Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Call of Duty
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Why was I going to such lengths for Nefti?
Simple.
This Jefrin was now my unshakeable 【reality】.
Living as Wolfram von Loengrin, how many muscle aches had I endured?
There wasn't even a decent painkiller, so I'd chugged stamina potions, but they didn't work.
The 【Status Ailment: Paralysis】 was actually more effective for pain relief, but screw that up and one tick damage could kill me.
In that endless agony, I'd realized with brutal clarity that this place was real.
In the game version, top-tier players had the 【Raise Dead】 skill. Resurrection magic, basically.
But after digging into info since arriving in this Jefrin, I'd found no such 【Resurrection】-type skills existed.
That's the biggest reason humans fear the outside world. You've only got one life.
I planned to explore this Jefrin and embark on adventures using all the knowledge I had.
Reasons? Plenty.
For starters, the crap distribution network here jacks up material costs sky-high, and the unit prices don't match.
But the real kicker? It's just too damn disappointing.
The world I'd enjoyed so much was stagnating.
Alright.
I'll make the convenience store a success. I'll adventure in Jefrin. I'm ready.
But what about the others?
After finals, when we all went to the natural fortress city together.
I declared to everyone there: 【The adventures of this world will be with you all.】
As party leader, I had to take responsibility where it mattered.
Time was tighter than expected.
I could just toss money at Nefti, but that'd only be a band-aid.
The key was getting her to stop worrying about home and shine as my party's tank, my royal guard. For that, I planned to renovate this house and pave a path for her family's future.
First, import potions made by Rabera with the potion kit and sell them around.
Then expand this rundown shack. With only three days before heading back to Jefrin, there was a ton to do.
But that's where my own weakness hit home.
Construction needs stamina. With my stamina at 2, I wasn't confident.
So.
"Got it, Patrasche? See this bluepwon't?"
"...Yeah. I see it. You draw pretty well for a master."
"Good. Then let's start the expansion."
"But we got no laborers?"
I glanced at Patrasche.
She raised her right front paw, pointing at herself.
I nodded.
"Hey. This wasn't in the contract."
"Nefti's pretty friendly with you, right? Chance to protect those human kids' smiles."
"......Hm."
"Only the oldest wolf fairy can safeguard those good kids' smiles. It's an honorable task, Patrasche."
"...........Hrrrm."
"Come on. With your power, whipping up a hundred wooden houses a day would be a breeze."
"................Hmmmm."
Patrasche finally nodded.
Easy.
When I mentioned renovating the house, Rabera and Nefti's eyes went wide.
"Renovating the house... you mean?"
"The wolf who came with us is pretty capable. Should be plenty helpful."
Patrasche first spread her 'aura' to instantly 'exterminate' bugs and rats hiding in the house.
Blasting intense mana to kill vermin in a flash? Even if she's a showoff who loves attention, her skills are legit.
Patrasche headed straight for timber. Chopping trees with telekinesis, drying lumber with heat, cutting it to size, and assembling per my bluepwon't like it was nothing.
Adhesives and small tools for finishing? My Handy Worker skill handled that.
"Renovating this house won't be easy. No time to tear it down.
Instead, we'll patch walls and ceiling right away. Seal every spot bugs could enter. Finally, build a few storage sheds out back. That should wrap it up."
"...Wh-why go so far for us?"
Rabera tilted her head, so I repeated yesterday's line.
"For Nepthelian."
Really.
No other reason.
In my 20,000 hours of playtime, this was the least I could do for my frontline MVP I'd relied on most.
"If Pti accepts this, won't it unbalance things just for her body?"
"M-Mom..."
After that, using Patrasche to build sheds and expand the house, I even chatted briefly with the village guards.
As state-funded folks, they knew what royalty meant.
"Sir!"
"Good work. Locals?"
"No, sir! First posted to Eastern Sabre Province! Transferred here to Gluco Village two years ago! Jefrin Knight Division graduate!"
"I see. Keep it up."
"Sir!"
Ah, that's why it felt so real. First posting in Sabre Province? Milmune's turf.
Thinking about it, not total strangers. School ties and regional bonds intertwined.
That's the scary part. Jefrin grads share that subtle camaraderie: "You too?"
"As imperial royalty, I offer my respects."
"Too kind, sir!"
"This the monster sightings log for the past five years?"
"Yes, sir."
"Nothing above goblins. Then edible slimes... even orcs wouldn't be odd."
"Yes... Our previous captain staked his life against an orc village. Wiped it out completely."
"His name?"
"Terian, sir. No strong monsters reported since."
"Got it."
Terian.
And Nepthelian.
No need to overthink.
Father risked his life to protect. Daughter picks up the mantle.
Damn.
"Report any crumbling fences or weak barricades immediately."
"None, sir! We inspect diligently!"
"I'm inspecting now. Confident you can handle it?"
"...We'll fix it!"
After, I led Patrasche to repair the village barricades, earning awe and cheers from the villagers.
Of course.
Patrasche did all the work.
That night, after finishing, the village threw a festival.
Nothing fancy—just a bonfire in the central square, folks bringing ingredients from home for a communal meal.
Reason? The barricade repairs, of course.
Safer homes drew everyone out.
And what did they do? They gathered Patrasche in the center, clapping, bowing, heads low in worship.
"Wolf God! Wolf God! Wolf God!"
"Ahem. A-heh-hem."
To these simple villagers, Patrasche had saved the village.
"Wolf God! Wolf God! Wolf God! Wolf God!"
"Heh-heh-hem!"
The attention-hog wolf struck dramatic poses, growling lightly.
Each time, "Wolf God!" chants rose, she'd growl again. Infinite loop.
Me? I sat in a corner.
Lively's fine, but a few drinks and my liver might not detox—could drop dead.
First to approach me? Rabera.
"Thank you. I don't know how to repay you."
"Not a big deal. Didn't cost much, and Patrasche did all the work."
I downplayed it, but Rabera shook her head.
"No. To these villagers, the imperial who came with the wolf will be legend."
"That so."
As we exchanged pleasantries, she glanced behind me.
"Oh, my manners. Not the time for chit-chat."
"Huh?"
"Hehe. You two young folks talk."
She slipped away quick. Then a timid voice from behind.
"Sunbae-nim..."
"Nefti?"
Turning, even I was stunned.
Nefti wore neither uniform nor casuals—full royal guard armor.
I stared at the fidgeting Nefti, speechless for a moment.
She fussed with her pure white gloves and metal breastplate, self-conscious.
"Ah, haha. Doesn't suit me after all... not for someone like me."
"No. It suits you perfectly."
"R-really?"
Dead serious.
Tanks need armor, even if light.
But one thing.
"Got a question."
"Y-yes!"
"Wasn't this for the Jefrin ball?"
"Ah, haha. Yeah. Thought it'd be cool for a formal event. But..."
Nefti glanced at the square's center.
A bit away, but the heat carried over.
"For debuting as royal guard, is there a better stage than this?"
"Fair point. Solid choice."
"...Hehe."
Silence fell.
Enjoying the pleasant quiet, Nefti spoke up.
"Sunbae-nim. Thank you."
"For what?"
"Everything. Coming suddenly, securing our future, fixing the house, helping the village."
"Just what needed doing."
"...Why's it 'just'?"
"I'm royalty, but far from the throne. Know that?"
"...Vaguely."
"So, guess what? Assassination threats galore. And who protects me...?"
"My duty as royal guard."
"Exactly."
We might actually die for real.
When that happens, Wolfram's counting on our tank.
Nefti tilted her head at my words.
"But... that's my duty. This reward feels excessive for the obvious."
"No. It's not."
"Really."
By canon, raising one party member cost over ten billion rin by endgame. Inflation's insane.
Plus fixed pay once they're in.
Only a few tanks like Nefti joined on trust alone, no cash.
This was payback for favors she didn't remember.
"Sunbae-nim. I'll work hard... so hard, I'll become a royal guard worthy of your side."
"Mm."
"I'll stake my life on training... do anything! For you, I'd even bend my convictions."
What?
"Nonsense. Take that back, Nepthelian."
"...Huh?"
"You think I'm doing this to see you like that? You get nothing."
"...Uh, um."
No way, kid.
"Listen up, Nepthelian. I'm doing this because I want your convictions intact. Don't tarnish the name of conviction knight."
"......"
"I want to see you grow without abandoning them to the end. Don't crumble. Don't corrupt. Don't dull. Stronger, upright, resilient—still you."
Nefti pondered, then nodded.
"I won't corrupt."
"Good."
"Even as royal guard earning 200 million rin, I'll do manual labor for you sometimes, like a Ne family member."
"Do that."
"Not just that. Any fun money-making scheme, I'll drag you into it."
"Whatever."
"Not just that. I'll be freer, laugh louder... enjoy Jefrin while giving my all."
"As you like."
"Yes! As I like!"
Yeah. That's it.
For her upcoming 【promotion】, her convictions can't waver.
"Nefti. Getting cold. Let's head in."
"Yes! Together, sunbae-nim!"
And so.
We wrapped up in Gluco Village and returned to Jefrin.
Time to heal at the convenience store for a while.
That's when I steeled myself. Eve's letter awaited.
The palace summoned me.
Haha, foolish. I'll politely decline.
I'm resting.
That's what I vowed—until the last line.
Damn it.
Who'd go?
Kill me instead!
【Quick compliance: Jefrin commercial tax exemptions offered.】
"No time. Gotta head out."
Trouble for each other? Gotta help.
Bloodline mates—what's it good for if not this?