Chapter 75: Speed Forge
Making houses for everyone was something that needed to happen as fast as possible, so when the orcs were fully settled in and ready to move, Remu began the movements with no issues at all.
There were way, way enough hands to work now, and he was going to make sure that he used every one of them. He prepared a plan with the help of Exra, who had just come off killing the knight. She didn’t seem remotely bothered by that fact at all and simply went about her day, getting back to work and doing what needed to be done.
Remu started with clearing. They needed far more space, and there was no other way for them to do it than to start hacking down the trees. They still did not have the best of tools, but the orcs had weapons, their own swords and axes, a full assortment of different weapons, and they were using them now.
They cut down the larger trees and ripped the smaller ones out of the ground with their own strength. The entire scene turned into a massive construction site. The Lizardmen worked with the goblins and hobgoblins to start hacking into the woods and making them into smaller planks. The wolves shifted them back to the settlement, and development started fast.
The goblins learned as fast as the wolves, managing to start erecting structures on their own after only a few hours. In fact, changes began showing up a few hours into work. The goblins found better ways to make the houses look better and work better. The Lizardmen listened and incorporated it into their own work, and by noon, multiple buildings were almost done.
Ren watched all of this casually from above. He had no particular interest in what they were doing there as long as they got the space ready for everyone. His mind was far more focused on a few other things.
While he was up there, Remu flew up. He bowed his head as he flew beside Ren.
"Master, everything has gone well so far. The buildings are coming up, and everyone is making major developments.
Also, there seems to be a wave of evolution happening. Many monsters, especially the orcs and the goblins, have started falling into evolution sleep," Remu explained to him.
Ren looked at him for a few seconds like he wanted to say something, and then, out of nowhere, whipped out another kebab and bit right into it.
"Uhmmmm, this is freaking delicious," Ren said while shaking his head.
"Master?"
"Oh yeah, sorry, got carried away," Ren replied. "I understand that things are going pretty well down there. That’s good." He said and then handed the kebab to Remu. "Have some, it’s pretty good."
Remu looked at it and then shook his head.
"I could never take master’s fo..."
Smack!
Ren smacked him behind the head. "Take it, you dimwit. Stop with the over-respect already."
Remu nodded and collected it from his hands, taking a small bite.
"Remu, I know this might be early, but I want to make a barrier that can defend us," Ren said.
"A barrier?"
"Yes, a barrier. I want to ensure that before our enemies have the thought to attack, we already have a defense up and ready."
Ren had spent his life with webnovels and webtoons. He had seen several kingdom-building novels suffer from one thing, the stupidity of the leader.
Rather than focus on defense early, they kept developing and building until someone attacked and many died, and only then did they realize that there was a need to use defenses or create a barrier. He found it stupid, and he did not want to make the same mistake.
He could already smell the trouble that was brewing, and if he allowed it to get worse before he took action, he would surely be in a world of trouble and also lose a lot of lives.
"I see, Master. Do you have a plan yet?"
"Nope, nothing at all, but I’ll find out, that’s for sure.
In the meantime, I want you to set some sort of perimeter around us, scouts to watch for anything that’s suspicious."
"Understood, Master," Remu replied.
Ren was about to say a bit more, but the doors of the smithy opened. The dwarf rushed out and looked up in the air. He saw Ren flying there and then waved as hard as he could to get his attention.
"Hmm, seems Grent has something for us. Let’s hold up this discussion till later."
Ren said and flew down. Remu followed behind.
"What’s the issue, Grent?" Ren asked.
"I have made a few things. I noticed that the orcs are using their own weapons as tools to cut and whatnot.
I decided to work on a few tools before I got into crafting actual weapons."
"Grent, you started work this morning. There is no way you have enough tools for what is needed," Ren replied.
"Hahahaha, do not underestimate the skill of a dwarf of my stature. Come in and see," Grent said and walked into the smithy.
Ren looked at Remu, shrugged, and then walked in, following Grent.
Inside the building, Ren and Remu were immediately stunned when they saw the ground littered with so many tools that it seemed absurd.
There were hoes with wooden shafts, axes, hammers, a bucket of screws and nails, among a huge amount of other tools.
"What the hell is this? How were you able to do all of this?"
"Hahahahaha," Grent laughed. "This old chap has special abilities, one of which is called Speed Forge. I can use it once a day in large bursts, and it enhances everything I use, even my flames.
The downside is I need to eat a lot to fuel this, and also recharge my mana."
Grumble.
His stomach let out a low growl.
"Damn, Grent, for this level of work, you can eat whatever you want, whenever you want."