The morning sun streamed through the guest room windows, warming my face and waking me earlier than I'd planned. For a moment, I forgot I was in a different world—the soft bed, the gentle birdsong, and the faint scent of fresh bread from the kitchens below all felt too peaceful to be real.
Then I remembered: I'd fallen from the sky yesterday, repaired a crumbling well in seconds, and now lived in a noblewoman's manor.
Right. Definitely not a dream.
I washed up, put on the same white-and-gold robes, and stepped out into the corridor. Servants were already bustling about, carrying trays of food and fresh linens. When they saw me, they bowed politely.
Lady Lydia was waiting for me in the dining room, sipping tea. She looked as composed as ever, dressed in an elegant pale-blue gown.
"Good morning, Mister Han Yu," she greeted with a smile. "I trust you slept well?"
"Better than I have in years," I admitted. "Thank you for your hospitality."
"You've earned it. The well you repaired yesterday has already made life easier for many of my people. I heard children were filling buckets for their grandparents all morning."
"I'm glad to hear it," I said, sitting down across from her.
We ate breakfast—fresh bread, eggs, and a kind of thick stew made from beans and root vegetables. As we finished, Lydia set her cup down and regarded me thoughtfully.
"There's another matter I'd like your opinion on," she said. "It's… not a glamorous problem, but it's one that has plagued the village for a long time."
I gestured for her to continue.
"It's about our sewage system," she said.
I blinked. "Your what?"
Lydia led me through the village again, this time to the back alleys and less-traveled paths. As we walked, I noticed the faint but unpleasant smell growing stronger.
We stopped near a narrow ditch that ran behind several houses. Brownish water trickled through it, carrying waste toward a shallow pit at the edge of the village. The pit itself was covered in flies, and the stench was… well, I've smelled cleaner garbage dumps.
The villagers didn't seem to think much of it—they just kept their distance.
"This," Lydia said with a small frown, "is our sewage system. Waste from chamber pots is emptied into these ditches. Rain helps wash it away. It's been this way for generations."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "And… what about toilets?"
"Toilets?" She tilted her head. "We have public latrines near the fields for the workers. And each home has its own chamber pot."
I had seen enough medieval dramas to know this was normal here—but I was still an engineer from a modern world. My instincts screamed at me to fix it.
"This system is… highly inefficient," I said carefully, though what I really meant was disgusting and unsanitary. "It's a health hazard. Flies, contaminated water, diseases—"
Lydia nodded. "I am aware. But no one has found a better solution. We lack the knowledge, the funds, and the labor to replace it."
I grinned. "Good thing I'm here."
I walked to the ditch and knelt down, ignoring the smell.
Instant Build (Lv. Max)
In my mind, I pictured a fully modern sewage network—smooth underground pipes leading to a covered filtration system outside the village, complete with clean running water, waste separation, and an easy maintenance design.
Golden light poured from my hands and sank into the ground. The ditch vanished as the soil shifted, forming hidden channels. Flies scattered as the pit outside the village transformed into a sealed treatment facility, with fresh air vents and a hidden magic-powered purifier.
Next, I turned my attention to the toilets themselves. Instead of chamber pots, every house now had a clean, ceramic-like unit connected to the new network. They flushed with fresh water, carried waste away instantly, and used enchantments to keep the bowls spotless.
It took less than a minute.
When the light faded, the foul smell was gone. The air was clean again, and the villagers who had gathered nearby stared in confusion.
One woman peeked inside her home and gasped. "There's… there's a strange seat in my washing room! It has a handle! And it makes the water swirl!"
A man rushed over from his house. "Mine too! It's like magic!"
I turned to Lydia. "Problem solved."
She was staring at me with an expression that was part amazement, part disbelief. "Mister Han Yu… this is beyond anything I could have imagined. You've given my people cleaner water, safer streets, and—" She paused delicately. "—more pleasant mornings."
I laughed. "Let's just say I don't like living in places that smell like… that."
We were still standing there, surrounded by curious villagers marveling over their new "magic seats," when the sound of hooves echoed from the main road.
A carriage rolled into view—sleek, black, and far finer than anything I'd seen here so far. Its wheels were polished wood, its sides gleaming in the sunlight. On the door was a golden crest depicting a rampant lion holding a sword.
Two armored riders flanked it, their armor polished to a shine. They looked like they meant business.
The villagers stepped aside quickly, bowing their heads as the carriage approached. Lydia's expression shifted to one of alert politeness.
I leaned toward her. "Whose carriage is that?"
Her eyes didn't leave the crest. "That belongs to the Marquis of this region."
"Marquis?" I echoed.
She nodded. "One of the highest-ranking nobles under the king. If he's come to Estor personally… it must be for something important."
The carriage rolled to a stop right in front of us.
And for the first time since I'd arrived in this world… I felt like I might be about to step into real trouble.