Ch.742Urban Reconstruction
by fnovelpia
Three days later, Ophelia van Sigmillus completed the magical device she had promised—the so-called soul compass for tracking Nidhogg.
Though she admitted we wouldn’t know if it would actually work until we tried it.
In any case, it had been an incredibly hectic three days.
There hadn’t been any major incidents, but I’d been too busy with various happenings to catch my breath.
Training Demian and our other allies, sending letters to Landenburg territory to inform them that we would soon declare independence from the Empire and establish a kingdom…
“It is an infinite honor to meet you, Holy Maiden! I am Patris, servant of the goddess Astraea!”
“Ah… nice to meet you. Patrash, was it? Do you have some business with me?”
And dealing with priests from the Church of Astraea who dropped everything and rushed to my mansion upon hearing news of the Holy Maiden’s appearance. It had been an exhaustingly busy few days.
—-
Meanwhile, the capital had undergone many changes.
First, the city’s concept—perhaps “design philosophy” or “architectural purpose” would be more appropriate terms?—had fundamentally changed.
Previously, Extrashafel had been the capital where the emperor resided, as well as the Empire’s largest residential area housing numerous imperial nobles and citizens.
However, the two ordeals—the great fire caused by the Werebeasts and Nidhogg’s rampage—had transformed what was once the Empire’s most splendid and bustling metropolis into a living hell with an average life expectancy of 40 years.
Although Leopold had personally announced that he would provide resettlement support once the city’s reconstruction was complete, who in their right mind would want to return to such a city?
Among those who had evacuated from the capital, less than 1% expressed any desire to return, meaning the city’s life as a residential center had effectively ended.
That’s why Leopold abandoned the restoration of Extrashafel. Without resorting to extreme measures like forced relocation policies, it would be impossible to restore the city’s population to its former levels.
Extrashafel had two paths left: either decline into a ghost town where fewer than a thousand people barely scraped by, or abandon its function as a residential area and be reborn as a new city with a different purpose.
For example, a military city.
“Demolish the empty mansions and build barracks and training grounds. Repair the collapsed walls, construct pastures for war horses, and expand watchtowers and guard posts. The new Extrashafel will not be the cradle of imperial citizens, but a great military city that forges the shields and spears of humanity.”
Leopold seemed to think the same. He abandoned plans to support residents’ return and instead ordered the imperial army to be brought into the city, fortifying the entire capital—judging from his command to transform the capital into a fortress.
Thus, Extrashafel was reborn as a city for the imperial army, by the imperial army. A military stronghold to train, drill, and station the imperial forces.
—-
Although Extrashafel was being redeveloped as a military city under Leopold’s orders, not all existing facilities were demolished.
Residential facilities for imperial soldiers’ families, commercial districts for their daily lives, and entertainment facilities to relieve soldiers’ fatigue and stress were all preserved.
The cathedrals of the religious orders were likewise maintained. In fact, the cathedrals were closer to essential core facilities necessary for maintaining the city.
Perhaps because of the existence of healing miracles and recovery potions, Western medical technology was, charitably speaking, closer to folk remedies practiced by quacks.
A city without priests could be wiped out as easily as a joke by even a minor epidemic.
And health management wasn’t the only concern.
Battle priests who bestowed blessings on knights to greatly enhance their combat abilities, and paladins who demonstrated exceptional capabilities against undead monsters—they too were forces incomparably more important than ordinary knights in these chaotic times. As the capital transformed into a military fortress, the religious orders’ position and influence continued to expand.
The great cathedral of Extrashafel, which had lost its upper structure, was restored even faster than the imperial palace. The Church of Saulite even established plans to build three grand cathedrals within the capital, under the pretext of expanding medical facilities for soldiers and residents.
Among the major religious orders, the Church of Saulite boasted exceptional healing effects.
Their argument that if treatment centers were to be expanded, it would be most efficient for them to take full responsibility was reasonable enough that even Grand Archbishop Lacy Elmaine Stardolf reluctantly nodded in agreement.
The Church of Astraea also recorded unprecedented growth.
The Church of Astraea had been so unpopular in the Empire (unlike in the Holy State) that their cathedral was tucked away in a corner of the capital, but after I was revealed as their Holy Maiden, they underwent changes as dramatic as Leopold’s scalp—though in the completely opposite direction from the emperor’s head rolling into a barren wasteland of despair.
The first Holy Maiden of Order born in hundreds of years.
Moreover, the fact that her identity was “Median of the Starry Sky,” boasting the Empire’s strongest military might and matching reputation—for the Church of Astraea, it was like having a gold mine roll right into their laps.
From what I heard, donations amounting to enough to buy several gold mines with money to spare had poured into the order.
Most of the donations were used to aid those affected by the dragon crisis or monster outbreaks, and the rest was invested in training paladins and priests, leaving only enough money to build a single cathedral.
In other words, they did build one cathedral.
‘…I’d cause an uproar if I secretly demolished that, wouldn’t I?’
[Accept it and give up. This is your own doing, isn’t it?]
I sighed faintly as I looked out the window of the Golden Mansion at the cathedral building whose foundation was being constructed. I had anticipated something like this would happen from the moment my stigmata was revealed… but I never expected them to start building a grand cathedral right next to the Golden Mansion.
I was genuinely afraid that once it was completed, I might have to go there every morning to hold prayer meetings.
[Anyway, once you establish your kingdom, won’t you rarely stay here?]
‘Well, that’s true, but…’
Seeing their momentum, I felt chilled to the bone at the thought that even if I declared Landenburg the capital and shut myself away there, they would likely follow me there and build yet another grand cathedral.
—-
After Ophelia completed the soul compass, I visited the busy Leopold to discuss plans for subjugating Nidhogg.
Of course, I didn’t mention the soul compass. Since the tracking principle itself was based on necromancy, the existence of this compass had to remain a secret between Ophelia and me.
Therefore, I only asked about when and with whom I should head to the Sky Mountains, and how I should conduct myself.
“I’d like to provide Imperial knights as support, but as you know, we lack the capacity for that now. I’m sorry.”
“So it will be just me and Épée de Ciel heading to the Sky Mountains. I thought if Archmage Floheta could provide support, it would be a considerable help…”
“The Archmage cannot leave the capital. With the high-ranking mages wiped out in the battle against Nidhogg, if she were to leave now, the Imperial Mage Tower would effectively cease functioning.”
So we couldn’t expect support from the Mage Tower either. Well, I expected as much.
The collapsed imperial palace didn’t even have the resources to be restored, forcing the Emperor to conduct state affairs in a cramped secondary palace. In such circumstances, how could there be any troops left to support me?
Unless they completely abandoned the capital’s defense and monster subjugation throughout the Empire, it would be impossible.
“…Then there’s no helping it. I understand. I’ll figure something out myself.”
“I’m sorry. I feel ashamed to burden you with so much…”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s not like this is anything new—it’s always been this way.”
I shrugged lightly, expressing my willingness to handle this task alone. While it was disappointing that we couldn’t receive imperial support, we couldn’t just wait until they had the capacity to help us.
“I’ve made all the preparations, so I’ll depart within two days. If we change horses along the way, we should reach the Sky Mountains within six days.”
If I were traveling alone, four days would be sufficient, but with others accompanying me, such a forced march would be impossible. It would take at least a week.
“…That’s quite long.”
Surely nothing would happen within that week, but I still felt uneasy. If Nidhogg were to be discovered and subjugated during that time, the situation would become very awkward.
“You needn’t worry about that.”
However, Leopold seemed to think differently, as he raised his head and showed a confident smile.
“I said it would be difficult to provide military support, but I never said support was impossible. Isn’t that right?”
“You mean…”
“Remember the airship project? The flying vessel we designed together. The prototype was just completed yesterday. A perfect success that has passed all stability verifications.”
It was such surprising news that I opened my eyes wide and asked again.
“The airship has been completed?”
There’s no way it could be finished already. Maybe before, but with the Mage Tower and the entire capital in ruins, how could they possibly…
“Indeed. Thanks to Floheta, who worked tirelessly, even sacrificing her sleep.”
Ah… so they ground Floheta down to complete it.
Now I understood how they finished it so quickly.
Poor Floheta. No wonder she looked like a walking corpse lately—she must have been unable to sleep properly due to imperial pressure to complete the airship as soon as possible.
I wonder if she’s deeply regretting accepting the position of Archmage by now.
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