Chapter 225

Chapter 225 - Blood of Fire

"Lady Valda."

"Eugene!"

Valda, who was waiting in Khazad-dor, ran over and hugged her husband tightly.

'This is what it truly means to get off work.'

Encountering only the cold air of the mine and the underground, feeling his wife's body temperature made him feel as if his mind was being purified.

However, Valda did not embrace him solely out of gladness. Her white and soft hands stroked Eugene's neck and cheeks here and there. Eventually, she even tried to unbutton his top.

"As expected, you're a carnivorous Elf. Shall we head straight to the bedroom?"

"Idiot! It's not that!"

From embarrassment and anger, her long ears fluttered, and even her earrings swayed here and there. That precious appearance is the reason Eugene couldn't hold back his mischievous jokes.

"I heard you took the Shambler's chill with your whole body. Are there perhaps any abnormal symptoms? That isn't a simple chill but something closer to a curse."

"Some frost gathering on my eyebrows was all. I'm perfectly fine."

Valda could not be at ease. Because there were records of warriors who thought they were fine, only to have the chill dig into their bones and organs, suffer from illness, and die.

"There is nothing as dangerous as self-diagnosis. Especially after fighting a high-ranking demon. Let's hurry to your bedroom. The healers are on standby."

"...I will receive just your heart with gratitude."

Valda is a daughter of the Royal Family. She has no reluctance in revealing her beautiful naked body to maids. However, Eugene was not.

- Please raise your arm. There are no abnormalities.

- Could you put your leg up here?

A shame show of being inspected down to between one's fingers and toes. That alone, he sincerely wanted to decline. And his body condition was actually perfectly fine.

"Perhaps if there was an external injury, but I am unbothered by the level of a chill. Isn't that what Lady Valda knows best in the world?"

"That is true but..."

Valda lowered her reddened face.

A mighty body and a mighty soul interact. The mysterious power Eugene harbored gave the biggest influence on his blood.

Valda feels the blood flow beyond her husband's skin touching hers every time they make love. A heavy heat flowing like dark lava.

That is something separate from the body temperature coming from metabolism. It was a similar kind to the hellfire that had tormented Marbas's body for 30 years.

As it is a flame purely refined under the domination of a mighty soul and heart, it did not burn his flesh.

However, since its foundation is hellfire, it stretched its hands towards the outside greedily and meticulously at every trivial detail. The main target of conquest was Valda.

- It's hot.

- The weather is on the chilly side, though.

- Even a Vampire flowing with cold blood would become a warm-blooded animal if embraced by you.

- That is a truly poetic expression.

There were times Eugene wondered if Valda, who is weak to heat, might end up hating sleeping together, but it was a useless worry.

- Lady Valda. Please loosen your legs a bit. It's hard for me to move...

Eugene's skin touching hers, the mighty heat and energy felt from the blood vessels beyond it.

That sweetened her and also made her crave it more than any fine wine.

* * *

The subjugation squad received the highest level of treatment since Khazad-dor was founded.

Marbas, who received pipe tobacco for Royal Family delivery, bit it in his mouth with a satisfied face.

"This is a masterpiece among masterpieces of which only exactly 3 are produced in a year. It's something you can't buy even with money, but as expected, blessings come when doing good deeds."

However, Eugene has a displeased face.

"You should slowly quit smoking which isn't even good for your body. You have to live long."

"What are you saying? Good quality tobacco smoke purifies the dregs stuck in the blood vessels and lungs. It's certified by Roman's medical college."

"Oh my god."

Eugene has said several times that this is ridiculous nonsense, but ultimately failed to persuade him.

Actually, this much belongs to the cute side.

'The reason diseases occur is that bad blood accumulates in the body!'

With such ridiculous beliefs, there are also nobles who stick leeches or even collect blood through phlebotomy.

To the point where there are even those who die from infections due to doing so. It is an ignorant era where such absurd deaths or injuries overflow beyond imagination.

"I heard the Royal Family lifted the conscription order."

With the mining of Khazad-dor resuming, the uncharted territory subjugation became a business with national destiny no longer on the line.

"The mercenaries who participated must be feeling a pity?"

Every industry is like that, but the mercenary business is a profession where experience is especially favored. The Royal Family is recruiting a request to subjugate monsters in a fixed area?

Periodic work, receiving experienced personnel allowances, and even getting connections in the Dwarf Kingdom. A business leaving this much profit is rare.

Among the mercenary captains whose positions were precarious, there were quite a few who revived from the brink of death with this subjugation business.

"Sure, mercenaries would be. But think about the heads of households who would have to step out onto the battlefield holding weapons instead of work tools."

In a battle against people, you can at least retrieve a corpse at worst. However, in monster subjugation, if you make a misstep, you could die without even being able to secure a single piece of a keepsake.

"Have pride. The lives you saved by eliminating the Shambler will easily be in the 4 digits."

"I am a person too, so I do not dislike receiving gratitude. It's just a problem because all sorts of false rumors are also spreading."

"False rumors?"

"The souls that achieved Nirvana crossed the underground city, right?"

In a normal situation, seeing a soul with one's eyes is a matter close to impossible.

However, the souls that had been preyed on by the Shambler and suppressed for a long time were in a special state. To use a metaphor, should I say the soul's pressure went up very high?

Just like how ordinary water molecules are invisible to the eye but hot water molecules become water vapor and are visible.

"Those chattering that they saw missing famous people from the past are appearing here and there."

"Ah! I heard that too. There was even someone who said they saw a royalty who went missing 200 years ago. Saying they saw the exact same face as the Royal Palace portrait or something?"

It is unknown how they distinguished such a thing seeing souls that aren't even clear and waver.

- I swear on my life! I really saw it!

As the number of listening spectators vastly increased depending on who saw a more special person, everyone actively asserted their eyewitness accounts.

Aside from whether it was real or fake, the praise towards the subjugation squad increasing was a natural thing. Thanks to that, they are receiving overwhelmingly excellent treatment.

"Pour it! Drink it!"

The Barcia and peninsula knights ate and drank like crazy. They were normally in a relationship of exchanging contempt for each other, but it was a magnificent adventure enough to blow away such a chasm of emotion.

Moreover, a situation where they even attended the funeral of a knight who fought honorably and died in battle. No matter how much the Barcia knights live on the taste of their own greatness, they had no choice but to soften up here.

"I don't even treat anything as alcohol other than Barcia-produced wine, but... Hic! I have no choice but to acknowledge the Dwarves' beer."

It is a banquet in Khazad-dor, which brews the most diverse and tasty beer on the continent.

When a Dwarf maiden brought 5 mugs in each hand, a total of 10 mugs of beer, and placed them on the dining table, the knights cheered at that toughness.

However, the Prince who took on the role of guide was absent. He, who chattered passionately right after returning to the city, felt dizzy the moment his tension released and just collapsed.

"It is due to being too exposed to the Shambler's malice. Fortunately, there will be no aftereffects if he recuperates for a while."

It is the words of the Royal Physician who diagnosed the Prince.

It was not simple fatigue but receiving a spiritual blow that was the cause. The Shambler, which is skilled at digging through Dwarf minds, pierced through Homi's protection and also delivered a blow to the Prince.

* * *

"Hero of Khazad-dor. His Majesty wishes to see you."

After the banquet ended, Eugene was guided to an exclusive meeting place through a retainer sent by the Dwarf King. That place is a warehouse flashing with gold and silver coins.

"It is the compensation we promised."

"It is an amount far larger than what was discussed back and forth?"

"Because the grace the Count bestowed is fully worth that price. I would like it if you accept our sincerity without declining."

There is nothing in the world that is just given away freely. As Eugene did not readily try to accept it with a suspicious face, the Dwarf King guffawed.

"Let me ask one thing. I consider us, Khazad-dor and the Mayer family, to be friends. Am I perhaps thinking that alone by myself?"

The Dwarf King showed a lonely expression unsuited for his fierce face.

"I guess we could be called... friends? Because we fought together, drank food and liquor at the banquet, and exchanged gifts too."

"I merely wish to make that first impression perfect. Whether human relations or diplomacy, the image created initially lasts truly long. Believe me as I don't have other ulterior motives."

The mountain range provides a lot of wealth through minerals, herbs, and furs. However, independent survival was absolutely not possible. Making points of contact with the outside is the most important matter above all.

Especially this Shambler incident instilled an unprecedented sense of crisis in Khazad-dor's higher-ups.

- I cannot stay still at a friend's predicament. I will send the best knights I possess.

The sense of relief felt when Marcus gladly stepped forward to help was indescribable. And when Eugene arrived leading an army, it was to the extent that it almost brought him to tears.

"I prefer 1 trustworthy friend over 10 dubious friends. While driving the gifts for 10 people all to that 1 person. The Pierce family and the Mayer family. They are the two places I want to buy the favor of the most right now."

"To say buy favor. It is an excessive expression for the spokesperson of a Kingdom to put in his mouth. Including that heart, I will receive it with gratitude."

Money is money, but if he has gained the Royal Family's heart to this extent, the matter of Dwarf manpower supply also seems like it will become smooth.

"By the way, I am curious why you wanted this many silver ingots. Isn't it better to receive it cleanly in gold coins? The volume would be far less and it would be wonderful to look at too."

The issuers of gold coins, silver coins, and copper coins in this world are diverse. If one has the capability and authority to print currency, not doing it is a loss, so it was natural.

The one boasting the most circulation amount is as expected Roman's currency, but the one possessing the highest value is Khazad-dor's currency. Because whether gold coins or silver coins, the purity is the highest and the delicacy of the craftsmanship is also unrivaled.

A box filled only with Khazad-dor gold coins is evaluated as the highest compensation that can be presented on the continent. Setting aside the size of the amount, it was a sort of symbol.

"Because my moneymaking requires a lot of silver, you see."

Silver possesses excellent efficacy in driving away and defending against unclean existences. And Eugene is probably the person most crazy for silver in the world.

"For me, using silver for military purposes yields a far larger profit than making ornaments or crafts with it. Even just in this Shambler subjugation, compared to the silver consumed, what was gained is..."

Eugene whistled and pointed at the gold coin box and the piles of silver ingots with his palm.

"If you weigh the profit margin, the likes of the pepper trade wouldn't even be a match. As expected, you have to have strength and see."

"Therefore, in my territory, silver is basically a monopoly item. Because it's insufficient to even coat arrows, swords, and spears."

Silver used in battles against unclean existences is consumed as it is. Eugene, who sprinkles precious silver as arrows and coats it on swords, shields, and even whips, always suffered from a supply shortage.

- Excellency! Nowhere in Britannia controls silver like this! Please...

He did buy quite a bit of resentment because of the silver monopoly policy. Because silver crafts are a perfectly good product for the middle class craving appropriately priced luxury goods.

However, it is at a level that can be sufficiently patched over. Because in other fields, he is carrying out excellent governance unparalleled by any monarch.

- I'm sorry for mobilizing you to beat down your business partners.

- Please take back those words. Because I've washed my hands of it. Smugglers are a social evil.

- Doesn't your conscience get pricked when you say such words? Having raised all your kids with smuggling and all.

- Hehe. That's why I am offering prayers to the Goddess morning and evening.

Illegal distribution is being thoroughly searched and blocked by Octo, the specialist in this field.

The Dwarf King, who heard the circumstances while smoothing his beard, shook his head.

"Khazad-dor is a place where silver is produced most stably on the continent. Going forward we will supply silver to you, so I would like it if you reaped your monopoly policy. Because I do not want flaws engraved on the Count's great name."

"Those are glad words. To be honest, it was burdensome for me too. Even if I suppress the guilds' complaints, trouble arising with religious orders is terribly..."

A lot of silver is also used in ritual implements used in religious ceremonies. Eugene suffered headaches nicely rejecting the petitions from priests coming up almost every day.

The stabilization of silver supply. Perhaps it can also be said to be a greater value than the reward obtained through the Shambler subjugation.

"Hmm? This is...?"

Eugene, who was examining the gold coins, discovered something strange.

The gold coin held in his hand is fully engraved with complex carvings. An axe lodged into the head of a tentacled monster. A single knight standing tall above it.

"It is a commemorative coin specially issued to honor the Shambler subjugation. I plan to make it a limited edition for exactly 2 years from this year to next year. The purity is naturally 99.9%."

"..."

The Dwarf King's method of making friends was truly hot-blooded. Solidifying the relationship while treating a small number of elites with utmost devotion suited Dwarves well too.

"It's regrettable that you are a married man. Since there are many fine princesses or noble maidens in Khazad-dor."

"Your Majesty. I sincerely, sincerely love Lady Valda."

"It's truly a pity. Do you know how well Dwarf wives act as a Queen of House for their husbands? No matter how rough a battlefield you roll in, they do not allow even a speck of rust on their husband's armor."

"Ahaha."

Eugene was deeply grateful that he was a married person.

"I heard there are those who are still single among the Count's knights. Was it, Sir Hind? He was an extraordinary man."

"He is a very competent and loyal knight. He is bright not only in the sword but also in calculations and management."

"Ooh!"

In front of the King chatting passionately about the advantages of a Dwarf wife, Eugene laughed awkwardly.

* * *

"Then are you Sirs returning to Barcia now?"

"Yes. Marcus also unsparingly sent us when even a single knight is a lamentable situation. We must hurry and go assist our Lord."

The Barcia knights' eyes were full of loyalty for their Lord who would be waiting in a distant place. Since they said it while heavily giving off the smell of beer from their entire bodies, the feeling was somewhat strange, though.

"The current situation is terribly not good to cross Roman."

Trying to seek even one more ally is the same for the Emperor Faction or the Aristocrat Faction.

While Eugene was hunting the monsters of the mountain range and subjugating the Shambler, both factions engaged in a bout of battle in the territory under the mountain range.

The cause was that they came to win over the Dwarf Kingdom and unluckily ran right into each other.

The ones who will end up smiling as a result will be the envoys of the Aristocrat Faction.

- We are neutral and at the same time on the Count's side. We are not interested in the disputes of the Emperor Faction or Aristocrat Faction. However, if the Count is together with either side, we will gladly participate.

A situation where the Dwarf King had already made an agreement with Eugene.

If Eugene, the Lord of Moving Castle, joins the civil war, he would naturally be together with the Aristocrat Faction. The moment he resolves to participate in the war, the Dwarf Kingdom will also follow along as a 1+1.

In a situation where he was unintentionally becoming a sworn enemy with the Emperor, Eugene had a bitter taste in his mouth. Since for him, he merely lived diligently.