I teleport back to Dargo's office. When I suddenly arrive, he jumps in surprise. Realizing it's me, he gives an annoyed look.
"Mizuki, please don't make coming straight into my office a habit. I can prepare a permanent room for such things if you want. What do you need?" (Dargo)
That's a reasonable request.
"Ah, yes, sorry. I'll just go to Nina's old guest room from now on, if you're okay with decommissioning it. As for why I'm here, I was wondering about the paved roads that stretch out from Avalon. Specifically, who made them, when, and why?" (Mizuki)
There are three beautiful, paved roads that exit Avalon out of its north, east, and south gates. My understanding is that they ultimately branch into five major thoroughfares that run all the way through each noble territory. They act as the main paths for trade through the Elven Kingdom.
"Oh, well they were made to allow trade and travel between Avalon and the nobles' territories, obviously. When a noble's territory became developed enough to warrant it, the royal family commissioned one major road from Avalon all the way through the center of the noble's territory and contributed to the cost. Naturally, we'll make plans to do this in few decades if Alara's territory is developed enough at that point." (Dargo)
I give him a smile.
"What if Alara wanted to build a road now, and she were to accept complete responsibility for its construction? Would the royal family approve the project? We were thinking it could start near the western side of Avalon's wall." (Mizuki)
Dargo looks surprised at first, but then becomes thoughtful.
"Can I assume that, since you're the one asking, it's going to involve some strange magic of yours? Like the house?" (Dargo)
He's a smart cookie. I give him an amused grin.
"That's correct. I think you'll find the results quite interesting." (Mizuki)
Dargo looks as apprehensive as he does curious.
"Hmm…selling the house without consultation was the limit of my comfort. Follow me, we'll need to discuss this with Elira." (Dargo)
I nod and obediently follow him through the palace to the library, and I see Elira seated at the reading table with a book and some tea. I guess the Queen gets to bring drinks in here.
I cast a quick silencing spell over the room, and Dargo makes our presence known.
"Ehem…my Queen. Mizuki has come to request permission for Alara to build a road from Avalon to her territory." (Dargo)
Elira looks at us suddenly and almost spits up her tea when hearing Dargo's statement.
"She wants to do what!? She just left the palace this morning!" (Elira)
"Uhm…yes, about that. It seems that Mizuki has been assisting her even more than we expected. Just earlier he had Miss Alto purchase the old royal mansion on the western border of the royal lands, and then he…teleported it into Alara's territory. I suspect that he plans to build the road for her through similarly unconventional means." (Dargo)
Elira's head snaps to me in bewilderment, and she continues staring with a questioning gaze. I smile and nod agreeably. She sighs in exasperation and hangs her head.
"Mizuki…that's…I'm glad you're at least asking first, but what exactly are you asking for? What are you going to do? How much is this going to inconvenience us? Hearing about that mansion isn't really a problem, but it's definitely absurd." (Elira)
"I'm asking for nothing but your permission, and input on where around Avalon the road should start. I have suggestions about that. As for what I'm going to do…I'm going to build a special type of road that you've never seen before. It shouldn't really inconvenience you – I'll make sure the road avoids existing structures. It may cause quite the excitement when it suddenly appears, but I think you'll enjoy the results." (Mizuki)
Elira looks at me carefully.
"How would we explain the sudden appearance of this strange road of yours?" (Elira)
"I figured we could just use our standard 'Elder Dragons are mysterious' excuse. We say that Nina used her special abilities to build it as a favor to Alara and the elven people for being so welcoming to us. She is the Elder Dragon of earth, after all, so a strange road isn't outside her capabilities in principle." (Mizuki)
Elira stares at me skeptically, then becomes thoughtful for a few minutes.
"Where around Avalon did you want to start this road?" (Elira)
"A short walk outside the western side of the wall. I know there isn't a gate there, but you can just build short connecting roads from the north and south gate roads to connect them to mine. So, what do you think?" (Mizuki)
I look at Elira patiently, and she seems very conflicted as she thinks.
"Will Alara be charging a tax for people to travel with their personal horses on this road?" (Elira)
Oh…this might cause issues.
"Well, no, but horses won't be able to walk on this road at all. The only thing that will be able to travel on this road is a special enchanted item that carries people. It should be able to transport dozens to hundreds of people to the western edge of your country in half a day or less. I'm going to suggest that Alara charge a service fee to transport people on this road, but I plan for it to be cheap. I assume the royal family will also collect part of that as tax revenue." (Mizuki)
Dargo and Elira both look at me in shock.
"Mizuki…you can really make such an item? Will normal people be able to use the item that you speak of, or will you be the only one that can transport people with it?" (Elira)
"Yes, I believe that I can. My intention is for a decent percentage of elves to have the magic power required to use the item, so that Alara can give other elves jobs helping people travel on this road." (Mizuki)
Elira's eyes sparkle with excitement.
"Mizuki, do you plan to share how to make these items with us? Some of your spells I understand keeping from us, but just being able to travel places more quickly would not be an issue, right?" (Elira)
I shake my head, and I give her a very stern expression.
"No, under no circumstances will that be happening. Besides, the items need the special road to work, and I'm quite confident that you wouldn't be able to make the road without me. However, I will train Alara on how to use the item that I make, and she can train the people that she wants to employ to oversee travel on the road. There is no need for your people to fully understand how everything was made." (Mizuki)
Elira looks frustrated, but mostly disappointed. Then, something occurs to her, and she smirks at me.
"Very well, I can accept that we can't reproduce what you'll be making. However, I seem to recall that you owe me a favor. If I asked you to make another one of these roads elsewhere, along with the items to transport people on it, would you?" (Elira)
Damn it…I really don't like having my own words bite me in the ass. I sigh deeply.
"I'd...consider it. However, I'd only build one such road with the items to transport people. Furthermore, there will be several conditions. Finally, I refuse to do it within the next year. I'll be watching your people, and particularly the nobles, closely in that time to see how they react to the one I already plan to build." (Mizuki)
That seems to surprise Elira, and she smiles happily.
"Will you really do something that absurd just to repay a favor? A year is nothing to an elf, and if it's for something like what you describe, I will meet whatever reasonable conditions you impose. Now then…you have my blessing to build your strange road. Please let me know when it's done!" (Elira)
I'm sure the shock shows on my face…was it really that easy? I was expecting this to take much longer. Hmm…best not to argue with a yes! I smile at Elira and give a nod to Dargo as well.
"Wonderful, thank you both for your help!" (Mizuki)
Elira shakes her head with a wry smile.
"Just don't make me regret it. Also, count on me asking you for that favor in a year." (Elira)
I gesture placatingly at her and nod.
"Sure, no problem…probably." (Mizuki)
Elira raises her eyebrows at my response, but she decides to let it go. I finish up my goodbyes with Elira and Dargo, then I drop the silencing spell and teleport away.
I've got this world's first railway to build.