Chapter 70: Chapter 70 - You Must Squeeze Your Lemons Dry
Chapter Seventy
"Say something, human."
I closed my eyes and took a fake frustrated sigh at Sylvester’s words.
[Ping!]
[What is Host playing at? Didn’t you already know? That was the reason you took the risk in the first place.]
Ye. But, I’m just a fragile human. I must get paid well for taking care of such a high level beastkin.
[Ping!]
[Host is going to raise her either way. Why acting so much?]
Meh. If I can get some more lemon juice from a cut lemon, is there a need to throw it away? That’s such a wastage.
I don’t like wasting stuff.
"What can I say?" I finally spoke, my voice weary and laced with feigned reluctance. I looked at Silvesta, who was pacing the small hut like a caged panther. "You want me to act as a shield. You want me to hide Lune, protect her from that black mage, and shoulder the burden of her bloodline. Right?"
"Yes," Silvesta said, stopping his pace to loom over me. "I’ve told you the price. I will guide you on how to turn the Elven Tribe into your vassals. I will provide the labor and expertise for your mana stone mines."
Honestly, it wasn’t like that was a bad deal. Any sane, normal person would have accepted it. But, since when was I either of them?
I’m going to squeeze this little elf dry.
[Ping!]
[He’s an Elven High Priest.]
Whatever. I don’t care. I miss squeezing dry people so much. The humans in duchy had nothing to squeeze dry. But, this one definitely has lots of things I can squeeze dry.
[Ping!]
[So greedy... What are you the incarnation of Lord Greed from Hell?]
No? He’s my idol, though. Do you have tickets for meet and greet with him in trade shop?
[Ping!]
[Just die and stay with him forever.]
Nah. No fun in that.
"Human? Why are you making that... unsettling expression?" Silvesta asked, his eyes narrowing.
"I’m not making an expression," I lied, quickly smoothing my face into one of grim calculation. "I’m just recalculating the risk. Now that I know the truth that Lune isn’t just a fox-kin, but a mythical hybrid the stakes have changed."
Heh. I missed this feeling so much. Everyone in the Duchy is just so fucking poor.
"And?"
"And it’s not enough," I stated flatly. I sat up, ignoring the dull throb in my chest. "You’re asking me to house someone whose very existence is a magnet for black mages. If that mage attacks my Duchy and endangers my little daughter, Lily... well, the North will bleed either way. Your mines won’t fix that. Your mines aren’t going to save my fief."
Silvesta’s jaw tightened. "The elves will serve you. They will fight to defend the land. All you have to do is officially adopt Lune. Give her a name. A cover."
"Do you have any idea how expensive it is to raise a daughter!?" I snapped, throwing my hands up. "The dresses? The education? The specialized food for a kitsune-elf hybrid? Do you take fatherhood lightly, Silvesta?"
The High Priest looked genuinely flustered. "I... I can offer you a boon. An Elven High Priest’s Boon. Each High Priest only have one in their lifetime. And, you should know how hard it is to come across someone like that in your short life time."
"That’s a one-time thing," I countered, waving it off. "What about the emotional labor? I have to be a father to her. I have to be present."
Silvesta looked like he wanted to scream. "I will pay you! Bars of gold, every month, until the day I can safely marry her and take her away!"
"How many?" I asked instantly, my eyes gleaming.
"A hun—," My face twisted in a mask of disdain as his answer changed instantly. "No, a thousand! I’ll pay a thousand bars a month from the elven treasury! I’ll also heal your soul whenever you want. I don’t have more to give."
"Well, why didn’t you say so? I’ve always been a romantic at heart, Silvesta. There’s nothing that moves me more than helping two star-crossed lovers united by—"
"Stop it," he hissed, looking like he might actually vomit. "Don’t finish that sentence."
"Understood." I chuckled, the taste of blood in my mouth finally fading.
"I’ll go check on Lune. Rest."
"Cya, High Priest!"
[Ping!]
[Host is truly the most villainous ’Hero’ I have ever encountered.]
Hey, a thousand bars is a thousand bars, Sysi. No playing with money.
Crrsh.
I sighed as Sylvester exited the hut.
[Ping!]
[What happened, Host?]
I really need that dimensional space. But, I can’t access it through trade shop. If I don’t get it, I’ll miss the logins. I’m having a headache.
A Rank Trade Shop. A Rank Trade Shop. A Rank Trade Shop.
Wait. Sysi, don’t I have that Legendary Gacha Spin from back then?
[Ping!]
[Yes. Host does have it.]
Can I get the dimensional spin from the Legendary Gacha Spin?
[Ping!]
[Let us check the rewards list.]
[Searching... ]
[Found it!]
[If Host initiates the Legendary Gacha Spin he has 0.000000000001% of obtaining the dimensional space.]
How many zeros are even there in that?
[Ping!]
[A lot?]
Did you calculate it? Or, you just put as many zeros as you wanted?
[Ping!]
[Of course, we calculated!]
I don’t believe you. You lie a lot.
I narrowed my eyes staring at the blue screen.
[Ping!]
[Does Host have any other option than to believe us? Plus, dimensional spaces are very expensive. You should know that as an Archmage.]
I do know that. But, it’s a Legendary Gacha Spin. Shouldn’t you only give out Legendary items? That would increase the chance of me obtaining the dimensional space.
[Ping!]
[Not possible. Does Host want to spin or not?]
Ugh. Fine. Spin.
[Ding!]
[Legendary Gacha Spin Initiated!]
[Spinning... Spinning... Spinning...]
Ugh... Faster, Sysi. I’m about to have a heart attack please.
[Ping!]
[Be A Little Patient Host! Legendary Spins take time!]
Ugh... Hurry!
[Ping!]
[Spinning... Spinning... Spinning...]
How much is this shit gonna spin?