Chapter 241: Avana Naval Base
「It’s really come a long way.」
I muttered, taking in the sight.
The once quiet port of Avana, a natural harbor, had transformed into a bustling naval base.
As our short journey to Antil Island came to an end, the first thing visible was a large lighthouse that doubled as a lookout post.
The stone piers and jetties now hosted military ships alongside the usual fishing boats. The docks were equipped for ship repairs, and expansions were underway to accommodate the production of medium-sized vessels, like cog-class ships.
Though I had brought a fleet of sixty galleys, there was still plenty of space left in the harbor. This was no surprise, as the harbor had been designed to accommodate the vast fleet that was expected to arrive from the Silesie Kingdom.
I had been worried that the Silesie fleet might arrive while I was still on the Abyss Continent, but it seems that concern was unfounded.
As we disembarked, Berenice muttered,
「It feels like more buildings have sprung up since we were last here.」
「Yeah, it sure does.」 Even with the assistance of Admiral Damons and nearly twenty thousand of the demon army who had defected to our side, it was impressive how much had been accomplished. Avana had been a small port town, but in less than half a year, it had become fully operational as a naval base.
As I stepped onto the wooden dock, Lyle-sensei and the others were there to greet us.
「To make a triumphant return after capturing the provincial capital and seizing sixty galleys in such a short time… as expected of Takeru-dono.」
「Please don’t tease me… By the way, the Silesie fleet hasn’t arrived yet, right?」
「Admiral Drake’s fleet is scouting offshore. I used teleportation magic to get here, but I imagine it was a tough journey for you to reach this island.」
「That’s true. Even with a map, it’s not easy to navigate to this port.」
「There’s no need to worry about sea dragon attacks, but bad weather and other dangers could always cause delays.」
「I hope they’re all safe.」
Even without specific threats, sailing always carries risks. It’s possible that not every ship will make it through unscathed.
「Well, we should do what we can to prepare.」
「Agreed. I’ll take a look around the town.」
After Lyle-sensei, Sherry rushed up to me, eager to report their progress.
「Oniisama, we’ve finished paving the road from Avana’s port to the town of Antil.」
「That’s fast. You’ve even laid stone pavement in the town.」
Though it was just the main street, having cobblestones instead of dirt made a world of difference. A stable road is a sign of civilization.
「We only followed your advice, oniisama. Improving the infrastructure first will make the flow of supplies easier and lay the foundation for future development.」
Sherry, clutching a stack of round documents, puffed out her chest proudly. Now that the lodging houses and shipyards were complete, they were moving on to plans for warehouses and commercial facilities.
「I’m grateful to have you, Sherry.」
「It’s all part of being the supporting younger sister.」
I guess managing internal affairs also counts as ‘supporting’ in her eyes.
「You’re a big help.」
「By the way, oniisama, I was just wondering… Why did those female knights come back with you? Weren’t they supposed to stay with Louise-san?」
「Oh, Berenice and Clementine returned as my personal guards for some reason.」
「Why are newcomers getting to be your guards? I’ll do it!」
That’s… not going to happen. There was a time when I had the former slave girls fight as my bodyguards, but Sherry is far too valuable now for that. I need her to continue overseeing internal affairs.
「It feels like we’re not exactly being welcomed back with open arms.」
Berenice chuckled softly. Despite Sherry’s sharp words, the older knights didn’t take her seriously.
「Newcomers, don’t get too ahead of yourselves, okay?」
「Oh, how scary.」
Berenice teased, her tone light.
Sherry’s brows twitched in irritation as she glared at Berenice. If I stepped in, it would only make things worse, so I decided to leave it alone. It seemed more like playful banter than anything serious.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Viola, our agriculture expert, raising her hand. I called out to her.
「What is it, Viola?」
「……Master, I’ve brought the trial products we’ve made from the cloth we’ve been producing.」
She said, holding out some canvas made from hemp and a few burlap sacks.
「This is incredible. Thick and sturdy. You’ve done great work.」
「Thank you!」
Though the material was coarse and not of the highest quality, it was strong enough for practical use. Lyle-sensei, standing nearby, chimed in to explain further.
「We even used magic to speed up the drying process. The quality may not be perfect, but it’ll do for the sails.」
「I appreciate that. Using galleys to sail all the way to the coast of Times is rough.」
If we could retrofit the galleys with sails, they’d be far more efficient for transport. For the assault on Times Square, where we’d need to carry many combatants, reducing the crew numbers would be a huge advantage.
「We tried growing hemp, flax, and cotton, but given the island’s climate, hemp grew the fastest. Once the flax and cotton are ready for harvest, we’ll be able to make clothes and towels too.」
That was something to look forward to in the future. Viola then led me on a tour of the farmland, where various crops and useful plants, including those for food and textiles, were flourishing on the outskirts of the town.
「Agricultural production is going well, I see. You’ve done an excellent job, Viola.」
「Thank you, Master.」
The fields were brimming with all sorts of crops, but the most prominent were the vast expanses of potato plants, their white flowers blooming. They were already ready for harvest. Potatoes, with their short four-month growing cycle, were a reliable food source, though we’d need to be careful about over-planting the same area.
Thanks to these efforts, the island’s food supply problems were nearly solved. There would be no need to worry about rations for the upcoming war.
What moved me even more than the bountiful harvest was seeing the humans of Avana working alongside the demon soldiers in the fields. Given the harsh circumstances, where survival meant cooperation, the fact that they had managed to work together like this was nothing short of miraculous.
I walked over to Admiral Damons, who was actively engaged in the potato harvest, and thanked him. He and his men, though soldiers and sailors by trade, had thrown themselves into the unfamiliar tasks of construction and farming with impressive dedication.
「Admiral, you’ve been working in the fields yourself?」
「It’s not something we’re used to, but we’ve been learning as we go.」
「Thanks to your efforts, we’ve reached the harvest season. You’ve truly done a remarkable job.」
Before Damons could respond, an elderly potato farmer, who had been listening nearby, cut in with a chuckle, ‘Well, I wouldn’t say it’s that remarkable yet.’
I couldn’t help but laugh. This old lady had a knack for popping up everywhere on the island.
It was a classic old-lady move—cutting into conversations from nowhere, with no regard for timing or politeness. And every time, she managed to say something painfully blunt.
「Come on, aunt, Damons and his men have worked hard…」
「Well, they’ve been giving it their best, I’ll give them that. Still a bit too rough and forceful for proper farming, but hey, they’re serious about it, and that counts for something.」
「It’s rare to hear her give compliments. Is she softening up a bit?」
Damons chuckled as he replied.
「Haha, I’m still far from being a proper farmer, but I am honored to receive such praise. I only tasted potatoes for the first time after arriving on this island, and I’ve grown quite fond of them. I was looking forward to this harvest.」
「Yeah, potatoes are great.」
Just boiling them with a pinch of salt brings out their subtle sweetness. They’re one of the best ingredients out there. Whether in curry, croquettes, or German potatoes, adding them to any dish opens up endless possibilities.
「Your Excellency King General, I’m quite fond of fried potatoes myself.」
Too much fried food can make you gain weight, but that’s just a sign of how nutritious potatoes are.
「It’s almost time to begin preparations for the sortie. Damons, I plan to entrust you with one of the naval fleets. Your family should already have a way to escape. Together, let’s take back Times Square from the demon army. We’re almost there, so I’m counting on you.」
「As you command. Once we reclaim it, please consider restoring the former Times Kingdom.」
「Kaara and Oracle have already begun negotiations with the old factions. If we can seize the naval port of Times Square, they’ll cooperate with us. Once we drive out the demon army from the old Nisrok under the banner of the Great Demon King Ifriil, I will restore the governance of Times to what it once was.」
「Ha! If that’s your promise, King General, then I’ll gladly give my all for you.」
Of course, as a friendly nation to the Silesie Kingdom, I intend for the old demon factions to work toward reconciliation with the human race, but I also respect their sovereignty as an independent nation. Even if we strive for harmony between demons and humans, reforming the system will take time.
I don’t intend to force my will upon them with the iron hand of military might like the Great Demon King Ifriil. Instead, I want to bring the civilization of Silesie to them and gradually build a new society through the wealth and prosperity that comes with trade.
When there’s enough food and clothing, there’s no reason for different races to fight over resources. That’s why it’s crucial to cultivate the land, grow hemp, flax, and cotton, and produce textiles.
「But all of this depends on us winning the war first.」
「Indeed. I can hardly wait. When the time comes, the forces of the Times Kingdom’s demon army will show their strength!」
Damons, the Admiral of the demon army, with his grand water buffalo horns, flexed his muscles and laughed. Though that strength was now being used to wield a hoe, I look forward to seeing their prowess in battle.
The decisive blow will likely come from the firepower of naval bombardments, but we won’t be able to take the city without ground forces. The 20,000 troops from the demon army who switched sides are a crucial asset.
Even now, Damons still controls the giant sea dragon granted to him by the Great Demon King. There’s a chance we could even use the sea dragon in our favor during the battle.
We’ve made such a grand display already. It wouldn’t be surprising if our presence had been exposed by now, but for us to be left unchecked like this… What is the Great Demon King Ifriil thinking?
Even Lyle-sensei, who has been wracking her brain over it, can’t figure it out. There’s no point in someone like me trying to puzzle it out. If the sea dragon can be used, I’ll make sure to do so.
If it turns on us at the last minute, we’ll just have our black cedar warships ready to take it down. No need to overthink it.
Just as I finished my patrol around the city for the first time in a while, Roll came up to me, carrying a large boulder in her arms.
「Roll, what’s going on?」
She had an unusually serious expression.
「Master, this is raw mithril.」
「What? Seriously?」
To me, it just looked like a lump of gray rock, but they said it was mithril ore, which could be refined into mithril.
「It’s really mithril! Amazing. This is the first time I’ve seen raw mithril.」
Berenice, my bodyguard, was also touching the rock and nodding. Come to think of it, she looked like a dark-skinned gyaru, but like Roll, she was a dark fairy dwarf.
Living in caves for generations, with a natural talent for mining and smithing, they could recognize mithril on sight.
「Could this mean there’s a mithril vein?」
If so, it would be an incredible fortune.
「King-sama, it’s not that simple. Mithril is so rare that finding even this much is a miracle.」
「How did you find such a precious thing, Roll?」
「I just dug it up.」
A simple, very Roll-like answer. She had been digging in the bat caves to collect soil for making saltpeter for gunpowder, and found it in the dirt.
I could understand if it was in rock, but finding it in the soil made no sense. No one truly understood how mithril formed.
Some say it’s crystallized magical essence, like magic stones. Others say it was a byproduct of the world’s creation by Asama and hasn’t been produced since.
Theories are all over the place, but the truth remains a mystery.
Now, what should we do with this mithril?
「Hey, Roll, do you mind if I use this mithril to make armor for Berenice and Clementine?」
「Sure, go ahead.」
Since Roll had dug up this precious material, I had to ask her permission first, even though I intended to reward her later. Upon hearing this, Berenice and Clementine were overjoyed.
「Really? Oh my gosh, I’m so happy! I love you, King-sama!」
「To receive armor made from the legendary metal mithril—my family will boast of this for generations!」
Berenice, overwhelmed with emotion, hugged me and tried to kiss me, but I stopped her just in time.
It’s not like I’m making it just for them.
If they’re going to stay close to me as my guards, they’ll need mithril armor to avoid dying in battle. It’s more of a necessary precaution. I would’ve used black cedar, but we can’t get that here, so finding this chunk of mithril was a stroke of luck.
Sherry, however, seemed sulky.
「What’s wrong?」
「It’s not fair that only they get it.」
「Hmm, well, in exchange, I’ll be putting them through some rigorous training.」
I can’t have them dying too easily, so I need to toughen them up.
「King-sama, what kind of training?」
「Like handling firearms. You two haven’t really used them, right?」
「An honorable knight has no need for ranged weapons.」
「Even Louise-sama doesn’t use them.」
They were making excuses. Especially Berenice, who, unlike Clementine, hadn’t messed up recently, so she used Louise as an example to claim they didn’t need firearms.
Seems like they’re still overconfident.
For someone like Louise, a brave, it’s fine to fight with just a sword. But for an ordinary knight, being able to handle firearms is essential now.
Even the Royal Guard is trained in muskets and cannons these days. Not carrying a gun is sheer negligence.
Knights need to use whatever weapons are available, without clinging to outdated ideals. If they don’t change their mindset, they won’t survive the battles ahead.
「Alright, you two better brace yourselves, because I’m going to train you from the ground up.」
「King-sama King-sama, does that mean squats?」
「Yes, squats, and a whole lot of basic training to build up your strength.」
Berenice grinned mischievously and started poking Clementine in the side.
「See, Clementine? Squats are tough, you know.」
「Ugh, right here on the roadside?」
Clementine started taking off her armor, seemingly preparing to exercise. Then, she began to take off her clothes.
「Hey, stop! Wait a minute!」
I quickly intervened just as they were down to their underwear. How many times were they going to pull this stunt? Berenice smirked and said half-jokingly,
「So, today’s squats are in our underwear?」
「No! That’s not how squats work!」
Berenice was obviously teasing Clementine, who had fallen for it. I quickly glanced around, relieved to see only women nearby.
Public exposure like this was way too risky. Seeing me flustered, Berenice only doubled down.
「Look, Clementine, King-sama says we have to strip completely.」
「Kyaa!」
Berenice tried to slyly slip off Clementine’s bra from behind, causing her to crouch down, clutching her chest.
「Oh man… what am I supposed to do now?」
I couldn’t exactly step in myself, and Clementine’s face was bright red, on the verge of freaking out. Everyone else seemed oddly calm. Sherry, with a straight face, commented,
「Oniisama, they’re just messing around. You should ignore it.」
「But this is outdoors! I can’t just ignore Clementine almost getting undressed.」
「Let her. I can’t stand how she flaunts those big breasts around you. I wish they’d just disappear.」
「Nooo!」
Sherry, joining Berenice, started tugging at Clementine’s bra strap from the opposite side. Instead of stopping the chaos, she was fueling it.
「Ugh.」
I couldn’t lay hands on the girls directly, and I desperately needed someone to rein this in. But before that, I had to make Berenice stop her playful antics.
It wasn’t just Clementine who needed discipline—Berenice clearly needed some training, too.
I should give this some thought…