Volume 1 Chapter 47 Let's Create a Path VIII
With a clear plan for drainage in sight, Cain and the others started plotting out a schedule for paving the road with stone.
They came up with a few options, but they settled on blocking off the road for about 30 minutes each at noon and in the evening.
The logic was, if it's just 30 minutes, the townsfolk should be able to handle it.
Next up, Cain brought Lydia and Alice to the conference room to discuss the stone paving design.
He thought a uniform pattern like the one in front of the mansion would lack interest.
Plus, having the two of them on board would make it easier to purchase Luke later on.
"Cain, what kind of design can we make?"
Lydia asked, holding her feather pen.
"Basically, anything goes, as long as there aren't too many gaps, Mother Lydia. Elder Sister Alice, is that a 'bird'?"
Cain replied to Lydia's question while inquiring about Alice's drawing.
"Where does it look like a 'bird'? It's clearly a wolf. Cain, are your eyes bad?"
She hid the picture, her face bright red.
"Alice, let's think it over later. Cain, give us 2 or 3 days."
Lydia and Alice left the conference room, still chatting away excitedly.
While Lydia and Alice were pondering the stone paving design, Luke and Randolph decided on the water drainage and treatment pond methods for the roadside ditches they'd discussed.
- The ditches would be made by placing 30cm diameter pipes on both sides of the road, with holes drilled at intervals to collect rainwater.
- The ditches would dive underground about 20m before the castle gates and extend outside the castle walls.
- Kept underground, the water would be treated in a processing pond 300m ahead, using slimes.
Lydia and Alice's design was finally decided just before the work began.
- They chose to alternate stone colors on the right and left sides. Right: Light-colored. Left: Dark-colored.
- The basic pattern would be like a checkerboard, but they'd add designs of grass flowers every 100m.
These flowers, though unnamed in this world, like lilies, sunflowers, maple leaves, and poppies, would make the road look vibrant. After that, it was just a matter of bringing the design to life.
Then, Cain started making "cobblestones" twice a day, half an hour each time.
As the "cobblestone" path grew longer, spectators began to show up.
By the time it was almost done, quite a crowd had gathered to watch.
Among the kids, it became a trend to mimic Cain's actions.
Loads of kids were imitating his movements as he chanted spells and touched the ground.
When the "cobblestone" path finally reached the castle gate, a huge cheer erupted, turning it into a festive celebration.
In the end, a parade formed with Cain leading the way from the castle gate to the lord's mansion.
Seeing the joy of the people made Cain happy too.
As he walked the road to the mansion, he thought, Maybe I've done something useful for others.
* * *
Cain had come to report the completion of the "cobblestone" "main road" to Luke.
"Cain, you've worked hard these past one and a half months. Watching from the mansion, I can see the people are overjoyed. It's magnificent."
"I wonder why everyone is so happy about it, though?"
"Well, the 'main road' is at the heart of this town where lots of carriages pass through. But once it rains, it turns into a mess with puddles and ruts, and carriages get stuck, making it a hassle. And the fact that you're using your [magic] to work on this for the people makes them extra happy."
"I see. I'm glad I could be of help to everyone."
Cain replied with a beaming smile.
"A cobblestone road like this is even rare in the royal capital. If this becomes a topic and draws people from outside the territory, it might liven things up."
Luke looked really pleased.
"Indeed, let's consider paving all the roads in the territory's town with 'cobblestones' to bring in more vitality, Father."
Cain dropped a bombshell at the very end.
Character Notes:
Lydia - Cain's Stepmother.
Alice - Cain's Elder Sister.
Luke - Cain's father.
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