"This is an insult!" Fankel roared from the top of a mountain of coins. "I want to complain!"
After conquering Onogolo, the capital of the Imperial Empire, Goblin Goblin gave Fankel shelter in the palace's lair. Once home to large birds, it is now the only place that can accommodate dragons. They were placed on a high tower overlooking the city.
"What's wrong?" Fairy Goblina was in a very good mood, drinking a glass of red wine with Manling Victor. "We win! The Empire is mine!"
"Yes, His Majesty also made a crown out of it," the minister pointed to Winkel's new crown (Conqueror's Crown), which was a black circle surrounded by rubies and metal horns. It is more formidable and powerful than the previous one; providing +6 Charisma, Luck, and Skill while being immune to [Terror].
Winkel felt this part was superfluous, but complained about something else.
"Minions, we conquered the entire country in three days and I didn't level up!" The wealth they earned and his monthly stipend calmed his anger, but not by much. "zmey has been upgraded!"
"Well, yeah, he's at a low level, so it makes sense that he'd get some out of it," Manlin Victor replied. "Although we are both Epic-level companies. This conquest is also a huge effort, and His Majesty and I are just helping."
"Help? We burned all the fortresses between the orcs and this stupid Manlin capital!" Vai said before launching an aerial bombardment with zmey
queue
Already used his Pe
ks (such as Po
tifex Maximus) and Master
of Sile
ce) given to Ma
li
g Victo
to summon the power of the army. The Manlins made a valiant effort, but nothing could compare to the dragons.
"Your Majesty, not all soldiers in the conflict gained rank just because their army won a brief war. Although I do wonder what it means when conquering a country becomes mediocre..."
"Vic, how old are you, seventy?" the leprechaun asked.
"Sixty-nine". The goblin raised his head and looked at the chief of staff with a strange look, which Winkel didn't understand. "you dare."
"With your level, you need legendary skills to upgrade." The goblin replied. “Only conquering the world can do that.”
"I already own it under Dragonsbane rights, but never made my claim," Winkle considered. "Slave——"
"I suggest we start with Prydan and then see if we need to go further," Manlin Victor replied hastily, as he was bogged down by trivial administrative details. "We should focus on that first."
Wink muttered before he could see the wisdom in it. "Oh yeah, they're probably more valuable in terms of experience and loot." The dragon reminded himself what was really important. His bet with Bingya continues, and he needs to accumulate more treasures as soon as possible. Especially after the untimely death of the troublesome Alison depleted his fortune. "Where do we start?"
"The local fairy is called Yangjing," explains Manling Victor. "They are distant relatives of the ancestors, just as the Asiatic dragons are to Your Majesty. If Odius was truly recruiting, she would probably start with them."
Asian? What is that, some kind of food?
"Most of the surviving fairies have built their nests on the mountain in the center of the island." Gobrina pointed to the outside of the bird's nest, and Fankel peeked. "Bangshan."
Indeed, as he was rampaging through the countryside, he had noticed a huge rock, almost as high as the Alban Mountains. Snow covers most of the top of the mountain, flanked by cherry trees, while a strange, rainbow-like light surrounds the top. It reminded Fankel of a crown made of auroras.
The evil dragon was so kind that he didn't dare to ask why, so he glanced at his minister. "Why does it glow like that?" Victor asked Gobrina. Now, he can read his master's mind without speaking.
"Mt. Yagami is the largest deposit of powerstone in the world; and houses multiple strains of elements. These things attract monsters and fairies like magnets, making the mountain incredibly dangerous."
"Power Stone," Vaquel repeated the word. "Those dark stones that King Roland of Manling wants?"
"They are stones infused with elemental magic," explains Manlin Victor. "The dwarves used it to power our moon rockets."
"Rocket?" the goblin jumped up. "To the moon? You never told me! How?!"
"Minion, you must not mention this regrettable incident in front of foreign dignitaries!" Winkle interrupted before the orcs could think of going there. "The moon cannot sustain a dragon!"
"But I want to know! "Can you really fly on the moon alone?"
"Goblin, you can't imagine anything horrible nesting there," Winkle replied, suddenly recalling his own horrific experience. "It's right there... everywhere... like poison..."
The goblin looked up at the minister, who was very smart and said nothing. The honor of the empire was secured. "Anyway, that mountain is the next target in my conquest plan," Gobrina said, disappointed at the lack of explanation in the moon landing plan. The Empire sent adventurers and soldiers to collect power stones for their airships, but the local fauna prevented long-term, large-scale mining. In a few months, once the island has completely calmed down, I plan to completely rid the island of monsters. "
"We can't wait that long," Manlin Victor said.
"I agree. The bet between Bingfang and I is set on Samhai
," Vai
queue
explain. "We will destroy the fairies on this mountain, collect all their treasures, and move west."
"If you want to help me clean up, that's great!" Gobrina jumped up immediately. "Just say the word and I'll give you everything you need!"
"Not a bad choice," said Winkle, who was happy to be paid for something he did for free. "I want gemstones on my (spiritual stone) to cover my scales, a throne, an army to carry me all the way to the top of the mountain. I'm too important to walk, I have to save all I have Use your energy to find fairies.”
Ma
li
g Victo
Nodding, "Climbing the mountain should inspire Kia to help."
"How is she?" Winkle asked angrily. "She didn't help us conquer! She just sat and sulked!"
"I suggest you abandon her, Vic," Gobrina said. "Remember our Chancellor course?" Trying to corrupt a [Paladin] will often fail. Not worth the risk. "
"Yes, you should breed with better varieties." Fankel nodded fiercely.
"It turns out that His Majesty wanted to frame us!" the minister pointed out in confusion.
"That was before she corrupted my niece." The dragon shuddered. "I admit she is a powerful minion, but she needs to correct her inappropriate behavior."
"I'm sure she'll figure it out," Ma
li
g Victo
) said she was too hopeful and naive to give up on Knight Kia.
"And, Vic, it would be great if you could save our wine cellar from her."
Winkel fired his chief of staff. "Minion, I'll give you two days off until I've eaten my fair share of cows and rested well. Now, goblin, about this throne..."
Since he had some time off, Victor decided to visit Kia before exploring the city. After meeting her, he immediately targeted the palace bar.
As he walked through the corridors among guards and soldiers, Victor felt that although he preferred the design of the old armor, (Mollock's hide) felt more comfortable, warm, and light. He attributes this to the increased strength it provides, as well as its firepower capabilities. As far as he knew, the armor was a gift from the Board of Directors of the Happy Realm, made from the corpse of the archdemon Moloch and empowered by the runes of all corporate overlords.
Thinking of this, he wanted to apologize to Mir even more.
He finally found his destination, a hall-sized bar with the most exquisite Japanese style. Orange pillars support the roof, above which is a large mahogany counter, with red lanterns providing elegant lighting; a noble monk statue occupies the center of the room - much more flattering than a real goddess. Soldiers from all species, humans, goblins, beasts and horned ghosts, gather around a table or couch and have a good time.
Of course, Kia was still standing at the counter, looking grumpy, with three bottles of various alcoholic beverages on hand. Victor immediately noticed something was wrong.
The bottle wasn't empty and she didn't look drunk.
Well, something terrible happened. He immediately sat down next to her. "Kia, are you okay?"
"Of course not," she muttered, glaring at him.
ah. "Are you still angry?"
"Why wouldn't I? I thought you were a good influence on Vankel, and then you convinced him to help that goblin!"
"But the people like the new government!" They call Weigel, Gobrina and me the Three Unifiers!"
"Because you broke this country into pieces and then put it back together again!"
“Kia, Gobli
a and I were friends seven years ago," Victo
Justify your choices. "Isn't this the (Paladin's) way of helping a friend who truly needs help?"
"Not when they want to conquer a country!" she protested. "By the way, are you on a first-name basis with all the dictators in the world?"
Maybe, Victor thought, but he was smart enough to keep it to himself. "You make it sound like it's a bad thing," he joked.
Her gaze became unbearable. "This is serious, Vic. I'm starting to think we might... well..." Kia cleared her throat and a tentacled, animalistic bartender handed her a bottle of wine. “Irreconcilable causal differences.”
"Hey, I'm not evil, just a loyal friend!"
"You wear demon armor and summon demons in battle, what else do you need?" Kia picked up the bottle, took a sip of the contents, and then spat it back. "Why do the drinks here taste like salt water?"
"What do you mean?" Victor frowned and examined the four bottles. Looks like alcohol.
"Try it," she said, handing him her bread. The minister grumbled and took off his helmet as the bartender handed him a drink.
He hated it as soon as it touched his tongue. Not his kind of drink.
"Tastes like beer to me," Victor said after taking a sip, and Kia immediately handed him a bottle of beer. He took a sip and found the drink surprisingly delicious. "This is...this is..."
marvelous!
By the gods, this taste...this perfect blend of fruitless fruit and sugar, milk and honey. It was the taste of his lost carefree childhood, his first kiss, his happiest days, all condensed into one unique feeling.
It feels like drinking the wine of God!
"Hey bartender, what's this?" Victor asked, instantly addicted to the stuff. Not getting drunk no longer sounds like a punishment.
"Ghost beer, Mr. Victor," the bartender replied. "We squeeze the juice from giant spiders and distill it with alcohol. I'm glad you like it."
"When I drink it, it tastes like salt water," Kia complained, looking at other bottles, all local drinks. "All of them."
Could it be "Bartender, do you have any foreign wine?"
"Very few, Mr. Victor. Since the plague is raging across the continent, the government has closed the borders to avoid its spread. We can't import much more." Still, the tentacled bartender looked for another bottle under the counter. "However, for you, Mr. Victor, our secret warehouse will always remain open."
"Vic," Kia said grimly, her hand clasping the bottle tightly.
Ah, right here. The reason she had to be drunk in the first place. "What happened?"
"He's in town, Vic. He's in town."
Victor gripped the scythe tighter. "Mag intervention?"
"No. Worse."
Kia turned to face him, her eyes looking directly into his, like twins in the abyss, catching all the light in the world. These are the eyes of a veteran who has experienced countless harassments, door-to-door preaching, and random acts of stupidity.
"O
k
oob.”
Victor was in a state of shock for several seconds, his brain struggling to digest the cursed word.
O
k
oob. Fantasy Japan.
"Oh, God." Oh my God, that makes so much sense. "Is he here? At the bar? Is he behind me?"
"I heard the guard talking. He was on a 'sacred pilgrimage' to spread his message to the 'tramps and husbands' of the capital."
"Oh my god...oh my god, this might be our only chance to catch him." He had lost count of how many times the Ishiguan Secret Order had harassed him or upset him. "This has to stop, Kia. It has to stop. Someone has to stop it!"
"Are we ready?" the paladin asked, unsure of himself. "I can't imagine how many people want this nasty guy gone...while he's still alive."
Victor thought about this question seriously. "We may need to bring Winkle," he admitted. "Burn it from above. Don't give him a chance to escape. Where is he?"
"Waifu District."
"Waifu... red light district?"
"This is why I hate Japan."
The bartender finally found what he was looking for, a bottle of foreign red wine. Victor asked for two cups, one for him and the other for [Paladin].
"Salt water," Kia said, and Victo
I think the taste is very delicate. She turned to the bartender with an angry frown. "Is this a joke?"
"Of course not, guilty apostate."
"Then can you get me another one-" Keya stopped mid-sentence. "Wait, what did you say?"
"Of course not, you irreligious scum."
The paladin immediately unsheathed his sword and the guards turned to intervene. "You poisoned my drink!"
"Of course not, godless garbage. This is a divine punishment from the goddess."
Intelligence check successful.
oh.
oh……
How could he tell Kia without destroying her sanity?
"Vic, what happened?" The Paladin immediately noticed his uneasiness and asked. "W-what?"
"Kia," Victo
Cleared his throat. "Promise me you'll stay calm."
"Why are you looking at me like I have cancer?"
"There is no need to be nice to a scum like her, respectable Mr. Victor." The minister discovered that the bartender could combine respectful politeness and passive aggression in one sentence.
"What's wrong with me?" the paladin asked, losing his cool. "What happened?! I want to know!"
Victor rehearsed his next words in his mind, trying to find a way to deliver the news gently and painlessly. “Do you remember the mermaid of the Whiskey Sea?”
"The one pretending to be a monk?"
"Yeah, she...she wasn't pretending, and she didn't accept it."
Then Kia got it.
Somehow her dark skin turned startlingly white; and as she glanced at the bottle with an expression of pure and absolute despair, her strong eyes expressed a pitiful look. A look of fear.
Then the bartender gave him the coup de grace.
"Yes, apostate, because you have denied the divinity of the gods, all alcoholic beverages, from the poorest wine to the reddest wine, are like salt water to you!" shouted the bartender. "You'll never get drunk again! You'll never get to enjoy the pub!"
That day, Victor understood that in this world, some sentences can completely destroy a person. Well-crafted words can tear even a strong-willed person to pieces.
At that moment, something inside Kia broke and never came back. Victor held her and let her cry on his shoulder for five hours.
Because in a world where Ornub is still alive, she will remain sane.
