Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Dragon Heart
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Approaching the Emperor, who was reviewing documents at a massive desk.
"Take a seat on the sofa for now. I'll wrap this up shortly."
As instructed, I settled onto the sofa and glanced around while waiting for the Emperor to finish his work.
The towering bookshelves brimmed with volumes, and on the tea table sat a glass jar containing round chocolates and a pair of tongs.
Is this chocolate?
Wondering what the local chocolate tasted like, I cautiously opened the jar and popped one into my mouth...
Wow... it's genuinely delicious.
The flavor, aroma—even the sweetness—was worlds apart from that cheap convenience store stuff.
Almost like a tooth-rotting, insanely sugary delight?
I continued surveying the office.
A transparent glass cabinet caught my eye.
Luxurious liquor bottles gleamed inside.
Among them, a familiar-looking glass bottle stood out.
Yin-Yang Liquor?
I felt satisfied seeing the Yin-Yang Liquor we'd sent as a gift prominently displayed up front.
If he likes it that much, he'll be putty in our hands with this, right?
Lost in that thought as I gazed down at my secret weapon.
"Sorry to keep you waiting so long."
The Emperor called to me, so I rose from the sofa and replied.
"Not at all. Your wise Majesty being so busy only means the Empire is thriving all the more."
"I'm grateful you see it that way. Now... the report?"
I handed over the report at his prompting, and he slowly flipped through the pages, scanning it.
A five-page document by modern A4 standards.
As I stood waiting for him to finish, the Emperor eyed the bottle in my hand with curiosity.
"Oh? What's that?"
"A special gift for Your Majesty."
He stared at the glass bottle with an intrigued glint in his eye.
"Is that so? Ahem... Let me finish this report first."
He read on slowly.
I stood motionless, waiting, until my legs began to ache.
"I've gone through it all. Negotiating with elves or dwarves overall? I view that positively. But the orcs... that's another story."
I'd anticipated this.
Elves and dwarves had long mingled with humans.
These days they clashed with the northern elves, but relations with those from other regions weren't bad, from what I'd heard.
"Orcs are aggressive and don't lie easily. The explanation on why they won't betray us falls short."
"As mentioned earlier, the elves and dwarves vouch for them. If things go wrong, they've agreed to join our side."
He shook his head at my words.
"That's not the issue. The north's harshness stifles orc growth for now, but that could change later. Thus, I can't accept the orc clause."
The Emperor seemed resolute.
His gaze suggested even Yin-Yang Liquor wouldn't sway him.
Watching him staunchly separate his duties as ruler from personal desires, I voiced the argument I'd prepared.
"Your Majesty, why do orcs attack humans?"
He furrowed his brow.
"Because they can't sustain their food needs?"
"Exactly. But consider this..."
Orcs boasted tremendous fertility rates.
Yet securing food was correspondingly tough, driving many to aggression against humans. Northern orcs, however, were different.
The north brought brutal winter winds, but from spring through autumn, farming thrived.
Vast plains of fertile soil.
Dig even shallowly, and the black earth revealed immense vitality, promising bountiful harvests.
In short...
"If they gain abundant food, they'll have no reason to attack us."
The Emperor shot me a look as if I'd spouted nonsense.
"Where exactly would orcs get such abundance?"
"We'll sell it to them."
He narrowed his eyes.
"I've heard from the Grand Duchess that you've bolstered the Grand Duchy's economy. Makes me question how. What do orcs even have? Gold? Silver? How could paupers like them afford food?"
At his dismissive tone, I flashed a sly smile.
"They have Yin-Yang Liquor."
-Flinch.
The Emperor twitched ever so slightly.
"Phew, your report covered it. Their Yin-Yang Liquor is undeniably appealing. But... I can't gauge its market potential yet."
Fair point.
Sales hadn't officially begun.
We were still selecting suppliers based on samples; no real transactions yet, so who knew how much cash the orcs would rake in.
But...
"Ahem... Your Majesty. Sales proper haven't started, but we've received several exclusive supply offers. They're confidential, though... If you'll excuse me."
I leaned in and whispered the contract sums from those recent proposals into the Emperor's ear.
-Whisper... whisper.
Upon naming the exact figures...
"Wh-what?! Th-that much?!"
"Yes. The bids are so exorbitant, even we're stunned."
Truth be told, I'd foreseen sums like this, but Luna and the Grand Duchy folk hadn't.
The Emperor probably hadn't either.
"Ahem..."
To the Emperor deep in thought, I spoke gently.
"Our Grand Duchess has the agreement nearly finalized, but she sent me because Your Majesty's approval is required."
Subtly highlighting how her liege was ever in her thoughts, I boosted his mood and sealed the deal.
"And... this is a gift I prepared separately."
I held up the bottle of brownish liquid with both hands.
"Yin-Yang Liquor?"
To the puzzled Emperor, I explained.
"This is leagues beyond ordinary Yin-Yang Liquor. Regular Yin-Yang Liquor is a medicinal wine steeped from the sanjigu-yeopcho plant in alcohol..."
I paused briefly.
"This is distilled purely from sanjigu-yeopcho, then aged thirty years in lightly toasted oak barrels—a true masterpiece."
Typical Yin-Yang Liquor fermented alcohol with added sanjigu-yeopcho.
Mine, however, brewed the liquor from sanjigu-yeopcho itself.
The quantity used was worlds apart.
Pure liquor from sanjigu-yeopcho alone, not some steeped infusion.
The Emperor's eyes wavered.
"Incidentally, its effects render Yin-Yang Liquor trivial. Even northern orcs, swarming with sanjigu-yeopcho, reserve it for elites—it's that rare."
Tormented by Luna and fearing a premature death from exhaustion, I'd once asked Yalta.
If anything outdid Yin-Yang Liquor for virility.
He'd told me then.
-Hmm, there is. Something called Dragon Heart.
Word was, its effects dwarfed Yin-Yang Liquor—potent enough to leave erections unrelenting, a real dilemma.
-Drink it, and you'll gain immense vigor. Know why chiefs handle three she-orcs daily? All thanks to Dragon Heart.
I hadn't sampled it myself, but its potency was legendary.
"Ooh..."
"Orcs say it makes Yin-Yang Liquor look like child's play. Plus, unlike that, it offers a subtle but permanent boost to virility."
The Emperor's eyes gleamed like a child's coveting a beloved toy.
"T-that's my gift?"
I dropped to one knee, head bowed, voice grave.
"Yes. Hearing impious rumors swirl around wise Your Majesty, I pray you partake of this, sire an heir, and proclaim those falsehoods wrong to all the realm."
"Ooh... Secretary Aiden..."
Glancing up slightly, I saw the Emperor rise, take the bottle from my hands, and set it on the desk.
"Rise."
His voice thick with emotion, I stood.
-Hug.
"Thank you, truly. To think a true loyalist who cares for me stands here."
The Emperor embraced me fiercely.
Wh-what's with this guy?
As bewilderment churned within me.
Something wet trailed down my cheek.
T-tears?
What rumors could make a man in his forties weep like this?
-Pat pat...
The Emperor patted my back.
He released me, wiped his tears, and spoke.
"Secretary Aiden—no, from this moment, you are Sir Aiden."
"Pardon?"
In haste, the Emperor snatched a sword from the wall and commanded.
"Kneel."
"Yes? Y-yes..."
I knelt, and he raised the sword, intoning solemnly.
"I, Leopold de Savoi, Emperor of the Empire, do hereby knight Aiden of the Empire."
He lightly tapped the blade to my left shoulder.
"Do you swear to safeguard the Empire and I with unwavering loyalty?"
"Yes, I swear."
The sword rested softly atop my head.
"Will you vanquish evil with courage and wisdom?"
"Yes, I swear."
The blade shifted to my right shoulder.
"Will you shield the weak and deliver them from evil?"
"Yes. I swear."
"Thus, I dub thee an Imperial Knight."
With that, he sheathed the sword on the desk and extended his right hand, a massive ruby ring gleaming.
"Pledge your fealty at once."
"Pardon?"
How does one pledge? You otaku?
As the thought crossed my mind, the Emperor explained with solemn kindness.
"Kiss the ring."
"Y-yes."
-Smack.
Lips to the crimson ruby.
"Thank you. Truly."
He patted my back and hugged me once more.
Becoming a knight... is that a good thing?