After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World - Chapter 215

Chapter 215: Pathways
Meanwhile, outside the territory, the people on the pathfinding mission were already past the first leg.

For the first leg of the trip, the people heading Southwest and West traveled together. There were plenty of reasons for this.

First, it would reduce the cost of the formation of the pathways, as there would be shared paths.

This would also increase the chances of convergence between parties, increasing safety against enemies.

Third, according to the consolidated maps they had gathered, they found that even if there were flatter lands southwards, the land after it was rough terrain. It was simply not practical to segregate early on.

For those going to Bright village, this was choosing a relatively harder terrain at first then going a smoother trip. Over all, it was a more practical, safer, and faster path for them to join the Vismont team at first.

And finally, and most importantly: The more, the merrier.

“Finally almost halfway there!” Ansel said, stretching his arms as they walked forward. He looked at his team in front that was clearing up the path.

The teams going South to Bright Village were Ansel, Derek, a handful of guards, and several scores of citizens.

On the other hand, the team going West to Vismont were Rowan, the twins, the Crow trio, a score of guards, and about a few scores of citizens.

The contrast was because Vismont was tagged as a potentially aggressive territory while Bright, although with a Lord of questionable origin, had more sincere consideration for the citizens.

“Are you excited to see other villages?” Sunny asked her new friend, Cassie who, like her, was a rare level 3 among the girls.

The other girl nodded. “I hope to find my little brother. He was playing with his friends when it happened.”

She had heard that most people who survived the first transformation would have a relative or two who also survived. She and her grandmother had been anchoring on this as they made a life for themselves in Altera.

Her grandmother, a former seamstress, had gotten a job with the new seamstress NPC who was planning on renting her own store in the territory.

The pay was very good and safe and Cassie really had no worries with leaving for a few days. This was especially true since after entering level 2, her grandmother’s knees had really gotten better.

Now, she just hoped to find her teenage brother and their family would be complete.

Sunny, on the other hand, was very envious. Unlike most people here with relatives within the country, hers weren’t.

She was actually a foreigner in Eden, she lived most of her life in the Western country of Aubros. She simply got into an international exchange program that was scheduled to end the month the disaster happened.

Fortunately, a lot of her good friends survived, and they were getting through it together.

Similar conversations echoed within the group, and they chatted about their lives and dreams (of course, they tried to do so without losing focus on the surroundings).

Along the way, the group followed the Territory instruction of clearing a trekking path and placing signages in visible areas.

The trekking paths were created by moving loose stones to keep the plants from growing too quickly. If often used, it could stop the growth of plants in those pathways.

As for the signages, each team was provided with a hundred, secured by the guard team.

These signages were provided by Baron’s company, and bought by the system for contribution points.

One had to note that these weren’t normal signages. This was created by the new Level E Woodworker NPC that was hired by Baron for a whooping 20 gold a month.

Speaking of Baron, he was very shocked when he found an NPC outside his door, and even more shocked at the asking price.

Baron always felt that the territory itself had commission for this hire, but he had no proof!

But still, he hired the guy, one was for goodwill, but more importantly, his sharp business eyes really could see potential in this aborigine.

No matter what, he still believed the territory wouldn’t force its citizens in a disadvantageous position.

And he was very glad he followed this instinct because the product this guy made was really magical!

For instance, the signage bought in bulk by the ‘travelers’ was not the normal wooden sign.

These signages were not only good to look at, it even had a passive effect of attracting attention, literally!

It could attract the attention of any intelligent creature within 5 meters of its location.

What could this mean?

This meant magic ads, damnit!

Further, and perhaps more importantly, the direction could be set permanently.

That was to say that if the signage was accidentally misplaced, it would always point to the direction set when it was first installed.

This naturally created huge demands. Not only for those on this mission, but for the many shop owners in the territory!

The woodworker’s schedule was filled for the next couple of days, with the orders amounting to hundreds. It could be said this business boomed.

But if anyone was surprised at how well the products were doing, it was the creating NPC himself.

Houser, a mere level E woodworker, didn’t have a good life even after awakening the occupation.

This was because he received only skills related to these traditionally labeled ‘useless’ things.

He thought that he’d spend his life making unpopular works so he could only last a decent territory for a month or two before being let go.

Who knew he’d be commissioned to create hundreds of his works almost as soon as he got hired?

The poor old man almost cried.

However, this fact cemented yet another loyal-borderline-obsessed aborigine to Altera.

…

The journey of the two combined groups was smoother than anticipated.

They had encountered several mobs along the way but they were just level 1s and very few level 2s.

The minimum requirement for joining the mission was level 3, so it was basically a breeze.

This came as a relief to all of them. But, of course, the guards didn’t stop reminding them to keep their vigilance.

How embarrassing would it be to get injured on advantageous plains?

In any case, the two parties were set to separate a few kilometers from Altera, in a small valley at the end of the mountain range.

It was a predetermined intersection decided when Derek, Rowan, and Ansel were studying the topography.

This place might not be exactly equidistant from the two territories, but it was a location highly visible even if people came from different directions.

The terrain also allowed it to be better protected against the open air and winds. At the same time, its altitude was not so low that it would easily fall victim to flash floods.

Soon they arrived at the place and set up camp. A relatively large stone platform was formed at this time, about ten square meters.

They also added grout-like substances, stone chairs, and others. They were careful not to damage the soft surfaces until they were cured.

They also set up rough easy-to-build sheds around this circle, as sturdy as it could be considering the limited time and materials it was made of.

In the middle of the stone circle was a small soiled area with stones stacked up, and some wood and leaves as fuel in the center.

Above it was a huge metal pot, which was something Oslo manifested with all his power that day because of its permanence. This would allow passersby to cook a meal well, to add energy to their journey that would still take a couple of hours.

Of course, they made sure to tie it to the ground to keep unscrupulous people from taking it away.

Rowan watched as the team did as the territory asked with enthusiasm. He was curious, as this was not rewarded at all, so he asked the one nearest to him why they were being so detailed.

The man looked at him in surprise, but then his expression became melancholic. “I just think… It would be good if my children could find this path. I thought it would be good for them to find such a good place to rest…”

Rowan’s eyes faltered and he nodded, finally understanding what the Lord meant before they left.

Before leaving, the Lord instructed them to make sure the paths would be built well. Build them with comfort and hope in mind.

He knew that the Lord planned to make this into a rest area.

The Lord said that if they could get more people with Builder Occupation, she would build sturdier rest houses in these intersections.

The Lord was really so kind, so considerate.

And the people…

Rowan looked around at the people enthusiastically doing more than ordered for people they didn’t even know they’d see again.

Some people even placed some non-perishable foods on makeshift stone trunks and boxes.

Some even left covered earthenware for ‘destined people’ to find.

These were all without rewards and at no prompt of the guards at all.

Rowan couldn’t help but be touched by the camaraderie and sense of a bigger self these people had.

He hoped that the people would find the path the Lord and her citizens built for them.

He didn’t know them and yet… he inexplicably found himself praying for them.