The blacksmith in the open-air shed was clanging away, the forge blazing fiercely.
Adventurers from various towns gathered in small groups, some just returned and were completing quests or reporting reconnaissance, while others gathered to check their equipment, preparing to head out.
Soldiers from the provincial knight brigade, dressed in uniform leather or chain armor, were patrolling with strict discipline, while others stood guard at designated spots.
The open area was piled with various supplies, timber, stone, bundles of arrows, sacks of grain... stacked into a small hill.
And the construction mages were using these materials to quickly level the ground, build houses, and construct fortifications.
The entire outpost was shrouded in a tense, bustling, and pressurized atmosphere.
Although there were many people, idle chatter and laughter were rare, and everyone had a hint of vigilance and caution on their faces.
