The entire village is stunned by Van’s mansion, and even his companions struggle to believe that production magic could be this powerful. Van humbly admits that elemental magic is still better for protecting people, since nobles who can throw fireballs are more reassuring than someone who looks like a glorified construction worker. However, Till and Comm insist they would rather live under Van than his father. Esparda agrees with them, explaining that while offensive magic is valuable during war, Van’s production magic is far more useful during peaceful times because it can rapidly develop the territory. Dee and Ortho also praise Van’s incredible abilities.
When Van casually offers to build houses if they provide the lumber, Dee and Ortho immediately rush off to gather wood. The village chief soon approaches with the same request, explaining that many of the villagers’ homes are barely standing. Van realizes that rebuilding the entire village will be exhausting, but he agrees because he doesn’t want to disappoint his people. Before long, he creates an entire residential district, leaving everyone amazed by both his mana and his understanding of city planning.
Van explains that he used a grid layout, with four houses grouped into each section and wide roads connecting them. For now, all the houses are identical to prevent arguments, but he plans to improve them once better materials become available. The villagers are incredibly grateful and offer him what little crops they have as gifts.
Van then builds a public bathhouse beside his mansion because he desperately wants a proper bath after everything he has been through. The villagers are fascinated by it as well. When Till and Purriel jokingly suggest bathing with Van, he immediately panics and reminds them that, despite his appearance, his mind belongs to a grown man.
The girls get to use the bathhouse first, where Purriel tells Till that Van is unlike any noble she has ever met because he is both kind and wise. Till immediately starts praising her master and proudly tells Purriel all about how amazing he is. Afterward, it is the boys’ turn. Van enters the bath with Comm and notices that regular training with Dee has already made him noticeably stronger. As if summoned by mentioning him, Dee and the Knights arrive, with Dee somehow deciding that a public bath is the perfect place to swing his massive sword.
The next morning, Van discovers that the Knights have dug a trench around the village for additional protection. He suggests filling it with water, which also solves their need for drinking water, farming, and the bathhouse. So, they begin working on a canal from a nearby water source. Esparda creates the initial path, while Dee and the others widen it. Van follows behind, using production magic to reinforce the canal walls and prevent leaks.
Van expects the work to take at least a week, but Dee and the others work far harder than expected. By the end of the first day, they have already completed half the canal. Van finally forces them to stop, reminding Dee that not everyone has his ridiculous stamina. The canal is completed the following day, and everyone gathers for its inauguration. Esparda opens the gate, allowing water to rush through the canal and fill the village’s defensive trenches. The villagers cheer at finally having a reliable water supply.
Van then worries that heavy rain could cause the trenches to overflow, so he decides to build a lake behind the village. It will also serve as a reservoir during dry seasons. Soon, Van and his companions create the lake, leaving the villagers overjoyed because they no longer have to travel long distances just to collect water.
A few days later, Van strengthens the village walls by mixing stone into the mud and using production magic to turn it into concrete. But he isn’t finished yet. He installs ballistae along the walls and adds protective shields so defenders can attack enemies while staying protected from arrows. Everyone is amazed by the new defenses and becomes confident that bandits will think twice before attacking. Esparda even remarks that calling this place a village no longer feels appropriate—it is rapidly becoming a fortress.
Dee says that if Jalpa knew what Van was capable of, he would never have sent him away and might have even made him his successor. Esparda disagrees, explaining that Jalpa values combat ability above everything else and would never fully appreciate Van’s production magic. Dee argues that Van is already strong enough to stand against almost anyone, while Esparda points out that his abilities are better suited for protecting and developing a territory than conquering one. Their argument starts getting serious, so Van stops them and says there is no point arguing over which talent is better. They should simply use their abilities to build a better life. Dee laughs and agrees, confidently saying that Van could one day rule a territory as great as his father’s. Van, however, is more concerned about breakfast.
While enjoying the meal Till prepared, Van notices that their food supplies are running low. Esparda explains that although the village’s defenses are improving, they still need a reliable source of income. Their only outside connection is a merchant who visits once a month. Van believes they can manage by producing furniture and using the vegetables grown locally, but Esparda reminds him that they lack basic seasonings and ingredients for the desserts Van enjoys. This shocks Van, who immediately decides that the village needs a profitable industry.
Van asks everyone for ideas. Comm suggests selling the nanomaterial cubes, but Van rejects the idea because only he can produce them. Till suggests hunting monsters for materials, but that would depend entirely on the Knights and adventurers. Unable to find a suitable idea, Van decides to think about it himself.
Later, Van meets one of Ortho’s larger companions, who mentions that Comm and Till seem extremely protective of their weapons. Van tells them that weapons are meant to be used, not kept untouched. The adventurer then brings out a sturdy shield made from orc leather and challenges them to test their weapons against it. Comm reluctantly taps the shield with his wooden katana. The adventurer tells him to attack properly, but the next moment, part of the supposedly powerful shield falls apart. Everyone is stunned when Van reveals that the katana only looks like metal—it is actually made from wood.
The adventurer is devastated when his shield breaks, but Van quickly repairs it with production magic. Just then, Ortho arrives with a cart full of valuable ores. He explains that the nearby mountains are packed with minerals because the area is so remote that hardly anyone has bothered exploring it. Among the finds are iron, copper, silver, gold, and even rare mithril ore. Van is amazed and immediately realizes that these resources could completely change the village’s future.
Van experiments with the iron and turns it into the same incredibly strong material as his nanocubes. The adventurers become excited and ask if he can make weapons from it. Feeling guilty about destroying the adventurer’s shield, Van agrees to make him a short sword and a long sword. He carefully designs both weapons to be strong, sharp, and beautiful. The adventurers are blown away by the results and immediately ask Van to make weapons for them as well. Since they discovered the ores, Van agrees to make each of them a sword.
Purriel points out that the swords could be worth a fortune, and Van realizes that mithril weapons could be even more valuable. However, Esparda notices the mithril ore and explains that finding such a rare material so close to the village could mean there is a dungeon nearby. Van immediately understands the potential consequences. A dungeon could bring thousands of adventurers and transform the village’s economy, but it would also attract rival nobles and possibly their neighboring kingdom. Worse, Van fears his father would take control of the area and send him somewhere else.
Purriel suggests that Jalpa would send Knights to protect the dungeon, but Van explains that his father has practically disowned him. Realizing that Van wants to establish the village as his permanent territory before revealing the dungeon, Ortho and his companions agree to keep the discovery secret. They even promise not to explore the suspected area.
Van continues improving the village with higher-quality materials, though Till worries that he is working himself too hard. Suddenly, a villager rushes in with alarming news: a group of armored lizard monsters is approaching. Van immediately orders everyone behind the walls and closes the gates. While the villagers panic, Van encourages them to stand together, assuring them that they can overcome any obstacle as long as they fight as one.
