Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: With You, I'm Happy
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"Black-glowing firewood?"
"Yes. Haven't you seen it around the nearby mines? The black logs that burn for a very long time once put in the fire."
"I've seen it."
"Really!! Where did you see it? Is there still some?"
"Of course. In the past, before our ancestors used magic furnaces, they used that stuff. Its proper name is Artamian."
'Of course. No one but dwarves would know about coal.'
The people of the continent hadn't yet utilized coal, but the dwarves knew its value.
"There's a ton of it. There's a huge mountain of Artamian not far from our caves. It's scattered throughout the Rual Mountains, not just here. But why? It smells bad, and if you use it wrong, its toxicity can kill you."
The dwarf chief Cassias, referring to carbon monoxide poisoning as toxicity.
"Then take me there. No, lend me a dwarf who can find Artamian for a bit."
"That's no trouble. Even young dwarves can find Artamian."
"Thank you, Chief. Dwarves are truly my blood kin."
"What, for this? Thanks to you, our dwarves are happy. We don't have to trade with untrustworthy humans; we're overflowing with beer and food, and we can enjoy ourselves every day. We're so grateful. Kayer, let's keep living like this until we die."
'Oh, old timer. Of course. Thank you for generations to come!'
Chief Cassias, grateful for the abundance of work.
The only things provided to the dwarves were beer, wheat, and a few foodstuffs.
In return, the favors the dwarves had bestowed upon me were beyond words.
Not just the sword I used, but magic defense gear, weapons and armor for the territory soldiers, and trade goods like jewels and luxury accessories—if tallied in money, I couldn't buy them even if I sold my territory.
Yet the dwarves were thankful for the work.
I was tempted to hand them a lifetime slave contract.
"Dwarves are my family. Family doesn't speak of thanks, I believe. Chief, I love and respect you."
"Kayer, I love you too. No, our entire clan truly loves you."
His love differed slightly in degree from mine, but I took the chief's hand and sang.
"By the way, what about the things I requested..."
"Haha, who are we? The items you asked for are being made without delay. We're remelting the broken mithril armor to make it even sturdier, and large crossbows are coming out one every two days. Plus, several families are tirelessly forging various weapons, so don't worry."
"Thank you. Soon, I'll treat you all to a big round of beer."
"Really!"
"Of course! Trust only me!"
"Oh! Of course. Who else but you would I trust among humans!"
'Chief... don't trust me or any human.'
The dwarf chief, showing boundless trust.
My conscience twinged a bit, but I steeled my heart.
As the chief said, dwarves needed only beer, food, and an environment to work nonstop.
Unlike humans, they didn't need money or desire to accumulate wealth.
They simply worked their hands until death to hone their craftsmanship.
From a human perspective, it might seem lacking, but that was just the problem with humans drowned in desire.
"Nerpopo!"
"Yes, Chief!!!!"
The chief, chatting in the plaza, called Nerpopo, whom I knew.
"Go with Kayer and find the Artamian vein."
"Understood, Chief."
"It's cold outside, so bundle up well."
"Hehe, got it."
Nerpopo, delighted at the mention of going out.
"Please take good care of me, Nerpopo."
"What care? Aren't you one of our clan, Kayer?"
The dwarf folk always brought peace whenever we met.
It was regrettable that humans had shunned such good dwarves in the past.
"Well then, let's head out once you're ready."
"Wait a moment."
Knowing we'd fly on Bebeto, Nerpopo dashed home hurriedly.
"By the way, Kayer, how are the upper folk doing lately?"
"Pardon? Upper folk?"
"You know, those called Temir."
'Huh? He knows about the Temir race?'
"They invaded the territory until recently, but it's quiet now. Why? Something happen?"
"Oh, no."
Chief Cassias knew something but tried to hide it.
I didn't miss his hardened face and slight fear at the word Temir.
"Be careful. They're dangerous. Our ancestors were dragged off by them in the past. Especially watch out for the shaman in black robes... Our forebears said they weren't human."
"Yes....."
The Temir race, connected even to dwarf ancestors.
I'd have to meet them in a few days.
'Guest ledger says it's the last day of the year.'
Winter's final month on the continent calendar, which had twelve months like Earth.
The last day was when I had to go see Rocco Roia.
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"This looks suspicious. Clear the snow."
The coal veins scattered throughout the Rual Mountains.
Seeking a place with developed roads, we'd come within sight of Siaris Fortress.
Nerpopo pointed to one spot after scanning the snow-covered mountains.
"Places with Artamian veins don't let trees live long. No big trees, and there's a distinctive acrid smell unique to Artamian around them."
As expected of a dwarf, whose nose for minerals was like a hunting dog's—Nerpopo sniffed out a scent I couldn't detect at all.
"Step back a bit."
I told Nerpopo to move aside and prepared my magic.
'If it's enough to upheave the ground completely...'
Countless spells flashed in my mind.
Lately, just thinking of magic put my mana hole on instant alert.
My unique mana breathing method had shortened casting delays even further.
"Earth Mow!!!"
Earth Mow, one of the earth-element magics.
As I chanted, mana poured from my mana hole, merging with ambient mana.
'Beautiful.'
The waves of mana invisible to ordinary eyes with weak mana sensitivity.
Having broken through the 6-circle wall and grown closer to mana, I could now clearly see the fusion.
Tens of thousands—no, hundreds of millions—of tiny mana light clumps rushing to embrace and explode.
Like nuclear atoms fusing into a being of immense power, mana underwent thousands, tens of thousands of changes in an instant.
Kwaaaaaang!
It raced to my target and manifested as magic.
Rumble rumble rumble.
True to a 5-circle spell, Earth Mow tore a massive hole in the visible mountain ahead.
Clatter clatter.
Debris rolled down to my feet.
'Coal!!!!'
I confirmed it.
Black luster from carbon content—coal.
Its glossy sheen showed it was high-grade, with excellent heat and duration.
"Excellent quality Artamian. Hard to find stuff like this."
Nerpopo rushed over to inspect the coal.
"Haha, thank you, Nerpopo."
"No big deal, this."
The humble dwarf Nerpopo.
"If so, a few more places, please."
"Hehe, sure. Feels like I don't wanna go back inside after coming out."
'This'll last hundreds of years easily.'
A coal mountain hundreds of meters high at a glance.
Just 2 kilometers from Siaris Fortress, easy to transport.
It'd be cold moving it, but the sweat of the few for the many was precious.
If thousands' hardship made tens of thousands happy, what greater value?
Whiiiish.
Whoosh whoosh.
True to its fame, winter winds scattered the layered snow on branches as fine powder.
Cool white snow kissed my face.
'Truly a beautiful place.'
I turned to gaze at my land.
The land I tended and cherished.
Before I knew it, it had become my dream, my home.
More lovable than Earth.
Sweating hot for it was no waste.
Neruman.
Now, I couldn't live without it.
Thus began my obsessive love.
Unstoppable by anything.....
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'Good thing coal mining starts without delay.'
Nerpopo and I found five coal mines.
Impossible for humans, but he sniffed them out like a ghost in one day.
Winter made it easier, he said.
Dense forests would mask it with nature's scents.
'With two wyvern squadrons and knights dispatched, the workers should be safe.'
I loaded 1,000 slaves from limestone mining and laborers needing work onto wagons and sent them.
Also beastkin and seven mages, figuring magicians would help.
Not a long-term dig—just enough for winter—so massive manpower for quick finish.
'Spears are ready too, and sending some tax wheat to Orak Castle wraps it up.'
Fine at first, but as Rocco Roia's coming-of-age neared, my heart raced oddly.
Felt like I wouldn't return for a while, so I rushed Derbal and the knights.
'Why... why so anxious.'
I could break the Temir agreement even now.
No one would blame me for ditching those folk.
But my pride wouldn't allow it.
A man takes responsibility for his words.
That's what I believed.
'Spring will strain the territory. Rabiter could strike anytime.'
The Rabiter Empire, headachiest of remaining foes.
Just thinking hurt.
Inevitably clash someday, but they were too strong.
'One more year, and they wouldn't scare me.....'
No guarantee of easy win like vs. Habis Kingdom.
Rabiter, famed continent-wide as aggressive empire.
All knights and soldiers elite, already renowned.
"...Lord Kayer."
'.....!!'
Deep in thought, my name from behind.
"Ah, Lady Armis."
Armis smiled brightly behind me, unnoticed.
"You seemed deep in important thoughts. I didn't interrupt, did I....."
Armis, always prioritizing others.
Her small mouth moved cautiously.
"No. And is there anything more important than seeing you? Haha."
I flashed a bright smile at Armis, who energized me just by sight.
"Poo, yet you haven't visited the fortress once..."
Armis pouted at my words.
The ever-obedient woman now voiced her feelings.
"That's why you came to me. Daily visits cause misunderstandings. Especially your holy knights, who idolize you—they'd challenge me to duels."
"Fine. Since when did you fear holy knights... You're just avoiding me because you don't miss me. Right? Admit it?"
Her words contradicted her joyful eyes.
Just watching her was bliss.
Sharing one space, breathing together—happiness.
"How about today? I'll play fun with you, forgive me?"
"Depends on your performance. Don't think riding Bebeto once smooths it over."
"Then trust me."
"Hoho, okay. I'll trust you once."
They say love emboldens the shy.
Armis had matured since we met, but more womanly now.
"Shall we, Lady?"
I gestured to the door, guiding her.
Armis couldn't hide her joy at my courtesy.
'I'm sorry, and thank you.'
My unspoken heart.
Just warm gaze toward her—that was all my feelings this moment.
If only Armis understood, even if no one else—enough.
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Rumble rumble rumble!
"Wow! The spirit's power is amazing!"
Noim, intermediate earth spirit, raised the ground like waves.
Hundreds of men shoveling days would take—what it did in one go.
'Finally some time.'
Outside Denfos city walls.
Land soaked in blood recently showed no scars.
Now sloped at an angle, piled 100 meters high.
Nearly depleted my mana to complete.
'Hehe. Ta-da! Sled hill open!'
Festival canceled by invasion.
But I'd planned play areas for Neruman's kids.
Grateful young ones surviving under hardy, hungry parents.
Once stable, amusement park with dwarves.
Not yet—settle for this.
"But why pile the dirt so high?"
"My lord... what for....."
Busy Derbal questioned the dirt mound.
"Derbal, order carpenters for sleds. Light material, 20 cm high, wooden bottom fine. Pad edges with soft leather to avoid injury."
"Yes?"
Even used to my odd orders, Derbal didn't get it.
"200 should suffice."
"Ah, understood."
Knowing no repeats, Derbal nodded.
"Noim, cover that dirt with all the scattered snow around."
Slither.
Noim, not yet returned to spirit realm, flowed over frozen ground.
Crunch crunch.
Easily shifting 50 cm snow piles, Noim neatly layered them over the dirt sled hill.
"Snowman making?"
Armis clapped happily, joyful in anything with me.
"No."
"Then?"
"You'll see, just wait a bit."
Fifty holy knights from Skywing Platoon trailed us.
Guarding airtight 20 meters from Armis.
Ears perked, listening to us—couldn't relax.
One informal word, and they'd charge as blasphemy.
'Done!'
Obedient Noim finished quick.
"Go home, Noim."
Noim wiggled at dismissal.
Vanished to spirit realm instantly.
"All done?"
"Yes."
"....."
Armis eyed the hill then me.
I grabbed her hand firmly.
Zap.
Holy knights' auras shifted sharply.
"Don't move. Even without you, Armis is my irreplaceable treasure."
Holy knights needed a firm step once.
I released mana, crushing their auras.
"Shall we."
"Yes....."
Hugging Armis, I dashed up the sled hill like flying.
Swoosh, swoosh.
"Eek."
Cute bluebird burrowed into me in surprise.
"Hold here."
Flutter.
I spread my cloak beneath us.
"Why this?"
Armis, clueless on sled hill.
Big eyes on me.
Rustle.
Gently seating her with one arm on the cloak.
"Here we go!"
"Yes?"
Swoooosh.
Cloak slid down the snowy slope like an arrow.
"Aaaaah!"
Armis screamed in thrilled shock.
Rumble.
Despite warning, her cry drew knights instinctively.
Whiiiish.
Not wyvern aerobatics, but max thrill sledding.
Plummeted 100 meters to ground in seconds, momentum gliding another 50.
"Ah....."
Armis sighed long in my arms at the sudden event.
"Sa-Saintess!"
Clatter clatter.
Holy knights rushed.
"Hohoho. Kayer! So fun!"
Armis turned, bursting fresh laughter.
"Do it again!"
Like a girl, she grabbed my hand, leading.
"Of course. Until sunset."
"Really? Thank you!"
Armis hopped joyfully.
But I didn't know.
My words to ride till sunset would become reality amid her delight.
"Hoho. I'm happy."
Armis, knowing happiness in small joys.
Gazing at her, I smiled.
With you, I'm happy too....