Chapter 91: Housewarming (1)
Chapter 91: Housewarming (1)
Though most of the enemy had been annihilated in the entrance hall, the subjugation was not over.
There were still foes isolated in remote parts of the castle, or whose range of movement had been narrowed by injury. They were few in number and weak in combat strength, so finishing them off was simple enough.
Splitting his force into four, Eugene swept through the castle floor by floor.
Bang!
A Living Armor wandering alone before some door was smashed to pieces by Rampage's warhammer.
Clatter.
One more hammer blow driven into the struggling creature's helm finished it off at last.
"Any hammers left with the silver plating?"
"None, chief. The silver plating has worn off all of them."
In a fight against evil beings, silver was a reactant. Every slash, thrust, and blow consumed some of it.
That was why silver arrows were regarded as synonymous with undead extermination. Once embedded, the silver coating the arrowhead kept dissolving, ravaging the target from within.
"A shame. The feel of it was superb."
"It felt as if we'd become mages ourselves."
Compared to edged weapons that severed limbs and spilled blood, the hammer was a weapon on the plainer side.
But this time was different. When they struck with a silver-plated hammer, the struck creature's hide peeled away as if evaporating, and magnificent flames or sparks flew.
"The castle will need repairs and soldiers to garrison it too, so they'll extend the contract, won't they?"
"Isn't it obvious? Where are you going to find anyone more expert at this than us?"
The subordinates murmured among themselves.
Dwarves instinctively loved building and repairing things. Managing the last castle of the Ancient Kingdom was a tremendous honor and a pleasure at the same time.
"Have you lot been up to the rooftop? The view is absolutely insane."
"I want to install a few catapults up there and try firing them. Just imagining a lump of stone flying shooooooom! and bombarding... "
"Ooh!"
"Aaaah."
At one dwarf's words, everyone's eyes sparkled brightly.
As if wanting to go up to the rooftop and begin construction at once, they clenched and unclenched their thick hands, swallowing again and again.
"But chief. Who's going to come live in this vast castle?"
"How would I know? Even if I'm a centurion, I only just joined."
At his subordinate's question, Rampage stroked his beard.
He did not yet fully know the terms of the deal between Eugene and the Black Hand Clan.
"Chief, put in a word for us. Get us another contract extension."
"No matter how fine a house, doesn't it quickly become abandoned if no one lives in it?"
When no one lived in a place, things that ate away at buildings—leaks, mold—were left unchecked.
With no human presence or scent, wild animals and insects also entered freely, accelerating the decay.
The dwarves well knew how vital it was for the eyes, hands, and scent of people to reach every corner for a building's longevity.
And in a certain sense, the Wandering Castle too was a structure for which it was crucial that human scent and warmth permeated every nook and cranny.
The purification work took nearly two weeks.
Part of the reason was the castle's sheer size, but they also took extra time to ensure no enemy was missed and no casualties were taken.
"I knew you were thorough, but this seems a bit excessive. Not that the mercenaries under you are likely to complain about being worked hard."
Marbas clicked his tongue even as he expressed admiration.
Creatures faithful to their desires like beasts, straining every nerve to avoid work. That had been Marbas's notion of mercenaries.
But seeing how the shieldbearers under Eugene had fought against the evil host, he could not help but acknowledge them.
In particular, the way they had stood their ground without yielding an inch before the giant ghoul was already akin to a knight's mettle.
"Since I've accepted residents, it would be troublesome if anything untoward were to happen."
"Untoward?"
"Say some children are exploring, wander into a secluded spot, and find a monster we missed hiding there."
"Your imagination is quite meticulous."
It certainly was not an impossibility.
To Marbas, who had no wife or children, the Black Hand Clan were no different from family.
He had countless memories of sitting young dark elves on his knee, telling them fairy tales, or buying them delicious food.
Marbas too could readily endure any fatigue for the sake of those children's safety.
"Now the final stage of the prophecy remains."
"You mean inviting them as the master of the castle and keeping the custom of hospitality?"
"Yes. All the troublesome intermediate stages have been completed. Now we simply welcome them with food and drink, and it's done."
"It seems this is not solely for the sake of keeping faith?"
Marbas read the goodwill settled on Eugene's face.
"The Black Hand Clan has helped me a great deal—not just in the fighting inside the castle, but throughout my entire rise to prominence."
Goffrey and Homi, Varda. After those three, who were founding contributors, they were the ones holding the next share of credit.
"I must certainly look after my own people."
"They may be arrogant and fussy, but if you can become their friend, they're good people to have on your side. They'll be a great help to you as a ruler."
"They have always been kind to me, though?"
Marbas let out a hearty laugh.
"And it is not purely a matter of repayment."
As Eugene placed a hand on the wall, Marbas followed suit and placed his hand against it too.
Both felt the castle's body heat and magical energy flowing along the wall.
"The stronger the mystery this place contains, the more beings it will draw—ghosts, spirits, or anything else from the otherworld."
Just as vermin rapidly multiply when a house stands empty, a magical castle had the potential to attract things more troublesome than vermin.
"If hundreds of people live here, the thoughts and vitality they give off will keep lesser things from daring to enter."
"That's exactly it."
As a summoner, Marbas immediately understood what Eugene was driving at.
"Since we need people to defend and maintain the castle anyway, wouldn't it be better to fill it with capable people?"
Their uniformly beautiful looks were a bonus.
"Indeed. If the Black Hand Mercenary Company serves as the garrison, there will be little cause to worry about defense."
"I plan to offset their hiring fees against the rent."
"Countless nobles will envy you."
Just then, tribal warriors pulling a cart loaded with empty water containers saw their lord and saluted respectfully.
As Eugene stepped aside, they began drawing water from a water intake a little distance away.
The most essential yet most troublesome aspect of military supply was precisely drinking water. But since water could be obtained within the castle, they only needed to solve the food problem.
That was why they had been able to conduct operations for two weeks without additional resupply, even after crossing the wasteland.
"Where does that water come from?"
"There is a vast water reservoir. It supplies water through waterways running throughout the castle."
"How is the water gathered?"
"It absorbs rainwater and moisture from the air. It can also draw water in directly when the castle teleports near a water source."
"Astounding technology."
Marbas could not restrain his wonder.
"Now that I think of it, the food supply was gradually running out."
"A supply unit from North Fork will arrive soon."
"Can the castle produce its own food too, like it does water?"
The summoner's eyes shone with curiosity. He looked as though every detail about the Wandering Castle's functions fascinated him to no end.
"There are indeed aquaculture farms, plant cultivation rooms, and indoor livestock pens. But their output is woefully insufficient. They produce only enough for the leadership to live well and to impress guests by serving fresh food."
Marbas laughed at Eugene's cynical tone.
"Then complete self-sufficiency won't be possible. You'll have to stop periodically at strongholds capable of resupply."
"That's exactly what I want. In fact, we may even be able to make money from it."
"Make money? Ah!"
The word 'trade' surfaced in Marbas's mind.
A domain that was an inland transportation hub or touched the sea was valued several times higher than others.
No matter how hard one squeezed the serfs, there was a limit to the silver they produced, whereas trade and tariffs could pour in astonishing amounts of gold.
"The volume of cargo you can carry would be beyond compare to a transport ship. With no worries of foul weather or pirate plunder, the success rate would converge on a hundred percent, too."
"That's a concern for later. For now, I want to understand the castle's functions properly and prepare to welcome new guests."
Eugene briefly stopped a tribal warrior passing by with the filled water containers.
"Could you give me a cup of water?"
"H-here you are."
He accepted the cup of water the warrior respectfully offered.
Though he did not know by what principle, water, clear and purified without a single speck of floating matter, was sloshing in the cup.
Eugene had learned that the castle absorbed and stored water, but the principle of its purification remained unknown to him.
In terms of light and safety, ninety-nine percent of the castle had been brought into the light; in terms of information, it was still shrouded in darkness.
There remained far too many domains to be explored and illuminated by Eugene's own feet.
Among those domains, there was one place Eugene had paid the most attention to.
"You said there is somewhere you wish to show me?"
"Yes. You will like it as well, Varda-nim."
Varda had removed the hood she always wore and was dressed in traditional elven attire.
Here, her identity as a forest mage or an elf would cause no trouble—no unreasonable demands for magic or advances from nobles.
"It truly is lovely."
The naturally flowing curves of the dress emphasized her voluptuous figure.
Her shoulders and arms were embroidered with leaf-patterned stitching. The fabric was sheer, revealing glimpses of her arms and shoulders beneath.
A sapphire ring attached to the fingerless opera gloves adorned her delicate middle finger.
A silver tiara rested atop her golden hair, and crystal earrings hung from her proudly pointed ears.
"So this is the secret behind the countless flower crowns you've bestowed at tournaments."
"Flattery will get you nothing."
Despite her words, Varda's fingertips trembled with a thrill where she clasped them before her navel.
"Until I met you, the moment I stepped outside the forest, I was always someone's guest."
"Were you not lavishly received wherever you went? You are the Sage of the Emerald Forest, after all."
"Even so, a guest is still only a guest. I always had to watch myself, force smiles, and sometimes endure resentful looks. I was often on edge."
Nod.
The mercenaries who appeared across the corridor gave military salutes, then stepped aside and stood at attention.
Only after Eugene and Varda had passed them did they break their stance and continue on their way.
"After North Fork, now this castle. I finally have places where I can be at ease."
"No one would dare mistreat my court mage in my domain."
"Court mage?"
Seeing Varda's eyes grow round, Eugene spread his palm to gesture at the corridor.
"This is a castle that lacks nothing compared to a royal palace. If there is a court, there should rightly be a court mage as well."
"A knight without even a baron's title, appointing a court mage."
Varda covered her mouth and laughed with grace.
"Do you dislike it?"
"...How could I?"
Varda turned her head away from Eugene. Her skin was so pale that the faint rising flush showed immediately.
They walked in silence for a moment before a luxurious door appeared before them.
"What is this?"
"Allow me to introduce it. This is Research Wing One."
When Eugene opened the door, a vast laboratory revealed its majestic presence.
"Heavens!"
Varda brought her hands together at her chest, eyes wide open.
'Does she go up on tiptoe whenever she's emotional?'
She was surveying the laboratory interior with her heels lifted.
"Go inside and see for yourself."
"Uh, uh-huh!"
She looked adorable, still walking on tiptoe like a dancing maiden. Eugene laughed quietly.
"All of these were crafted with the secret arts of the Ancient Kingdom!"
Special reagent vials capable of sealing not only drugs but even simple spells.
All manner of instruments for alchemy.
Storage units supporting refrigeration and freezing.
A cultivation chamber where the castle's magical energy flowed, causing herbs and magical crops to grow at several times their normal speed.
Glass tubes that magnified or reduced objects for viewing.
An astronomical observation telescope that aided in reading the heavens and making prophecies.
A supply conduit that drew magical power from the castle so that mages need not expend their own strength during research.
And beyond these, strange research equipment whose nature was utterly unfathomable. This was a place where the dreams and fantasies of every mage in the world had gathered.
"I would like to hear your impressions."
"I am happy just standing here. More than a few mages would give their lives for a single night in this place."
"You exaggerate."
"I mean it! A great deal of the knowledge and technology preserved here has been lost to the world."
Varda pointed at the bookshelf lining one entire wall, which held over a thousand volumes.
"Take just one book from that shelf to a university and they would offer several times its volume in gold. Of course, you must never sell it. I am only making a point."
Varda hurried over to the magic supply conduit.
"Do you know that even with the overflowing scholarly passion of mages and alchemists, their research is greatly constrained by mana exhaustion? With this, one can conduct research to one's heart's content, whether for ten hours or twenty. Combine it with the stock of reagent vials piled over there, and..."
Once the floodgates opened, she became a chatterbox and began talking animatedly.
"At any rate, I am relieved the gift is to your liking."
"A gift?"
Eugene bent his knee slightly before Varda, turning both palms upward.
"From now on, this is Varda-nim's private chamber. Thank you for always looking after me. I'm glad I can finally give you a proper gift."
"!!!"
Varda froze on the spot. Her mind seemed unable to keep pace with the situation.
Her wide eyes did not even blink. Her trembling lips moved, but no words escaped.
Flutter.
Instead, her long, pale ears moved.
"Is it not to your liking?"
"Ho-how could that possibly be!"
Flutter, flutter.
Varda's face was deeply flushed. In proportion, her ears fluttered like butterfly wings.
In all the time he had known her, she had never once shown a greedy side. But now, she simply could not hide her desire.
"You don't need to look so eager. It already belongs to Varda-nim."
"Since when did I... ever..."
Unable to deceive her conscience, Varda hid her face in both hands out of embarrassment.
But her elegant fingers were spread wide enough. Through the gaps, her golden eyes busily stole glances at every corner of the laboratory.
'She could just look openly.'
It seemed she still could not believe this great treasure vault had become her possession.
"I never once thought, never even imagined, I would receive such a gift."
Varda, who eventually burst into tears, even staggered as if the strength had gone from her legs.
That day, for the first time, Eugene held Varda in his arms and patted her gently.
The sacred sensation against his hard chest, the soft skin he could feel across his whole body, and the scent of elven perfume drifting from her nearby ear.
Even Eugene, who remained unshaken no matter how much strong liquor he downed, felt for the first time what it meant to be intoxicated.
Most cats hate water.
But there were exceedingly rare water-element cats that enjoyed it—creatures so rare people said you needed three generations of accumulated virtue to encounter one.
Homi was one of these water-element cats.
At the castle's aquaculture farm, Homi welcomed Eugene.
Though called a farm, it was a beautiful place that looked as though a mountain valley had been transplanted whole.
"You want to go in together?"
Nod, nod.
From beneath the water's surface that Homi pointed at, a powerful mystic force emanated. She seemed to have something she wanted to show him.
The two climbed up side by side onto a rock that looked perfect for diving.
Squeeze.
Eugene's right hand and Homi's left hand clasped together warmly. They dove straight into the water.
SPLASH!
Below the surface, the space was far deeper and wider than it appeared.
Beautiful corals and seaweeds spread out in every direction, and vividly colored fish frolicked, creating a fantastical spectacle.
Every rock was studded with large oysters, sea urchins, scallops, mussels, and other shellfish. There were even giant clams that looked as though eating just one would fill the stomach.
'Above the water, it's a mountain valley, but below, it's a seascape.'
Beyond aquaculture, it was a magnificent place for cleansing the spirit as well.
At the center of the bottom sat a giant clam blooming like a flower. To be precise, it was a magical structure in the form of a flower and shell combined.
It was the source from which the intense mystic energy emanated.
Homi took Eugene's hand and led him toward it. Inside the structure, hundreds of large pearls rolled about.
Homi picked one up, showed it to him, and beamed brightly.
She apparently wanted to introduce her lord to the beautiful place and the jewels she had discovered.
'So that's why the water is so clear.'
Eugene immediately grasped the principle by which the water absorbed by the castle was purified.
A pearl was a substance formed when a clam secreted layers around sand, parasites, or other foreign matter that entered its shell.
Depending on how one looked at it, it could be called a jewel created from waste.
'Whether it's technology or magic, or both. Remarkable nonetheless. To purify water by imitating a clam's mechanism.'
This, too, was likely a technique lost since ancient times. There were probably a few more like it elsewhere.
Having uncovered yet another of the Wandering Castle's secrets, Eugene kissed Homi's forehead in gratitude.
"Is there something you want?"
Just as he had given Varda the laboratory, he wished to gift something to this girl who had always been so loyal.
'Please play with me.'
But as always, her wish was only one.
Eugene chased after Homi as she swam through the water like a mermaid.
She darted before his face, almost caught but never quite, teasing him as she flicked her tail.
SNATCH!
But Eugene's grasp always only sliced through empty water.
He laughed off the first few attempts, but as the failures mounted, he began to grow irritated.
"Fine! You're asking for it, aren't you?"
"Heeheehee."
As her irritated lord cracked his joints—CRACK, CRACK!—Homi quickly slipped beneath the water and hid.
Her healthy legs vanished beneath the surface, and her prettily arched foot taunted Eugene.
"Sir Knight! The supply unit and noble envoy have arrived..."
The mercenary squad leader who rushed into the farm slowed his steps as he saw the shoes and clothes strewn messily across the floor.
Then, he froze stiff at the sight of the man and woman playing joyfully in the water.
"Sh-should I come back a little later?"