Crossing the Mountain

There was a road in the valley between the mountain range that obstructed the national borders of Lomaria Kingdom and Gnomstoll Kingdom.
This was a path beyond my imagination.

「……the Dwarves are amazing, aren’t they?」
「What, if you let a Dwarf play with the earth, there’s nothing they can’t do.」

Golan-san proudly replied to my muttering.

The path connecting Lomaria Kingdom and Gnomstoll Kingdom was wide enough for carriages to pass each other and was well regulated. It was similar to the roads for crossing mountains, and though the elevation gradually rose, it didn’t change. And right now, what I’m seeing in front of me was a tunnel so impressive I hadn’t seen one like it even in my old world.

「We aimed to place the road on the low areas of the mountain range, but this is the only place where it was easier to dig a tunnel straight through.」
「You were also through with the reinforcing the tunnel with bestowal magic.」

The tunnel was approximately 10km in length, and illuminating magic devices lined up both sides inside of it. Moreover, there were even ventilation magic devices installed like those in tunnel expressways. It’s really high tech. I suspect there might have been reincarnators and transmigrators before me. I mean, there were only a few tunnels I know of that were over 10km even in my own world, or maybe it was sturdy for no other reason than being fantasy.

Rosary-sama and her entourage had visited Gnomstoll Kingdom several times before, so none of them were surprised seeing this tunnel.

「It’ll be Gnomstoll Kingdom when we pass through this tunnel. I think we’ll reach our destination at the capital in 5 days if we accompany the lady and her group.」
「We would arrive in 2 days with more than enough time if it was just us though……」
「Well, give up on that. Aren’t you glad we were able to restore public order between Gnomstoll and Lomaria?」
「No, I live in the Sanctuary and Volton in Valkyra Kingdom……」

Golan-san informed me of the distance to Gnomstoll Kingdom’s capital. If we were going at our normal pace, we’d be able to arrive within two days even at a relaxed pace, but we couldn’t not go with Rosary-sama even though there was no risk of bandits.

The reason for why there was no dangers ahead was because the tunnel’s entrance was guarded by Gnomstoll Kingdom’s garrison 24/7.

It looks like at the entrance of the tunnel, a fort was making the best use of the topography of the valley, so they were capable of responding to attacks from bandit groups and even of invasions from other countries.
In fact, it would be difficult to get through this fort in this land where large armies could not be deployed.

「Aside from being a country that supplies arms, Gnomstoll Kingdom which does not attack other countries is blessed with locational advantage, huh.」
「Well, that’s how it is. To top it off, Dwarves are all brave warriors.」

The entrance of the tunnel is considered as the border, so perhaps because the check at the fort was strict, there were many merchant carriages lined up to wait for their entry process.

Naturally, the large Dragon Horse Tsubaki, Kaede, and the heavily fortified armored carriage gathered attention.
From the time I first built it, it was a carriage which used magic metal panels, Elder Treant wood, and adamantite alloy for its framework that boasted unusually strong defense. However, now the wheels that were also made of adamantite alloy were large and brutal and even though the design of the carriage was carved splendidly, its defensive capabilities had evolved remarkably. Adding on the enchantments, there was no other carriage like it.

「As expected of the Dwarves. Normally, many people would see Tsubaki and overlook the carriage, but they realized the absurdity of this carriage.」
「Of course they would. Even the King of Gnomstoll would not have this level of a carriage.」

I see, so they were in a daze.

I thought we’d have to go through all sorts of troublesome things, but thanks to Golan-san, we were able to pass through smoothly.

「As expected, Golan-san has a face pass.」
「Obviously. Golan-aniki has the title of God Craft. The only one who has a similar title is King Gnomstoll.」
「Golan-san, so you were a much more amazing person huh.」

「Hmph, I hear sarcasm when you say it, Takumi. The Ouranos and Oceanus were that much more.」

Even in the God Craft Golan-san’s eyes, the airship Ouranos and the magic battleship Oceanus were at a level that couldn’t readily be revealed.
He said that even this carriage would have to be stored in the Item Box when we’re at the capital.

We advanced through the tunnel illuminated by magic devices at a slow pace.
No matter how many tens of kilometers the tunnel has, a carriage would not take that long to pass through.

Now, I’m looking forward to what kind of scenery is ahead of the tunnel.