Overseer: Leklis
"Overseer? What exactly qualifies as an overseer?"
System: If you want to engage in construction, then please have an architect step onto the Undead Labor Station.
"Understood."
Serea replied, but a problem arose right away: among those present, only Dogsius was proficient in construction. Was she supposed to have Dogsius always occupying Celia's body to command the skeletons at work?
That was just too unrealistic—after all, Celia was her personal guard.
So, how should this be handled...
Just as Serea was feeling troubled, leklis suddenly showed an expression of shock.
"Oh, my god! What is this? It actually emits a summons to the Undead!"
Staring at the completed 'Undead Labor Station', leklis—the undead mage who had already been turned into a blood slave—suddenly shouted. Serea couldn't help but ask,
"You can sense it?"
"Of course."
Leklis gazed fanatically at the Undead Labor Station. Seeing this, Serea joked,
"What, you seem really eager to give it a try."
"May I?"
"Heh, assuming you're a qualified construction worker, then sure."
"Construction worker? Well, I have built a chapel. Does that count?"
Leklis asked tentatively. Hearing this, Serea beca interested.
"You actually know how to build?"
"Uh... a little bit."
"Get up there."
"Really?"
"Quit talking nonsense!"
Serea grew a bit impatient and directly ordered Little Black to lift Leklis up the command tower.
"Um... Actually, I can walk there myself."
But, just as before, Little Black ignored him and, following the Queen's command, dragged Leklis all the way up to the 'Undead Labor Station', tossing him in front of the 'mana crystal', which had now transford into a 'Tier 2 Death Crystal'.
The mont Leklis set foot on the command tower, Serea saw Leklis's na appear under the 'Overseer' slot of the construction managent panel.
Very good. He could serve as an overseer—so now she would see if he could also command the skeletons.
Serea then linked her regular skeletons to the Undead Labor Station's spiritual network.
Undead Labor Station (100/200)
It worked!
The instant the skeletons joined the Undead Labor Station, a BUFF appeared on them.
Skeleton Drudge: Physique -50%, strength 20%.
Serea had not yet examined this carefully when the skeletons suddenly began moving, gathering around the Undead Labor Station.
Seeing the skeletons act according to her wishes, leklis shouted excitedly.
"What an amazing thing! With this big contraption, we undead mages might be out of a job—because anyone can beco an 'undead mage' now!"
Leklis spoke, and after so quick testing, prepared to get down, but Serea said,
"Stay up there. Have the skeletons chop down all the surrounding trees, clear out the roots as well, and level the ground while you're at it."
"Huh?"
Leklis looked blank, to which Serea said,
"Do a good job. I'll co inspect tomorrow. If you disappoint , you know the consequences."
As she finished, Little Black behind Leklis flexed his claws with a chilling scratching sound. Seeing this, leklis put on a serious expression.
"Milady, I won't let you down. Just watch!"
Leklis put on an enthusiastic deanor, although, of course, he wasn't exactly thrilled about this kind of 'forced' enthusiasm...
Under Leklis's control, the skeletons picked up tools and got to work. More than a hundred skeletons began logging, stacking the gathered timber for later use. Evidently, leklis was actually quite experienced in construction.
"This makes things much easier."
Serea remarked. With the skeletons enjoying the strength bonus from the 'Skeleton Drudge' buff, their efficiency was trendous. She believed the ground would soon be entirely leveled, and at that point, they could begin building the camp.
"Flosa."
"Queen, I am here."
The mage known as Flosa walked up next to Serea.
"Have Maro take the blood slaves and help you build a wall. Use the sa magic as before, but scale it to five tis the area of the previous Elf village."
"Yes, Your Majesty, but I'll need so stone."
"See that fellow up on the command tower? Have him direct the skeletons to transport it for you. That should be simple enough."
"As you command."
After having the Skeleton Warriors join construction as well, all the assignnts were completed.
Leveling the ground and building the wall proceeded simultaneously. Once the ground was fully leveled, wooden houses could be built; and once the wall was up, the camp would have defenses.
"Queen Serea, shall I have the tribespeople continue transporting materials?"
Aruka volunteered, but Serea shook her head.
"No, chief Aruka. I have sothing more important for you."
"Whatever you need, queen, we will do our utmost to help."
"Hmm. We're running low on food in the camp, so for now, I'd like you to organize hunting parties, and also set up simple tents for everyone to stay in."
"Hahaha, that's no problem. Leave it to us."
Aruka patted his chest. When it ca to hunting, no one in this vast forest surpassed the werewolves.
"Very good. Just don't wander too far since we aren't yet familiar with the surroundings. I'll send two Skeleton Cavalry with you as ssengers so you can relay information to through them."
"Thank you, queen. We'll set out right away. There's still daylight left, so we should be able to bring back plenty of ga."
"Thank you for your help."
Aruka and Auna took the werewolf wolf riders to hunt, while the rest of the tribespeople and the elves built tents and transported supplies together.
Once things wrapped up, Serea turned to Lola, who had been waiting nearby.
"Did you want to speak with ?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Planting the Elf Tree requires the Elves' 'Queen's Mark' to channel the power of nature, so I wanted to ask for your assistance."
"No problem. Let's go right away."
"Alright."
Guided by Lola, Serea arrived at a plot of empty land that had been cleared earlier—by Aruka and the others when felling trees. It was right in the center of where the camp would be, making it perfect for planting an Elf Tree.
Seeing rows of little mounds spaced every five or six ters, Serea knew those were where Elf Tree seeds had been planted.
"What do I need to do?"
"All Your Majesty needs is to attune your heart, establish a connection with the Elf Tree seeds, and share the forest's natural power with them."
As Lola explained, Serea replied...
"That sounds deep. I'll give it a try—don't bla if it doesn't work..."
Serea then imitated the way Lola had communicated with the Elf Tree before, intertwining her fingers and making a prayer gesture toward the seed, while attempting to channel the elusive 'natural energy' within her.
Though Lola had made it sound difficult, it turned out to be quite easy in practice—especially with the help of the 'Queen's Mark'. For Serea, nurturing the Elf Tree felt almost like an innate ability.
But as she infused the Elf Tree seed with natural power, another unknown force within the Queen's Mark began to stir, slowly awakening.
With Serea's precise control, a torrent of natural energy channeled through her Queen's Mark into the Elf Tree. One by one, seedlings pushed through the earth, growing vigorously.
"Looks like it's not that... hard... after all..."
But then, a wave of exhaustion flooded Serea's mind and, after swaying for a mont, she collapsed to the ground.
Lola was startled and cried out.
"Queen!"
Soon after, Serea lost consciousness...
(To be continued...)
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