134: They say hardship is the spice of life

"Details still need ironing out, but we’ve got a solid plan for the bridge piers"

Leifan cleared his throat, face serious. But his cheeks were flushed.

Even Master Javir’s cheeks were a little red.

Then, for the first time today, Eddie Drake, the sea transport guildmaster with red-and-green striped hair, spoke up.

"Made a giant ring, huh? Then leave the hauling to me. I’ll figure something out."

"Thank you, Drake."

Leifan bowed slightly, thanking the pirate-looking Drake.

Looked more like he’d just been caught in the middle of a kidnapping.

"But what about draining the water? Even if we hire more sailors and day laborers, there’s a limit."

Drake crossed his arms, feigning ignorance. But in my head, that problem was already solved long ago.

It’s fine. Use the moisture evaporation alchemy.

Huh? What’s that?

Leifan tilted his head. I was the one who wanted to tilt mine.

Huh…? You didn’t read the report I filed about solving the swamp village problem with the lizardfolk?

The report—on alchemically crafting moisture evaporation agents to build a village in the swamp—was already submitted to the Production Guild.

S-sorry… I was too busy to check if the problem was actually solved…

Leifan slumped, shoulders drooping. I waved my hands frantically.

W-wait! I’ve been swamped lately! I’m not blaming you! Just—short version: it’s an alchemy potion that evaporates water in an instant!

Evaporate? Like boiling water in a kettle? That’d take time, wouldn’t it?

We’ll run the large-scale test later.

I扫视四周，目光落在窗台上的一个花瓶上。

A slim metal vase.

"Kyle, borrow this."

After getting Kyle’s nod, I pull the flower out and stick it into Leifan’s head for now. Got yelled at for some reason, face red as a beet, but I’ll put it back soon—just bear with me for a sec.

I add water to the vase with magic, then set it right in the center of the window so everyone can see.

Huh. Never tested it with this little water before, I think to myself, then pull out the evaporation potion.

A pinch’s enough, but since I’d be embarrassed if it failed, I go ahead and dump in a tablespoon’s worth.

"Alright, watch this."

The moment I pour the potion into the vase, it happens—almost at the same time.

First, a boom like an explosion, and then steam blasting straight up in a violent rush.

The vase was metal, so it didn’t shatter—but the force of the scalding steam blasting out its mouth shoved the whole thing straight down into the floor.

That force cracked part of the window ledge.

Lightning-fast, Raidock cut through between the table where everyone sat and the vase.

A beat behind him, Alphard stepped in front of Kyle.

Raidock knocked every flying shard out of the air before it could hit anyone.

All of that happened faster than a blink.

Raidock exhaled, “phew,” and tossed the rubble he’d been holding into the corner. Alphard sighed, guiding Kyle back into his seat.

““““………………””””

Yeah. The looks are killing me!

“Ah… kinda overdid the alchemy mix. Heh★”

"Craft! Sit properly!"

It’d been ages since I’d gotten a proper scolding and a stern lecture from Leifan.

◆

While the room was being tidied up and I was getting reamed out, the meeting took a short break.

Amidst the flurry of maids and butlers clearing things away and preparing tea, one person—Jabir the teacher—stood utterly still, staring intently at a flower vase that had sunk deep into the floor, muttering something under his breath.

"...phase transition of water... volume expansion... adjusting the alchemical concoction... but is it really possible?... atmospheric pressure... container... mumbling... no... no..."

Leifan’s lecture droned on, so I couldn’t make much of it.

"Are you listening!? Craft!?!"

"Ma'am! Yes, ma'am! Ma'am!"

I kept sitting there with my eyes narrowed, enduring Leifan’s sermon until the room was clean. Ugh...

Luckily, we had top-notch maids, so I was freed not long after.

"Craft. We'll pick up the rest when we get back."

"...Yes."

Mom’s tough, huh...

Once everyone settled back into their seats, Kyle cleared his throat.

"Uh, there was a bit of trouble, but, Leifan. How about it? Is this moisture evaporation potion usable?"

"I believe it is. Determining the proper dosage for alchemical medicine isn't exactly difficult. In fact, the projected timeline—likely—could shrink to about a tenth... maybe even less... of what we originally thought."

The room went silent at Leifan’s words.

This project was supposed to span decades. We’d prepared ourselves for a century-long endeavor. Even under perfect conditions, we’d figured ten, maybe twenty years.

We were hoping to finish before Kyle passed his title to a child. That’s how long we’d been thinking.

"Um, Leifan. Does that mean it’ll be done in less than ten years?"

Kyle’s voice trembled as he asked.

Leifan shook his head.

"No. If things go well, under a year. At worst, three years."

He stated it flat. No hesitation. That kind of confidence.

Every single person in the meeting stared like goldfish, mouths opening and closing.

A long silence hung in the air—uncomfortable, thick. Then Kyle cleared his throat to regain control.

"That’s… the best news. What about the other problems? There was the monster issue, right?"

"Leave that to us. With Craft’s underwater breath tonic, our adventurers can handle it."

Raidock answered without pause. Following right after, the Adventurer’s Guildmaster, Cyanos Gashur, added his own words.

"Sir Kyle. Prepare the underwater breath tonic and issue the escort request. The adventurer party hunting silver-scaled piranhas is already accustomed to underwater combat. If needed, we can provide further reinforcement."

"Of course. I’m looking forward to it."

Cyanos Gashur bowed deeply, his face softening into a smile as he looked at Kyle.

Funny thing—everyone here, except for the Maritime Guildmaster Eddie Drake, has been granted permission to address Kyle by name. Most of us have known him since before he became Marquis.

Of course, in formal settings, it’s still “Marquis.” Gotta remember that.

The air relaxed after the construction plans were settled. Raidock muttered under his breath.

"Still, ever since I got here, it’s just water, water, water."

Leifan let out a quiet chuckle.

"Raidock. That’s what ‘frontier’ means—fighting monsters, water, and earth."

Not just Raidock—me too, I’m stepping in.

““Ah, I see.””

We ended up saying it in unison. Laughter flooded the meeting room.

Yeah. We can do this.

We felt the solid, unmistakable momentum of a grand national project.

◆

…….

I’d been underestimating it.

The fact that the deadline was being shortened.

That meant more work. More, violently, overwhelmingly more.

“Ah, hell! Someone get me documents from the Adventurer’s Guild right now! And handle negotiations with the Merchant Guild—Craft!”

Leifan shrieked. I yelled right back.

“Can’t focus on alchemy for underwater breathing potions right now! Send me to Plum!”

“Mmmmm, impossible, I can’t!”

We’re short! Hands are too few! Too damn few!

The slack we’d gained thanks to the orphans—gone in an instant.

Paperwork piled up from negotiations with other departments.

Only the guildmaster, Leifan, could clear it all.

But Leifan had to oversee production too, so to keep things running, the production guild was plunged back into hellish chaos.

"Written report from Kyle-sama! Guildmaster confirmation needed!"

"Aaaaah!"

Leifan clutched his head.

Shit. If this keeps up, the production guild’s gonna collapse!

Just as the guild teetered on the edge of breaking, a familiar face appeared.

"Ah, look at you—really pushed to the wall, aren’t you?"

Standing at the entrance was Grim Dondor, the former guildmaster who’d welcomed me into the production guild and who should now be the head of the Gandar Guild.

"Let me help."

The way Nikaeri stood there, thumb raised—pure, unfiltered savior energy.

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