Chapter 374: The Real Thrill is Breaking Through Obstacles (2)

‘Someone is using the structures I built as a medium to recreate Namaran’s barrier?’

Lloyd furrowed his brow unconsciously.

The situation started to make sense.

‘That’s exactly it. The restoration phenomenon of fate.’

He got a grasp of it.

But it was still too early to conclude.

He continued his detailed observation.

‘Hmm. Should I start with a scan?’

[Scanning initiated.]

Tzzz!

He activated his surveying skill.

The underground scanning option was also enabled.

He could clearly see the underground structures and conditions up to 5 meters below the ground.

‘Tsk. The reinforced pile is cracked.’

It was broken at about 4 meters deep.

The shape was very odd.

‘It looks like a burst gimbap.’ [1]

Like a gimbap or sausage that had been stuffed too full and burst.

The reinforced pile, which was supposed to be extremely solid, had split open from the inside out.

Lloyd thought he understood why.

‘Someone injected mana into the reinforced pile. A massive amount, in a short time. The sudden pressure change caused the pile to burst.’

Piece by piece, Lloyd reconstructed the situation.

Someone injected mana into the reinforced pile.

The injection pressure caused the pile to burst.

The upper part of the burst area bulged out of the ground under pressure.

The impact and vibration affected the surrounding anchors, sending pressure plates flying.

The slope collapsed as a result.

‘Then the other collapse points are likely similar.’

It seemed plausible.

He walked around to confirm.

He carefully observed the surrounding reinforced piles and anchors.

The result was as expected.

‘Only the broken piles have mana infused in them.’

Dark mana was felt only in the piles that had burst out of the ground like unfinished pimples.

The mana was very cleverly hidden.

If someone didn’t possess the Asrahan Technique?

They would hardly notice it.

‘The culprit, whoever they are, is quite skilled.’

Lloyd identified all the damaged reinforced piles with mana infused in them. Then he connected their locations with lines.

It formed a large pattern, like a picture.

‘A magic circle.’

Now it was clear.

Someone had a definite intention behind this.

‘They’re trying to recreate Namaran’s barrier. Tsk. Could a dark wizard have survived the purge?’

Just as he was organizing his thoughts, Javier, who had been silently watching, spoke up.

“Lloyd, is it what we think?”

“What do you mean?”

Lloyd turned to him.

Javier, with his usual cold expression, smirked slightly.

“I sensed it too. The mana in the broken piles.”

“Well. It’s pretty much as you felt. Yes. The dark wizards from back then.”

“Could there have been survivors?”

“That’s something we need to find out.”

“True. But at least it’s a relief.”

“A relief?”

“The collapse wasn’t due to your shoddy construction.”

“Tsk. Do you think I would do shoddy work?”

“One can never be too sure.”

Javier shrugged.

His smirk deepened.

“Lloyd, you’re so meticulous that you might have designed it to wobble in ten years, claiming it needs repairs and charging extra.”

“Tsk. My pride wouldn’t allow that.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course.”

Lloyd exhaled sharply.

It was indeed obvious.

Construction work, especially civil engineering, is about creating structures used and enjoyed by many.

But to intentionally do a shoddy job?

That was absolutely unacceptable.

Even if he hated the client, he wouldn’t do it.

“I didn’t study to do shoddy work.”

“Studied?”

“I told you before. It’s knowledge I learned in a dream.”

“I remember.”

“Good. Then we’re good. Speaking of memories, I recall Lady Ella.”

“……”

Javier’s smirk froze.

Lloyd’s lips curled into a mischievous smile.

“I almost forgot amidst all the recent events. But being here brings back memories.”

“……”

“Remember how hundreds of people would gather at the cafeteria every morning when you served soup?”

“……”

“They’d all gaze at you, sparkling eyes, calling you the rising ice lady of Namaran.”

“……Such unnecessary memories.”

“So, you do remember?”

“No. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Did it make you nervous?”

“……”

“Oh, you just clenched your fist.”

“Hoo.”

Javier sighed and smiled.

Lloyd kept his playful smile.

“Anyway, remember those events? It seems like they’re happening again.”

“So, the restoration phenomenon of fate is taking another form?”

“Yes. A new version, or act, is beginning.”

“Then, if we do nothing, Namaran’s barrier will rise again.”

It was certain.

The reinforced piles with mana infused in them.

Connecting their locations gave a clear answer.

Someone intended to use them as a medium for a magic circle.

Like the black gem, Noctanium, he found here before.

“Then what’s your plan, Lloyd?”

“Well.”

Lloyd shrugged.

“A possible solution is to destroy the damaged piles completely and pull them out of the ground. Disperse the mana within them. That would deeply disrupt the culprit’s plan.”

“Then inform Namaran of this…”

“Not yet.”

“What?”

Javier’s eyebrow twitched.

Lloyd smiled.

“I don’t want to alert the snake by hitting the grass.”

Lloyd suddenly thought of the idiom “打草驚蛇 (ta cao jing she)”: “Hit the grass and scare the snake.” [2]

He felt now was a time to be cautious.

“Think about it. If we pull out the piles and disperse the mana, will it solve everything?”

“Probably not.”

“Exactly.”

“Yes. The perpetrator will come up with a more secretive plan.”

“That’s likely.”

Lloyd nodded.

It certainly would be.

“If they see us pulling out the piles and dispersing the mana, they’ll know their plan is ruined. But can we pull out the piles secretly? That’s impossible. It would take all day with everyone working, one pile per day.”

“Yes. It would take a lot of time, and we couldn’t avoid exposure.”

“Right. If they notice their plan is failing, what will they do?”

“If it were me… I’d devise a more covert plan.”

“Exactly. And it would be harder to counter.”

That was Lloyd’s thought.

If they had to catch them, it had to be in one go.

If they dragged it out, they’d be endlessly chasing after them.

Chasing until they were ground down.

“Do you have a plan, then?”

“Of course.”

Lloyd shrugged.

He gave Javier a mischievous smile.

“But I won’t tell you yet.”

“……”

“There you go, glaring at me again.”

“……”

“Tsk. I’ll tell you when it’s time, so don’t sulk.”

“I’m not sulking.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Unlike you, I have a generous heart.”

“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?”

“Do you know or are you asking?”

“Of course I know. Who’s more kind-hearted than me?”

“Pfft.”

“……”

“Alright. So you have a great heart like me.”

“Tsk. Feels like I’m being humored.”

“As long as you know.”

“……”

“Will you visit the Namaran Count next?”

“For now. Let’s go.”

With a wry smile, Lloyd turned.

Javier followed, thinking silently.

‘Liar.’

His ice-blue eyes focused on Lloyd’s back.

He could feel it intuitively.

‘He’s trustworthy. He’s always worked hard for the lord and the family, no matter how cunning he seemed. But he still hides a lot.’

He recalled their conversation.

The restoration phenomenon.

The barrier of Namaran rising again.

Preparing a countermeasure.

He believed all of it.

Except for one thing.

‘He said he learned construction knowledge in a dream? Nonsense.’

Javier smiled bitterly.

He felt certain now.

The dream story was a lie.

‘He learned it in Seoul.’

He recalled the otherworldly city he visited with Lloyd.

Everything there was fascinating like another world.

A city that never slept.

Countless buildings.

‘The roads were perfectly straight. Even though they were vast, they were smooth like a plate. And the buildings housed hundreds of people, much like the apartments he built, but much bigger.’

And the underground?

He heard the sounds with his superhuman senses.

Water flowing through meticulously constructed tunnels.

He sensed it.

A complex sewage system beneath the city.

And even below that…

‘A huge tunnel with frequent train noises. Something I never imagined.’

An enormous tunnel.

Trains running inside it.

Many people.

Everyone naturally enjoying the benefits of such construction.

So Lloyd had studied construction in such a place.

‘But how did he end up here, replacing the real Lloyd?’

That question remained unanswered.

But he had a guess.

‘The restoration phenomenon might be related to his secret.’

It might be.

Probably.

It felt like it.

Not just a vague guess, but a near certainty.

“……”

Then what should I do?

How should I act to help this fake Lloyd?

Lost in thought, Javier followed Lloyd.

Meanwhile.

They reached the Namaran Count’s estate.

They met the young lady of Namaran.

No, now officially the ruler, Countess Siluria Namaran.

Lloyd exchanged pleasantries with her.

He listened to her detailed account of the recent mana explosions and slope collapses.

Throughout, Lloyd only listened.

He did not mention his observations on the way.

He acted as if he had just arrived.

As if he hadn’t investigated yet.

And calmly unpacked at the guesthouse.

Javier showed his confusion.

“Are you suspecting the Countess?”

“No. Not at all.”

Lloyd shook his head.

To suspect the Countess?

Absolutely not.

He knew she couldn’t be behind this.

‘In the original Iron-Blooded Knight, she died in the barrier incident. She was a victim. If the event continues, she’ll likely face a similar fate.’

Moreover, Lloyd had a separate plan to investigate the culprit.

“Today has been eventful. Let’s rest. Aren’t you tired?”

“Of course not.”

“We’ll be busy tomorrow, so let’s sleep?”

“……”

Javier hid his expression and looked at Lloyd.

Again, he tried to put him to sleep.

For what reason?

‘Is he planning to slip away like before?’

Javier pondered.

And decided to play along.

“Alright. Sing me a lullaby.”

“Get ready and open your ears. Here comes the lullaby.”

Lloyd read aloud from a textbook.

His signature drowsy, monotonous voice like a professor giving a lecture.

Combined with complex knowledge and terms.

Javier’s eyes slowly closed.

He fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.

‘Good.’

After confirming Javier was asleep, Lloyd quietly got up.

He entered the makeshift dressing room in the guesthouse.

There, he activated the Ending Spoiler.

A blue circular gate appeared.

He stepped in.

He saw the new ending after healing the queen’s left arm.

He stepped back out.

He unconsciously took a deep breath.

A satisfied smile formed on his lips.

“……So that’s how it is.”

The new ending he saw.

Solutions to prevent that catastrophe naturally came to mind.

No, he even envisioned a grander plan.

So he immediately left the guesthouse.

He went to see the Countess of Namaran.

Reaffirming the grand plan in his mind.

And spoke of the surest way to execute it.

“What I’m about to say may sound extreme, but we need to evacuate everyone from Namaran. Every single person.”

Footnotes:

[1] Gimbap: A Korean dish made from steamed white rice and various other ingredients, rolled in sheets of seaweed and sliced into bite-sized pieces.

[2] *The Chinese idiom “打草驚蛇 (ta cao jing she)” means to inadvertently alert someone to your actions, often compromising your plans.