Volume 4 prologue (2/2)

I felt really glad that I was able to occasionally eat these kind of food. Had I not made a city and only holed myself up within a proper dungeon, I wouldn't be able to enjoy these things.

Humans had weak strength and hearts but they were beings with many useful points about them.

I decided to have some of the food wrapped and give them to the girls. They have to taste this, I thought.

As I was thinking of such, I heard the voices of people I knew coming from a table further in.

”Please cheer up, Wight-sama!”

One voice belonged to a Dwarf Smith. To be more specific it was the Dwarf Smith that was Rorono's top apprentice as well as the one that served as the adjutant for the defensive forces in the last [War].

She was a fairly pretty girl with brown skin and silver hair.

”M'lady, I'm sorry you have to see me in such a miserable state but without drinking, I won't be able to go on.”

There was one other voice I heard and it belonged to Wight who was previously a skeletal monster but was now a Siegwurm, a black dragon of death, due to [Rebirth].

He vigorously drank from his glass. The contents of his glass was similar to mine: fairly strong alcohol.

By the way, the shopkeeper wasn't surprised even if there was a dragonewt here since this city was publicly announced to be a city for demi-humans that were being persecuted elsewhere. Various races coexisted here so a dragonewt wasn't so surprising.

”I'll fill you another glass.”

”Thanks, m'lady.”

At a frightening speed, Wight emptied his drink. If he was a human, he probably would have collapsed a long time ago.

He was distracted enough to not have noticed me when I entered this tavern. He was supposed to be making preparations for his wedding and should have been at the peak of happiness… did something happen?

”Drink until you drop and you'll forget your worries. I will look after you so don't worry.”

”……I'll take you up on your offer, then. For your usually proud-looking superior to act so miserably, are you disillusioned by me, m'lady?”

”Not in the slightest! If anything, knowing that Wight-san has this weak side to him has made me like… Ahem, made me know you better.”

”Fufu, m'lady is so very kind. Then, for today only, please accompany me in my complaining and drinking.”

”Yes, ok! And I don't mind even if it's every day!”

It seemed something painful did happen to Wight and the Dwarf Smith was there to console him. I wanted to ask him directly what the problem was but that seemed a bit too…

As I was thinking so, he slammed his glass against the table.

”A reptilian is physiologically too much, she says. How can Ske-san say that when I love her so much!?”

Pfft.

Upon knowing of the reason why he was so frustrated, I unintentionally gagged.

It would seem that because he became a dragonewt through [Rebirth], Ske-san broke up with him. I might have caused him his troubles, I thought, I'll send over some superb alcohol to him next time.

”That's horrible, isn't it?”

”Yes, it is. But then again, I understand where Ske-san is coming from. The barriers between races are wide. It might be wrong of me to condemn her so. As expected, being together with someone of the same race is the best.”

”Not at all!!”

The Dwarf Smith stood and shouted so, attracting the attention of their surroundings. When she realized this, her face reddened and she apologized before sitting down again.

”What's most important isn't the race but one's attraction to another. Even if the other person is of another race, someone beautiful on the inside will always be the best for me. Whether he be just bones or a dragonewt, as long as he's lovely to me, I want to be with him!”

Upon hearing her words, Wight smiled gently.

”You are such a lovely girl, aren't you? I hope someone as lovely as you are appears soon.”

”………I feel complicated about that but I'm happy to be called lovely by you, Wight-san.”

The Dwarf Smith then enthusiastically poured alcohol onto his glass.

Nevertheless, Wight was amazing in a way.

”That guy, just how dense can he be to not notice the Dwarf Smith's affection.”

Oh well, it must be because he's heartbroken that his vision has become narrow. They themselves look content so I'll leave it be.

I wasn't an uncouth boss who would meddle in his subordinates' romance.

And so, I gave the two a last look, paid my bill, and then left the tavern.

◇

I returned to my house and resumed my work.

After a while, the letters arrived.

Recently the number of cities and villages I've been in contact with had increased and so too did the number of letters.

Among those letters was one letter that was within a very fine envelope.

I peered inside it and grinned.

”So it has come.”

It was a letter from the neighboring city's feudal lord.

The contents of the letter was just as one could imagine.

Basically, this city was located outside of any national border and instead was within the dominion of monsters. The city was therefore not under the rule of any country.

However, such a reason didn't matter to a country or its leaders. If there was a tasty fruit dangling before them, they would want that fruit. That was all the reason they needed and nothing more.

”Now then, how shall I respond?”

I began to consider which countermeasures that I had thought up from the start I should use. I wanted it to go as peaceful as possible but if the other party wasn't so inclined, it would rain blood.

If they wanted me to pay some tax, I would gladly do so. However, should they covet the city itself, then…

I was a peace-lover but by no means was I a conscientious objector.

I at least understood that peace was the ultimate luxury and was paid for in blood.