331 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

### Chapter 331: Eh, It’s Heavy Adam let out a groan, involuntarily responding to the weight of the load he was carrying on his back. "Hey, are you okay?" "I-I’m fine." "Don't overdo it. This is not just a job for a day or two!" "I'm really okay!" "Heh, must be youthful energy. Go on, then!" Adam nearly flared up at the pat on his backside but soon let out a soft chuckle. He realized that it wasn't harassment, but merely an attempt to pat his back that missed its mark. Dwarves and golems. Just a few years ago, such mythical beings were only seen in storybooks, yet here they were, moving right before his eyes. And not as adventurers, but as construction workers just like him. He'd heard many times that the country had changed, but Adam's own experience was that life had just become a bit more convenient. He was too busy making a living to notice much else. But here at this construction site, there was a scene unfolding that he’d never seen in his life. It made him feel glad he came. For instance... "Hey, what are you doing there! What crew number are you!? Are you just going to stand around like that!?" "Oh, I’m coming! Coming!" It seemed Adam had been lost in thought for too long. Responding to the reprimand from another dwarven supervisor, Adam tore his gaze from the golems and started moving busily again. The hard labor of a mid-winter day was tiring, but the wonder of this construction site made him constantly glance around in awe even while working. The supervisors didn’t particularly scold him, as most of the workers showed similar curiosity to Adam. In the northwestern frontier of the Kingdom of Maclain... At the crossroads leading from the Grand Duchy of Esperanza to the northern demon forests and the northeastern part of the Empire, known as the eastern end of the Hunter’s Path, lay the Gates of the Theresa Gorge. In the path leading into the kingdom through the gorge, countless people were working on constructing a fortress. Scores of dwarves were endlessly directing the laborers, and no fewer than three to four thousand workers perspired at various places. Moreover, there were dozens of towering 4-to-5-meter golems clunking around, carrying gigantic rocks or lumber. Even at a glance, all these movements flowed like a precisely designed gear with no waste. "Hey, crew 13! You’re a bit slow! And crew 7, you’re too fast. Are you checking the timber quality properly!?” Among the dwarves directing the project, one particularly 'plump' dwarf stood out. Wearing a helmet fit for knights, whenever this dwarf pointed here and there, the various movements would slack and then tighten again, regaining efficiency. The spectacle was remarkable enough for small merchant groups passing through the gorge to the kingdom to stop and watch temporarily. "Why are they doing construction in the dead of winter?" "Looks like they’re building a fortress or something." "Here?" "Are they planning to levy taxes when we pass through?" "No way." The merchants’ chatter started with concerns over money, soon leading to criticisms of the rulers due to their unease about the costs. "Still, I feel sorry for the kingdom’s people." "Right? Forced labor in the middle of winter." "I heard rumors of a tyrant, seems they’re really pushing it." Contrary to the criticisms, however, most laborers, hustling with wood, stone, and soil, had vigorous expressions even as sweat dripped from their brows. "But the pay is worth all the toil." "All thanks to His Majesty. There's work even in the dead of winter." "Yeah. Plus, it's quite a sight to see." "Exactly." "Oh, there they go again! Look, watch!" "Wow!" Taking a brief rest, the workers chatted. Their eyes were on the site where the fortress walls were being erected. There, a group of individuals dressed in wide, flared robes unsuited for construction was bustling around. "Earth Wall!" At the moment the brown-robed mages, with hardened expressions, shouted as if crying out. The ground in front of them shook as if an earthquake had hit, and monumental earth walls, about five meters high, soared up instantly. Before the dust that rose thick managed to settle, the shout of the red-robed mages followed. "Alright, everyone harden it!" "Fire!" "Fire Ring!" No sooner did the incantations end than the earthen walls were engulfed in roaring flames. As the blazing fire subsided to a degree, the blue-robed mages spoke. "Now it’s done. Fire and earth mages, withdraw! Let’s cool it all!" "Ice!" "Ice Fog!" The embers burning brightly started solidifying the entire earthen walls. The sight of the previously time-consuming process of constructing fortress wall foundations being completed in an instant was truly spectacular. "I never imagined I'd see mages at a construction site in my lifetime. They usually stay tucked away in towers." "Exactly. And to see them work so diligently." "It’s all thanks to those folks." Where a worker pointed, a group of mages clad in brown robes with peculiar doll-like emblems stood. Following their gestures, dozens of enormous golems moved around, carrying materials and building the fortress. It was noteworthy watching scores of mages erect colossal walls instantly, but the golems under the control of not more than a dozen mages were performing the most essential tasks everywhere on the site, though they lacked any spectacle. These golems managed the hazardous tasks at the construction site that typically led to numerous injuries or fatalities. Furthermore... "Have you arrived, Master?" "Yes. Is everything going well today?" "Yes, nothing abnormal." The moment a large, rugged-looking middle-aged mage joined them. "Arise!" Whooom. Grind, grind. Thud. Thump. Instantly, around thirty golems emerged from the soil that was previously barren. Each new golem was significantly larger than the existing ones. "Wow." "Amazing!" "Can one person really do that...?" "Could that be... the notorious mage?" "Oh! I heard the rumors too." "They say he's the kingdom's greatest mage?" The performance of a golem specialist mage was unrivaled, even compared to dozens of other mages. Moreover. "Late! I'm sorry!" As a blue-haired girl rushed in, rubbing her eyes: Rumble, rumble, rumble. Thud. Thump. Thud. Thump. Around twenty golems, somewhat smaller than the ones before, burst from the ground. "What... is this?" "Did I just imagine that?" "It must be just the golem master's reserves. What could a young girl possibly do?" The murmurs were words that would have been crushed if heard by the girl, but the scene was just that surreal. These smaller golems, moving far more naturally than the existing ones, slipped into precise locations, seamlessly aiding the workers and the original golems. Though fewer in number and smaller in size, their intricate, human-like movements elicited spontaneous gasps of admiration from Clayton as he watched. "Your golem handling skills have surpassed mine by now." "Well, it's a different talent. Twenty is my limit for moving them this way." "Haha. It's more than that—it's a difference in talent." For someone who reached the level of a mage while only in their fifties, quite young among superhumans, it was remarkable to witness him praise his young disciple so enthusiastically. However, for Clayton, it was more than warranted. His young disciple possessed a distinct talent beyond simply reaching the status of a mage before turning twenty. The seemingly simple scene observed was not the product of a simple process. Making golems move like real people was an incredibly taxing task, not just magical but humanly taxing. As a mage, managing even one or two golems was his limit. When handling large numbers of golems, he had to determine their actions magically in advance, merely providing mana. When dealing with dozens, they moved only according to basic commands, which seemed reasonable. Yet, the young disciple moved as many as twenty golems as if they were living beings. Even considering she had mastered the superior earth element, allowing her to sense everything on the surrounding ground perfectly, it was hard to believe. 'It's akin to doing twenty different tasks simultaneously.' Such concentration and control were naturally impressive. Moreover, Clayton knew the smaller and weaker appearance of the golems was something Victoria had intentionally adjusted. 'Even though it was an order from His Majesty to conceal her prowess.' Ironically, this concealment resulted in showcasing even greater talent through more refined movements. 'Where in the world did such a child come from?' He pondered anew on the exceptional child. Moreover, her elder brother, Viktor, was an aura user. Both siblings, once slaves, had become superhumans around the age of twenty. 'With their looks, they might indeed have the legendary dragon's lineage. Haha.' It was a whimsical thought, but one that seemed plausible. Even so, Clayton discreetly observed the surroundings in place of his meditative disciple, ensuring no unwelcome attention fell upon her remarkable display. Listening to the "wind sound" that captured voices from all directions, it seemed the workers' focus was directed elsewhere. "What does it matter if those folks came out and other mages are working hard?" "They're competing. Can't you tell?" "Oh. To see who’s better?" "Exactly." "...It's a bit strange, though." The workers' focus remained solely on the mages, and their dialogue was somewhat distant from the truth. And the reason lay with Clayton himself. – Empty yourself completely and fill it again. Growth accelerates after experiencing limits; research follows. These principles he’d imparted to the Magic Brigade catalyzed this extraordinary development. In reality, the golem school's disciples exhibited a much faster growth rate compared to peers from other main towers. This was due to Logan's pressure and their master’s insistence on persistently enduring unreasonable construction schedules since their days in Maclain’s domain. Initially, there was plenty of discontent, but the effects were so undeniable that eventually, the disciples themselves began to embrace the harsh demands. Consequently, mages from other schools in the royal magic brigade started rushing to the construction sites in droves. Now, Maclain’s Magic Brigade didn't merely absorb all the outliers from the five major towers but had long since drawn in their core forces as well. Within the Grand’s five major towers, only the old, rigid mages whose ideas were difficult to change remained, as the majority of younger mages participated in fortress construction. 'This could finish sooner than expected.' Even while channeling all his mana into strenuous labor, Clayton couldn't help but smile. Meanwhile, neighboring countries adjacent to Maclain’s borders could only perceive these developments as menacing. Thus, while the first fortress in the north was under construction, A formal protest arrived at the royal palace of Maclain. Under the name of the Imperial Royal Family.