The Greatest Architect

“Cuckoo? What is this? Did you make all the ice cubes...? ”

Orc Arosh was a natural warrior.

Fight enemies.

Hunt for your tribe.

Of course, his virtues are brave.

He had been living only thinking about fighting all his life.

So he had no idea about civil construction at all.

I did not understand what the construction was going through and what the results were.

But nevertheless, there was something I knew.

It was that no construction was finished in one day.

Thanks to you, Orc Arosh was truly surprised today.

“This was definitely just a pit a few days ago! So what's going on here? It's full of rocks, cough! ”

It was true.

A few days ago.

As he was helping Lloyd with his work, he had to let go of the shovel.

Because I had to go hunting.

‘I'm sorry! I'll be back after a few days of fighting! ’

Hunting was a sacred duty of a tribal warrior.

Just as the military was the duty of a Korean man, all Orc warriors regularly had to go on a group hunt, just as they had to go through the country and participate in reserve training and civil defense.

It was Orc Arosh's turn.

"I'll help you again when you get back, Cough!" ’

That's how he tapped Lloyd on the shoulder.

As soon as I got back from the hunt, I ran to the scene.

It was to help the silver man Lloyd.

By the way.

In just a few days, the scene was so different.

The pit that had barely finished digging just disappeared.

Instead, there was a stone chamber made of granite bricks.

And there was Lloyd in front of the stone chamber, or rather, the ice sheets.

“Oh, you're here. This is how I made it. It's not finished yet. ”

“ ……. ”

Lloyd shrugs as if it were nothing.

Arosch swallows his saliva.

I felt like I was seeing an unknown creature.

‘My mercenary, what the heck? ’

That was amazing.

The more I saw, the more I felt like it.

When your savior, Lloyd, sticks to something, something pops up.

Not sometimes.

Every day.

‘I gave orders to Xaviel. A portion of the stone mountain splits into chunks. I trimmed and dug up the stones I brought. Then... ’

In an instant, a stone chamber was formed, called an ice cube.

‘I didn't even use magic, cough. ’

Arosh thinks it's more magical than magic.

The young Orc Warrior truly raises his thumb.

“Sweetheart, you! It's a nostril! ”

“My nose...... hole? ”

“Yes, cough! ”

Lloyd tilts his head.

Arosh snorts.

“It takes a deep nostril to breathe. Breathe well and you won't get tired. An Orc that never gets tired is the best warrior, Cough! ”

“Aha. Was that a compliment? ”

“Of course, koo-koo! ”

Orc Arosh grins with his fangs out.

Lloyd laughed as well.

“A compliment for something like this. This is embarrassing. I've never actually learned how to use a Stone Glacier. ”

“What do you mean, you never learned? ”

“Literally. I specialize in civil engineering. It's completely different from this one. ”

“Civil…… profit? ”

“There is such a thing. But I've been personally interested in this kind of thing for a long time. I mean, look at him. ”

He was also interested in traditional architecture such as stone glaciers, even at Ondol.

The club that joined was also a group related to traditional architecture.

In the time of abundant household affairs, I used to go to work with my comrades.

“Well, it's too far away now. Anyway, this glacier looks like it's going to cry and sound, but it's still barely shaped like a shell. It's a long way to go.”

Chop chop!

Lloyd touches the wall with his palm.

“As you can see, I've built floors, floors, outcrops and vents, all this stuff. The strength of your tribe warriors. ”

It was true.

The Orc Warriors' power was amazing.

One by one, one by one.

It looked like a gorilla fitted with a hydraulic system.

Thanks to this, Lloyd has been able to keep his hands free of dust for the past few days.

With the help of hardened Orcs, I was able to raise all the walls and arched ceilings of the stone shaft.

Of course, I wasn't quite finished yet.

“Well, it's a little light on the outside. We're not going to make any excuses for the glacier yet. ”

“I can't, can I? ”

“Yeah. I don't have any insulation. ”

Lloyd continued.

“Even though it makes granite bricks as thick as possible. At this rate, the summer heat will keep coming back inside the ice sheets. That's why we need insulation to block the heat from the outside. ”

“Where can I get some insulation, then? ”

“You don't have to save it. ”

“Nothing, cunning? ”

“Uh, just wait. We sent ten engineers to our territory. Go get what you need for insulation. ”

It was true.

It was before the first wave of Xaviel was launched.

At that time, Lloyd had already recovered ten strong men from the Engineering Corps.

You return them to the baron of Frontera.

I was ordered to bring the insulation for the stonemason construction.

“Actually, they're rarely found here. Crustaceans, straw, sawdust. ”

That was also true.

This part of the Orc lies in the wilderness.

Of course, there was no relationship at all with farming.

It was impossible here to get carrots and straw, a byproduct of agriculture.

“Well, it's been a while, so they should be here in a few more days. ”

It wasn't. It was almost time.

So I waited for a few days.

But after a day or two,

Three days later, four days later, five days later.

Even after ten days, no soldier returned from the territory.

Instead of bringing in insulation, he didn't even snore.

‘Hmm, that's odd. ’

It was Lloyd who made time joking with Xaviel in the presence of the Orcs.

Of course, his eyes were always facing west.

The wait lasted longer than I thought, and there was doubt in his eyes.

‘They should have come back yesterday, as expected. ’

He crossed the Eastern Mountains himself.

With that experience, we were able to calculate the time for the soldiers to return to the territory and the time for them to take supplies and cross the mountains.

According to his calculations, the soldiers should have returned at least yesterday.

“Hey, Xaviel. ”

Lying in a tent, he waves his legs freely and opens his mouth.

The answer soon returned.

“You summoned me.”

“Yes, I did. I'm going to pour it again. ”

“…… What brings you here? ”

“Have a drink in the mountains over there. ”

“Is this a search?”

“Huh."

We didn't need long talks.

In fact, Xaviel knew exactly what Lloyd was waiting for and what he was worried about.

“You'll be a meet and greet. ”

“Maybe so. The Engineers haven't arrived yet, which means there's a chance something might have happened in the middle. ”

That was his judgment.

The deadline for arriving supplies I had been thinking about until yesterday.

It was a result of considering the health of ordinary soldiers, the volume and weight of supplies they would bring, etc.

That was recorded in the calculation up to the delay with the movement in the humidity.

It was a calculation with enough free time on the date.

“Still no news. It could be either one of them. Whatever's going on, or smoking a tank. ”

“Very well. We'll search the last mountain pass first." ”

“Yes. Be careful. Merona, on your way. ”

“…… Yes? ”

“It's nothing. It's melon.”

“Phew.”

Xaviel sighs instead of answering.

I got up and packed my backpack and packed my gear to go straight to the search.

You left the tent after all the preparations have been made.

So I stopped walking just before I left the tent.

I looked back this way with a distinctive chic and cool expression.

And I threw a blunt word.

“…… Reflection. ”

“Huh?"

Counter something (?).

Xaviel left the tent before this one could say anything.

“Haha.”

I laughed.

But that smile didn't last long.

‘I hope nothing happened. ’

Somehow, a feelin 'burst out.

And then three more days passed.

His feelings became a reality.

“I found this. ”

“ ……. ”

After three days, Xaviel gave out a pair of shabby gloves.

Lloyd was able to identify the glove in a heartbeat.

‘This is our territory. ’

I had to find out.

It was because of the work gloves he gave to the engineering soldiers in the territory.

Lloyd's face was stiff when he asked.

“Where did you find this? ”

“I found it in the valley around the eastern part of the mountains. The common map of the kingdom is the area labeled" Floria Canyon, "and it was discovered two days ago. ”

“Keep explaining. ”

“I initially searched the road our last group crossed in the mountains. If the soldiers were returning later than scheduled, they were likely to meet on the way. But I wasn't able to meet the soldiers until I crossed Pano and Pesano. And, of course, there were no traces. And that was one piece of information. ”

“It's unlikely the soldiers will be coming late to work. ”

“Yes. Since then, I've been weighing the odds of soldiers getting into accidents. Thanks to this, I found these gloves in Floria Canyon, and I found some straw that had fallen around. ”

“So?”

“There was little straw everywhere. I followed the trail. The trail led to a pretty big cave. ”

“Floria Canyon... Cave. So, did you go in there? ”

“Yes, thanks to you."

Xaviel rolls up his left sleeve with a thick face.

His white forearms so exposed.

His forearm was engraved with a scar that was so contrasting with a dull expression.

“I've been beaten like this. As soon as I stepped into the cave, a magic circle was triggered. ”

“... Are you okay? ”

“Yes, I'm fine. It's just a scratch. ”

“It's not just a scratch, it's like a burn. ”

No, it wasn't. The wound was pretty big.

Moreover, it was not just a picture.

It was like a mixture of burns and frostbite, and my skin turned red and purple.

“I don't know exactly what it is, but it appears to be some kind of curse spell. Fortunately, I avoided headlining. ”

“ ……. ”

“It's really okay. The wound didn't penetrate the muscle. Perhaps if we managed Mana and continued to work on her recovery, she would be better off without a trace in a few days. ”

“Well, that's a relief. ”

“Yes. I'm worried about the soldiers. ”

When he shows his wounds, Xaviel's expression darkens as he mentions his soldiers.

“There were traces of straw, etc. that continued into the cavern. In fact, the deferred soldiers... ”

“You must have been dragged into it, right? ”

“It seems so. ”

Xaviel bows slightly.

“I've tried to enter a few times since I was bewitched. But it was impossible. I'm sorry. ”

“Tsk. I'm sorry. ”

Xaviel is innocent.

Rather, it was great to get away with a wound like that after being caught by the Defensive Magic Camp.

“But I'm a knight. Not only is it mandatory to command the troops in the territory, but it is also mandatory to protect and preserve the troops as much as possible. In that situation, I couldn't save the soldiers because I lacked my skills. So if you give me another chance."

Xaviel's rhetorical words continue.

“I will return to the territory as soon as possible and prepare to attack that cave. ”

“You're gonna attack the cave? ”

“Yes. The intricacies of the defensive magic and the curse installed at the entrance are delayed, and a considerable level of the Black Wizard is expected to be lurking in the cave. Perhaps the Black Wizard has kidnapped our soldiers for evil purposes. ”

“That time is life? ”

“Yes. The longer you stay in the hands of the Black Wizard, the more dangerous the soldiers will be." ”

“Hmm. Let's go right now, then. ”

Lloyd spoke first.

It's like asking to go to a convenience store to buy triangle kimbap.

Or like going to a local blood room to play a game of Flea Ground.

It was so common that I spit it out with a condescending tone.

Of course, Xaviel's eyes widened.

“Yes? What……. ”

“What a thing. I heard the Black Wizard is holding our children captive. Besides, my precious construction materials were taken from me. ”

“Yes, I am."

Xaviel shakes his head.

“It's dangerous for Lloyd to go in person without any preparation. You're too reckless. ”

“You think so? ”

“Yes, absolutely. ”

Xaviel says with a serious look.

“Even I was in great danger to the Defense Wizards there. It's never too much for Lloyd's petty talents. In addition, the opponent is a Black Wizard. I don't know what other evil traps he's set up. ”

“Phew. They're so blatant. ”

“It's a fact compared to what I'm good at. ”

“By the way, if I go now, will you be robbed properly? ”

“Yes, they can be miserably cut, frozen, broken somewhere, or fried. like a little shrimp that, on Thanksgiving, got soaked in boiling oil to eat impurities and then forgot to burn. ”

“…… hey. Does that sound like a genuine breeze in your description? ”

“Absolutely. You're mistaken. ”

“Misunderstanding. It's so real.”

Lloyd grins.

And then I woke up.

He had a backpack in his hand.

It was a backpack of food and supplies that would move in the mountains for days.

“Then let's go. ”

“Yes?”

“I told you. Let's go to that cave right now. You said it was a time war.The longer we keep our soldiers locked up, the more dangerous they'll be. ”

“Of course it's true, but at this rate.... ”

“It's okay. Just trust me. ”

Lloyd picks up another backpack.

I held out my backpack to his chest.

“Come with me quickly. Or what, we just leave him there? ”

“ ……. ”

Xaviel with his backpack on ice.

His expression was stiff.

This was a reckless attempt.

But he didn't even know he was dreaming.

This time he had to retreat to a cave in Floria Canyon, the Black Wizard's Dungeon.

That's where the Blood Knights of the Novel come from.

It's a dungeon where a few years from now you attack yourself.

Lloyd has read it and is familiar with all attack laws.

He didn't know, and he couldn't guess.

‘So the one who was slaughtered by Xaviel in the Florgia Canyon episode...... Was it the Black Mage Rupelan? ’

Cadduk!

Lloyd changed his inner teeth.

He's a Defense Curse Mage and he's sleeping.

Touching your soldiers and construction materials will give him a good idea of what they look like.

With that bonus, I'll have everything he's got stored up in the dungeon, his spine, his bone marrow, and all the broth in his pores drained away.

You can't die if you want to.

Squeeze everything out.

‘So the bottom line is, you're dead. ’

Retribution and exploitation.

Lloyd's steps toward the canyon were for that purpose.