August 11th

After my previous entry, I went down to the basement and began construction. I was able to get the troll to follow my instructions but could not give complex orders. This means that while the speed of the construction, or rather, excavation, can proceed quicker than it normally would, I still need to oversee everything and give commands.

I would not suggest to anyone who reads this journal to build an underground lab to experiment on monsters, as there are several things to consider. I need to consider structural support, light, safety features, locks, and more. I also will need a way to get monsters in without having to go through the house.

August 12th

Phew, I am tired. I worked hard for most of the day. To start, I drew up a floor plan. I then had to alter that plan a slight amount to accommodate an entrance to the outside. I have started pulling apart the wall and removing dirt. I cannot have the troll carry the dirt outside so instead I have to carry it up the stairs on my own.

Maybe I could put a ramp on the stairs? But maybe it would be too steep. If I put a ramp I would need to have a much lower ramp which would mean more work.

Currently, I am keeping the dirt in a pile in the garden behind a hedge where hopefully it will not draw much attention.

August 14th

The work is slow. I have cleared out a large section of space but I now need to start thinking about how I am going to furnish the rooms and hallway. I am going to go into town and search for a good carpenter and a mason. I would like to find someone who can make a sturdy design that will stand up to heat, weight, spikes, and more. I do not know what I may find in the future, so it would be good to be prepared for whatever I might come across.

I suppose I should dig out more along the hallway so that I can bring in the materials more easily.

August 15th

I have thought of a solution! For now the troll is hidden in the storage room, ordered to stay still and silent. I brought a mason to the house and he said he would be able to help me make the floor. Anyways, my solution to both problems, getting animals into the house, and getting the materials in, can be solved by a stairway that goes directly to the outside. I will get the groundskeepers to construct hedges to block the entrance from view and I will begin digging it out at once. I have sent the mason away for a while so that I can work on this construction using the troll. I need to measure out specific dimensions for the staircase, so I will need to find an architect. I could also search through the library for any information I can find.

I have found several books that will certainly help, but I should still consult an architect. I do not know where to find one, the town I am in is not very big. I asked the mason if he had worked with anyone who might be able to help me with it and he directed me to a curious man who had built his own house. We went to see the man to ask him about how he built his house.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

August 15th

The man’s house was not an impressive structure. In fact, it was little more than three rooms. However, there is a cellar with stone stairs. Because he was able to construct sturdy stairs in such a fashion, his knowledge and advice would be quite useful to me. The man introduced himself as Sebastion and is rather odd. He speaks in a weird manner and constantly looks as if his thoughts are somewhere else. That is not important however, as the man agreed to help me with my staircase. He will gather some materials for measuring and calculating the appropriate angle of the stairs and then arrive at the manor tomorrow. In the meantime, I have been instructed to get wood planks and stone blocks. The mason agreed to help supply me with the stones so now I am off to see the carpenter.

The carpenter told me that since the manor is located near a large forest, I could cut a few trees and pull it back with horses. I will need to create a makeshift harness for the carriage horses, but at the very least, I should already have enough horses to pull medium sized logs.

August 16th

I cut down a medium sized tree from the forest and, using the horses, dragged it back towards the manor. I will need to take a break after that. I can feel a blister starting to form on my left thumb. Luckily, the reason for my break is not my blister, but Sebastion and the carpenter arriving here soon.

We marked out the corners and calculated the width and depth of each step. I will excavate it on my own, but most of the work will have to be done by me. I expect to be done by the end of the day and have set a schedule for their return based on that expectation. As soon as they left, I got a shovel and will begin digging.

August 17th

I worked through the night. The maids were unconcerned due to my occasional obsessive nature. However, because I was working at night, it was hard to see what I was doing. I only made the steps half as wide as they should be, as I did not want to extend too far. I also excavated dirt from the inside. I have a short offshoot from the hallway now that will go to the exit outside. I plan to have angled doors, maybe 30 degrees, so I can maximize available room to maneuver around when bringing in large animals while also minimizing the amount of materials needed.

I should put a door so that if anyone finds the hallway, they will think it is just another locked room. The maids must not get too suspicious of my activity.

August 17th

After a quick sleep in the late morning today, I returned to work on the stairs. My arms are sore and my back is in pain. I should perhaps rest for a day or two before I continue on with my work. I have finished the stairs and will soon begin putting in the stones on top of the steps. It will likely be an expensive procedure, I will need to get help from day laborers as the butler would be unlikely to be able to help me.

August 18th

I did very little today. As I stated previously, I need to allow my back and arms a chance to recover before I am able to return to the intense work I have planned for the future. Today, I did sort of a rest day, making note of what I am going to be doing, what materials I am going to get, and where I am going to get the materials. I talked to masons and wood workers as well as an architect to make sure everything was in order. It was a boring day for me. It has only been two weeks, but I desperately want to get back into the forest and find more beasts.

I am thinking I should stop reporting on the progress of my construction for a week or so, it is boring to write and will likely be even more boring to read. Yes, unless something extraordinary happens, I will not report on the events of the next fourteen days.