Chapter 223: Our Paths Truly Diverge (2)
Chapter 223: Our Paths Truly Diverge (2)
“That seems to be more or less settled.”
Even an Overlord who strode through the world without hesitation was, in the end, only human. It was inevitable to feel the weight of pressure when facing a challenge without a guaranteed outcome.
However, he could never show that side of himself to others.
Because he was the Overlord.
More accurately, because he had to be the Overlord.
It was only after he entered his private chambers, where no one could see him, and shed the heavy mantle of the Overlord that he finally let out a sigh of relief.
It was a night that called for a drink, but he couldn't indulge. To ensure he never showed a moment of weakness, he kept alcohol at a distance. Instead, he preferred cold water that cleared his mind.
Just as he was about to order his servants to bring some...
“Come out.”
The cold dignity returned to Sierion’s face, replacing the brief moment of relaxation. Following his command, a man emerged from the shadows in the corner of the room.
Sierion’s brow twitched the moment he saw the figure, who was concealed in a black robe and wearing a white mask.
“What is it?”
“Congratulations on your victory in the war, Overlord.”
“Did you come all this way just to say that?”
At Sierion’s cold remark, the man replied with a voice tinged with amusement.
“As allies striving toward the same goal, I thought it only natural to offer my congratulations on your triumph.”
“...”
“In particular, I trust you will acknowledge our contributions to this war?”
Sierion’s eyebrows furrowed. He knew all too well. From the beginning of this war to its end, their hands had been in every nook and cranny.
The world did not know. They had no idea how many filthy, despicable conspiracies and underhanded schemes had run rampant in the shadows of this conflict. Behind the Overlord’s dazzling and grand progress lay their assistance.
‘Sigh...’
Sierion let out a long breath. Because he had joined hands with them, he had lost the biggest catch of all. Even so, he couldn't sever ties with them just yet.
“I understand. If you have nothing else to say, leave.”
“That is not all. I have come to deliver the words of the Jonsa.”
“Then get to the point quickly.”
“Very well. First, the Jonsa says that the Elves have left Evergreen and are relocating their home.”
“The Elves? They’re leaving Evergreen?”
“Yes. They are reportedly moving toward the southeast.”
“The southeast...”
For some reason, Sierion felt he knew their destination. He had no proof, but a vague intuition pointed the way.
“Is it the Schneider territory?”
“Precisely.”
“The Double Dragon has brought the Elves in. And what does he intend to do?”
“It is said he plans to build a pioneer city within the Great Forest.”
“In the Great Forest... I see. So that was it.”
Sierion nodded, stroking his chin. Yes, if that were the case, their conversation back then made sense.
[So, you’re saying you’re fine with things staying as they are?]
[Are you saying you’ll just turn a blind eye while the powerless people of our East continue to pile up as a wall of corpses for eternity, just to maintain the peace of this continent? Is that it?]
To Sierion’s resentful interrogation, Patrick had replied:
[I also have a plan to improve this garbage situation. However, it’s a different plan from yours.]
At the time, Sierion hadn't asked what it was. Since their paths weren't the same anyway, they couldn't walk together. But...
“He’s far more reckless than I am. Even the Roman Empire found it impossible to conquer the Great Forest...”
A bitter expression crossed Sierion’s face. Patrick was taking on a challenge far more difficult and reckless than his own. While he found it impressive, he also felt a subtle sense of inferiority.
“In the end, our paths truly diverge.”
Sierion had decided to unite the continent to save the East from the threat of the Great Forest. Patrick, on the other hand, had challenged the Great Forest itself.
Only the results would tell who was right. However...
‘In terms of being able to stubbornly carry out what one believes in without compromise... you are far better than I.’
He felt as though he had lost for no reason. Especially when he looked at the Dark Mage lingering in front of him.
“If you’ve said your piece, begone.”
At Sierion’s words, the Dark Mage bowed slightly and prepared to leave. But then...
“Ah, and this is a personal suggestion of mine...”
“What is it?”
“I heard that you have secured the Descendant of the Spirit Royal Family.”
Sierion’s brow twitched.
“...And?”
“If possible, would you consider entrusting her to me?”
“...”
“I heard she is quite fierce, which must be troublesome for you. If you leave her to me, I will turn her into a woman who is utterly submissive to Your Highness. Quite literally, she will crawl when told to crawl and bark when told to bark...”
The mage’s mouth snapped shut. A terrifying killing intent had erupted from Sierion’s body.
Sierion spoke.
“Do not cross the line. She is the woman who will become my wife.”
“...My apologies.”
“If you commit such an insolence again, I will sever our relationship.”
“I shall keep that in mind... Overlord.”
The Dark Mage bowed politely. Even so, he felt a sense of regret.
Tsk, I had so many experiments I wanted to try on a descendant of the Spirit Royal Family...
“Get out.”
With that single command, the Dark Mage vanished. Watching the shadows flicker and disappear on the floor, Sierion thought to himself.
‘I have no choice for now. Not yet...’
*
The Schneider territory.
Once the most remote backwater in the East, that was now a thing of the past.
“Ho ho ho. This place has changed quite a lot.”
Aaron, the leader of the Elvador Merchant Group and a great merchant who dominated the entire Eastern commercial world, had arrived at the Schneider territory leading his caravan.
The soldiers guarding the high stone walls and the fortress gate greeted him.
“Welcome, Lord Aaron.”
“Hahaha. Thank you for the warm welcome.”
The Schneider territory had recently conducted a massive recruitment drive for soldiers. Since the previous soldiers had all become knights or moved to the pioneer city, they needed new men to maintain public order.
Though they were new recruits, their equipment was sturdy and their discipline was strict.
‘They look like the Royal Guards protecting the capital’s gates.’
The discipline of the Schneider territorial army was always impressive. And as Aaron passed through the gate, what met his eyes was...
“It’s grown even larger.”
He had seen it before and received constant reports, but the pace of development in the Schneider territory was astounding.
The wide boulevards were divided into carriage lanes and pedestrian walkways, and the surrounding buildings were all newly constructed, clean brick structures.
Following the road, he saw a market that had grown significantly in scale, with coachmen waiting nearby with their relay carriages.
‘To think this was a rural estate just a few years ago.’
For Aaron, who remembered its former state, it was enough to make him shake his head in disbelief. As he moved along, a familiar voice reached him.
“Father.”
“Oh, my son.”
There stood his son, the apple of his eye. With a sturdily built physique and skin tanned dark by the sun... anyone could see he was now a reliable knight. Not a trace of his former frailty remained.
“Thank you for making the long journey, Father.”
“It’s fine. It’s only natural for a merchant to travel far to make money.”
He said that, but for the head of a massive organization like the Elvador Merchant Group to visit in person meant he viewed the Schneider territory as a vital business partner.
“So, where is your friend?”
“Patrick is at the pioneer city.”
“Hmm, the pioneer city.”
He had heard that Patrick was moving to develop the Great Forest. In fact, Aaron had come specifically to deliver the goods ordered for that project.
“For today, please stay at the Baron’s manor. We’ll move by boat tomorrow.”
At Matthew’s words, Aaron nodded.
“I should. I need to pay my respects to the Baron as well.”
He walked with his son for the first time in a while, sharing various stories.
“Is it true that he built a city directly inside the Great Forest?”
“You’ll see for yourself soon enough.”
“So he really did it. Good grief...”
Aaron wore an incredulous expression. It seemed his son’s ridiculous friend had finally made the impossible possible.
That evening, Aaron stayed at the manor, receiving a warm welcome from the Baron and his wife.
‘The manor has changed a lot too.’
The Schneider manor had originally been small, modest, and quite old. Even though their son had become a world-renowned figure, the couple’s living environment had remained the same. However, Patrick had recently ordered a large-scale expansion, and the result was a complete transformation.
Flowers were planted in a vast garden, and pavilions and fountains were built for relaxation. The modest two-story house had become a massive three-story mansion.
The new U-shaped manor had over a hundred rooms, and the interior had been extensively renovated.
‘There are no candles. All the lighting has been replaced with magical tools.’
That wasn't all. The plumbing and bathrooms attached to each room had been modernized using magical tools.
After dinner, Aaron, ever the merchant, immediately began calculating the costs.
“This must have cost at least 100,000 gold.”
To spend such an amount on renovating a manor... it was a shocking expenditure for the frugal Baron. But Matthew, listening nearby, spoke up.
“It actually didn't cost as much as you’d think.”
“What? How is that possible? To install this kind of equipment, the construction and magical tools alone should have cost over 80,000 gold.”
“Yes, normally that would be the case. Normally...”
Matthew let out a sigh.
“The construction labor was provided by the Orcs, and the magical tools were enchanted directly by mages sent from the Tower of Truth.”
“Ho ho... I can understand the Orcs, given their close relationship with the Schneider territory, but did the mages cooperate so willingly?”
“Well... they had to.”
Because someone had thrown a tantrum in front of the Five Sages...
[Oh, the agony! I’m dying over here! How could you not do this for free? Travel expenses? Installation fees? Cost price?! Aigo, we’re allies! We’re neighbors! We’re brothers-in-arms! And you’re going to be so stingy and try to squeeze every penny out of me?! Aigo, how cruel and heartless! I’m so sad!]
...and once he started acting like that, everything got done.
Patrick Schneider. A terrifying man.
In any case, the Schneider manor was no longer old and shabby. Aside from being spacious and luxurious, it had become an incredibly comfortable and magnificent residence thanks to the various magical tools installed for daily convenience.
In fact, this was something Patrick had put a lot of thought into.
‘My parents should get to live in a nice place too.’
With that thought, he had ignored the Baron’s protests that they were fine and pushed the project through almost by force.
The result was excellent. As the Schneider family grew, they would have more guests to host, and they couldn't have them staying in a dilapidated house every time. And once it was finished, the Baron and his wife were extremely satisfied. Who wouldn't like their life becoming more convenient and comfortable?
With modern water and sewage systems, heating and cooling, and lighting all powered by magical tools, they could never go back to their old way of life. Thanks to this, Aaron was able to stay comfortably in the guest suite.
The next day, Aaron boarded a boat bound for the pioneer city, seen off by the Baron and his wife.
“Ho, you’ve already developed the waterway this much?”
“Yes. The mages’ power was a huge factor.”
The waterway built to connect the pioneer city and the Schneider territory was already functional. Mages had expanded the depth and width of the river and built embankments for civil engineering stabilization. Thanks to that, even medium-sized ships could navigate the waterway without difficulty.
“To think you built a waterway of this scale in such a short time. And during the winter, when construction is so difficult...”
“It’s because Patrick was there to nag them.”
Matthew sighed.
[Do it. You can do it. Emperor Yang of Sui built a much larger canal than this without magic. Just try it before you say no.]
Matthew didn't know who Emperor Yang of Sui was, but when Patrick stubbornly insisted it could be done, there was no choice. What was even scarier was that it actually worked.
He hadn't realized it because there had never been a case of using mages so extensively for civil engineering, but it was definitely a cheat. To have built such a waterway before winter was even over...
Aaron looked around from the boat and asked, “Even if you move via the waterway, you won't be completely free from monster attacks. Is it safe?”
“It’s fine. We’re currently conducting such a massive monster subjugation that there isn't much of a threat, but look over there.”
Matthew pointed to a defensive ballista installed at the bow of the ship. It wasn't just an ordinary weapon; it was a magical tool created by the Tower of Truth.
“Most monsters can be repelled with that. And just in case, we have Elven archers and mages on board for escort.”
The number of times they had been attacked by monsters while traveling the waterway could be counted on one hand. A few flocks of Gargoyles or Harpies had pestered them, but Patrick always insisted on excessive security, saying they had to prepare for the one-in-a-million chance. Thanks to that, there hadn't been a single transport failure on this route yet.
After half a day of traveling upstream, the medium-sized ship carrying Aaron reached its destination.
“Father, this is the pioneer city, Ava.”
“Ava... Ah, you named it after the Baroness.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Hahaha.”
Usually, when nobles achieved something great, they put their own name on it. The So-and-So Bridge. The So-and-So Boulevard. The So-and-So War. It was a significant privilege. An achievement would remain as long as records existed, and that meant honor. One’s name could endure for a thousand years.
But Patrick had used his mother’s name instead of his own.
‘He’s a truly unique fellow.’
It showed just how much he cherished his mother. At this moment, Aaron couldn't help but feel envious of the Baron and his wife.
After traveling half a day along the well-maintained waterway, the destination, the pioneer city of Ava, finally came into view. The moment they arrived, Aaron’s jaw dropped.
“...Matthew.”
“Yes, Father.”
“How long did you say it’s been since you started building this city?”
“It’s been five months now.”
“...Did Lord Schneider happen to make a contract with a devil?”
There was a reason Aaron said this. The sturdy walls were higher than those of the Schneider main castle, and there were harbor facilities built so that ships could dock and transport goods. Furthermore, the buildings inside the city were completed to a substantial level.
A city built in less than half a year? This? And in the middle of the Great Forest, no less? This was a truly unbelievable feat.
Matthew nodded as if he understood his father’s feelings.
“He’s my friend, but I think he’s an incredible guy.”
Pride was evident on Matthew’s face. Things that ordinary people said were impossible, or things they thought of but didn't dare to try—Patrick attempted them with utter nonchalance and succeeded through sheer tenacity.
He had ground the mages down to the bone to push the construction forward. For the first time in their lives, the mages thought, Ah, so this is the pain of labor, as Patrick drove them.
Normally, this would be impossible. Mages were essentially nobles by their very existence. When would such high-level personnel ever have been nagged about when they were going to finish their work?
But the effort of grinding down such high-level talent had certainly paid off. One mage could easily do the work of hundreds of ordinary laborers. Thanks to them, the pioneer city of Ava was undergoing dazzling development.
And then, the man who had created this pioneer city in such a short time approached.
“Lord Merchant Group Leader. It’s been a long time.”
“Oh, Lord Schneider.”
It had been a while since Aaron last saw Patrick. The last time was when Patrick was still a student at the Academy, but seeing him again after his knight training...
“You brought the goods, right?”
He hadn't changed a bit. Not a bit.
Seeing Patrick immediately jump into business talk brought a warm smile to Aaron’s face. Sometimes he wondered if this boy would have made more money than him if he had become a merchant instead of a knight.
Aaron chuckled and said, “I brought exactly what you asked for. But I have no idea what you’re going to use all this for.”
“Oh, really? Let’s have a look.”
Patrick immediately ran over to check the goods. After inspecting the items being unloaded from the ship, Patrick smiled.
“As expected of the Elvador Merchant Group. The delivery is spot on.”
Inside the crates were iron farming tools and seeds for wheat and barley. What was he going to use them for? There was only one possibility.
“Now, it’s time to start establishing the farmland in earnest.”