Chapter 421. This is… a castle? (2)
Alon Palatio, completely bewildered, reconfirmed.
"…So, that is Castle Number 4?"
"Yes!"
"And Castles Number 1 to 3 are separate?"
"That is correct. The place where Your Majesty will reside is Castle Number 1."
At the cheerful response, Alon closed his mouth.
He had no idea where to start questioning this.
‘…No matter how I look at it, it’s excessive.’
Of course, he didn't intend to blame Alexion.
What Alon had ordered him was to build the castle with the best cost-effectiveness possible, and Alexion was fulfilling that instruction to perfection.
The problem was that Alexion's ability was much greater than he expected… or rather, in this case, perhaps it wasn't a good thing?
Thinking dazedly, Alon regained his composure and cleared his throat.
"Alexion."
"Yes."
"Bring me the blueprints first."
Of course, he could simply order them to reduce everything because it was too exaggerated.
But if he did that, all the effort Alexion had put in until now would be ruined with a single sentence, so he wanted to try reasonable persuasion first.
Even if he had to stop him in the end, receiving an order without justification was not the same as accepting a logical argument.
"Understood."
Alexion went out for a moment and returned with a huge pile of papers.
"…Are those all the blueprints?"
"Yes, that is so."
Whew.
It was easily more than fifty sheets.
Alon was left with a blank expression, and Penia opened her mouth in astonishment.
[……This is too much.]
[Kyuu~]
Basiliora and Blackie showed the same expression when—
"Your Majesty, furthermore, two Magic Tower Masters request an audience. What do you wish for me to do?"
"…The two Masters?"
"The Purple Tower Master and the Brown Tower Master, who are helping with the castle's construction."
"Let them in."
At the report, Alon nodded as if hypnotized.
"We greet the Sky of the Kingdom."
"We greet the Sky of the Kingdom."
The two Masters entered the office and bowed their heads.
‘…This feels more embarrassing than I thought.’
Alon composed himself and replied.
"There is no need to try so hard with formalities."
"But…"
"Seriously, you can speak comfortably."
The two looked at each other and…
"Hahaha, then I will speak a bit more casually."
"Me too. You have quite a laid-back air, Your Majesty."
In an instant, the heavy atmosphere disappeared.
Alon exchanged light greetings with them.
"Actually, we heard you wanted to review the blueprints, so we came in case you needed an explanation."
"That is true but…"
Nodding at the Brown Master's comment, Alon looked at the blueprints.
…It was so much that he didn't know if he could finish it today.
But he couldn't avoid reviewing them.
"Alright, let's do it."
Alon took the blueprints.
◆
How much time had passed since Alon started reviewing?
He had seen almost all of them—
Well, to be exact, from the halfway point he stopped looking in detail, but he still reviewed almost everything.
And his impression was a single one:
‘They are crazy.’
In a good way and in a bad way. Either way, these blueprints only left him with that feeling. It was literally impressive in every sense.
Perhaps because it had been designed by two Magic Tower Masters, but there wasn't a single corner of the castle without magic circles. In fact, it was correct to say that the entire castle was a gigantic magic circle.
The five gates from the outer wall to the inner wall each had different materials and engraved circles. The entire castle had a wide-range illusion spell prepared that could be activated whenever the owner wished.
And that wasn't all.
Even in terms of construction, it was noticeable that they had put extreme care into many aspects.
If this weren't to be built in Palantia…
Anyone would have thought they were building a demonic fortress.
In summary, the castle designed by the two Masters was “crazy” in the best sense.
…But it was also crazy in the worst sense.
‘…Can this even work properly?’
This world is based on give and take.
If you consume something, you must pay something.
And although the two Masters were designing, building, and even paying for materials without skimping—
What Alon wanted to point out was something else.
Magic circles don't activate just by drawing them.
They need mana.
And although the circles in these blueprints were efficient and consumed little…
Everything changes if the total easily exceeded a thousand.
Even if each one consumed little, in the end, the problem is the total sum.
The especially voracious circles—like those for massive illusions or large-scale attacks—even if they were for emergencies, would require absurd amounts of mana to keep a thousand circles active.
In conclusion, this castle would consume enormous costs just by existing.
…But most importantly:
Alon didn't need such a huge castle.
That is why—
"Ahem."
Alon was about to open his mouth to raise his objections when—
"T-This is too exaggerated, isn't it?"
Penia, who was reviewing the blueprints like him, stepped forward.
"This is too much. Operating this castle for one or two months would bankrupt the region just because of the magic circles."
"I agree. Furthermore, considering the size of the region, a castle this gigantic is a waste."
Evan added immediately.
Alon smiled internally, satisfied that their thoughts coincided.
"Hmm, you are both right."
The Brown Master nodded.
However—
"But regarding the magic circles, we have a method."
"A method?"
"Of course. Did you think we would construct a building without thinking about that? We already have a plan prepared."
"Which one?"
The Brown Master presented a blueprint with enormous confidence.
"This is…"
"A Mana Circulation Circle. It absorbs mana from the environment and converts it into energy."
"…I know that, but its efficiency is low."
"This is an improved version. Also, we use special materials to draw the circles and—"
Penia listened half-distractedly.
Shortly after—
"Certainly, with that, the mana problem wouldn't be so serious."
"Correct. It will be more expensive than a common castle, but the long-term cost will be low."
Soon Penia was totally on their side.
"Wow… Ah!"
And she quickly came back to her senses.
Evan, still sane, took the floor.
"I don't know much about magic circles, but I think it would be better to reduce the castle's size a bit."
"Mustn't a castle have grandeur?"
"I agree, but it doesn't need to be absurdly wide."
The Brown Master thought for a moment and looked at Alon.
"Do you also think that, Your Majesty?"
"Honestly, yes, I think it is too big."
The Brown Master clicked his tongue with regret.
"If Your Majesty says so, we will have to reduce it."
"There is no choice…"
The Purple Master sighed and scratched her head.
"Then we will have to unify structures. Castle Number 3, I made it for the knights…"
"…The knights?"
Evan reacted immediately.
"And Castle Number 2 was planned to function as a Magic Tower."
"…Magic Tower?"
Now it was Penia who reacted.
"Of course. As Your Majesty must be protected, the outer castle would have dormitories for the knight order, managed by the guardian knight—you. Castle Number 2 would be for Your Majesty's magical research."
What a pity it won't be possible like that anymore, said the Brown Master, shrugging his shoulders.
"Besides… Castle Number 2 couldn't even be built there. Normally that area is for the consort's castle. Even if we built it, it would have to be in another place."
"…!"
Penia opened her eyes in surprise.
"…Alon."
"Yes?"
"Maybe… the castle being big isn't so bad."
"I think so too, Alon."
In less than 30 seconds…
The two had been recruited by the Masters.
Alon felt a small betrayal, but he couldn't do anything.
◆
The total time it took to review the original design of the Castle of Palantia was—
"Then we will continue without changes!"
"…Go ahead."
Ten minutes.
◆
The next day.
After finishing the castle matters, Alon immediately headed to Divine Land.
He had pending matters there.
Inside the moving carriage—
"Ah, right, Alon-nim. I couldn't tell you this yesterday."
"What is it? Is it urgent?"
"No, it's not urgent, but it is strange."
"What is it?"
Evan conveyed a peculiar rumor to him.
"I said before that the Divine Bloods frequently fought among themselves, remember?"
"Yes."
"Well, it seems that now… they have formed a sort of organization."
"…Divine Blood… in an organization?"
"Yes. According to what I heard, it is called Star Root."
"…Star Root?"
A truly peculiar rumor.
