Ding-dong.
[A new skill option has been unlocked.]
[Design Skill Exclusive Option ③: Simulation Mode - Terrain data obtained from the Surveying Skill can be manipulated in a virtual design space. This allows observation of various physical changes occurring within the terrain.]
'Huh?'
Lloyd blinked.
Was it because a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead got into his eyes?
No.
It was the message floating before his eyes.
Its contents were just too hard to believe.
'No way. What is this?'
An option unlock for the Design Skill.
And that option was the very simulation he'd longed for.
It was a result he hadn't even imagined, let alone anticipated.
But Lloyd didn't just stand there dumbfounded.
He had already experienced the true power of skill options through the growth of Surveying, Design, and even the Asrahan Heart Method.
This time was no different.
'A picture's worth a thousand words.'
Reading the manual a hundred times wouldn't help.
Clinging to the tutorial all day wouldn't either.
Nothing beat jumping into a real game round, even if it meant taking a beating.
Lloyd immediately activated the Design Skill.
'Design.'
Tssstsss...!
A virtual hologram space unfolded before his eyes.
It was a virtual design space visible only to him, never to those around him.
Lloyd loaded the Marez Wetland surveying data into it.
Tszzz!
The terrain of the Marez Wetland appeared in the virtual design space.
Up to this point, it was exactly the same as the countless surveying-design processes he'd done before.
But there was one thing that had changed.
A selection window that had appeared below the virtual space.
[Simulation Mode On]
'This is it.'
He could tell at a glance what it did.
Lloyd tapped the selection window.
[Executing Design Skill Option ③: Simulation Mode.]
[Designating the currently loaded terrain data in the design space as the simulation target.]
Tsshat!
The background of the virtual design space brightened.
Countless points and lines appeared on the Marez Wetland terrain he'd floated in the design space.
It looked just like graphics made of polygons, split and composed.
'Then the controls should be similar too.'
A thought crossed his mind.
Lloyd reached out his hand.
He pinched a line forming a mound with his fingers and pulled upward.
Kugugu...!
The terrain rose up following his finger.
In other words, a hill had formed on one side of the Marez Wetland in the virtual design space.
He could clearly see the mud and water soaked into it flowing down to the surrounding lowlands.
'Ooh.'
It felt like he had become a god.
Or like he was using the terrain editor that came with a simulation game.
'This is insane.'
He swallowed hard.
He was a civil engineering major.
And civil engineering wasn't just about building structures.
'No, constructing buildings is what architectural engineers do. Civil engineering doesn't stop at single buildings. It's far more vast.'
There was a line like that in some famous movie.
Wind isn't something you calculate; it's something you overcome.
Lloyd thought civil engineering's approach to terrain was similar.
'Well, not exactly the same. You calculate the terrain and overcome it at the same time.'
In other words, civil engineering was about planning and shaping countless terrains to enrich human life and living.
Boring tunnels through mountains.
Improving rugged coastlines to create ports.
Calculating and overcoming terrains to connect roads and railways.
Designing sewers, filling land, sometimes piling it up.
Building bridges over steep cliffs, linking human lives.
Since ancient times, as humanity bloomed civilization.
Lloyd believed civil engineering was the discipline that exerted the greatest influence on human life on the largest scale.
Therefore, meticulous calculations and experiments on terrain were absolutely essential for such grand works.
'And now I've got that weapon in my hands.'
His fist clenched tight.
From that moment on.
Lloyd immediately dismantled the miniature he'd set up in the backyard.
He washed off the mud caked all over his body from the bath.
He holed up in his bedroom for a full five days.
During that time, he ran countless simulations in Simulation Mode on the Marez Wetland: digging embankments and waterways, erasing them, creating them again.
He executed as many simulations as possible.
He meticulously established and reviewed the wetland reclamation plan.
Thanks to that, he refined the construction model that had first succeeded in analog form in the backyard far more elegantly.
Of course, Haviel had to take care of Lloyd almost single-handedly during that time.
"Lord Lloyd, it's time for lunch."
"Yeah. Just leave it there."
"You should eat it now."
"Hmm, I'm kinda busy right now? Don't talk to me?"
"But you haven't even eaten the breakfast I brought earlier."
"Oh ho. Are you nagging me right now?"
"I'm saying this out of concern."
"Concern? You? For me?"
"Yes."
"No way. You, worrying about me? Hey, who are you? Where'd you hide our Haviel?"
"..."
"I'm kidding. Can't you see I'm focused?"
"Yes."
"Can't you see my serious expression and intense gaze?"
"I can't. However—"
Haviel let out a deep sigh.
"All I can see clearly is a mad, money-crazed eccentric flailing his hands at empty air all day," he wanted to say.
"Ah, seeing you subtly roast me like that confirms you're our Haviel. But what can I do? I'm not crazy."
Lloyd calmly replied while still flailing his hands in the air.
He fully understood Haviel's point.
'The virtual space created by the Design Skill is only visible to me.'
In fact, right now, he was meticulously manipulating the Marez Wetland terrain in Simulation Mode, experimenting with applications of the vertical drainage method.
But to Haviel, it wouldn't be visible.
All he'd see was the bizarre sight of him gesturing wildly at empty air.
"I'm just pondering something. You know how they say all the body's nerves are concentrated in the hands?"
"So?"
"Moving your hands actively stimulates the nerves and boosts brain activity, or something like that. Anyway, I really need to focus, okay?"
"But Lord Lloyd, you can't skip meals."
"Ah, seriously. You're not my mom."
"If you keep this up, I'll report to the Baroness that you're neglecting food and sleep entirely."
"...Tch, fine."
"Yes?"
"You're too chatty with your nagging, Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes. Alright, how about you sit in this armchair then?"
"What are you planning?"
"If you sit quietly, I'll eat lunch."
"Really?"
"You think I've survived on lies alone?"
"...Understood."
Haviel sat in the armchair.
A sly smile crept onto Lloyd's lips.
"Good boy. Now rest for a bit. The Pack Drain (PD) method is similar in principle to the Sand Drain or Paper Drain methods... blabber blabber... Four or six casings with a 12cm diameter attached to a dedicated auger are simultaneously pressed into the ground... chatter chatter... Installation depth up to 35m, installation diameter 12cm for good workability... blah blah...."
"Huh? What...."
Srrrk.
It was a surprise lullaby service.
He recited civil engineering textbook contents from memory with fervor.
Haviel's expression went blank, then his eyes grew drowsy.
He started nodding off, his body tilting.
Lloyd gently reached out.
He softly supported the leaning body and eased it back against the armchair.
He continued the destructive lullaby service until he fell soundly asleep.
"Plastic Board Drains, or PBDs, can be largely divided into two types. The first is a non-woven drainage material, needle-punched non-woven fabric sheets about 5mm thick cut to about 100mm width... That's it. Sleep tight, poof."
"...Snoooore."
Before long, Haviel was deep in slumber.
With the environment tidied up(?), Lloyd could devote himself fully to Simulation Mode again.
A day, two days, three days passed.
Haviel's nagging and the lullaby service went back and forth every day.
In the meantime, the Marez Wetland reclamation plan took solid shape.
"Got it."
On the fifth day.
Finally, a satisfied smile graced Lloyd's lips.
Now it was time to assemble the work teams and heavy equipment suited to the construction plan.
♣
"Ppoddong? Bangul?"
"Ppoddong!"
"Bangul!"
It was a night bathed in bright moonlight.
Lloyd was in the mansion's backyard.
Of course, Haviel was soundly asleep.
"I'm thinking of summoning a new friend for you guys now."
"Ppoddong?"
"Bangul?"
"I figured it'd be more fun if you watched together."
Lloyd grinned.
Tonight, he planned to draw a new Fantasy Species.
For the Marez Wetland reclamation construction that was about to begin.
"If possible, something water-related would be great. But even if not, it's no big deal. Just need something as big as you two."
Marez Wetland reclamation.
For that construction, Lloyd planned to apply the vertical drainage method.
Vertical drainage method.
It was a technique that basically drilled numerous vertical holes in the wetland floor, inserted drainage materials, and consolidated the soft ground.
'The survey results showed the Marez Wetland was similar to the Netherlands before reclamation.'
A lowland where mud and murky water had layered over a long time.
Water filled the thick peat layer ground.
It was soft, spongy terrain that sank easily.
But if he successfully drained the water?
'It'll actually make things easier.'
Due to its nature, the peat layer compressed downward under its own weight once the moisture was gone.
It was a phenomenon called consolidation.
'So draining the water is the most important part. But I don't have the equipment for vertical drainage. Not even a pump to drain the water.'
Of course, he could improvise alternatives.
Haviel could blast holes in the ground.
The Fantasy Species could bail out the wetland water.
That's why Lloyd was drawing an additional Fantasy Species now.
"Ppoddong? Bangul?"
"Ppoddong!"
"Bangul!"
"I hope the new ones can bail water as well as you two."
Lloyd said sincerely.
Ppoddong and Bangul excelled at bailing water.
Ppoddong with its large-capacity cheek pouches on both sides.
Bangul with its fairly plump, expandable stomach.
They could carry and transport amounts rivaling water tanks.
Thanks to their ability to grow to enormous sizes when fed sunflower seeds.
'So the others should be similar. If I get just a few more Fantasy Species with sizes like Ppoddong or Bangul, that'll be enough.'
Fantasy Species each had unique specialties and abilities.
And most grew to massive sizes when transformed.
Lloyd planned to fully utilize the advantages of that sheer size.
'The special ability doesn't matter. Of course, water-related would be ideal, but I'm not banking on that luck. Just make it big no matter what! Something huge when transformed, able to carry tons of water in its mouth or body!'
Drawing was the goal.
'Actually, I've been super lucky so far.'
Ppoddong and Bangul.
Both had provided the most fitting abilities at the perfect times.
But it was wiser not to expect that luck again this time.
With his mindset settled, Lloyd opened the random draw window.
Ding-dong.
[Fantasy Beast Gacha]
[Invest RP to draw a Fantasy Species.]
[Powerful and unique Fantasy Species will offer absolute loyalty to their summoning master and provide various abilities.]
[Random Draw Cost (3rd Draw) = 100 RP]
'Hmm.'
The cost had risen about 1.5 times compared to the second draw when he got Bangul.
'But it's fine. I've been saving RP thriftily.'
Lloyd checked his RP balance.
A whopping 931 had accumulated.
He'd gained an extra 20 from the recent baron-and-swampland picnic(?).
'RP is plenty.'
He'd felt the urge to impulse-buy every time he gained RP.
Each time, he'd held back, viewing RP as his ultimate weapon.
He was glad he did.
'Goal: Add four more Fantasy Species with sizes and water-carrying capacity like Ppoddong or Bangul.'
With costs increasing by about 1.5 times each draw?
Around 800 RP total should do it.
'Let's do this.'
Lloyd's gaze shifted downward, resolute.
[Execute Random Draw?]
[YES / NO]
He selected 'YES' without hesitation.
[Executing Fantasy Beast Gacha.]
Fwaaah...!
A magic circle formed in the air.
Pale light dyed everything around.
Space twisted, summoning an unfamiliar silhouette.
The first thing visible was a round, plump body.
Then a round head.
Round butt.
Round legs.
The overall silhouette was perfectly spherical, round all over.
'No way it's the same type as Ppoddong again?'
Lloyd focused all his attention, scrutinizing the emerging Fantasy Species.
And finally, with a sharp impact wave, the third Fantasy Species revealed itself.
Pachichik!
"Hamang!"
Something cried out cutely.
It zipped toward him and snuggled poof into his chest.
Lloyd caught the new Fantasy Species in both hands.
A plump, soft texture met his palms.
As soon as he felt it, he checked its appearance.
His eyes widened round.
He muttered unconsciously.
"...No way. Why's a water-drinking hippo popping out here?"
"Hamang!"
On his palm, a small, chubby pink baby hippo, 'Hamang,' looked up at him with a bright, innocent smile.
(End of Chapter 45)
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