Chapter 41: Setting Up Camp Downstream

Ten soldiers who had previously participated in the rat-extermination mission were selected and were currently waiting in the camp. George had also been summoned; judging by his attire, it seemed he had been preparing to go hunting. The two shipwrights had also arrived before Kana.

Kana did not hesitate, spreading a map out before them and pointing to a specific segment of the river. "I’ve observed that from this point onward, there are no waterfalls or overly turbulent rapids. It flows smoothly all the way to the estuary. Can you ensure safety if we travel by raft from here?"

The two shipwrights examined the map. The younger one looked puzzled, as he was not entirely certain of Kana’s assessment. However, the older shipwright, clearly more familiar with the region, nodded after a brief look. "Your judgment is correct, my lord."

He then drew a large circle around the area on the map. "There are plenty of woods in this region, and there is certainly enough timber to build rafts. We can source our materials right on the spot. In that case, we won't need specialized craftsmen; just some strong men will be enough to build a sufficient number of rafts in a short time."

The experienced shipwright already had a plan and a process in mind. As for the difficulty of building rafts, to them, it was child's play. He was confident that even if he had to direct unskilled laborers, he could build rafts sturdy enough to reach the estuary without any issues. Since that was exactly what Kana required, he nodded, satisfied with the guarantee.

"Then you two may go and recruit your team. The quota is thirty men—fill it. Since we are all from the same town, I trust you can find people who are strong and diligent." Kana added, "Oh, and tell them we will be stationed there for half a month. As for their wages, offer twenty percent more than the standard rate." After all, he wouldn't be the one paying them.

The two men nodded and quickly departed to recruit their crew. Though the work was not difficult, they were, after all, working for a prince.

Having settled that, Kana turned to the soldiers and, after a moment's thought, called two of them over. He then said to Alirise, "You should have been trained in how to set up a camp, right?"

Alirise nodded; the training for a knight involved far more professional knowledge and skills than that of a common soldier.

"That's good." Kana turned to Jonir. "Could I trouble you to prepare supplies for a fifty-man camp, as well as enough food to last those fifty people for a month?"

"Er, didn't you say you would only be staying for half a month?"

"What if there are unforeseen circumstances? Preparing for a month is safer."

Jonir nodded resignedly. Fortunately, the town was well-stocked with supplies, so this was not a difficult request.

"George, find another skilled hunter. The two of you will be responsible for scouting the area around the camp." George nodded excitedly. Being a young man, he was clearly eager to work for the prince. He ran off without delay. Kana and the others then accompanied Jonir to secure the supplies.

...

A few hours later, everything was prepared. A small caravan had gathered at the town gate, watched by curious townspeople who had nothing better to do. The group consisted of thirty recruited laborers, two shipwrights, ten well-trained half-armored soldiers, two hunters, Kana, his companion, and a rat. In total, the caravan numbered forty-seven people.

Under Kana’s "persuasion," he took the two warhorses they had ridden into town. He also specifically requested a draft horse to pull a wagon, and although he had originally hoped for two oxen, he managed to secure at least one. Thus, they acquired three horses and one ox, along with one ox-cart and one horse-drawn wagon.

Once everything was ready, Kana waved goodbye to Jonir with a smile. Jonir remained expressionless, watching them depart. He recalled what Kana had told him just before leaving: "It is time to organize patrols for the night." Kana had also shared details regarding the composition and weaknesses of the bloodkin scouting parties, along with other precautions. As a veteran knight, Jonir knew the situation was far from optimistic.

...

The location Kana had chosen was an area downstream, about twenty miles from the town. While he had never been there in reality, he was intimately familiar with it from the game. During his earlier deliberations, he had confirmed that the terrain in reality was almost identical to the game. However, while he knew this was a good spot, the specifics of where exactly to camp and where to begin construction were left to those with expertise.

They had traveled about twenty miles along the river, still some distance from the target destination, when all three of them sensed something. Kana felt a distinct sense of vitality, and Alirise, riding on horseback, and Bobot, sitting atop the cargo, felt it as well.

Unlike Kana and Alirise, who were confused, Bobot clearly understood what this sensation meant. Excitedly, she said, "Here, from here on, the magic has become active." As she spoke, she snapped her fingers, and a small flame ignited in her palm—a simple magic trick. This sight caused the surrounding soldiers and laborers to gasp in surprise.

Kana quickly realized the reason. They were approaching the border of the kingdom, moving closer to the mountain range. As mentioned before, the magical poverty of the Safro Kingdom was not natural; it was artificial. Nearly all the magic in the country was drawn into the capital by subterranean leylines. The capital itself was built upon the magical node of the region. The progenitor of the bloodkin, who had created their race, was a powerful mage leading a family of mages; they had gathered there specifically to research how to perfect the bloodkin.

However, the range of such a node was limited. As they moved toward the mountains and left the heart of the kingdom, the magic naturally began to recover. Kana could feel the magic within his own body, which usually took more than a day to recover five points, beginning to regenerate at a faster rate.

Realizing this, Kana shouted aloud, "Stay alert! It’s no longer safe here." Since the magic was no longer suppressed, various monsters drawn to its concentration would eventually emerge. Fortunately, they were still relatively close to the magic-depleted zone; while magic was increasing here, the monsters that preferred areas of high magical activity would not venture this close to the border yet.

They soon arrived at the designated site. The two shipwrights and Alirise spent some time scouting the riverbank before selecting a suitable spot for the camp. Once everything was ready, they began their work.

"George, take five soldiers and scout the surroundings. You must ensure the area is secure for at least three miles in every direction." George nodded and quickly left with his friend and a few soldiers he knew well.

"Alirise, set up the camp according to military standards. If possible, build a few small watchtowers and erect a wooden perimeter wall. This place is not exactly safe."