Chapter 131: Dancing on the Rebars (1)
“Welcome. I hope the journey was kind to you. You are now in the Frontera barony.”
“…”
Lloyd Frontera’s voice rang aloud in her ears. The chief of the Myosotis tribe, Moira, lifted her head, and a vast and familiar scenery appeared in front of her.
So, that must be the land of humans.
She surveyed the Frontera barony at great length. The first thing she noticed was the Prona River, whose waters flowed from the south and then curved clockwise in a broad semicircle. It then rounded west to flow out north. The Frontera barony sat within the semicircle.
The east touches the foot of the mountain range, and the other sides are surrounded by the river.
It was a beautiful sight to behold. But it also made one uncomfortable truth impossible to ignore.
Too many plants are sacrificed amid the beautiful scenery.
Small villages sat here and there throughout the fiefdom, and the paddies and fields stood among them. The reclaimed land stretched vastly in the north. Those areas were designed and used to harvest plants and vegetation by mass, all at the necessity of humans. The same went for several houses and buildings.
All the structures use wood.
The log houses, stables, and storehouses all were built using wood as the main material. This uncomfortable truth made Moira’s heart throb in pain.
I bet these poor trees never received a proper funeral.
Humans simply didn’t consider plants valuable enough to go to such lengths for them. As such, they never paid their respects to dead trees. This sight naturally brought…
“Are you uncomfortable?”
“…”
Lloyd, who must have understood Moira’s feelings, asked as he stood right beside Moira. She nodded softly at his question. The corners of his lips rose.
“We don’t have a choice. For everyone has a different way of life.”
“Different way of life?” asked Moira.
“For instance, the monks.”
Monks?
Moira had never heard of such a word before. The smile on Lloyd’s face deepened slightly.
“They are a sort of priest in a faraway region,” explained Lloyd.
“A priest? Why are you bringing it up now?”
“They keep a diet that is poles apart from yours. They only eat plants.”
“What in the world…”
Moira was terrified. Eats only plants? That was just awful. But when Lloyd explained further, she was prompted to rethink her stance.
“To keep the rule that forbids killing. They only eat plants out of respect for living beings. Sure, there are some who do not abide by the principle. But most of them strive to keep it, according to what I have heard. It is the same with you, who cherish and value plants.”
“…”
“I am saying this to ask for your understanding as we all have different ways of life,” said Lloyd.
“Understanding? Just like the negotiation you had offered a few days ago?”
“Yes.”
Lloyd gently nodded, and his response made Moira take a trip down memory lane. A few days ago, this intruder had entered their forest and dared to take the sap of the Elensia Tree. When he was cornered, he took the sap hostage and had the audacity to grill meat in front of them. Not enough with that, he tried to strike a deal by promising to provide them with meat and coal. Even right now, Moira could not forget the words spoken through this man’s mouth.
“Negotiation is all about narrowing the distance between the interests of two sides,” Lloyd said.
Moira felt odd, and she wondered what he was talking about. Lloyd continued to speak.
“Well, we don’t have to narrow it by force. After all, some negotiations do break down. However, the mere attempt to close the distance between the two sides is a good start. Just like how we are sitting across from each other when everybody has said that the two races can never come to an agreement.”
Lloyd chuckled.
“Anyway,” he went on, “let us summarize what I had offered once again. I promise monthly provision of meat as your tribe needs it. Along with coal, the rocks that sustain a fire, which you can use to grill the meat.”
“In return,” Moira said, “you want us to grant you the right to extract Elensia Tree sap and 100 workers?”
“That is exactly right,” affirmed Lloyd.
“…”
“You can reject my offer if you don’t like it. Or if you want to receive something more, please do tell us now.”
“Are you going to grant it if you hear me out?” asked Moira.
“That depends. Let’s hear it first.”
“…”
Moira wondered if this was what a negotiation, which the human was calling it, was all about. One side makes an offer and the other side counteroffers. And they weigh the benefits. Moira had never ever experienced this before. She has led a peaceful life as she spent all her days hunting in the vast woods. A sense of hesitation rushed through her at the face of the negotiation. And she fell deep in thought.
What would my mother have done if she were alive?
Her mother’s name was Roscia, and she used to engage with humans in the fiefdom called “Gapelle.” Though she couldn’t remember exactly, Moira remembered hearing from her mother that she had come back to the woods and had Moira after her human friends passed away one by one. Just then, her mother’s will that was left before she went back to the spirit of the plants called to Moira’s mind.
She said that human friendships are transient. That they die too early and meaninglessly, unlike us. So, she told me to trust only human friends. Trusting the entire race was only going to put me in trouble.
And now, this human named Lloyd was…
Not a friend. But…
He didn’t look like an enemy either. The so-called negotiation was proof of it. Plus…
“Why are you taking off your armor?” asked Moira.
“Oh, to make a contract.”
“What do you mean by a contract?”
“It’s a preservation of the terms of an agreement. It’s an important document that leaves physical evidence of the results of a negotiation. As a result, it prevents and reduces any misunderstandings and conflicts that may arise in the future,” explained Lloyd.
“So leaving this so-called contract erases the reason for a dispute?” asked Moira.
“Yes, most of them.”
“Most of them…? Why not entirely?”
“Because nothing is perfect in this world. Anyway, okay. Here we go. Turn it this way, and slice it up…”
Stab!
Lloyd took off his leather armor and removed a shoulder protector. After turning it upside down, he stabbed and sliced it with a dagger. Once he cut out a square, he looked at Moira and grinned.
“I’m going to use this as a contract. Normally, we write it on a piece of paper. But I didn’t think you’d like that very much as that’s another form of plant harassment from your standpoint. Right?” asked Lloyd.
“…”
“So, did you have enough time to think about it?” asked Lloyd once again.
“Yes, I did.”
Burning rocks and meat. These deals were good enough, especially for their tribe, as they were suffering from a food shortage. This deal was a sweet rain in a drought. Moreover, she liked Lloyd’s attitude of creating a contract on a level playing field. He didn’t give any empty words of bravado. And the sight of him cutting out the leather armor for her impressed Moira.
“Okay,” said Moira as she nodded. “I will take up your suggestion.”
“And in return, the Elensia Tree sap and the workers?”
“Of course.”
Just like that, she took the offer. Afterward, they wrote two copies of the contract and took one each. On top of that, they wrote an outsourcing contract for dispatching elf workers. This deal, however, invited harsh criticism from the tribal elders. They reamed her out for thoughtlessly handing over the root of the precious tree and for opening the woods to humans.
This is better than starving the children in our tribe.
This was her realistic concession and decision as a tribal chief. She would fully take the brunt of all the criticisms thrown at her. But she would make sure that her tribe would reap the benefits of the negotiation. Resolving as such, she jostled herself out of her trance. Her gaze traveled to the Frontera barony before it moved to Lloyd at her side.
“It is just as you said it,” Moira said.
“Excuse me?”
Lloyd gazed at her in confusion. Moira faintly smiled at him.
“Well, it’s all a matter of perspective. I now see it. The stance of humans, and their different lifestyles. So, where will we be working from now on?”
“Oh, do you plan on working right away?” asked Lloyd.
“Yes. That was a term in the negotiation.”
Coal and meat. She would give as much as she received. Lloyd smiled in satisfaction after hearing her.
“Allow me to teach you how to work first. Okay, this way, please.”
Lloyd led Moira and 100 elves to the fiefdom. He first introduced them to the baron and the baroness. The people in the barony manor and fiefdom were flustered and amazed by the elves. Some of the young men fell in love at first sight, while a handful of girls sent gazes of adoration at them. And when Lloyd revealed what the elves would be doing from now on, the baron was caught by surprise.
“What? They would be put to work with the rebars?” asked the baron in disbelief.
“Yes.”
“D-do you really think that would be possible?”
“Yes, of course.”
“…”
Lloyd nodded his head, brimming with confidence. The baron was flustered.
“Um, but I… fear that it might be slightly difficult,” confessed the baron.
“Is it because of their fragile appearances?”
“Yes, although it is a bit wrong to judge them based on their appearance… Um, I cannot help but feel that way,” the baron said with hesitation in his voice.
It was true. These elves reminded the baron of mysterious and slender does. They looked like fairies who had never worked hard a day in their lives. But here was Lloyd, announcing that they would be thrown into construction sites and given the job of working on the rebars, which was extremely laborious and hectic.
“I am sure of you now,” said the baron. “Even the fearsome and rough orc warriors clamor in fear all day as they work on the rebars. They cry out loud that the building is too tall. Their cries have worsened in the few days you weren’t here.”
“Yes, I am aware of it. That is why I brought them here,” Lloyd said.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Lloyd grinned.
“They are not afraid of heights. Plus, they are much stronger than you’d think.”
“What do you mean? They’re strong?” asked the baron, incredulous.
“Yes. They live ten times longer than us, and they dart around the woods and shoot arrows throughout their long lives.”
Archery. Most RPG games included this agile skill. But in real life, it was different. Very different. Anybody who had experience using a bow and arrow would know it very well. Archery required muscle, not agility.
“And they remain young for much longer than us. Their muscles grow during the entirety of those long years. Moreover, they practice archery every day, so you don’t have to question their strength,” said Lloyd.
Their youth was far longer than humans. And in the span of those years, the hormones that foster muscular growth were secreted the entire time. On top of that, they were carnivores who only ate protein-filled meat as they went around shooting arrows. So technically speaking, even the special force units would be cute children in comparison to these elves. The baron may have dismissed them as weak, but the truth was that they were far from it.
“So do not worry about it. And you can leave it to me to take care of them,” assured Lloyd.
“Hmm,” said the baron, “you have a point there.”
The baron was convinced. And the following day, Lloyd taught the elves the work process. Since they had no knowledge of construction work, they were educated on different concepts and precautions. In particular, Lloyd paid special attention to safety.
It’s nice that they’re careful by nature.
The elves were discreet creatures. They were slow to learn, but they made sure they internalized the lessons. The safety aspect of the construction was particularly the case. Once they finished their basic education, it was time to learn the rebars, which was their main task.
“So, laying the rebars is called rebar placement. Just like here, you do this and this. The important thing is to exactly lay the rebars according to the design. And when you tie the intersected rebars, you use this tool called a hooker.”
Lloyd taught them several ways to tie the rebars. Besides that, other techniques were shared with them as well. For instance, the way to unite the cement formwork, how to construct structural support to prevent any bending or tilting from pressure, and the procedure and safety guidelines for dismantling the formwork after the cement was dried. Lloyd put the elves through the wringer during this training period, showing no mercy.
“Over there, tie the rebars like that, and it’s going to bust. Wait, are you doing this because you don’t want to eat meat?”
“Excuse me? You should be laying them following the ink on the ground. Otherwise, I might not be able to give any meat today.”
“Hey. Erect the support like that, and it’s going to collapse. An accident will happen. And you know what happens if an accident occurs? I’m going to wrap the pork belly with vegetables!”
Lloyd’s most effective threat was to make a wrap out of lettuce, sesame leaves, and cabbage. During snack time, he would wrap their favorite meats in vegetables along with some sliced peppers and garlic and show them to them. But he didn’t make them eat it. For showing it was enough. Almost all elves at the site were rooted to the spot. Some of the soft-hearted ones even broke into sobs, repenting for their mistakes. And as these hectic training sessions lasted several days, the elves grew up to become solid, trustworthy rebar workers and were dispatched to the construction site. Of course, Lloyd was with them.
“I will be personally supervising and overseeing your work here for the time being. How long? Until you get used to the job. So if you want to stop hearing my nagging, you can just quickly adjust to the field,” voiced Lloyd.
The elves flinched when they heard Lloyd. Were they still under his supervision even when he was at the site? A sense of awfulness swept over them. Lloyd was stringent when it came to nagging. And the experience of looking at lettuce-wrapped meat was just…
No. Just no. I don’t want to experience that ever again!
The elves resolved to themselves that they would exert the best concentration skill and be acknowledged by Lloyd. So that they would be saved from the terror of witnessing another lettuce wrap. Their determination and focus compounded to derive 200% of their athletic jumping ability unique to elves.
Jump! Swoosh! Creak! Clank! Tap!
The construction of Building 102 had been on a temporary halt because of the orc warriors and their fear of heights. But now, the site was filled with the elves who had begun to fly at the top.