Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Building a Breakwater? (1)

Early morning, on the beach of Mudside.

“Move the materials first! We’ll finish up this area by the morning, then head to the other side in the afternoon.”

“Yes, yes!”

Hundreds of workers were busily transporting construction materials that had been used for the trading port project.

And in addition…

“Alright, everyone, head up! We’ve set up a temporary camp uphill, so go there and get instructions!”

Knights were shouting as they sent people who had been staying near the shore to higher ground.

In the middle of it all, a middle-aged woman asked pleadingly.

“Do… do we really have to move, sir? Even if a tidal wave comes, it might be safe here. We’ve only just started living decently again…”

“It’s the Lord’s order. Make haste.”

“But…”

“Hurry!”

It was then.

“Mister, do we really have to go?”

A small child holding the woman’s hand looked up at the knight with wide, round eyes.

Tears welled up at the corners of the child’s eyes, ready to spill at any moment.

“That’s…”

Just as the knight’s face showed growing discomfort, a deep voice came from the side.

“It’s dangerous here.”

Everyone turned their gaze toward the voice and saw a sturdy man.

With a massive build and an intimidating face, it was Viscount Cobalt, the very man who had ordered the evacuation of Mudside’s workers and residents.

Next to him, Malion also appeared.

“L-Lord?”

Both the knight and the woman who had spoken earlier bent deeply at the waist, their faces tense.

The child tilted their head and asked.

“Is it dangerous?”

“Yes, if you stay here… the waves will come in and sweep your house away. That’s why you should go somewhere safe, don’t you think?”

“Then you just have to stop the waves from coming, right? Mom said so. She said if you can’t even do that, then what’s the point of collecting tribute?”

“…”

Ah…

An awkward expression crossed both Cobalt’s and Malion’s faces.

The woman’s eyes widened, and she hurriedly clamped her hand over the child’s mouth.

“M-My lord! I never said anything like that. The child is just too young and doesn’t understand…”

Her body trembled, and the child blinked in confusion.

Then Viscount Cobalt reached out his arm and spoke.

“It’s fine, just evacuate quickly.”

“Thank you! Thank you!”

The woman quickly dragged the child away.

“Mom, did I say something wrong?”

“Be quiet!”

“But… you did say that. If it’s like this, then why take the trib— Mmph! Mmpphh!”

“This child just says whatever comes to mind!”

Watching the mother and daughter disappear into the distance, Cobalt and Malion both coughed awkwardly for no reason.

‘…Can’t argue with the truth.’

‘Children really are honest.’

Once the two had completely disappeared from sight, Malion spoke again.

“Phew… Still, I think we’ll be able to finish everything by today, Father.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

When Cobalt turned his head, he could see the workers and territory residents moving about, carrying loads.

All of them looked thoroughly exhausted.

Cobalt scratched his forehead and let out a sigh, while Malion wore a bitter expression.

‘It couldn’t be helped.’

Mudside’s beach was in a situation where tidal waves were certain to come every month.

Knowing this, they couldn’t simply leave the territory residents and workers to stay there.

They had already prepared a settlement site inland, away from the coast, and hastily built temporary housing facilities as well.

While Hardin was away, they had moved quickly and methodically to get things done.

“By the way, what’s the plan for the workers?”

“Once the evacuation is complete, I plan to terminate contracts and only keep the manpower we need.”

“Hmm, that’s probably for the best.”

With tidal waves coming every month, building a breakwater to counter them was an impossible situation.

Because of that, not only were the territory residents suffering, but their plan to build a trading port had also turned to dust.

As Lord, and as a descendant of the Daphne family, it was only natural for Cobalt to feel regret.

With a somber voice, Viscount Cobalt spoke.

“Malion.”

“Yes.”

“Even if it’s a slim chance, the slimmest chance… is there no possibility that Hardin might actually find a way?”

Malion shook his head firmly.

“It’s impossible. Not even my brother, but even if God Himself came, there’s nothing that can be done about this situation.”

“…I suppose so?”

“Yes. Building a breakwater on a beach this size in just a month was never realistic in the first place. This choice is the best one.”

“I see. Yes… this is the best.”

How unfortunate. If only God Faeron’s blessing had reached our family just a little more…

Viscount Cobalt shut his eyes tightly, his face troubled.

“Father…”

Malion also fell silent, watching him carefully and holding his breath.

The mood was heavy when suddenly—

Kwoooom! Kwoooom!

“Hm?”

The ground shook violently, and at the sound, Viscount Cobalt’s eyes snapped open. Malion quickly looked around and shouted.

“A t-tidal wave?”

But there should still be at least a week before a tidal wave came.

The evacuation wasn’t even complete yet—if a tidal wave hit now…

Instinctively, both men, along with the surrounding knights and retainers, turned their gazes toward the sea.

However—

“Wait… is that really a tidal wave coming?”

“It doesn’t… look like it.”

They narrowed their eyes and craned their necks forward, but the sea remained calm.

The waves were a little rough, but there wasn’t even the slightest sign of a tidal wave—or anything that looked remotely like one.

Kwooom! Kwooom!

Still, the ground was definitely shaking right now… and there was a sound coming from somewhere.

Then it happened.

—Kkieeeeeeeek!

A sharp, ear-piercing scream rang out from behind them.

Cobalt and Malion instantly turned their bodies around…

“A-a monster!”

“Ruuuun!”

Territory residents and workers in the middle of evacuating scattered in all directions in panic.

Some fell over, others dropped whatever they were carrying and bolted the other way.

The entire Mudside area fell into chaos—no, utter bedlam.

“What is this?”

“M-my lord! Over there!”

A knight standing nearby pointed frantically, and from the direction he indicated, the cause of this uproar appeared.

“Huh?”

Malion, Cobalt, and everyone around them had their jaws drop.

—Kkieeek! Kkieeek!

A white body, razor-sharp claws, and eyes with no focus.

It was… a chicken.

The problem was that it was not just a little big—it was enormous.

“A… a Cockatrice?”

“What’s that thing doing here?”

“I have no idea!”

Chains were wrapped around its beak and legs.

But there was no time to leisurely wonder why it had come here.

If they didn’t stop it, the damage to the residents and workers would be catastrophic.

Viscount Cobalt drew his sword, his eyes blazing.

“Knights, draw your swords! We’re subjugating that monster!”

“Yes, sir!”

Counting the Lord and Malion, there were over a dozen knights.

All at once, they drew their swords, activated body reinforcement, and swiftly closed in along the Cockatrice’s path.

‘It’s huge.’

‘But why here?’

They all wore tense expressions as they prepared for battle—

“Out of the wayyyyyyy!”

“Hm? Did someone just shout…?”

A voice came from the direction of the Cockatrice.

Cobalt froze in surprise, and Malion spoke quickly.

“Father, look at its head!”

“What?”

When he looked up—

“Ah, come on! I said get out of the wayyy!”

“Hardin?”

Cobalt’s eyes flew wide open.

Hardin was on top of the Cockatrice’s head, clutching the chains as if they were horse reins.

‘What is going on?’

‘Why is the Young Master up there?’

Everyone froze stiff in shock—

“Dammit! I said move!”

Hardin yanked the chain with one hand while smacking the Cockatrice’s temple with his palm.

—Kkieeeeeek!

The creature flared its wings wide and let out another scream.

“Get out of the way!”

“Yes, sir!”

Cobalt stretched out his arm and shouted, and the knights scattered to the sides.

Kwaaang! Kwaaang! Kwaaaang!

The Cockatrice passed by in an instant, and everyone stared at its retreating back.

“My lord, what in the world is going on? Why is the Young Master on that monster’s head…?”

“I have no idea.”

His son had left home saying he was going to build a breakwater, and now, nearly a month later, he had returned riding atop the head of a giant chicken.

Who could have possibly predicted this?

Meanwhile—

—Hiiiiiing!

“My lord! Third Young Master!”

Several horses galloped over and stopped beside them.

“M-Manton? Beryl?”

It was the knights who had left with Hardin.

As soon as Manton dismounted, Cobalt quickly approached and asked,

“What’s going on here? Why is Hardin up there?”

“W-well, my lord, the Young Master… said he was going to use that thing as material for a breakwater.”

“A breakwater? You mean Hardin brought that thing here himself?”

“Yes! That’s correct.”

“Huh…”

Build a breakwater using that monster?

Cobalt let out a short, stunned breath.

At that moment—

—Kkieeeek!

The cry of the Cockatrice came from the direction of the sea.

Looking over, they saw it wading into the water with heavy splashes.

Its size was so great that even after entering the sea, only sixty to seventy percent of its body was submerged.

Swaaash! Swaaaash!

Hardin and the Cockatrice charged forward through the waves.

They headed straight to the exact spot where they had once tried to build a stone breakwater.

And then…

“Alright, let’s get started.”

Chwarrrrk! Chwarrrrk!

Hardin took hold of the chain wrapped around the Cockatrice’s beak and began unwinding it.

The Cockatrice flapped its wings and clacked its beak in irritation.

Thunk!

Hardin smacked the side of its head with his palm.

—Kkieeeek!

Its beak snapped wide open, and a rush of purple liquid poured out.

As the liquid flowed into the sea, gray stones began to rise from the water where nothing had been before.

“Not that way! This way, you idiot!”

Hardin tugged the creature’s head this way and that with the chain, and soon, a section of stone wall—identical to the kind used in stone breakwaters—was erected at one end.

A wall of stone that would have taken at least a month to build with workers was formed in moments.

A satisfied smile spread across Hardin’s lips.

‘Works perfectly.’

Thanks for the tip, you drunken bastard.

Hardin silently offered his gratitude to an old comrade.

---

One week after Hardin’s return to the family, early morning—

“Alright, one last time!”

—Kkieeek!

Out at sea, the Cockatrice spewed purple liquid from its beak.

As it did, stone began to grow from the end of the thick wall that had been built along the sea, firmly connecting it.

No matter who looked at it, the breakwater was magnificent.

“Phew, good work.”

—Krrrhhhhh…

Barely finished it in time.

Hardin wiped the sweat from his forehead and patted the Cockatrice on the head.

The creature panted heavily, clearly exhausted.

And understandably so…

—Once you’ve eaten, we’re going back out!

—B-Brother, is it really fine to keep making it spit poison like this?

—It’s fine, it’s fine. This thing’s tough; it can take it. Just make sure you feed it well.

—…Yes, sir.

For nearly two days straight, aside from the times it ate and relieved itself, the creature had been pouring its petrifying poison into the sea without rest.

Even a Cockatrice didn’t have an infinite poison gland, but each time it filled up even a little, it was made to empty it again and again, until its body was worn to the bone.

But what choice was there?

If the breakwater wasn’t completed as soon as possible, not just I, but the entire family would be in trouble.

“Alright, let’s take a short break.”

—Kkieeeek!

After finishing the work, Hardin stayed seated atop the Cockatrice, staring blankly out at the horizon.

He didn’t know how long he’d been catching his breath when—

Kurrrrung! Kurrrng!

A rumbling sound came from somewhere, dark clouds rolled over the sky, and the surrounding waves grew rough.

Hardin exhaled heavily and looked past the horizon.

Then—

“It’s coming.”

Far away, the horizon began to rise.

Swaaaaaash!

A massive blue beast, spewing white foam from its mouth.

It was unmistakably the tidal wave that had visited Mudside every month, smashing the breakwater to pieces each time.

The tidal wave charged straight toward the breakwater—

Kwaaaaaang!

With a sound like thunder, it slammed into the wall.

But the breakwater didn’t even flinch.

The one that shattered and scattered was the wave itself.

Countless droplets burst apart, briefly forming a rainbow in the air.

“Phew… That’s that.”

This should hold for decades, at the very least.

At that very moment, on the shore behind him—

“H-holy…”

“Is this really working?”

It was absurd beyond belief…

Cobalt, Malion, the knights, and the retainers—

All lined up in a row, every single one of their faces was filled with astonishment as they watched the scene unfold.

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