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Chapter 33: [Side Story] Things I can do
The next morning.
I walked out of the mansion the moment the sun came up. I was planning to go around the entirety of Crossroad and supervise the preparations for the upcoming defensive battle.
First, we went to the fort.
From early morning, I saw production union members sweating profusely at work. Good work, everyone!
“Ah, Your Highness!”
The stonemasons’ union leader, who was in charge of repairing the wall, bowed his head to me. I lightly bowed back.
“How’s the repair going?”
“Just now, we shattered the giant sword stuck in the fort wall.”
Looking at the place the union leader pointed at, I saw shards of metal that had been shattered.
They broke and took off the Specter Knight’s giant sword that had been driven into the wall.
“We will remove all the rubble and start repairing the walls.”
“There’s no need to remove the rubble.”
I gestured toward the field outside the castle wall.
“Place them in front of the wall. It will make a great barricade.”
The monsters coming next stage are the gutter rats corp.
The metal shards from the giant sword would be a great welcome to the rats. Perfect for a mousetrap.
I looked at the castle wall after the sword had been taken off. The part that was directly hit was dented unsightly.
I could see the inner steel frame bent like candy canes.
“What is the estimated time for repairing the wall?”
When I asked, the head of the union hesitated slightly.
“Your Highness has supplemented the labor force and mobilized soldiers for repairs
 However, there is additional damage to the wall that had been confirmed after the removal of the sword. It’s more severe than we expected.”
The walls of Crossroad were specially built to be strong against monsters.
The iron supports were densely woven into the frame, and stones were piled up to cover the irons. Then an iron plate was added over it.
It was the result of the Empire's architectural technology. Thanks to that, the fort wall was able to show its incredible defense and withstood the Specter Knight’s strike with the sword.
If it were a normal wall, it would have split in two as its entire body collapsed.
However, as much as it was sturdy, the construction process was complex. It was difficult to repair so it couldn’t be repaired by simply filling it in some stones.
“Get to the point. What is the expected date?”
“It’s ten days from now.”
“Ten days, huh
”
I flicked my tongue.
There is only a week left until the next stage. Time is running out.
“Will it be possible to shorten it to a week by supplying more money and workforce?”
If I was able to buy time, then I was more than willing to invest any amount of money or workforce.
However, the union leader shook his head.
“It’s a limitation with the construction technique itself. It’d be very difficult to shorten it.”
“Still, isn’t there a part that can be shortened with more manpower?”
“Well, if we use more people and materials to repair it day and night, we might be able to pull it off and shorten it by a day
”
“If you can shorten it by a day, then that means you can shorten it by two days. And if you can do that, that means you can shorten it by three days.”
I knew it was a very unreasonable demand. But I pushed on.
“I will bring the manpower and materials by airlift. Finish the wall repair within a week, at any cost.”
There was one reason why I made such unreasonable demands.
[Enemy Information - STAGE 2]
- Lv.? ??? : 3
- Lv.5 Giant gutter rats: 3251
I wasn’t seeing things.
It was right there.
After Free exploration mode,  enemy information was displayed, and there it said.
Three thousand.
3000 rats the size of a large dog I met during the exploration.
Of course, they’re only level 5. They were just big rats that even ordinary soldiers could kill without difficulty.
However, there were 3000 of them.
Ordinary animals can bring disaster to any city if they came in thousands. But these were considered monsters.
‘We need the wall no matter what.’
The wall had to be repaired. There was no way to block those waves of monsters without the fort wall.
I put my strength into the hand that gripped the union leader. The union leader, who was breaking out in a cold sweat, nodded with difficulty. “...I understand. We will try our best.”
I patted the union leader on the back.
“Thank you. I will make sure to remember everyone’s hard work and dedication.”
Looking around at the workers, I raised my voice.
“Let’s hustle, it’s to protect the world! Cheer up and let's go!”
* * *
[Translator: Dawn]
[Proofreader: Alissa]
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* * *
“Now, we head to the alchemist’s workshop.”
After coming down from the wall, I took Lucas and headed to the alchemist's workshop inside the city. Goodness, I’m so busy!
“Oh my, Your Highness?! I wasn’t expecting you!”
“Welcome, Your Highness!”
When I arrived at the workshop, the Alchemist’s union leader and Lily came out to greet me.
As I walked into the workshop, I got straight to the reason for my appearance.
“What type and number of artifacts are currently being repaired?”
“We are repairing the five artifacts that are easiest to repair first. The three artifacts used in the last battle have also been readjusted.”
“All current operations will halt, and only repair the artifacts I designate.”
They were fixing artifacts that were easy to repair,
But because the next enemy was over 3000 rats, it would be better to select and repair the artifacts that can wipe out the rats as efficiently as possible.
I took the list of artifacts that were stuck in the warehouse.
Let's see, which of these items would be useful for the next battle

“The three flamethrower artifacts. Make repairs of these the top priority.”
The artifact is just an R-rank artifact that simply emits flames. However, there was nothing more effective than fire against rats.
There were three of them in the warehouse, so I ordered all of them to be repaired.
“After the prioritized repairs are finished, fix the artifacts you were repairing before.”
“Understood, Your highness.”
The workshop immediately began repairing the flamethrower artifacts as per my instructions.
I brought up another matter to the union leader who was giving orders to his subordinates.
“And this.”
I took out a blue magic scroll from my pocket and showed it.
It was the ‘Summoning Scroll: Auto Defense Turret’ obtained from the dungeon during the last free exploration.
“Do you know what this is?”
“This is
?”
The head of the Alchemists’ Union, who received the scroll and examined it closely, soon became surprised.
“Could this be
 an ancient summoning magic?”
“Yes. It’s a magic that summons buildings.”
Summoning magic.
In the game, it was a skill that only the player could use.
It was one of the few elements in which the player, who always entrusted the battle to the game characters, could directly intervene in the game.
It was divided into two main skill trees.
The first was to summon a ‘Defense Tower’ that was additionally installed on the building.
The second was the summoning of a ‘boss monster’ that can be directly controlled by the player.
It could only summon one thing at a time, but its effect was tremendous.
You can build an overwhelming fire net with a defense tower or beat up enemy monsters with your own boss monster.
‘In exchange, the conditions were a bit tricky
’
To use Tower Summoning Magic, one must obtain the Summoning Scroll and leave it to the Alchemists’ Workshop for research.
The Tower Summon Scroll was a guaranteed drop. If you occasionally proceeded with free exploration, you could obtain them one after another.
However, the research cost is quite expensive and the research duration is quite long.
At least the first summon, the auto defense turret, had a low research difficulty, so I should be able to use it right away.
‘The boss monster tech tree is even tougher.’
Boss monsters drop summon scrolls with a very, very rare chance when they die.
They can be used right away without research, but the problem was that they were consumable.
And in exchange, the effect was really great. Unlike Defense Towers, they could be summoned anywhere.
‘I was worried that I would not be able to use it since I got sucked into the game, but luckily I can use it.’
This summoning magic was outside the character's role as it was the power bestowed by the system.
It is a fortune to be able to still use it without any penalty, but it does bring up some tough questions.
‘In this game, am I considered a character or a player?’
Or both?
While I was thinking about many topics,  the alchemists’ union leader who received the scroll almost flipped out.
“Where did you get such a precious
!”
Because I couldn’t tell him that ‘it’s a guaranteed drop from the dungeon’, I decided to change the topic.
“You don’t need to know that. Anyway, are you able to decipher it?”
“Of course! The format of the scroll is of that used hundreds of years ago, but it still is within our magic system. We can definitely decipher it!”
“Good to hear that. I request you do it as fast as possible. I’d like to put that scroll to use as soon as the fort wall repairment is finished.”
“Understood, Your Highness! You can trust us with this!”
After bowing multiple times, the Alchemists’ union leader held the scroll tightly in his arms.
It was an object filled with technologies that don't even exist anymore, so I understand his burning passion to study it.
That passion benefits him and me.
After watching the union leader rush into his office, I gestured my finger to Lily.
“Lily, c’mere.”
Lily started approaching me with a face filled with fear.
“Wh-what’s the matter
 Your Highness?”
It seemed as if she was nervous that I was going to assign her some dangerous task again. I smiled softly.
“Nothing really. I just wanted to say that you’ve been doing a great job, so keep it up.”
I am going to, but not now.
After giving Lily a handshake of encouragement, I left the alchemy workshop with Lucas.
“Are you trying to get me to do weird tasks again?!  Like dangerous ones?! Are you? Your Highness? Your Highness!”
Lily’s scream echoed faintly from behind.
Sorry, Lily. What can I say except that’s what it’s like to be a civil servant?
* * *
The temple.
As I entered this marble building on the north side of the city, the smell of disinfectant stung my nose.
“......”
I didn't bother to announce my visit and quietly moved into the temple.
“The patient in bed 3 is in critical condition!”
“Bring more potions! Holy water and bandages too!”
The inside of the temple was filled with beds, and the wounded soldiers were lying on the beds and receiving treatment.
Priests, including the R-rank healer, ‘Saint’ Margherita, were busy healing and nursing the injured soldiers.
And Demian was among them.
I watched Demian from afar as he continued to use healing magic with sweat running down his face.
Demian looked more comfortable replacing the bandages of wounded soldiers now than when he was sniping the enemy with his eyes sharpened. I guess that’s just how it is for him.
“...Looks like nothing extra to be done here.”
I quietly walked out of the temple again.
Silently out of sight, everyone is fighting to survive.
In this temple, everyone was struggling to save people.
As their leader, I also have to do my best.
I clenched my fists tightly.
I have to kill the monsters and protect the people.
That is my duty. "Let’s go. Next is the mercenary guild.”
"Yes, Your Highness"
Lucas and I left the temple and headed to the Mercenary guild.
* * *
In front of the Mercenary guild located in the center of the city.
Standing in front of the door, I caught my breath.
'I hope that the Mercenary guild will be filled with useful and talented people!’
After briefly praying, I vigorously opened the door.
“SSR rank new hero, are you here?!”
But.
“Oh! If it isn’t our imperial prince?!”
In the quiet mercenary guild, not a single light was seen to announce the new mercenary.
Instead, Jupiter was drinking alone, exuding a dazzling purple aura.
‘I was excited thinking it was a new SR rank character!’
I put my palm on my forehead in pain. Why is this old lady here again?
I nodded at Jupiter, who came up in front of me and seemed to salute me.
“What’re you doing here, Jupiter?”
“I don’t have a house or any money. So I come here often since I don't have a decent place to stay.”
“Why do you sound so proud about that?! With the salary I pay you, you can probably build a house or two in this neighborhood!”
“Nah~ What will a mercenary do with a house? It’s not like I’m going to stay and spend the rest of my life here.”
Jupiter smiled.
“I wander the world as the wind and my heart leads me. Eating, drinking, and spraying money around is the best lifestyle for a mercenary.”
“And that’s why you decided to stay here
?”
“It wouldn’t be possible for me, a discharged officer, to stay in the Imperial Army barracks, no? And it wouldn’t be pleasing to live with a bunch of youngsters in the mercenary quarters. And the inns aren’t really worth the money.”
It’ll only hurt to continue this conversation. After shaking my head, I looked around the empty Mercenary guild.
“Alright, you do you. Anyway, it looks like no useful talent has shown up.”
“It’s too early to be disappointed, Your Highness.”
Jupiter shrugged her shoulders. I turned my eyes to her. Does this old lady have some kind of plan?
“Who do you think I am? I’ve spent 30 years in the Imperial Army and worked as a mercenary for a few years already.”
“Okay, so? Mrs. Veteran warrior.”
“This old lady has a little bit, actually, a lot of connections.”
Grin.
Jupiter, who put the usual villainous smile on her face, spit out confidently.
“They've been spreading words all around the continent. That the new landlord of the Monster Front is from the imperial family, and that he’s restlessly releasing a lot of money.”