Chapter 114. Ruler of the Lake (3)
Chalbang.
Could it be because of the sudden approach of autumn?
Lloyd shrank his hand from the lake water.
The water temperature is much colder than expected.
The same goes for the early morning air.
‘It’s perfect to catch a cold if you’re picky.’
After washing his face, he looked around the lake.
Lake Capua is located in the middle of the eastern mountain range.
It was a typical mountain lake.
But it was wide.
It was so wide that it was ignorant.
Perhaps because of its unique curved and elongated shape, the overall appearance could not be seen at a glance.
‘It’s probably about the size of Soyangho.’
Lake Soyang spans Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, and Inje, Yanggu, South Korea.
The area is about 1608 ha.
The straight-line distance to the surface is 60 km.
The bending surface distance is 120 km.
The reservoir was an enormous lake with a whopping 2.9 billion tons.
‘It’s probably about that much here too.’
Lake Soyang in South Korea and Lake Capua in the Eastern Mountains here.
There were quite a few things in common between the two.
First of all, both were not natural lakes.
If Lake Soyang was man-made, Lake Capua was created by the Demon Beast King Stoma.
Thanks to this, it was similar that most of the water in the lake was blocked at a specific point.
‘If Soyanggang Dam is the water-stopping point of Soyangho Lake, it’s that way from here.’
Lloyd’s gaze turned west.
His eyes were already shining with faint waves of mana.
Ding dong.
[Use surveying skill.]
[Start scanning.]
Tsutsutsutsutsu!
He surveyed the western area of the lake with sharp eyes.
Through his surveying skills, he closely grasped the topography and characteristics of the place.
‘It’s almost exactly like a dam, frankly, for real. If I had to compare it, would it feel similar to a sand dam among dams?’
Sand dams are different from common concrete gravity dams.
If concrete gravity dams are made by pouring concrete, sandstone dams can be said to be made by mixing abundant materials such as rocks, gravel and sand.
However, the dam King Stoma built here was just like that.
‘They knocked trees down and entangled them with rocks and pebbles on a huge scale.’
Borrowed the power of ‘Underground Scanning’, an option of the surveying skill.
Thanks to this, it was possible to identify the constituent materials down to 5 meters below the surface.
The inside of the dam as seen at first glance.
With that alone, the word “cheolongseong” came out.
‘I pulled out all the beautiful trees and piled them up.’
The scale of the trees piled up like that seemed to be tens of thousands.
A huge amount of gravel and rock soil was filled between the frames.
After that, soil naturally accumulated on the surface with the passage of time.
Newly growing grass and trees have taken root on the soil. entangled became more rigid.
At this point, this is no ordinary dam level.
It is just a geographic feature itself.
‘There’s no option for this, even with dynamite.’
The more you look at it, the more your tongue sticks out.
But Lloyd wasn’t worried.
The goal now is not to destroy the entire dam.
Rather, if the dam collapses, billions of liters of water pour down the mountain, causing a massive flood.
So now, only ‘extremely part’ of the dam needs to be broken.
‘So that there is no damage to the entire structure of the dam.’
Of course, precise calculations are required for this.
slap! slap!
Lloyd, who obtained data around the dam by surveying, washed his face with lake water.
After clearing his mind with cold water, he activated his design skill.
It was to conduct precise experiments based on survey data.
Ding dong.
[Design skill option ③: Execute the simulation mode]
[Specify the terrain data loaded in the current design space as the simulation target.]
Tsupat!
A virtual design space was created in the air in front of Lloyd’s eyes.
The survey data just obtained was applied to the design space.
Tsutsutsutsutsu!
Various figures and physical characteristics.
Terrain elevation and chemical composition.
All of those elements are applied and dotted in the design space. A line was drawn. side is overlaid.
In this way, the topography of the west side of Lake Capua, composed of polygons, was created in virtual space.
It looked almost indistinguishable from reality.
‘shall we start.’
I moved my hand.
Like a player plucking a guitar string in an arpeggio. Sometimes it’s like hitting the piano keys with staccato. Or gliding over a violin string in a glissando.
His two hands freely touched the virtual design space.
pulled the dot
stretched the line
turned the side
digging up mounds
remove the rock
I also dug a hole.
Sometimes it was built up or knocked down.
Tore it down, chopped it up, pierced it, and scooped it out.
Such various trials and experiments were repeated.
Various tests were conducted at almost every point on the dam that dammed the west side of the lake.
Meanwhile, he was in a state of complete concentration.
Thanks to that, I couldn’t even be conscious of the gaze looking at myself from the side.
“….”
Xaviel silently looked at Lloyd.
Again, that’s Lloyd-sama’s appearance.
I’m in a trance.
But it’s not that I’m lost in meditation or thinking.
Rather, they keep their eyes wide open.
He is busy scanning the air and staring.
So are the hands.
no rest at all
Busily play with both hands outstretched forward.
‘Is Lloyd-sama alone seeing something invisible to others?’
I couldn’t help but think so.
So it was even more strange.
‘He’s Lloyd who sees what I can’t see.’
Xaviel’s well-groomed eyebrows furrowed slightly.
Of course, I had seen Lloyd like that many times before.
Still, at that time, he thought that since he was not a sword master, his senses were not complete, so there must be something he could not see or feel.
But what do you see now?
It wasn’t.
‘My senses have been perfected since I became a Sword Master. And yet, I still can’t see or feel anything.’
Now, his senses are completely beyond the human level.
If you put your mind to it, you can pick up almost every subtle sound around you. You can even see and feel the dust and the energy that dwells within it.
Still, he couldn’t see or sense ‘something’ that Lloyd could see.
Even though he was right next to Lloyd.
‘What is it?’
Lloyd can see it, but he can’t see it.
I thought about what it was, but I couldn’t even figure it out.
It didn’t seem like magic.
I couldn’t feel the mana.
‘Is it a special ability that hasn’t been revealed yet? If it’s not that, is it just an eccentricity that comes out habitually while maintaining a high level of concentration?’
woowook.
As a test, I gently pulled both of Lloyd’s cheeks.
I stood in front of Lloyd and even waved my arms.
Still, Lloyd did not respond.
He is still touching the empty space with his focused face and eyes.
‘The more you know, the more difficult a person to know.’
Lloyd Frontera.
The young boy he serves.
What is this person’s true identity?
I thought I knew you well before.
I just thought of him as a foolish young master who came to his senses.
‘But I don’t know more and more.’
Lloyd still focused only on design.
Xaviel looks at Lloyd.
The silver-haired knight tried to hide the question that kept popping up in his blue eyes.
Only unnoticed leaves kept falling, knocking on the shoulder.
♣
Three days have passed.
Design is over.
The dam demolition plan was finally completed.
“Everyone will already know. We will be demolishing only a small portion of the dam that supports Lake Capua here today.”
Lloyd addressed the 500 White Lancers.
“Before we do that, we need to be clear about the purpose of our work. Today we must not break the whole dam. You have to dig up and tear down exactly the designated places and only the designated amount. To do this, you have been transferred to the Corps of Engineers over the past time and have been working together and learning how to shovel.”
His speech continued.
“So some people will question. He said that if he was just shoveling like this, wouldn’t it be okay for Yeongji’s engineering corps to join him? Wrong. If so, the safety of the Corps of Engineers cannot be guaranteed. Because from now on, you won’t be able to defend yourself from King Stoma, who will wake up because of today’s demolition. Unlike the valiant White Lancers.”
Lloyd’s eyes and hands pointed to the ranks of the White Lancers.
pointed out each of them.
“I know. You are different from the Corps of Engineers. What if King Stoma wakes up and attacks you while you’re shoveling here today? You are the tough warriors and men who can fix a shovel and go straight into battle. Is there anything wrong with what I said?”
“doesn’t exist!”
Lloyd’s flattering, happy comment that openly scratches the pride of the White Lancers.
The happiness index of the cavalrymen rose slowly.
“Yes, it is. Because of you, this is possible. Clumsy knights? My warriors? There is no guess. Who the hell would think of coming to such a dangerous place to shovel, waking up a huge demon, and wielding a shovel without fear in the face of such a threat? Since all of these are White Lancers, isn’t it possible, everyone!”
“Ooh!”
“What are you!”
“The strongest White Lancers!”
“What are the White Lancers!”
“intrepidity! honor! Advance!”
“So what are we doing today!”
“spadework! Bravely and with honor! Advance!”
Finally, the pride of the White Lancers pierced the sky.
Lloyd swallowed a meaningful smile and raised a shovel to point to the demolition site.
“let’s go. Invest from the first group!”
“input!”
So the demolition work began.
The White Lancers who put aside their fear in their soaring pride.
Based on their great stamina and courage, vigorous shoveling continued.
Of course, Lloyd didn’t just encourage them.
They carried a shovel and moved together at the site.
A demolition plan that he drew out through numerous simulation experiments.
The plan was strictly followed.
Only an accurately calculated number of people were put in.
Only the area as designed was dug out.
It’s definitely built where it’s supposed to be.
Even if part of the dam was demolished, careful work was carried out to prevent the entire dam structure from collapsing so that the water in the lake would not overflow.
And to finish, I called Xaviel.
“Now, as I explained earlier. See the red mark drawn on the slope of the dam?”
“Is it okay if I break down that road?”
“uh. by blasting. quickly and neatly. angles exactly. After breaking it, the collapse will begin, so don’t forget to run away immediately.”
“If I’m late running away, will I be swept away by the collapse?”
“uh. of course.”
“Then will Lloyd save me?”
“why me?”
“….”
“Instead, I’ll take care of industrial accidents.”
“What is that….”
“I’ll even take care of the memorial service every year.”
“…I am not dead yet.”
“That’s what it says. What are you doing. Hurry up and put it in.”
“Whoa. input.”
Xaviel was put into the demolition site in disgust.
The White Lancers valiantly shoveled for half a day.
I caught my breath in the empty scene where they all escaped.
And he drew his sword.
“Huh.”
Spa Pot!
A flash of light flashed.
A flash of light dug into the red mark.
In an instant, the ground shuddered slightly.
At that time, Xaviel’s sword had already returned to its scabbard.
right!
A total of six blasts were fired in succession.
calculated and exactly in the intended direction and strength.
It pierced through the top of the dam and broke through.
And it exploded.
Kwaaang-! Kurr!
explosion and collapse.
Intentional and controlled destruction.
So, for the first time, part of the foundation that King Stoma had built 300 years ago collapsed.
Kurrrrr!
Hundreds of tons of soil collapsed and flowed away.
The powerful vibration shook the entire dam structure.
But the dam did not collapse.
The same was true of lakes trapped by dams.
‘done. It’s a success.’
Lloyd clenched his fists.
Then he cast his gaze towards the center of the lake.
There was a small island there.
Of course, the entity is not an island.
It was a gigantic nest that King Stoma had prepared in the middle of the lake, just like a beaver’s nest made by stacking tree branches in the center of a reservoir.
‘What about him?’
Lloyd’s eyes were looking at the nest with nervousness.
Demolition is not the purpose of today’s construction.
Awakening the King Stoma through demolition.
Inducing the awakened King Stoma to enter the active phase.
That could be said to be the ultimate purpose of mobilizing the White Lancers and shoveling them.
‘So stop spreading it and wake up, you sleeper.’
It’s enough if you’ve slept for over 300 years.
Let’s do some work now.
Repair the broken dam.
They also mark the territory in the morning and evening.
It means to stop the monsters coming from the east like dominoes.
Lloyd clenched his fists in longing.
Swallowing dry saliva, he looked at King Stoma’s nest.
It was at one point.
Kujak!
The nest rises like an island above the surface of the lake.
The beautiful willow tree growing on top of it swayed slightly.
And once again.
Kujajak!
It was louder than before.
No, it swayed and danced.
Kuzaku! Quadduk!
The willow fell because it couldn’t be shaken.
The same was true of the upper part of the nest, which supported the tree.
Kwagak! Kwagak!
The whole nest was shaken.
As if something huge was waking up inside.
As if he was wobbling and moving while he was barely awake.
Like spitting out a grumble filled with displeasure.
It roared wildly.
“Byeom-!”
Magnificently with momentum to shake the world.
But somehow it sounds like the voice of a phantom species.
King Stoma’s roar echoed like thunder across the lake.
