Chapter 156
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: The Virginity of a Man
'Finally, it's complete!'
The Neruman Citadel stood finished, thanks to the magic stones brought back from Hildrian, the dwarves and elves, and the territory's residents who had now reached the level of master craftsmen.
The final touches were being applied to the grand mansion, its space separated off by the inner castle walls.
A colossal dome-shaped mansion, completed thirty meters above the ground.
Starting from the central castle dome, knot-patterned flower beds branched out into three distinct sections—based on the continent's lucky number, three—and converged on the garden at the mansion's center, where a black wyvern sculpture stood. A small canal flowed in front of the fountain there, flanked by three circular ponds.
Those waterways flowed naturally along the garden's balanced contours, blending with sculptures, water features, winding paths, and tree-lined avenues to form a fantastical garden.
And the central mansion itself—what of it?
True to form as my residence, it served as the natural focal point of the entire garden and all its structures.
At its peak sat a massive parasol-shaped dome, backed by the castle walls, with three-sided roofs, a grand terrace straight out of a movie, and elegant cement columns supporting the ornate designs.
If only there had been more time, I would have carved it from marble—but since no one lives forever, I settled for smooth, air-bubble-free reinforced concrete pillars.
'Outstanding! Outstanding!'
Riding Bebeto, I circled the nearly completed mansion, gazing at it with satisfied eyes.
The walls were clad in red-tinged bricks up to the third floor, topped with gold-and-black composite bricks.
Wide windows of reinforced glass sparkled and dazzled in the sunlight.
'With Grade 1 magic stones, it can defend against up to seventh-circle magic. No one can bring it down now.'
A seventh-circle defense would repel even a Blast Spear, forming an impenetrable barrier.
My mansion—invincible just by being inside it.
Even the large ballista emplacements dotted around blended in perfectly.
"Careful with that lift!"
"If it shatters, I'll split that fat spirit's head with my battle axe!"
A life-sized sculpture of Bebeto, destined for the dome's apex.
As the high wind spirit Jin gripped and shook it momentarily, the dwarves cursed and glared.
Such was the care the dwarves had poured into crafting Bebeto's statue.
It was their masterpiece, the one thing they had lavished the most effort on in this hastily built castle.
Hauled from the Kobiran Mountains, a massive boulder had been split and flown in by ropes tied to five wyverns.
Now, reinforcement spells ensured it could withstand a lightning strike.
Kuaaaaaa!
Bebeto let out a joyful roar as his likeness was lifted by the wind spirit to cap the completed dome.
'Come to think of it, this rubs me the wrong way. It's like Bebeto's perched on my head.'
My pleased gaze soured slightly as I admired the grand mansion taking shape.
No matter that Bebeto and I had shared life and death together—imagining him squatting over me every night felt off.
'Alright. Think of it as a blessing of fertility.'
But I shifted my mindset.
That brute of a beast had poured so much energy into it that fifty female wyverns in the Skywing Unit had laid eggs.
Bebeto boasted infinite stamina, as if he ate eels with chili paste every day and chewed sea urchin gonads for dessert.
Absorbing his essence, I too planned to spend some happy(?) time with my beloved.
'Heh heh heh...'
A lewd chuckle escaped me unbidden.
Parararararak.
In that instant, a cute elf appeared beside me astride a royal eagle harpy.
She removed her mithril helmet, her silver hair shimmering blue in the light as my darling pigeon fluttered up next to Bebeto.
Gulp.
A thick swallow I couldn't hold back.
Narmias beamed at me with pure innocence.
My heated heart cooled to a refreshing clarity under that flower-like smile.
'Building the elf village next to the dwarves'... they've really grown close.'
The bickering dwarves and elves had bonded.
The nagging dwarves and sharp-tongued elves meshed oddly well.
Having both been hurt by humans once, they shared a camaraderie now—dwarves and elves were inseparable, always together whenever one appeared.
Just recently, dwarf chieftain Cassias and elf chieftain Parkiano had met to agree on a joint village.
"Narmias."
"Yes."
Hovering in place, I called her name while meeting her eyes.
"How about a nice refreshing flight?"
"Yes....."
My ever-obedient, perfect-wife-type Narmias, always answering my call with yes.
"Alright then, we're off. If you're slower than me, it's a hundred kisses tonight! Go, Bebeto!"
"....."
Instead of words, Narmias's face flushed apple-red.
Parararararak.
At my command to fly, Bebeto flapped his wings furiously and surged forward dynamically.
Whiiiiiing.
Then, a single gust blew in from the distant sea.
Cool and invigorating, carrying that pure energy.
'This is freedom...'
No need for long explanations.
The right to roam the world without restraint.
That must be the freedom everyone dreams of.
Freedom from nets and the lion's roar alike.
"Keh heh heh. Serves them right."
In the imperial capital of the Bazran Empire.
Word had long reached Emperor Poltviran that the Raviter Empire's Sky Knights had been utterly annihilated or captured in Neruman, not a single one returning.
And today, fresh intelligence arrived: the Raviter emperor had issued a full mobilization order, preparing to invade Neruman.
"Your Majesty, what are your orders? If you but command it now, we can crush Neruman in a fortnight."
In the grand audience hall of the imperial palace.
Gathered were key imperial nobles from count rank and above: Duke Pernait von Delpoise, Duke Zepotain von Rusbayk, and others—excluding Duke Omer, leader of the noble faction and the emperor's uncle, who was secluded in his territory feigning illness, and Duke Garviti.
Since the fall of Krantz Kingdom, the nobles' power had swelled like never before, their bellies fattened.
They had freely raised taxes beyond imperial law, causing the number of slaves they owned to explode exponentially.
Those unable to pay taxes were simply turned into serfs.
Thus, their loyalty to the emperor was fierce.
Recent commoner promotions to nobility had been demoted to the provinces or excluded from central power, so the empire's affairs were monopolized by the emperor and these corrupt nobles.
The Bazran Empire's greatest crisis.
Yet none gathered here saw it as such.
Everything is relative.
The hungrier the commoners grew, the glossier the nobles' faces shone with fat.
"Duke Omer, is that really a question?"
Already, over six hundred Sky Knights from Kubiran, Kobion, and Dandain Kingdoms had assembled in Gets Duchy as ordered.
They had humiliatingly provided their kingdom's Sky Knights to the empire at the emperor's command.
"I am ashamed, Your Majesty."
Poltviran's madness had deepened, now turning to ennui.
As emperor, nothing was beyond his grasp—but that unlimited power wearied him.
Embracing beauties lost appeal after a few times, fine foods after a few bites, terrorizing kingdoms that trembled at his word after a few goes.
Even an empire couldn't wage reckless war endlessly, nor sate his ceaselessly hungry senses.
But one thing.
Lately, the conquest of Neruman had Poltviran thrilled.
If he succeeded where mighty Raviter had failed, the entire continent would acknowledge his power—or so his delusion went.
"Have the kingdom Sky Knights assemble at the Haviss Kingdom-Neruman border under Duke Omer's lead. I myself shall follow at the head of the imperial guard Sky Knights and the empire's valiant Sky Knights."
"We obey your imperial command!"
"Also, you lords shall fully mobilize your territory's Sky Knights to join this glorious rebel suppression. And order the Magic Tower to commit its mages to the great cause!"
"We obey your imperial command!!"
Not one dared object.
Poltviran had beheaded even a marquis for defying him.
And with the gains from conquering Neruman in mind, they naturally accepted.
"In a fortnight, I and the empire's glorious knights shall erase the rebel land of Neruman from the continent's map!"
"Chuuuuung!"
At the mad, murderous shout, the nobles bowed their heads.
The emperor's command had fallen firm.
All that remained was absolute victory.
"Waaah..."
"Oh my..."
"Beautiful."
The Neruman Citadel, closed to all but dwarves, elves, and construction workers.
Knights and guests who had lightly stowed their wyverns in the hangar opened their mouths in admiration.
"This garden blooms year-round. And a magic barrier regulates the temperature."
The long-awaited inner citadel unveiling.
Unfortunately still shy of seventh circle, I had invited Elder Parkiano to complete the wide-area temperature barrier spell.
'Growing them with holy water makes all the difference.'
Ancient, beautiful trees and flowers gathered from Neruman and the surrounding mountains had taken root with holy water, adorning the garden.
They looked as if they had always been there, perfectly natural.
Walking through that garden.
My eternal goddess Armis, the devoted elf wife Narmias, the intellectual beauty Isis, the haughty Irene, the woman of my first kiss Rusel, and key territory knights including the beastkin Lycar—all invited.
Even I hadn't entered the inner citadel once, saving it for today.
Thus, my heart raced just like the guests'.
'Amazing what they've done in so short a time.'
The dwarves, legends of tireless labor.
Just a handful could produce masterpieces; here, hundreds toiled nonstop.
Neat-freak elves used spirits and magic to perfect the castle.
The outer walls were sturdy brick, but the inner sanctum showed incredible care everywhere.
"That central fountain can shoot fifty meters high with mana pressure."
"An incredible height."
"Not even the imperial palace has one like that..."
"Brother, this is amazing. Even the Bazran capital can't compare!"
Excited little Razsion compared it to the Bazran imperial palace.
"It's passable, I suppose."
But one person.
Arms crossed behind his back, face bored as if such a building were nothing.
'That smug bastard!'
Lycar, whom I exploited cheaply.
He didn't gush like a prince used to far grander sights.
'I'll restructure him soon enough.'
A debauched knight who knew only women and booze.
Efficient and skilled, but his cheeky mouth ruined the taste.
"Ahem. Enough garden viewing—let's head inside."
I strode toward the inner citadel like the master.
'Heh heh heh. Looks great no matter how many times I see it.'
My paradise's centerpiece mansion.
Elegant red bricks harmonized with sleek black gloss for antique charm and gold bricks symbolizing the owner's wealth.
Not 100% perfect, but 99% satisfying.
"Parvenu lords build castles with gold bricks, eh? And here's one. Haha."
'Arghhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!'
That obnoxious knight dousing my satisfaction.
'Just you wait, Lycar.'
"I don't think so. What of temples built with gold bricks, then?"
"W-Well, those are for gods who dwell there."
Armis quietly interjected for Lycar, who stammered back.
"I've heard knights are their lord's shadow. So if the shadow demeans its lord's true form and dignity, isn't that like spitting in its own face?"
"....."
'Oho, well done, Armis.'
Too awkward for me to retort, but she shut Lycar down herself.
I thought her a smiling goddess, but she had steel beneath.
"Kaiyer deserves far grander than this. No emperor or king on the continent could match the feats he's achieved—not even their toes."
Today, Lycar met his match.
The clever princess Isis showered gold dust on my face.
"Urgh... Yeah, I guess so."
Lycar groaned and raised the white flag.
'Brat, be grateful. I was gonna bury you quietly tonight.'
Daring to call his sky-high lord a parvenu.
I'd never forget this grudge(?).
The petty grudge etched in my tender heart would last at least a year.
"Haha. Come on, let's go in. A fine dinner awaits in the hall once the tour's done."
What a delightful time.
A smile wouldn't leave my lips.
Even Korea's top shots lived in a few hundred pyeong at best.
Conglomerate chairmen couldn't match this.
Europe's lavish palaces and castles were quail eggs before my ostrich egg.
A natural fortress, shielded by magic.
Nothing to envy in the world.
'Grandpa said true independence starts with a comfy place to sleep.'
The dream house from my wildest fantasies.
With a pleased heart, I stepped into what was now called a castle.
I wanted to offer a smiling roast pig and perform a housewarming rite, but this was an unknown otherworldly continent.
Silently thanking my ancestors for permitting this home, I entered.
Protected by knights standing guard everywhere.
'Emperor? Pfft, who cares. Uhahahahaha.'
In this moment, I envied no one.
Save one.
Bebeto, successfully farming kids.
Sararararak.
A breeze through my private bedroom window fluttered the silver curtains—anti-inflammatory, antibacterial magic-treated—making a pleasant rustle.
"Ugyagyagyagya!"
I stretched on the proper double king-size bed, complete with dwarven springs, and rose.
'This is living. Heh heh heh.'
100% cotton bedding, magically softened to ultimate smoothness.
I pushed aside the warm, weightless quilt and basked in the morning sun streaming through the window.
"Perfect!"
A sigh of delight escaped.
Even having stayed in the Bazran imperial palace, this room's layout was flawless to my eye.
Bed, desk, monster-hide rug on the floor—nothing but the finest.
Dwarven-crafted furniture pleased the eye.
The logs' natural wood scent lulled me to deep sleep, like camping in a pristine forest.
Sabaksabak.
Stepping onto the soft monster-hide rug, I headed to the terrace.
'Heh heh heh...'
Like the terrace of some king's castle in Lord of the Rings.
Spacious.
Vast enough for a ball with hundreds; in its midst, a private tea table for me alone.
Whiiiiiing.
A gentle spring breeze tickled my nose.
"Haa..."
My room, at the highest point in Denfos.
Looking out, endless plains stretched refreshingly into my eyes.
Not all.
The opposite small terrace overlooked the distant sea.
'Worth all the hardship.'
Nothing handed to me.
Today's achievement, forged in my blood and sweat.
No one in Neruman pointed fingers.
The residents were warm and well-fed.
Unlike other continentals living like dogs.
With effort, they supported their kids themselves, living days in comfort.
Militia ensured security; Sky Knights patrolled, perfectly controlling monster incursions.
And for that, I earned my home.
On 21st-century Earth, it'd raise eyebrows, but here, lords naturally had such rights.
Moreover, I'd done my duties and claimed them honorably.
No free labor from residents, no corvée disrupting livelihoods.
Prisoners, elves, dwarves built the grand mansion.
I deserved every right.
'Time for a wash.'
Seven-star hotel-level room facilities and interior.
Over 100 pyeong, one corner held a pool-sized bath.
Plus, my design: a 21st-century flush toilet.
Magic, magitech, dwarven hands created Earth-level conveniences on Kalian Continent.
"Lalala, lalululu?"
Humming lightly.
Stripping like a strip show.
'Kyaa, even I think I look hot.'
Sword daily, meals of seasonings and unspoiled natural foods—zero flab.
Whoever takes me later hits the jackpot.
Tak tak.
Leisurely crossing the vast room to the bath entrance.
Clothes already shed along the way littered the floor.
In the god-given form, I grasped the bath door.
Suwik.
One magic activation word: water from the tank heated instantly in the imagined bath—I opened the door.
No, just as I reached for the handle.
Dulkung.
Familiar creak of the door opening by the bath.
"Kaiyer, time to wake up. Breakfast is already..."
Special guests housed directly below my room: the Bazran imperial family.
And one woman with special ties to me.
To wake her late sleeper, she opened the door beside the bath without knocking.
Kugung!
".....!!!"
Freshly awake, mind loose for a bath.
Into that haze boomed a heart-stopping thunder.
And her gaze upon me.
No, her eyes locked on a man's precious place.
'Oh! My God!'
A cry invoking the divine burst from my lips.
"Kyaaaaa!"
Isis's desperate scream echoed my inner wail.
My body froze solid.
She screamed, but I wailed too.
The chastity I'd guarded these past 19 years.
It was over for me now.
No—Isis, she would take responsibility.
For glimpsing a pure(?) youth's deepest secrets.
Her crime demanded she never escape me forever.
A man's virginity deserved protection as much as a woman's chastity.