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”Humph. What’s the deal with architectural techniques anyway. The whole idea of magic architecture is a shady one to begin with. I asked a magician I know, and he said it is possible to draw magic circles on concrete!”
”In the first place, there’s a difference in the magic circle he’s talking about in that situation. Magic circles are only meant to be used for a small scope, not the scale of a building.”
”Shut up! I’m saying that a well-known magician I know can do it! And for less money than what it costs to employ you alone.”
”Please calm down and listen. Architectural techniques are extremely effective. For example, this country is inherently prone to many natural disasters, and suffers massive typhoons from time to time, which are considered the wrath of the spirits. We even get a lot of earthquakes.”
This country’s lack of development in the past was largely due to the threat of disasters in the past. Particularly, the conventional ramparts and such were unable to protect against the wrath of the spirits’ typhoons of mana-filled muddy water. Same was true of the earthquakes. If a gigantic earthquake, which was considered to be the wrath of the titans, were to hit us head-on, the royal capital would sink to the ground in an instant. That’s the kind of dangerous place this was, but it was all mitigated by the progenitors of magic architecture.
The existence of barrier towers are also huge. These have the effect of preventing the invasion of vicious, disaster-class magic beasts and dragons.
Even if they did come, the country is currently enclosed in walls which were made robust due to magic architectural techniques. Breath attacks from the sky are also prevented by a transparent dome-type roof. The buildings have also been made resistant to earthquakes using architectural techniques. The near-lack of feeling any shaking from the earthquakes is also largely thanks to magic architecture.
However, that’s reaching its limits. If we don’t take earnest measures now, it’ll be too late.
There is even a vicious dragon to the east of this country known as the Gluttonous Dragon. If there are no barriers, it’ll take this chance to fly straight at you.
”Hahaha, typhoons, and earthquakes? That’s laughable. You’re saying that’s what you are? Because you’re here, this country isn’t hit by typhoons or affected by earthquakes. You protect us from all sorts of natural disasters?”
”That’s right.”
Though it could be said that I’ve only inherited it right now, it’s true since it can be said that the effects of magic architecture have been passed down from each generation to the next.
”Don’t joke around! Who’d believe such nonsense! Your Majesty, I hope this let’s you understand my thoughts. This guy is a terrible braggart. There’s no doubt about it.”
”Hm. I see that is so. Walker, on this day, you are dismissed from your post as royal architect. In addition, you are banished to island exile. Leave within three days. Make sure to obey!”
”Haha, well, at least you can use your prided magic architect skills to build a ship and obediently leave the country. Ahahaha!”
In the end, they didn’t listen to any of my opinions or advice, and even told me I was exiled to an exile island. That’s worse than deportation. If I was deported, I could just move to another country on the continent, but that won’t be possible if I’m exiled to an island.
”Hehe, you’re that fraud with some silly title like royal magic architect.”
Then a brawny man, accompanied by a middle-aged man, came in front of me and called out to me.
”Who are you people?”
”I’m the boss of the Abane Group that’ll be contracted by the country from today onwards.”
I see. Looks like it was this Abane Group’s contractor who wrote up that quotation… but the craftsmen at the back have a bad attitude, sneering and laughing as if I was an idiot.
”Well, we’ll be taking over from here. Incompetent money-wasters like you should disappear from this place immediately.”
The boss was smirking with a vulgar grin showing on his face, while waving his hand in a “shoo, shoo” motion. At my feet, Uni’s expression turned grim.
”… Just a word of advice, but, if you’re planning on going ahead according to that quotation, you should stop. You’d better rethink your plans. It’ll be impossible to recover it, you know?”
I don’t have a duty to tell this company anything, but the entire country will be affected by it. I’ll be leaving this country, so I’ll give them this piece of advice.
”Kakaka, oi, did you hear what he said? Why’d we need to recover it?”
”Jeez, what an amusing joke.”
”Just what exactly is he saying is irrecoverable?”
”Must be that guy’s brains that can’t be recovered.”
But they don’t appear to be paying attention to what I’m saying, and instead are roaring and bursting with laughter.
Did the minister serious request this shady company?
”Unii! Unii!”
Uni stepped forward and raised he’s voice in protest. Uni is the only one who knows I’m not wrong.
”Tsk, what kind of weird monster is this?”
”He’s not a monster. He’s my important partner, Uni.”
”Huh, what’s a sea urchin? I ain’t afraid of no spiny sea urchin! I’ll smash it!” [TL: It’s a play on words that only works in Japanese. Uni is the brownie’s name, but in Japanese, uni means sea urchin. It was actually very confusing for me at first.]
The man then swung the large hammer he’d been carrying on his shoulder at Uni. How could you do such a thing!
”Architectural Technique・Defensive Wall!”
I immediately used my architectural sorcery. One part of the floor transformed, becoming a wall for Uni and blocking the swinging blow.
”Wh-, what? Guh!”
A fist flew out of the wall and blew the man away. This palace is a palace created using magic architecture. That means it’s still my territory. With architectural techniques, it doesn’t matter how much the floor transforms.
”The floor transformed?”
”In case of an emergency, there are also techniques included in the construction to safeguard the palace’s servants.”
”Stop messing around! How dare you do that to one of my men!”
”He’s the one who made the first move.”
I then checked Uni for any injuries.
”Are you alright?”
”Unyu~”
Thankfully, he doesn’t seem particularly injured. The other guy might’ve gotten his nose broken, but that’s fine since he’s the one who picked the fight.
”You guys’ll have to construct everything without altering any of this. If you understand, then you’ll need to rethink your plans from here on.”
”…Tsk, you cheeky brat. This won’t be our job in the first place. Allocating work is the basics, you idiot. Oi, let’s go. We can’t stick around here forever.”
”H-, hey!”
”This b*****d…”
The one who had attacked Uni held his nose and glared at us as he left.
But, allocating work? Of course I wish I could have done that. But unfortunately, the people around me wouldn’t understand the current situation.
It wasn’t always like this. When it was the previous king’s era, he understood the importance of magic architects, and also made sure to support the skilled craftsmen. But when the current king took over, the craftsmen were dismissed and deported as they were just too expensive and unnecessary. In any case, it seems the king didn’t like the people that the previous king had cherished. That’s probably why the only ones left are the craftsmen who do lousy work.
On top of that, it is that company that’s taking over after me. But, are they really going to use that magic asbestos?
Even though it’s the craftsmen who will be most affected by that. Well, I don’t care anymore. I’ve already given my piece of advice…