Chapter 124: Visit from the Enemy
Thump! Thud!
In the time where everything around was dark, low dull rumblings could be heard upstream from San River.
Moving the ark were dozens of golems and hundreds of beavers.
"Fast, fast, move fast."
Luke's slave, the vampire, Belfair, talked to the beavers who were breaking down the trees.
Belfair, who was in the form of a bat, was looking at the beavers.
Every time the beaver would laze around, Belfair would electrocute them with its red eyes, and the beavers would get back to working again.
"That is a demon trick."
At the words from Erwin, who was watching Belfair overseeing the beavers, Luke explained further,
"It is called the Dominator's Eye. It is possible to compel creatures who are inferior to the being."
The Dominator's Eye of Belfair was one of the specialties of the Vampire race.
Vampires who were one of the weaker demons, would use their tricks to monitor the other demons, gather information or make them do labor.
Luke was making Belfair use the ability to build a dam upstream of San river.
In the way how the dwarves made mine from generation to generation, the beavers built dams in the woods, they were the best lumberjacks and dam builders.
The giant trees over 30 centimeters in diameter, could be cut down in 10 minutes, and huge reservoirs of hundred meters in length could be constructed.
Luke added the power of the beavers with the labor of the golems, and magic of himself and Erwin to create a huge dam.
When Luke and Erwin were holding the water with their magic, and the golems diligently stacked the wood which had been cut by the beavers on the riverbed.
Stacked woods were once again reinforced with soil and rocks, they were increasing the height.
"You are planning to make a water attack." Asked Erwin.
"Yes, after we have gathered enough water, we can blow down the dam with either magic or gun powder and wipe out the Volga army."
At the explanation from Luke, Erwin's expression turned cold.
Luke fully understood her reaction. Erwin too was from Volga Republic.
She was helping in making a trap for her homeland soldiers to suffer, and it wasn't normal.
'However, I can't refuse.' Thought Erwin.
No matter how much she hated it, Erwin had to completely help Luke until he could uncover the secret of the locket Luke held onto.
Otherwise, she would be asked to leave right away.
However, there was another reason for her cold look.
"Are you by any chance stupid?"
"I'm stupid?"
"Yeah. Sweeping tens and thousands of water down would require huge quantities of wood, and it would take a lot of time to build a dam that can hold so much. No matter how many beavers use wood, the golems labor, and mobilize magic."
"Those words of yours are right. No matter how soon we try to act, it will take another five days."
Luke had begun to build the dam for four days.
The border dispute with the Volga Republic was well anticipated.
Therefore, as soon as he had been appointed as the commander, he set up explosion mines and trained the Fortress troops very actively.
But what Luke didn't realize was that the Republic would mobilize troops for an all-out war.
No matter how thorough the preparations of the Torlot Fortress were, it was impossible to stop an enemy who had ten times the force.
In fact, it could be considered as a miracle that the Fortress was still standing up till then.
Luke sought last resort.
And it was handmade right away.
However, the dam wasn't a one-day or two-day project.
Luke's answer made Erwin asked another question,
"How are you going to hold on for another five days?"
There was no sign of the reinforcements coming.
The enemy troops were just ahead, and the supplies were exhausted with every coming day.
"Are you planning to buy time by deception once again? They won't be deceived twice." Said Erwin.
"Right. That is why..."
Luke told Erwin a plan on how to buy five days.
Erwin was surprised to hear the plan and frowned.
"You have gone mad."
"I knew you would say that."
However, Luke hit his chest and continued,
"And that crazy thing will bring us success. I can bet on it."
"..."
"So, what do you think? Want to bet on it?" Asked Luke.
Looking at Luke's confident expression, Erwin shook her head.
"I'll just watch. You're the crazy person who can bring in success with crazy things."
"Was that a compliment?" Asked Luke.
"You can think as you please."
Looking at the cold expression and attitude of Erwin, Luke couldn't help but have a bitter smile on his face.
Looking at the uncomfortable woman in front of his eyes, he could understand how sweet princess Reina was.
'What could Reina be doing right now?'
Luke who was missing the princess once again immersed in the dam construction.
If he could do what he had to do, he would be able to reunite with the people whom he was missing.
"Belfair! Can you speed it up?"
"Yes, master!"
Belfair, upon receiving the orders from Luke; approached the beavers and made them speed things up.