Chapter 146.2

VOLUME 2: CHAPTER 146 (2/2) – FAREWELL PARTY Status

RaceGoblinLevel72ClassKing; RulerPossessed SkillsRuler of the Demon Children of Chaos; Defiant Soul; World Devouring Howl; Sword Mastery A-; Dominator; King’s Soul; Ruler’s Wisdom III; Household of the Gods; One-Eyed Snake’s Evil Eye; The King's Dance at the Edge of Death; Magic Manipulation; Soul of the Berserk King; Third Impact (The Third Chant); Warrior's Instinct; Blessing of the Underworld Goddess; Guided OneDivine ProtectionGoddess of the Underworld (The goddess)AttributesDarkness; DeathSubordinate BeastsHigh Kobold Hasu (Lv77); Gastra (Lv20); Cynthia (Lv1); Orc King (Bui) (Lv82)Abnormal StatusBlessing of the One-Eyed Snake; Protection of the Twin-Headed Snake

I to go to a cave not too far from the fortress to hear the report of the koro dwarves .

“To think there was a cave in a place like this,” I said .

Making a map took a lot of work, as it required people to see every nook and cranny of a place before it could be made .

My request to these koro dwarves was to find me an ore deposit .

“Please look at this,” a koro dwarf said as he handed me a black stone .

He told me to look at it, but it looked no different from any other rock .

“This is good black iron, the fuel for weapons,” the koro dwarf said .

So this is the raw material that makes our weapons and armor . It’s an odd feeling to see the unprocessed material that makes up our equipment .

“Is this cave an ore deposit then?” I asked .

“Yes, though how much can be mined from it remains to be seen,” the koro dwarf replied .

These little guys might be able to forge weapons and armor, but even weapons will one day break .

My old iron great sword, for example, was plenty sturdy, but in the end, it still broke . Once the weapons break, we’ll need to rely on these guys to repair them .

So, weapons are consumables, and we’ll need ensure a constant supply of them to fight our war .

“Can you find out?” I asked .

“With time,” the koro dwarf replied .

“Then, please… Also, if possible, I would like for you to teach the centaurs and us goblins that method,” I said .

The koro dwarves looked at each for a moment, then they nodded to show their agreement .

In order for the goblins, the demihumans, and the koro dwarves to start trading technology, a little nudging from me was necessary . We goblins don’t have much to offer, after all . The one with the most to learn from such an arrangement is none other than us goblins .

A black shadow passed by over my head . When I looked up, I noted that it was none other than the harpy, Yushika, who was currently landing on the ground .

“You weren’t in the fortress, so I figured you’d be here,” she said .

I greeted Yushika as she folded her wings, then I nodded and stated my request . This woman, who was a merchant to the core, would never come to me without an agenda .

“As usual, you’re quick to pick up . Actually, the elves entrusted me with a message,” Yushika said .

The demihumans would certainly find it difficult to refuse a request from the Forni elves, their benefactors .

Apparently, the elves were bringing back the old elven school .

“Hmm…” I folded my arms as I went deep in thought .

When Yushika saw that, she thought I was confused, so she explained the advantages of having a school . “Your Majesty might not be familiar with it, but school is a place where people learn . Various races would send the smartest among them to study . And when these people have graduated, they will return to their homelands and use what they’ve learned to better it . ”

That was indeed what a school was .

“The elves are currently gathering exceptional people to become students of their academy . There will be no discrimination; demihumans, goblins… anyone will be able to enter,” Yushika explained .

School was indeed a far-fetched dream for the goblins . Even the concept of economy that we tried to teach them a few days ago… There’s far too much that they don’t know .

For the meantime, I should pick out which goblins to send . Education is needed to make excellent bureaucrats . If in the end, it turns outo that goblins show are hopeless at managerial work, then I’ll just have to get others to do it . Elves, demihumans, even humans… It doesn’t really matter .

That being said, I wonder if knowing too much might end up creating a crack in my reign?

I am not perfect, I know that well . I make mistakes from time to time, and even fail sometimes… If the goblins become smarter, will there come a day when the few elite rises up against me to point out my flaws?

No, it doesn’t matter . I won’t cower from it .

A king is one who stands fearless in the face of all opposition .

I am a king . it doesn’t matter who it is, I will face them without shame .

A king is a guardian . A king is a guide . A king is the very embodiment of pride .

I must become a king that the goblins can be proud of .

“…Very well, I shall accept the elves’ proposition . In the next few days, I shall send some goblins to the elven village . What of the descendants of the crystals?” I said .

“We shall also accept . Being able to study at the school put up by our benefactors is an honor . ”

It seems this school has enough value just in name alone .

I nodded back as Yushika wryly smiled .

“If I may excuse myself, then…” Yushika said as she flew back to the sky .

Uneasy, I turned to the koro dwarf . “Pick two exceptional from your ranks . We shall send them to the elven school . ”

The koro dwarves’ eyes visibly bulged, then after glancing at each other for a good second or two, the koro dwarf I was talking to asked . “is that alright?”

“I may be the leader of the goblins, the race responsible for the destruction of your village, but I intend to treat you with impartiality . Besides, holding people back just because they’re of a different race will only hurt the future . ”

After I asked the koro dwarves to continue their search for ores, I turned heel and left .

I don’t have the luxury of burying exceptional people in the mud .

There is far too much to do . The food problem, the government system… We don’t have time .

As I kept the irritation I felt at bay, I went back to the Fortress of the Abyss .

In the capital of Germion Kingdom, word of Reshia’s return to the Ivory Tower had already circulated .

Be it the merchants who tended to their stalls, or the laborers working by the streets, or the officers of the army, or the priests… everyone – man, woman, and child – talked about the departure of the saint . Of course, Mill Dora had also heard of the news .

The children she supported numbered over 10 . Before she met Reshia, when she stopped over for a short while before heading to the forest, she had resorted to thievery, but after meeting her, she has started working an honest job .

Of course, the most profits always came from her second name ‘mage killer’ .

Reshia never mentioned anything about her gangster-like work as an adventurer; she was like a hero to the children .

After finishing her work for the day, she came back to the children exhausted . Normally, she would eat and retire for the day as soon as she came back, but the children surrounded her .

“Is Reshia really leaving?” The children asked with depressed voices .

It was clear as day how they felt .

“Lady Reshia herself has already decided, so it can’t be helped,” Mill said .

But the children wouldn’t take that for an answer .

“That’s not it, we thought there was something even we could do . Mill, you’re an adventurer too, aren’t you? We’ll give you a quest . ” One of the children said .

“Forget it . It’s hopeless . I’m not that skilled as an adventurer anyway,” Mill said .

Though she said that, she also wasn’t that eager about letting Reshia leave just like that .

“…So, what do you guys have in mind?” Mill found herself asking after a sigh .

When she said that, the children handed her a small hair clip .

“We prepared a parting gift . Please give this to Reshia . ”

It was something they’d bought from the stores, a hair clip made with a shiny shell . Anyone could tell at first glance that it was cheap .

“Lady Reshia is famous, so she’ll probably be getting lots of gifts,” Mill said as she sighed again . “And if you’re going to give me a quest, you’re gonna have to pay up . ”

These children who were born in the orphanage would have hard time once they went out into society . That was something Mill learned firsthand . If she spoiled these children now, they’ll be no good once they grow up . Of course, they were also being annoying, so she was especially harsh today .

“…This is Mii’s important friend, but I’ll give him to you,” the child, Mii, said as she handed a dirty, lukewarm bear to her .

The fact that she handed that to her showed just how much this meant to her . That tugged at Mill’s heartstrings so much so that her eyes became watery as she looked at Miinaana .

The other children surrounded her and gave her something important of their own as they begged her to carry out their request .

Mill sighed deeply as she roughly rubbed a little boy’s head with teary eyes, then she accepted the hair clip .

“…Well, I’ll make something happen,” Mill said as she stood up from her chair, promising the children that she’ll take care of it, then she tucked the children snugly into bed .

She wasn’t sure herself whether Reshia would actually accept the hair clip, but no matter what, she had to meet her… for the children’s sake .

“I guess I’ll ask the adventurers for help,” Mill muttered .

She was always quiet around the other adventurers, so she was never close with anyone . There were a few, however . For example, Wyatt, whom she was closest with, but unfortunately, he had gone somewhere, so she couldn’t rely on him .

Reshia herself was also under house arrest, so she needed to go to the castle .

“If I get found out, it’ll be the death sentence for sure,” Mill said, clicking her tongue .

“But I have to answer to their prayers,” she said .

Like the wind, Mill ran through the evening streets

◆◆◇

The most influential people of the country were gathered in the giant ballroom . Powerful merchants, influential priests, nobles, bureaucrats, military officers, royalty…

Lined up before these men were some of the greatest and most luxurious delicacies . One bottle of the wines served here, for example, would take a whole month’s salary for a measly commoner .

Even the music that played in the backdrop was splendid as the royal court musician’s music seemed to make even the flowers bloom .

Each one of these people who were permitted to attend this feast were all capable of representing their class . They competed with their splendor and exchanged information under the guise of a cheerful feast . To these people, this feast was no different from an opportunity to scout their rivals for weakness .

On the onset, a cheerful feast, but in the inside, it was a festering tumor .

It was in that sort of atmosphere that a wind blew .

“His Majesty the King and her holiness, the saint, Lady Reshia Fel Zeal!” The chamberlain announced .

Claps greeted the king and the saint as they made their entrance .

Reshia’s brows lightly raised up, but she was mostly expressionless as she walked with the king to her seat .

“Please don’t mind me . Enjoy the feast,” the king said, and the music began once more .

The influential people came one after another . They would greet the king first and then Reshia

There seemed to be no end to the greetings when the chamberlain spoke once more .

“The Holy Knight, Lord Gulland Rifenin!”

The people made a stir .

The hero, Gulland Rifenin, who was likened to the heroes of old was participating .

The crowd showered him with applause and smile, though what they were truly thinking was veiled in shadows .

Gulland’s expression was unchanging as he passed by the people and knelt before the king .

“I have returned from the northern frontlines, Your Majesty,” he said .

“Welcome back . Food and drink have been prepared, eat to your heart’s content,” the king said .

“…Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty,” Gulland said .

Gulland gracefully turned heel as he withdrew from the king and approached Reshia .

“It’s been awhile, Lady Reshia . You seem to be doing well,” Gulland said .

“Yes, you seem to be doing well too,” Reshia said .

Only a few words were exchanged before the two parted, and people started crowding Reshia and Gulland .

There was no end to the greetings . Even as one conversation would end and Reshia would try to get a seat to rest, more merchants lying in wait would appear to strike up a conversation . To the nobles, this feast was important, as it was held by the king . To the old merchants, this was an opportunity for them to spread their roots in the capital .

But there was a merchant who had just recently moved from the neighboring countries . He would keep talking to Reshia despite her expressionless face or her lack of reply . Naturally, anyone would raise their brows at such stubbornness .

To make things words, the merchant appraised Reshia like a product to be sold . Reshia had almost yelled at the man, but fortunately, Gulland interjected .

“Sorry, but I have business with the saint,” he said, smiling .

Unfortunately, his good deed, if he did intend it as such, was not met with welcome eyes . Reshia looked at him like she was looking at a man with bad body odor .

Meanwhile, Gulland stared daggers at the man . He was smiling, but his eyes were not . The pressure emanating from him was just like that of a powerful beast, causing the merchant to draw cold sweat all over .

“O-O-Of ncourse!” The merchant said in a panic as he quickly fled the scene .

Gulland extended his hand to Reshia .

“Your hand, my lady,” Gulland said .

At that, all eyes gathered on them . Though troubled, Reshia had no choice but to take Gulland’s hand .

“It seems you don’t have your weapon with you today,” Reshia said, wanting to at least show her displeasure through her words, but Gulland only laughed .

Ignoring the crowd that was starting to stir, the holy knight and the saint went outside .

As soon as they got out, Reshia threw Gulland’s hand away .

“What are you scheming?” Reshia asked .

“Can you not spit on a guy’s kindness?” Gulland petitioned, but Reshia’s eyes only grew colder .

“…Ok, don’t . I have a message from Lili,” Gulland said .

“Ms . Lili? What’s going on?” Reshia asked .

Seeing a crack form on Reshia’s expressionless face, Gulland couldn’t help but grin .

When Reshia saw that, she frowned and tried to bring back the frost to her face .

“Well, don’t fret, it’s nothing special . She just wants to let you know that the days she spent as your knight were her happiest,” Gulland said .

Reshia thought he would say something acrimonious, but contrary to her expectations, the words he spoke were truly from Lili .

“…I, see…” Reshia said, feeling down .

Gulland was disappointed to see that she believed him . “And here I thought you’d call me out for lying . ”

Reshia shook her head and sorrowfully smiled . “I can at least see through someone when they’re lying… Well, then, Lord Holy Knight, if you’ll excuse me . ”

Gulland clicked his tongue as he watched Reshia leave .

He went back to the feast, but he just couldn’t enjoy it .

“…Hmph, Lord Holy Knight, huh . ”

Gulland ignored the flatteries of the nobles and left his seat .

164 days until the war with the humans .