Chapter 61
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Translator: Prime Works
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: The Reason for Erecting the Statue (1)
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Trading City Creemo.
It was the central city of Creemo in the eastern region of the kingdom.
Naturally, the Creemo Count was the great lord of this area.
In other words, he was Lloyd's actual superior, the Baron Frontera's boss.
‘If this were Korea, hmm, like a governor?’
The biggest power holder in the region.
One of the most influential figures in the entire kingdom.
That was why Lloyd tilted his head.
A slight doubt had arisen.
“Um, the Count is really buying all these treasures?”
“That’s what they say. Why else would they send this letter?”
“But why?”
“Why what?”
“Honestly, those treasures were handled so roughly as exercise equipment by the orcs that their value isn’t that high. They must have tons of little scratches.”
It was true.
Even the rarest treasures require care.
Especially these, which had been used as workout gear by orcs for quite some time.
At a glance, they looked like valuable treasures.
Polish them up, and they’d sparkle.
But up close, it was different.
Scratches and dents everywhere.
Lots of them.
“So I figured the buyers would be rural nobles buying cheap treasures to brag about, or merchants profiting off middleman deals with those customers.”
That’s what Lloyd had expected.
They were like used(?) treasures.
Which made it even stranger.
‘Someone like a count doesn’t need to buy used stuff like this.’
If he wanted, he could collect brand-new treasures by the pile.
Hell, he could summon artisans to craft new ones.
Yet here he was, wanting to buy these used treasures.
It was definitely odd.
Like a huge corporation’s CEO picking up a used foreign car just to test drive it.
Or a high-society lady scouring secondhand sites for a designer bag.
“Any other purpose, maybe?”
Lloyd asked.
The baron shrugged.
“Who knows. But—”
The baron stroked his chin and furrowed his brow.
“Word is, the Count’s been planning to erect a massive statue in Creemo City lately.”
“A statue?”
“That’s the rumor.”
“Why?”
“No idea there. Just my guess, but maybe he plans to pluck the gems off our treasures and decorate the statue with them.”
“Ah, that makes sense.”
Lloyd finally nodded.
Gems to adorn a giant statue everywhere.
That purpose made it click.
‘Recycling gems from used treasures would save money over buying new ones. A big statue’s something you view from afar anyway. Scratched-up gems won’t matter.’
Lloyd pictured the chandelier stored in the warehouse.
Once it lit up some noble’s hall.
Turned into a giant orc warrior’s hula hoop.
Luckily, most of the gems embedded around its rim were intact. Just those would yield a hefty haul.
‘The Count’s a thrifty one.’
Anyway, securing a buyer was great news.
Especially since he could offload all the treasures at once.
Such welcome tidings greeting him.
In return, Lloyd shared good news with the baron.
“Now my turn?”
“The viscount’s territory visit.”
“Yes, the capital tax I mentioned this morning.”
“What was Viscount Racona’s reaction?”
“Ha, you should’ve seen it.”
Lloyd joked around.
He recounted the viscount’s audience.
All the pitiful moments the viscount showed.
The baron’s lips curled up in pure bliss as he listened.
Like century-old heartburn finally easing.
Cheeks rising to the heavens.
It was understandable.
‘Sir Kurno’s visit last time, relaying the viscount’s threats—that must’ve been humiliating.’
A threat with no way to resist.
Not from the viscount himself, but a mere knight he sent, who openly disdained him.
For a baron, humiliation upon humiliation.
But now?
He was hearing how the viscount who humiliated him had signed a tear-stained contract.
Sir Kurno even soaked his pants.
The great humiliation and black history of those who shamed him.
How could he not feel good?
‘Probably like honey flowing through his inner ear.’
Seeing the baron so happy lifted Lloyd’s spirits too.
The villagers enjoying the festival around them warmed his heart.
‘So let’s clear that debt quick.’
From the first day of possession, amid seizure threats.
He’d been running hard ever since.
Just a bit more.
A little more effort.
He could see hope for steadily paying off the debt.
Like that budding hope, the small festival night deepened brightly.
♣
The next day, Lloyd moved busily.
Time wasn’t on his side.
Lloyd always kept that etched in his mind.
Even this night, falling asleep near dawn after festival fun.
‘Mountains of work! Heave-ho!’
Rising early, preparing the day frantically.
A habit from Korea.
Woke at the usual time.
Eyes open as soon as daylight hit the window, rousing Haviel.
Preparations began for Trading City Creemo.
“Too many escorts would be trouble. Keep it tight.”
“You sure? Safety-wise…”
“It’s fine. Sir Asrahan’s with us.”
“Hmm. True, but.”
Lloyd was heading to Creemo City himself.
The baron, knowing this, set escorts at 100.
Lloyd freaked out, of course.
“Too many mouths mean more supplies. Plus, the Engineering Corps needs to stay and build more ondol.”
True.
More mouths, more food and gear.
More gear slows prep and travel.
Winter was approaching fast too.
“The contracts from spring with villagers promised ondol before winter. We should’ve finished by now, but didn’t.”
All because of the aqueduct.
Built an unplanned aqueduct, pulling every ondol builder.
“So minimal Engineering Corps. All hands on ondol to finish before winter.”
“How many then?”
“Minimal for carts hauling treasures and guards—twenty should do.”
“That enough?”
“Yes.”
Per Lloyd’s firm decision, the Creemo group: Lloyd, Haviel, twenty Engineering Corps.
Of course, personnel set didn’t mean immediate departure.
Prep work first.
The aqueduct for the viscount’s dye workshop.
Pipeline installation.
‘Contract’s a contract.’
Had to rush the aqueduct.
Then collect capital tax early and plenty.
“Alright, no rushing—steady! What’s first on site?”
“Safety!”
“Good. You all drilled this endlessly in the mountains?”
“Yes!”
“Deploy!”
“Wooo!”
Mobilized part of the Engineering Corps.
From territory’s water plant to viscount’s dye workshop.
Repeated mountain work countless times.
Podongi dug the path.
Corps refined it.
Giant bamboo pipes in, connected, buried.
All smooth as silk.
‘Prepped everything ahead.’
Surveys, designs.
Done before viscount contract.
Giant bamboo too.
Spared extras during territory pipeline from mountains.
Pre-trimmed, reinforced.
All set.
Podongi digs, corps refines—pipes go right in.
‘Mountain hell-construction’s like a full-course feast; this is instant rice and three-minute curry.’
That easy.
That fast.
Nearly all pipes in half a month.
Used eastern mountains’ slope from territory-viscount height difference.
Overall gradient: about 0.7%.
‘Plenty.’
The day the last pipe connected.
First aqueduct water reached viscount’s dye workshop.
Not lime-mixed water. Straight from mid-mountain Capua Lake.
Viscount’s specialty, Racona dye, revived.
Old color and sheen returned.
Viscount overwhelmed, naturally.
“Sniff, huuuh! Finally. Finally…”
“How’s that? Aqueduct worth it?”
“Indeed. Why’d I hesitate…”
“Why? Capital tax.”
“…”
“No skipping first month’s tax, right?”
“Ah, got it.”
Clutching revived Racona fabric, viscount teared up.
But ‘capital tax’ turned his face ashen.
Lloyd’s lips curved slyly.
‘Suckers always welcome.’
No pity, not a gram.
Crisis to opportunity.
Viscount’s gift crisis.
Overcame, stuck a titanium straw in him—no sucking for decades.
Bonus rewards too.
Ding-dong.
Turning from glum viscount.
Clear alert, messages scrolled.
[You’ve succeeded in introducing an aqueduct system.]
[First in Lorasia Continent history.]
[Your aqueduct construction and usage will be a pioneering model in kingdom and continent civil engineering history.]
[Your name recorded in kingdom and continent construction history.]
[Continent-first achievement bonus: massive RP granted.]
[Acquired 600 RP.]
[Current RP: 2275]
‘Oh?’
Lloyd paused.
Messages continued.
[Rumors of your great feat spread to nearby regions.]
[Kingdom central bureaucrats, civil engineers deeply interested in aqueduct’s engineering, social value.]
[You begin building fame as constructor.]
[People hearing rumors show deeper trust in your construction plans.]
‘Rewards for aqueduct system intro.’
Lloyd read carefully, grasping meaning.
‘Odd—no achievement for finishing territory aqueduct.’
Had puzzled him.
Now messages explained.
‘Not just laying pipes. Had to utilize properly.’
Not mere pipes.
Actual water supply.
Ultimately, fee-collecting ‘system.’
That completed the achievement.
‘Good. Excellent.’
Beautiful reward messages before eyes.
Lloyd smiled satisfied.
‘RP overflowing.’
Most RP at once ever.
Not all.
‘Constructor fame and trust. Not numeric, but huge reward.’
Lloyd wanted big projects ahead.
Big bucks.
Pay baron debt fast.
Gained constructor fame, trust.
Clients easier to land contracts.
‘Long-term boon.’
Perfect reward.
Minor ones followed.
Baron couple affinity +3 each.
Sir Bayern, supervisor, +2.
Territory folk +4 overall.
126 extra RP.
Warm feelings too.
“Be safe out there.”
Day after viscount aqueduct link.
Lloyd departed for Creemo.
Baron couple saw him off.
Baron endless worries, advice.
“Careful always, no rash moves anywhere. Got it?”
“Yes, will remember.”
“Trouble? Hide behind Sir Asrahan.”
“Yes, definitely.”
“Danger? Run first.”
“Then Engineering Corps?”
“Uh, run together.”
“…”
Baroness matched husband’s infinite worry relay.
“Tired? Come right back. No strange dark roads, secluded spots, dangers—ever?”
“Yes, yes. Got it.”
“No skipping meals.”
“Yes, will remember.”
“Sleep? No kicking blankets.”
“Um, yes.”
“And take this.”
“What’s this?”
“Talisman.”
“…This cute pink plush doll-thing?”
Baroness’s talisman(?).
Lloyd’s face scrunched receiving it.
Too cute, chubby bear doll for talisman.
Even pink, teenage girl vibe.
But baroness dead serious handing it.
“Not the same. Don’t badmouth or it won’t work.”
“But…”
“Mom made it overnight.”
“Ah…”
“No gaping—take it.”
“What’s it do?”
“Hug to sleep every night, blocks nightmares.”
“Guh.”
“Good dreams, deep sleep—things go smooth, luck follows. Hug it whole trip. Got it?”
“…”
All from worry for him.
Couldn’t refuse.
Suddenly recalled Korean mom days.
‘All moms like this?’
Unneeded, it seemed.
Annoying, embarrassing even.
Yet endlessly caring, giving.
Why’d he see as useless then?
Just burdensome?
Regret now, looking back.
Should’ve accepted.
Said thanks more.
Past self regretted.
Maybe why.
“Yes, thank you. Truly.”
Bright smile, took doll.
Hugged firmly, reassurance.
Extra for mom undone.
Plus youthful regrets.
Thus, off from territory with baron couple send-off.
Of course, no one knew yet.
Lloyd to Creemo just to sell old treasures.
This young master from rural noble house and his knight guard.
Would etch legendary feats in Creemo, talked forever.
At least, no one foresaw yet.