Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Drunk on Liquor, Drunk on Lips
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"Produce the bricks this way."
Derbal, suddenly summoned and looking over the instructions I handed him.
"I-Is it possible to make bricks like this?"
"Of course."
"Amazing. It's a completely different production method from the old way. No firing needed—just make wooden molds and pour concrete inside."
Derbal, using the concrete method I taught him.
"I'll also make you a magic kiln. Select some skilled craftsmen from the territory's people to produce special bricks too."
"Understood."
Derbal, always reliable.
"Derbal, how's the military organization I ordered coming along?"
"It's almost done. It can be implemented as soon as the fortress is complete."
'As expected, he's sharp.'
I'd only sketched a rough outline of the Neruman military structure.
Derbal had taken that and fleshed out the full org chart.
He'd made the mistake of losing Armis, but he was an indispensable talent to me.
"Starting next week, we'll begin major road maintenance. Prepare about 1,000 slaves and 2,000 soldiers."
"Won't that be short? It's impossible to finish before winter with so few."
Derbal, clueless about my road construction plans.
By local standards—where manpower counts for everything—it was a ridiculously small number.
"We'll complete the road to the Habis Kingdom border before winter ends. So you can travel it in a day, rain or snow or mud be damned."
"Y-Yes? What?"
Derbal, stunned by my impossible words.
'Blessed are those who believe. Just trust me, Derbal.'
Once the roads were done, we'd immediately rebuild and expand the fortress.
I was set on creating a new Neruman.
"Escort Princess Rosiatte to the office."
"Y-Yes, sir."
Derbal's pained expression at my confidence, which defied all common sense.
'Heh, he'll see soon enough.'
Teasing people like this was pure honey.
'Talks with the Kesmir pirates are done. Now for Habis Kingdom's headache nobles.'
The kingdom's troublemaking nobles Rosiatte had vaguely mentioned.
Habis nobles, already treating the kingdom's fall as fact, cozying up to neighboring powers and plotting treason.
Knock knock.
"It's Rosiatte."
"Come in."
The owner of that clear, pleasant voice.
At my invitation, she gently opened the office door and entered.
Our eyes met, and she shyly lowered her blushing face.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, thanks to you."
She must have.
She'd slept nearly two hours in my arms, then fled in embarrassment upon waking.
Her gently snoring face, right up to her nose, was still vivid.
"Have a seat."
I offered her a chair.
Now we needed real intel on Habis Kingdom.
"Please send them."
"Send what...?"
"All the useless nobles and knights from Habis Kingdom—send them straight to my territory."
"...All of them?"
"Of course. Tell them Neruman's lord is a total punk. Say I treat the kingdom like dirt under my nails, and dispatch your nobles and knights."
"No. If you do that, I can't guarantee Neruman's fate. Over 200 wyverns and nearly 100,000 troops. Neruman can't handle them."
'She worries about me too—nice heart.'
"But not this year—hold off their mobilization until next spring. That's the least you can do."
"If it's just that much... will it be okay?"
"Haha. Don't worry. I could solve your problems right now, but I'm swamped with territory business—sorry about that."
A man guards his pride even on his deathbed.
I puffed up big in front of Rosiatte.
"Then I'll trust you, Lord Kair."
'You bet! Who else is gonna save Habis if not me?'
"Believe in me."
"Yes."
Rosiatte's bright smile at my firm words.
'Ugh, she's killer!'
One flower blooming in the stuffy office lit up my heart.
"And please send merchant caravans through Neruman."
"I'll do that, no matter what."
Even a hollowed-out royal family could grant that favor for a few months.
"And when you go, take a few Lumikars. Contact me if it's urgent."
"Your thoughtfulness humbles me."
She knew how to separate public and private.
She had the makings of a queen who could lead Habis well.
"Stop by Armis on your way out. She has a gift for you."
"Where are you off to, Lord Kair?"
"Have to meet the dwarves about territory business."
"Yes...."
"Forgive me for not seeing you off."
"No. I'm grateful you made time despite your busyness."
Her eyes full of regret, despite her words.
No telling when we'd meet again after this parting.
"Travel safely. Then...."
She bowed and left the office.
If I had time, I'd have shared tea, grilled her background, asked hobbies—but Neruman offered no rest.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"Are the tasks I requested going well?"
"Don't worry. The Rock Clan holds honor dearer than life."
'Thanks. You're doing me a huge solid.'
Better to devote their lives to me and Neruman than rot in caves.
"And this is the blueprint for a new item. Chief, take a look."
"Blueprint! Oho, what's it this time?"
Dwarves, always thirsty for novelty.
Busy with my mithril-coated weapons, yet they lit up at "new blueprint."
"Isn't this a longbow?"
"Yes."
"What a fun contraption. That tension means a range of about two kilos. Cogwheels for fast reloading... twisted mithril string won't snap or lose spring... brilliant!"
Even dwarves approved my blueprint.
'Impossible without dwarves.'
Modeled after the giant ballistae at Kabaron Castle.
Useless against wyverns, but it sparked a genius idea.
"And check this too."
"What's this?"
"A rough city plan I sketched."
"City plan?"
Kaisars snatched the new city blueprint.
"Ooooo! Incredible! Never seen a layout like this. Rivals our clan's magitech-era builds."
No clue about magitech, but I mimicked Everland(?), Korea's kids' playground, for a modern city.
"Especially that central castle—spectacular."
Rough sketch only, yet Kaisars raved.
Referenced my apartment, amusement parks, modern conveniences.
Drew heavy inspiration from SimCity, played a few times as a kid.
"Sewer magic purifiers and focused drains—brilliant... Kair, you're a true friend to our clan."
No sooner said, he clapped my shoulder with his hammer-like hand.
'Ow—twice and I'm dead.'
Enduring the heavy pain, I broached the next topic.
"I have something to say."
"Speak."
"I want to entrust city construction to the Luhalumer Clan."
"Naturally. Who else for such a mega-project?"
'Eh? That easy?'
Dwarves distrusted humans despite our bond.
Yet Kaisars approved my tough request without hesitation.
"We clanfolk need sunlight sometimes too."
"Since you say that, I'll speak freely."
I met Kaisars's eyes.
A resolve wriggling in my heart.
"I'll make my territory a place where dwarves, elves, humans, and beastkin live as equals. Help me if you trust me. I won't disappoint."
"Hmm...."
Kaisars groaned, eyeing my firm words.
"Confident? A thousand years ago, we allied with humans on rock-solid oaths. But they crumbled like sand. Time eroded trust—humans changed, offspring forgot ancestors' pacts."
I understood Kaisars's worry.
Elves, beastkin, dwarves rarely broke ancestral oaths, even as ages turned.
Humans forgot or shattered their own promises routinely.
"Trust me. I won't let you down."
No more promises needed.
Actions over words—that's my style.
"Fine! We'll trust you once. Clanfolk, we'll follow Kair!"
'Whoa!!!'
I'd feared opposition.
"Thank you. I'll give it my all."
Not elected president or anything, but I bowed deeply in thanks.
A dwarf-backed territory.
Another unbeatable edge no other on the continent could match.
"That grateful? How about tonight?"
"Pardon?"
"Heh, a festival. Can't have joy without booze and song, right, Kair?"
"Y-Yeah...."
"Kyahahaha! Just like you, Kair! Let's party! Tonight, we ride!"
"....."
'Felt like I got played?'
Did he approve just for a festival? Doubtful.
But his manic eyes suggested maybe.
Dwarves—my life's knowledge too shallow to grasp them fully.
"Proclaim the festival! Festival!!!!!!!!"
Chief Kaisars dashed out, declaring it.
"Waaaaaah! Festival!"
Soon, the dwarf cave village shook with frenzied choral songs, nearly collapsing.
'I'm done....'
Lordship.
An utterly grueling position.
Like thankless housework—did the people know?
How their lord devoted body and soul to revive the territory.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"Hic...."
The world spun.
Without safety straps, I'd have plummeted to death ages ago.
Dwarf festival started midday.
Stepping out, stars whispered to me.
Young buck knows how to party.
'How much did I drink?'
Emptied a whole beer keg, probably.
Mana protected, but shotgunning clashes would've broken anyone.
No—my macho stubbornness to outdrink them all birthed this mess.
"Good... ugh."
Flop. Sprawled on Bebeto's back, staring at tumbling stars, I let go.
"Hehe...."
Mood was tops.
Cool alcohol swirling in my head.
Felt like I owned the world.
Thwoom.
Then, something mana-block thick whooshed past.
"Where am I?"
Half my blood alcohol now.
Blurred eyes saw familiar sights.
Flap, flap, flutter.
Not Skywing.
Fading vision: giant trees.
Bebeto flapping to land.
"Bebeto, where are we? Get plastered?"
Vaguely recalled dwarves pitying outdoor Bebeto, rolling him a keg.
"Seen this before...."
Focused spinning sight on surroundings.
"You're here...."
"Hic?"
Sudden voice behind—whipped around.
"Ah...."
There: a slender figure.
Long silver hair shimmering starlit blue.
Below: a beauty rare in human lands.
"N-Narmias."
Indeed.
Clearing eyes confirmed the elf Narmias.
"Yes...."
'Nearly scared me to death. Why here, though?'
Bebeto crash-landed in elf village, flopped wings over head, passed out.
Recalled telling him "elf village."
"Sorry for the late hour. Had drinks at dwarf village—looks like Bebeto brought me here."
Snapped sober, apologized.
Narmias always appeared ghostly when I showed.
Other elves asleep, but she looked wide awake.
"Shall I cast Heal?"
Month since last visit, yet her kindness unchanged.
"No need. Rest and it'll pass."
Truth: circulate mana, alcohol gone in seconds.
But sometimes you wanna cut loose—like dwarf festivals.
"Yes...."
Narmias, never defying my will.
Click.
Undid safety strap.
Stood to dismount.
Wobble.
"Whoa!"
Rose—and shrill alarm blared, body ignoring commands.
Squelch.
Grabbed something soft to not fall—squelching whatever.
'What the hell!!!!!!!'
Narmias right there as I toppled; hand gripped her ant waist hard.
Sudden yank—she slammed into me.
"Haa...."
Her red lips five centimeters from mine, breathing.
Sweet feminine scent flooded my chest hot.
'Beautiful....'
Heart pounded like a stallion in heat.
Slowly.
Face dipped unconsciously.
Lips burned cheek-hot against mine.
"Mmm...."
Low moan by my ear.
Rustle—slender arms round my neck.
'Don't think. Just go!'
Mind blanked white.
Fool to stand idle on laid-out welcome mat.
Crushed the elf girl's slim waist in embrace.
Second kiss of my life.
Tiny wish: time freeze right here.
Narmias's eyes fluttered shut.
Drip—two crystal dewdrops wet my face hot against hers.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"Yawn...."
Morning after wild dream.
Shook lazy haze, stretched big yawn.
'Huh?'
Slow-opening eyes: unfamiliar space.
Treehouse glimpsed through small window sunlight.
No real decor.
Wall: longbow, few arrows.
Dry-wood small table, two chairs.
Even breaths beside me.
'Gasp!'
Shock froze my mind.
Adults drunk sleep shoeless by payphones—but I'm fresh youth.
".....!!"
Turned head—body locked stiff.
'N-Narmias.'
Angel—no, elf sleeping, faint smile, hand on my chest.
'N-Nothing happened. Yeah.'
Hot kiss on Bebeto recalled.
Entering her house with her, lying on soft leaf bed with white sheet—recalled.
After? Film cut clean.
'Phew....'
Lucky: airplate off, but inner clothes intact.
My lily-white purity undamaged, confirmed.
'Damn booze.'
Not quite overnight stay—but close.
Armis surely waiting Skywing return—yet here I was, epic playboy.
'Even sleeping, she's pretty.'
First time waking beside a woman.
Sure, knight school slept with Russel tons—but then she played man.
Stroke stroke.
Hand unconsciously petted Narmias's hair.
Silky soft sans shampoo—insane.
Unknown wildflower scent bloomed at my touch.
"Mmm...."
Stirring at my hand, she quietly opened eyes.
Smile.
No surprise—met my gaze, bloomed blue rose smile.
"Sleep well?"
"Yes...."
Elf who only knew "yes."
First met: fierce elf warrior shooting arrows.
Now: lovesick woman.
Gurgle.
'Damn, timing!!'
Had vibe for hangover peck—but guts' loud chorus killed it.
"One moment."
Slipped from my arms, rose.
Clatter clatter.
To unseen corner, clinking sounds.
'Sigh, shame.'
Deep regret as lithe Narmias left my hold.
Legal minor—no marriage sans parents—but this felt married life charm.
'So this is elf home fabled.'
Office-sized.
Small wood window, door—no frills, plain.
Yet comfy.
Perfect humidity, temp lulling sleep.
"Eat."
"Thanks."
To my hungry guts' choir, Narmias prepped food quick.
Wood tray: unknown fruits, Lucacius—bread-tasting fruit.
'Like kids' playhouse.'
Childhood kindergarten play with neighborhood kids.
Took tray, slowly ate Narmias's breakfast.
Crunch crunch.
Green apple-like fruit crisp in mouth.
Sweet, cool—delicious.
'Live with Narmias—fruit every day?'
She watched me eat, happy face.
Elder Parkiano said: elves love purely lifelong once paired.
Guess I had to take responsibility.
Or that beauty'd pine lonely ages, resenting me.
"Narmias."
'Hm?'
Outside voice called her.
"Yes."
She opened door at summons.
"Elder commands you with the human."
"Understood."
'Had to meet anyway—perfect.'
Finished fruit, bit Lucacius, stood.
"Here."
She approached, helped don airplate.
"Thanks."
With Narmias's aid, suited up.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
Dad's line to Mom slipped out.
Dad always let Mom coord outfits before outings.
Now I strode ahead, Narmias following.
'Gasp!'
Sunny elf village.
Blinding—blinked, saw masses staring.
'What the!!'
Not honeymoon gawk—hundreds of elves eyed Narmias's tree nest, two meters up.
Human overnight with elf? Shocker for them.
Face burned.
Not huge sin—but face not flushing under elf stares? Weirdo.
Swoosh.
Light leap to ground.
Rustle.
Narmias followed gracefully.
Krooo!
'Ignore me not, you birdbrain!'
Wyvern Bebeto—drunk-driving too.
Joyful cry at me—ignored, headed to elder's.
'Wait a bit. I'll teach freedom's joy.'
Elves dying quietly safest spot.
Romantic maybe—but I thought different.
Living things gotta stride biggest steps possible.
Step step.
And I walked.
To forge new history pivotal to Neruman's fate.