Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: What Melts Away - 2
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📰 General Title: Lord on Red Pills FFS Author: BigPancakeNoodles — BigPancakeNoodles Lord gives off total workaholic nerd vibes, so I figured he'd be a solo like me... but nope, saw him on a date with a girl during the festival. My horns are throbbing from jealousy, anyone else? — Anon (63.11) Bet lol, with that face and status? — OilFishEater Fuck, my lord!!! — BladeOfDoom What're you on about? He's my husband? — Anon (45.91) Tower bros' secret crush ruined lol — Anon (71.21) Lord's not a virgin? — WallBloodInvincible ↳ Reply What the hell is this guy saying? — WallBloodInvincible Says they just said hi on the street wearing sunglasses and parted ways. Happened to bump into each other on the road or something? — Anon (38.2) ↳ Reply Sunglasses? — WallBloodInvincible ↳ Reply Yeah, climber for sure, but first time seeing her face so no clue who. — Anon (38.2) ↳ Reply Blonde with sunglasses? lol — WallBloodInvincible ↳ Reply Yeah, you know her? — Anon (38.2) ↳ Reply Lmaoooo — WallBloodInvincible ↳ Reply ?? 📰 General Title: Lord Scandal Bait is Boring AF Author: LettuceChaseBeeChase — LettuceChaseBeeChase Guy's got power, prolly banged a ton of girls. No biggie. Climbers marry NPCs all the time. Can't we chase better bait? — WallBloodInvincible ↳ Reply Ugh, they just parted ways in front!! Lord's not that type of character!! You cool edgelords slandering hard. — Anon (63.11) ↳ Reply This guy's been whiteknighting hard lol — Anon (71.21) ↳ Reply Lord's not a virgin? — WallBloodInvincible ↳ Reply Fuck you kid — OilFishEater Feels a bit forced bait lol. Outside Hundred Swords Society, barely anyone’s even seen the Lord's face lol — LettuceChaseBeeChase ↳ Reply Fr lol — Anon (63.11) ↳ Reply Season 1231241 [Ogre vs Troll] debate sounds more fun lol 📰 General Title: Since It's Come Up: Ogre vs Troll Author: OilFishEater — OilFishEater 5m ogre regular vs 3m troll hunter (holding spear) — Anon (63.11) Ogre lol, fights are all about size class — LettuceChaseBeeChase Troll with weapon wins no? — Anon (38.2) Weapon or not, 2m difference... — WallBloodInvincible Weapon looks like a dick? — Anon My take: troll hunter wins. They use bows sometimes. Keep distance, harass with range, even ogre can't do shit. ⭐ Top Reply — Anon (38.2) Nah ogre uses club too — Anon Still shorter than bow. — Anon (38.2) Nah ogre just charges — Anon Troll hunter jumps too. — Anon (38.2) What if ogre boss room? — Anon Troll hunter doesn't solo. — Anon (38.2) Obviously 1v1 you retard? — Anon Starting with insults? Troll's a boss too. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ — Anon Then I fireball from the side — Anon (38.2) Then I rush in and stab with dagger — Anon Then troll hunter spears to check — Anon (38.2) Triple backflip dodge — Anon I prep fireball again — Anon (38.2) Ogre throws dirt — Anon I'm already closing eyes — Anon (38.2) Fireball misses gg — Anon Instant firewall gg ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ — OilFishEater Fuck lmao these guys still going? Lol notifications blew up thought something happened lol — Gold Rush🔹 ↳ Reply Came from report, dying lol whole gal's here watching lol — Fur Lover🔹 ↳ Reply Pretty heated? Just debate~ — LettuceChaseBeeChase ↳ Reply These two about to fuck ㄷㄷ ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Lord?"
"Yeah?"
I turned to the side.
Dinara, the Dogkin Tribe princess, looked at me with worry. We'd been touring the Dogkin village's inventions since morning.
'Who knew they'd mod artifacts into power tools.'
Outsourcing monster cleanup to climbers had boosted artifact inflow temporarily. The Dogkin used the surplus to craft welding torch-like devices.
'Truly an amazing race at turning zero into one.'
That was when Dinara spoke up anxiously.
"Are you tired by any chance? You've seemed exhausted for a while now."
"Oh, no."
I felt a pang of guilt but waved it off with a smile. Truth was, pointless forum debates while I slept had drained my focus.
'Only gallery during sleep is a risk too.'
A grueling two-hour battle.
Me and the troll emerged victorious.
The troll hunter lost an arm to '38.2's fierce dagger but landed a critical spear throw infused with my flames. '38.2', surrounded, fled.
— Anon Memo'd you gg A clear surrender.
My virtual troll hunter and I basked in arena glory before the whole gallery.
— Anon Undisputed troll master lol — Anon National-level troll tamer ㄷㄷ — Anon "Rise!" — Anon Crazy bastards fought for two hours lol — Anon Kya lol dopamine rush lol — Anon This is why nobles watch arenas lol "...?"
Somehow.
Felt like wasting energy on idiocy, but.
'Niva bait died down, good thing.'
Gallery's fondness for me, a layer lord NPC, exceeded expectations, but that day's truth needed burying.
'Unless I reveal it, no desire to expose ability weakness.'
As I stayed silent,
Dinara tilted her head and continued.
"Then, on to the next results."
"Yeah."
"As you commanded, we made five prototype 'rapid-fire crossbows'. But used existing parts, so for more production, need to expand the workshop... Sorry for the delay."
Dinara's dog ears drooped. Her wagging tail had long gone limp between her legs.
I gave a wry smile at her reaction.
"No. No need to rush from the start. Better to build foundations for mass production later, right?"
"Yes!"
Dinara perked her ears and glanced aside.
Dogkin busy refurbing the workshop.
A middle-aged one welding sheet metal with modded artifact torches and soldering irons, two youths assembling diligently at the bench.
'But is bare-handed dangerous work okay? Welding with naked eyes.'
Who knows. Dogkin daily life numbed to safety long ago.
Dinara said,
"From now, refurb workshop diligently, start material processing with mana stones... In a month, full mass production possible."
"!"
Automated crossbows mass-produced,
And Dinara's Enchant.
Post-autumn, supply territory troops with combo gear. Strengthens wall defenses as planned.
'Can't outsource everything to climbers.'
I felt proud.
"Got it. Keep going like this."
"Yes!"
Dinara beamed, tail wagging.
That moment.
A shrill cry pierced from the distant sky.
Screeeee—!
"!"
"!"
We looked up. Even from the lofty sky, a massive hawk flapped visibly.
"...?"
'Banshee Hawk this close is rare. Need rapid crossbows everywhere pronto to check flying monsters.'
Nearby Dogkin, hearing over workshop din, murmured.
— Dogkin Isn't that a Banshee Hawk? — Dogkin Tch... bad luck. — Dogkin Doesn't usually come to village— — Dogkin What if someone's riding it. — Dogkin Idiot, Banshee Hawks don't grow that big. At most snatches kids. — Dogkin True. An elder inside the workshop spoke lowly to the halted youths.
"Ignore it, get back to work. Banshee Hawks have sharp ears, can't descend on noisy villages."
"!"
"!"
"!"
Dogkin replied "Yes, bro!" and resumed. The elder bowed to me.
I nodded back and moved on.
"Anyway, keep up the good work, Dinara."
"Understood, Lord."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Next, the gate checkpoint. Climbers who'd waited over two days gathered there. Heard Captain Sir Jayden's report.
He said,
"New climbers also pledged to follow city rules."
Despite two days disarmed, ate and slept as told without complaint. Basic rule, but good order check.
'Filters true psychos.'
Like that axe guy.
I eyed the gathered climbers.
"...?"
"!"
"!"
"!"
They sparkled eyes at me.
'Hundred Swords Society uniform, but these overflow personality.'
Some dragged huge carts, others barely in burlap. Wanderers of varied jobs and gear.
'Anyway... seem grateful just for food and bed.'
【Invite the Climbers?】 'Yes.'
I nodded.
"Welcome to Walled City Baran. Rest easy, climbers."
"!"
"!"
"!"
They whispered to neighbors,
eyes sparkling extra.
— Climber Gal lord. — Climber Gal lord lines... — Climber Real layer lord? — Climber Human lord highest affinity— "...?"
Climbers won't know.
This lord before them was one arena warrior who lit the gallery ablaze last night, victor with a troll in glorious battle...
'...Don't wanna get caught.'
I swallowed, approving entry casually. They headed to planned spots.
"Got a Hundred Swords contact, see ya."
"Wanna room with me at inn?"
"Market square exchange first—"
"Swap mana stones for food first..."
Like pre-read guide, striding to Walled City Baran.
Seeing that,
I chuckled inwardly.
"...?"
'Without gallery, would suspect spies inside.'
Back at manor, paperwork done, evening neared. I walked sunset streets.
Most townsfolk and climbers still festival-high.
— Townsfolk Harvest Fest final day in 2! — Townsfolk Found your pair? — Townsfolk Final night: grand fireworks and dance party—! "...?"
I headed to meet Niva as promised yesterday amid the scene.
'Suddenly left manor saying had business.'
"Magic lesson tomorrow, come to my inn." "Not far?" "Nah, warp anyway! Just come!" "Got it." Whatever.
Count as stroll.
Mid-stride,
Murmurs rose. Not festival buzz, sudden doubt.
— Bystander Wait, that Banshee Hawk why so close? — Bystander What, what? — Bystander Something dropping...? Screeeee—!
The Banshee Hawk soared sunset skies, now low enough to see wingbeats. Guards yelled at the anomaly.
"Evacuate!! Hide kids indoors—!!"
"!"
Screeeee—!
Something dropped from its back.
Black-robed,
small figure.
'Kid...?'
Soon.
It crashed before me.
Booom—!
Whirling black energy, black robe from dizzying height. Wearer child-sized. Survived impact, moved.
"Heh heh heh...! Success."
The dwarfish black-robe charged yelling. Yellowish-green skin—goblin.
"Die—! Foe of the Black Church, Lucius Baran—!"
"?!"
'Goblin...?'
No time to dodge,
huge black stake burst from tiny robe.
The over-1m stake—
plunged straight into my heart.
Stab—!
"Kyahahaha! Ten years' demonic energy! With this secret weapon, Black Church obstacles gone...!"
Head text flashed.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Blessing of the Sky activated Sudden death nullified. Wound from stake glowed. From pierce point, stake misted away.
Shhh—
"Van... ishing...?"
"...?"
We silent a beat.
"...?"
"...?"
Amidst shock,
goblin assassin uttered blankly.
"Huh."
Screams followed a beat late. Not mine, bystanders'.
"Kyaaaaah—!!!"
"Nooooo—!!!"
"Lord!! Lord!!"
"Aaaah—!!!"
"Assassin!! Assassin—!!"
'Ah, damn.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Niva groomed hair in mirror. Not usual garb, but like 'that guy' praised.
To show it,
asked him to village street.
"Hmph."
Because... I dressed up special.
Can pick spot.
"...?"
'No sunglasses, real deal, he'll be shocked? Seemed bummed when I said no shades.'
She smirked smugly. Grabbed advanced grimoire Flare, sauntered to meet spot.
— Screams Kyaaaaah—!!! — Screams Lord!! Lord!! — Screams Assassin!! Assassin—!! "!"
'No way.'
Niva's smile vanished. Hastened steps. Can't warp now, head whitening with regret.
'No way...'
No.
Just...
Won't be.
She dashed to street.
And saw.
Charging black robe,
Lucius with pierced chest.
"Ah."
Drop—!
Niva dropped her grimoire.