I Build a Modern Shelter in Fantasy World

That was not an act of cruelty or hatred. Gideon realized that making them understand could no longer be done gently; he had to do it harshly, forcing them to imagine the worst possible reality.

Telling them that their deaths were so close if they didn't get treatment was the right thing, but it wasn't noble.

Living for a long time with the people of this world made Gideon realize that the majority of them were all afraid of death.

Nath helped by convincing them. Nath explained that Gideon and his team had brought Rockvalley to a better state than ever before.

"If we work together, it's not impossible that our village will be as big as Rockvalley," Nath explained.

"All right."

"Only because Nath is with you, then I will obey," said one of them, followed by similar responses from the other villagers.

Gideon turned to Lena and responded with a slow nod. The villagers had made their decision; it was time for Lena to work on mixing medicine for all of them. If they wanted to be healed, then Lena would help with everything she had.

The crowd of villagers dispersed, stepping away from the area near the home of Jacquess, the village chief. Nath could finally breathe in relief, then glanced back and thanked Gideon and Lena.

"There's a lot of work we have to do. I already visited Hector and made sure they won't pollute the river again," Gideon replied.

"That's good. Have they built the waste reservoir yet?" asked Lena, and Gideon nodded.

"The principle is the same as water purification, but they have to be extra careful. Tiny chemical particles are hard to filter out and could be a threat to public safety."

"For now, let's focus on their main problems: food and health."

Nath and Lena agreed. Nath's eyes kept looking at Gideon, feeling a different kind of admiration. He had met many other men Gideon's age, including nobles as well.

But none of them carried the aura of authority like Gideon. Gideon was shaped differently compared to the typical men of this world.

"Nath?"

"Y-Yes?" Nath asked when Gideon snapped him out of his daydream.

"How much food is left?"

"Enough for the next two weeks."

"Next week, I'll send another food supply," Gideon replied.

"Of course. Thank you so much, Lord Gideon."

Not long after, Luke arrived with a few men. He had finished conducting observations and checking the soil condition. He immediately reported what he had found to Gideon, who listened along with the others.

"How is it?" asked Gideon.

"Almost most of the land shows signs of being unstable. I'm afraid digging a well in that area would be useless."

"What do you mean useless?" asked Nath, and Luke turned to him.

"The polluted river water has been used to irrigate the fields for some time. The water seeped into the soil and its chemical particles seeped into the groundwater."

"Even if we dig a well, groundwater will still come out. But whether or not that water is safe to consume has yet to be determined," Luke replied.

"The level of soil water contamination is that high," Gideon muttered.

"However, I found a patch of land untouched by polluted water, far from the fields."

"Plants grow on it, the soil is wet and far from any waste. What do you think?" Luke asked.

"If that's the case, then make a large well there."

"Not a small well like in Rockvalley, but one with a large diameter. That place will be the village's main water source," Gideon emphasized.

Luke nodded. He had also thought of that idea before, building one well that could be shared among the villagers. Gideon had the same thought as Luke.

"Nath?" Gideon called, and Nath quickly turned.

"Gather the healthy men in your village who can work. Choose them to become the well workers."

"I'll bring some of the same workers from Rockvalley, and also the bandits I captured back then," Gideon explained.

"You'll bring them?" asked Nath.

"I'll promise them freedom if they want to work to help Dergon!"

Nath looked enthusiastic. They were young men that Dergon desperately needed. If Gideon suggested this, then Nath felt certain the villagers would agree and put full trust in him.

"I'll tell them the good news from you," Nath explained.

Gideon nodded, refocusing his eyes forward at Luke and Lena. "Let's go back and draw up the plan."

***

Three weeks later.

Dergon Village.

The door of Jacquess's house opened, and Gideon came in alone, wearing his tactical shirt complete with belt holster and SIG M17 as his personal defense. There was no one else there except Jacquess, Nath's father.

He had shown signs of recovery. The diarrhea and hepatitis he suffered were improving and healing; he was no longer as weak as he was when Gideon first arrived in the village.

"You look stronger, Jacques."

"Thank you. Without your remedies, it would've been hard for me to recover," Jacques replied.

"How many resisted?" asked the fifty-eight-year-old man.

Gideon stopped walking, standing beside the long sofa in the house. He poured tea from the teapot into a wooden cup and handed it to Jacques to soothe his stomach with its warmth.

"A total of twelve."

"Have you done anything to them?" Jacques asked, and Gideon shook his head.

"I gave them a choice, but they refused to die my way."

"Hmm… they really are stubborn."

Jacques took the tea from Gideon and sipped it slowly. Gideon sat on the long sofa, his attention fixed on the village chief.

Most of those who resisted didn't like the taste of the remedy given, while others simply didn't trust Gideon and his team.

"I came to help those who believe in my aid. I don't have time for those who rebel."

"Don't let the problem of one or two people make you sacrifice those who want to recover," Gideon explained.

"When you could've just killed them outright," Jacques said.

"Let them be. Let them regret not being treated."

"I understand," Jacques replied.

He then asked about the large well being dug on Lord Hector's land. Gideon had already bought the land with his own money, though Hector refused and said he was giving the land freely.

In the end, however, Gideon still paid for it. Jacques had heard about Gideon's plan from Nath, who kept telling him about it.

He was happy and relieved; Gideon and his team had done much to help the village.

"If only my first son were here, he would've been able to help you a lot," Jacques said.

"He hasn't come back yet?"

Jacques shook his head. It had been five years since he left without news after joining the Moko army. Jacques and Nath didn't know how his condition was—whether he was still alive or already dead.

Gideon also hadn't heard any news from the northern and western war fronts. He didn't know the condition of Norton and his elite troops.

The war had raged too long, and he feared it would impact the kingdom's economic system.

"He'll come back. Just believe in him," Gideon explained.

"Of course. Thank you for reassuring me."

KNOCK!

As Gideon was talking with Jacques in the old man's house, the sound of knocking echoed clearly from behind him.

Gideon told the visitor to come in, and a soldier in blue-black armor entered, kneeling when he saw Gideon.

"What is it?"

"Forgive me, Lord Gideon. A soldier from Earl Ashfield's elite force has come bringing a message," the soldier replied, shocking Gideon.

He knelt, holding a rolled-up letter tied neatly and stamped with the Earl's seal. Gideon stepped forward, took the letter, opened it, and read its contents carefully.

Gideon gasped, his eyes scanning the letter written directly by Ashfield for him. From it, Gideon could quickly grasp the situation in the north—the war between Moko and Luthe.

"Homemade firearms?!" Gideon was shocked.

How could they have that kind of technology? Even I hesitate to make one, even with Luke and the weapons database in Lyra's laptop.

This is dangerous. The stability between kingdoms will be shaken. Luthe could dominate the world with cruelty and an iron fist.

Is it possible that some of my team survived? Gideon whispered.

"What is it, Lord Gideon?" Jacques asked.

Gideon fell into silence, occasionally taking deep breaths and exhaling slowly. If that were true, then there was a possibility that soldiers from the Special Operation Forces were aiding Luthe.

Not only Gideon, Luke, Lena, and Lyra had survived, but eight other members might have survived too.

To stay alive, it seemed they had sold their weapons to the kingdom and let its scientists study them.

Gideon could not allow that to happen!

Not long after, Lena came in to tell Gideon something about her patients. But she froze when she saw Gideon's tense face, clutching the letter in his hand.

"What's wrong, Capt?"

Gideon turned, looking at Lena with utter seriousness and worry.

"What we've feared all this time has finally happened."