Chapter 110
Night had fallen.
It was the hour when most people were getting ready for bed.
Or perhaps already enjoying an early, sweet sleep.
But here, one person—Sir Valeradi Blanc, commander of the White Lancers—could not fall asleep so easily.
No, it wasn’t that he couldn’t sleep. He was storming down the hallway, fuming with every heavy step.
‘What an unbelievably rude….’
Clack! Clack clack!
He remembered what had happened just moments before.
The memory only made his steps rougher.
No wonder.
He had just heard an unthinkably rude request from the Baron of this estate, Lord of Frontera, who had summoned him to his office.
‘What? Assign the entire White Lancer corps to the engineer corps?’
His pride was wounded.
Even thinking about it now, he found it absurd.
Just recalling it made his face burn red.
‘He wants us to put down our swords and pick up shovels? Digging dirt like that?’
Unbelievable.
Who did they think he was?
Who were the White Lancers under his command?
‘We are Her Majesty the Queen’s sword and spear. Our greatest honor is to fight and die following Her Majesty across the battlefield. And yet, they want us to pick up shovels?’
Of course he’d protested.
He’d even grabbed the Baron by the collar.
How dare anyone give him such an outrageous order?
Sure, they’d come here by Her Majesty’s command.
So, for the time being, command had been temporarily handed to the Baron of Frontera.
‘But still, this is outrageous!’
He was seething.
He’d shouted in outrage.
And the Baron of Frontera, now pale, had given a reply that was even more absurd.
‘What? It wasn’t his idea or decision?’
He demanded more answers.
The Baron then told him, ‘If you go down to the estate’s training ground, you’ll understand why.’
‘Fine. I’ll go. I’ll go just to see how ridiculous this is!’
Maybe he’d get some answers.
Clack! Clack!
He stormed out of the mansion and headed toward the training ground in the back.
Beneath the bright, full moon, someone stood alone in the center of the grounds, oblivious to his raging mood.
Standing with hands behind his back, he looked up at the moon with perfect composure.
“Who’s there? Have you been waiting for me?”
Sir Blanc called out.
The silhouette turned toward him.
He was unarmed.
But somehow, his calm smile looked even more dangerous than a weapon.
“Yes, I have. You’re here earlier than I expected.”
“Lloyd Frontera?”
“It’s an honor that the famous Sir Blanc knows my name.”
“Honor, you say. I’m Valeradi Blanc. We saw each other briefly yesterday, but this is our first proper introduction.”
“I apologize. I was busy handling the aftermath of yesterday’s incident.”
“We were both busy.”
He too had spent the day checking on his men and maintaining their equipment and armor.
Sir Blanc tilted his head and eyed Lloyd.
“But I just heard something strange.”
“From the Baron?”
“So you know.”
“Of course. I’m the one who made the request.”
“You mean, the decision to assign the White Lancers to your engineer corps came from you?”
“That’s right.”
“……”
He answered so nonchalantly.
Sir Blanc nearly grabbed him by the collar again.
He barely restrained the urge.
“Why? The Baron said I’d get answers if I came here. So stop beating around the bush and explain.”
“To survive.”
“…What?”
Sir Blanc hesitated.
What was Lloyd Frontera trying to say?
Lloyd continued.
“I don’t want to die. But I can’t abandon the estate. I definitely can’t abandon the people who live here. So I decided we have to do whatever it takes. Use every method, endure as long as possible.”
“So your way to prepare for the monsters’ invasion is this? Assigning the White Lancers to the engineer corps?”
“That’s right.”
“But you’re making a mistake.”
“How so?”
“Five hundred lances blazing across the battlefield would be far more powerful than having the White Lancers wield shovels as engineers.”
“Yes, you’re right.”
“…What do you mean?”
What was this man up to?
Why did he so readily agree?
Lloyd simply smiled.
“On the battlefield, by all means, let the lances shine. I won’t stop you. In fact, I’ll cheer you on. But until the monsters attack, I’m just asking that you pick up a shovel.”
“So, you’re saying that when there’s no fighting, join the engineer corps, and when the time comes, fight as lancers?”
“Yes.”
It was such a clear answer.
Sir Blanc paused.
He couldn’t come up with a rebuttal.
‘Logically, it makes sense.’
They were the White Lancers.
But that was their role in battle.
Until then, he was just asking them to pick up a shovel.
In the end, it was an extremely practical idea.
‘It’s not like digging in peacetime would tarnish our honor.’
All that mattered was how they performed in battle.
And, even in terms of procedure, Lloyd’s request was perfectly valid.
The moment they were dispatched to this estate by Her Majesty, the Baron of Frontera temporarily received ultimate command.
‘But… I just don’t like it.’
It was practical and procedurally correct.
But it wounded his pride.
Her Majesty’s elite knights, with shovels covered in dirt.
That fact alone was hard to accept.
In short, this wasn’t a matter of logic or practicality—it was all about pride and feeling.
‘If I feel this way, what about my men?’
Five hundred White Lancers.
Every single one of them was an exceptional man.
All ready to lay down their lives for Her Majesty the Queen.
That’s why, when this order was given, they’d surely protest even more strongly.
As he struggled with this, Sir Blanc looked up.
Suddenly, he wanted to check something.
“I have a question.”
“Yes, ask away.”
“If we do join the engineer corps, what exactly will we be doing?”
“You’ll do what engineers do.”
“You mean…?”
“You’ll mostly be digging. At first, you won’t have the knack for it, so you’ll be a bit slow. But once you get the hang of it, I believe you’ll work even better than our engineers. I have high expectations.”
“What…”
“I mean it. Truly.”
He wasn’t just saying this to hurt their pride.
‘It’s the White Lancers, after all.’
Her Majesty’s personal corps.
They were men proven in combat and strength.
If they got the hang of it, they could do the work of several skilled engineers.
And if things got dangerous, they could instantly switch back to soldiers.
Very soon, the grand plan he envisioned.
A way to block the endless monster waves all at once.
For that, they needed to get good at digging.
“So I promise, you’ll be paid handsomely. Five times more than our regular engineers. That’s a generous offer.”
“Wages aren’t the issue here.”
“They matter. Many people in this world sweat and toil all day just for that.”
“……”
“And working at the site isn’t meaningless either. It’s good training.”
“Training? You mean physical training?”
“That’s right.”
“Ha.”
Sir Blanc let out a hollow laugh.
Was this Lloyd truly sane?
‘He’s the hero who saved Cremo and was acknowledged by Her Majesty the Queen.’
He’d also stopped Sir Cherny’s attempt on the Queen’s life.
He’d admired and wanted to meet a man who achieved such feats.
And now, he couldn’t help but be disappointed.
“Lloyd Frontera, it seems you know nothing about the White Lancers. Do you think we’re so weak we need to train at a construction site?”
“Hmm, don’t you?”
“Nonsense. You’re looking down on us.”
“I don’t think so.”
“You’re saying you’re not looking down on us?”
“That’s right.”
“So you mean we can train at a construction site?”
“Of course.”
“How on earth…?”
Sir Blanc frowned.
It’s just digging.
Maybe hammering a little.
At most, moving dirt and bricks.
But what about their usual training?
‘We train every day, risking our lives. We’ve honed our skills through countless blood and sweat, among flashing blades and spears, raising toasts in victory, living for tomorrow. And now what?’
Could a construction site really be a place for training?
‘Nonsense.’
Sir Blanc was sure.
He stared coldly and asked,
“How could it possibly be training? What could possibly change by working on a construction site?”
“A lot of things.”
“Can you prove it?”
“Of course.”
“Right now?”
“If you’d like, I can show you right now.”
“Do it.”
“Good. But how about a little wager?”
“A wager?”
“Yes.”
Lloyd gave a strange smile.
“Now I’ll show you the result of training at a construction site—with a shovel. If you judge that what I show you is stronger than your swordsmanship, then please assign the White Lancers to the engineer corps, no complaints. What do you say?”
“Heh, fine.”
Sir Blanc didn’t hesitate for a second.
Show the results of training with a shovel?
And compare it to his swordsmanship?
He almost laughed.
‘Does he not know I’m just shy of a Swordmaster?’
He could do everything with his sword except unleash aura.
No matter what Lloyd Frontera did with a shovel, it could never be stronger than his swordsmanship. Even if he was the hero who defeated the Gigatitan at Cremo.
A shovel is just a tool.
A shovel can’t win.
Sir Blanc was sure as he said,
“I accept your wager.”
“Good.”
Lloyd nodded cheerfully.
He picked up a shovel from the ground.
‘A shovel. What could he possibly do with that?’
Sir Blanc felt even more amused.
Let him do whatever with that shovel.
Afterward?
He’d laugh all he wanted.
And then demand an apology for every slight and insult.
With that thought, he took two steps back.
To avoid getting dirt on his clothes.
But at that moment, Lloyd said something unexpected.
“Two steps aren’t enough. Please step back further.”
“…How much further?”
“As far as possible.”
“…….”
He took two more steps back.
But Lloyd shook his head.
Feeling uneasy, Sir Blanc took five more steps back.
Finally, Lloyd got into position.
“Digging,” he said,
Kwaaaang!
Lloyd gripped the shovel with fierce strength, tendons standing out on his hands.
“It’s not as easy and simple as you think, Sir Blanc.”
Kiiiiing—!
Three circles began to spin.
Lloyd gripped the shovel even tighter.
“To dig even once, you have to get up before dawn. Before sunrise, you put on your clothes, put on your safety boots, and leave the house. Then, at the labor center, you pray to be picked. If you aren’t chosen? You can’t even dig, no matter how much you want to.”
“…….”
What was he talking about?
Sir Blanc wanted to ask.
But Lloyd continued.
“And even if it’s raining or the weather is bad, it’s the same. Especially in summer, when typhoons or monsoons come, or in winter when pouring concrete is impossible. But even if the weather is fine, sometimes you get blacklisted by the foreman. Or, due to bad luck, the work is called off midway. If that happens, you can’t dig either.”
“What are you…?”
“To overcome all those obstacles and hardships just to dig the first hole of the day. Only then do you earn your day’s wage. Yes, it might seem petty or insignificant to others. But for the people who do it, digging is sometimes the last hope in their life. With just one day’s digging, they can earn money for medicine or tuition. It gives them a little hope.”
“…….”
“So for someone, digging is hope and life. It’s the strength that lets them keep going, feed their children, and not give up on tomorrow. So—”
Kiiiiiiing—!
At some point, the triple circles began spinning fiercely.
With every word Lloyd spoke, the circles resonated.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
At that moment, the three circles collided.
He raised the shovel to the sky.
Tuwahaaak—!
“……!”
The force of a volcanic triple detonation soared seventy meters into the night sky.
It fiercely burned a part of the night sky.
It faded with the wind.
But the wind was a blast of heat.
The air, heated by the powerful blast, ruffled Sir Blanc’s hair.
Lloyd looked his way.
He spoke softly.
“This is what real digging is.”
“…….”
Sir Blanc couldn’t say anything.
Instead, he swallowed unconsciously.
From the next day, every White Lancer respectfully carried a shovel.
And six days later,
The second monster horde, just as Lloyd predicted, appeared on the outskirts of the barony.