133: Impossible? Just smash it flat.

Cleanup at the accident site was done in a few days thanks to a large number of volunteer adventurers pitching in.

With all the people rescued—those whose lives had been in danger—now fully recovered, we’d reached a natural pause. That’s why a strategy meeting was called.

A big talk, for once including Kyle.

Today’s gathering wasn’t in Kyle’s grand hall. We’re using the conference room in Elixir Castle.

Side note: the king personally ordered us to refer to it as a “castle” instead of a “fortress.”

The main reason we’re using the castle is the number of attendees. But it’s also because this meeting is officially recognized.

So Maina’s off duty.

Besides me, the others attending are: Kyle, the lord; Alphard, captain of the Holy Knights; Leifan, head of the Production Guild; and Professor Javiel, our personal alchemist.

From the Adventurer's Guild: Cyanos Gashur, the guildmaster; and Raidock, representing the adventurers. Eva’s not here—probably because Eva’s the brains of the party.

There’s a newcomer. The guy with the flashy red-and-green striped hair—Edie Drake, looks like the guildmaster of the Shipping Guild.

…Looks like a pirate to me, though.

And as usual, Jitarou, just standing there quietly.

Why him.

There was some half-baked title attached—“representative of the townsfolk,” whatever.

Once everyone was seated, Kyle stood up.

“Alright, let’s get started with sorting out the issues with the bridge construction and figuring out solutions. First up, Leifan, the head of the Production Guild and in charge of this project, will give us the rundown.”

Leifan stood next, handing out documents.

“Right then, let’s dive straight in. First, the overview of this construction project.”

She spread out the illustrated documents.

“This project is a large-scale endeavor to build a massive bridge across a deep, wide river. It’s a royal decree—His Majesty himself demands it. We must see it through, no matter the cost.”

Everyone already knew this. But saying it aloud, without flinching at the thought of death—it was a declaration of resolve.

All of them, already familiar with the project, tightened their expressions.

“Now, the issue arose in the test section we started building to verify the construction method. We assumed the conventional technique would work—close to land, after all.”

Leifan flipped through the documents.

“The method involves driving thick planks, called sheet piles, into the riverbed, placing them edge to edge with no gaps, forming a sealed space, then pumping out the water inside.”

Think of it like drilling a hole through the riverbed.

"This time, since the water was shallow, driving the planks in went smoothly."

Huh? Really?

I hurriedly flipped through the documents—sure enough, the plank installation was complete. Before I could even think, "So why…?", Leifan turned the next page.

"After that, the planks were destroyed by a monster attack. But that wasn’t the real problem."

Right. So the planks were finished, then the monsters came. But what’s worse than that?

"From this survey, we’ve found that the current planks can’t support any deeper construction. They’re too weak."

That’s… a serious issue.

"One more thing."

It’s about the aquatic monsters, isn’t it?

"The depth of the great river."

Huh?

"The central part of the river is… far deeper than our pre-survey estimates. About ten times deeper."

Not just me—everyone in the meeting was stunned silent.

If we’d expected the depth we’d calculated, we could’ve stretched the frontier timber just enough to make the stakes long enough.

Ten times deeper?

Impossible. Even if we welded the stakes together, they’d never withstand ten times the pressure.

And even if we somehow managed to build stakes that strong, the wood’s buoyancy would be too great—no way we could drive them in.

This is impossible.

Can’t see a way to solve it.

Glancing over, Kyle’s face was pale.

I wanted to punch myself in the face.

It’s not impossible! We’re doing it! For Kyle, no matter what! Absolutely doing it!

Think of something! You useless brain!

Wait—there are plenty of solid people here!

“Everyone! Got any ideas on how to solve the stake problem!?”

I called out to everyone, but my eyes kept landing on Professor Javir.

Then Leifan shook his head.

"...Craft, even if we solve the plank problem, there's another issue."

"Huh?"

"Even if we had planks strong enough to withstand the water pressure, we wouldn't know how long it'd take to drain the water..."

Leifan pointed at a page in the documents.

"To handle this depth and pressure, we'd need three times as many bridge piers as we'd planned. No matter how many workers we flood with stamina potions, the amount of water we'd be dealing with is just not realistic. Plus, we'd lose a lot of water through the planks themselves—so it'd never end. And if the water doesn't drain, we can't pour in the hardened rock."

Leifan grimaced, forcing the words out.

Leifan, always forward-thinking and never one to give up, looking like that. Almost everyone in the room had already accepted this project was impossible.

The air grew dark and heavy.

But then, someone cut through it like smoke.

"Then why not make the planks out of mithril? Or adamantite?"

Jitarou.

I let out a dry laugh.

"Man, where the hell do you think you're getting all that rare metal from? Sure, adamantite’d float fine, no worries there—but think about productivity…"

Think about it. I started to say, but something snagged in my thoughts.

Productivity? Strength? Weight?

"Alchemical-hardened rock…"

I muttered it under my breath, but Leifan shook his head.

"No way, Craft. Even if we pour hardened rock into the water—"

“No way. What if we just harden the rock into planks on land, then haul it over with a barge?”

Leifan’s head snaps up.

“Wait—right! That’s it! We don’t have to pour it straight into the water. Just harden it first, use it as building material!”

Hope flickers in Leifan’s eyes.

Then Jitarou casually throws out another outlandish idea.

“Then why not just build the bridge piers from the start and sink them?”

“Exactly!”

I snap my fingers in sudden realization, but Leifan shakes his head.

“Clever idea, but two problems—impossible.”

“Problems?”

“Then the piers would just sit on the riverbed, right? They’d wash away without proper anchoring.”

“Hold on—those piers are gonna be three times heavier than now, aren’t they? How much weight do you think they’ll have?”

"Craft. You can't just suck the water out. It might move only a little each year, but it moves."

"Is that so?"

So driving stakes or something deep into the ground was mandatory to anchor it. Draining the water was just part of the job.

"One more thing—there's no way to move those massive bridge piers, and no way to float them either."

True enough. No matter how big a barge you built, it wouldn't float.

"This idea's out."

Leifan dismissed the suggestion, but his face showed no despair.

He probably had confidence in using hardened rock planks for the work, at least for now.

Jabir, who'd been silent, raised his hand.

"Hmm. Just thought of something—what if we don't use the bridge piers, but sink hollowed-out hardened rock instead?"

"What do you mean?"

I didn't get it, so I asked again.

Not encircling it with planks—use a massive cylindrical hardened rock from the start.

It finally clicks with that explanation.

You know how it is—imagine a barrel with the bottom knocked out, sinking into a tub full of water.

Instead of setting up planks first and then making a barrel, just sink the barrel from the start. That’s what Jitarou’s idea became when actually put into practice.

"Leifan! Then what do you say?"

...Good idea, but still too heavy, honestly.

"Impossible..."

Jabir-sensei smirked at us, looking delighted despite our disappointment.

"What? Then just slice it in half and carry it."

"Chopped in half...?"

I didn’t get it, but Leifan seemed to—“Ah!” he cried out.

So that’s it! Just stack ‘em up like throwing rings!

The word "ring toss" finally clicks for me.

The image of stacking bracelets and ikarings like rings tossed in a game.

"Ah. Then it'd be less affected by water pressure than standing arrows, wouldn't it?"

"Yeah! Yeah!"

"Well, I’m no expert, so I can’t think of a way to stack them precisely underwater. Just saying, I’m being irresponsible."

"That’s not true at all! That’s an amazing idea! You’re the real deal, Jabir-san!"

Leifan suddenly hugged Jabir-sensei.

He must’ve been thrilled.

That’s my Jabir-sensei!

The sight of the two little girls hugging each other, giggling, was oddly soothing.

"...Craft. You’re not thinking something rude, are you?"

"Perish the thought!"

A psychic or something?

"You might not realize it yourself, but it’s written all over your face."

No way.

Today is finally the release of Volume 4!

Some stores already sold out—apparently (sweat).

Get it before it’s gone—or reserve it at the bookstore!

Thanks so much!!