Chapter 13.1 – Alcohol Troubles

A spacious tract of land and a sizable building stood near the Knight Order’s headquarters.

A nouveau riche had once built it, only to fall on hard times and sell almost immediately.

Tistria bought the place and handed it to Gaikaku.

The wide-open grounds were just what he’d wanted… and he promptly set the slaves to work there.

“First we start by building dorms suited to each race. After that I want pastures for the livestock we’re selectively breeding, and a tree nursery. Once that’s done I need to finish the half-completed cold storage, and then… no, maybe the hospital comes first?”

For now they were using the existing large building as housing, but to be blunt it was meant for humans.

Beastkin, elves, and dark elves could cope. Goblins and dwarves found it too big, while ogres found it far too small.

Therefore construction would begin with dorms for goblins, dwarves, and ogres.

Once those were finished, they would build lodgings for beastkin, elves, and dark elves, and finally erect a grand dormitory for humans.

By the time all that was done, the largest structure—the manor—would likely be complete as Gaikaku’s laboratory.

“Man, good for you lot! Your very own dream home, and it’s brand-new! Not too shabby for slaves, huh?”

“…Well, aside from the part where we have to build it ourselves.”

“It’s only a home of your own if you build it with your own hands! I’ll handle the surveying and blueprints, so just follow my instructions.”

Gaikaku, for all his grumbling, was practically giddy.

As long as he produced results, the research funds kept flowing, and on land this vast he could conduct illegal experiments in comfort.

Better yet, the physical labor fell to the slaves—a perfect arrangement.

“Hey, can a Knight Commander really handle design and oversight?”

“Boss can do anything. On the last property, the serious development was all under his orders.”

“If it’s brain work, he can do it all…”

The infantry squad checked with the veteran ogre.

After all, this wasn’t some game where you could just say, “Put a house over there,” or “Stack blocks until it looks like one;” it required specialized knowledge.

Even if the buildings weren’t for sale, putting up a home you were satisfied with was impressive.

He really did earn the right to call himself a genius.

“Hey, Foreman, you mentioned building a hospital earlier, but who’s gonna handle doctoring and medicine? You bringing someone in?”

It was the dwarves who addressed Gaikaku as “Foreman.”

Building was another of his hidden talents, so they were reasonably enthusiastic.

While they were interested in the “box” that was the hospital, they also wondered what would go inside.

“Who else? I’ll do it. I said I wouldn’t let a single one of you die, so I’ll put my all into the treatment.”

“…Wait, you can doctor too?”

“It’s practically my specialty. I can use almost every form of medical magic ever banned, so I’ll cure any injury or illness you’ve got.”

Medicine is deeply bound up with ethics and morals.

That’s why even “proper medical techniques” sometimes end up sealed away.

Gaikaku boasted he could use them all, brimming with confidence.

“Even if your arm gets ripped off, or your leg torn off, or your guts shredded, I’ll just swap ’em out!”

“…”

Even that brief explanation made it clear why the techniques were illegal.

The logic was understandable, but it was hardly a pleasant form of treatment.

Honestly, they would have preferred some mysterious wonder drug.

“Still, housing comes first. If I want you working efficiently, you need a stress-free place to live.”

At this point Gaikaku’s words themselves were stressful.

He wasn’t exactly wrong, and the slaves would probably benefit.

But hearing him say it was “to make you work efficiently” rubbed them the wrong way.

“All right, I’ll leave the orders. Once you’re done I’m heading back to headquarters—Tistria-sama summoned me. Sounds like some job came in. It’s not a pleasure trip, so don’t slack off while I’m gone~~”

“Ye~~s!”

Only the carefree goblins answered with such pep.

The others couldn’t hide their envy—“Lucky them.”

None of them had met Tistria yet, said to be the kingdom’s greatest beauty and a prodigy to boot.

(Honestly, she scares me, so I’d rather not meet her…)

For the record, Gaikaku wasn’t eager either.

※

Once at Knight Order headquarters, Gaikaku was naturally escorted straight to the office.

Though he was a Knight Commander, he realized he’d had no dealings whatsoever with the other knight orders.

Which suited him fine—he wasn’t eager to see them anyway.

“Gehihihi”

“Tistria-sama, may I wish you a most splendid day…”

“Thank you for coming, Sir Gaikaku. Did the land I prepared suit you?”

“Yes, splendidly…”

After a brief greeting they got down to business.

One filled the fan-service role, the other the enigmatic role.

Neither fit the mold of a proper knight, but the fact the meeting moved so quickly showed both approached this purely as business.

“Now then, your assignment. Bandits are infesting the road between Count Alhena’s and Count Wasat’s domains. I’d like you to suppress them.”

“…Rather ordinary work to come down to the Knight Order.”

“Yes, but there’s a complication. It appears the Alhena side is supporting the bandits.”

“Just like I used to, eh? Gehihihi.”

The chuckle was slightly mocking, but the face under the hood was grave.

Having once done the same thing, he understood how strong local connections could be.

“Still, using bandits to choke logistics is a bit crude and petty for nobles of their station. What’s behind it?”

“I have documents on that. Their bad blood is apparently famous—seems Count Alhena lost at a sake-tasting contest.”

“A… sake-tasting contest, you say? Well, I suppose it has its charm…”

A tasting contest would mean guessing the brand or region of the alcohol.

Better than a drink-till-you-drop contest, at least.

“Supporting banditry over a contest result… makes you suspect some deeper grudge.”

“No, that really seems to be all. Both apparently have strong feelings about alcohol.”

“…I see.”

For the people involved it was no doubt important and non-negotiable.

To anyone else, it was utterly trivial.

The victims caught in the middle surely didn’t appreciate it.

“…Who is the client in this affair?”

“A joint petition from those the bandits attacked. Count Wasat reportedly finds the situation amusing.”

“Well, it’s not hurting him personally…”

Losing a tasting and then harassing the victor with petty banditry—immature motives.

Depending on one’s personality, one might even find it entertaining.

“Hmm… just to check, how ‘skilled’ are the two Counts, exactly?”

“Count Wasat took first place; Count Alhena was runner-up. Plenty of other aficionados competed, and it seems the contest was perfectly fair—no cheating whatsoever.”

That someone would respond to a fair contest result with underhanded crime was ironic.

But given that riots can erupt after fair sports matches, it was hard to say it never happened.

“Just to confirm, then—the solution is defined as ‘capture or kill the bandits,’ yes?”

“Precisely. As long as banditry disappears, that will satisfy the petitioners.”

“Understood. In that case…”

Gaikaku smiled brightly.

“In the name of the Conjurer Knights, I’ll make the problem vanish—like a magic trick.”

※

Harassing someone with bandits because you lost a tasting contest.

Such a childish motive for such an adult crime.

Yet the damage was real, and action was required.

On his way back to the still-unfinished base, Gaikaku worked out his plan.

“Now then, how many and which of them should I bring…”

Because his work was illegal, Gaikaku couldn’t outsource.

He had to rely on his private property—slaves—for labor to build the facilities.

But they were also his fighting force.

Taking them along would delay construction.