Chapter 358

“No, wait! I have something to say too! Let me speak first!”

Ram Hwayeon and Bottleneck rushed forward, grabbing Leeha.

“Where did you go? You left everything to me! There’s a limit to trust, you know! You won’t learn anything from this?”

“You, you little... piece of... You damned rascal! Where do you plan to set up my precious forge? Why didn’t you tell me the city was wrecked?!”

It took over thirty minutes for their complaints, as they pulled on both of Leeha’s arms, as if trying to tear her apart (?), to subside.

“...Looking back, it’s fortunate we didn’t occupy Castle Dale.”

Kijeong nodded, observing the scene.

Efficient city operation, expanding the city walls, creating defensive equipment, and preparing the defense posture.

The three pieces Leeha had envisioned were finally coming together.

The attack on City Gaza and the subsequent recovery efforts had caused quite a commotion. People were closely watching who, when, and how someone had entered the city’s shield.

Of course, although Ram Hwayeon was handling the deputy authority and had blocked access from suspicious individuals, there was one thing that needed to be addressed first.

The fact that City Gaza was acknowledged as a major city by Ram Hwayeon.

And major cities, of course, had ‘high-end taverns’.

“Well, as expected, they called for a Hwahong in Starcho.”

“Yes, just as Okasan predicted.”

“Well, then, as I suggested before, we need to rile up the noble Oni tribes in Foubiel as much as possible. However, we can’t let those two join us. Foolish Faust... He wouldn’t even be able to chew if I gave him a method.”

Chiyoe was in conversation with Sasuke, nervously twisting her hair around her fingers, in a secret tavern located on the outskirts of the luxury housing area of City Gaza, far from the common market.

Of course, Chiyoe was the owner.

“What’s your plan?”

“For now, let’s monitor the situation. We need to see how the different countries will react after the reinforcement treaty is signed... and most importantly, I’m curious about what will happen here in City Gaza. The NPC I bought in the city?”

“Those... they have died.”

“Huh, so these lackeys of the Demon King army were of no help. Find someone new to grease the wheels as quickly as possible.”

“Understood.”

For Leeha, this was a fortunate period of information gap thanks to Chiyoe.

Even Leeha didn’t know the truth, let alone what was going on in City Gaza. But the instincts of a sniper were stirring.

* * *

“...Up to here, please do as I asked each of you. I’m going to see the Pope.”

Leeha spoke quietly in the Inner Defense Conference Room of City Gaza. The once-soothed atmosphere was once again becoming heated.

“Pope? Brother?”

“The Pope, what is that? Aren’t you in charge of managing the city? How long do you plan to mess around...?”

“This rascal! You think I’m going to handle something as insignificant as wall repairs while you go off gallivanting around?!”

Though Kijeong, Ram Hwayeon, and Bottleneck were about to stand up, Leeha silenced them with just a finger to her lips.

“Hush. That’s not it.”

It wasn’t the usual relaxed atmosphere where everyone was chatting.

And when Leeha’s eyes changed like this, and her voice changed like this, the people present knew that the course of events in Mid-World was about to shift.

“Pacts have been reinforced, and according to the information from the Starcho Guild, the nobles within Foubiel are no longer causing trouble. The towns in Minis haven’t been attacked since the attack on City Gaza. What do you think that means?”

The essential points were stored in her modification panel, and Kijeong, who was still worried about other things, didn’t delete them.

Foubiel’s remaining Starcho Guild members no longer received quests to defend against the Oni tribes.

Moreover, the chimeras and the minions of the Demon King army that had been attacking the outlying villages in Minis had also stopped moving for several days.

Kijeong and Ram Hwayeon, hearing the news, were certain.

“Bluebeard knows that the reinforcement pact has been signed.”

“How does Bluebeard know?”

“There are people in his organization who handle ‘information’, right?”

Even if Faust and other members of the Demon King’s army didn’t know, it was highly likely that someone outside of their usual circle was aware.

“A dragon?!”

“Leeha Hyung? What’s on your shoulder?!”

“Huh! That’s the dragon that was born last time. Already using magic?”

Kijeong, Ram Hwayeon, and Bottleneck looked at Blaugrun with their own thoughts.

Leeha suddenly felt apologetic.

She had been planning to restore City Gaza and suppress the Demon King’s army’s front-line troops, but she didn’t even know that Blaugrun had disappeared....

“Ah, Blaugrun! Where have you been―”

[Kyuuuu!]

Feeling sorry, Leeha tried to reach out and at least pat Blaugrun, but the hatchling avoided her hand.

“It’s not like you have to avoid my touch that much.”

[Kyu, kyu!]

Leeha said with both disappointment and apology, and Blaugrun tilted its head. It seemed like it was telling her that it wasn’t what she thought.

[Kyuuuu!]

Blaugrun shivered as if it were cold, like it was shaking its body with force.

“Huh...? What is this now?”

Shaaaa...

When a light emanated from the small creature floating in the air again, the central space where the people were gathered in the conference room started to split apart.

“A pocket dimension magic! The hatchling, the hatchling is using pocket dimension magic!? So, this is the dragon hatched from the Easter Egg!”

Bottleneck was so shocked that he shouted, but the players didn’t quite grasp the meaning of his words.

What was pocket dimension magic?

They would come to understand the nature of this magic a few seconds later.

“Uh, uh, uh―!”

“What’s coming out?!”

Something started pouring out through the rift in the air as if unzipping a zipper, making a rustling sound!

Crash, thud.

The players could tell from the strange sounds what the items that fell to the ground were. Swords, shields, armor, boots... The central space of the conference room was filled with items.

“Wow... what is this?”

“What is this?! Heroic, heroic, heroic, heroic―”

“It’s equipment! The dragon brought us gifts! Wahaha! That damn guy, this dragon is repaying the debt to you!”

Bottleneck shouted with joy, and Blaugrun responded with a joyful cry.

[Kyu, kyu!]

Then, fluttering, it landed on Leeha’s shoulder again.

With its bright voice and the items dropping from the air, Leeha realized.

“Could it be... really meant for me to use?”

[Kyu!]

“The three rewards I can choose―”

[Kyuuuu?]

“―No, does that mean it’s not that? It’s just... a gift? Like, you’re giving it to me as it is?”

[Kyu! Kyu!]

Blaugrun vigorously nodded its head.

Leeha felt as if she heard the voice of adult Blaugrun from before.

“Is this good enough?”

“Yeah, that’s good. It’s more than enough to use as an emergency budget, starting with the wall repairs.”

“Okay! Kijeong! Call the Starcho members too. We’ll leave recruiting and training the City Gaza Knights to your side.”

Leeha immediately put on Black Beast as if she were about to leave.