Chapter 505: Digging a Ditch

We handed over the collected materials to the escorts and began our walk back to the village. The forest behind us was now quieter, and the faint scent of earth clung to our clothes. This trap alone should have a decent effect, I thought, but… perhaps one more push to make it truly secure wouldn’t hurt.

“Julius-sama, where on earth did you disappear to?”

The village chief approached, brows furrowed but his tone more curious than reproachful.

“Ah, Chief—perfect timing,” I replied, brushing the dust from my sleeves. “I went to the forest for a short while. Actually, I’ve come to propose something. Between the woods and the fields, I’m planning to dig a deep trench.”

“A deep… trench?”

The old man tilted his head, his expression somewhere between confusion and intrigue.

Fabienne and Nero exchanged glances—hers brimming with curiosity, his sharpened with suspicion. Lionel, as expected, wore the skeptical look of someone already certain I was up to something reckless again. Meanwhile, Rosalia and Mira’s eyes glittered like children watching a magician unveil a new trick. Their reactions could not have been more different.

“I’m thinking of digging it to stop animals from the forest from entering the fields,” I explained calmly.

“I see… That is a clever idea,” the chief mused, stroking his beard. “But unfortunately, the soil in these parts is quite soft. Even if we dig a trench, it might collapse before long.”

Ah. So they’d tried this before. It hadn’t worked back then, apparently. Good thing I’d asked beforehand. If the problem was simply the soil caving in, then all I had to do was reinforce the walls.

“It’ll be fine. Leave that part to me as well,” I said with a reassuring smile. “I plan to dig it over there—would that be acceptable?”

“I suppose there’s no harm in trying…” the chief muttered, still half in doubt.

I led him toward the planned site. It lay a short distance from the woods, far enough to avoid damaging the current fields. Standing at the edge, I closed my eyes, filled both hands with magic, and envisioned the trench in my mind’s eye.

“Gaia Control!”

The earth rumbled softly. Then, like some giant invisible creature crawling beneath the soil, the ground bulged and shifted. Clods of dirt rose and rolled aside, and a trench began to carve itself where I stood, the soil moving with a strange, undulating grace—almost like a slime inching across the earth. But moving dirt alone wasn’t enough. I pressed more power into my hands, compressing the loosened soil into solid block-like segments, then lining the inner walls with them like bricks. Now, even soft ground wouldn’t collapse.

In what felt like moments, a sturdy trench stretched between forest and field. Two meters wide, it could easily be spanned by a makeshift log bridge if needed.

I turned back, a little smug. “Well? How’s that?”

Everyone’s eyes were wide, mouths agape. Only Rosalia and Mira still sparkled with excitement rather than shock.

“I believe this will hold for quite a while,” I said.

“For quite a while? This is extraordinary!” the chief exclaimed, tears glimmering in his eyes. “With this much effort on our behalf, we shall maintain it ourselves from here on.”

“I’m glad to hear that. In addition, I’ve been considering some traps using materials gathered from the forest, as further protection.”

“Traps too…!”

The poor old man was openly weeping now. Overcome, perhaps? Or maybe, at his age, his tear ducts simply gave up resisting emotion.

As I watched, more villagers began drifting over, murmuring in surprise at the sudden appearance of the trench. Perfect timing.

“Chief,” I said, “I’d like to teach everyone how to make these traps. Would that be acceptable?”

“Of course! I’ll gather them at once!”

And with that, the chief dashed off like a gust of wind. I winced—hopefully he wouldn’t throw his back out.

Soon, villagers came trickling in one after another, abandoning their work to stand before me. I felt a pang of guilt for pulling them away, but this would not be a wasted effort.

First, I explained why we had dug the trench. The villagers listened with shining eyes, relief softening their tired faces. They told me how dangerous it had been to fight off the boar-like beasts before; with the trench, their risk of injury would be far lower. It confirmed what I suspected: simply hunting them down had been exhausting work.

“Next, I’ll teach you how to make the traps,” I said. “As long as you follow the steps carefully, you’ll have no problems. Please pay close attention.”

Every face around me turned serious, their eyes fixed on mine. The damage must have been growing severe for them to look this earnest. Fortunately, the trap’s recipe was simple—just mixing in the proper order. Even if the proportions were off, it would still be effective.

Fabienne, observing from the side, looked impressed.

“It’s so simple to make,” she said softly.

“That’s the idea,” I replied. “If it’s easy, everyone can use it.”

“Julius-sama, this is a revolutionary trap,” Lionel declared. “It should be spread to other villages as well. Not just farmers—even livestock herders would surely want it.”

“Ah, you’re probably right. I’ll suggest it to Father once we return.”

Lionel nodded gravely. It seemed even the cries of the herders had reached his ears. Perhaps they hadn’t reached mine because I was seen as detached from that world. I really should broaden my information gathering across the domain. Who knows what else I might be able to help with.

We had the villagers make the traps themselves, with Fabienne and me circling around to guide them patiently. Thanks to rising literacy and numeracy in the village, their understanding had improved remarkably. With only a little advice, they quickly mastered the process.

“Setting the traps or coating fences may be a bit of work,” I told them, “but I believe the effect will be worth it. Please continue using them.”

“Of course. We won’t let what you’ve taught us go to waste,” one man said.

“That’s right,” another added, glancing at the trench. “After all you’ve done, we’d be fools not to.”

Their words, spoken with genuine smiles, warmed me. If this could ease their lives even a little, or let them earn a bit more income, that would be enough. And if they spent that income on horses or goods from within our territory… well, that would enrich the Heine Frontier Territory too. Was that a bit self-serving? Perhaps. But I am the son of the lord. Nothing is entirely free.

In the afternoon, our inspection of the farms continued. Perhaps because of the earlier scene, more and more villagers now looked at me with the kind of reverence one might show a deity. That was never my intention.

I muttered as much to Fabienne, who only gave a wry smile. “That’s just like you, Julius-sama,” she said. Whatever that meant.

Rosalia and Mira, as always, gazed at me with sparkling admiration. Nero… Nero’s eyes had shifted too. He was looking at me like the villagers did—like some sort of god. Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m no divine being.