/
Ding dong.
[Skill Level Up!]
[Asrahan Core Technique: Double Circle Lv 2]
[Mana Amplification Rate: 220%]
[Optional Skills: ① Energizer /  ② Latent Power Surge / ③ Power-Saving Mode]
[Amount of RP required to level up: 120]
These clear notifications rang inside his head. Lloyd cheered inwardly when hearing that.
‘It’s all done. The water has frozen and my skill has leveled up.’
This was what Lloyd was hoping for.
Using the Core Technique to absorb only the warm mana inside the water caused the water’s temperature to drop until it eventually froze.
He also predicted that his experimenting with a new method would count as training for the Asrahan Core Technique. He had anticipated it and was completely correct.
‘This is much better than I expected.’
His hands were still submerged in the water. Warm mana could be felt being absorbed through his fingertips.
It was difficult at first because it was a new method. However, once he got the hang of it, it was much easier than he had thought. It felt similar to the time he finally figured out how to ride a bike for the first time.
‘Now, let’s try again but with more momentum.’
Bzzzttt…..
As the rotation of the two mana circles surrounding his heart became slightly faster, the suction force at his fingertips began sucking in far more mana than before. More heat was absorbed into his hand from the water. This caused the temperature of the water to drop faster.
‘Let’s avoid getting my hands stuck in the ice.’
Lloyd gradually retracted his hands when the water’s consistency was akin to a smoothie. From that point onwards, his fingertips only lightly touched the surface as he continued to absorb heat from the water.
The warm mana was absorbed and processed at his double circle before being discharged from his mouth. That was why warm breath continued to get out from his slightly opened lips. It was from the heat he absorbed from the water.
‘Hm, this way, it appears I’ve kinda turned into a chimney.’
Now wasn’t the time to be concerned about his appearance.
Lloyd continued to use the Core Technique until he finally succeeded in making his first large ice cube.
“Phew.”
He let go of the ice and opened his eyes. The previously liquid water inside the mold was now frozen solid.
‘Good, it’s a success.’
He raised his head to look at the ceiling. By activating the Asrahan Core Technique once more, he observed the flow of the heat in the air.
‘The heat is able to easily get out.’
The heat he absorbed from the water and expelled into the air rushed to the arched ceiling and escaped through the air vents. The smooth discharge of the heat inside the building was proof that the Seokbinggo was well-made.
‘Judging by the light coming from the air vents, is it evening already?’
He’d come here shortly after lunch. However, right now, it was already time for dinner.
‘I’m so slow.  If it continues like this, they might have finished setting up the table for my 60th birthday party by the time I finish freezing these into ice.’
Let’s be faster.
Lloyd sat down in front of the mold’s neighboring compartment. He inhaled deeply and dipped his hands deeper into the water than before. After that, the Core Technique was then activated.
Bzzztttt….!
‘Oh, it’s working.’
Not even a few minutes later, the water felt cold on his arms.
‘Let’s go a little faster.’
As the rotation of his double circle became more intense, the suction strength on the tip of his fingers increased. The water’s temperature dropped even faster.
A thin layer of ice was formed on the surface, then the consistency changed to that of a smoothie. It eventually froze into a large ice cube.
‘All right, let’s keep going.’
His second attempt in making ice took about an hour. He was getting the hang of it even more and gaining confidence. He immediately started on the next one. This one was made more quickly.
‘This took approximately 40 minutes.’
Lloyd continued making more ice. The time it took to make each one decreased gradually.
The next ice cube took about 30 minutes, then it was reduced to 25 minutes, 20 minutes, and later it was reduced to 15 minutes.
‘Huf, huff. Keep going!’
Heat was absorbed by his fingertips and expelled through his mouth. It really felt like he had turned into a human air conditioner.
Just like that, he worked all night until dawn to make ice. Finally, at the crack of dawn, he managed to freeze the water inside the last ice mold.
“Gasp, gasp!”
He’d been using the Core Technique for so long that when he stood up, the world went dark for a split second. Nevertheless, it was worth it.
‘My Core Technique Skill has leveled up again.’
When he was about to finish freezing the last large ice cube, his Asrahan Core Technique had risen to double circle lv. 3. As a result, the mana amplification rate had increased to 240%.
‘Anyway, it’s finally finished.’
With a proud expression on his face, he looked around Seokbinggo’s interior. The warm interior that had made Arosh grumble the day before was already no more. As the insulation successfully trapped the cold air inside the building, cold air filled the Seokbinggo.
Lloyd was just sitting still inside, but his breath fogged as if it was the middle of winter.
‘Now, should we tidy up?’
He was a little tired, but he couldn’t afford to rest just yet. Once again, he activated the Asrahan’s Core Technique to boost his physique.
‘This time, let’s do it normally, without any skill. Heup!’
Crack!
Lloyd grabbed the straws around the ice mold that were sticking out. He slowly yanked them out.
As the large ice cube was slowly pulled out, a cracking sound could be heard. The ice cube was then lifted and placed on top of a thick pile of straw Lloyd had previously laid. He then spread a thick layer of sawdust and rice husks on the ice’s surface. A layer of straw was carefully wrapped around the sides and top of the ice. It served as additional individual insulation to keep the ice from melting.
Just like that, Lloyd took out all of the ice cubes from the mold and wrapped it with straw. He stacked them on top of each other so the cold air could stay longer.
‘Good. This should prevent the ice from melting until winter arrives.’
A wide smile bloomed on Lloyd’s red face. Finally, the moment where the Seokbinggo had reached completion had come. Furthermore, the moment for him to receive a large sum of compensation for building the Seokbinggo after many twists and turns had also come.
“Oinkkk! It’s so refreshing, oink!”
“Oinkkk! It’s really cold, oink!”
“Oinkkk! The ice is delicious, oink!”
“… One of them is not like the others, oiinkk!”
It was chaotic inside the Seokbinggo. The orcs who came inside to store the meat of the large monsters they had recently hunted had their eyes open wide in awe as soon as they felt the cold air inside the Seokbinggo.
Akush, the chief, was quite surprised too.
“I truly never expected it to be this cold, oink.” The orc chief’s wide-open eyes were full with wonder as he took in the sight of the Seokbinggo.
At that, Lloyd simply shrugged. “So, you didn’t trust me?”
“To tell you the truth, yes.I was only expecting a basement that was slightly colder than the temperature outside. This, on the other hand, is… oink.”
“You’re very impressed, right? All you have to do is make sure to lock the door. Keep it closed in the summer and open in the winter to allow cold air to enter.”
Lloyd also taught Akush how to store ice inside the Seokbinggo, as well as when to get and how to refill the ice. All these were necessary tips needed for the Seokbinggo’s maintenance.
Perhaps, because of that-
“I’m certain, oink.” Akush’s palm that was as big as a pot lid patted Lloyd’s shoulder. The chief’s eyes were full of trust that transcended species. “With this degree of coldness, I think the meat can last until winter. Lloyd, the human, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You’re not only the savior who saved my son’s life, but also a true friend and a true warrior who has solved the trouble that has been plaguing our tribe for so long, oink.”
“If that’s the case, are you acknowledging me as a warrior?”
“Without a doubt, oink.”
“This Ural mountain range is teeming with athletic orcs…. I mean, you’ll still acknowledge me even if I can’t do the leg exercise, which is carrying the statue I can barely lift on my shoulder, right?”
“Of course, oink.” Akush, the chief, nodded. “We’re now friends. I can understand and accept you, a feeble, weak and vulnerable human with a soft appearance similar to an anchovy who is so pitiful that he’ll crumble if he exercises his lower body, oink.”
“….. Oi, excuse me?”
“I’m kidding, hehehe, oink!”
Lloyd burst out laughing at this absurd situation while Akush was laughing uncontrollably.
Ding dong.
[Interspecies Relationship Unlocked]
[The Orc Chief Akush has accepted you as his true friend.]
[The Orcs now consider you as a friend of equal standing.]
[You can increase the orcs’ favorability towards you and earn more RP.]
[100 RP will be given as a bonus for unlocking Interspecies Relationship.]
[Current RP: 611]
‘Huh?’
Lloyd’s eyes widened in shock.
‘Can I now get RP from orcs as well?’
Truthfully, it was something he had been looking forward to since he first rescued Arosh. He was thinking perhaps he can make a good impression on Arosh and gain some RP. However, he was somehow unable to obtain a single RP. Even though Arosh saw him as his savior, there was no notification related to favorability.
‘That’s why I assumed I can’t get RP from the orcs.’
Inside, he had given up and let go of his expectations.
‘However, the truth is different. There’s another reason as to why I can’t obtain RP from the orcs.’
He was unable to form friendships of equal standing with another species due to the barrier in forming interspecies relationships. That was the reason why he couldn’t get any RP from the orcs. The restrictions, however, had been lifted.
‘This is a pleasant surprise.’
Lloyd was determined to continue befriending the orcs.
Obviously, he also wouldn’t refuse the compensation he’d get any time by now.
“Now it’s time to put our agreement as written in the contract to practice.”
“That’s right. You’ve built us a Seokbinggo, so we’ll give you the exercise equipment we used, oiinkk.”
“Then, as promised, I’ll give you the stone exercise equipment.”
Lloyd also made exercise equipment out of stone along the construction of the Seokbinggo. He took the steel that Bangul had pooped and made it into bars. For the weight, he cut some granite. He was able to make super heavy dumbbells, weights, and other exercise items for the orcs using these.
As payment, he would receive the orcs’ silver and gold treasures, which they previously used as mere exercise equipment.
His compensation didn’t end there.
“I, Arosh, have promised my savior, Lloyd, to send 120 male orcs to his territory if he’s acknowledged as a warrior. Arosh is a warrior who keeps his words, so I’ll fulfill my promise today, oinkk!” Arosh shouted.
120 enthusiastic muscular orc warriors lined up. All of them volunteered to be sent to the Frontera Barony.
“Human beings are so frail, oink!”
“I want to teach them how to work out, oink!”
“Let us get going, oink!”
That was how these 120 muscle gospeler, no, warriors were dispatched.
Lloyd turned to face them, a happy smile plastered on his face.
‘I didn’t expect they’d send so many.’
He was able to gain RP from the orcs by building friendships with them. He took all of the gold and silver treasures piled up in the village. Now, he could mobilize 120 orc warriors as workers. In addition, he also had the valuable magic ingredients and items he obtained from the black mage. The more he took into account what he had obtained this time, the happier he became.
‘Good, very good.’
The benefits he got from the plan with great benefits he thought of when he discovered Arosh in the ant nest were far superior to the one he had previously imagined.
“Then, we’ll get going right now.”
Alongside the orcs’ enthusiastic farewell, they started their journey back home.
The group consisted of Lloyd, Javier, 40 Construction Team members, and an additional 120 orcs. Because of the large number of people in the party, they marched noisily across the mountain range. However, they were safe from the threat of monsters.
When some monsters saw 120 orcs flocking together, they sneaked off to flee the other way. On the other hand, those that were occasionally brave enough to attack the party were quickly dealt with by Javier and the orc warriors. They were beaten so hard until the depths of their soul and reduced into a great source of protein.
The party crossed the mountain range with raging spirit.  Lloyd’s enormous sum of large and heavy compensation was never a problem. After all, these items were originally used as exercise equipment by the orc warriors.
“Walking while carrying this is a good workout, oink!”
“My shoulder muscles are being stimulated, oink!”
“I’m burning my fat, oinkkk!”
Those ‘exercise equipment’ were things ordinary humans could hardly lift. The orcs, however, were rather pleased. They were happy to walk while carrying it. ‘This stimulates their muscles’, they said.
As expected, they were exactly like the uncles at the local gym who kept shouting that sweating profusely while working out was the best.
The orcs were even competing against one another in terms of carrying heavier loads on their shoulders.
For 10 days, they walked and chatted with each other while crossing the mountain range.
After that, the sight of a familiar place finally unfolded before their eyes. It was the Frontera Barony.
Lloyd had returned home.
When Lloyd arrived at the mansion, he encountered a small unexpected situation.
“Young Master Lloyd, the Lord is currently inside the drawing room.” The administrator who received them on the Baron and Baroness’s behalf bowed his head.
At that, Lloyd inquired, “Is there a guest inside the drawing room?”
“That is right, young master.”
“Who is the guest?”
“It’s….”
“Who?”
“Mr. Shiloh and Mr. Meatloaf.”
“Who are they?”
“Uh, the people who lent the Baron a private loan….”
“Ah, those loan sharks?”
Lloyd remembered them. They were the skinny and the fat fellows who had come to visit the Baron the other day. Didn’t he get rid of them by mixing some polite bluffs and threats at the time?
Lloyd chuckled when he recalled the events that happened at that time.
“Just in time.”
Very good. He was just about to have a talk about the debt with the loan sharks.
‘I think they are an excellent match for me. How can they come at the right moment just when I need them? I’m grateful.’
Lloyd walked straight to the drawing room. He hummed at the thought of the negotiation he’d be having today with the loan sharks.
Author’s note : the left nostril: Yeah ↗ Drop the beat! (Pa ram pa ram boom boom boom)