A Room With A View

The days had been cold but refreshingly clear.

I’d been feeling refreshed again this morning, all thanks to having my own private toilet (which Karan-san also used).

I intended to keep improving my living conditions at this rate.

Now then, what should I build next?

While I was pondering that question, Karan-san entered my office carrying a stack of documents.

“Good morning, Fortress Lord. I’d like you to review these documents and sign them today. Well then, I’ll be going…”

I stopped Karan-san as she hurriedly tried to leave.

“Please wait a moment. I need you to explain these documents to me. I still don’t understand everything very well.”

“I’ll explain them later…”

Karan-san seemed irritated as she attempted to leave.

“Is there something you need to do?”

“I hereby request a break of exactly fifteen minutes, starting immediately.”

“A break? That’s fine, but it’s rather sudden.”

“I intend to enjoy the warm-water bidet, try the lavender hand soap, and then wash my face. After that, I shall once again appreciate the softness of the towels and generously apply some facial lotion.”

Ah, so that was it.

Pleasantly scented hand soap, soft towels, and facial lotion didn’t exist in this world, so my toilet was the only place where she could experience them.

I’d promised to let Karan-san use it as a special privilege.

To me, it was simply a place to relieve myself, but for Karan-san, it seemed to have become a major source of entertainment.

“Understood. Well then, enjoy yourself.”

Even the usually composed Karan-san practically skipped into my bedroom.

Now then, while Karan-san was using the toilet, I might as well look through these documents.

Let’s see, what exactly was written here…?

“Hmm…”

I’d already lost all motivation by the first line.

It wasn’t that I lacked the desire to work.

The room was simply so dark that reading the words was difficult.

There were three windows to let in natural light, but each one was only about the size of a shogi board.

There was no way enough sunlight could enter through those.

To make matters worse, transparent sheet glass didn’t exist in this world.

Things were fine for now, but what would happen in winter?

Surely they weren’t expected to leave the windows open and endure the cold?

Or were they supposed to get by with nothing but lamplight?

Either way, it sounded miserable.

I really should start preparing for that now.

There were two things I could do: enlarge the windows and install glass panes, then add proper lighting.

For the time being, I decided to start by improving the windows, which would also help keep out the cold.

That day’s administrative work was finished by noon, so I began working after lunch.

My skills had improved considerably after completing the toilet.

Something as simple as windows should be possible to finish in a single day.

What kind of windows should I make?

When I pictured someone important, the first thing that came to mind was a company president.

And when you thought of a president’s office, you naturally imagined enormous windows on a high floor.

I’d love to install windows like those, offering a panoramic view of every corner of the city.

All right, let’s go with that!

I placed my hands against the existing windows and channeled mana into them.

The stone walls warped and began rippling and wobbling like jelly.

I gradually expanded the window openings while reinforcing the structure to prevent the building from losing its strength.

“This is terrifying…”

Almost the entire wall of my office had disappeared, and the wind was howling through the opening.

One step forward, and I’d plunge straight down to the bottom of the fortress.

Between the cold and the fear, my whole body had started trembling.

I’d better get the glass installed quickly, or this was going to be dangerously nerve-racking.

Unable to stand properly, I continued working while crawling along the floor.

There was a knock at the door, and Aine entered.

“Excuse me. I’ve brought you some tea and snacks. …Whaaat!?”

She was clearly surprised by how bright the room had become.

“The wall is gone!”

Oh, that was what surprised her.

Well, of course it was.

“I’m doing a little remodeling right now. It’s dangerous, so don’t come any closer, okay?”

Still on all fours with my backside sticking up awkwardly, I raised my voice.

Ahh, my legs wouldn’t stop shaking.

And there was no chance Aine would overlook such a pathetic display.

“Fortress Lord, are you trembling?”

Her eyes had taken on a dreamy, half-lidded look.

She looked like a wild beast that had just discovered its favorite prey…

Aine placed the tea tray on the table and approached me without the slightest hint of fear.

“What an incredible view. You can see every corner of the castle town from here.”

Despite her words, Aine’s eyes remained glued to my trembling hands.

“I-I’m about to install the glass. Once that’s done, the wind won’t blow inside anymore.”

“Glass?”

“The glass I’m making is a little unusual, so it’ll take some time. Until then…”

I channeled mana into the opening, gradually materializing the window frame.

Just then, Aine knelt beside me and wrapped her arms around me.

“Aine!?”

“It’s dangerous, isn’t it? That’s why I’ll support you like this. Please concentrate on your work to your heart’s content, Fortress Lord.”

“O-Okay.”

It was embarrassing to admit, but being embraced by Aine really had reduced my fear by half.

Unfortunately, something soft was pressing against the left side of my back, making it difficult to concentrate.

Her breath tickling my ear was equally distracting.

“What an unusual texture this window frame has. What is it made of?”

“Resin, metal, and things like that…”

“Resin? That sounds complicated.”

Every time Aine shifted around, the soft sensation against my back shifted too, leaving my thoughts increasingly muddled.

No, I couldn’t let this continue!

I was going to finish these windows today.

Kinoshita Construction Company’s deadlines were absolute!

I shook off my worldly distractions and began working on the glass panes.

Since these windows were being installed on an upper floor, the glass needed to be reasonably strong.

What I was installing was Kinoshita Construction Company’s original sixfold-strengthened glass, an exceptionally durable type of window glass.

With each infusion of mana, the glass began rising from the bottom of the frame.

Aine squirmed against me even more as she marveled at the sight.

Thanks to that, my trembling had stopped completely.

Although my distracting thoughts were another matter entirely…

“It’s like watching ice form! Is this glass?”

“That’s right. It’s sturdy and provides excellent insulation, too. Now we can say goodbye to drafts. Um, Aine…”

“Yes? What is it?”

“You can let go of me now. I’m not scared anymore.”

About five centimeters of glass had already formed along the bottom.

Even that small amount was enough to ease my fear.

Perhaps she’d lost interest now that I’d stopped trembling, because Aine finally released me.

The dazzling light of the setting sun streamed through the windows, but the sound of the wind had stopped completely.

Apparently, my glass windows also provided perfect soundproofing.

I gazed at the sunset in the peaceful silence, feeling thoroughly satisfied.

“Excuse me for interru…”

Karan-san entered carrying some documents, only to freeze in place with her eyes wide open.

It felt wonderful to see the usually cool and collected Karan-san so surprised.

“Well? Looks pretty good, doesn’t it?”

Karan-san slowly approached the window on unsteady feet.

“Don’t worry. There isn’t just a giant hole in the wall.”

I explained while tapping on the glass.

Karan-san also reached out and touched the glass rather timidly.

“A transparent wall… Truly astonishing.”

“This should make working much easier. But it’s already getting dark. I’ll have to make some lights next…”

Unfortunately, I had very little mana remaining.

I’d have to put off that work until tomorrow or later.

“Fortress Lord, would it be possible to install these in other rooms as well?”

“Would you like me to put some in your room too, Karan-san?”

“Oh! Would that really be all right?”

Karan-san looked surprised.

“There are still so many things I want to do, so I can’t promise I’ll get to it right away. But once I have some free time, sure.”

I wanted to install lighting, and I also wanted to build a proper bathroom.

There were simply too many things I wanted to try.

“Thank you very much, Fortress Lord…”

Karan-san gazed at me with a serious expression.

“What’s wrong? If you really want them that badly, I can prioritize the windows in your room…”

“That is not what I meant. It seems we have seriously underestimated your abilities, Fortress Lord. Just like the toilet you constructed earlier, these glass windows are something the king and nobles would undoubtedly be desperate to possess.”

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”

Most people would probably prefer clean toilets and bright rooms, after all.

“Why don’t you return with me to the Royal Capital Rosaria?”

“Hmm…”

That might be nice, but I felt like staying here and developing my abilities for a while longer.

If I went there and spent every day making toilets and glass windows, I’d probably get bored.

“Would it be all right if I took things easy here a little longer? Somehow, I feel like my Construction Company abilities develop faster in this place.”

Karan-san considered my words for a moment before nodding.

“Understood. In that case, I shall make the necessary arrangements.”

The sun had completely set outside.

“By the way, with these windows, anyone outside can see directly into your room, Fortress Lord. That may pose a security risk.”

Karan-san tilted her head with concern as she examined the view outside.

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that.”

I took out a controller and pressed a button.

Beep!

The previously transparent glass immediately turned opaque, completely obscuring the view outside.

“It’s called an instant tint-adjustment feature. You can adjust the glass’s opacity to four different levels.”

Karan-san looked adorable standing there with her mouth hanging wide open.