"Kuik? What's this? No way, the Stone Ice Storage... already done, kwiik?"
Orc Aroshi was a born warrior.
He fought when facing enemies.
He hunted for his tribe.
Naturally, his virtues were courage and valor.
He had lived his entire life thinking only of battle.
Thus, he knew nothing about civil engineering construction.
He didn't understand the processes involved or the results they produced.
But even so, there was one thing he did know.
No construction project finished overnight.
Thanks to that, Orc Aroshi was genuinely shocked today.
"This was definitely just a pit a few days ago! So how did this happen? It's full of stone blocks, kuik!"
It was true.
A few days ago.
While helping Lloyd with the groundwork, he had no choice but to set down his shovel.
He had to go hunting.
'Sorry! I'll fight for a few days and come back, kwiik!'
Hunting was a sacred duty for tribal warriors.
Just as military service was the duty of men in Korea, and even after discharge, they had to attend reserve training and civil defense, every orc warrior had to participate in group hunts periodically.
This was Aroshi's turn.
'I'll help again when I get back, kuik!'
That's what he'd said, patting Lloyd's shoulder.
As soon as he finished hunting and returned to the village, he rushed to the site.
To help his benefactor Lloyd.
But what did he find?
In just a few days, the site had changed beyond recognition.
The pit, which had barely finished being dug, was gone without a trace.
In its place stood a stone chamber meticulously built from granite bricks!
And there, in front of that stone chamber—no, the Stone Ice Storage—stood Lloyd.
"Oh, you're back? Somehow it ended up like this. It's not fully complete yet."
"...."
Lloyd shrugged as if it were no big deal.
Aroshi swallowed hard at the sight.
It felt like beholding an unknown creature.
'What in the world is my benefactor, kuik.'
He was amazing.
The more he watched, the more that feeling grew.
Whenever his benefactor Lloyd did something, poof—something appeared.
It wasn't just occasional.
It happened every day.
'I gave orders to Haviel. Part of a stone mountain was neatly split into blocks. We shaped the stones we brought and dug the ground, kwiik. And then....'
In an instant, a neat stone chamber called the Stone Ice Storage appeared.
'And he didn't even use magic, kuik.'
Aroshi thought it was even more magical than magic.
The young orc warrior sincerely gave a thumbs-up.
"Benefactor! You're a king-sized nostril, kwiik!"
"King-sized... nostril?"
"That's right, kuik!"
Lloyd tilted his head.
Aroshi snorted through his nose.
"A big nostril means you breathe well. Breathing well means you don't tire. An untiring orc is the greatest warrior, kuik!"
"Ah, so it's a compliment?"
"Of course, kuik!"
Orc Aroshi bared his fangs in a broad grin.
Lloyd couldn't help but chuckle.
"Getting praised for something like this is embarrassing. Truth is, I've never properly studied something like the Stone Ice Storage."
"You've never studied it, kuik?"
"Exactly as I said. My major was civil engineering. This is completely different."
"Civil... kwiik?"
"It exists. But I've personally been interested in this stuff for a while. I guess I'm reaping the benefits now."
He'd been the same with the ondol, and he'd always had an interest in traditional structures like the Stone Ice Storage.
The club he joined was related to traditional architecture.
Back when his family had money, he'd gone on field trips with club members.
"Well, that's all in the distant past now. Anyway, this Stone Ice Storage might look impressive on the outside, but it's barely got its shell shaped. We're far from completion."
Clap clap!
Lloyd smacked the wall with his palm.
"As you can see, I've made the sloped floor with drainage, the ice walls, and ventilation shafts. Thanks to your tribe's warriors and their amazing strength."
It was true.
The orc warriors' strength was truly incredible.
Each one was worth a hundred men.
Like gorillas fitted with hydraulic presses.
Thanks to them, Lloyd hadn't gotten a speck of dirt on his hands these past few days.
With the muscle-bound, vein-popping orcs' help, he'd erected the Stone Ice Storage's walls and arched ceiling.
Of course, it wasn't fully complete yet.
"Well, for now it's just shiny on the outside. In this state, it can't function as a Stone Ice Storage at all."
"It can't, kuik?"
"Yeah. No insulation."
Lloyd continued.
"I made the granite bricks as thick as possible, but still. As it is now, summer ground heat will seep right inside. That's why we need insulation to block external heat."
"Then where do we get the insulation, kuik?"
"No need to get it."
"No need, kuik?"
"Yeah. Just wait. I sent ten Engineering Corps soldiers back to our territory. Told them to bring stuff for insulation."
It was true.
Even before starting the first blasting with Haviel's help.
Lloyd had already selected ten physically fit soldiers from the Engineering Corps.
He sent them back to the Frontera Barony.
With orders to bring materials for the Stone Ice Storage insulation.
"Truth is, those are hard to get around here. Rice husks, wheat straw, sawdust."
That was also true.
This orc village was in the wilderness.
Naturally, it had no connection to farming.
Getting agricultural byproducts like rice husks and wheat straw was impossible here.
"Well, it's been a while since I sent them, so they should be here in a few more days."
Sure enough, they were due any day now.
So the waiting continued for a few days.
But a day passed, then two days.
Three days, then four or five.
Even after ten days.
No soldiers returned from the territory.
Not even a glimpse of them, let alone with the insulation.
'Hmm, that's weird.'
Lloyd ended up killing time in the orc village, trading jokes with Haviel.
Of course, even then, his eyes were always fixed westward.
The unexpectedly long wait brought suspicion to his gaze.
'They should've been back by yesterday at the latest.'
He had crossed the Eastern Mountains himself.
From that experience, he could calculate the time for soldiers to return to the territory and come back with supplies.
By his calculations, at minimum—and even at maximum—they should've returned by yesterday.
"Hey, Haviel."
Lying in the tent, idly shaking his legs out of boredom, he spoke up.
The reply came immediately.
"You called, sir?"
"Yeah, I did. Gonna put you to work again."
"...What is it?"
"Go take a stroll over to those mountains."
"A search?"
"Yeah."
No long explanations needed between them.
Haviel already roughly knew what Lloyd was waiting for and what he was worried about.
"It'll double as an escort then."
"Probably. The Engineering Corps guys not showing up yet means something might've happened on the way."
That was his judgment.
The deadline he'd set in his mind for the supplies' arrival—yesterday at latest.
It factored in the soldiers' stamina, the volume and weight of the supplies.
It even accounted for delays in rough terrain.
It was a calculation with plenty of buffer.
"And yet no word. Only two possibilities. Either something happened, or they're slacking off."
"Understood. I'll prioritize searching the route we took over the mountains last time."
"Good. Be careful. Bring back some Melona on the way."
"...Pardon?"
"Nothing. Melong."
"Hoo."
Haviel let out a deep sigh instead of replying.
He immediately stood to prepare for the search, packing his backpack and gearing up.
Once ready, he left the tent.
Just before stepping out, he paused.
He turned back with his usual cool, chilly expression.
Then tossed out a curt word.
"...Reflex."
"Huh?"
No chance to counterattack(?).
Haviel was gone from the tent before Lloyd could respond.
"Heh heh heh."
Laughter burst out involuntarily.
But it didn't last.
'Hope nothing's wrong.'
An ominous feeling prickled at him.
And three days later.
That bad feeling became reality.
"We found this."
"...."
Haviel, back after three days, held out a worn glove.
Lloyd recognized it instantly.
'That's from our territory.'
He had no choice but to.
It was a work glove he'd personally issued to the territory's Engineering Corps soldiers.
Lloyd's expression hardened as he asked.
"Where'd you find it."
"Eastern slope valley in the mountains. Marked as 'Phlogia Gorge' on the kingdom's standard map. Found it two days ago."
"Keep going."
"I first searched the route our group took over the mountains. If the soldiers were just running late, we might encounter them en route. But we didn't meet any up to 'Pano Peak' and 'Pesano Peak.' No traces either. That told us one thing."
"They're not just slacking and running late."
"Yes. That's when I shifted focus to them having met with an accident. That's how I found the glove in Phlogia Gorge, along with some scattered wheat straw nearby."
"And?"
"There were bits of wheat straw scattered here and there. I followed the trail. It led to a fairly large cave."
"Phlogia Gorge... cave. Did you go in?"
"Yes. And that's when—"
Haviel calmly rolled up his left sleeve.
His pale forearm was revealed.
Contrasting sharply with his calm face were the wounds etched there.
"This happened. A magic circle activated the moment I stepped a few paces inside."
"...You okay?"
"Yes, fine. Just a scrape."
"That's more than a scrape. Looks like a burn."
It really was quite severe.
And not a simple burn.
The skin was red and bluish, like a mix of burn and frostbite.
"Not sure exactly what it was, but some kind of curse magic. Fortunately, I avoided a direct hit."
"...."
"I'm really fine. It didn't penetrate to the muscle. If I keep channeling mana like this for recovery, it should heal clean in a few days."
"Well, glad you're okay, but."
"Yes. It's the soldiers I'm worried about."
Haviel's calm expression darkened at the mention of the soldiers.
"The wheat straw trail continued deep into the cave. From that, the soldiers...."
"Were dragged inside?"
"Seems so."
Haviel bowed his head slightly.
"I tried entering several times after the magic circle, but it was impossible. Sorry."
"Tch. No need to apologize."
Haviel wasn't at fault.
Escaping with just that injury after triggering a defensive magic circle was impressive.
"But I am a knight. It's not just commanding the territory's soldiers—I have a duty to protect and preserve our forces as much as possible. In that situation, my lack of skill prevented rescuing them. So if you give me another chance—"
Haviel continued gravely.
"I'll return to the territory as fast as possible, report this, gather preparations, and launch an assault on that cave."
"Attack the cave?"
"Yes. Judging by the defensive magic's power and the curse's cunning, a high-level black mage is likely holed up there. Probably kidnapped our soldiers for some evil purpose."
"So time is critical?"
"Exactly. The longer they're in the black mage's hands, the more danger they're in."
"Hmm. Then let's go right now."
Lloyd said it outright.
As casually as suggesting a trip to the convenience store for a triangle kimbap.
Or heading to the local PC bang for a quick round of Battlegrounds.
So nonchalant it was boldly confident.
Haviel's eyes naturally went wide.
"Pardon? What...."
"What do you mean what. Our guys are captured by a black mage. Plus, my precious construction materials got snatched too?"
"That's true, but—"
Haviel shook his head.
"For Lord Lloyd to head out without any preparations is too dangerous. Far too reckless."
"You think so?"
"Yes. Absolutely."
Haviel stated firmly with serious eyes.
"Even I faced great peril from that defensive magic circle. With Lord Lloyd's meager skills, it's utterly impossible. And the opponent is a black mage. Who knows what other vile traps they've set."
"Whoa. Straight-up calling me meager."
"It's a plain fact compared to my skills."
"Anyway, you're saying I'd get wrecked if I go now?"
"Yes. You might get sliced miserably, frozen solid, broken somewhere, or deep-fried jumping. Like a little shrimp tossed in boiling oil for a cozy Thanksgiving fry, forgotten until it's charred black."
"...Hey. That description somehow sounds like it's brimming with sincere wishful thinking?"
"Not at all. Misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding my ass. Feels way too real."
Lloyd chuckled.
Then he stood.
In his hand was a backpack, packed with food and supplies for several days in the mountains.
"Let's go."
"Pardon?"
"Told you. Head to that cave right now. It's a race against time. The longer our soldiers are held, the worse off they are."
"That's true, but as we are...."
"It's fine. Trust me."
Lloyd grabbed another backpack.
He shoved it into Haviel's chest.
"Hurry up and follow. Or I'll leave you."
"...."
Haviel reflexively took the backpack.
His face stiffened completely.
This was far too reckless.
But he had no idea.
The cave in Phlogia Gorge where he'd been forced to retreat this time—no, the black mage's dungeon.
That it was from the novel *Iron-Blooded Knight*.
A dungeon he'd conquer years later in the story.
That Lloyd, having read it, knew the攻略 method inside out.
He didn't know, couldn't even guess.
'So the guy who sliced Haviel in the Phlogia Gorge episode... was that black mage Rupellan?'
Grit!
Lloyd ground his teeth inwardly.
Defensive curse magic circles or whatever.
He'd make the bastard truly feel the consequences of touching his soldiers and construction materials.
Plus, as a bonus, he'd strip every last thing the guy had stashed in that dungeon—down to the marrow, the pores, the stock in the stock.
Wouldn't let him die even if he wanted to.
Squeeze out every drop.
'So in conclusion, repeat after me: you're screwed.'
Retribution and exploitation.
With those goals, Lloyd's steps turned toward the gorge.
(End of Chapter 36)
Read more on "novelshub.org"