The Greatest Architect

24. Jersey’s Beasts (2)

“Droplets!”

Whoo!

The droplet opened its mouth wide.

I slashed a lump of dirt before my eyes and asked.

You see a black mass in the void.

It was different until now.

If you eat dirt, there is dirt after that.

Or there was an off-white rock.

But this time, what appeared was….

“CounterTurquoise, bubble? Stop!”

Lloyd leaves quickly.

Finally, there was an explosive vein revealed.

That is, all that hangs on the wall of the shaft is coal, which will become money.

It was too bad to let the drops swallow.

“It’s important now. Everybody stay sharp. ”

He speaks aloud to the workers who were cheering for him.

Big disasters and accidents always happen at the most cautious moments.

just as I’m finally relaxing with my goals in front of me.

Lloyd quickly said that, engraving on his heart.

“Not yet. We’ve only reached the end of the shelf. Cheers later. After Serena gets a clear shot. All right? Good work, people. Let’s shift to the next group. And tell the next couple to bring me a support column. ”

From now on, I needed careful work.

You dispatch the exhausted workers.

You are alert, and then you call in the crew.

Meanwhile, Lloyd gives the droplet blue sunflower seeds.

“Bubbles?”

“Droplets!”

“Yes. You did a great job, too. I wouldn’t have dug that hole so fast if it wasn’t for you, seriously. ”

“Drops! Drops! ”

“Haha, okay. If you come up later, I’ll give you something delicious. So will you settle for now? ”

“Droplets!”

I handed the Blue Sunflower to his mouth.

The droplet swallows the seeds.

Tick, tick.

And then three seconds later.

The droplet grows smaller.

Popong!

“Droplets!”

“Yes, thank you. Thank you.”

Lloyd picks up the smaller bubbles in his arms.

Meanwhile, the new workers carry the support column down to the curtain.

“As you can see, there’s a shell casing here. From now on, it’s important to expand the barracks along the seams. It’s dangerous work, so you have to follow the instructions carefully. Okay?”

The workers nod.

Lloyd triggered an intermediate surveying skill.

‘Survey.’

Tsutztsu!

A faint light flashes into his eyes.

Soon I remembered a lot of information in the tunnel.

The shell layer at the end of the screen towards which his gaze was directed, and the information around it, were also numerous.

‘Luckily, the ground near the floorboards is solid. Remove the shield mechanism, but there’s less risk of collapse. And the direction that the shell layer extends… Okay, this way. ’

Lloyd looks at the workers.

“Now I’m going to dismantle the shield. Slowly as possible. Carefully. ”

The role of S.H.I.E.L.D. was over.

You can’t back out or do anything.

So it was the only way to un-assemble it here.

“Now, hold it there. Two, three, pull! ”

Heave-ho!

Workers move according to Lloyd’s instructions.

You dismantle the shield device one by one.

Lloyd shouts as the disassembly progresses.

“Pedestal column! ”

The three workers who were waiting immediately responded to his shout.

Carrying the support column and the top and bottom plates forward to the curtain. The shield is clear and the pedestal and pillars are erected.

It was a temporary device to prevent the collapse of the veil.

“Start the reinforcement. Don’t forget to practice! ”

“Yes!”

The workers make swift movements.

I started shoveling along the wall.

The area of the tent has expanded.

Additional temporary supports and columns were erected to fit the widened area.

It was a job to free up the mining space.

In the meantime, Lloyd has continued to activate surveying skills.

I looked at the wall of the tent and the load on the ceiling in real time.

If there was any sign of a collapse, it was to evacuate everyone.

Luckily, the work went well.

No sign of collapse.

‘There you go.’

Once the most difficult process is over.

That’s all for today.

And starting tomorrow, what if we work on further refinement of the shaft?

I thought I could mine for coal at the latest from the next month.

“Whoa.”

I was relaxed.

Even the weary faces of the workers smiled with a proud smile.

Finally, you realize that the basic mining works have been completed.

“Well, everybody had a hard time. Let’s go upstairs. Meat, liquor, and a big bonus party today. ”

That’s the reward for the hard work.

That was Lloyd’s rule.

The Engineering Corps worked with him for a while to understand such policies.

“Whoa! I hope the bonus is right again.” ’

What do I do when I get this bonus? ’

“Wait, Rosalia. He’s gonna pay your tuition! ’

The construction was more difficult than ever.

I couldn’t compare it to on-the-ground rooms or paved roads.

Bonuses will also be much thicker than before.

I think everyone’s mouth is stuck in their ears.

Organizing work tools was also lighter.

The mind was already walking in the bright sun outside the tunnel.

But it was then.

Thud, thug.

You hear a faint sound on the open floor.

A pile of rocks must have fallen down.

Lloyd looks back at you without my knowledge.

At that moment.

Tutu, tutu!

It’s getting louder.

I didn’t see any debris coming down.

Instead, you hear a murmur across the floorboards, once again.

What is it?

It felt strange.

No. Somehow.

Heard it coming from across the floor.

He activates his skill in a reflexive manner.

‘Survey.’

Tsutztsu!

Lloyd examines the sounding seams with a surveying skill.

And I had to open my eyes without knowing it.

Huh?

About three meters beyond the ballistic floor.

There was a cave that wasn’t there before.

No, a tunnel about two meters in diameter was being built in real time!

Collapse what? No, it’s not like the collapse. ’

Actually, something was digging a tunnel.

Clearly, it’s this way.

Faster.

Explicitly.

Tucson!

I reached out my head.

“ ……! ”

A giant ant’s head protrudes through the stratum.

A head twice the size of watermelon.

Her wide open upper jaw was longer than her forearm!

“Hmmm? Huh! ”

Lloyd quickly steps back.

You snap your buttocks at the noose.

That was lucky.

Iron Cup!

A jaw crashes toward you.

The upper jaw blade, standing like a tooth, shimmers with the torch’s light.

What if I get bitten by something like that?

Cut off an arm or leg at once. I’m sure.

It gave me the creeps.

“What! Why are ants coming out of here?! ”

“Ahhhh!”

Screams erupt among the workers.

Why the ants came out of nowhere.

Does it make sense that the ant is as big as a wolf?

I was too busy to even think about it.

Lloyd reaches out.

I grabbed everything I could. It was my favorite genuine steel shovel. Lifted. Swing.

Kuzak!

A sharp shovel blade pierces half a centimeter into the side of the giant ant’s skull.

“Queeeek!”

The ant screams.

I shook my head in agony.

Clear bodily fluids spilled from the wound were sprayed all over my face.

I was awake.

“Everyone, move! ”

Reflexively shouted.

The shout began.

The frozen workers rush to the top of the shaft.

Lloyd quickly got up from his seat.

But there was no time for that.

“Kieeek!”

This side counteracts the poisoned ant and it charges forward.

A wide open upper jaw.

He was aiming for his neck.

This side, on the other hand, did not get up and was in a bad state.

“Heave-ho!”

There was no escape.

It was too bad to do that.

I felt the upper jaw rushing towards this side of my neck.

Damn it!

It was then.

You little bitch!

Suddenly, a silver flash flashes from above.

Chug! Chug! Chug!

The upper jaw that was bitterly clenched.

Subsequently, a silver flash dug into the ant’s head.

Kwazak!

A sword dipped from above pierces the ant’s head. I stuck it to the ground like an awl. You twist. Wazak, the ant’s crown cover breaks with its sound.

“Kieeek!”

The ant that had been prowling all this time became droopy.

The sword has been drawn.

Your hand comes out this way.

“Are you all right?”

“ ……. ”

Tough palm full of calluses.

He still looks cool and calm in the dark mines.

It was Xaviel.

He was holding out his hand.

I got up right after.

“What is that?! ”

“I don’t know. I just…”

“Only?”

“A wild ant that lives in the wilderness across the mountains. ”

“A beast ant? What are they doing out here? ”

I was really embarrassed.

The beast ants were inhabited in the wilderness east across the mountains.

It’s said to be underground, but it appears to be over the mountains.

It didn’t make any sense.

“Unlike people’s perceptions, the anthill must have stretched through the basement to get here. If not……. ”

“If not?”

Another beast ant comes out of the hole in the floor.

As soon as I saw this side, I lunged, waving my stubble.

“We may have picked up the sound of digging a tunnel and dug a tunnel across here. ”

Kwazak!

Xaviel’s sword splashes silver again.

The ant’s head splits vertically.

But then there was another ant.

In other words, the ants would come out of the pits endlessly!

“Damn it.”

I was insulted.

Perhaps Xaviel’s second guess was right.

‘There was no cave after the discovery of the shell layer. ’

It was clear.

I continue to look around the tent with my surveying skills.

I didn’t see any anthill at the time.

But then I saw the ant hole excavated in real time and the beast ant that came out of it.

‘What do I do? ’

This was completely unexpected.

But it hurts that I wasn’t prepared.

‘There was no record of finding an ant’s nest in a geological survey of the previous lords. That’s why I was so careless. ’

Of course, I thought about how to prepare for what wasn’t on the record.

But whatever happened happened happened.

We have to fix it somehow.

Should we stop him here? ’

Confusion and fatigue.

Heat and cloudy air.

I rolled my head desperately in it.

I thought one thing was certain.

‘If those ants get out of the tunnel, it’s over. ’

The tunnel exit leads to the territory.

What if those ants get out there?

Soldiers of the territory will not be able to stop them.

That would be a lot of ants.

In the worst case, the entire territory can be wiped out.

There is an insurmountable disaster.

‘You can’t do that. ’

I felt cold sweat flowing through my mind.

However, Xaviel seems to have misinterpreted this side.

“Lloyd, stay with me. ”

Puck!

His fist flew in, no matter what.

I stabbed him with a light poke.

“… Cough! ”

I couldn’t breathe.

He must have been weak in his own way, but it hurt a lot to get hit with carelessness.

“What are you doing! ”

“You don’t want to be afraid in a situation like this. ”

“I’m not scared. I was rolling my head. ”

“Then think of something. ”

Shrek! Kwazak!

Xaviel was stopping the ants even as he calmed down.

I couldn’t breathe once.

Every time his sword struck once, it was intact.

An ant’s neck flew off or its head split open.

However, Xaviel’s torso was already sweaty.

Even the shirts were pulled off and my muscles were sweating and beating.

‘There is no answer. Even Xaviel has his limits. ’

It was intuitive.

Javier is strong, of course.

But it was a barracks full of hot, cloudy air.

No matter how hard I tried to stop Xaviel’s herd of beast ants, I would hit my limit of strength.

‘You have to think of a way while he survives. ’

A way to stop the ants.

How to stop them from going up to the territory.

How to minimize damage to everyone.

“Should we tear down the shaft here? No, it’s not possible. The shield walls are so strong, they won’t come crashing down with one or two damage. And with that level of destruction, the speed at which these ants dig their dens is unsafe. ’

Lloyd shakes his head.

If I didn’t have to, I could not stop the ants. I could only be killed by dogs.

‘So not in a vague way. I will definitely control the ant colony and exterminate it at once… Huh? Wait.’

Urgent situation.

Something popped into my mind.

Lloyd raises his head. I saw Xaviel. I shouted.

“Hey, Xaviel! Can you break through like this? ”

“Dolphin, what are you talking about? ”

Gaaaah!

Xaviel asked, cutting off the running ant’s antennae in a heartbeat.

Lloyd shouts.

“What are you talking about! Can you go straight ahead and push it forward? ”

“Against these ants? ”

“Huh!”

“ ……. ”

Xaviel looks back this way.

Even the cracking of an ant’s skull is busy, and he throws his eyes at me and asks, “What the hell is that?”

Lloyd shouted more casually.

“I think it’s the only way for everyone to live and stop the ants! Can’t you believe it or are you scared? If you’re scared, you’re dead!”

“Are you saying I’m scared? ”

“Of course!”

“…… such misunderstandings are unpleasant. ”

“Is that even possible? ”

“Of course. But not by defending this position, but by breaking through.” How far do we have to go? ”

“All the way inside the anthill! ”

“No way, keep going? To the end?”

“Huh!”

“Do you really have an idea? ”

“Of course! There’s a better way! ”

“ ……. ”

“What’s the matter? You don’t believe me? ”

“Of course not. ”

“Hey! You’ve come so far……. ”

“Hopefully, that nonsense isn’t a crazy attempt. ”

I wonder if they’re prepared.

Or did he intuit that there would be no other choice but to listen to him?

Wood Duck!

Xaviel grips his sword and there’s a splash in his hand.

Even his voice was distorted before.

“Stay close and follow me. Don’t miss me. ”

Javier breaks through with a deadly sword storm.

Shreek, quack, quack!

At that moment, Lloyd felt that Xaviel’s blooming sword was truly beautiful.

The five rushing ants are crushed by the sword.

In the meantime, Xaviel dives in.

One was like a silver beast.

Lloyd also handed out torches and shovels of steel and ran behind them.

“Run! Don’t stop! ”

Suddenly, I went through a hole in the seabed and into the anthill.

Luckily, the ants don’t climb up the shaft.

Instead, you chased after the intruder who broke into the anthill.

They block the way ahead, slaughtering and pecking at the jarhead.

I ran in the anthill without rest and ran out again.

“Keep it down! ”

Throughout the run, Lloyd scoured all over the ant den with his surveying skills.

‘There’s no other way. Kill him or be Bob, let’s do it. ’

There’s only one target he’s looking for.

It was a methane gas layer that would be buried somewhere deep in the anthill.