and be sure not to block the river. We don’t want to flood the village.” Said the elf with suspicious look.

“I’ll get on with it then!”

Immediately The ground began to rumble, and from it, began to sprout a perfectly smooth rock wall. Even with space for archers on top. To dismayed looks from Raja.

“Now that is something, girl. Sorry for doubting you. But can you cover the whole village?”

“It’s going to take a while, but I can.” I spoke.

The rest of the afternoon was spent drawing out the wall. The hole caused by the material was made into a moat to later be filled by the river.

Thankfully I didn’t need to cover the whole circle, as one of the sides was a cliff with a beautiful waterfall.

By the end, we got a whole peanut gallery of spectators watching in amazement the walls coming right up from the ground.

Further work will be necessary with the facilities and the materials for the gates. But that can be made in another time.

The gates I intend to forge from steel, adding up to the ward work on the walls. It is going to take me a further few days to complete.

The result will be an impregnable fortress. Muhaha! Behold the Isekai cheat, and tremble!

That night, Aida was making dinner as usual. Her mother was lounging around.

“You caused quite a stir today. Raja told me she had to put some people watching you just to let you work.” Said the tired looking elf sprawled on the mat.

“I’m just doing what I can. Don’t worry. It’s been fun.”

“Balto also has been a great help. The extra meat will really help us come winter. Just wish I didn’t have so much work preparing all that meat.”

“How do you preserve the food?” I asked

“Everything is either salted or smoked. The price of the salt is paid with the pelts. They really gouge us deep with the prices.”

“We could build an ice house for the village. I guess it would ease things a little.”

“Ice house? You mean that fancy thing nobles use to drink ice in the summer? Didn’t know it could be used like that. It certainly would ease my burdens.”

“You complain too much mother.” Admonished the girl busy at the hearth.

“Yeah, Yeah. Who’s the parent here. Huh?” She said, drawing a laugh from the spectators.

“I’m watching you both!”

“It is done. Let’s eat.”

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The next few days were busily spent completing the wall, forging artifacts and finishing up the new housing for the Micro-Rune Artifact.

The hardening wards both into the walls and gate, makes it able to resist even siege equipment. And the battlements will give plenty of space for archers.

Finishing the last elements in the workshop. I am now able to make precision enchanted equipment. Or using the forge for simple tools.

Perhaps I could get the hunters better bows, or perhaps even training the villagers in using crossbows. The possibilities are many.

I really don’t know if it would be right going into the gunpowder route though. The world might not be ready for it.

One day when I’m busily idling in the forge. I’m visited by an unknown person.

“Hello. Mr. Dryad. Are you there?” Came the knocking on the door.

When I opened, in came a small, pretty lady wearing a straw hat. Her muddied clothing made pretty clear she was working at the fields.

“Hi. Just Rhea is fine. Come right in. I’ll serve you some tea.”

“Thank you my dear. My name is Keya. You might know my wife, Raja.”

“Sure. Raja has been helping me with tasks around the village, also keeping people off my back when I’m working.” I said as we took our seats.

“I’m glad you’re getting along with her. She can be a bit too strait laced sometimes.” She said with a laugh.

“I don’t mind it. I’m sure she means well.” I said while taking hot tea cups directly from spacial storage,

“That’s one nice trick you have there. Glad you’re liking the village.” She said while taking a sip.

“The reason I came here. Is because I heard you’re quite good with magic. If that wall covering our village is any measure. Nice tea, by the way.”

“You see. I’m the representative of the village’s farmers. And I wanted to know if you could help us with our current predicament.”

“I heard you lost part of the planted crops to fire or something. Right?”

“Yes. In the raid a few months back. The bandits burned down part of the fields before we could organize a counter attack. I guess they meant to force us outside the fence. Unfortunately, with the crops lost. I don’t think it would be enough for all of us till next season. Not to mention the taxmen won’t give us a discount, I suspect.” She continued.

“I know you and the Fenrir have been helping us a lot with the meat. But that wheat is indispensable as well.”

That was an interesting problem. I guess I could accelerate another harvest until winter using magic. The problem is that it would rapidly deplete the soil. We would have to use the whole winter to manually repair it using some modern techniques.

I convened my thoughts on the matter to the elf in front of me to her great delight.

“really? You can do this for us? Thank you.” She said as she bowed towards me.

“I’m here to help. This village has nothing but kind to me.”

After the visit. I continued on my work until evening. And as usual, Aida came to pick me up.

As we walk back, I look at the smiling elf besides me.

“I know it might sound insensitive but. Where is your other parent?”

“The truth is, we really don’t know.”

“How so?”

“We suspect she’s been kidnapped by slavers. She can be dead or perhaps still around somewhere serving some lord. That was five years ago.”

“Sorry for asking.” I said, realizing the landmine I stepped on.

“Don’t worry. There’s hardly any family around here without a similar story you know. We are all in this together. Like a big family.” She said to me with a sad looking smile.

“That’s why we all think what you’re doing for us is so special. More than anything material. It’s the hope you’re giving us.”

“Thank you for saving us.” Is all that I could hear her say before she gave me a kiss on the cheek and rushed ahead running before I could reply.

That she avoided looking at me the rest of the evening. I thought it quite funny.

It did leave me a lot to think about though. About what I’m truly doing here.

Am I really in the right to “save” these people? Giving them hope if I don’t even know if it will all work out?

Perhaps all of this is nothing but myself selfishly satisfying my own ego. And using these people as medium.

From a humanitarian perspective, What I’m doing is right. But a life of bitter nihilism made me think people are just selfish for their own reasons. I know of this because that’s who I was.

Or perhaps I still am. A new world, a new body, a loving mother. Can all of these truly change a person?

That night I took a long while to fall asleep.