The rumor spread quickly, more quickly and powerfully than usual. There's no place where rumors don't exist, but this one was different. The content was too unique.
"Master Lloyd has finally gone mad."
"What?"
"I heard he's digging."
"Digging? What do you mean?"
"Literally. He's digging in the backyard of the tavern—digging up dirt and tamping it down."
"Why?"
"I don't know. I heard he threatened the bar owner."
"Threatened him?"
"Apparently, they stole the land behind the tavern."
"Heh... that's..."
Someone sighed across the table. Others whispered in the fields.
"Did you hear? I heard Master Lloyd was trying to commit suicide."
"What, finally?"
"That's what I heard. Yesterday, he was shoveling dirt, and today, he's digging it up again."
"Digging it up?"
"He keeps muttering to himself while placing flat stones on the dug-up dirt."
"No way, that…?"
"What else could it be but a grave to bury himself in?"
There were various speculations. Some said the alcoholic baron was secretly storing alcohol underground. Others thought he was digging a tunnel to escape his father's surveillance. There was even a rumor he had discovered a new taste. Many people flocked to see what was happening, drawn by the gossip. As the people of Yeongji focused their attention on him, the ondol room slowly took shape.
People sure can talk.
Lloyd wiped the sweat from his forehead. The frost had caused mud to stick to his face, but he didn't care. He looked around. The ondol room was small, just 3.6 meters by 3.6 meters. In the past few days, he'd built both the foundation and the walls.
This was hard work.
Building an ondol room wasn't easy. Lloyd had expected it to be difficult, but the reality was even harder than he thought. The lack of tools available in the field in Korea was a major problem.
I don't have any power tools.
Everything had to be done by hand. He used his experience from part-time jobs and military service to lay the foundation. It took two full days, with muscle pain to spare. He'd procured lumber by pestering the administrator. He used a heavy timber structure for the base, built a gable roof frame, and reinforced the pillars with additional lumber. He quickly applied the sticky yellow clay and spent three full days building the walls.
"Huh, Javier?"
"Did you call?"
"Aren't you tired?"
"I've gotten used to it."
"Really?"
Even in this situation, Javier wasn't winded. No matter how fit he was, working hard like this was different. Using muscles that weren't typically engaged must have been exhausting, but he remained calm.
That means his remaining stamina is on another level.
Lloyd couldn't help but admire Javier's resilience. He truly was a solid guy, especially considering Lloyd was using him for free.
Lloyd spoke with a hint of humor in his tone. "Then do what I tell you."
"Is there more left?"
"Of course."
"Why?"
"Because we haven't finished building the ondol room yet."
"But Lloyd, you only asked me for a little help."
"Did I?"
"Yes."
Javier spoke abruptly, in his usual cold tone.
"At first, you asked me to help you dig. You said that was all you needed. But you kept changing your mind. After tamping down the dirt, you asked me to help trim the trees. And later, you even asked me to help dig the mud, saying it was too hard."
"Hm, so you didn't like it?"
"Of course not."
"Because you're a knight?"
"… ..."
Javier didn't respond, but Lloyd knew the silence meant a yes. It made sense. Covering oneself in dirt, using a shovel and saw instead of a sword—it didn't seem fitting for a knight's honor. But Lloyd seized on the opportunity to challenge that line of thinking.
"But isn't a knight someone who helps the weak?"
"Hmm?"
"I bet you believe that too."
"Of course..."
"Right? Then this is also a knight's job. Helping the weak is a noble practice of chivalry. It makes perfect sense, doesn't it? After all, as we do this, the tavern owner's mother must be trembling with fear."
"... ..."
"Ah, if only we could finish this just one day sooner, Mother's lips would be filled with a happy smile..."
"What else should I do?"
Javier let out a deep sigh. Lloyd smiled mischievously.
"Let's do some chopping."
He pointed outside the ondol room.
"Did you see the log in the corner of the tavern's backyard?"
"I saw it."
"Good. That's a red pine tree. Chop it down with an axe and make some panels for the roof."
"What's a panel?"
"It looks like this." Lloyd drew a rough sketch in the dirt floor.
"One span wide, two spans long, and the thickness of a finger joint. Think of it as a long version of the AiyingPad tablet... Oh, you don't know about tablets? Think of it as a board, but cut it to a consistent size. Got it?"
"Wouldn't it be better to cut it with a saw instead of an axe?"
"No, no. An axe is better."
Sure, using a saw is convenient and easier to adjust the size, but the cutting process causes significant wear and tear. This damages the wood grain, and moisture seeps into the weakened fibers, causing it to rot quickly.
"If you don't want to replace the roof in less than a year, use an axe."
"…Okay, I understand. But..."
"But what?"
By the way, I noticed Javier was looking at me strangely.
"Where did you learn this, Lloyd?"
"Something like this? Building a structure?"
"Yes."
His gaze was still cold, but there was a faint glimmer of emotion hidden in it—intense curiosity. Lloyd answered without hesitation.
"Korea University."
"What?"
"I learned it at Korea University."
"... ..."
"It's true. Not a lie."
"But I've never heard of such an academy."
"Oh, of course you've never heard that I went to school somewhere?"
"Yes."
"Then keep wondering. Now, let's go. We have a lot to do, so let's get moving."
Lloyd waved his hand, sending Javier off. Chopping down the red pine trees to make roof panels was something Javier was much better at. It was due to their differences in talent, whether the target was a person or a tree. Javier was the best at cutting through anything with a blade.
'That guy is already a high-level sword expert.'
This was something mentioned at the beginning of the novel The Iron-Blooded Knight. No one in the territory knew this—not even the baron, nor Javier himself. However, at this point, Javier had already reached an extraordinary level of skill. He was a high-level Sword Expert, on the verge of becoming a Sword Master—the pinnacle of swordsmanship. In a small country, there would only be three or four people at this level. It was comparable to being the captain of a knight order in a medium-sized kingdom.
'And he's only twenty years old.'
Javier wouldn't realize the immense power he possessed until he left this territory. This realization was a future event that had yet to unfold.
'Anyway, I should get moving too.'
After resting for a while, Lloyd began the next task. It was the heart and soul of the ondol room. The light, the salt, and the red beans in a red bean bun. It was like the graphics card in a high-end gaming computer. The construction of the ondol floor.
'From now on, it's crucial.'
No matter how well you build a structure, if the ondol doesn't function properly, the whole project is a failure. Aware of this, Lloyd focused all his attention.
'Let's stick to the plan.'
It reminded him of when he was in the army. The regimental commander had suddenly become obsessed with a mud bathhouse. Lloyd had been drafted as the company representative to build it at the regimental headquarters. The result? The regimental commander's wife's happiness increased dramatically, and as a reward, the commander was given a vacation.
Lloyd drew on the experience and memories from that time. He dug a hole—this would be the passage for the heat and smoke from the stove to flow through.
'So the heat can travel the longest path possible and spread across the floor.'
He dug the passage in a circular motion, carefully adjusting its height.
'This way, the heat won't escape all at once but will remain for as long as possible.'
The first point where the heat from the hearth enters. The gable where the heat accumulates. The "gable whale" where the heat is effectively spread. The "whale dog" that catches the heat one last time before it escapes. And the chimney "dog" that prevents rainwater and cold air from entering the gable.
'It's tough.'
Still, he continued, carefully minimizing errors as much as possible. He dug, checked, then trimmed and checked again. After that, the passage walls were covered with yellow clay, which was thoroughly dried. Flat and level stones were carefully laid over the passage.
'Place thick stones near the hearth, and thinner ones farther away.'
The stones were arranged delicately. The stones farther from the hearth heated up slower and less intensely. By varying the thickness, Lloyd could ensure the heat would be distributed evenly across the entire floor.
'Now it's the newbie's turn.'
The gaps between the floors were filled with new stones and covered with yellow clay. Next, dried mud was spread as the first layer and tamped down. The floor was leveled and thoroughly dried by applying a second layer. Then, the surface was smoothed and finished with the thinnest possible coat, followed by grinding. The entire process took three full days, and the core of the ondol construction was now complete. However, the opportunity to test it had to be postponed until next time.
"Excuse me, Master Lloyd?"
While I was admiring the newly built ondol floor, a servant entered.
"The lord is looking for you."
The lord—Baron Arcos Frontera—was calling. It was a summons from my father.
'No way.'
Suddenly, a place flashed in my mind. Lloyd left the unfinished ondol room. The murmurs of the onlookers, who had been gathered in small groups of three or four, stopped abruptly. Lloyd walked through the heavy silence and headed toward the Baron's mansion.
"I hear there's a strange rumor going around these days."
The fork moved. The iron fork picked up a piece of rough handmade sausage, but the Baron's hand stopped. He didn't bring the fork to his mouth. Instead, he cast a cold glance toward the other side of the table.
"Are you doing something in the backyard of the tavern?"
That gaze was far from warm. To be blunt, it was cold. It was a gaze that seemed to see a troublesome problem rather than a son. Lloyd's mouth turned bitter at that gaze.
'This body has its flaws.'
The owner of this body, whom he had taken possession of, was Lloyd Frontera, a typical scoundrel. He drank heavily, got drunk, gambled, squandered money, and committed numerous other crimes. He had a colorful (or rather, grim) history and accumulated karma. Perhaps because of this, he was always met with prejudice from those around him. No matter what he did, people would always look at him with suspicion. "What trouble is he causing this time? Is he crazy? Is it time for him to meet his end? I hope he doesn't cause trouble for others…" These were the looks he received, even now.
"Let's see. What are you up to this time?"
The Baron's voice was as cold as his eyes. Lloyd realized the moment he heard it—it wasn't a question. It was a reprimand. He shrugged.
"If you've heard the rumors, you'll know. We're building an ondol room that the tavern owner ordered."
"An ondol room?"
"Yes."
"Are you trying to fool me with such absurd lies, the same way you tricked the tavern owner?"
"If that's what you think, then there's nothing I can do."
Lloyd spoke roughly. At this point, who would believe what he said? It seemed like nothing but trouble would come from trying to explain further. But convincing the Baron in front of him was also difficult. It was awkward.
'If I keep talking, I might get caught.'
Parents somehow always know their children. He wasn't Lloyd Frontera—he was Kim Soo-ho, who had taken over this body. He was worried about being suspected for no reason. So, he chose to avoid a deeper conversation.
"If you're done with your questions, I'll finish eating."
Just like the usual Lloyd, he cut the conversation short and focused on his food. He thought that by quickly filling his stomach, he could get up before anything else could be said. But then, the Baron's next words reached his ears.
"Is it because of family matters?"
"..."
"If you had eyes and ears, you would know what's been happening recently. Are you upset about that, and now you're doing this on purpose?"
"..."
He must be talking about the seizure caused by a scam. As expected, Lloyd's guess was right.
"But it's nothing serious. It's just a temporary setback. Who am I? I'm Arcos Frontera, head of a family that's protected this land for five generations. I can easily overcome this level of trouble. So don't stray too far from the right path."
"..."
"This father will stay strong, so you, too, must remain steady."
"..."
Lloyd had heard this before. Suddenly, he raised his head and looked at the Baron. His father appeared handsome, even in middle age, but his expression looked somehow weary. It was the same tired expression he had seen before.
'It's the same as before.'
It reminded him of his last vacation from the military. At that time, his father, who was suffering from investment fraud, had worn that same expression. He had suddenly grabbed Lloyd's hand tightly, assuring him that everything was fine. That it was nothing serious. He told him to focus on his studies and tried to smile through the strain. Lloyd had believed him. He thought everything was fine. A year later, his parents, unable to escape the grip of debt, made an extreme choice. But now, the Baron in front of him wore the same expression his father had at that time.
'It's a lie.'
It's not okay. He was pretending everything was fine in front of his son.
Thump. Lloyd set his fork down. The thought of focusing solely on eating had long since faded. He put aside his plan to distance himself from the Baron. Without realizing it, he opened his mouth.
"Don't give up. I'll do my best, too."
If only he could go back a few years. This was something he had always wanted to say to his father. Quietly, he got up from his seat. The Baron looked at him with a strange expression—different from his previous coldness. It was a look of determination, and it burdened Lloyd. Quickly, he left, hoping the Baron wouldn't stop him.
The construction continued. The ondol room in the tavern's backyard began to take shape quickly. The curious gazes of the onlookers, now gathered in groups of three or five, poured in. I worked amidst these whispers and rumors, roasting the wood to prevent it from deteriorating. It was a process of carbonization. At first, I wasn't used to it, so I ruined a few pieces—some were burned too much and cracked, while others remained too soft. But after several attempts, I got the hang of it. The key was to burn only about 3 millimeters deep into the surface of the red pine panels.
'Just right.'
The panels became light and strong, resistant to moisture. I estimated they would last at least ten years. I wove the roof with the panels and dried the siding thoroughly before covering the floor with yellow soil. I applied a thicker layer of glue and attached the panels to the siding. Finally, I waterproofed the structure by applying soybean oil and pine resin. The ondol room was finished. I lit a fire to test it, then checked the floor.
"It's fine."
A smile naturally spread across my face. Now it was time to see the customer's reaction.