Chapter 232: Let's Do Everything We Can with Water! (2)
Chapter 232: Let's Do Everything We Can with Water! (2)
If I had to give the Sea Elves' ability a name, it would be "Wave Sorcerer."
It was the power to manipulate water at will.
Aside from the fact that it consumed a significant amount of Mana and mental strength, even a human could easily mimic their Wave Sorcery.
Setting mental strength aside for a moment, Mana could be churned out in infinite quantities thanks to the power of the Mythstone.
And the Wave Sorcerers' prowess wasn't limited to just controlling water.
—To use Water Style of this level where there is no water?!
They could generate such vast quantities of water that it would make anyone utter that famous line.
To be precise, they drew moisture from the air to create droplets or waves.
Furthermore, just as they could create pure water crystals, they possessed the power to purify filthy, turbid water back into its pristine state.
To summarize, they had three main capabilities:
Water manipulation.
Water generation (somehow).
And water purification.
"This has 'Water Park' written all over it."
It would be a crying shame not to build one at this point.
"Before we build a massive water park outside, let's run a little test first."
I summoned forty Sea Elves clad in swimsuits, along with Evelyn and her team of Architect Mages, to the training grounds of Count Fermaton’s castle.
"From this moment on, this training ground will be remodeled into something entirely different. Once we’ve practiced thoroughly here, we’ll build a massive water park outside the castle. Understood?"
Everyone nodded vigorously.
No matter how much they were Sea Elves, they couldn't stay out of the water indefinitely; they needed to submerge their bodies periodically.
Just as humans need to lie down in a bed or elsewhere to sleep, Sea Elves require immersion in water to function in their daily lives.
I could have solved this simply by preparing forty drum cans, but that would be inhumane and unethical—it would feel like I was treating them like slaves rather than workers. Thus, I planned to build a pool for them.
It’s definitely not because I want to go swimming here with my Knight Order.
I’m not crazy enough to tear up the knights' training grounds for a swimming pool just for that.
"Architect Mages, prepare for ground leveling! I want this training ground excavated exactly as I’ve shown you. No more, no less. Understood!!"
"Yes, sir!!"
Whether the Architect Mages were eager to see the Sea Elves frolicking in swimsuits or simply overjoyed at the thought of the promised bonus upon the project's success, they were full of spirit.
"Everyone, to your positions!"
Under the command of Evelyn, the head Architect Mage, they scattered to their respective spots and gripped their staves.
"Succubi, stick close to the Architect Mages. Ensure they consume Mana Potions the moment their reserves run low. Understood!"
"Yes~"
The virgin succubi from the Dream Factory set down large, syringe-like containers next to the Architect Mages.
The containers looked like ordinary oak barrels used for wine, but they had long, straw-like tubes attached, ending in breast-shaped pacifiers similar to the ones Dark Jeanne used.
"Mana supply is ready!"
"Good. Then begin ground leveling immediately!"
"Commencing ground leveling—!"
Thump, thump, thump.
The moment the Architect Mages cast their spells, clumps of earth from the training ground began to rise into the air.
Whoosh.
As soon as the clumps of sand were moved to one side of the grounds, the Sea Elves began spraying water.
The sand, soaked by the misty spray, turned into thick mud, and soon miners with shovels brought carts to haul the earth away.
"Move it, move it! Dump it outside the Lord's Castle!"
It would have been nice to have excavators or trailers, but unfortunately, such convenient machinery didn't exist here.
However, if you have the money to hire countless laborers, human sweat can sufficiently replace what machines do.
Hauling regular sand would have been easier, but moving mud was much better for the respiratory system than letting dust clouds fly everywhere.
40 Sea Elves.
30 Architect Mages.
30 assisting Succubi.
And about 200 laborers hauling earth.
With hundreds of people moving in perfect unison, a pit formed in the training ground in an instant.
A pit that looked like a scoop of ice cream had been taken out of the center.
Naturally, this wasn't the final form of the pool I envisioned.
"Serica!"
"...It's just stone, so there's no satisfaction in the kill, but it should be enough to feel the power of this weapon."
Serica stepped forward, sword in hand.
Her blade was shimmering with a white light.
I had temporarily lent Serica the Mythstone I used to maintain my physical form.
"Serica, cut it!!"
"...Hah!"
Serica immediately began swinging her sword.
She wasn't just swinging blindly; she was carving out the remaining sections of the pit, shaping the walls of the pool with precision.
"...Heh. It cuts incredibly well."
Like a knife squaring off a hole scooped out of a watermelon, Serica used the Mythstone sword to carve the earth into a perfect shape.
I was so serious about building this pool that I was using a Mythstone forged into a sword just to trim the dirt.
Once the depth reached a point where there was a proper gradient and a person's head would just peek out above the surface...
"Good! We'll 'practice' the circulation system later in the Infinite Labyrinth! Since the Sea Elves will be handling the purification here, focus on finishing the pool walls first!"
No sooner had the order been given than the Architect Mages began the more delicate work.
They started laying pre-fired square tiles onto the floor and the walls that had been cleanly sliced by the Mythstone's power.
If laid by human hands, it would have taken ages, but the tiles flew through the air as if dancing, snapping into place quickly and accurately.
Perhaps it was because they had spent so much time building and destroying things repeatedly in the Infinite Labyrinth.
Knowing that a single mistake could cause major issues, the Architect Mages focused intensely on laying the tiles.
Gradually, the form became perfect.
It began to resemble the swimming pools from my memory, and I waited patiently until all the work was finished.
And about two hours later.
"Perfect...!"
A flawless swimming pool had been created.
Splaaaaash.
The Sea Elves reached their hands toward the sky, creating something akin to rain clouds, causing the water vapor in the air to fall into the pool like rain.
Since the water wasn't circulating, it was technically more of a "plunge pool," but even if the water was stagnant, it would be a proper swimming pool as long as the Sea Elves purified it every day.
"Splendid. Truly magnificent."
I had finally brought something I desired into this world.
"Serica. That."
"Here it is."
Avoiding public gaze, I took the Mythstone back from Serica and converted it back into my own power. Then, with my body fully restored, I stood before the pool.
"I can't just stand here with something like this in front of me."
"Count, what are you planning to do..."
Flutter.
I whipped off my shirt.
I kicked off my shoes and socks simultaneously and stood right before the water, wearing nothing but my trousers.
"My Lord?"
Splash!
I threw myself into the pool.
To be safe, I didn't dive; I just lunged forward, and the moment I hit the water, I started moving my limbs.
"...Pwah!"
I swam a bit and stopped.
There was no major issue with swimming.
Even if Ruji's body didn't know how to swim, my original soul and body remembered.
However, it would be awkward if Ruji Fermaton, who had never stepped foot in a pool, suddenly became an expert swimmer. So, I poked my head out near the middle and climbed back out.
"My Lord!"
"I'm fine! No problems at all. It's perfect."
I stepped onto the tiles and climbed out of the water.
Laura and many others rushed toward me in surprise. I took a towel, dried my hair roughly, and pointed at the pool.
"Later, we'll need to install a canopy or something over this. Once we have a tent covering the entire training ground, the Sea Elves will stay here at night."
"If you say at night, then during the day..."
"It will be used as the training ground for our Knight Order."
Unfortunately, since I couldn't build these pool facilities on other parts of Fermaton's land yet, we'd have to share the pool between day and night for the time being, much to my chagrin.
Unless I build something like a dormitory for the Sea Elves near the water park outside Fermaton.
"Oh, and I jumped in without thinking, but there is one rule everyone must follow in this pool."
I pointed to my wet trousers.
"You must wear a swimsuit in the pool. Absolutely. Anyone who enters the pool without a swimsuit will be severely punished in the name of the Count."
"...Regardless of whether they are male or female?"
"No. This pool is 'Women Only'."
Everyone's expression froze at my words.
"This is where the Sea Elves sleep and live at night. How could a man be allowed in this water?"
"But My Lord, you just..."
"I am the exception. I am the Lord of Fermaton."
No one could say a word to me about that.
"The pool for the general public will be built over at the water park, so don't come looking for this one. This is a private pool for me and my Knight Order."
I had destroyed the knights' training ground to build a pool, but I had no regrets.
"Starting tomorrow, only those wearing swimsuits are permitted to enter! Anyone not in a swimsuit..."
To put it simply.
"Death penalty!!"
The reason I built the pool?
It’s definitely not.
It’s definitely not because I want to have sex while swimming with Laura and the Knight Order in their swimsuits.
Definitely not.