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ficinabox, so I thought why not make a Fandom 50 out of it? What I didn't say over there was omg, I finally found it. I found another Hiruma/Senku/Haru that wasn't written by Inagaki. It's Hiruma #4, architect Hiruma!
But let's rewind. This is a webtoon about a civil engineering student who gets isekai'd as the asshole baron's son (Lloyd) in the fantasy novel he was reading. The family estate's deep in debt, and the original Lloyd has a reputation as a good-for-nothing hooligan who just drinks and terrorizes their people all day. New Lloyd, on the other hand, comes armed with his engineering know-how, has some fore-knowledge from reading the book (though the plot quickly diverges through his intervention), and perhaps most importantly, he has an amazing work ethic from his past life. He is highly motivated to turn the estate around and pay off all the family debts, so he can live an easy life as a rich baron's son. His entire schtick is that he's all about the money, and he'll do any kind of strong-arming, blackmailing, manipulation to get it. But (as you probably guessed), this translates into him saving the estate with all sorts of modern constructions, improving their people's lives, and always putting himself on the front line, trusty shovel in hand, even if he always has some kind of selfish excuse. Of course he has to save those people! That's his workforce/taxpayers/paycheck! Etc etc.
The main character of the original novel was actually Javier, Lloyd's father's knight. Javier is assigned to watch over original Lloyd and try to keep him out of trouble. He despises Lloyd for good reason, but stays with him out of loyalty to his father. It's fascinating to watch that loyalty of obligation develop into a personal loyalty of admiration, as he witnesses the changes new Lloyd is bringing to their people. I love their relationship because there are so many good loyalty feels: "I am his weapon" type moments, rushing to his defense, Lloyd's absolute faith in Javier's abilities. But unlike most loyalty relationships, there's still a lot of conflict and bickering between them, and I find that so crunchy and interesting. Like after enough miracles, Javier is completely devoted to Lloyd, and to helping him bring about his vision. But he's still distrustful of him as a person and frankly horrified by some of his methods, and that makes for a really fun dynamic.
Below, I included a screenshot of Javier as an unwilling participant in said methods. It's played for laughs, but for some reason I found that one image so very iddy and couldn't say why. (Here is the full scene in case you want to check it out.) Maybe it's something about Javier acting very much against his own morals, purely out of loyalty and, to some extent, trust in Lloyd. How he's looking away, face downcast and reluctant, but still conveying Lloyd's message with the gesture. Like he doesn't have to know why, he doesn't even have to condone it, he just acts on Lloyd's behalf.
Quite early on, we find out Javier has insomnia because somehow his developing skills as a super duper swordsman leave his senses too sharpened to sleep (?). Lloyd makes a deal to get his assistance, in exchange for curing his insomnia - which he does by rambling about his boring architecture textbooks. The implication, I think, is that they have done this literally every night since then. It kills me that Javier won't sleep in a bed for this (that would be too much trust? too intimate?), so he'll just be sitting in a chair hugging that pink pillow as Lloyd's voice conks him out. Lloyd suggests a few times that he has Javier under his control now, because he can't sleep without the boring textbooks. But Javier doesn't take it seriously, and is just like, "Okay, now do the lullaby." And doesn't that just sum them up? Lloyd is ruthless about his deals, but he makes sure both sides benefit. And Javier is still horrified about a lot of the things Lloyd does, but he doesn't think for a moment that Lloyd would stoop to holding this over his head.
Edit to add a few more spoiler-y things I enjoyed as I've read more:
ficinabox, so I thought why not make a Fandom 50 out of it? What I didn't say over there was omg, I finally found it. I found another Hiruma/Senku/Haru that wasn't written by Inagaki. It's Hiruma #4, architect Hiruma!But let's rewind. This is a webtoon about a civil engineering student who gets isekai'd as the asshole baron's son (Lloyd) in the fantasy novel he was reading. The family estate's deep in debt, and the original Lloyd has a reputation as a good-for-nothing hooligan who just drinks and terrorizes their people all day. New Lloyd, on the other hand, comes armed with his engineering know-how, has some fore-knowledge from reading the book (though the plot quickly diverges through his intervention), and perhaps most importantly, he has an amazing work ethic from his past life. He is highly motivated to turn the estate around and pay off all the family debts, so he can live an easy life as a rich baron's son. His entire schtick is that he's all about the money, and he'll do any kind of strong-arming, blackmailing, manipulation to get it. But (as you probably guessed), this translates into him saving the estate with all sorts of modern constructions, improving their people's lives, and always putting himself on the front line, trusty shovel in hand, even if he always has some kind of selfish excuse. Of course he has to save those people! That's his workforce/taxpayers/paycheck! Etc etc.
The main character of the original novel was actually Javier, Lloyd's father's knight. Javier is assigned to watch over original Lloyd and try to keep him out of trouble. He despises Lloyd for good reason, but stays with him out of loyalty to his father. It's fascinating to watch that loyalty of obligation develop into a personal loyalty of admiration, as he witnesses the changes new Lloyd is bringing to their people. I love their relationship because there are so many good loyalty feels: "I am his weapon" type moments, rushing to his defense, Lloyd's absolute faith in Javier's abilities. But unlike most loyalty relationships, there's still a lot of conflict and bickering between them, and I find that so crunchy and interesting. Like after enough miracles, Javier is completely devoted to Lloyd, and to helping him bring about his vision. But he's still distrustful of him as a person and frankly horrified by some of his methods, and that makes for a really fun dynamic.
Lloyd and his face are a running gag: | Contrast with Javier: |  |
Below, I included a screenshot of Javier as an unwilling participant in said methods. It's played for laughs, but for some reason I found that one image so very iddy and couldn't say why. (Here is the full scene in case you want to check it out.) Maybe it's something about Javier acting very much against his own morals, purely out of loyalty and, to some extent, trust in Lloyd. How he's looking away, face downcast and reluctant, but still conveying Lloyd's message with the gesture. Like he doesn't have to know why, he doesn't even have to condone it, he just acts on Lloyd's behalf.
Quite early on, we find out Javier has insomnia because somehow his developing skills as a super duper swordsman leave his senses too sharpened to sleep (?). Lloyd makes a deal to get his assistance, in exchange for curing his insomnia - which he does by rambling about his boring architecture textbooks. The implication, I think, is that they have done this literally every night since then. It kills me that Javier won't sleep in a bed for this (that would be too much trust? too intimate?), so he'll just be sitting in a chair hugging that pink pillow as Lloyd's voice conks him out. Lloyd suggests a few times that he has Javier under his control now, because he can't sleep without the boring textbooks. But Javier doesn't take it seriously, and is just like, "Okay, now do the lullaby." And doesn't that just sum them up? Lloyd is ruthless about his deals, but he makes sure both sides benefit. And Javier is still horrified about a lot of the things Lloyd does, but he doesn't think for a moment that Lloyd would stoop to holding this over his head.
Javier's first blackmail! | Javier as Lloyd's voice, sigh... | Lullaby time: |
Edit to add a few more spoiler-y things I enjoyed as I've read more:
- Lloyd yells "What you see is what you get!" at the top of his lungs. That's really the appeal of a character like his, and why it's so fun to watch him from Javier's perspective. Javier starts out despising him, he's disgusted with a lot of his underhanded schemes, but over time he sees the core of Lloyd, a caring, hardworking, brilliant guy who can get anything done, and uses that to better the conditions of those around him. Lloyd wears all his faults out in the open and hides his virtues, in contrast to those with a charming exterior but ugly intentions under the surface. With Lloyd, you never have to fear he's plotting something in the shadows, because his plotting and all the worst of him is open for anyone to see.
- Lloyd always assumes the worst will happen. When he wakes up after saving the country, he assumes that the Queen will execute him for messing with one of the country's artifacts, not realizing she is, in fact, quite infatuated with him. His first instinct is to run, because he kind of sees himself as a terrible, hated person, not as a hero again and again.
- All the moments when Javier gets closer to finding out about Lloyd's true identity. When Lloyd levels up his powers and Javier goes, "What excuse will it be this time?" And Lloyd, heavily sweating, says, "What do you think is most convincing?" And Javier just sighs and says let's go with X, you should also wear some trinkets to sell the story, that's what I'll go with too. That's the first time Javier acknowledges Lloyd might be an interloper, and Lloyd is stunned Javier doesn't demand more answers. Later, when Javier finds out his real name and starts calling him Suho!! Every time he says it I kind of feel my heart clench a bit. Like omg! It's paramount that Lloyd keep his secret! And here's Javier calling him by name! But Javier has put so much trust in him by this point. I love how in their case, (mandated) loyalty came first, and trust came second, only once earned.
- Also how Lloyd just casually writes all these checks he expects Javier to cash. He declares he'll beat someone in a race, and Javier just sighs and says, "I suppose I'll be the one racing?" Javier's sighs in general, he's so put upon, poor man.
no subject
Date: 2025-08-04 06:43 am (UTC)Javier getting the bedtime stories and hugging the pillow omg...
(Also ooh are you doing FIAB?)
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Date: 2025-08-08 02:18 am (UTC)I am thinking about doing FIAB!! Not entirely sure, but I put in some noms today! How about you, any interest? :)
no subject
Date: 2025-08-08 02:36 am (UTC)No FIAB for me, I am officially forbidden from doing exchanges that are not Battleship! It's too much commitment, you see. :P (But really it's because I'm struggling to finish things on deadline!)
Good luck with FIAB if you do it! <3 May your noms all have many offers and requests.