So it's you? That bastard from the gallery
So it's you? That bastard from the gallery
"So this is the Manomul."
I could feel that the summit of the massive Manosan was filled with water. They said all the water pooled on Manosan was Spirit Water, and I could certainly feel a miraculous energy.
"So if I extract that at 100 percent, it becomes Elixir."
A mass of water formed in the air. I didn't need to channel it through my body. It was just a 'click'. Just by thinking about extracting the miraculous energy, 100 percent of that energy was extracted. As expected, it wasn't that I couldn't do it, just that I didn't know about it; once I knew, there was nothing I couldn't do. I learned a little more this time. Even if it was related to water abilities, if it was something that didn't exist in the world I used to live in, I had to see it for myself at least once.
"Kuh~ To think mere water could taste this refreshing and delicious!"
It felt like a waste to just throw away what I'd already made, so I drank it.
"From now on, I'm only drinking this water."
I returned to Hepas Island.
"GR-!! STAN!!! DUKE!!! YOUR EXCELLENCY!!! HAVE!!! YOU!!! ARRIVED!!!"
"My Lord!"
The word 'My Lord'... hearing it over and over, it actually feels pretty good? And seeing the assistant manager's broken state repeatedly, I guess that's not so bad either?
"Heifer."
"Saklasi Stan-nim's First Sword! Heifer!"
I waved my hand once and immediately created masses of water. Heifer recognized these water masses as soon as he saw them. The water with a brilliant glow, he knew this was Elixir.
"My Lord~"
Tears welled up in Heifer's eyes, then flowed down as if he were happy and overwhelmed with emotion.
You've worked hard for 80 years.
That day, the citizens of Minos all woke up.
⟦'Miracle' Holy Water Ability User Breaks 80 Years of Silence, Revives Minos Kingdom!⟧
Content: The first Holy Water Ability User recognized by the Imperial family. His existence was a "miracle" itself. A whopping 80 years. The sight of him recovering all 10 million citizens of Minos, who had been in a coma for a long time, at once with an unimaginable amount of Elixir was truly the manifestation of a saint performing a miracle...
[Omitted]
Baron Saklasi Stan of the Empire, who saved people with an enormous amount of Elixir that must have had astronomical value. His name will now be remembered by the Minos citizens forever as a gracious savior...
[Omitted]
The fact that the Empire has taken in such an existence is also tantamount to declaring the Empire's eternal blessing and prosperity...
[Omitted]
.
.
.
The person who wrote the article was the reporter who had been following Saklasi Stan from the beginning. He saw the stories on the <Water Ability Gallery> and thought, '1 million liters of Elixir? They have no idea how incredible it is to make that!' He estimated that Saklasi wouldn't even be able to save 10,000 Minos citizens, let alone 10 million.
But the result was shocking. All 10 million Minos citizens who had been sleeping on Hepas Island woke up.
A fact no one knew: the Minos citizens' bodies were in a coma, but their minds were awake. The citizens could hear and think about everything while in a coma, but they had to endure it.
Princess Heifer was struggling for them, but they had given up, thinking that no matter how much of a Holy Water Ability User Heifer was, it would be impossible to revive all of them.
The awakened citizens became a sea of tears. The regrets of that time, families who had lost loved ones first, children who passed away while still in their teens without even knowing if they would awaken, parents who found out about that, Heifer's struggles—they had been aware of all these situations even while in a coma.
On Hepas Island, which had been filled with tears, a festival was held for those who had been revived. Because the Cow Beastkin are not a race that stays sad for long. 80 years was enough time to spend in sorrow.
Heifer stood on the podium for the first time in a while. This was also the first time in 80 years.
"Citizens of Minos. The Asturias of Minos. I am Heifer Minos de Labyrinthos."
Asturias was the term for the heir to the throne in Minos.
"We have lost too many names over the past 80 years."
"But! The Minos Kingdom, which only had Hepas Island left, will be completely different starting today."
"The territory that Raigen took from us will be returned."
"When we were heading toward destruction, not a single person reached out a hand to us."
"However, there is one person. A person who helped us regain territory and provided Elixir of astronomical value!"
"The Transcendent, Saklasi Stan."
"If not for his heart as deep as the sea, we would never have been able to welcome a day like today."
"Therefore, I, Heifer Minos de Labyrinthos, hereby officially declare that I will serve Saklasi Stan-nim as my one and only eternal Lord, and also serve him as the King Emeritus of our kingdom."
The square in front of the podium was silent at Heifer's speech. Saklasi thought, 'Did I just act like a pushover again.' After all, he was a Cow Beastkin. The Cow Beastkin, the most looked-down-upon race in the world. Just then, someone clapped. Starting from the Cow Beastkin who clapped, the sound of applause spread. Soon, everyone was chanting for Saklasi.
"Long live King Emeritus!"
"Long live King Emeritus!"
"""Long live King Emeritus!!!"""
The Cow Beastkin were the most open-minded among the beastkin races and valued loyalty and gratitude. No matter how much Saklasi was a Cow Beastkin, the gratitude they received was so great that it was natural for them to acknowledge and follow Saklasi as King Emeritus.
Going around Hepas Island, Heifer gave speeches and Saklasi was welcomed repeatedly.
"King Emeritus~ I love you!"
"Long live King Emeritus!"
"Stan! Stan! Stan! Stan!"
It was the first time in his life Saklasi had seen people chanting his name like this, so he felt good but also embarrassed.
When asked to say a few words on the podium, Saklasi said, 'The miracles to be made in the future are up to you. Let's regain the glory of the Minos Kingdom again.', 'And please let me live comfortably; it's hard to live as a Cow Beastkin.' The Minos citizens acknowledged Saklasi even more for his humble and human-like appearance that didn't seem like a Transcendent.
Now, being a Cow Beastkin wasn't a problem. He was already scheduled to be awarded a Dukedom by the Empire, and above all, he was the hero who saved Minos from its certain destruction.
The reporter who had been following their steps also became impressed by Saklasi before he knew it. This was the full story behind the article praising Saklasi.
Hepas Island, in the middle of the festival, was noisy. He had revived all the Minos citizens. It was time to go. Since the Emperor had singled out Saklasi, it would be hard to delay returning to the Empire any longer, so it was time to really enter the Imperial Capital.
"My Lord!"
"That's good. I'm going to head off to see the Emperor."
"I will escort you!"
"What would happen to the Minos Kingdom if you weren't there right now? Stabilize the kingdom properly and then come find me. That's my first order as King Emeritus."
"Order! I will obey! Thank... you."
Heifer shed tears again. He didn't need to be used like a limb right this second.
Departing from Hepas Island, I took a Raigen Kingdom plane and arrived in Busanosk.
It seems inefficient to take boats or planes when I can teleport, just because I have companions. From now on, I should travel long distances alone.
Now I really have to go to the Imperial Capital, but what will the Emperor, who is a Transcendent, think of me?
I was now sure that I was a Transcendent. Even King Raigen, who was a Holy Water Ability User, was nothing special. Still, I wasn't confident I could withstand the Before the Sun. At that high temperature, my whole body would instantly turn into plasma, and I wasn't confident I could regenerate from that. Perhaps stopping the Emperor's blood would also be difficult?
I just hope the Emperor doesn't see me only as a threat.
Before leaving for the Imperial Capital, I stopped by the camp to show my face, but it was noisy from the entrance.
"I'm telling you, I'm the one in charge right now!"
"What is this brat saying! I know everything, so don't hide and bring the person in charge out!"
It was Serin's voice and some man's voice.
I hurried inside and said to the back of the head of the guy making noise.
"The person in charge is here~"
"Huh?"
It was another Dog Beastkin. He had a large mole on one eye and generally small, narrow eyes.
"You're the one in charge? Are there only kids here?"
I like dogs, but since coming here, I keep starting to dislike them.
"Yes, what is it? Please refrain from using informal language."
"If you're the person in charge, you must be that water ability user, right? I came to check for myself!"
"Are you a noble? This is Baron Stan."
The assistant manager stepped in front of me and said. Unlike when he spoke to me, his tone was sane.
"Your Excellency? I came knowing you're a Baron, what nonsense is that! And you, are you being rude knowing I'm a noble?"
Even after hearing the word noble, the assistant manager, despite being a commoner, stood right in front of me and remained silent. Looking closely, the Imperial Baron insignia was attached to the left side of his chest. It seems the assistant manager didn't see it because only the paisley-patterned shirt, which looked like something gangsters would wear, stood out.
How did the Empire give a title to a guy like this?
"Assistant manager?"
"YES!!! ST!!!AN!! YOUR EXCELLENCY!!!"
So his breakdown wasn't fixed.
"Can nobles duel each other in the Empire?"
"Good timing. You want to duel?"
The guy took a cigarette out of his shirt pocket, took a puff, and threw it at my feet.
"If you touch that cigarette, it starts immediately. Don't think about backing out now."
He said, exhaling the smoke he had held in. Is there really a guy who is a total thug like this? Is it that easy to become a Baron?
"Did you look down on me because we're both Barons? Not knowing I'm a Lieutenant-level electric user? Are you still insisting you're a Holy Water Ability User? Do you think Holy Water Ability User is just some name for a calf?"
A name for a calf? Where have I heard that?
I rushed over in one breath, grabbed the guy's hair, and pressed him down to the floor. And I turned the face of the guy who was pressed down with his head bowed to make him look at me.
"So it's you? That bastard DonkeyGalller."