I Build a Modern Shelter in Fantasy World

According to what Nath had said, at least Gideon had several ways to handle the problems happening right now.

Starting from dealing with the polluted environment to restoring the ruined and infertile soil. Nath came with Gideon to the village chief's house.

There, Lucas was explaining the punishments that awaited them, the consequences of their behavior earlier when they acted as bandits.

"Prison or the whip. You can choose between the two punishments," Lucas said firmly.

The bandits fell silent, their eyes wide open as they realized those punishments were waiting for them now.

For men who lived by the sword and had never bowed to any form of written order, the very mention of prison sounded like a curse.

The word carried no meaning to them except the sudden fear of being trapped in a world they did not understand.

Some of them exchanged glances, some lowered their heads, but none dared to speak. None of them knew or understood how the law worked.

"My Lord," Lucas said.

Gideon nodded, glancing at the bandits who had been stripped of their weapons and surrounded by his guards.

His eyes lingered on them briefly, weighing their threat level. They were exhausted, unarmed, and demoralized.

If they tried anything reckless, his SIG M17 at his side was more than enough to cut them down in seconds. Even unarmored, they were still dangerous men, but to Gideon, they were already finished.

"What will you do with them?" Nath asked quietly.

"Let Lucas handle this matter. I'll focus on solving the main problem in the village," Gideon replied without hesitation. His voice carried authority, but also restraint, as if reminding everyone present that justice, not vengeance, would be the path forward.

"Yes, My Lord."

Gideon then ordered Lucas and the baron's guards to return to the village with the bandits. They would be judged according to the law, either prison time or lashes.

The bandits had no choice. Children were separated from their parents. Fathers were separated from their wives and children.

There was nothing they could do but obey the rules now, and even they began to realize that the days of lawless wandering were over.

He mounted his horse, followed by Lucas and the rest of the guards. Their mission in Dergon was complete, and it was time to return to the village to rest.

Gideon and Lucas led the procession at the front, always keeping watch on the bandits. Gideon's eyes kept scanning the tree lines, his soldier's instincts never shutting off.

He knew very well he could defeat them easily with his pistol, but the greater risk was never the obvious one—it was the ambush you didn't expect, the hidden archer, the panicked villager running into their path.

Even now, in relative safety, he calculated the terrain and avenues of approach, old habits carved into his bones.

The journey went on until night. When Gideon and Lucas arrived, they found the village quiet, still, with little activity.

The sounds of the day had faded, replaced by the occasional bark of a dog or the distant crackle of firewood.

For Gideon, the silence was unusual. He was used to forward operating bases buzzing with constant radio chatter, soldiers checking gear, vehicles roaring in the background. Here, the silence almost felt alien.

"Take them to the village prison and make sure to treat them humanely," Gideon ordered as they reached the village square.

"Humanely?" Lucas asked, frowning slightly, not used to hearing such a command.

"Treat them as people, with fairness and dignity," Gideon said firmly. His gaze hardened. "Justice doesn't need cruelty."

Lucas didn't fully understand, but he knew enough to treat people well. Gideon was glad to see that Lucas accepted his command with a respectful nod. That small moment gave Gideon hope that this land could still learn a better way of justice.

They parted ways at the village center, with Lucas heading to the prison and Gideon returning to the baron's residence.

The direct trip to Dergon, far from Rockvalley, had drained his energy. His body craved rest, but his mind was still running through plans and contingencies.

When he arrived, Gideon saw the clinic already closed, and the workers at the well project had gone home.

Not a single person was there. The construction site lay quiet, shadows stretched long across the scaffolding. Progress was visible, but unfinished. One step at a time, Gideon thought.

The residence door opened. Gideon saw a maid busy tidying up the table for dinner. His arrival before dinner was enough to make the maids happy; they had prepared the best meal for Gideon and the household.

"Where are the others?" Gideon asked.

"I saw Lady Lena and the others go out. I think they went to the tavern," one maid replied politely.

"Viviene is upstairs, finishing her work before dinner," the maid added.

Gideon nodded. If Lena and the others had gone out, then he would go there. There was still an hour before dinner, more than enough time for him to relax a little.

He left after telling the maids to keep doing their duties. Gideon explained that he would still eat dinner at the baron's residence.

The maids smiled, clearing their throats and nodding in understanding, clearly relieved that their preparations would not go to waste.

Gideon stepped out of the residence, walking alone without anyone accompanying him, heading for the village tavern.

As Gideon expected, the tavern was the place where people gathered. From a distance, he could already hear the muffled laughter, the clinking of mugs, and the rough but cheerful voices of villagers winding down after a long day.

The villagers, tired after work, chose to relax and drink there. The contrast between the quiet streets and the lively tavern was striking.

Inside, the tavern was far livelier than the main street. People lifted their mugs and toasted together, sharing small victories and daily burdens alike.

The tavern door opened, and Lena, the waitress, turned and smiled when she saw Gideon enter.

"Welcome, Sir Gideon."

"Welcome, My Lord."

Not only Lena but the other patrons also smiled and greeted him. Gideon smiled, waving back at them.

Though he was used to being respected as a commander, this warmth felt different—simpler, more genuine. These weren't salutes out of duty. These were greetings out of gratitude.

Among them, Luke and the others waved and called his name. Gideon smiled, ordered the same beer they were having, and sat at their table.

"How was your observation?" Luke asked, leaning forward.

"Good. I found several serious problems we need to deal with quickly," Gideon answered, his tone shifting into the familiar cadence of briefing his squad.

"About the river purification? We can do the same thing there as we did in Lamia village," Lena added, her medical eye already anticipating the health issues polluted water would bring.

Gideon agreed. He clearly thought the same, planning to help Dergon the way he had helped Lamia. That way, the same river problem could be solved soon.

"What materials do we need?" Luke asked.

"The same as in Lamia village, only we'll need more since the pollution here is much worse," Gideon replied.

"Lyra and I will take care of it. Don't worry, captain," Luke said confidently.

Hearing that was enough to make Gideon happy. There was hope that he and his team could solve Dergon's problem.

Still, Gideon didn't want to burden Luke and the others with their current situation. He glanced at Lyra, who nodded quietly, her eyes already deep in thought, no doubt calculating supplies, tools, and data they would need.

In short, they had to finish their work in Rockvalley before heading to Dergon. Luke and Lyra explained a lot to Gideon, especially about the well project still underway.

Lena was also grateful there weren't many patients coming for checkups. Many had already been treated before, so they had received initial care before being scheduled again.

Gideon and the others talked to one another, discussing small things they never had the time for because of their busyness.

Now, in this calm moment, they talked about those little things: Luke's jokes about village tools compared to Army gear, Lena teasing Gideon about working himself too hard, Lyra quietly correcting Luke's technical assumptions with a rare half-smile. For once, they were not just soldiers on mission—they were people sharing a drink.

After their conversation at the tavern ended, Gideon invited them back to the baron's residence to have dinner together.

Gideon would discuss the river purification plan another time. For now, he could focus on arranging the food supplies to be sent to Dergon.

He had already promised Nath to send the second shipment of food. He would not break that promise. For Gideon, a promise given was as binding as any military order, and breaking it would mean betraying not only Nath's trust but also his own code.

Gideon and Viviene would talk about it later after dinner.