Chapter 164
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: This Night, I Too Was Not Alone
"Is it all finished?"
"Of course it is. Heh heh. Do you know who I am?"
"Who? You're my eternal master, of course."
"Haha. And who else could it be? You're the son of rock, inheritor of the blood of the finest master craftsman among the dwarf clans, and the great leader of the Luhalumer tribe, Chief Cassias."
'*Like hell you're a great leader...*'
A lecherous chief who loves booze and doesn't hesitate to sell out his comrades for some pork belly.
Simple-minded enough to drop his pants at a few words of flattery, he's hardly an ideal chief from the dwarf clan's perspective.
But sometimes in life, you had to butter someone up even if you didn't mean it.
What could you do?
Even if I told Cassias the truth, he'd never change his ways.
Letting him live out his days in that delusion was probably his blessing.
"Here it is. Just as you asked, I made it perfectly and duplicated it. No one in our clan but me could produce anything like this."
With those words, Cassias pointed to one side.
'*It's really done!*'
I'd lived in the 21st century.
I knew better than to try brute-forcing the major trading companies on the continent—their influence was no joke.
Against those sorts, the best counter was to fight merchant with merchant.
How dare those bastards boycott my territory and shut out the Rubis Merchant Guild?
I'd heard that the continental trading firms were deeply involved in the empire's mobilization against Neruman's fall.
This was my masterpiece to give those trading scum a real taste of their own medicine.
A currency master plate that could print modern-style money.
The handsome face on the 100-gold coin was mine, Bebeto graced the 10-gold, Neruman Citadel—my home—adorned the 1-gold, and a scenic view of Cayer Avenue filled the 1-silver.
'*You'll come crawling when you need it. And then I'll shove my hot turd right down your throats.*'
I wasn't the type to let bygones be bygones.
Those merchant guilds that dared bully me just because they had money and subtly pressured Neruman.
They were next on my list.
Revenge from a direction they'd never expect.
'*Heh heh heh.*'
My secret for now.
"Lord Cayer..."
The dwarf and elf village.
Like dogs and cats, they growled whenever they met, yet somehow got along surprisingly well.
Right now, in a small castle they'd built together, elves plucked harps while dwarves hammered away, each enjoying their own lives.
Thanks to me, they'd built ties with humans, but some barrier still kept them apart.
Unlike me, other humans wouldn't look at dwarves and elves the same way.
Sensing those pure gazes, they leaned on each other and savored their own freedoms.
Among them was the elf woman Narmias, quietly calling my name.
"Narmias!"
I called her name in a delighted voice.
"Tch tch. What's so great about that scrawny elf who looks like an orc starved for a hundred days? A real woman should have a figure like our clan's women—curves where they count and plenty where they shouldn't be lacking. Well, Cayer, I'm off."
Cassias clicked his tongue, spouting some absurd standard of beauty, and turned away.
"Take care."
I called out loudly with full courtesy.
Of course, even as I spoke, my eyes were busy drinking in Narmias as she approached, wafting a sweet apple scent.
'*Wow, she's gorgeous.*'
Narmias's voluptuous figure was a feast for the eyes.
Her one-piece mithril air plate, gleaming silver, perfectly hugged her slender form.
Enough to ignite a fire in any man's heart.
"I've missed you."
Swish.
'*Whoa!*'
Who said elves were the epitome of obedience and purity?
Without hesitation in front of dwarves and elves alike, she wrapped her long, white, soft arms around my arm as she said she'd missed me.
'*Oh! God, don't test me, but rather...*'
Even as I prayed, her coral-blue eyes told me she truly meant it—no lies, no pretense.
Her heart, unashamed because of her love.
Rustle, rustle.
I gently stroked her long hair.
In this blissful moment.
The warm sunlight of early summer wrapped softly around me and Narmias.
As if it knew the foolish human wish that this happiness might last forever...
"Y-Your Majesty! This is terrible!"
The central continent was in spring, but the Ice Empire Hildrian was only just emerging from winter's chill.
In Hildrian's imperial palace, where magic kept the scent of spring year-round, Duke Akirion's startled voice sought the empress.
"What is it, Duke Akirion!"
Empress Anatas, who had been quietly strolling the gardens with Princess Tiabel.
She read terror on the duke's flushed face.
"You must activate the defensive magic array at once, Your Majesty. T-that man's eyes... enormous mana is pouring from them."
"What! Mana!"
She knew he lived, but Empress Anatas was shocked to hear a 7th-circle mage's mana pouring out.
"It seems he's unleashing his power now. He's casting some evil black magic somewhere!"
"Ah..."
Anatas let out a groan at the mention of black magic.
She could guess some unwanted situation was unfolding somewhere.
"Activate the purification array immediately to block his evil aura from spreading. And from this moment, issue an empire-wide emergency alert. At the same time, inform Lord Cayer of Neruman. Tell him the black magic swordsman of ruin, Altakas... has fully spread his dark wings."
What would be, would be.
Empress Anatas issued calm orders.
Praying desperately that dark veil wouldn't reach Hildrian.
"Gasp!"
After a patrol lap around the territory, securing Bebeto's feed, cleaning up his droppings, I returned to Neruman Citadel's hangar.
I tilted my head at the sight of five unfamiliar wyverns in formation, then landed.
And the moment I did, the sight of one woman made me gasp involuntarily.
"Oppa!!! Brother Cayer!"
A stunning beauty about 170 cm tall, with golden twin braids.
A supermodel's million-dollar figure paired with a cute, cartoon-character face.
She fluttered toward me like a butterfly, calling me "oppa."
'*No way, that little kid?*'
My brain stuttered as the woman before me didn't match my memory.
The moment I realized the 160 cm kid from the violent noble family, always with flowers in her hair, resembled the woman charging into my arms.
Whoosh.
'*Gasp!*'
She launched a full-body tackle, wrapping her arms tight around my neck.
"Sob sob. I've missed you, oppa. Please forgive this sister who never visited even once while in Neruman."
'*My god!*'
Hearing "Highness" confirmed the unbelievable beauty's identity.
'*How? High heels?*'
Two years since parting with Highness, who could guess she'd transform into this long-legged stunner?
The prim little lady who'd warned me to watch out for women in Neruman.
'*Whoa!*'
Her grown body in air plate pressed full against me, arms around my neck—my mind was on the verge of fleeing.
Even the Neruman knights escorting Highness looked utterly baffled.
"Are you okay? Not hurt anywhere? Rumors say bad guys have been hounding you."
She hadn't just grown taller.
Highness, fussing over me with "oppa," had matured in heart too.
"H-Highness, what happened? From that far away to here."
From her Petrin count family seat to here was an enormous distance.
Especially now, with the Bazran Empire in near-wartime.
Dangers everywhere, yet she'd come with just five wyverns—her guts amazed me.
"Even in war, everyone tucks tail at the sight of House Petrin."
'*Right, I'm the fool for worrying.*'
House Petrin, Bazran Empire's yakuza nobles, boasting "fan only one boss" as their creed and idiocy as their hallmark.
Even nobles who couldn't control their bowels wouldn't touch Petrin.
"But Highness, when did you grow so much? You're towering now."
"Hee hee. You said milk helps you grow tall, oppa, so we raised a few cows at home. Drank a big glass of fresh milk every breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack. Put it in bread, cookies, everything. And just like you said, I grew! My chest is cow-worthy too, under the air plate. Hee hee hee."
'*Gulp...*'
Scratch that about her heart maturing.
Whispered in my ear, but rubbing salt in a man's wounds with her "cow-worthy boobs" talk.
It didn't match her pure, cute cartoon face, but countless manly imaginings flashed through my mind.
'*It was a joke...*'
A casual remark about milk back at knight school to the short Highness.
But her tale of raising cows with dogged determination sent chills down my spine.
Simple, idiotic, extreme House Petrin.
I'd felt it before—they were a family I wanted no part of.
"Oppa, I love your home. There's a room for this sister too, right?"
Releasing my neck, she linked arms casually.
She gazed in awe at the hangar and my mansion's jutting features.
'*But really, why'd she come?*'
Missing me wouldn't explain it—the Bazran Empire's situation was dire.
Screeeeech.
Kiyaaaaak.
As curiosity gripped me, wyvern cries echoed from above.
Bazran Empire's guests, finishing their bloody training for the day.
Landing in the hangar post-training.
Flinch.
Highness, arm in arm, flinched at the descending black wyverns.
'*Crying?*'
Her big eyes suddenly welled up and tears streamed down.
Her moods were always a mystery.
Flap, flap, flutter.
The black wyvern formation landed in the hangar.
Thud thud.
Wyvern claws hit ground.
Whoosh whoosh.
As they settled, Isis and the imperial guard skynights dismounted in perfect order.
Approaching me.
"Chuuung!"
A loyalty cry pierced the sky, shaking the heavens.
"Skynight Highness de Petrin of House Petrin greets Her Highness Princess Isis and His Highness Prince Razsion of the Great Bazran Empire!"
"Greetings to Her Highness the Princess and His Highness the Prince!"
Highness had slipped her arm free, kneeling on one knee with her skynights, offering knights' utmost courtesy.
"P-Petrin!"
Idiotic but with loyalty unmatched in the empire, House Petrin.
Isis, approaching me, froze like stone at the name.
"Her Highness the Princess, His Highness the Prince! We come at the command of Duke Garviti."
Kneeling, Highness gazed at Isis and Razsion.
Her voice brimming with loyalty, she declared fulfilling Duke Garviti's orders.
'*So the time has come.*'
I'd known this day would arrive.
The Bazran Empire I knew.
Reeling from one tyrant's rule, but its foundational strength endured, no doubt.
And now it seemed the moment was here.
For me and my guests to return to the empire in triumph.
"Duke Garviti and most northern nobles, along with those who haven't forgotten the empire's glory, have united. They've decided to depose Emperor Poltbiran, whose tyranny threatens the empire's safety and stains the imperial name. And they've unanimously raised His Highness Prince Razsion as the legitimate heir to the Bazran throne. If you issue the command from here, we'll raise the banner of imperial salvation and gather the empire's living loyalists!"
Highness's voice, brimming with loyalty mismatched to her cute face.
Even back in the inner castle, she treated princess and prince with utmost courtesy.
Isis and Razsion, unable to receive such protocol in Bazran's palace, hadn't gone hungry at my home.
They were already regaining their dignity.
The natural authority of royalty flowing as they became the empire's focal point.
"Convey this to Bazran's loyal vassals."
Isis maintained a cool princess poise, though emotions must have surged.
"We obey!"
"By the rightful heir of the Great Bazran imperial blood, I approve the deposition of the tyrannical Emperor Poltbiran. Convey that."
"Chuuung!"
"And I simultaneously command you to swiftly unite loyal nobles and knights to reclaim the palace."
"Chuuung!"
Razsion was acclaimed emperor but still young, so Isis issued the orders.
"Lord Cayer."
Isis couldn't call me softly as usual.
"Speak."
Unlike her voice, her eyes trembled as she opened her mouth.
"Please help our empire."
The sudden plea for aid.
"If there's something I can do, I will."
I held a title from Bazran, but now we stood as equals.
I couldn't bow to princess and acclaimed emperor before my knights who revered me as heaven.
Partners, not superiors.
Wise Isis knew, asking a favor, not commanding.
"Please halt the kingdoms' advance."
'*She knew.*'
I'd only told a few knights about negotiations with the kingdoms.
But perceptive Isis had figured it out.
"I'll do my utmost."
"Thank you. Your grace, Lord, we and Bazran will never forget, lifetime."
I had no guarantees, but the kingdoms had gotten theirs—enough recompense for Bazran's past slights in seized lands.
'*Poltbiran, your reign ends now.*'
Tied down on the front against kingdom armies, unable to pull forces.
If nobles led by the duke moved as Highness said, he'd take a brutal backstab and board the hell train.
'*But will they listen?*'
Kerper Kingdom's duke, Hardaim, whom I'd met once.
If he ignored me, I'd have to become enemies to keep my word.
Hardaim meant less to me than Isis and Razsion.
"Lord Cayer, forgive me."
Late night.
Lumicar, brought by Highness, took Isis's orders and flew into the sky, vanishing.
Highness would stay in Neruman as guard for Isis and Razsion until the palace was retaken, I'd heard.
As that long day faded into night.
Sleepless tonight, I stepped onto the balcony for a glass of strong wine.
Then Isis entered my room.
'Hmm...'
Wearing a night dress that faintly revealed her undergarments, only for sleep.
She clutched the neckline, bowing deeply to me.
Likely to clear any lingering unease from today's conduct.
"Haha. What do you mean 'sorry'? Isis and Razsion are family I've acknowledged. Grandfather taught me family doesn't say sorry."
No lie.
Born to be arrogant princess and prince, yet they kept pure humanity.
They were family-worthy.
"I've lived to today leaning on your vast heart's grace, Lord Cayer. But this girl has nothing to repay it with."
Isis, sincerely grateful.
Her sky-blue eyes, bathed in moonlight, welled up.
"What are you saying... I helped not for reward. You were beautiful souls to share memories with, so I gave my all gladly. Retract the 'grace' talk."
Etiquette-perfect, grace-thankful, heart as lovely as her face—Isis.
Her wavy golden hair fluttered in the breeze under blue moon and starlight.
'Hmm...'
My second natural groan.
Deep night.
A lovely fairy visiting on a sleepless night for unknown reasons.
Her subtly revealed mature, curvaceous form pierced my soul unwittingly.
And the sweet, alluring scent riding the wind.
Dry swallow struggled down my parched throat.
"Thank you..."
Dropping formal honorifics for intimate softness.
Drip drop.
Clear tears from the lake of her eyes trailed her moonlit white cheek.
Slide.
My hand moved unwittingly to her face.
Zing.
The instant it touched, electric thrill.
"Sob..."
At my touch, she collapsed into my arms.
"Thank you... truly, thank you..."
I'd shed my air plate for sleep, wearing only soft nightclothes.
Her warm tears and breath seeped through my clothes to my heart.
Rustle.
I embraced the back of the young bird in my arms.
'Ah...'
Third heartfelt groan.
How to put this into words?
Smoother than silk, her skin's touch.
Felt through fabric, but living warmth transmitted to my palm, setting my heart ablaze.
"I... love you... I love you."
Thrilling love confession amid my heating body.
I should've said it first, but the brave woman whispered love's oath.
"Isis..."
Her name slipped from my lips.
At my call, she gazed with flushed cheeks and moist eyes.
"I love you too."
Woman worthy of love.
"Ah..."
She moaned at my confession, exhaling sweetly, flashing neat white teeth.
Slide.
My face descended.
Instinct seeking what cools uncontrollable heat.
"Mm..."
Hot, sweet ice cream on my lips.
'Haa...'
Final thrilling groan from my heart.
My right arm encircled her slim waist, left hand supported her soft neck against my delving lips.
Rooooar.
From afar, Bebeto's satisfied roar claiming some female today.
This night.
I wouldn't envy him.
This night, I too was not alone...