Section 7: Watchtower Project

(Sulking)

I can't believe Habetrot's away, working.

Curse you, Chaldea. How dare you interrupt my precious respite...

Wanna play?

...You would play with me?

We could go sunbathing.

...Hmm.

That doesn't sound bad.

Hm hm hmm♪ Patrol, patrol, going on patroool♪ All clear on the western roooll♪

Well howdy, little fellas! Where'd y'all come from?

What's "howdy"?

I never heard of a "howdy."

Oh, that? Just a greetin'.

The Boss-Boss said we're supposed to say "hello."

Who's right?

Hmm, I'd say we're both right! Both are A-OK!

...

A widow who led a rebel army, huh... I know all too well how that feels.

I might be assigned to work behind the scenes right now, but if there's anything I can do to help, I'll do it.

Okay, this looks like the eastern border. No sign of water monsters or anything else.

...Hm?

Helldy!

I...beg your pardon?

Is that not a greeting?

Then what should we say?

Oh, you're talking about greetings? Well, where I come from, we like to say...

Namaste!

That feels best to me for a greeting.

Ooh.

Oh, but that doesn't mean you have to say it, too.

As they say, it's the thought that counts. As long as other people use a greeting, you can use it, too.

...Got it, got it!

We'll make sure our greetings are full of thought!

Helldyste!

Helldyste!

？！

Now you know how we old folks feel about youngsters using newfangled slang. Hohoho.

Maybe someone taught them to say that?

Possibly. They do seem like surprisingly quick studies.

I would guess they took a few scattered scraps of knowledge and mixed them into something new.

Well, as long as they're saying it where you'd expect to hear a greeting, there shouldn't be any problem.

Helldyste, Lam-Lam!

Yes, yes, and a helldyste to you, too.

Don't go off too far if you're going to play outside, okay?

Got it, got it!

？！

A little something to show this Con is my first official fan on the island. Don't worry about it.

Honestly, I would love to know more about the Con's culture and intelligence.

Plus, learning more about that could also help us determine just what kind of beings they are.

I know we're all pretty used to them at this point, but we still don't know what they are.

Though I do think it's safe to say they're good guys.

That's true. When you stop to think about it, it really is strange.

Even though we never see the Con talking amongst themselves...

...it seems like after you've told one or two about a plan, the rest end up knowing as well.

Well, it's not like we're watching them 24/7, so they could be having nightly Con-ventions for all we know.

I guess it's also possible that they have some kind of group telepathy...

...but from everything I've heard, I'm guessing that's probably not it. It's a real mystery.

Oh well, there's no rush. We'll just keep on observing the Con and see what we find out.

More importantly, we should get this meeting started, especially now that the scouts are back.

Let's go see Hai Bà Trưng!

Yup, I got my report all ready to go. And I don't care at all if that just sounded like the little Professor.

Not a peep on the western front. No treasure, no bounties, not even a tumbleweed!

The same holds true on the eastern side. I only saw Con. There were no signs of any new water monster attacks.

That's wonderful news. Thank you, everyone. I'm just sorry you had to go to all that trouble of patrolling the perimeter.

Don't worry about it. These kinds of boring, granular tasks are just what need to be done to secure your surroundings.

The soldiers who neglect such things are the first to be caught unawares. I've seen it all too often.

Say, you're a princess who led a rebellion too, right? If you have the chance, I'd love to pick your brain sometime!

Gladly. I expect we'll have no end of things to talk about between horror stories and opinions on how best to run an army.

Unfortunately...it looks like our chat will have to wait a bit longer.

You betcha. Might not've seen any problems on our patrols now...but that doesn't guarantee smooth sailin' ahead.

Water monsters could sneak into our territory tomorrow. Heck, they could be doing it right now while our backs're turned.

Reckon we oughta come up with a plan for if and when that happens?

I suppose we could just keep sending more Servants out on regular patrol...

...but realistically speaking, we don't have the resources to spare for something like that.

？！

Speaking of what's realistic...

I think our only option is to build a lookout post near the border.

It should be as tall as possible, so I guess it would technically be a watchtower.

I think you're right, Nhị. But if we did that, we'd also need someone to constantly stand lookout there.

What if we got the Con to help us?

They can take turns on duty, and let us know right away if anything seems suspicious.

It's a simple job, so they should be more than intelligent enough to handle it.

Leave it to us!

We can keep watch while sunbathing!

I think...this could work.

As long as they know to run if they have to, it shouldn't be too dangerous, either.

Yeah, this could work. We can check in with the lookout post from time to time, too.

Okay, let's do it.

Now, what kind of watchtower should we make?

If we're going to start building it now, then we can design it however we like, right?

Yes, that's true. And we're already asking everyone for help as it is.

Then I've got a great suggestion: the Leaning Tower of Pisa!

The Leaning Tower of Pisa?

As in, the one in Italy I've only ever seen pictures of in the library?

The very same.

Oh man, I've always wanted to try recreating that tower.

By the time I was born, it had already been around for ages.

Plus, it was really close to the village of Vinci.

Of course, I know it wasn't built with the intent that it lean...

...but the idea of recreating that sublime balance sets my artist's heart all aflutter.

Besides, it's not every day you get a chance to build a tower with your own hands, especially a leaning one.

Of course, I'll understand if it's just not feasible, but it can't hurt to include it as an option, right? Ehehe.

？！

Ooh, are you talking about building a tower? Then how about a pagoda?

In fact, you like Japanese stuff, right, Fujimaru? We could even make it a five-story one if you want.

I bet we could get many blessings from it! If you're serious about making it, I'll be beyond happy to help!

Hold it!

You're discussing the construction of a large building, right? Then we simply cannot forget...

Pyramids!

Oh, but then again, only a true pharaoh like the great Ozymandias should build those.

That's not the sort of thing just anyone can

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! It is all right, Nitocris!

This will be no different than it was in Las Vegas!

Wha

You may consider all pyramids besides those I built myself to be tributes to my greatness!

As such!

If a perfect imitation should be completed, I shall treat it as a path towards a pyramid built by my own hands.

Thus, I permit you to build as many as you like.

For I am nothing if not generous.

However, if you are to do this, you must strive for the highest quality, Nitocris! I will abide neither shortcuts nor cut corners!

A-as you wish, Pharaoh Ozymandias!

Um... Well, I can tell that all of these lookout posts would be lovely options...

...but we can't possibly choose between them ourselves.

I don't know the first thing about aesthetics, or virtue, or, um, pharaohs, so...

If you ask me, you could just put a platform on a tree and be done with it.

Oh, but I guess that wouldn't give us the height we need here, huh?

？！