"……Alright, I think this should do!"
Looking at the finished fortress, I couldn't help but express my satisfaction. I had first repaired and modified the nearly destroyed fortress, and then I worked on the walls. Honestly, I thought it turned out really well. Behind me, Targa, who had been observing the completed fortress, let out a voice full of disbelief.
"…This is completely different from before..."
As Targa spoke, Stradale nodded in agreement. Meanwhile, Panamera, with her arms crossed, was showing her usual large grin, laughing loudly.
"Ha ha ha! Impressive, boy! I can't wait to see what you've focused on this time!"
Having gotten used to Panamera’s exuberant personality, she looked at the newly finished fortress with great interest. By the way, Targha, who had been working on the fortress with us, responded to Panamera’s words with a dry laugh.
"…Does Van-sama make things like this every time?"
"Well, if we're talking about appearances, this one's actually a bit more ordinary."
"Is that so...?"
While overhearing Panamera and Targa conversation, I immediately began a tour of the newly completed fortress.
"Alright, let’s begin the tour of the fortress!"
"Y-Yes!"
"Ceat Village Knights, please follow behind."
"Understood!"
With a nod, I led the group. Not only Targa but also the Ceat Village Knights joined, so it became quite a large group moving together. We started from the castle gates on the Scuderia Kingdom side, and the first thing everyone looked up at was the external appearance of the fortress.
"It may look like the massive shell of a turtle, but this exterior is incredibly resistant to impacts."
I said while looking up at the towering dome-like fortress in front of me. Everyone followed suit, looking up at the fortress in the same manner. I glanced back at the group and, adopting the stance of a tour guide, continued.
"This large building, equivalent to four stories high, is so massive that you can't really tell what's inside just by looking at it. The gates here are clearly visible, but the opposite side has been designed to blend into the wall, making it practically invisible. Now, let’s head inside."
"Alright!"
"I’m excited!"
Till and Arte replied happily, their voices full of enthusiasm. It felt like a school excursion, but this was a serious tour of the newly strengthened Centena Fortress, which was vital to national defense. Everyone, stay sharp.
I led the group inside with a serious face, starting to explain the modified outer perimeter wall.
"The circular outer wall has been made much thicker than before, and now it's even habitable. Thanks to the large reduction in the courtyard, both the fortress and the walls can comfortably house over 5,000 people for overnight stays. There are also simple cafeterias and bathhouses installed within the walls."
As I explained, we walked along the inner perimeter of the walls. Targa looked around curiously, while Panamera, Til, and Arte seemed amused by the new wall’s design. Meanwhile, Kamshin, Stradale, and Lou were intently studying the structure of the walls, taking mental notes.
"…So, the new Centena is equipped with enough living space. As for defense, the most important feature…"
I paused as we continued walking inside the wall, slapping my palm against the exterior wall as I spoke.
"On the second floor, there are small windows that allow us to use mounted ballistas for attacks. The structure might feel a bit complicated, but that's intentional—if the enemy invades, they won’t be able to easily understand the layout of the fortress."
As I continued the explanation, we moved toward the courtyard, which had a semi-circular roof built to protect against aerial attacks. To ensure its durability, I had made the walls much thicker and expanded the fortress significantly. The courtyard, while being around the perimeter, was not intended to form ranks for an offensive—it was designed purely for defense.
After lightly explaining this, I looked up at the large central fortress.
"Next, let’s move on to the main body of the fortress."
As I said this, Targa raised a hand, looking somewhat puzzled.
"Uh… I think the entire Centena is covered by a roof, so why are there still some areas with light coming in?"
It was a simple question, and if you looked closely, it was clear, but I explained anyway.
"The topmost roof overlaps with the next layer below it. This layering continues in three total layers, creating a space that allows indirect light to filter in. I had hoped to install unbreakable glass windows, but they wouldn't withstand cannon fire, so I abandoned that plan. There are also lamps placed around the building and on the exterior for street lighting, so please make sure the lights are prepared by evening."
At my explanation, Targa blinked and looked up at the ceiling.
"…It looks like just one roof, but you're saying there are multiple layers?"
Targha murmured, and Stradale nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, if you look carefully, you can spot some brighter areas. But won’t the strength of the structure decrease with so many layers?"
"We’ve used enough columns at the overlapping sections to connect the layers securely, but if a shell happens to penetrate one of the gaps designed for light, it might compromise the strength. That said, I believe one or two hits won’t be enough to do any serious damage."
I explained, and Stradale thoughtfully stroked his chin, nodding slowly as he seemed to accept it.
With everyone silent, I led the group inside.
"By the way, these doors are made of metal to withstand cannon attacks. They’re heavy due to their thickness, but please understand, that’s by design."
As I lightly explained the drawbacks, we moved toward the hallway to discuss the major facilities.
"First, let’s talk about the most important amenities: the public bath and the cafeteria. Since we have so many people, we’ve opted for a flowing bath system to minimize cleaning. We draw water from the river, run it through a water wheel, and then pass it through a heating mechanism so the water can continuously flow into the bath at the right temperature. The waste water is also recycled into the sewers, keeping things hygienic."
I led them through the hallway, opening the door to the public bath. Inside, I revealed a bath big enough to comfortably fit 50 people. To maximize space, the bath was rectangular and made of sturdy stone.
The temperature was slightly high, and the steam filled the air. I had set up a water fountain, so the water in the bath was at the perfect temperature, though the fountain itself was probably very hot—it was said to be good for health.
"To think we can actually take a bath…"
"With this size, if we take turns, everyone will be able to bathe every other day."
Targa and Stradale were both surprised by the sight. Satisfied with their reaction, I then guided them to the cafeteria and the spacious kitchen before heading upstairs.
On the second, third, and fourth floors, we had sleeping quarters for the knights. Since we didn’t have time to make individual furniture, we’d have to supplement it later. Each floor also had a weapons and armor storage room at its center, and on the fourth floor, we stored a large amount of ballista bolts.
In case enemies infiltrate the fortress, we’ve installed steep stairs and windows that cannot be opened from the outside. The stairs are designed so that attackers can be attacked with spears from above, making it difficult to reach the upper floors. The windows can also be used to launch arrows or machine crossbows.
As I explained, we finally reached the top floor, where the ballista bolts were stored, and I led everyone up the stairs to the rooftop.
"Finally, this is the rooftop."
I stepped forward and turned to face them after a few steps.
When the group, now following me up, looked out into the bright sunlight, they squinted, their eyes adjusting to the light. As their vision cleared, they noticed the change in surroundings.
"…So, this is what it looks like..."
"Wow!"
Targa was speechless, while Panamera looked more interested than ever, scanning the area. She then turned to me and asked with curiosity.
"What’s going on here?"
I cleared my throat before answering.
"First, as you can see, we’ve set up twenty ballistas in a row here to prepare for large enemy forces, just like the previous one. Additionally, we’ve installed ten ballistas with a wide range of motion, mounted on the upper floors, in case flying dragons show up."
I started walking across the wide rooftop, approaching one of the ballistas. I pointed out the improvements I had made to the design.
"Take a look at this ballista."
"It looks different, doesn't it?"
I nodded and pointed out the changes. The shield parts of the ballista, extending from either side of the main body, are now separated from the base. When the aiming mechanism is adjusted, the shield moves along with it. This allows us to defend from the front while using the ballista.
"The ballista can now defend against attacks while launching attacks at the same time. The front of the walls is reinforced, so there’s less worry about the foundations crumbling. The only real weakness is the black spheres from the air, so we’ve installed more ballistas aimed at the sky."
As I finished explaining, Targa looked around in disbelief, then spoke.
"…A total of thirty ballistas, in this short time…"
"When you’re with Van-sama, it’s always like this."
Panamera laughed lightly, and Targa returned the smile, looking a bit resigned.
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