Chapter 41

With the summer festival just around the corner, Bouble was enveloped in an even more vibrant atmosphere than usual. Along the streets, preparations for the stalls were progressing steadily, and the VIP seats and lost children center were already set up.

No doubt, knights and commoners alike were working together diligently to prepare. I had been working with them until yesterday, so I knew for sure. But now, I was under house arrest in my office. This was because Mr. Sunda, known as the guardian of Bouble's law, had returned to work yesterday. If it were Anne, she would have been able to slip out during work hours due to her consideration for the lord, but there was no way Mr. Sunda would let me off. I had been wrestling with documents since morning.

"Sir George, the schedule for the events in the square is ready," Mr. Sunda said, handing me a sheet of paper. This time, we decided to invite minstrels and street performers to attract more people. The festival in Orizon seemed to focus mainly on eating and drinking, with little entertainment, so Bouble's summer festival was drawing attention from other territories.

"Thank you. Mr. Volf, how are the hotel reservations?"

"All the hotels are fully booked. And as you requested, I've arranged for shuttle golem buses from the Kocatsu and Wheat territories," Mr. Volf replied. If guests came and couldn't find a place to stay, it would have a negative impact on the festival's popularity in the future. Moreover, spreading the economic benefits to the surrounding areas would ultimately be more beneficial than Bouble reaping all the benefits alone. I had considered letting people stay in the castle, but I decided against it due to security concerns and a new idea I had.

"Understood. Also, I'm going to the Mana Plantation now, so please come with me. The new defense system is complete."

The Mana Plantation, now a crucial site for Bouble, was located in a forest at the foot of Task Mountain. To facilitate the transportation of scrap magic stones, several wide roads had been built. As we followed one of these roads, a gray wall came into view. It was about 5 meters high and 3 meters thick, made of reinforced concrete.

"Another big wall, huh? But there are bigger walls out there... Mr. Sunda, what's wrong?"

Unlike Mr. Volf, who was cursing, Mr. Sunda was gaping in surprise.

"Mr. Sunda, you noticed, didn't you?"

"This magical aura is from a golem... This wall itself is a giant golem, isn't it?"

Indeed, Mr. Sunda, one of the most intelligent orcs in Orizon, understood at a glance.

"Yes, it's a golem wall with defensive capabilities. The entrance won't open without passing a magical authentication, and if someone tries to climb it, various defense mechanisms will activate."

The wall would extend parts to blow away intruders or drop rocks from above. Essentially, I borrowed the idea from industrial robots in factories, limiting the golem's functions to make it practical.

"What about the magic power? With something this big, it must use a lot of magic power, right?"

"Mana Plants release a small amount of magic power when they absorb scrap magic stones. I've engraved a magic drain rune on the inside of the wall to absorb this power. I'll register both of your magic powers as well, so let's go inside."

I channeled my magic power into the magic stone embedded in the wall, and after a moment, a deep, heavy sound echoed around us.

"The door opens in response to magic power, right?"

"Exactly. Even a monster couldn't open this door, so you can rest assured. By the way, dragons are patrolling the skies regularly."

Interestingly, the dragons patrolling the area were given additional magic stones, and each dragon had a preference for different types of magic stones.

"…Are you planning to use this for fortresses and gates as well?"

"Yes, we'll use them as regular fortresses and gates, but if enemies attack, we can have them attack with their built-in arms."

In case of a takeover, I was also considering a system where the golem would collapse, taking the enemies inside with it. I even wanted to create combination golems or transforming golems... something like a six-body combination G-Mars, but that might be too much.

"It's been a while since I've been here, but the number of Mana Plants has increased significantly. Is it okay to have so many?"

"Mana Plants change their attributes based on the magic stones they are given. Water-attribute Mana Plants are fire-resistant and suitable for building materials, while dark-attribute Mana Plants have strong magic resistance and can be processed into shields or armor."

Even mages could use wooden bucklers, so there would be demand.

"Looking at them, they seem to have small fruits. Are you going to discard them?"

"Absolutely not. Even small fruits contain magic stones."

"Like scrap magic stones, small magic stones won't sell, right?"

Indeed, scrap magic stones were hard to price, and dragons wouldn't even look at them. However, the magic stones from Mana Plants had a unique feature.

"The magic stones from Mana Plants are clear, so I plan to use them for jewelry. I also thought about soaking them in honey to create a substitute for magic potions."

Sugar can heal brain fatigue, and the fruits of Mana Plants contain magic power, so I believed it was possible to commercialize them. If production increased, I planned to use them as rations.

"Should I say you're thorough or stingy... By the way, how long are you going to let those big fruits grow?"

Mr. Volf pointed to a particularly large Mana Plant, known as a Mother Tree, which bore a large fruit.

"I'm experimenting to see how big they can grow. Large magic stones can be sold at high prices to collectors."

...That's a lie. It's actually a catalyst for my eventual return to Japan.

---

As the sun set and night fell over Bouble, the streets were bustling with families and couples, unlike the usual drunken shouts that filled the night.

"Brother, there are so many people... and everyone looks so happy. My friends are looking forward to it too," Ami said, her fists clenched tightly and moving excitedly.

"That's great. Next time, thank them for me."

While I tried to maintain a calm demeanor, I was honestly relieved that people had come. If all the preparations went to waste and the festival was deserted, it would result in a huge loss.

"Understood. Brother, let's go to the festival quickly. I don't want it to end before I get there."

I would use my authority as the organizer to extend the time if necessary.

"Don't worry, the festival has just started."

"But, Brother, you have to entertain the guests, right?"

Ami gave me a stern look... As the lord, it was the least I could do to entertain the invited guests. The date with Ami? I had managed to arrange it under the guise of a patrol.

"Got it. Let's go."

Ami, who rarely had the opportunity to shop freely, was probably experiencing a first-time visit to a commoner's stall.

"Brother, Brother! These fried potatoes are so delicious!"

She was talking with food in her mouth, and in her other hand, she held a skewer of grilled chicken.

"This shaved ice is also delicious. I prepared it for you, Ami. But be careful, eating too fast can give you a headache."

"Wow! Brother, it's sweet, cold, and delicious!"

Seeing my sister so happy made me feel that hosting the summer festival was truly worth it. As I watched Ami, a small bear girl approached us.

"Ah, it's the lord!"

"Coco, stop. It's impolite to the lord," Donga said, catching up with his siblings. It seemed Donga was in charge of babysitting... I would keep it a secret that Cain and Walnut were on a date.

"It's fine... Is there anything you want to eat? The lord will treat you."

This was a way to thank Donga for his usual efforts, not because I felt guilty about keeping Cain's date a secret.

"Sir George, I'm sorry."

"It's a festival. Don't worry about it."

I also kept it a secret that Hewbo was helping at Liril's father's shop and that Rapan was working part-time at Verde's shop. After giving the Donga siblings some food as a form of atonement, Ami and I headed back to the festival.

"Ah, it's Ami-chan! Let's play together!"

Ami's friends called out to her, and she glanced at me.

"Ami, I have to go to work soon, so go play with your friends. Everyone, please take care of my sister."

Ami was in sixth grade. She would probably enjoy playing with her friends more than with her family.

"Brother, is that okay?"

"Yeah, have fun. Here's some pocket money."

Of course, I would secretly have a guard follow her to prevent any trouble. After parting ways with Ami, I walked through the crowd alone. While the surroundings were noisy, it was quiet around me.

'What a lonely festival. Poor lord.'

The one who spoke to me was the divine messenger, Mika. If I responded, I would be recognized as the lonely lord.

'This is how I should be... Being a lord is just a temporary role.'

I was the programmer Jyoji Fuki, not George Akogi, the lord of Bouble. I was just a pretender who had taken over the real George's position.

'Are you still planning to return to your original world?'

'Yes, once the demon king is defeated or the territory stabilizes enough for George to manage, I'll return to Japan.'

Jyoji Fuki's life might not have been exciting, but it was my life. Enjoying George Akogi's life would be like betraying my family, friends, and those who supported me.

'You have a very rigid mindset.'

'I'm just a fake. I look like George Akogi, but I'm different inside. It's like a meat bun pretending to be a bean paste bun.'

I might have become a bean paste-flavored meat bun through my efforts... but that's a tough combination.

The summer festival ended successfully, and I gathered the knights and soldiers in the castle's front courtyard.

"Thanks to all of you, the summer festival was a success. The castle's security will be handled by the dragons of Task Mountain. It's on me, so eat and drink as much as you like and get ready for tomorrow."

It wouldn't be appropriate to have guests stay in a castle guarded by dragons, and the castle staff needed a break. This was a small way to repay the working lord.

If anyone from Tokyo or those familiar with the area could help with the activity report, I would appreciate it.