Chapter 220: That’s Enough, Isn’t It? (2)
Chapter 220: That’s Enough, Isn’t It? (2)
As the saying goes, you should leave the rice cakes to the rice cake shop.
In other words, there’s an expert for everything.
Patrick had crudely thrown high-level labor into the mix to raise the outer wall in a hurry, but that was merely a temporary measure. In fact, because he was an amateur, he had made some truly absurd mistakes. For example…
“There are no gates.”
“…Huh?”
“How are people supposed to get in and out?”
“……”
Now that he mentioned it…
Patrick stared blankly at the distant mountains as the architect from the Elvador Merchant Group spoke. Stinging criticism immediately rained down on him from those nearby.
“Wow. Now that I look at it, he really did build a house without a door.”
“Tsk, tsk. No common sense. None at all.”
“A bit short on thought, too…”
“This is what happens when you try to do everything ‘hurry-hurry.’ Problems like this crop up.”
Patrick remained silent. This time, even with a mouth, he had no excuses. However…
“Brother. You’re dumber than I thought… Gwah!”
“Not you too! You green little punk!” Patrick barked, having sent Tutun flying with a kick.
This guy can’t even learn the Five Tigers Single Gate Sword when I try to teach him…
Patrick turned back to the expert with a squint and asked, “So what? Do we tear it all down? Start from scratch?”
“No, it hasn’t come to that.”
The architect instinctively looked away, wondering how a mere knight-aspirant could have such terrifying eyes.
“Fortunately, you didn’t raise a wall on the side facing the river. We can build the gate while raising the wall there and construct a drawbridge on the opposite side.”
“See? There was a way. Why’d you have to make me feel small if there was a way?”
“However, considering we’ll eventually expand the Moana River into a waterway, building a drawbridge large enough to accommodate that will increase construction costs significantly. I just wanted you to be aware—”
“So I just have to break the wall, right? Hold on a second.”
“Grab him! Catch him!”
“He’s actually going to do it! Stop him!”
“Aaaah! You can’t, you demon!”
The soldiers and orcs desperately held Patrick back as he tried to demolish the wall he’d just built to save on construction costs. He only stopped after the architect explained that, considering future defensive capabilities, building a drawbridge by the river would be more beneficial in the long run.
“Ugh. Fine, I guess I have no choice. So, are we officially starting the city construction now?”
“Yes. Now that we’ve confirmed supplies can be steadily procured through the waterway, construction will proceed smoothly.”
“How long will it take?”
“It will take at least three years of dedicated time to give it the proper shape of a city.”
“Too long. Let’s make it three months.”
The architect gave Patrick a look that clearly said, ‘What the hell did you just mumble, you greenhorn?’
But Patrick didn’t back down. He spoke with a dead-serious expression.
“I’m not telling you to use only ordinary laborers. Use the knights, the orc warriors, and the mages here en masse to hurry the work. Whatever it takes, finish the construction before winter this year.”
“Hmm… If the mages cooperate…”
The architect pondered. If knights and orc warriors were just exceptionally strong laborers, mages were versatile tools with far higher utility. With their full cooperation, it might be possible to accelerate the construction speed dozens of times over. However…
“Is there a particular reason to rush?”
“Winter is coming soon. And in my experience, the Great Forest is at its quietest during the winter.”
The surrounding knights and orcs nodded in agreement.
“True, winter is the quietest.”
“Since many monsters go into hibernation.”
“Though some even nastier bastards tend to roam instead.”
“Like Ice Trolls.”
“And don’t forget Cold Wyverns.”
“Ugh… Not those.”
“Let’s not cross that line.”
A large-scale flying monster that breathed ice while soaring through the sky—that was the Cold Wyvern. In the history of the Schneider fief, those things had attacked twice, and both times the death toll reached triple digits. It wasn’t even like they were driven off; they simply left after eating their fill.
In truth, if such a creature appeared, even a wall was useless. What good was a wall against a flying monster?
As the knights talked, they grew uneasy.
Is this really possible?
If monsters of national-disaster rank attack multiple times, even a wall might not matter.
I’ll follow because it’s the Young Master’s order, but…
Whether he noticed the soldiers’ anxiety or not, Patrick gave the architect a few more instructions. Then…
“Sanson.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“I’ll be away for a while. You take charge of the city’s defense in the meantime.”
“Me, sir?”
“The wall is halfway up, and the mages and elves will help, so it’ll be fine. Well then…”
Before Sanson could even try to stop him, Patrick’s body soared away.
*
When Patrick ran with full intent, using his movement techniques, his motions were so light and agile that even the elves, who moved freely through the woods, would have marveled.
Grass-skipping.
Stepping not on branches but on the leaves themselves, Patrick sped forward. Soon, he was a good distance away from the pioneering city, alone—
“Where are you going, Young Master?”
“Whoa!”
Startled by the voice suddenly appearing beside him, Patrick lost his footing for a moment.
Thud!
Patrick tumbled down, while a peerless beauty landed gracefully beside him.
“Apriiiiiil!”
“Did you call for me, Young Master?”
“You… How many times have I told you to make some noise when you’re around?”
“I am sorry, Young Master.”
“Ugh. My heart almost jumped out of my chest.”
Patrick grumbled, then turned back to April. “Why did you follow me?”
“I followed because you were heading somewhere, Young Master.”
“Right. I see. Now, will you go back?”
“I refuse.”
“There you go again, not listening! Again! Again!”
“I am sorry.”
She was usually obedient and listened well, but she always dug her heels in at the most critical moments. As Patrick complained, April spoke up.
“I do not know what your goal is, but moving through this Great Forest alone is undoubtedly dangerous.”
“……”
“Therefore, even if it is your command, I cannot let you go alone.”
“Tsk.”
Patrick clicked his tongue and looked at April with a dissatisfied gaze. Honestly, once she got like this, there was no talking to her. Even if he tried to send her back by force, she would resist. And if she resisted, he could, of course, smack her…
Mother would flip out.
Just imagining it made him shiver. Ava had raised April like her own daughter. He couldn’t even fathom the depth of her rage if he ever laid a hand on April.
“Fine, I guess I have no choice.”
Well, at least she won’t be a burden, he thought. But just then…
“I shall join you as well.”
Turning toward the voice, he saw another peerless beauty, this one enveloped in the power of wind spirits.
“Elione? How did you get here?”
“I followed Patrick-nim’s scen—I mean, I tracked your presence.”
“……”
What was that? I feel like a word I shouldn’t ignore almost slipped out.
Elione cleared her throat and composed her expression into one of cool professionalism.
“Ahem. As someone who can guess what you are about to do, Patrick-nim, I cannot let you go alone.”
“And what exactly am I about to do?”
“Area clearing.”
“……”
“Am I wrong?”
She knows me better than I thought. Am I really that easy to read?
Patrick scratched his head. His plan was exactly that. No matter how high they built the walls or how much they reinforced the defenses, the Great Forest was not a place where one could ensure safety by relying on those alone. People cannot live in a city where safety cannot be maintained, and a residential area where people cannot live cannot be called a city.
Therefore, Patrick intended to hunt down and crush all the major demonic beasts in the vicinity.
The so-called “Great Tiger of the Mountain” operation. I am the tiger of this mountain, so everyone else, get lost.
“You caught on to that pretty quickly.”
“It is something we elves do as well.”
“What? Really?”
“Yes. Did you find any traces of monsters when you visited Evergreen?”
“No, I didn’t.”
Forget trolls or ogres; he hadn’t even seen a single goblin. Aside from wild animals, he hadn’t seen a single monster in that vast forest. Wait, then that means…
“It wasn’t like that from the beginning. It is the result of us elves constantly patrolling and repelling monsters.”
“Whoa…”
Who was it? Who called the elves a race of peace?
This was just a race of ecological disruptors. They called it “repelling monsters,” but it really meant they had altered the very structure of the forest’s ecosystem to create a place for themselves to live.
Elione continued, “If you intend to clear the monsters’ territories, you must start by taking down the big names. But can you find them?”
“Of course.”
Patrick squared his shoulders. Since yesterday, he had already shortlisted a few bastards with plenty of attitude. Those who didn’t flinch when he released his aura, but instead emitted killing intent—as long as they were within range of his energy sense…
“Then is it also possible for you to track monsters that flee without engaging?”
“Uh…”
That was a bit much. He could track one or two, but pursuing multiple targets simultaneously was difficult. Moreover, monsters and demonic beasts were ultimately wild animals. If a strong enemy appeared, they were more likely to run than fight, and tracking every single one of them down…
“That would be a bit tough.”
“Indeed. However, for us elves, it is a different story.”
As she spoke, a wind spirit frolicked in Elione’s palm. Spirit magic allowed for precise scouting over a much wider range than Patrick’s energy sense.
So they used such wicked means to find and exterminate every single monster in Evergreen.
It really wasn’t the behavior of a “peaceful race.” But to put it another way…
The results are guaranteed.
Patrick nodded. “Then I’ll ask for your assistance in scouting.”
“Understood.”
“And, just in case, I have to ask. You can protect yourself, right?”
Elione chuckled at Patrick’s question. “You seem to have forgotten, but I am an Elven Knight.”
“I know that. I know, but…”
“And now, I am finally able to demonstrate my true strength.”
Elione said this while showing him the vine ring on her finger. Setting aside why she was wearing the ring on her left ring finger…
“Hmm, the true strength of an Elven Knight, huh…”
“This is a good opportunity. I shall show you the true power of the elven race.”
Her smile was full of confidence.
*
The first time Patrick had seen Elione was in Arcana. At the time, she had to fight using only pure physical movements and ultimately couldn't defeat a fledgling holy knight.
The next time he saw her fight was in Evergreen. Though she struggled against the dark elves, her skills without using spirits were abysmal. In fact, her younger brother Kilios, who fought bravely with aura-clad spears, had stood out more.
In other words, she had never once shown Patrick her true capabilities as an Elven Knight. Until now.
“Sigel.”
A high-level wind spirit. A pale green spirit in the form of a beautiful woman in an elegant dress appeared. As she reached out, beads of wind scattered from her fingertips like falling snowflakes. And the moment they reached their targets…
“Burst!”
With Elione’s command, the wind beads exploded with a powerful roar.
Bang! Boom! Pop-pop-pop!
Each of the dozens of wind beads she had sent out was a highly compressed air bomb. The shockwaves released upon their detonation turned the gathering of hundreds of Hobgoblins into a literal hellscape.
“How was that?”
Goblin mages, goblin riders, even goblin knights… Hundreds of goblins, including high-ranking variants, were annihilated by a single one of her attacks.
Looking at Elione, who was smiling proudly, Patrick said, “You’re a terrifying woman.”
In more ways than one. The combat power Patrick observed from her easily surpassed that of a 7-star knight. With this level of skill, she could have easily defeated the dark elves.
“Are all Elven Knights as strong as you, Elione?”
“No. Even among Elven Knights, there is no one stronger than me.”
The requirement to be an Elven Knight was to be an elf capable of summoning two or more high-level spirits. However, among the existing Elven Knights, Elione was the only one capable of summoning a high-level spirit of the highest order.
In other words, the woman smiling with a flushed face in front of Patrick was the strongest warrior of the elven race. She approached Patrick with a soft smile, took his hand, pressed it against her cheek, and said, “I can be of help to you.”
“……”
“I want you to know that.”
“I get it. I get it, so…”
Patrick pulled his hand away. This sly fox. Did she think he’d be happy just because she let him touch her soft, moist cheek? Did she think he’d want to touch it again?
“Ahem. Can you lead me to the next monster?”
“Understood.”
Using the wind spirit, she conducted a wide-range reconnaissance and guided Patrick to the nearest pack of monsters. The hunt for the official area clearing had begun.
Patrick, April, and Elione… There were only three of them, but it was more than enough to turn the inner Great Forest upside down.
The Cockatrice, born with a curse of petrification. The King Ogre, which Patrick had struggled against as a child. The Cyclops, a rampaging one-eyed giant that hurled massive boulders. Each was a terrifying monster, but they stood no chance against this trio.
—Mooooooo!
“Shut up, cow-head!”
A massive Minotaur covered in white fur swung a club at Patrick. Patrick dodged the club and lunged inside. The moment the Aura Blades surged from Patrick’s twin swords…
Slash! Sla-slash!
A flash of light in the shape of a cross (十) accurately carved the enemy into four pieces. The white Minotaur collapsed to the ground without even a final scream.
Patrick sheathed his swords and remarked, “What was this guy? He was much bigger and stronger than a normal Minotaur.”
Elione approached and answered, “It seems an ordinary Minotaur lived a long life and became a variant.”
“They change as they live longer?”
“It is a common occurrence among monsters.”
Monsters are beings that live through fierce struggle. It is common to see them evolve to increase their chances of survival even by a small margin. This white Minotaur was likely the same.
“There are monsters like that occasionally. That is probably why it was able to lead such a large pack, don’t you think?”
Elione pointed to the surrounding area, where dozens of Minotaurs lay fallen. They were all part of the pack led by the white Minotaur. These ones were also much stronger than average Minotaurs. Each was powerful enough that even a 5-star human knight would have had a hard time winning. The white Minotaur, leading dozens of such creatures, had been a fairly troublesome foe.
“Anyway, there’s really no end to them.”
“Still, we have stirred things up quite a bit. Within a 20-kilometer radius of the pioneering city, every enemy that could be a threat is… Ah, another one just entered the range. It looks like a large-scale species.”
“Haaa… I’m going crazy. Truly crazy.”
Patrick walked over to a nearby tree and started thumping his forehead against it. It felt like pouring water into a bottomless pit. No matter how many monsters they cleared and how much territory they secured, other monsters from outside the area would move in to claim the spot. As expected of the Great Forest.
“Can we really clear this place out like this?”
“We can. My ancestors said it was difficult when they first settled in Evergreen, but they eventually succeeded.”
“Right. It just takes time… Wait, ancestors?”
Patrick paused. If Elione, an elf, was talking about ancestors, just how long of a timeframe was she talking about?
Patrick asked cautiously, “Elione, let me ask you one thing…”
“Go ahead.”
“How long did it take your people to stabilize Evergreen using this method?”
“I heard it took roughly 700 years.”
“Ah… Right. I see.”
Evergreen took 700 years. Then this Great Forest, which was dozens of times larger than Evergreen…
“Haha… Hahaha…”
Patrick’s motivation suddenly plummeted.