"Hear me out."
In the living room, all of the maids were called by the head maid, Lilith.
I told her to fetch everyone, leaving no one behind except for those who have roles regarding the heating system of the mansion.
"I've checked the only resources we have. We have no food, the wood would only last until another week but we have enough money to spend on miscellaneous."
On the large table, I placed down the paper I've written in, categorizing the resources into different parts and tallying them according to their count.
"Food is almost depleted and we will never survive until the end of winter which is next week."
"Master... We are also running out of drinkable water. The village wells had been dried up. If this continues, we will have to drink the water of boiled snow."
The drinkable water they've mentioned would be always kept in covered jars, but as I was able to get a taste of it from the first day I had been reborn here, it was nasty and soil-like.
They mustn't drink such dangerous water. Even more, so boil snow water when we are running out of firewood.
"Worry not. Master here had discovered himself to be capable with the element of water."
Lilith was quick on the uptake. Once the other maids had managed to down themselves, they were relieved and amazed at how was I able to wield such rate magic.
I never considered water to be a rate element here, but to think that the average element on most games and stories in my old world would be so unique.
"For now. We will have to focus on getting food. We might have money but we are miles away from neighboring villages or Kingdoms."
I explained to them the prioritize as I point out the factors we needed to know about.
"It would be a deadline of two days and traveling to the nearest village would cost as dearly as three days."
There was a small village at the east, it was much more inhabitable than Hellsburg despite it being a land owned by no lord.
If I were to consider the abilities of the maids present in the room, most of them are compatible with Wind and some were Earth and Fire and the rest are sub-categories such as lightning and light.
Lilith was the only one that was able to wield two elements, Wind and Fire.
"The food that you've given away would suffice for more than three days if they ration it right. We will be able to buy food by then."
Sasha, a maid that is the head of the kitchen. She was known to be professionally a known cook in the Kingdom, however, I don't get how she had been assigned here with such suspicious loyalty.
"Earth Magic users like me and the others would be able to travel faster if you will let us, Master."
I haven't even explained the plan but for them to take the initiative, it seems a bit surreal. However, I wouldn't risk betting all of our money on food. There are factors to consider, after all.
The chance of them running away with the money, or being robbed by bandits. Playing safe with limited resources would be the best decision for now.
Food would be easily handled once I figure out how to fix the drought of this land. It will be the foundation of nourishing Hellsburg.
"Alright. But the problem is the snowstorm, either you wait until it calms down or until winter itself ends."
"Master, you and the people be starving by then. We cannot waste a single time."
I had almost forgotten. I was just someone who wouldn't be able to survive food. To add up, the residents wouldn't be able to hold on much longer, she was right about that.
I would say I was moved by her sentiment of prioritizing me and the people over themselves, but I am still suspicious of that undying loyalty towards me.
"Tonight we will leave. I will bring three more maids with me, Master."
Sasha said before bowing her head, looking at the others which seems to be a gesture of who she had chosen.
"I shall prepare right away."
Four maids, it's not a bad number but I will allow it. Reducing four manpower from the mansion will not change anything.
The plan had only been formulated by they began to move. However, that is not bad.
That's more like it if I'm allowed to say.
The faster the better, time is of the essence.
Currently, I have 70,000 estimated zells. If I would compare them to the old world's currency, 100 zells is equal to 10 dollars.
I let Sasha and her companions bring about 10,000. It was an amount that would suffice for food lasting for a week. I can't risk any more than that.
"With that out of the way, the next is shelter... Grace..."
"Yes, Master."
Grace.
Another maid is somehow 'knowledgeable' about the geography and overall structural designs of the houses.
She looked timid, but her brown hime-cut hair would have men tumbling for her hand, except for me of course.
Every woman that had tried to approach me in my past life had nothing but those who wanted money or wanted me dead.
I was almost used to it that it wasn't normal anymore.
"The shelters have been deteriorating after a few snowstorms. There have been some people that already died from frostbite due to the holes in their roofs. The people are not happy with it."
"That's simple. We will have them fortify their own houses."
"But, they are hungry and unhappy with the Master. I doubt that they would even consider doing such tedious work!"
As expected, it would be obvious for them to refuse work, but I will not allow such a thing to be true any longer.
Just like how the saying goes, "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will live forever."
"We'll pay them with food. That way, the bait will be something that will benefit them. Isn't that much better than just giving them food?"
I placed down the gold coins that were the remainder of the wealth we had. Stacked on sets of twenty, it was able to occupy up a quarter of the large table.
"If they don't want food, I'm sure there are others who would like money to leave this hellish place."
I took a few gold coins into my palm, showing it to the maids as if tempting them with a push and pull gesture. They would look at me with a doubtful face, Grace specifically.
"But, wouldn't that encourage the residents to leave your land? Once our residents become less than twenty, your right to rule this land will be revoked!"
That was something that I've haven't known but it was no problem. Even if a few would leave, it will be only a process of establishing a better state.
"I'm willing to risk that chance to gain favor. You'll see soon enough if you trust me on this one."
Grace could only sigh as she saw my confident face. Who wouldn't be swayed by my charismatic persuasion? I doubt that they will even go against my orders.
She might be just like Lilith, but I found that she is someone who could be easily persuaded. Although her being easy would benefit me today, I might have to teach her a lesson.
"Alright. I'll have the others start writing the post for such a job. What about the resources to be used? Our quarry has been deserted and the lumberjacks have migrated to a better city."
According to the current affairs of the city, the quarry and the lumberjack have been abandoned, but they are still there.
I had some of the maids check on it but it seems like most of the tools were taken away by either the ones who formerly worked there.
"Then we'll do the same there. Whoever takes on the job, we'll pay them with food."
The missing tools were the problem, but I had an idea about it.
"Hm. About your earth magic. Can you summon soil and or rocks?"
"No... Earth Magic only involves changing forms of already existing elements of Eart such as minerals and rocks."
I tried to ask Grace as she was proficient in it, but to think that Earth Magic does work on realistic logic.
It makes sense that Earth wouldn't just be made out of air except for the other three.
"Then, it must be able to separate rocks into smaller parts right?"
"Y-Yes. That is possible, but why would you want to utilize magic that way?"
Huh? Did I ask something wrong? They all seemed perplexed by the idea of it. Don't they use magic for most efficiency here?
Don't tell me...
"Have you guys tried gathering rocks and stones using magic?"
"No..."
They weren't using magic for efficiency. They were only using it for offensive and livelihood!
They might have thought of using elements for obvious reasons but, Earth Magic is specifically useful for changing geographical courses of lands and gathering resources.
"Grace, what level is your Earth Magic?"
"I'd say about Intermediate Magic, Master."
That will suffice. I will try to have her use her magic differently.
"Grace, come with me for a second. For the others, that's all for now then. I'll need some maids to take care of the boy for now as well."
"Yes, Master."
They all bowed down before moving out, leaving only Grace who stood right in front of me as I stood up from my seated position.
"Is it about my magic?"
"Yes! I'm glad you're quick on the uptake."
With that in place, we had to change locations to see results. There was no other place than the quarry itself, which was far behind the mansion.
There were rocky mountains there, and as we proceeded through cold weather, we were able to arrive at two quarries that were abandoned.
At first, both of them looked like an entrance to a mine but they would only be able to gather rocks.
A quarter of the mountain was already dugout, a circular dome-like place was already formed around it but it was small.
It must have only lasted for at least ten years to be able to dig only this much.
"Do we have to go out there, Master?"
She began to rub her hands together, seemingly cold even with the thick fur coat and scarf and gloves.
"Of course. This is where we will have to make our first working industry."
I could see our breaths smoke out as we speak. This area must be colder than in the city, explaining why the quarries would be abandoned.
"What does the Master want me to do exactly?"
This is it. We mustn't waste time. I don't want to spend more time just to test this out. I do still have humanity in me.
"Alright. Do you also work in the kitchen, right?"
"Yes? But what does that have to do anything about my magic?"
It might sound unrelated, but I am about to explain something that the books have been ignorant in teaching. I hope that I am wrong...
"I want you to erect a wall of rock right there."
"Yes, Master."
She began to chant for a moment with her eyes closed. In just a few seconds, there was a wall that rose from the ground, seemingly sucking the surrounding rock to elevate itself.
It must have been an existing logic for that magic, to move something but still connect.
However, that is not important now.
"Now, I want you to focus. Just like how you have moved that wall, I want you to imagine it, instead of moving, being sliced into cubes."
"Huh? But that's impossible. Earth cannot be separated from the Earth itself."
Grace retorted as I requested something impossible for her, but was it impossible?
I was certain that this type of magic is not limited to moving rocks that are still connected to the ground.
I was certain that such magic is not limited to such. If that is what they know about magic, then they lack the imagination for the limitless possibilities.
"Listen to me. Close your eyes, and do just as I say."
Those eyes of hers, full of doubt. I will get rid of it. Clear all the visual distractions and focus on imagining them.
"Focus on imagination. You are in the kitchen. You were tasked with cutting the vegetables into cubes, what do you do?"
This might be a cringe-worthy method but this will work. I know it.
"That's obvious. I will cut it into cubes."
"Yes, now then. Imagine yourself holding the knife, and in front of you, is the vegetable you need to cut into cubes."
"Cutting it... like vegetables?"
I stood right beside her. This might become something dangerous if I'm not too careful.
After all, I only visualized something before, and it went much more powerful than expected.
"Ngnn..."
She was having a hard time managing it. Her face was showing it. Maybe I need a bit more of a description to help her. Maybe shape the way mana flows for her.
"Imagine your finger to be the knife. Cut through this stubborn vegetable wall!"
I shouted out of enthusiasm, but to think that she would follow suit as I screamed.
"Hyah!"
She held her finger out as she draws an X-like gesture in front of the wall.
At first, nothing happened, but as we heard the sound of rocks grinding, we were able to see the wall get cleanly sliced along.
It was a success.
"——?!?!"
"You did it!"
This was great. She was able to do it. Now, we should go about the pl—
"Master! You're a genius!"
I have suddenly swept away from the ground, held tightly by her arms as she hugged me into the air.
She sounded overjoyed by the idea. She was tightly hugging me that I almost had not the luxury to breathe.
"G-Grace—"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Hehe..."
"Cough. Cough... You're really... strong."
Was this the timid maid that was with me a few minutes ago? Her grip is strong. I might want to avoid that in the future.
"Master. That was something that even Magic school wasn't able to teach us! We haven't thought of this method! Plus, my mana hasn't decreased at all!"
Her mana didn't decrease? Does it mean, more visualization, the less mana you use?
No, this must be something else. Maybe mana is used to compensate for the idea of visualizing the output.
Meaning, that if you only wish for fire to come out and use mana as a sort of token, it will grant your wish.
What a tricky way to use magic.
If this continues, I might as well become the pioneer of the new way how to use magic. An interesting concept. How exciting.
"I'll have to tell the others about this! This will change the course of magic!"
But maybe, I'll have to slow down a bit. This might become troublesome in the future.
"Yes, but... let us proceed with this one more test."
I asked her before we left to go back.