Two Months Later

  Tuesday Afternoon

  The New Section

  For those of you wondering, that first date went fine—if you can even call it that. A bit awkward at first, but even the other workers on site have gotten used to my presence on Tuesdays. We agreed to keep seeing each other every Tuesday after that. I basically bring her lunch, and we eat together.

  The reward ceremony also went well. I asked for the doors to be put in my room at the palace. They were.

  They just… placed them inside. Now they take up like half the floor space. I have to walk sideways around them.

  I think I'll have to request a bigger room.

  But back to Roka.

  We’ve been getting along splendidly. By my calculations, today is our eighth date. She’s been blushing more often lately, but she’s cheery most of the time.

  “Why is the demon princess so cheerful today? It’s starting to freak me the hell out, man.”

  I stop before turning the corner.

  “You don’t know, dude? It’s Tuesday.”

  “What about Tuesday?”

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  “It’s that hero from the reward ceremony. He’s been coming by lately.”

  “Oh, him. So that’s why.”

  I step around the corner.

  They scream like I’m a tax collector and scatter in all directions. Some are mages, the others are those muscleheads from last time—the foremen of their respective crews.

  I continue walking.

  Roka is already waiting under the shade with a table set. I wave; she waves back.

  I sit, and we have lunch.

  We finish.

  She plays with her finger on the table, quiet and fidgety.

  “You know, Ryu… once we finally get married, we can start doing that, ya know.”

  She blushes furiously.

  “By that you mean—”

  !

  She turns even redder. Steam practically rises from her head.

  Ah—that.

  Of course that.

  But we agreed only after she’s done with this construction project. She still has about four months left, right?

  She finally calms down. I ask seriously:

  “Is there an issue with the construction? Maybe I can help find a solution.”

  She rests her chin on her hand, tapping her mouth with her finger as she thinks.

  “Well… the guys who remove the dirt can’t keep up with me. Or something like that.”

  “Oh, is that all? Hahaha—”

  I laugh nervously and stand.

  “Ryu!?”

  “I just remembered I have something to do.”

  I bow and wave.

  “Please excuse me for the day.”

  “O-Okay…”

  Where the hell are those foremen?

  I head back the way I came.

  Musclehead foreman spotted. He freaks out as I grab him and start dragging him away.

  Magician foreman spotted. He tries to run the instant he sees me dragging the huge guy toward him. I still catch him.

  I haul them both into a secluded area.

  I crack my knuckles.

  “We need to talk.”

  ““Heeeeh!?””

  They squeal and cling to each other.

  We have a fruitful discussion.

  I suggest installing movable pulleys along the top edge of the trench—similar to the moving scaffold system but positioned on the outside instead. Ropes go down the trenches with containers for dirt. The muscleheads work on top pulling the containers up and dumping them, and the magicians load dirt from below using magic as before.

  They agree immediately.

  I return on Thursday to check. Things are moving along great. When the two foremen see me, they rush over.

  …Wait. Why are they rushing over?

  Now I’m scared.

  They just wanted to thank me.

  What is this bad feeling I have?

  Oh well. No use thinking about it.

  I’ll just ignore it for now.