Episode 359
“…Thank you everyone for your hard work!”
The voice of Patrick McLane rang from high above the walls of the newly built fortress and spread deep into the vast fortress.
“Have fun eating and drinking today! All the food will be provided by the 3rd Corps!”
“Wow!”
All the dwarves and worker wizards who heard that voice, including everyone, hugged each other and cheered.
It was worth it.
The adventurer’s path in the southern part of the kingdom. The southernmost part of the continent, with the Luther River flowing to the north and the Southern Mountain Range visible to the south. Among them, the huge fortress that was built at the largest intersection leading from the kingdom to the empire looked so large and strong that it was hard to believe that it was built in just two months.
Although the wizards and dwarves were very active, there was no one here who did not suffer.
“You’re hot as expected!”
“Because he is our majesty’s father.”
“Then is it your Majesty?”
“What about His Majesty the late king? Not only is he not a king, but the late king speaks of dead people… No, that’s enough. Are you not interested in the country at all? What on earth should I talk about with a guy like you?”
“What man?!”
“Woah, calm down. What’s wrong with a good day? Here comes alcohol and meat! Drink first!”
“Leave it alone and just fight. Then we’ll have more to eat.”
“Woohahaha!”
The inside of the fortress is changing into a noisy marketplace-like atmosphere. In an atmosphere where everyone was cheering, there were two people, no, one person and a dwarf, who were smiling brightly.
“I did it. I did it!”
“Thank you, Lord Hamar.”
Hamar laughed even louder at Clayton’s death and hugged him.
“Wahaha! Wizard! With this, I’ve surpassed my limit once again! There’s not much left until I become a super dwarf…”
A dwarf with dark circles all the way down to the tip of his nose kept screaming with a gaping face next to him. The one-armed dwarf forcibly grabbed him by the back of his neck.
“The head of the workshop has had too much to drink. You should also see ‘it’ in operation. I heard the Archduke is coming in person.”
“It doesn’t matter! All I have to do now is activate it and that’s it! I worked like a dog for three months building two forts, but I can’t even do this!”
Temar smiled awkwardly at Hamar’s struggling cry and looked at the surroundings.
However, Clayton, who could be said to be the highest person in the room, was just smiling, so no one stopped Hamar.
“Look! Even you, wizard, are still! Hello, wizard. If you think about it, we’ve had a hard time together more than once, so why don’t you come and have a drink? You should rest now!”
“No. My disciples and I have to set up ‘it’ in three castles on the western border, so we have to leave right away tomorrow.”
Hamar, who had been talking excitedly at those words, suddenly became quiet, looked at Clayton with a pitiful face, and raised the head-sized beer mug he was holding in his hand.
“Such a disgrace, comrade.”
After giving a brief word of comfort, Hamar immediately turned around and shouted, ‘I am free!’ and continued to drink alcohol and chew meat.
Everyone looked at the scene with a puzzled expression, but the dwarf, who seemed to have lost his mind, paid no attention and just filled his empty beer glass one after another.
In an instant, the person who had been trying to stop him was affected by his actions that no one could stop.
“Hmm… Then me too…”
Temar glanced closely at his gaze, wiped the hook on his left hand, and took a large piece of roasted pork on the plate. He then poured beer into a large beer glass identical to Hamar’s and began gulping it down in one go.
Gulp, gulp.
How can so much alcohol fit into such a small body?
“Kyaaa!”
Temar finished his glass of beer with such gusto that it surprised everyone, and then he let out an exclamation as he tore into the meat.
The ‘crunching’ sound seems truly barbaric and appetizing.
“Ugh…”
Between Clayton and his students, who were watching the scene as if fascinated, Victoria slowly stepped back and began to move away from the two dwarves.
And the two dwarves began eating and drinking as if competing, paying no heed to the reactions of those around them. Their rampage continued until Patrick McLane, who was walking around encouraging workers and soldiers, appeared late.
And by then it was already.
“Whahaha. Temar, are you feeling envious of those hands today? They must be the best for tearing meat!”
“Puhhehehe. Would you like to cut off your hand, too? A diet will definitely work!”
He was so drunk that he was talking nonsense like this.
“Hey. Thank you all for your hard work….”
“Wow! Red hair! It’s the devil’s dad!”
“…??”
The king’s father, Padric McLane, was also the commander of the 3rd Corps, which was in charge of the defense of the southwestern region centered on McLane territory.
When had he ever heard something like this?
Clayton’s disciples Grig and Enan hurriedly rushed in front of Padric, who was frozen in an absurd state.
“Hamar, please rest now.”
“town!?”
“You too, Temar.”
“Eup? Eup?!”
While the two were covering the mouths of the drunken dwarves, Clayton, who had blocked Padric’s view a beat later, smiled awkwardly and lowered his head.
“…Lord Hamar was so happy that he drank a little too much. I hope you understand, Grand Duke.”
“Huh. Well, it was an interesting experience in its own way. I have no intention of blaming Your Majesty’s beloved subordinate for something like this, Clayton.”
“Haha. Thank you, Your Excellency. Then, shall we go straight to the basement?”
“I see.”
Patrick, who laughed off the absurdity of the situation, followed Clayton to the basement of the fortress, known to the outside as simply a ‘food and weapons warehouse.’
The knights guarding the entrance were only those of McLane whose loyalty had already been proven.
“insect!”
“It’s a lot of work.”
“No, Your Excellency!”
The place I entered after giving a tap on the shoulder was an underground plaza. In the center of the square, a huge magic circle was already glowing, brightly illuminating the square with a radius of several tens of meters.
“It really is spectacular.”
“You will be even more impressed when you feel the effects.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
When Clayton glanced back, Victoria, who had disappeared somewhere, came out immediately. Not long after she ran to the center of the magic circle, a fist-sized magic stone was planted in the center.
Wooooow.
Soon, along with the feeling that the air had changed, the magic circle began to emit a brilliance that was completely different from before.
“Oh oh!”
Padric let out an exclamation as he felt his body, which had been exhausted from the long speeches and encouragement, become revitalized. Although the fatigue was not at a level where it disappeared instantly, as a top-class engineer, he was able to immediately notice the changes in his body.
“…Stamina consumption is reduced by about 30% and recovery amount is increased by about 30%. This alone can be incredibly effective in a sit-in war.”
“And the second effect I mentioned…”
“I know. But drawing a powerful enemy into the castle and fighting him is only possible after you are truly prepared to see the end. Wouldn’t it be better not to go there in the first place?”
Padric spoke excitedly, but both he and Clayton, who was listening, had a feeling that things would not go that easily.
“You said the budget to build and maintain this is quite large, right?”
“Yes. According to the opinion of the Minister of Finance, the limit is to install it in three castles, including the Armor here, the Shield built in the north, and Kyle.”
“Five locations. But since they are all strategically located, it will definitely be of great help.”
After those words, there was silence between the two for a while.
War. Also, the war with the empire was too heavy a topic to talk about too hastily.
Padrick, who had a stern expression on his face, soon changed the topic.
“Anyway, I’ve been hearing strange rumors about Ronian lately.”
“yes?”
“It’s the princess of the eastern kingdom of the empire. Rumors have even reached the territory that she and Ronian are in a relationship like that. Do you know anything?”
“Ahaha. Did you say something like that? Actually, I’ve been busy lately… don’t you know?”
It was a valid excuse, but to Padric’s ears, it sounded like an insult asking why you would listen to such rumors.
“Oh, right. You’ve been very busy lately. I’ve been talking nonsense to you for going through a hard time. Since I’m dealing with the marriage of my children, I can’t help but be interested…” “
Haha. It’s only natural.”
“…Moreover, if that’s true, it’s actually a good thing for our kingdom.”
“…Yes? Is it a good thing?”
Clayton tilted his head at that absurd remark, but Padric looked rather puzzled, as if asking why.
“I heard that the empire doesn’t say anything about marrying off a daughter or something like being an outcast or something like that. If that’s true, and if ‘that thing’ really happens in that situation, wouldn’t there be at least a turmoil within the empire? At least one of the four kings “Because we could be torn apart from the empire.”
“ah…!”
Padrick’s words were a refreshing shock to Clayton.
‘No, I don’t think I’m the only one surprised by this, right?’
In the first place, the purpose of Luisa’s visit was to get married, but everyone overlooked it because Logan declared that it would never happen. If the marriage really takes place, there will definitely be conflict within the empire when war breaks out between the two countries. Whether it was small or big, MacLine would never lose anything.
“I see. The East King’s Office is already putting in effort for that matter these days… but there is a good chance.”
“…Possibility? You’ve never thought about it?”
“Ah, yes. Your Majesty just thinks of me as a spy who came to see me under the pretext of getting married. Is it okay with you though?”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
“Count Ronian is being forced into a marriage in the name of serving the country.”
“Ah… haha, isn’t that a common thing among nobles? That’s how I got married too. If the marriage ends up being beneficial to the national interest, there’s nothing wrong with it.”
At those words, Clayton looked at Padric with new eyes. This was because, deep down, I felt that nobles were different.
But there was a catch.
“…Will Your Majesty allow it?”
“hmm?”
“Even if it doesn’t seem like it, His Majesty Logan thinks terribly of his family. Especially Count Ronian. I don’t think His Majesty will allow it.”
Everyone was probably thinking that.
However, Padrick looked at Clayton with a strange expression and then asked as if he was absurd.
“…Is now the time for us to question that?”
“yes?”
“A war will indeed break out, just as your Majesty said. Then, what do you think the odds are that we will be able to win the empire?”
“We will do everything we can to prepare. I am confident we can overcome this.”
“Don’t say anything hopeful.”
“….”
Clayton didn’t respond in particular, but his expression clearly showed that he wouldn’t give in.
‘Is this also Logan’s influence?’
Padric smiled bitterly as he thought of his eldest son, who caused all kinds of incidents and colored the surroundings with his colors.
‘Confidence is not bad, but being reckless is difficult.’
He had achieved numerous achievements due to his absurd confidence, but now the fate of not only his family and clan but the country rested on his shoulders. Perhaps because he had been away from his eldest son for a considerable amount of time, he felt like he needed to point out the reality as he was once again seeing his flaws.
“Hmm, no matter how much I think about it, I think the odds of losing are higher. 15 legions, the still-shrouded imperial central army, and countless superhumans. To be honest, just imagining it is overwhelming. So I think we should do everything we can. That’s what it means. “Ronian’s marriage isn’t bad either.”
“Even if Count Ronian becomes unhappy?”
“It’s not my son who can be broken by something like that. I’ve done a really good job raising my children.”
That groundless confidence made Clayton think of Logan for a moment.
“If it’s hard for you to talk, why don’t I try to speak up?”
Is it hereditary to commit and see?
Clayton couldn’t help but swallow his breath.
Meanwhile, at that time, Ronian’s embarrassed voice was coming from McLane Castle.
“Are you talking about getting married? Are you serious?”
“sure.”
Luisa looked at the red-haired young man in front of her with an alluring smile.
