Chapter 312: Linked Praise Effects (2)
“Hmm?”
This was an office in the heavenly realm.
Archangel Gabriel slightly furrowed his beautiful eyebrows, troubled by a stack of reports that had landed on his desk.
“Illegal Construction in the Lower Realm Status Report?”
It was the type of report he hadn’t seen in quite some time. By earthly time, it had been exactly 9,184 years and 9 months and 28 days.
“These reports rarely come in.”
Understandably so.
After all, it concerned constructions not authorized by the heavenly realm—structures beyond what beings of the Lower Realm could rightfully manage.
The construction conditions were exceedingly strict.
For most beings of the Lower Realm, even contemplating such constructions was beyond audacity.
“Someone dares to build it? Hmm, let’s see.”
Gabriel opened the report, his eyebrows knitting further.
“The Jewel of Truth? Aotearoa?”
It was a familiar name. He dredged his memory.
“This was a structure dismantled in the past. It was too powerful and overwhelming for beings of the Lower Realm to handle, capable even of revealing divine secrets. It was ordered to be demolished.”
That order had sparked a great war in the Lower Realm.
At the war’s end, the Jewel had been destroyed.
Humans, orcs, elves, and merfolk.
Giants and centaurs, and other races too.
It was a demolition successfully executed with the hands of many beings of the Lower Realm.
“And someone plans to rebuild it?”
It was incomprehensible.
What sort of being had emerged in the Lower Realm, possessing such tremendous power to reach the stage of constructing an illegal structure?
The Archangel’s eyes seriously scanned the report.
The Jewel of Truth, once destroyed in the age of myths.
How its materials came together.
Where the illegal construction was being attempted.
The Archangel’s hand flipping through the report quickened.
And finally.
The name of the constructor of the illegal structure caught his eye.
“Lloyd Frontera.”
The Archangel’s steely gaze fixated on the name of the constructor.
He reached out his hand.
He rang a bell on his desk.
Soon, someone entered the office.
“Deputy Director of the Lower Realm Surveillance Bureau, Raphael, at your service, Archangel.”
“Thank you. I’ve summoned you for a special task.”
“Yes, what do you command?”
“It’s concerning this matter.” Gabriel handed him the report.
Raphael, after quickly reviewing it, hardened his gaze.
“You are to form a special audit team and monitor Lloyd Frontera of the Lower Realm. Regularly report to me about his construction of the illegal structure, the Jewel of Truth.”
“Understood. But…”
“Something on your mind?”
“Considering the Jewel of Truth ranks among the top of illegal constructions due to its divine revelation capabilities, wouldn’t it be easier to halt the construction efforts early rather than just observing?”
Raphael asked.
The Archangel chuckled.
“True, that would be easier. But that’s not how we do things. You know why, don’t you?”
“Yes, I understand. As beings of the heavenly realm, we must not intervene too directly in the affairs of the Lower Realm.”
“Correct. Let the Lower Realm handle its own affairs as much as possible, within the bounds of natural order.”
“What does that imply?”
“The construction is a formidable task. There are countless variables in the fate of worldly affairs. Accidents might happen during construction, or the project might fail due to design flaws. However, if this human of the Lower Realm overcomes all these fated obstacles and truly comes close to completing the Jewel of Truth…”
“Then you’ll intervene?”
“Yes. Since it’s an illegal construction, at that point, I will issue a decree to demolish it.”
“Understood. I will form the audit team immediately.”
“Thank you. Proceed.”
“Yes.”
Raphael gave a sharp celestial salute and departed.
Left alone in his office, Archangel Gabriel perused the report once more.
A soft sigh escaped him unnoticed.
“…Dragon King Berchis. You’ve stirred up trouble again. Why did you disclose the existence of the Jewel to a mere human?”
♣
Meanwhile, in the distant Lower Realm of Frontera territory, Lloyd was unaware that he had garnered the significant interest (?) of the Archangel.
Focusing on the present.
Preparing for a sweet future.
With the full support of his domain’s residents.
He was in the process of using the time freeze option.
[Ding dong!]
[Skill Option ⑤: Do you want to use Time Freeze?]
[YES / NO]
‘Of course, yes.’
Lloyd boldly chose ‘YES’.
The response came immediately.
[Mana Heart Skill Exclusive Option ⑤: Time Freeze activated.]
[3,000 RP has been consumed.]
[Your current RP: 8,755]
[From now on, you can freeze the flow of time for up to one year with the power of the Winter Heart. You can designate the area you wish to exclude from the time freeze within the limits of your mana capacity.]
[Current limit of the area you can exempt from freezing: 300 km²]
[Please specify the desired range for the unfrozen area.]
The guidance message appeared before his eyes.
It seemed he could designate nearly half the area of Seoul as an unfrozen region.
Lloyd voiced the answer he had in mind.
‘The maximum, of course. But not in a circular shape, following the specific areas I designate.’
Centered around the Frontera territory.
He extended the unfrozen region northward where the dam was to be built.
And also expanded it eastward along the Prona River.
Including the entire Kapua Lake in the Eastern Mountains where the water intake facility was, and the surrounding area generously.
He specified the unfrozen region to ensure the territory would not run out of drinking water while time was frozen.
‘The river must keep flowing. The waterworks must function properly.’
Fortunately, the limit he could designate was not insufficient.
Zzzzz!
‘Wow!’
As expected, mana began to drain from Mana Heart like a tide.
Not just the mana inside his body.
It felt as though his esophagus and duodenum were holding hands with a lamprey, ascending to the celestial realm.
The mana that drained away turned into extreme cold.
Shot towards the sky.
At several kilometers above Frontera territory, it spread out and covered the area like a dome. Rapidly freezing. Forming a barrier.
And outside this ice barrier, the time of the world halted.
[Ding dong.]
[Time Freeze completed.]
[The range of the unfrozen area cannot be changed until the option is deactivated.]
[If you leave the unfrozen area, the Time Freeze option will be deactivated immediately.]
[For the next year, all living beings within the unfrozen area, including yourself, will not experience aging.]
Lloyd breathed a sigh of relief he had been holding.
‘Phew, it’s done.’
As before, the aftermath of using the Time Freeze option was no joke.
It felt as if the essence of his body was being drained.
But it was worth it.
Especially the reaction of the territory’s residents.
“Mom, what is that?”
“Yes, my son. That is a miracle shown by Master Lloyd.”
“Mom, what’s a miracle?”
“Yes, my son. A miracle is something Master Lloyd often shows us.”
“Mom, who is Master Lloyd?”
“Who else? He is the benefactor whom you, my son, will faithfully serve in the future.”
A young woman hugged her young son tightly.
She thought back to the terrifying locust invasion.
Had it not been for the bell rung by Master Lloyd,
Her son, then a nursing baby, would have met a terrible fate.
Master Lloyd was truly their savior.
In any situation, she would trust him.
Though a strange barrier had formed in the sky.
And although the sun did not seem to move.
She believed there must be a deep reason behind his actions.
Most other residents felt the same.
Actually, they were enjoying the situation (?).
“Brother, did you see? I told you so, didn’t I? Wasn’t I right?”
“Indeed? Master Lloyd really stopped the sky? Then, time has stopped outside? Beyond the ice wall?”
“That’s what they say. But we can move around just fine, isn’t that great? Haha!”
“So, are we the only ones aging?”
“Hey, no way. What kind of person do you think Master Lloyd is?”
“So?”
“They say we won’t age.”
“For the entire time it’s stopped?”
“That’s right. Isn’t that great?”
“Heh? Ha! If that’s true, then it’s like living longer for free!”
“Exactly. That’s why they say a festival will start today and last for two days. Going?”
“Of course, I must go. Why even ask?”
A pair of woodcutter brothers left their home in high spirits.
Already, a modest festival had begun in the central streets of the territory.
Celebrating that Master Lloyd had truly stopped time.
And marveling that they could remain perfectly fine and unaged.
Because it was fascinating and fun.
Because it felt like their lives had been extended for free.
Because they could enjoy the fresh morning air and sunlight for a whole year.
Everyone participated in the festival with joyful hearts.
They enjoyed eating and drinking.
Praise was shouted all around.
Indeed, it was our Master Lloyd.
I believed from the beginning.
They praised openly, spitting as they spoke.
Even the count and countess mingled among the residents throughout the festival, secretly enjoying the praises and compliments showered on their son.
In the face of everyone’s demeanor, Lloyd could only smirk.
‘Wow, these people? They are not kidding around.’
He had worried that using time freeze might lead to strange misunderstandings.
But looking at the situation now, it was the complete opposite.
Far from being misunderstood,
He was showered with nothing but praise.
‘If I hadn’t used the time freeze, I might have disappointed them, faced censure, and even lost their affection.’
He pondered whether he deserved such excessive trust and praise.
Of course, the conclusion came naturally.
‘Of course I deserve it! Look at how much I’ve done for the territory!’
Lloyd snorted confidently.
He had truly revived the failing territory.
He had protected the territory from being swept away by a monster domino effect.
He had even elevated a nondescript rural territory to the status of a countship!
Resolved to be more confident and shameless, he began the dam construction immediately after the festival.
The first step was organizing the work teams.
“Alright. As you’ve all heard from the count, starting today, we’re going to take the first great shovel towards the endless development of our territory. So, Team 1?”
“Dig! Carve! Excavate!”
With a splash, Lloyd’s call was met by a synchronized step forward from the Bayern engineers.
Their sunburned skin,
The fine wrinkles around their eyes,
Spoke of veterans who had rolled through fields and sites.
Whether on the continent of Lorasia or anywhere in Korea.
They looked ready to snatch a foreman position in any field at a moment’s notice.
Watching their robust appearance, Lloyd said,
“Engineering corps. You are Team 1 for the dam and Jewel of Truth complex construction. What is Team 1?”
“The heart of the work!”
“Correct. Let’s think back to the old days, when we built the heated rooms together, when we were green and not used to shoveling.”
“…”
“Yes, let’s not forget that beginner’s spirit. And remember, there’s no safe zone on site. Accidents don’t discriminate between novices and veterans. Keep that in mind as you become the heart of the work site. Constantly check on your fellow team members’ work status and lead the site atmosphere. Engineering corps, your slogan.”
“Dig! Carve! Excavate!”
“Good. Next, Team 2?”
“Scoop! Move! Fill!”
Lloyd turned his head.
There stood 500 white-lance cavalrymen, or rather, now known in the territory as white-shovel cavalrymen.
Uniquely, they were still mounted, holding shovels and sacks.
Once, they had grumbled about how to do such digging.
“We don’t do that kind of work,” they had complained.
But now?
All had transformed into full-fledged mobile shovelers.
Lloyd’s eyes gleamed with pleasure.
“White-lance cavalry. You will be the lubricants for this construction. There’s going to be a lot of soil to be scooped and moved, more than any other construction. You are the finest earth-moving team I know. There is no one better, more efficient, and disciplined at moving earth than you. So, let’s hear your slogan as a sign to start.”
“Scoop! Move! Fill!”
The slogan of Team 2, the white-lance cavalry, resounded robustly.
But then, Team 3 didn’t shout any slogan.
They simply responded with the sound of bones.
“Now, next, Team 3?”
Creak!
At Lloyd’s call, the bone brigade creaked forward.
Being voiceless, they did not shout a slogan.
Instead, they…
Crunch! Snap!
The leaders of the bone brigade, Turtle Neck, Square Jaw, and Frozen Shoulder, each raised a picket.
The picket displayed the bone brigade’s slogan.
[Overtime!]
[Night shifts!]
[Work to death!]
Seeing their slogan, Lloyd’s smile was filled with contentment.
“Excellent. You know your role. Bone brigade, you are an indefatigable force. You don’t need to sleep or eat or rest. That’s why I entrust Team 3 with this key role. If Team 1, the engineers, manage the site and Team 2, the white-lance cavalry, moves the earth, then you, Team 3, will literally become the labor force’s heart, working the hardest on site. And for that, let me introduce a special new member to your team.”
Creak?
The bone brigade tilted their skulls curiously.
Lloyd smiled even more broadly.
Shouted.
“Dragon, greet your seniors!”
Roar!
As soon as Lloyd’s call fell,
Dragon made an imposing landing.
The bone brigade bowed their heads in a quick, friendly manner.
As if they had been waiting just for this moment.
Genuinely delighted to officially join the bone brigade.
Their entire bodies vibrated with emotion, rattling their bones.
The bone brigade burst into laughter as they welcomed the big new recruit.
“Finally, our unit has a dependable junior.”
“Now we can really strut our shoulder blades.”
They danced a joyful shoulder dance in pure delight.
Thus, the main three teams were organized for the complex construction.
Haviel and mythical creatures formed Team 4, taking on the role of the heavy machinery team.
Dwarf master Kogidus and the territory’s blacksmiths, along with civilian volunteers, were grouped into Team 5 as the support team.
With time freeze and personnel teams organized,
All preparations were finally complete.
They began the foundational construction.
They cleared temporary roads for transporting materials.
Started mining limestone and aggregate for the dam.
Bangul continuously produced volcanic ash, essential for concrete, with her volcanic eruption skill.
Each team carried out their tasks smoothly.
All processes progressed vigorously.
Then, one day, while Lloyd was typically directing the construction site,
He unexpectedly received a telepathic magic call.
Hey, Dragon King’s mentee? Trouble’s brewing. If you want to keep building the Jewel of Truth, get over here. Hurry. It was a call from Dragon King Berchis, sounding urgent for some reason.