Chapter 110. Meaning of shoveling (1)
It was late at night.
It was time for most people to get ready for bed.
Or it was time to roll around enjoying an early nap.
But one man here, Sir Vallardi Blanc, the commander of the White Lancers, was not able to sleep easily.
No, it wasn’t that he couldn’t fall asleep, but he was moving wildly and strenuously.
‘What kind of rudeness….’
Clap! Clap!
I remembered something that had happened a little while ago.
As a result, his steps became more violent.
It wasn’t even a crowd.
Baron Frontera, the lord of the estate he just called into his office.
It was because I had heard from him a rude request I had never imagined.
‘what? You’re going to transfer all the White Lancers to the Corps of Engineers?’
My pride was hurt.
Even thinking about it now, it was absurd.
Just thinking about it is enough to burn your face.
‘To do something like holding a shovel instead of a sword and scooping up dirt? To us?’
It is nonsense.
Who are you?
What kind of men were the White Lancers under his command?
‘We are the sword and spear of His Majesty the King. Our greatest honor is to die fighting while commanding the battlefield under Your Highness. But tell us to hold the shovel?’
Of course I protested.
He even grabbed Baron Frontera by the collar.
How dare you give yourself such a rude order?
Even though I came all the way here under the orders of His Highness the King.
That’s why command authority was temporarily given to the lord of this place, Baron Prontera.
‘Still, this is ridiculous!’
My stomach exploded.
They even shouted and demanded.
Then, the pale Baron Frontera’s reply was even more spectacle.
‘what? This is not your will or decision?’
I asked for more in response.
The baron’s answer that came back soon was, ‘If you go down to the mansion training ground now, you’ll find out why’.
‘Yes, it goes. go. I’m leaving because I’m dirty!’
When you go, you’ll know why.
Clap! Clap!
I took a rough step and left the mansion.
We headed to the gymnasium in the backyard of the mansion.
I could see the back of the person standing alone in the middle of the gymnasium under the bright moonlight, whether or not he knew the feeling of bursting with anger on this side.
Leaning back comfortably.
The posture of looking up at the moon is straight.
“Who is there? Were you waiting for me here?”
Sir Blanc asked.
The silhouette turned towards us.
didn’t have a weapon.
But for some reason, he has a calm smile that looks more dangerous than a weapon.
“Yes, that’s right. You came earlier than expected.”
“Lloyd Frontera?”
“It is an honor that the renowned Sir Blanc knows my name.”
“What is glory? Valerard Blanc. We saw each other for a short time yesterday, but now we can properly communicate.”
“sorry. I was too busy trying to figure out what happened yesterday.”
“It’s the same as being busy.”
He himself spent a busy day checking the condition of the men and servicing the cavalry’s barding.
Sir Blank tilted his head to one side and looked at Lloyd.
“But I just heard something strange.”
“Are you talking to the baron?”
“You know.”
“Of course. Because it is what I asked for.”
“Could it be that the decision to transfer the White Lancers to your territory’s engineering corps was the opinion that came from your head?”
“That’s right.”
“….”
How can you answer so calmly?
I almost got caught by the collar.
Barely suppressing that urge, Sir Blank said.
“Why? The baron said that if you come here, you will be able to hear the reason. So don’t go round and round and tell me why.”
“I want to live.”
“…what?”
Sir Blanc hesitated.
What is that Lloyd Frontera trying to say?
Lloyd’s words continued.
“I don’t want to die. However, you cannot give up the territory. You can’t just run away and abandon the people here. So I thought I should do something. It means that we must mobilize all possible means and endure as long as we can.”
“So, is this the means to prepare for the upcoming invasion of monsters? Transferring the White Lancers into the Corps of Engineers?”
“That’s right.”
“But you are making a mistake.”
“Why?”
“Because the 500 lances that our White Lancers will shine while running across the battlefield will be much more powerful than carrying a shovel as a sapper.”
“Yes, you are right.”
“…What else do you mean?”
What ulterior motive is this man up to?
Why is it that he accepts his words so quickly?
Lloyd grinned, as if he knew what he was thinking.
“Let your lance shine on the battlefield. do not dry No, rather, I will send you encouragement and support. Instead, I ask you to hold the shovel until the monsters attack.”
“So, during peacetime, would you like to participate in construction with your corps of engineers, and then play an active part as lancers on the battlefield?”
“yes.”
That was a very neat answer.
Thanks to this, Sir Blanc hesitated.
I got tired of asking for answers.
It was because I couldn’t come up with anything to refute.
‘Though it’s true even if I look at it from a reasonable point of view.’
They are the White Lancers.
But that’s just a role on the battlefield.
Until the battlefield unfolds, ask them to lift the shovel together.
Looking back, it was a very pragmatic opinion.
‘Because carrying a shovel on a normal day won’t damage our honor.’
After all, you just need to be active on the battlefield.
Moreover, if you look deeper, Lloyd’s request was procedurally flawless.
It was because the moment he was dispatched to this territory under the king’s order, Baron Frontera temporarily took over the final command of the White Lancers.
‘but…Not in the mood.’
It is true that it is practical and has no procedural problems.
But my pride was hurt.
To think that the King’s shining cavalryman must carry an earthen shovel.
I couldn’t help but feel a huge sense of rejection from that fact itself.
In short, it was a matter of feeling and emotion, not practicality and reason.
‘If even I feel this way, what about us guys?’
500 White Lancers.
All of them were great men.
They were prepared to lay down their lives like straw for the king.
That’s why, if you receive this order, you’ll be even more repulsed.
Sir Blanc, who was worried, raised his head.
Suddenly, there was something I wanted to check.
“I want to ask you something.”
“Yes, ask.”
“Let’s say we are transferred to the Corps of Engineers. So what exactly are you going to do?”
“They will do what the Corps of Engineers do.”
“That word….”
“It will be mainly shoveling. You don’t have any tips at first, so things will be a little slow. But if you learn the tricks, I believe you’ll do a much better job than our sappers. I am also expecting a lot.”
“what….”
“I am serious. really.”
It was real.
I didn’t ask for something like this to hurt their pride.
‘It’s the White Lancers, not the others.’
It is the king’s direct troops.
They are those who have been verified for their combat power and stamina.
If you learn the tricks, you should be able to do the work of four or five skilled engineers.
In addition, if you make a mistake while shoveling, you can immediately switch to a combat force on the spot.
The big picture you will draw sooner or later.
A trick to block an infinite wave of monsters at once.
In order to execute it, they must be proficient in shoveling.
“So, let me promise you. We will take care of it thickly per day. Five times more than our sappers. It really counts a lot.”
“The daily wage is not important right now.”
“Important. There are so many people in the world who work hard and sweat all day just looking at that.”
“….”
“Besides, shoveling in the field isn’t all that rewarding. You can train well enough.”
“When you say training, do you mean something like physical training?”
“It is.”
“under.”
Sir Blank laughed in vain.
Is this Lloyd in front of me really insane?
‘They say he’s a hero who saved Cremo and a master craftsman recognized by His Highness.’
Moreover, he was also the one who prevented Lord Czerny from killing the king.
I was so surprised and amazed when I heard the news.
If there is a chance someday, I really want to meet you.
I wanted to feel the true nature of the man who made such an achievement.
So today he couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
“Lloyd Frontera, you don’t seem to know anything about our White Lancers. Do we look like we are weak enough to harden our stamina at the construction site?”
“Hmm, isn’t it?”
“No nonsense. You are ignoring us.”
“That certainly isn’t the case.”
“You mean you’re not ignoring us?”
“That’s right.”
“Does that mean we can train our stamina on the construction site?”
“Of course.”
“How….”
Sir Blank furrowed his eyebrows.
It’s just shoveling.
Or it’s just hammering.
No matter how hard it was, it would be all about moving soil or bricks.
On the other hand, what kind of training did they go through?
‘I’ve come to practice risking my life every day. It is a skill that has been polished by shedding countless blood and sweat and becoming covered with scars in the midst of a flashing spear. I lifted the cup of victory for today, where I survived by shaking it off on the battlefield, and tomorrow, when I become even more valiant. But what?’
That they can only be trained on the construction site?
‘gibberish.’
Sir Blanc was stern.
He asked with a cold gaze.
“How can you train? What do you mean by training on the construction site that you are talking about?”
“It will be different in many ways.”
“Can you prove it concretely?”
“of course.”
“Is it possible right now?”
“Can I show you right away if you want?”
“Please.”
“great. However, how about making a bet with me?”
“You mean a bet?”
“yes.”
Lloyd gave a strange smile.
“From now on, I will show you the results of training at the construction site with a shovel. So, if you decide that the technique I’m going to show you is stronger than Sir Blank’s swordsmanship, please transfer the White Lancers to the Corps of Engineers without hesitation. How is it.”
“Huh, that’s good.”
Sir Blanc didn’t even think twice.
The result of training with a shovel.
Besides, to compare that to his own swordsmanship.
To be honest, I almost laughed out loud.
‘Isn’t the author unaware that I’m on the verge of becoming a sword master?’
He can do everything except his sword aura.
So no matter what author Lloyd Frontera does with a shovel, it will not be more powerful than his own swordsmanship. Even if he is the hero of Cremo who defeated Giga Titan.
A shovel is just a tool.
Not with a shovel.
Sir Blanc said confidently.
“I will accept that bet.”
“great.”
Lloyd nodded happily.
I really picked up the shovel from the floor.
‘It’s a shovel. What are you going to do with something like that that’s not even a weapon?’
Sir Blanc felt even more ridiculous.
If you’re going to do something like shoveling, do it to your heart’s content.
After seeing enough to see?
I will laugh to my heart’s content.
I will sternly question the rudeness and insults that man has committed so far.
With that in mind, I took two steps back.
I was afraid that the soil would splatter on my clothes.
But right after that, Sir Blanc had to hear an unexpected sound.
“Two steps are not enough. Please step back.”
“…How much longer do you have to back off?”
“As far as possible.”
“….”
took two more steps.
But Lloyd shook his head.
Feeling uncomfortable, I took another five steps back.
Only then did Lloyd stand up.
“It means shoveling.”
Aww!
Two hands fiercely gripping the shovel handle.
Lloyd said, pulling the tendons on the back of his hand.
“It’s never as easy and simple as Sir Blank thought.”
Key Yiing-!
The three-pronged circle started slowly.
The grip of the shovel gained more strength.
“I have to get up early in the morning to do one shovel. You have to put on your clothes and safety shoes and leave the house at a time when the sun is not rising. And you must pray earnestly for yourself to be picked up at the manpower station. What if I can’t get out? Even if I wanted to shovel, I couldn’t.”
“….”
What are you talking about?
Sir Blanc wanted to ask.
But Lloyd’s words continued.
“Of course, the same goes for days when it rains and the weather is messy. Especially in the summer when typhoons or rainy seasons come, and in winter when it is difficult to hit the tool. But what if the weather is nice? There are days when I look bad at the head of the Manpower Corporation and eat the leftovers. Or, in the case of ‘dema’, there are unlucky cases in which a failure occurs in the middle of work. If this is the case, even if you want to shovel, you won’t be able to.”
“What is that….”
“You have to overcome so many difficulties and adversities before you can start digging the first shovel of the day. Eventually, you will be qualified to receive the unit price, or daily wage. Yes, it may be funny and insignificant to others. However, for those who do shoveling, it may be the last line of life. You can earn the cost of medicine and school fees with just a trivial shovel. You can have at least some hope.”
“….”
“So for someone, that shovel is the least hope and life. It is the power to carry on your dreams, feed your children, and support you so that you do not give up on tomorrow. That’s why-”
Ki-yi-ying-!
Before I knew it, the triple circle was spinning furiously.
The rotation of the three circles resonated with each other as Lloyd’s word fell.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
At that moment, the three circles collided.
He extended his shovel to the sky.
Tuhwa Hahak-!
“…!”
The momentum of the triple blast soared like a volcano soared to a height of 70 meters.
Fiercely burned part of the night sky.
faded away with the wind.
But the wind was a frenzy.
The wind, heated by the force of the blast, blew in. Sir Blanc’s hair was disheveled.
Lloyd’s gaze turned this way.
he sighed softly.
“This is what real shoveling is all about.”
“….”
Sir Blanc made no answer.
Instead, he unconsciously swallowed dry saliva.
From the next day, all the White Lancers had shovels in their hands.
and six days later.
The second group of monsters that Lloyd predicted appeared on the outskirts of the Baron.
