Chapter 352: The Switchback System (2)
“It’s dangerous.”
So I have to do it myself.
It’s the most logical thing to do.
With that thought, Lloyd smiled.
He was sincere.
“Besides, this test run, just like in hell, is something that has to be done. That’s how trains and railroads work. You only understand once you ride it yourself. You need to see how each section is made, how well the construction reflects the design intent, and if there are any unstable or dangerous parts. You can only know this by riding it and experiencing it yourself.”
This is true.
You don’t know until you try it.
There are things you can only understand by seeing and feeling them firsthand.
This was exactly such a case.
“That’s why I have to ride it myself. When the railroad construction started, I asked Cogidus to make a test mule train for the trial run. I saw it earlier, and it turned out pretty well.”
“Hmm, Lord Lloyd. That’s not what I wanted to say…”
“It’s not? Then what is it?”
Lloyd smiled again, tilting his head slightly.
Javier’s expression hardened.
“I understand why the test run is necessary. I understand the importance of experiencing it firsthand. But why do you have to do it?”
“Why do I have to do it? I told you, to see and feel it myself.”
“Can’t someone else see and feel it?”
“No, they can’t.”
“But it’s dangerous.”
Javier pointed to the steep railroad tracks.
“It looks impressive, but we don’t know what dangers might arise during the actual run. Wouldn’t it be better to run an empty train for a basic safety check before the test run with people?”
“No, that won’t do.”
“Why not?”
“Because of the orcs. The train moves by manpower through lever-pulling. Even if there are no passengers, the orc power workers will be on board. But if I avoid it because it’s dangerous and put the orcs on it, it would look strange. Are you trying to make me look like a piece of trash? Is that what you’re doing?”
“That’s…”
“I understand you’re worried about me. But I have my own safety measures, so don’t worry.”
“You have safety measures?”
“Of course.”
Lloyd nodded as if stating the obvious, declaring shamelessly yet cheerfully.
“I’ll have you on board too.”
“…”
“So even if the train slips and rolls down the slope, it won’t be unfair.”
“Are you saying you don’t want to die alone?”
“Of course, that’s obvious.”
“…”
“I’m joking. If something goes wrong, you can help me and the orc warriors escape. And I’ll have Yongyongi nearby to catch the train if it falls.”
Lloyd’s smile turned mischievous.
It was obvious that test runs are dangerous.
Therefore, having safety measures in place is also obvious.
‘Of course, safety measures must be in place.’
In truth, he was also secretly scared of this test run.
That was his honest feeling.
But that didn’t mean he would pass this role to someone else.
He believed it was something he had to do himself.
‘As I told Javier, it’s to check the construction status, and because it’s dangerous. That’s the biggest reason.’
It’s dangerous, so he has to do it himself.
He designed this railroad.
He felt it was his responsibility to be the first to test its dangers.
‘Honestly, it makes sense. Once this is completed, the trains will run for over a hundred years. Many people will use it. But if the designer is too scared to ride it? That would be ridiculous.’
To make something for others to use, but not use it yourself because it’s dangerous?
Just thinking about it was disgusting.
But in Korea?
He had seen such cases surprisingly often.
‘At the site. There were cases like that. Especially how safety equipment for workers was treated. The walkways for dozens of workers, the tower cranes at the site, the safety nets, other safety devices… I rarely saw those responsible or the construction owners personally inspecting them.’
Just roughly.
Checking if it was installed according to the paperwork.
They made their subordinates or workers check it formally.
No, even that level of inspection was considered good.
That’s why.
‘I cursed those responsible a lot back then. But if I don’t ride the test run because it’s dangerous? If I pass it on to others? Then I’m no different from those people I cursed.’
He didn’t want that.
At least to be honest with his past self.
He thought he shouldn’t become like the people he had cursed in the past.
“Anyway—”
Lloyd’s lips curled into a mischievous smile again.
“Because of those reasons, I’ll do it myself. I have some safety measures, so don’t worry too much. If something goes wrong, consider it an honor to die together.”
“An honor? That won’t happen.”
“Hmm? Are you saying you’ll definitely save me if the train falls?”
“No. I’ll escape alone.”
“…”
“But I will say goodbye. Bye-bye.”
“…”
“If you want, I can wave my hand. Sentimentally.”
“Tsk, forget it.”
Lloyd laughed out loud.
A faint smile appeared on Javier’s lips as well.
The silver-haired knight thought to himself.
Lord Lloyd, you act like it’s nothing…
‘But you’ve always been like that. Selfish and sneaky on the surface, but at the crucial moment? You never hide behind others. Never.’
He didn’t know this before.
He just thought Lloyd was a sneaky person.
He once saw him as the epitome of an opportunist.
But now he knew.
That’s just Lloyd Frontera’s way of survival.
It’s the survival method he learned while living in Seoul.
If you peel off that sneaky survival layer, inside, there’s a side that cares for others and strives to be honest with himself.
‘So maybe, I might come to respect you.’
He hated to admit it.
He didn’t want to show it outwardly.
But that was his honest feeling.
The silver-haired knight, Javier, thought so and chuckled.
He stood beside Lloyd, looking at the construction site on the slope.
♣
From that day on, Lloyd proceeded with the test run preparations.
The most important task he focused on was selecting the orc power workers who would move the test mule train.
Of course, the selection process was very simple.
“For the reasons mentioned, we need power workers. Eight power workers will be assigned per train car.”
“Squeak?”
Three hundred orc warriors showed disinterested expressions at Lloyd’s words.
Power workers to move the train?
They were not interested.
It seemed boring and muscle loss seemed inevitable.
They thought digging with shovels and pickaxes at the site would be much better for maintaining their muscles.
They all snorted indifferently.
But as soon as Lloyd continued speaking, things changed.
“So, who wants to take this opportunity to properly work on their triceps?”
“Triceps, squeak?”
All their eyes lit up.
Their indifferent nostrils flared with excitement.
“Squeak! If we become power workers, does that mean we can get bigger, more beautiful triceps?”
An excited orc raised his hand and asked.
Lloyd responded with a con artist-like smile.
“Of course. The train will move with the strength of those selected. In other words, the wheels will turn by the force of pushing the lever like pumping.”
“Pushing exercise! Triceps, squeak!”
“Yes, that’s right. It will stimulate your triceps. And not only that. Half of the train’s operation will be on steep uphill slopes. What does that mean? It means the train will be harder to move, requiring more force, and naturally…”
“Stronger stimulation, squeak!”
“Exactly. You’ll get a proper workout. Additionally, you’ll gain muscle endurance as a bonus. Because you’ll be pumping the lever continuously without rest throughout the train’s movement.”
“Endless muscles that don’t tire, squeak!”
“Yes, that’s right. So, let me ask again. Who wants to work on their triceps properly?”
“Me, squeak!”
“No! Me, squeak!”
“I’ll do it, squeak!”
As soon as Lloyd finished asking.
There was chaos among the orc warriors.
After a fierce arm-wrestling selection (?!) among themselves, the strongest eight were chosen.
And Lloyd selected two additional “sandmen.”
“You two, the sandmen? Take this.”
“Squeak? What’s this? Isn’t it a sandbag?”
“Yes, it is.”
Lloyd handed the two sandmen large sandbags with a grin.
“Your role is important from now on.”
“Important? Us, squeak?”
“Yes. You two will ride in the very front of the test train. Do you see those two seats outside?”
“I see them, squeak!”
“They look like special seats, squeak!”
Lloyd pointed to the very front of the test train.
There, on the outside, were two fixed seats.
Lloyd continued his explanation.
“You might wonder why there are seats at the front, outside, instead of inside. But there’s a reason. Those are the seats where you will bravely face the harsh external winds and ensure the safe operation of the train.”
“Bravely face the wind, squeak?”
“Ensure safe operation? Us, squeak?”
“Yes. The safety of the operation depends on you two.”
Lloyd pointed to the large sandbags in the two orcs’ arms.
“During the entire operation of the train, sit on those seats and sprinkle sand from the bags onto the tracks, a handful at a time.”
“Sprinkle sand, squeak?”
“What happens then, squeak?”
“What happens is, the train will move more stably and not slip, thanks to the friction provided by the sand.”
Lloyd’s words were true.
A sandman sitting at the front of the train, sprinkling sand on the tracks.
This wasn’t Lloyd’s idea alone.
It was a method actually used on Earth.
‘The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the model for this mountain railroad, also had sandmen on its trains.’
He remembered seeing the data when another senior researched it during his university club days.
There were sandmen on the Darjeeling trains.
They performed the same role he just explained to the orcs.
Thanks to them, the trains could move more stably on steep slopes.
“So your roles are crucial. The safe operation depends on how meticulously, accurately, and appropriately you sprinkle the sand.”
“The role is crucial, squeak!”
“We’re important, squeak!”
“Yes. Without you two, the train can’t move today. So please do your best.”
“Leave it to us, squeak!”
“Trust us, squeak!”
The two orcs, realizing their role as sandmen, pounded their chests.
Finally, the much-anticipated test run began.
And finally.
The true value of the test mule train, made by Cogidus and the dwarf artisans, was revealed.
“Let’s go!”
“Squeak! Squeak!”
Clank, clank, clank…
At Lloyd’s signal to start, the orcs’ triceps flexed explosively!
Four orcs grabbed the levers.
They pressed down with overwhelming force.
They pumped like mad.
The powerful four-orc propulsion engine!
With that propulsion, the one-car test mule train began to move slowly.
Throughout the movement, the two sandmen at the front sprinkled sand diligently.
At first, they slowly climbed the foothills.
They ascended the mountain ridge step by step.
If the four orcs seemed to get tired midway?
“Let’s switch! What’s more important than exercise when working on muscles?”
“Proper rest, squeak!”
The four orcs pumping the levers chanted and stepped back.
Then another four waiting on the side took over the levers.
In pairs of four, taking turns.
As one team got tired.
The next team was deployed, and they alternated rest.
That’s how the test mule train climbed the gorge slope bit by bit.
But only for a while.
The slope got steeper and steeper.
A slope too steep to climb just by pumping.
But Lloyd wasn’t worried or concerned at all.
“That’s why we made the switchback system.”
Smiling confidently, Lloyd looked at the tracks ahead.
He shouted to the orcs pumping the levers.
“Stop!”
At the same time, he pulled the brake lever.
Clank, squeak!
The rolling steel wheels locked with a screech.
The train, running at 20 kilometers per hour, slowed down gradually.
Finally, it entered the dead-end track of the gorge slope and stopped precisely.
Watching this, Javier thought.
‘Actually, it’s a dead-end track. How does the train turn and continue from here?’
He became curious.
His curiosity only grew with Lloyd’s next shout.
“Sandmen! Start aerobics!”
As soon as Lloyd shouted.
The two sandmen sitting outside the train stood up, dropping the sandbags.
From then on.
The technology that allows the train to overcome the steep slopes.
The true face of the switchback system began to shine.
