Chapter 92

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Translator: Ace

Chapter: 92

Chapter Title: The Imperial Civil Servant Hides His Alchemy

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Indeed, Asmodeus's clone had been the leader of the Graveborn. The moment it died, those ferocious undead went slack-jawed and dazed, like people who'd lost their wits.

It was a classic symptom of undead cut off from their master.

"Eek! Y-You bastards! Move, damn it!"

Necromancers could be seen here and there in the chaotic castle, grimacing and grunting as they tried to regain control.

They poured every ounce of effort into commanding the undead, but the moment Arkbon approached, they dropped to their knees and surrendered.

They had no choice. How could they keep fighting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠when the enemy was parading around with their leader's corpse?

'Whoa. Our Arkbon looks so cool.'

Every time Arkbon advanced, the enemy lines parted like waves before him. It was impossible not to feel proud.

It felt like just yesterday he'd been a grunting little thing, but now he'd grown this much already!

'Good job, good job!'

The castle was being pacified at a rapid pace.

Part of it was because the enemy leader was dead, but the main reason was that the Immortal main force had stormed straight into Nightmare Castle.

Even now, the clatter of metal and clash of weapons echoed from below.

On one side, the Immortals were crushing the demoralized Graveborn army. On the other, the newly joined Death Knight Kal Dratz was unleashing terrifying power, mercilessly slaughtering his former allies.

The humans—who made up about twenty percent of the Graveborn forces—were mostly on their knees, shouting their surrender.

And then... hovering in the air beside the crumbled walls was a single eerie maiden ghost, letting out ghostly wails...

"Ow! You ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠scared me."

-Eek! S-Sorry!

Ian clutched his chest in shock, but the maiden ghost—no, Banshee Vespera—bowed her head repeatedly, apologizing profusely.

"Could you not float around like that? You startled me."

-Hng... I won't do it again!

She sniffled tearfully, looking so apologetic that it felt utterly foreign to Ian.

'Who could've guessed that vicious succubus would turn into such a sweet, knockoff virgin ghost.'

He'd known she'd become a banshee, but seeing it in person made it hit different.

Actually, wasn't a banshee supposed to be all venomous and screeching?

"Hey."

-Y-Yes?

"Do you recognize me?"

-Of course! You're our father!

"Again?"

-Again...? Um, ah, if you're talking about my past life, I-I do know about it. That I committed an unforgivable sin against you, Father...

Vespera twisted her body, her voice shrinking smaller and smaller as she continued.

-I-I'm really sorry. I mean, well. Hnngh.

"You remember it?"

-No, not really. The king told me. Anyway, I'm sorry!

So she didn't remember after all.

Well, of course. The curse of purification had washed away her evil, rebirth her as something new. She was basically a different being now.

-I-I'll serve you well from now on! Just tell me what to do! I'll haunt whoever you say or kill whoever you want!

Hmm. Guess that succubus edge never really goes away.

Begging to be ordered around, and the orders are to haunt or kill...

Ian took one last look around before heading back. There wasn't much left for him to do at Nightmare Castle.

Arkbon was handling the troops just fine on his own, and the battle was overwhelmingly in their favor. What was he supposed to do, cheer them on? Offer some encouragement?

Sure, there were still some Graveborn holdouts. Their leader was dead, and First Legion Commander Kal Dratz had suddenly turned traitor, but the Second Legion Commander was still out there.

Speculating, the surviving Graveborn brass would probably rally under the Second Legion Commander and try to regroup.

But Arkbon would handle that.

He hadn't flinched even against their full might—why fear them now that they'd splintered into half or less?

The Immortals rising as the dominant force in the Black Wastelands was now a foregone conclusion.

-Father. Are you leaving just like this? How disappointing.

Arkbon sounded miffed, but what could he do? He had to go.

Sticking around this barren black land would just mean staring at more drab skull piles—what else was there to see?

-True. This land... is not enough... for Father to stay. Then... I must make it satisfying for Father.

For some reason, Arkbon made that vow in a resolute tone. Ian left him behind and returned to the Empire.

The moment he got back, Ian was busy for a while.

He'd let work pile up while fussing over Arkbon.

First up: his main job as court mage.

He hadn't been to the palace in nearly a month—he needed to show his face.

"Oh, left hand! Haven't seen you around lately."

"Yes. I've been tied up with lordly duties... My apologies."

"I figured."

"As atonement, allow me to offer a gift."

"A gift? What is it?"

"Eltea's traditional liquor, Tears of the World Tree. It's extremely rare—only High Elves of Eltea drink it."

"Oho! For real? Whoa, the smell is insane!"

He'd first swiped a bottle from the Eltea envoy's gifts to appease the on-the-verge-of-pouting Crown Prince Astheon.

But giving to him alone felt unfair, so he gifted the same to the Emperor.

Complete with pricey elven fabrics and assorted goodies.

Since he was giving to the Emperor anyway, why not go big?

"The aroma is exquisite. Tears of the World Tree, was it?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Thanks. I'll enjoy it. Tonight, I'll share it alone with the Empress."

"Pardon?"

Sharing it alone with the Empress? Might result in a late-blooming imperial prince.

After that, it was back-to-back duties.

"Long time no see. I was starting to forget your face."

"My apologies. I've been too neglectful."

"Haha, no harm done. Good that you're here now. You haven't forgotten our joint research project, have you?"

"Of course not."

He dove into the collaborative magic research he'd promised Court Mage Hermann, while clearing his backlog.

Imperial palace magic circle inspections, pre-scheduled collaborations with the White Tower...

Now that he was a real noble, invitations started pouring in from all sides.

Ball invitations, that is.

He wasn't thrilled, but with no excuse to refuse, he attended here and there.

"The Imperial Holy Knight and Court Mage, Sir Ian Randelth!"

Stepping into the grand hall in his freshly tailored tailcoat after ages, he was met with thunderous cheers and applause.

Nobles of all stripes—men and women alike—swarmed him, acting like old chums. Honestly, it threw him off.

He knew he wasn't some political favorite. What was this?

'Why are these guys suddenly so buddy-buddy? Did something big happen while I was gone this month?'

It had.

Several nobles had lost their heads in a purge—and by coincidence, they were all opponents of the mana crystal mine development in Randelth County.

-What? These bastards dare touch my left hand?

Crown Prince Astheon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had dug up every speck of their corruption and danced another blade ballet, leading to yet another shakeup in the central court.

It had been possible only because Kez had handed Astheon a full list of Ian's hostile nobles' dirt.

But only Astheon and Kez knew that.

And it had all happened while Ian was away from the capital.

'Eh, good is good.'

Ian, blissfully unaware, enjoyed the balls.

After handling duties and schedules in the capital, he returned to his territory.

There, after a month away, he heard shocking news.

"Oh! Benefactor! Perfect timing! I've been waiting for you!"

"Something special happen?"

"You bet! The sewer system's almost done! Just finishing touches left!"

"Already?"

"Haha! Come see! Hurry!"

The sewer project nearly complete after just over a month?

How could anyone not be shocked?

Under Project Manager Aindelph's guidance, Ian toured the construction sites and the territory, unable to hold back his admiration.

The land was noticeably cleaner.

'My god. No shit on the streets...'

No exaggeration—it used to be shit everywhere.

Every five steps, you'd step in some.

Yet now, it was all gone.

How had it gotten this clean?

"Our fairy miss put in some real work."

"Lara?"

"Yep! She called in her subordinates. Gathered a ton of fairies and cast purification spells all over. Streets were spotless in just two days."

The answer was Lara.

She was the MVP of filth cleanup.

What a dutiful girl...

"See these pipes? Filth flows down here to the purification facility. Ah, you probably know, being from the capital."

"I do. But seeing it up close like this is a first for me. Who inspects urban infrastructure firsthand?"

"Is that so? Haha. Take a good look. Quality rivals the capital's."

Ian marveled as he toured. The water pipes' seals everywhere were impeccable. Unbelievable for a rural county.

"This is too good. Isn't it overkill?"

"Right? Haha, knew you'd say that! Oh, right. Seen the restrooms?"

"Yes. Well built."

Sewers meant restrooms were essential.

Public ones first. Private in every home would be ideal, but even mid-sized cities often lacked them.

'Low usage is the issue, though.'

To boost restroom use, strict measures were needed.

"Wilson."

"Yes, my lord."

"Announce to the territory: Anyone caught shitting in the streets or tossing filth gets executed."

"Pardon? I-Isn't that too harsh? Folks are already complaining about the restrooms being inconvenient."

"It's fine. Just do it. Or they keep doing as before."

"Understood."

A bit harsh? Maybe, but no choice.

Waiting eons for 'Please use restrooms for hygiene! Street dumping stinks!' education? Nah.

Forcing it was easier.

Time would let them appreciate the change.

Sewer issue sorted.

Now, next phase.

Outwardly the 'Territory Development Plan'—to Ian, the 'Turning This Shithole Backward Land into Fun Alchemy Land Plan'—Phase 2 was go.

"Aindelph. I've a request."

"What is it? What's next?"

"I want to build roads."

Road construction.

That was Ian's Phase 2 of the 'Turning This Shithole Backward Land into Fun Alchemy Land Plan'.

In the middle of walking, Ddol Ddoli shuddered. A sudden wave of exhaustion hit.

The rock surface, blazing red like fire, began reverting to dull gray. With it, the intense flame power faded.

Finally back to normal, Ddol Ddoli's expression turned sullen.

-Ddol Ddoli... back to normal. Can't shoot fire anymore...

Flame Golem mode had been a blast. He could shoot fire freely.

But no more. Normal form meant no elemental attacks.

Running around shooting fire everywhere had been so fun...

'If strong fire power returns, can become Flame Golem again.'

But such fire power was rare.

What to do?

'Hmm? What's this?'

Ddol Ddoli tilted his head. Something inside.

'This... ember. Ember left in Ddol Ddoli's body.'

His expression brightened. The flame power wasn't gone completely!

A little remained.

Could he use this flame power?

No way. Couldn't shoot fireballs or emit heat like before.

But something else might work.

-Nngh.

Ddol Ddoli strained. His inner mana resonated with the flame, weaving a miracle.

The ground writhed.

Rumble!

Flames seeped into the writhing earth.

Fwoosh!

It merged with the land, becoming one.

A blazing red mini golem, newborn, thrust out its arms and uttered its first word.

-Rock!