Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: One Drop of Sweat is Money!
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"Still not here?"
"Yes. They said they'd arrive soon, but they haven't yet."
'Is the internal situation still rough?'
The Habis Kingdom couldn't muster the nerve to retrieve the indispensable wyverns, prisoners, and armaments essential for running the kingdom, all of which were sitting in my territory.
It seemed the kingdom hadn't sorted itself out yet.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have just abandoned the wyverns like that.
'No major issues, I hope...'
Returning to my office, Derbal gave me various reports.
I hadn't even been away for a few days, yet there were more than one or two matters needing attention.
"Shall I try contacting them again?"
"No, it's fine."
Rosiatte wasn't a fool.
No, the thorough way she handled purging the nobles was enough to gauge her sharp mind from rumors alone.
"How's the coal supply going?"
"Primary mining is complete, and we're supplying the nearest areas first."
"No issues?"
"Thanks to the diligent slaves and soldiers, things are proceeding smoothly. Using Kayer Avenue has sped up distribution as well."
'I'll have to return the slaves soon, though...'
He might be the Temir tribe's second-in-command, the Great Guardian Warrior, but I couldn't keep using Temir tribesmen as slaves.
"How's the slave purchase coming along?"
"Slave traders slow down in winter. The slaves treated as merchandise could get hurt or die, and seasonally, there are no wars or territorial battles."
'Too bad.'
I could use the citizens, but they had plenty to do elsewhere.
Farming the vast lands was what advanced the territory.
"So I was thinking, how about reaching out to the Habis Kingdom?"
"The Habis Kingdom?"
"They've freed a massive number of slaves after purging the nobles on a grand scale. They even turned families of knights and soldiers linked to noble houses or who actively aided the corrupt nobles into slaves—tens of thousands in total. But the slave traders aren't budging, like they've colluded."
"Don't the merchant caravans handle slaves?"
"Yes. Every caravan except Rubis deals in slaves, yet they're all refusing to buy, as if in cahoots. They cite the season, but it seems like a tactic to drive prices down."
"Oh ho, really?"
I wasn't thrilled with the slaves' attitudes, but if needed, I could swap them out.
And some might even have decent character.
'I should pay a visit.'
I was a bit worried about Rosiatte too.
Plus, didn't I have a way to bring over 100 wyverns?
"Any other issues?"
"I've already reported everything else. Nothing major besides the snow sled course opening and winter combat training."
"Good work, Sir Derbal."
"Work? It's nothing compared to Your Lord's efforts."
'Right, Sir Derbal. You're the only one who gets me.'
Just the Temir visit alone—how many close calls with death had there been?
Risking my life like this, only to have no one appreciate it—how disappointing would that be?
Even if I was the lord responsible for Neruman.
"By the way... the air plate seems different. It's not some cheap item..."
'.....??'
Derbal's petty words, dripping with stinginess, pierced my pleased ears.
"Th-there was a reason... haha. But isn't this the newer model?"
"I know. But where's the old plate you were wearing? You didn't just leave it behind because you got a shiny new air plate, did you? Even a broken air plate is worth tens of thousands of gold..."
His eyes narrowed accusingly, trailing off.
He stared at me like I'd squandered the territory's hard finances, committing some crime.
"N-no way... Me, doing something so senseless? Ha, hahaha..."
'Why's he changed like this? The Derbal I knew wasn't this cheapskate knight.'
"My Lord, don't take it the wrong way. There's a continental proverb: 'Like an ogre devouring orcs.' A starving ogre finds an orc cave and eats them daily, even when not hungry, until it starves again. Even if the territory's coffers overflow, we knights and citizens must economize now to prepare for the future. I only hope Your Lord recognizes my loyalty."
'Ugh, I'm the one bringing in the money. Boo hoo.'
I wanted to cry, but he wasn't wrong, so I nodded.
"I won't forget your... passionate(?) advice and loyalty, Sir."
"Thank you, my lord."
'Yeah, who else but Sir Derbal would economize for the territory?'
I straightened my slightly miffed heart.
Neruman and I hadn't yet spread our name across the continent, squeezed between empires, bearing the historic task of survival.
What was there we couldn't scrimp and save on?
Once things took off, we could feast later.
'Argh, why does our mom keep popping into my head?'
Chuseok, holidays, etc.
Our mom, who seized the rare big sums elders gave as "pocket money" in the name of savings under her name.
I knew my money turned not into savings, but pricey cosmetics to pretty her face and sexy lingerie to please Dad.
Suddenly, her face overlapped with Sir Derbal's.
'No way...'
I wanted to trust Derbal.
I shook off Mom's face rising in his.
I firmly believed—no, wanted to believe—such a nightmare wouldn't strike my life twice.
Because Sir Derbal was like the mother currently shouldering Neruman.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"Reliable nobles and knights... nowhere to be found..."
The Habis Kingdom had spent the past month in the continent's busiest turmoil.
Despite sweeping away nobles and knights who insulted the royals and kingdom in one fell swoop, Princess Rosiatte's face, tasked with the current royals and kingdom, remained etched with worry.
She hadn't realized the rot rooted in nobles and knights over the years ran this deep.
She'd believed executing traitors and scoundrels would rebuild the kingdom, but it wasn't so simple.
Today's report: another rebellion.
Minor lords bordering the Loen Duchy and Raviter Empire ignored the king's edict and killed dispatched administrators and knights.
She wanted to send knights and soldiers immediately, but had none to spare.
Uncertain when traitors might strike again, she bolstered royal guards, and with nobles gone, promoting new ones from knights had slashed manpower.
Moreover, territorial soldiers excluding regulars were still prisoners in Neruman.
Even mobilizing all trainee Skyknights wouldn't retrieve wyverns, nor did she have the capacity.
Even now, skilled Skyknights were dispatched to suppress rebels and guard key military points.
"To think the kingdom was this bad..."
Her kill list didn't even include those nobles and knights who fled in preemptive fear—countless numbers.
Some fled in the night with kingdom treasures.
The kingdom lay empty.
Not even against the prickly neighboring Loen Duchy over border issues could they resist.
'First, I need to retrieve the prisoner territorial soldiers and wyverns...'
Maximizing forces was most urgent.
Skyknight trainees with wyverns versus without were worlds apart.
With wyverns, she'd crush kingdom rebels effortlessly.
But no way existed.
Squeezing the last drop of blood to hold the kingdom.
"Haa..."
Rosiatte let out a long sigh amid aching loneliness.
Royal guard knights defended the palace, but no one to confide in anywhere.
Even her grandfather, Duke Sapidan, dragged his aged body to quell rebels.
Her sigh echoed through the vast royal council hall.
Yet she shed no tears.
Loneliness and weakness were separate.
Rosiatte closed her eyes, sinking into brief peace.
"Kayer..."
One man's name slipped from her lips.
Thinking of him, uttering his name alone, gave strength and comfort.
The weary princess leaned into the grand jade throne, yearning for him.
This long, long winter night.
Hoping desperately he'd visit even in dreams...
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
'Jeez, if they're holy knights, fine, but why meddle in someone else's romance?'
Flying with Armis was this tough.
Not some 007 op, but a nighttime flight dodging holy knights' eyes with Armis.
To holy knights, Armis was a saintly sky; to me, just a woman.
Shiiiiiing.
'Nice!'
Clouds rose skyward before snow-laden ones vanished.
Bundled tight in air plates against biting wind, Armis's hand gripping my waist, head on my back, felt good.
No words needed.
Flying over moonlit snowflakes cleared my chest, refreshing.
Couldn't open mouth in cold wind, but short talks passed in hearts.
No matter what anyone said, this moment, we conversed by heart alone.
With you and me, we're happy...
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"For territory growth, bridge construction is urgent beyond roads. Currently, three bridges exist in the territory. All built by the Bazran Empire, all in poor condition."
'Still full of problems.'
I held a meeting with Derbal, and his friends—key territory administrators Andriaf and Tebedian—followed by reports.
"Not just that. The roads Your Lord builds could aid invaders. Thus, alongside bridges, we must erect mid-sized fortresses with strong defenses near entrances."
Territory development meeting over Neruman map.
The two administrators, having surveyed the territory, spoke on bridges and security.
"But bridge construction isn't a day or two—it's a massive project taking at least a year. We can't start lightly, right?"
I asked Derbal's two friends politely.
Friends or not, work demanded rigor.
"For Your Lord's planned revolutionary territory growth, roads and bridges are essential. Binding all Neruman within a day's horseback ride—that's Your Lord's vision, I believe."
Andriaf, with one blue and one brown eye—an odd-eyed man—eyed me, seeking confirmation.
'Birds of a feather. Fitting for smart Derbal's friends.'
"Correct. My plan binds the entire Neruman territory in a day's living radius. Neruman's vast, but population's like an imperial baron's lands. Uniting it for swift soldier and logistics movement is my primary goal."
Neruman territory neared South Korea's size.
50,000 citizens used it—barely one-fifth.
Without innovation, no growth.
Swiftly shifting soldiers, labor, supplies maximized use, offsetting Neruman's power disadvantage versus empires and kingdoms.
'They don't grasp logistics' importance bone-deep yet.'
Merchants sensed it vaguely, nobles ignored it.
Wars emphasized wyvern air battles, sidelining infantry and road-building.
Even developed Bazran Empire turned rural beyond capital.
But to me, used to next-day deliveries anywhere, the continent frustrated.
Thus, I'd maximize logistics in my territory.
"Then, as Sir Tebedian says, fortresses are mandatory with bridges. Roads speed foes; unsecured bridges spell disaster."
"Of course. As you know, Neruman's three tributaries join midstream into the Robert River. Only three bridges there—mostly unrelated to planned roads. So I've decided on five more. Here, here, here, here..."
I pointed five spots on the grand Neruman map, noting build sites.
"Excellent foresight. Linked to Kayer Avenue, usable with existing bridges in emergencies."
"As expected of our lord. Already with answers..."
Andriaf and Tebedian gazed admiringly.
"That's nothing for our lord. Arrived in Neruman empty-handed, lord in under a year, stabilized territory. You'll be more shocked ahead."
Derbal, boasting warmly to friends amid casual praise.
Hearing face-heating compliments beside me wasn't bad.
"Shall we prioritize bridges as a year-long key project? Or mid-to-long term?"
"Derbal, brick production as ordered—going well?"
"Of course, my lord. Enough now to rebuild one Denfos city wall side."
"Good. This winter, first bridges and fortresses near Denfos and two spots linked to Kayer Avenue."
"Y-yes?"
"M-my Lord, this winter?"
"My lord..."
Three gaped at winter bridges and fortresses.
If showing ability, burn it in deep.
"Want a bet? If I build them before winter ends, deduct one month's pay from your year. Deal? Up for it?"
Life without bets? Tasteless.
I'd bet drinks and bread on ladders in class.
That thrill of victory.
No different here.
I wouldn't misuse their pay, but stakes fired motivation(?).
"Fine! If Your Lord builds two bridges and fortresses this winter, I'll stake one—no, half-year's pay."
"Andriaf..."
Derbal, knowing my ability bone-deep, tried stopping him.
"Haha, that's the spirit. I'll raise: if I fail, bonus year's pay extra."
"My lord, count me in!"
Tebedian, eyeing bonus, jumped in hastily.
"Tsk tsk..."
Derbal tongue-clicked at friends' folly.
Unlike tongue, lips smiled wide.
As finance officer, thrilled to use friends free half-year.
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"This is how it's done."
"Ah! Got it."
'Getting along.'
Temporary territory magic tower in repurposed hangar.
Beastkin and mages crafted magic items, unaware of me.
'Like a factory.'
Beastkin and mages engraved magic circles on dwarf-finished Blast Spears.
Using mithril welders, full focus.
I'd said mana item crafting essential for magic growth, so they toiled day-night.
Grateful they shared my solo past work.
Tedious eyeball-gluing doll gig.
Helpful for them with little magic knowledge, but to me with 8-circle lore, just grunt work.
'Other kingdoms steal? Useless. Heh.'
New Blast Spear blueprints? Worthless.
Beastkin-mages' final assembly was mine.
Triple magic formula array, special mana stabilization—only then complete.
Last single rune wrong order? Bust.
'Keep at it.'
So focused, perceptive beastkin missed me.
No urge to halt smooth factory.
Their every sweat drop was money.
.