Chapter 242

“Your Majesty!”

“Master!”

Clayton, with a somewhat weary complexion, and Hamar, whose cheeks had become gaunt, their expressions slightly hardened upon facing Logan.

Seeing their faces, which clearly showed their hardship and the tension overlaying them, Logan felt sorry, but he thought it was an unavoidable situation and tapped their shoulders with a bitter smile.

“You’ve had it tough, all of you.”

“How could we shirk our duties to the country…”

“If you know that, let us rest a bit…”

While the two leaders, who had given completely different answers, looked at each other and laughed awkwardly, Logan surveyed the surroundings.

“Indeed…”

Perhaps due to their experience of several major construction projects together, the construction seemed to be progressing smoothly.

The construction project that had started in the most suitable location for developing the western wastes of the capital city.

The nearing completion of the water gate, and even the distance to the Tenon River seen beyond the tunnel under the mountain range, all seemed flawless.

However, the very problems they had worried about were starting to arise.

“Will this scale be enough for the reservoir? It seems smaller than the Maclaine Dam, and you haven’t forgotten that the arable land we need to develop is twice as large, have you?”

“With the river water that will continue to flow in, the calculations indicate this size is appropriate, Master. We have some experience with this…”

“No, dig more. More than double the accommodable amount.”

Hamar’s face twisted at that resolute response.

“We need to finish this quickly, right? But that will significantly extend the completion time!”

“Your Majesty. My calculations align with Hamar’s—it should be sufficient.”

Despite Clayton’s defense, Logan shook his head.

“It must hold enough water to drench the entire wasteland in one go. We’re going to use magic-enhanced water farming here. It’s far more cost-effective to dissolve magic stones in stagnant water than in flowing water.”

At Logan’s words, the eyes of Hamar and Clayton widened.

“Magic-enhanced water… didn’t you say it was financially troublesome, Master?”

“Are you sure you can manage it? Really?”

“I will handle that, so just proceed as I said.”

“Ah…”

The shock was momentary, but as Hamar realized the enormity of the tasked he faced, his expression grew more twisted.

“Ugh, to double this…”

Although Clayton too sighed, Logan remained unshaken.

‘It’s necessary. It must be done. If we are to save even a little time and budget.’

He felt a slight headache, perhaps due to the fatigue accumulated, but there was no need to show weakness there.

“Hamar, with those changes, when can we expect completion?”

Haa.

Hamar shook his head as though discontent but soon gave an answer.

“It will take about two more months, Master.”

“Try to reduce it to about a month.”

“No, you can’t be serious now…!”

“Ahahaha. Let’s try it out, Lord Hamar. Your Majesty, I’ll do my utmost.”

Whether it was to Hamar, who could only glare with wide-eyed disbelief, or to Clayton, who shook his head with an awkward smile, Logan felt sorry to them all.

It must be because Clayton knows the finances are already stretched to the limit.

“Very well, then I entrust you with wrapping things up, Lord Clayton.”

“Leave it to me, Your Majesty.”

Both giving and receiving the orders, everyone was exhausted.

But those aware of the dire situation had no time to harbor any complaints.

“How could you even cut a month…!”

“Lord Hamar. Shh!”

Except for one dwarf whose workload had greatly increased.

* * *

[The implementation of magic-enhanced water farming to Esperanza’s territory has been completed.]

“Faster than expected. I thought it wouldn’t finish until around the dam’s completion time.”

[The precise establishment of the magic stone ratio played a major role. I will send a separate report on this matter.]

“Good. Well done, Ria.”

Upon Victoria’s report, Logan let out a subtle smile.

If plans had gone awry, it was in a good direction, eliciting laughter almost uncontrollably.

“Come back to the capital for now. Once the dam is completed, bring the magic stones to be installed there.”

[I’ve already prepared them.]

“…Excellent. You’ve worked hard.”

The cleaner-than-expected handling of affairs by Victoria brought a smile to Logan after a long time.

“Now that the mission is successful, I ought to give a reward… Ria, is there anything you wish for?”

[No. It was a great achievement just to be trusted as a magician.]

Not only was her handling of tasks neat, but her response was endearingly perfect, making Logan even more eager to reward her.

“Still, speak up. Clear rewards and punishments will motivate others to be diligent in their work.”

[If you say so, um… lately I’ve heard rumors about the magical troops. I would like to join them too.]

“What?”

There was no reason to refuse.

Logan’s principle was to desire all magicians in the kingdom to be part of the magic troops.

Moreover, be it combat engineers or support, the effectiveness shown by the golem school had already become an indispensable factor in Maclaine’s battle.

“Why? I’m curious about your reason.”

[To be honest, just doing research at the mage tower isn’t my style. I thought it would be better to be somewhere that directly uses magic and trains.]

Seeking battle.

This unexpected response made Logan let out a small sigh as he looked at Victor standing behind Victoria through the comm device.

“Well, as long as your brother has no objections…”

[It’s alright.]

“Hmm?”

I thought you’d dislike your younger sister openly seeking combat training.

Yet, Victor’s expression, as he gazed upon Victoria’s back, was just calm.

The feeling of overprotection he had before seemed much reduced.

‘A sign that those kids are really growing up.’

Seeing this positive change brought a content nod from Logan.

“Alright, then. Let Clayton know on your behalf, and join the troops whenever you’d like.”

[Thank you!]

“Victor, you too have worked hard. So I have prepared something special for you.”

[…Yes? I haven’t really done much….]

“Starting today, join the Royal Knights’ training. You’ll be exempt from your guard duties for a while. After regular training, the Swordmaster will oversee your training, so learn diligently.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

[…Yes?]

Victor, momentarily dazed, soon showed a flushed face, as though it was strange for him not to cheer right then and there.

The genius, who at just twenty-one had reached the pinnacle of the highest-grade knights, would achieve even faster growth from that moment on.

So now.

‘The dam project is progressing smoothly, and the magic-enhanced water farming is almost done. Now, is it time to check on the troops’ training?’

The last of the three major money-consuming policies.

The soldiers, who had started training about three months ago.

It was time to check on another foundation for the kingdom’s future.

* * *

“Feet are showing!”

“Are you really falling behind over so little?”

“You call yourselves knights, yet your physical strength is so pitiful. Have some shame!”

Amid the royal practice grounds, day in and day out, reproachful shouts could be heard.

Knights with flame emblems on their armor chased those yet without emblems, relentlessly harrying them.

Of course, those being harangued were basically living a nightmare.

Blue.

Warhorses, drugged into slumber, were draped across their shoulders.

“How can people carry, gnash, horses and run like this?”

“Cr-, crazy people.”

“Is this training or, guk, abuse?!”

While they might think they’re whispering reprimands low enough not to be heard, to those with keen senses, those voices were perfectly audible.

With eyes round as saucers, Logan watched the knights in training. Swordmaster, while clearing his throat as if to excuse himself, began to explain.

“Ahem. The training I proposed isn’t like this. I heard they train like this in Maclaine. Since they say it’s good for building unity with their horses, I thought it was worth trying.”

“…The effects will be certain. It’s already been proven in Maclaine. Of course, it’s less intense here since it’s flat ground, not mountains.”

“That crazy…”

“…?”

“…thing they did. That’s probably why Maclaine’s knights are so strong. I’ve even heard praises about Esperanza’s subordinates, saying their level isn’t far from us.”

That seems exaggerated.

“But if I may, weren’t you going to pass on the Ironblood Sword technique? Why focus solely on physical training?”

Faced with Logan’s question, Swordmaster’s brow twitched slightly.

Speaking in a somewhat subdued voice, he answered.

“I found that among those, some lacked basic fitness. And honestly…”

After a moment of hesitation, Swordmaster sighed and confided what was on his mind.

“There’s a mixture of Maclaine loyalists and those who just came for money. Going full Maclaine style from the start would be…”

“Isn’t that the ability of an instructor?”

“….”

“Ah, sorry. If it can’t be done, then so be it…”

Crack.

“From now on, I will retrain them properly.”

As Heinckel’s face grew fierce and the screams of the trainees seemed to reach his ears, Logan could finally leave the training grounds with a satisfied smile, feeling content.

“Prepare spears!”

“Ha!”

Following the drill command by a tall female soldier acting as an instructor in the front row, the swung spears were still somewhat clumsy. But the formation remained orderly.

Only 3 months into training.

In a culture previously focused on farming, with women who had likely never exercised in their lives – their gazes were fiery.

Even compared to the male trainees seen in the morning.

Eileen, whose face had bronzed in the sun, wore a full sense of pride as she reported their achievements.

“Out of the final 52,000 volunteers, 13,420 were women. As you can see, nearly none have dropped out, and they are properly absorbing the training. The dropout rate is even lower than that of the male soldiers. This is also thanks to Maclaine’s senior soldiers, including Cassie here, who is doing an excellent job as an instructor.”

“I also heard that the country’s first female knight is setting an exemplary model?”

“Of course, that’s true as well.”

Eileen’s confident response made Logan almost forget the worry he had harbored internally—her face appeared so bright.

Having entrusted the women’s training to someone else and not visiting for over three months due to being ‘busy’…

“It looks good.”

“Of course!”

“…Of course?”

“As someone who received sword training from the greatest sword hero and is idolized by over ten thousand female soldiers, I’m feeling alive every day with a sense of purpose!”

“…I’m glad.”

Definitely glad, but a bittersweet smile came with a slightly empty feeling.

However…

“Well, except I don’t get to see you every day.”

Eileen’s offhand comment while observing the training grounds struck Logan’s heart.

“I’m sorry. I don’t have an excuse…”

Instinctively about to apologize.

“It’s okay.”

“Hmm?”

“I know it must be this way right now. I understand everything, so focus more on what you need to do in the future.”

“That’s…”

“That’s the only way for those days we rode horses together in the town to come back faster, right? Isn’t that so?”

The steadfast blue eyes gazed at Logan.

“Of course. Absolutely…”

That firm look gave much-needed strength to Logan’s heavy heart.

“I will make it so.”

Their hands firmly intertwined.

The lovers, reuniting after so long, shared their warmth for a moment, not with excitement, but with shared resolve.

A month later.

[A plague has begun to spread in the southeastern region.]

An unforeseen worst-case scenario froze Logan.