Chapter 138: The Leader for the Weary (1)
“Hey, fellow over there. Did you hear it?”
“Hear what? What is it?”
“About the young master of this fiefdom.”
“Young master? Do you mean Master Lloyd?”
“Yes, him. I heard that he possesses powerful summon magic.”
“Is that true?”
The two talking were the refugee workers currently building the rice terrace at the east of the Frontera barony. One of the two motioned with his chin.
“There, do you see that?”
He pointed at Ppodong, who stood at the towering height of 32 feet. He was shaking his giant buttock, digging the ground.
“That giant mouse,” said the man, “I heard Master Lloyd summoned it.”
“Haha, he did?”
“That’s what I heard,” the man replied.
“Come on. That can’t be.”
“How so?” asked one of them.
“Just think about it,” another replied. “Just think how giant and strong that mouse is. His size alone tells how great he is.”
“Uh-huh, so?”
“His summoning magic would have to be just as powerful to summon a creature that large. But Master Lloyd barely looks 30,” the man argued.”
“Are you saying that it’s not possible for Master Lloyd to have not mastered the summoning magic of such caliber because he is still too young?”
“That’s my opinion,” confirmed the man.
“Then, how can you explain the mouse monster?”
“Master Lloyd must have picked a young monster in the eastern range and raised it.”
“I think you are off-base.”
“How so?”
“What kind of monster in this world grows gigantic by eating a seed only to shrink back again?”
“Are you drunk…?” said the incredulous man as he cocked his head to the side.
The man, who was asked whether he was drunk, chuckled and spoke.
“I saw it. I saw the young master feeding a red seed to the mouse. And the fist-sized mouse grew to become a huge monster.”
“Did you see it yourself? You?”
“Yes, I did! The others saw it, so you can ask around if you don’t believe me.”
“Haha. If that is true…”
“That young master is something.”
“Indeed.”
A host of rumors about Lloyd spread among the refugee workers. They were about how he could easily order the gigantic fantastical creatures and design such a large-scale construction. About Lloyd being a born genius in magic and how he can construct a building in the blink of an eye. About how he’s a heaven-sent figure to deliver everyone from this disaster. All sorts of speculations, exaggerations, and imaginations about Lloyd compounded, leaving him at the center of the refugees’ attention. Their reaction was understandable as Ppodong and Bangul grew gigantic simply after eating a sunflower seed. And there was also Hamang, who inflated to a giant size after drinking up a large volume of water, and Bibeong, who occasionally came down from the mountain to transfer heavy objects. And now, there was a new creature in the group: Ggoming.
Not even once did they imagine the existence of such creatures. They had never encountered these creatures in any book or legend until they started their work at the terrace construction site. The fantastical creatures worked with such force and dignity, and Lloyd was easily mastering over such breathtaking creatures. Everyone could not remain unsurprised. They were held in awe, and rightfully so. And as time passed by, there was a fierceness in the way the refugees behaved around Lloyd. The eyes of the workers on the construction site started to resemble those of adoring fans throwing starry looks at their idols.
However, Lloyd didn’t correct the false rumors on purpose. No, in some sense, he rather encouraged them to be spread around.
“That’s the power of one’s reputation,” said Lloyd, “So Ggoming.”
“Ggoming?”
“Shall we fly higher?”
“Ggoming!”
Flap! Whoosh!
Ggoming replied as he fluttered hard with his 9.8-foot wings. It created a gust of powerful wind, and Lloyd was instantly taken in the air as Ggoming flew high, about 50 yards off the ground.
“Whew.”
Lloyd clutched Ggoming’s back and wondered if this was what it felt like to ride the pirate ship in amusement parks without any safety device. It was dizzying but exhilarating at the same time. Lloyd lowered his head, enjoying the full speed of the flight. He looked down at the construction site that spanned below.
“Wah!!!”
There came a roaring shout from below. The workers, who were transferring the earth, were looking up. Lloyd waved at the men, and their cheer grew louder. He smiled contentedly as he eyed the men.
The people and their families will regard me as someone great and distinguished.
In actuality, he was a nobody. He just had a secret resource called RP, which he made smart use of. Add to that, he had read up on the Knight of Blood and Iron, which allowed him to predict a few things ahead of everyone. But the people were ignorant of it, and thus, considered Lloyd as someone important.
If that’s the case, He ought to reinforce that belief even more.
That was the power of one’s reputation. Everyone had felt it at least a few times in their lives. Its power was mysterious because it brought about different reactions even when two people did the same thing. One could be received with exclamation and admiration, while the other invited mockery. That was what reputation did, Lloyd thought to himself. He had an obscene share of such experiences.
I was treated as a nobody.
Poor. No house, and no family. Lived in a cramped rental room. Barely having any clothes, he spent the entire year with two or three faded sweatshirts. He went to the cheapest barbershop every three or four months to save money. Dirty, ragged, and haggard facade and appearance. Stooped shoulders that have hunched as much as his small pride. Because of his unkempt appearance, he received terrible treatment anywhere he went. Every time he went to the convenience store for some food, a stationery store for a pen, or a barbershop, the employers and workers looked down on him so obviously that Lloyd could feel it in his bones. No, it was more than disdain.
One time, I was accused of being a burglar.
At that time, Lloyd teared up in resentment. But now, he could simply laugh it off.
That’s why it’s necessary to build up a good reputation. It doesn’t matter if the impression is false. People put their faith in what they see, not in the truth. And that faith is what’s going to help me in a critical moment.”
That was why Lloyd flew around riding Ggoming. He inspected and checked the construction site in the air. What was more, there were practical benefits in doing this other than keeping up good appearances.
Woah. I didn’t know it’d be this comfortable to inspect the construction site while flying.
Ggoming had grown to become 6.5 feet after eating the red sunflower seed. It couldn’t be any more rejuvenating to fly on his back. It couldn’t get any more comfortable as he surveyed the vast construction with one gaze.
This project is happening on a vast land, which is as extensive as the Maritz land.
But one thing differed from the Maritz land with its even ground. The land here was sloped and steep.
Goodness, just to think of climbing up and down the slope all day long. The thought of it just makes me sweat.
But thanks to Ggoming, his leg muscles were saved from exploding. But, of course, he had to go down and check things up close when he looked at the details.
“Ppodong,” called Lloyd.
“Ppodong?”
“This area you just dug today. I don’t think it’s leveled,” Lloyd pointed out.
“Ppo-do-dong?”
“I think you should dig a little more. And Group 16!”
“Yes!” answered the engineers.
“From here to there. Once Ppodong levels the ground, I want you to refine and flatten it with the shovels. You know how to do it, right?” asked Lloyd.
“Yes! Of course!”
Countless slopes were worked and touched according to the design. With a show of amazing strength and speed, Ppodong dug to form a stair-shaped mold. Afterward, the engineers were dispatched to level the surface of the earth, refining and polishing the dug areas. Meanwhile, the refugee workers transferred the earth Ppodong had dug to the foot of the mountain. And it was then left in the hands of Bibeong.
“Bibeo-beong! Bibeong!”
Bibeong was the strongest one among the fantastical creatures, but he wasn’t put to digging the steep mountain because of his massive 3,000-ton weight. There was a risk of collapse. So instead of digging, Bibeong was entrusted with another work: straining the massive loads of dirt through a sieve.
“Bibeong! Bibeo-beo-beong!”
Fwoosh! Bibeong grabbed a gigantic 32 x 49 sieve in his hands.
“Bibeo-beong! Bibeong!”
Rumble! Rumble! He shook the giant sieve hard, and the dirt started to separate from the rocks, small branches, and other particles. The dirt particles that were smaller than 0.7 inches fell to the ground, and it was to be used to fill up the backfill, the space in between the cut area of the mountain, and the gabion retaining wall.
This part of the job is crucial because how we fill up the backfill determines the stability and drainage of the entire retaining wall.
Lloyd made sure to inspect the dirt on a regular basis, and he mobilized Ggoming as well.
“Hey, Ggoming,” called Lloyd. “You know what to do, don’t you?”
“Ggoming?”
“Today, we’ll be building up a large and beautiful mesh. Okay, let’s go.”
“Ggoming!”
Ggoming flew in the air after eating the red sunflower seed. He flew across the sky, drawing an intricate grid using the spiderweb from his bag.
Fwoosh! The spiderweb was discharged out of the bag, dropping to the ground following his flight trajectory. It covered the ground after it fell. Just then, Lloyd shouted aloud.
“The White Cavalry! Your turn!”
“Yes!”
The White Cavalrymen, who were waiting with a shovel in each of their hands, started to get moving. Their shoveling was incomparably faster than ordinary soldiers. They scooped and sprayed the backfill material that had been strained by Bibeong. The backfill blanketed the spiderweb, and they pressed the earth with their feet. When the tramping was over, Lloyd shouted again.
“Ggoming! One more time!”
“Ggomiming!”
Swish!
Ggoming’s spiderweb intricately covered the pressed and flattened backfill material, and once that was done, the White Calvary proceeded to scoop and cover it with another layer of the backfill. This process was repeated several times. Ggoming flew and discharged the spiderweb. The lancers placed it on top of the backfill to be layered with another spiderweb mesh. The steep earth surface that was cut from the mountain slope was layered with ten sheets of equally thick spiderweb mesh and backfill. The outcome looked like a stack of ten pancakes.
Great. It’s going as planned.
The spiderweb mesh that sat in between the layers of the earth held the entire backfill together. Thanks to its powerful stickiness, the earth didn’t spill outward or below. It remained stable. Lloyd covered the gabion retaining wall in front of it. He then put up the spiderweb frame Ggoming had discharged. Next, he covered the front of the bevel, which was stacked up with backfill, with the frame. Then the engineers started to move. They poured the small and large pebbles and rocks he had prepared in advance.
“Okay, two, three! Pour!”
“Waahh!”
Rumble! Thwack!
The gabion was filled with a precise amount of rocks. And lastly, Lloyd tied the entire gabion and backfill with another layer of the spiderweb to hold it together. Thus, the first section of the retaining wall was finished.
Sweet. It’s going according to plan.
The corners of Lloyd’s lips pulled up in satisfaction. The engineers, White Cavalry lancers, and refugee workers perspired, and their beads of sweat glimmered against the sunlight. From then on, the same construction process was repeated. They dug, pressed, sprinkled, stacked, pressed, and erected. The steep mountain slope slowly transformed into dozens of steps, each ensuring enough space for fields and paddies. The range started to widen progressively.
Sometimes, the weather was sleety. Sometimes, it was warm. There were also days when it snowed heavily and sharp, cold gusts of wind blew. But the construction never stopped. It was so as this construction was happening for themselves, not for others. This part of the land in the fiefdom was being reclaimed to ensure a new life for countless refugees. As such, everybody overcame the coldness of the winter through the labor of love. A day passed. Ten days passed. A month. Two. And finally, around the time the flowers started to bloom in the eastern range, everyone yelled aloud in excitement. It was early spring.
“Okay, the last one! You can do it!”
“Argh!!!”
“Two! Three! Pour!”
“Argh!!”
They poured the pebbles and rocks, filling the inside of the spiderweb gabion to the brim. The vast terrace was composed of hundreds and thousands of blocks, which required painstaking efforts to connect one another. And finally, the last block was erected to complete the picture.
However, Lloyd remained utterly calm. He didn’t rush to join the cheering crowd. He didn’t get carried away by the construction of the gabion retaining wall. The workers on the site were allowed to be joyful and excited. It was only natural as they were humans. But not Lloyd. Even when everyone jumped for joy, smiling and laughing at one another, Lloyd knew he should never let emotions get the best of him. After all, he was a supervisor who had to remain calm and act with aplomb. That was how he could prevent safety accidents.
“All right, listen up! Tell me, what’s the most important step of finishing up a construction project?” said Lloyd.
“Tidying up the site!”
“Accidents happen on what sites?” shouted Lloyd again.
“Untidy sites!”
“Got that? Now, it’s time to clean up. Let’s go!”
“Yes!”
The engineers had already internalized how Lloyd worked. They led the White Cavalry and the refugee workers to clean up the site and declutter the whole place. When the place was organized and spotlessly clean, everyone felt that the site was, at last, finished. But Lloyd didn’t join their cheer so easily.
It’s not over yet. I still have the last step to deal with.
The retaining walls were finished and constructed to endure the massive weight of the rice terraces. A sense of nervousness and reward rushed through Lloyd as he gazed at them. The following day, the day was murky, with dark clouds hanging in the eastern range. And it started to drizzle until it developed into a shower. It rained hard throughout the fiefdom. It was a seasonal spring rain that came every year. Lloyd’s eyes grew sharp as he gazed straight ahead.
Now, it’s time to test things out.
The last part of the construction. The safety check against the drainage and subsidence. The time was ripe to test its function.