Chapter 60: building village house’s

The village families were gathered around the central square, their faces bright as they watched the first sets of metal supports get carried out from the storage barn. They weren’t just standing around; every single adult was helping to mix the mortar or clear the old timber out of the way to make room for the new houses.

I walked up toward the construction patch, carrying five of the structural beams over my shoulder with one hand. Since I didn’t want to break the wooden trays, I just handled the physical labor myself. I dropped the materials onto the grass near the foundation trenches.

"You are late, Barry!" Toby yelled from the top of a stone wall. The twelve-year-old was covered in dust from head to toe, holding his small pointer stick like a captain. "The first set of wall blocks has been cool for an hour! If we don’t lay the foundation frame right now, the mortar mix will dry out and turn into garbage!"

"Calm down, brat," I laughed, reaching up to mess up his hair with my hand. "The materials are right here. Start aligning the corner joints before I dock your imaginary salary."

Toby puffed out his small chest, looking proud as he turned to bark orders at the adult workers. "You heard the boss! Get the corner lines straight! Move it!"

Suzy walked up to my side. She watched the village families working together, a happy look in her eyes.

An old village woman in a faded apron walked over to us, holding a tray with two cups of fresh spring water. Her hands were shaking with pure emotion as she bowed her head down toward the grass. "Thank you, Queen Suzy. Thank you, sir. Our children had to sleep under leaking roofs for three winters because the old palace took everything. We never thought anyone from the capital would actually come down here to build us a home."

Suzy smiled gently, taking the water cup and helping the old woman stand up straight. "You don’t need to bow to us, mother. You are the ones doing the hard work in the fields. We are just making sure you have a safe place to rest at night."

The old woman wiped a tear from her cheek, bowing three more times in total respect before running back to help the other workers.

I took a large drink from my cup, looking down at my right hand. My fingers were still tingling slightly from the morning session down in the vault.

’System,’I thought "Run a quick analysis on my core consumption levels from earlier. How much energy did it actually take to bind that weapon?, it’s seems like it took a lot of energy!"

[System: Internal energy analysis complete, Barry! Warning: ’The Executioner’s Verdict’ is a high-grade relic item. Activating its signature line technique [Heavenly Punishment: Divine Annihilation] will drain exactly 70% of your current energy pool in a single use! It is a massive strain on your physical framework, host. If you miss your target, you will be completely exhausted on the field.]

"So it is a pure trump card," I realized, I couldn’t just swing this weapon around like a regular stick during common skirmishes. It was a final, lethal strike meant to be saved strictly for high-tier danger.

While I was reviewing the status screen, a young village girl with long braids and a bright yellow ribbon in her hair came walking over toward Victor. Victor was standing near the perimeter fence, he was checking the guard patrols.

The girl looked very shy, her face completely red as she held out a small, neatly woven basket filled with fresh wild berries. "Umm... Captain Victor? I... I watched you clear the mountain path yesterday. You were so brave and strong. I picked these for you near the lower meadow, if you want them..."

Victor didn’t even turn his head. He kept his eyes fixed straight ahead on the forest line, his face completely focused and expressionless like a rock. He didn’t look at the basket, and he didn’t look at her face.

"I am currently on duty, citizen," Victor said, his voice sounding incredibly calm. "My dietary requirements are fully satisfied by the standard military rations. Keep the perimeter clear and return to the housing sector immediately."

The poor girl froze in total shock, her jaw dropping as she got completely rejected in less than five seconds. She clutched her basket tightly, turned around, and ran back toward the tents with her face burning in embarrassment.

I walked over to his side, letting out a loud laugh as I clapped him on the shoulder. "You are completely brutal, Victor. The girl was just trying to show some appreciation."

"Appreciation does not secure the village and people, sir," Victor said, not even moving an inch. "Women are nothing but a distraction to the defensive parameters. My only focus is the helping people and serving you and queen sir."

"You really are a hopeless in these matters victor," Suzy laughed, walking up next to us as she looked at me. "But his security layout is perfect. The five hundred guards are fully packed and ready to move."

"Good," I said, my tone turning serious as I looked toward the northern ridge. The time for the peaceful village building was paused for the day. "The houses are going up, and the people are safe here under Victor’s remaining staff. It’s time to check the first dead sector. Let’s go see what is left of the North Valley Mining District."

We left Toby and the old blacksmith in charge of the building patch, marching out of the village gates with a five-hundred-man guard squad. The path led us straight up into the hills to the north, where the ancient mines of the old dynasty were located.

By afternoon, the trail opened up into a canyon. The entrance to the mining district was completely dark, with broken wooden carts scattered across the gravel.There was no sound of birds or wind—just a unsettling silence that fell over the entire valley.

[System: Destination reached, Barry! You have entered the North Valley Mining District. Warning: The human population was completely wiped out by the Prince ten years ago, but the high-density mineral veins have attracted some kind of monsters inside the deep tunnels! Prepare for immediate combat lines!]

I reached behind my back, my fingers closing firmly around the handle of my new sword.

Suzy stepped up right next to my shoulder, drawing her own sword as her eyes flared with a serious focus. "The mines are full of monsters, Barry. Let’s clear the inventory."

"Yeah, Let’s go."