BOPE 51

Chapter 51 …

“Are you saying you’re going to build a main road running beneath Morta and Enol?”

After the two village chiefs left, the next person summoned was the builder.

Having just finished the construction work in Morta and constantly shuttling back and forth to Enol, he was already run ragged, as though two bodies wouldn’t be enough to handle it all.

“I want to build a wide, sturdy road—strong enough for multiple carriages to pass without issue. To get to Heron, people currently have to go around our territory, which takes far too long and increases the risk of accidents. Monsters also pop up from time to time, don’t they?”

Donghui recalled the map of the Grace region he had seen in the study and asked.

Heron was located east of Grace territory. Despite being a cold region, the land there was fertile and free of monsters, making it a flourishing commercial city.

“Yes, travelers often suffer serious injuries because of that.”

“That’s why I’ll build a broad, safe road—and then collect tolls.”

The builder trembled with a strange excitement, even if he couldn’t fully grasp it yet.

He hadn’t believed it even when he was asked to repair houses. And now, to be entrusted with a project this massive? It felt like a dream.

“But the construction costs will be considerable.”

Standing nearby, Scrooge voiced his concern. From his deeply furrowed brows, it was clear he was calculating the potential expense in his head. Very much the proper attitude for a financial officer.

“Don’t worry about the cost. I can cover it all. And don’t ask where the money came from—knowing might hurt you. Oh, right, how’s the vault construction coming along?”

Having bragged about his wealth, he suddenly grew curious about the vault project.

Smith—or was it Smashing?—the blacksmith of Grace was in charge of creating a vault-like chamber. Turning an entire room into a vault wouldn’t be an easy feat.

According to Scrooge, the blacksmith’s face had lit up with joy for the first time in three years when he heard the plan.

“He came by at dawn to measure the room. He’s diligent, so I’m sure the result will be satisfactory.”

Scrooge puffed himself up with pride, as though he were personally overseeing the project. At the same time, though, he felt unease, despite being pleased with the growing piles of wealth. Every time he saw the heaps of gold coins, the uncertainty of not knowing their origin gnawed at him.

But since the lord had said so himself, he couldn’t ask further.

“Recruit the workers from within our territory.”

“Not just from Morta and Enol, but also from Larcen and Fuka villages?”

“Yes, from there too.”

Donghui didn’t know much about Larcen and Fuka, but he nodded naturally. They were probably among the few villages not yet taken over by Patrasche.

As he wondered when he might visit those villages, he remembered recently ordering mercenaries to be recruited.

“How’s the mercenary recruitment going?”

“They started arriving yesterday.”

Red Bear, who had been standing stiff as a pole at the side of the office, quickly answered. The mercenary recruitment had been entrusted to him.

“Do you think we can gather two hundred?”

Red Bear’s expression darkened at Donghui’s question.

“Worthy mercenaries seem scarce. Many of those who came don’t even look like mercenaries at all.”

“Where did they come from?”

“Mostly from Larcen and Fuka, with some from Idorna and Fran as well.”

“Then don’t send them away—use them as laborers for the construction. They probably came because they urgently need work. Oh, and do we have enough rooms for both mercenaries and workers?”

Donghui knew Grace Castle was large but not how many rooms it had.

Scrooge frowned thoughtfully for a moment before nodding.

“If we put four people in each room, there will be enough. Many of the servants’ quarters are still empty.”

“How many rooms are in Grace Castle in total?”

Unable to resist his curiosity, Donghui asked as though absentmindedly.

“Including all the servants’ rooms, about one hundred fifty.”

“O-one hundred fifty?”

“My apologies. Over fifty are unusable due to lack of maintenance.”

Thinking Donghui was angry about the reduced number, Scrooge quickly added the explanation.

But instead, Donghui fell into serious thought.

Should I turn this place into an inn?

Just as he was seriously considering remodeling the castle into something like a hotel—

“My lord, Hellsah has come to see you.”

Delma’s voice broke in.

Donghui hadn’t heard the knock or her greeting since he had been lost in thought.

“Hellsah?”

He recalled the name he had given her, inspired by both Frozen and “health club.” He also remembered the tall woman’s bright, confident smile.

“Yes. She’s been waiting since morning.”

“Bring her in.”

“Yes!”

Delma opened the office door, and Hellsah strode in.

Unlike the village chiefs who had once gawked around the room, she walked in without hesitation, straight-backed and sure-footed.

It wasn’t the familiarity of someone used to the place—it was something else: poise, confidence, and eyes that shone brightly.

It wasn’t just her tall, muscular frame. Donghui studied her as she bowed politely before him, finding her increasingly intriguing.

“You asked to see me?”

“Yes, my lord,” Hellsah replied firmly.

“Is the dural harvest wrapping up well?”

“Yes. Beyond the fields you discovered, we’ve found two more. They’re closer to the Black Forest, but if we go during the day, it’s safe. And they’re twice as large as the first.”

“Really? That’s fantastic! If you need more hands, just say so. We’ll have reinforcements soon.”

Donghui couldn’t hide his delight.

“How did you discover them?”

“Hellsah found them while scouting nearby,” Delma answered proudly when Hellsah hesitated.

Blushing faintly at being praised, Hellsah fiddled with her hair awkwardly, like a shy girl.

“Financial officer!”

“Yes, my lord.”

Scrooge, who had been just as overjoyed by the news, responded quickly, unable to hide his grin.

“Give Hellsah a special reward of two gold coins.”

“Two… gold coins?”

“Yes. Why not? Discovering dural fields that huge deserves at least that much.”

As Donghui shrugged as if it were obvious, everyone in the office gaped in shock.

Two gold coins! That was several years’ wages for a maid, if she saved every penny.

But instead of being overwhelmed with joy, Hellsah calmly replied:

“Since you’re giving it, I gratefully accept. But I didn’t do it alone. I’ll divide it equally with my companions.”

“How many were with you?”

“Ten of us moved together, just in case.”

“Then each person would only get two silver.”

“Yes. That’s more than enough. Any more would make me too anxious to sleep at night.”

She smiled warmly, her white teeth gleaming neatly between her lips.

Donghui found her more and more likable.

“Then I’ll make sure more people receive special rewards more often in the future.”

“Thank you.”

“Is there anything else?”

She hadn’t left yet, so Donghui asked.

“Yes. The fertilizer made from dural leaves is finished.”

When Handsome had told him she’d been put in charge of fertilizer-making, he’d worried the task was far below her abilities. But Hellsah had thrown herself into it wholeheartedly, seeming genuinely happy whenever she worked the fields.

Donghui had expected it would take at least several weeks. Yet she had succeeded far sooner.

“Really? I thought it’d take at least another week.”

He had only ordered it a few days ago, yet she had already managed to turn dural leaves and moss into compost.

“Mixing dural leaves with moh moss accelerated the process. At first, I thought the more moss I used, the faster it would go, but that wasn’t the case.”

It seemed the women collecting moss had also done well. Donghui smiled to himself, picturing them happily receiving their wages.

“So there’s a proper ratio?”

“Yes. I wrote it down here.”

She handed Chloe a piece of paper she had prepared in advance.

The page, torn from a small notebook, was filled with beautifully neat handwriting detailing the compost ratios.

The moment Donghui saw her script, he was certain: she was no ordinary servant.

“Hellsah, how long have you been working at Grace Castle?”

“This is my fifth year.”

“And may I ask your age?”

“I turned thirty this year.”

“So you joined at twenty-five. What did you do before then? Will you tell me if I ask?”

“If it is your command, I will answer. But… I would be grateful if you allowed me a little more time.”

Donghui was oddly satisfied with that response.

“Of course. Tell me when you’re ready. I won’t force you.”

That clearly surprised her. She had expected him to demand an answer, not give her such freedom.

“And really, completing the dural compost deserves a reward too.”

“I only did as you instructed. I didn’t put in enough effort to deserve a reward.”

She replied firmly.

Donghui liked her even more.

“Then how about rewarding all the servants with a banquet?”

“A… banquet?”

Hellsah’s eyes widened—more than when he’d offered her two gold coins.

“Yes, a banquet. I’ll order the tables piled high with food.”

“Would there… be dural fritters too?”

Her hands clasped like in prayer, eyes shining with hope. Dural could easily be steamed, but never fried—the oil was far too expensive.

“There’ll be mountains of dural fritters.”

“Gasp!”

Hellsah clapped a large hand over her mouth, her joy barely contained.

“And we’ll have all kinds of fried dumplings too.”

“Dumplings?”

They didn’t exist here.

Even ramen, always stocked in the servants’ dining hall, was already a strange, wondrous food to them. Dumplings sounded like something else entirely.

“They’re delicious. You can fry them, steam them, or even cook them in soup.”

Though she had no idea what they were, Hellsah swallowed her saliva with anticipation.