Chapter 29
(Kyle Calendar
Year 503: Age 10)
Change: The
Water Dragon's Wrath
Translator : PolterGlast
【⚔History of the Solis
Barony⚔ The Steps to Ruin】
Kyle Calendar Year
503: Merciful rain sometimes rages and releases a water dragon.
The Olgu River,
becoming a raging water dragon, pierces the earth.
The water dragon's
fury shatters the earth's protection and attacks the people.
The town called Mars,
along with its people, vanishes into the muddy torrent, never to return.
The bountiful harvest
also becomes the water dragon's offering, disappearing into the mire.
The people greatly
lament, starve, and the land of Estol is soaked with tears. The great disaster
lures the protector of the people down the steps to ruin.
***
Summer of Kyle Calendar
Year 503 arrived.
The great flood of the
Olgu River, washing away the granary and submerging the town of Mars in a muddy
torrent...
The [previous history]
that we had desperately tried to avoid would all be in vain if we made a
mistake in our response here.
"Chris, how is
the construction situation?"
"There are no
problems, my dear. The initial delays have been recovered thanks to the
addition of Elan and Mary, the two earth mages."
"So, the
construction will be completed soon?"
"Everything that
was planned has been completed, but we are now implementing additional
reinforcements."
"That's
excellent. Then, what about the waterway and the floodgate, and the emergency
response? Raymond."
"The repairs and
reinforcements of the waterway and the floodgate have been completed. All
emergency response arrangements have also been finalized."
And Raymond-san turned
to face me.
"Takuhir-sama,
what about the placements we discussed?"
"Mary, the earth
mage, and Sasha, the water mage, will protect Mars. Mary will repair the levees
as needed, while Sasha will divert the water flow to support Mary.
Elan will be in charge
of the downstream area from the town of Est. Since the area is vast, it would
be helpful if Sarah, who is attached to the headquarters, could be sent to
assist depending on the situation."
"Takuhir-sama,
thank you. Then we will proceed with their placements as such."
"Takuhir, I
understand about Sarah. We will also keep that in mind here."
"Mother, thank
you."
"By the way, Mary
is vehemently saying that she will protect her town no matter what.
My brother and I will
be in charge of the logistics unit during the disaster, directing the soup
kitchens and shelters.
The personnel from the
archery range, the reception center, and the regular tournament executive
committee will be assigned to this."
"I would like to
add to Takuhir-sama's explanation.
Under the guidance of
the government office, we have also conducted disaster prevention drills and
evacuation training for the residents in the river basin, and they are well
informed."
For the past year,
everyone had been preparing together.
Each person had worked
desperately hard.
Everything that needed
to be done had been addressed... or so it should have been, right? Probably.
The meeting ended, and
a few days later, the weather suddenly changed, and rain began to fall
unexpectedly.
Dark clouds covered
the entire Estol territory, and the rain gradually intensified, showing no
signs of stopping.
"This is... it's
coming."
"It's coming,
isn't it?"
Solis Baron and the
steward Raymond stood together, looking up at the sky.
Three days had passed
since then.
The heavy rain still
showed no signs of stopping.
It was as if the
bottom had fallen out of the sky, that's exactly how it felt.
"The water level
of the Olgu River has entered the danger zone!"
Everyone stood up at
the urgent report from the soldier.
"Everyone, get to
your posts!
Raymond! Issue
evacuation orders to all the villages and towns in the river basin, and have
the disaster prevention units assemble and stand by at their posts!
Chris, stand by at the
dangerous locations and respond as needed!
Darek and Takuhir,
prepare the soup kitchens and refugee shelters!
Begin action
immediately!"
Everyone moved out at
once at Father's command.
In the pouring rain,
the river had not yet overflowed, but the entire surrounding area was already
flooded.
"This water
drainage channel, proposed by Elan, looks like it will be useful even if there
isn't a flood,"
Raymond muttered to
himself as he led the disaster prevention unit to patrol and check the
condition of the levees.
"I'll leave the
rest to you,"
Mother said, leaving
for the town of Mars protected by Mary and Sasha.
Solis Baron had set up
the archery range on the outskirts of town as the disaster prevention
headquarters and was stationed there.
"To think the
archery range would be used like this,"
He muttered to
himself.
Yes, it was an indoor
facility with a roof and walls, and plenty of height.
It also had sufficient
depth to accommodate a large number of personnel.
We, the logistics
unit, were preparing the food to be distributed here. We, along with the
reception staff of the archery range and the town, and the members of the
executive committee, responded as the support unit.
Even as we did this,
the muddy torrent was gaining even more momentum.
The day later known as
the "Fury of the Water Dragon" had begun.
"Report!
Report!"
A messenger on
horseback arrived, bringing the first report of the Olgu River overflowing.
"Where is it?"
"The bridge on
the road leading to the town of Fran, further up from here."
It was an unexpected
location for both Father and me. It was within our assumptions, but we hadn't
expected it to overflow here first.
This road was the most
important route leading south, extending to the town of Fran, a relay point for
the mines.
A sturdy bridge had
been built over the Olgu River to transport large amounts of ore and iron.
"Explain the
situation!"
"The bridge
itself has been sturdily renovated and is intact.
However, driftwood and
other debris that flowed downriver got caught on the bridge, damming up the
water. As a result, the river has overflowed in the surrounding area, and we
are currently containing the flood with the newly built levees."
Hearing the soldier's
report, Father made a decision.
"Raymond, lead a
unit downstream from the bridge! If the bridge reaches its limit, it will come
downstream all at once! Don't misjudge the countermeasures and the timing of
withdrawal!"
"Yes, sir!
Understood. I'll go at once!"
"Elan, you and
Sarah come with me! Hurry, we need a way for the water to escape!"
They hastily set out.
※
Simultaneous time:
Near the town of Mars
Amidst the fiercely
falling rain, on the embankment beside the roaring muddy torrent, women were
desperately working.
"Sasha, hold back
this muddy torrent just a little longer!"
"Y-yes...
M-madam... I-I'm al-alright..."
Chris could tell.
Sasha was pushing
herself to the limit, somehow diverting the water flow in another direction.
"Mary, now that
Sasha is holding it back!"
"Yes, Madam. I
will protect it no matter what!"
Chris's earth magic
allowed her to assess the land. Using it, she pointed out places that were
about to collapse and places weakened by the muddy torrent, one after another,
and Mary reinforced them.
Soaked to the bone,
enduring the wind and rain that threatened to blow them away, Chris, Mary,
Sasha, and the disaster prevention unit carrying sandbags fought tirelessly.
"Protect the town
of Mars!"
This single thought supported
them.
※
Some time later:
Outskirts of the town of Est
Before the raging fury
of nature, there were men regretting their own powerlessness.
"Raymond-sama,
the bridge has reached its limit. We must evacuate."
"Everyone,
evacuate to a safe zone! Elan, Sarah, release the floodgates! Don't forget the
warning to the downstream areas!"
A while later, the
bridge finally exceeded its limit and collapsed. The water of the river, no
longer supported, became a flash flood and suddenly attacked downstream.
The levees that had
somehow managed to withstand the muddy torrent until now also exceeded their
limits all at once and collapsed one after another, causing flooding in various
places.
"Damn it! The
force of the water is too strong... this won't hold!"
"We're abandoning
this area! We're moving to the downstream areas!"
The steward gave new
instructions to Elan, who looked frustrated and tried to stay.
The area near where
the bridge had been was already filled with the overflowing muddy torrent, and
the outer levees were barely holding on, but the muddy torrent, which had
become a flash flood and raged wildly, relentlessly eroded the downstream
levees.
With a roar, the
levees collapsed, swallowing a new area in the mire.
Damage spread one
after another to the downstream areas.
The flash flood,
containing driftwood and earth, rushed through the river basin with tremendous
force, carving away the land.
※
The Solis baronial
family, the steward, the earth mages, and the disaster prevention unit flew
around various locations throughout the night, rushing to respond.
The battle with the
water dragon, the end of which was unknown.
It seemed as if it
would last forever, and everyone had reached the limits of their exhaustion.
And as the night of
nightmares began to break, the river flow finally weakened a little.
"Just a little
more!"
Just as words of hope
began to emerge from everyone, the "Fury of the Water Dragon" began
to show its end.
Having submerged much
of the land in mire...
After dawn, the rain
also subsided to a drizzle, the clouds became somewhat thinner, and the bright
sky began to appear and disappear.
The force of the water
gradually weakened, and visibility improved.
Even so, we were
running around with the busyness of a battlefield.
Reports of the
situation continued to pour into Father at the headquarters, and the overall
picture of the damage was beginning to become clear.
The flood damage this
time, limited to the Estol territory, was not enormous, but considerable damage
had occurred.
Evacuation orders had
been thoroughly implemented, so there were no casualties, but some rural
villages seemed to have suffered significant damage.
The cause was the
final flash flood.
As a result, an area
further downstream than the town of Mars and the granary, closer to the
Viscount Hiyorimi's territory, was submerged in mire.
The shelters and soup
kitchens set up in the town of Est were overflowing with hundreds of evacuees,
and my brother and I were busier than ever, as if the real work had just begun.
Even so, he flood
damage this time could be said to be unbelievably minor compared to the
[previous history].
What was different
from the previous time:
・Sufficient prior preparation and countermeasures
・Increase in the number of earth mages and their
ability to respond
・Swift response at the site
These factors must
have been helpful.
"Phew...
somehow... we managed?"
I sighed in relief,
satisfied with the result.
Until I learned the
true dire news later...
-----
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