Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Tyrannical Evil Lord - 1
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🔒 Moderator-Only Post [Admin] Title: Why block anonymous posting?? Author: Fur Lover🔹 *This post is set to be visible only to board administrators.
Keep asking?? What did you do while I was busy?? 💬 Replies — Gold Rush🔹 Some asshole keeps posting shit pics, so with floater posts bouncing between floors, bans don't stick. — Fur Lover🔹 Whose shit? — Gold Rush🔹 You bitch, is that the important part? — Fur Lover🔹 Lol, catfolk shit is fine! — Gold Rush🔹 Fuck, I wanna punch you in the solar plexus so bad. — Fur Lover🔹 But how long? — Gold Rush🔹 Dunno? Luke?? — Maple Syrup🔸 One mod quit, so keeping it for a bit. — Gold Rush🔹 Ah... Grandpa Evan quit?? — Maple Syrup🔸 ↳ Reply Yeah, too old to scroll all day lol. Now it's you two. — Gold Rush🔹 You bitch, why don't you do it? — Fur Lover🔹 So selfish it's horrifying ;ㅅ; — Maple Syrup🔸 Gonna recruit 3 soon. — Gold Rush🔹 From old-gen alliances again? What "Watchers of Information" bullshit fuck off. — Maple Syrup🔸 ↳ Reply Nah, just anyone... they're all dead anyway. — Gold Rush🔹 True, all died raiding lol. Armband shit management ending too lol. — Fur Lover🔹 Ugh, strangers scare me ㅠㅠ — Maple Syrup🔸 Already sweet-talking one. — Gold Rush🔹 Pick one who doesn't die easy. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 👑 CHARACTER PROFILE 👑 Hatije (21) Catfolk Princess / Alchemist [Special] Potion Mixing: Can brew potions. [Special] Dexterity: Increases productivity. [Common] Precision: Increases concentration. Morning in the office.
The Catfolk princess Hatije rubbed her hands together obsequiously in front of me, wearing a fawning expression. Beside her, Dinara watched with a look of utter disdain.
'I've never seen a Dogkin Tribe member—who'd laugh it off even if a passing kid stepped on their tail—make such a cold face.'
Hatije spoke up.
"Nyahaha! W-Well, you see. It's not like I'm defying the great Lucius Khan's words. It's just a habit of us Catfolk—or instinct, maybe? Anyway, I can't rest easy until I've mixed together anything that looks fun."
"..."
"I-It's true! Our special Catfolk 'hair growth tonic' and 'virility potion' were treasures discovered through all sorts of experiments like that! So please, just permit our experiments...!"
"..."
Good lord.
Hair loss treatment and virility enhancers.
The dream of every aging power broker, wasn't it? I could see why the Catfolk were the most favored tribe back in the old beastkin empire days.
'It's just that randomly mixing stuff on the spot is their instinct, and they lucked into it.'
A skill that could create unimaginable added value if it went well.
'Could even negotiate with a Climber who's balding.'
I pondered for a moment.
"..."
Still...
I shook my head.
"I can't permit it."
"Wh-Why not!?"
"Side effects are still a problem."
"Nyaa..."
"Potion production by the Catfolk is completely banned for the time being. Unlike you Catfolk, who have some immunity to poison and curses, elves, humans, and Dogkin could face life-threatening risks from something as simple as an upset stomach."
"Nyaaa..."
We had herbalists and priests in the city who could handle drug overdoses. But no high-level alchemist to properly test potions.
Treatment was possible, but prevention wasn't.
No matter how effective they were guaranteed to be, I couldn't allow mass production of untested drugs with side effects. Better a total ban than half-hearted permission.
'If I approve based on the upsides and side effects spread uncontrollably before we catch them late, it'd be a disaster.'
Hatije's eyes darted around.
She finally drooped her tail and said,
"Nyaa, got it. I obey the ruler's command."
"..."
'Slippery as she is, she follows orders obediently.'
I offered a carrot to the compliant girl.
"Obey that, and I'll permit the Catfolk to stay through the winter. Focus solely on settling and sprucing up the village for now."
"!"
Twitch
Twitch
Her cat ears perked up,
and her large vertical pupils sparkled.
"Woooh! Such magnanimity! Someday, I shall present the great ruler Lucius Khan with a '100% success Catfolk special tiger virility potion' that satisfies all three wives and four concubines—!"
"Did you even hear me?"
"Of course! Potion brewing suspended 'through the winter.' Nyahaha."
"..."
'She arbitrarily set her own expiration date.'
No reason to correct it,
so I sighed and gestured for her to leave.
"Nyahat! Then this one shall take her leave."
Hatije bowed and turned. She didn't so much as sneakily swat Dinara's tail with her own cat tail on the way by.
Thwack!
"!"
Sudden sexual harassment.
Dinara furrowed her brow and let out a low growl. Her sharp fangs glinted briefly. Hatije just nyahahed and retreated.
"..."
'I heard online in my past life that dogs and cats not getting along was human fiction. Guess it's different here.'
I asked Dinara,
"Dogkin and Catfolk don't get along?"
"Pardon? Oh, no."
Dinara hurriedly covered her mouth where her fangs had flashed. Her perked ears and tail drooped back down.
"No particular animosity between Dogkin and Catfolk, but..."
"But?"
"People without a sense of hierarchy personally—"
She lowered her hand,
and continued in a cold tone.
"...I tend to despise them. Hatije's behavior—poking holes in Your Lord's words and trying to twist opinions with seductive talk—was quite unpleasant."
"Ah."
"I couldn't hide my feelings. My deepest apologies."
Damn...
Loyal retainer. Loyal.
'The news she brought today too—Dinara keeps pulling me to the dog faction.'
I chuckled,
stood, and said,
"No need for that. Don't get too mad. Let's go check out 'those things' on the walls together."
"Yes! My Lord!"
Swish swish
I headed to the reception room where Niva waited. Dinara followed demurely at my side. Soon, Niva, sipping tea alone, turned our way.
"Hm?"
"Hello, Lady Niva."
Seeing us together,
Niva made an odd expression.
"Ah."
"Lady Niva. Today, Dinara and I plan to tour the walls to see the Dogkin facilities. Could you guide us?"
"..."
Behind her sunglasses.
Niva's expression shifted rapidly.
The elegant black lady glanced at Dinara, sighed, and stood. She took my hand and Dinara's wrist.
"...Fine. To the walls, right."
Poof!
We arrived at the walls instantly. Niva sighed again and tried to step back. But Dinara stopped her.
"Lady Niva."
"?"
Dinara wagged her tail at Niva and politely indicated me with an open palm. Somehow warm eyes. Niva's eyes widened.
"You...?"
"Please join the Lord and listen along. I'll lead."
"That's."
"Lady Niva should stay by the Lord's side."
Silence for a moment.
"..."
"..."
Suddenly, Niva chuckled and came to my side. Dinara beamed and walked ahead, soon pointing forward. Her two ears twitched excitedly.
Twitch
Twitch
"Hehe, first up, the 'mounted ballistae' ahead! I'll explain there!"
"..."
Following Dinara with Niva,
I analyzed the sudden emotional exchange.
Niva's soft smile,
Dinara's abrupt kindness,
the eye smiles between them...
"..."
'Like groupwork where Niva was left out, and Dinara pulled her in. Like kids including the class loner sometimes.'
Seems
Niva was joining the dog faction too.
'Dogs are cuter after all.'
With that warm feeling,
we listened to Dinara's explanation.
"Mounted ballistae placed first at 50-meter intervals around the walls enclosing the city—10 units! Made much heavier to counter flying monsters like last time."
Prototype for the walled city air defense system.
The mounted ballista was about 1.5 meters long. Fixed to the walls with huge iron pins. Heavier meant better performance—up to 5-shot bursts.
'Close to patrol rest spots, so off-duty soldiers can just sit and fire.'
And one more addition.
Dinara gripped the mounted ballista's handle. Adjusted aim skyward. Pulled the trigger.
Click!
A green light flashed along the long barrel. Then, with a massive wind roar, 5 bolts burst out.
Bang
Bang
Bang
Bang
Ba-bang—!
A wind barrier formed at the muzzle, propelling the bolts nearly straight. Soon, the 5 bolts vanished into the distant sky.
"..."
'Feels like 200 meters straight shot easy. Beyond that, good aim handles it.'
Dinara patted the ballista.
"...It requires wind enchantments and mana-engineered parts. But smooth mana stone supply from the subjugation let us finish quickly."
"Impressive. In about a week?"
"Hehe, design was already done."
She held up a finger.
"And Climber artifact trades sped up parts production."
"True, got all kinds this time. Enough to outfit a whole village right away."
To my mutter,
Niva beside me asked,
"A whole village? That much?"
"Yes. Climbers passing inspection first hit the exchange for food, artifacts, mana stones."
"!"
I smirked inwardly.
Heh heh heh.
This was the heartless exchange of a wicked lord.
'Like high-fee currency exchangers at airport gates.'
Climbers arriving at Walled City Baran were mentally and physically exhausted. They wanted to dump heavy artifacts and mana stones fast.
Exchange staff whispered to them.
—Why not ditch the heavy load for light ether gold and food pouches?
—!
Climbers, entranced, handed over floor-found artifacts and mana stones for ether gold and rations.
—Infinite fresh water crystal... Useless on river floors.
—Sigh, desert enchant glass orb. No use planned.
—Don't need mana stones. Why'd I carry this?
Collected items sorted by use and redistributed. Pure creation economy.
'City living itself holds value, enabling this easy profit. Even snagged irreplaceable artifacts.'
Unaware of my scheming,
Climbers sighed in relief.
—Good. Losing them would've been game over.
—Cheap for safe zone stay.
—First proper meal in months. Lord's reasonable, thank god.
I couldn't stop grinning.
Heh heh heh.
'Groaning under my brutal tax rates, yet mistaking me for model NPC.'
The thrill of brainwashing the masses as a ruler?
But no choice.
I had to be the heartless wicked lord for this city. And these ruthless acts enabled new ventures.
'Before 52F, set up base camp by the lake at the floor boundary.'
Territorial expansion prep.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ That afternoon.
Giant nun Lucia greeted me and Niva.
"Hello, my Lord. And Lady Niva."
We replied.
"Hi, Lucia. You look busy."
"Uh... yeah, hi."
"Nice to see you both."
The smiling nun
clutched the sacred relic symbolizing the Morning Star Goddess—the 'Morning Star Statue.' She was heading to set up a chapel for priests at the new base camp.
'Many holy knights included this time.'
Lucia said,
"Shall we go then?"
"Yeah, of course."
We looked aside.
Ships at the dock, loaded with timber, tools, Climber supplies. Climbers and citizens bustled preparing.
Escort for this expedition: half-elf holy knight Aslan. Armored, he hefted loads effortlessly.
—Oh, Sir Holy Knight! Let me!
—Hahaha! No, we help to live!
I nodded at the sight.
"..."
'Buildings via my Construction, so light load—lucky. Climber help speeds it up.'
Thus, we rode the river for day-trip pioneering.
Two hours later.
Our ship reached the lake with huge floating mana stones. Fog cleared, brighter than before.
Crew halted near lake, prepping unload. But Lucia's words, clutching the relic, turned heads.
"Huh? Someone collapsed over there...?"
"!"
A kid lay where she pointed. Climbers and citizens rushed over in shock.
"Wh-What!?"
Whose kid?
—Poor thing, played outside and came here.
But upon checking,
the boy wasn't from the city.
"No way... Kid from outside the 'Land's Boundary'?"
Lucia hurried over, healed him; sailors trickled water down his throat. He shuddered, then opened his eyes.
"...Ugh."
"Oh, awake."
But
the boy flailed at the air and screamed.
"Ah...! Aaaah—!"
"K-Kid, what's wrong!?"
"Aaaah! Everyone, everyone died—!"
"!"
Despair in his eyes, he cried,
"Mom! Dad! Villagers! Everyone! Cursed by the snake—!"
"Snake..."
"Don't go...! Cross the forest, don't...!"
Then collapsed again.
"..."
"..."
"..."
All at the lake fell silent.
Of course,
me too.
'Snake's Curse...?'