Ch.100Chapter 100 – Recorded in the Book of Silver and Vengeance

The man who ruled the vast nation known as the Gelebrio Empire.

Emperor Decatro IV was, as usual, reading reports from various regions and approving business plans in his office.

At that moment, the office door opened and a man entered.

“Your Imperial Majesty. I have come to report something urgent, and thus have committed this rudeness.”

The man who entered was the head chamberlain who had served the imperial family for a long time.

If it had been anyone else, they might have been punished for their rudeness depending on the gravity of the matter, but this time was an exception.

“It’s fine. Speak.”

This was because Emperor Decatro IV had instructed the head chamberlain in advance.

He had asked the chamberlain to inform him as quickly as possible if any news about Pathos came in, and said he would generously overlook a bit of rudeness in the process.

“It concerns Count Pathos Severio, who was teleported to the Grendillet Mountains due to an unexpected accident.”

And indeed, the news the chamberlain brought was about Pathos.

“Report.”

Emperor Decatro IV paused his paperwork and looked at the head chamberlain.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The head chamberlain took a moment to catch his breath before answering.

Having rushed here in haste, he was panting and finding it difficult to continue speaking.

“According to a message from Ironbeard of the Grendillet Mountains: ‘As your country’s Count Pathos Severio has resolved the Dwarf Kingdom’s problem, we bestow upon him the title of Flame Guide, and will forever record him as a benefactor of the dwarves in the Book of Debts and Gratitude.'”

“Flame Guide… I understand. You may go.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The head chamberlain immediately left Emperor Decatro IV’s office after completing his report.

After the chamberlain left, Emperor Decatro IV gazed at the ceiling for a moment.

His eyes were deep in thought as he looked upward.

“It seems Count Severio has succeeded in repairing the Heart of Extreme Flame.”

Emperor Decatro IV began organizing his thoughts while talking to himself.

He had a habit of thinking aloud when he had much on his mind.

He knew Count Pathos Severio’s abilities were extraordinary, but he hadn’t expected him to repair the Heart of Extreme Flame, a relic of ancient civilization.

“He repaired the Heart of Extreme Flame that broke while repairing the Storm Guide. It’s no exaggeration to say there’s nothing in this world he cannot fix.”

Emperor Decatro IV found it difficult to gauge whether the emergence of such an unusual being as Pathos would benefit or harm the empire.

From the perspective of a ruler governing an empire, the emergence of ability users like Pathos had many advantages.

What had Pathos fixed so far with his ability to repair anything?

“First, there’s my hair loss.”

It was his own baldness.

The hair loss that could not be cured by any medicine or method had completely disappeared.

What was baldness?

Wasn’t it an incurable disease that neither temples nor legendary elixirs could heal?

Emperor Decatro IV himself had to conceal his baldness with illusion magic whenever he appeared in public.

But now he could face people without illusion magic.

“I think it’s even fuller than when I was young.”

Emperor Decatro IV revealed his inner thoughts as he ran his hand through his hair.

Thanks to his now fuller hair compared to his youth, even the empress had commented that he looked much younger than before.

“Hehehe, and my physical abilities have improved significantly as well.”

Emperor Decatro IV’s official rank was Aura Expert, a level where ordinary people would be guaranteed a noble title just for reaching it.

However, now Emperor Decatro IV had risen to the Master level.

This was thanks to Pathos, who had not only cured his baldness but also optimized his physical condition.

“And then the destruction of the corrupted holy sword, the cure for Prezmerine disease, and now the repair of the Heart of Extreme Flame…”

In Emperor Decatro IV’s mind, Pathos’s value was already immeasurable.

“I’d rather have one Pathos than all those ability users who only excel at destroying things.”

In truth, there was another reason why Emperor Decatro IV viewed Pathos favorably.

“The number of ability users who have appeared so far is over 100. And there’s a possibility that more than 100 additional ability users may appear…”

Emperor Decatro IV had recently received reports that the number of ability users had increased bizarrely.

When he read the report suggesting that more than 100 additional ability users might appear, he nearly lost his mind.

According to history, periods when many ability users emerged were invariably followed by crises in the world.

“But that was only about 50 people… I never expected it to reach 200 as predicted now…”

When Emperor Decatro IV examined historical records, the period with the most recorded ability users had about 50.

That era, known as the Period of Struggle, was so chaotic that there were virtually no proper records.

Of course, there might have been more before records began to be kept.

But now, with ability users across the continent exceeding 100, and predictions of 100 more to come…

“What kind of crisis is approaching…”

Emperor Decatro IV lamented why such events had to occur during his reign.

But there was no one to answer his questions, and only the sound of his sighs echoed throughout the office.

◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈

After the Heart of Extreme Flame was repaired, festivals were held throughout the Grendillet Mountains to celebrate.

Naturally, I was the protagonist of this banquet.

“Come, come! Drink up! This is the carbonated beer our clan prides itself on!”

Ironbeard poured plenty of fizzy beer into my mug and encouraged me to drink it all at once.

Since it was quite stuffy around me, I downed the carbonated beer in one go.

The tingling taste of carbonation flowing down my throat.

The bitter taste of barley and hops harmonizing between the sharp stimulation of carbonation, tantalizing my tongue.

“Hahaha! This fellow knows how to drink beer!”

“As expected of the Flame Guide! I really like him!”

When I emptied my beer in one gulp, the dwarves laughed heartily, clearly pleased.

“Come, come! Today is a joyous day, so let’s all eat and drink to our heart’s content!”

Ironbeard, seemingly in high spirits, was walking around excitedly with his beer mug.

“Hmm… To be honest, when I heard rumors about a human who was good at fixing things, I was skeptical. But not anymore! We cleanly admit defeat to you!”

“Hahaha. Kelon, you jest well. There’s no need for admitting defeat or not. He’s a great hero who fixed the Heart of Extreme Flame!”

“That’s true indeed. Hahaha!”

Dwarves all seem to laugh in a similar way.

Well, that’s not a bad thing. Seeing them eating and drinking without worries makes me excited too.

“Beer is best when it’s carbonated.”

The taste of cold beer full of carbonation. Can this only be enjoyed here within the continent?

Or can it be enjoyed elsewhere too?

Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I haven’t had alcohol in a while, but I’m getting confused.

“Come, come! Have another drink!”

“Drink up!”

“Oh, whatever! Drink up!”

Hehe, I don’t know about that, but this roast pork and beer are delicious.

“Mmm, dwarf beer truly is the best.”

“This fellow knows his beer!”

“That’s why I like him even more!”

“He deserves to be recorded as an eternal benefactor in the Book of Debts and Gratitude!”

When I complimented the beer, everyone seemed pleased and began drinking even more vigorously.

“Thank you.”

At that moment, Ironbeard approached the seat next to me, holding a mug filled with beer.

“If it weren’t for you, it would have taken many more years to see this sight.”

Ironbeard’s eyes, as he sipped his beer, captured the festive scene unfolding in this place.

“It’s true that we dwarves are stubborn and hold grudges long enough to record them in the Book of Debts and Gratitude. However, this trait of ours is directed not only toward our enemies but also toward our benefactors.”

He put down his beer mug and extended his hand to me.

“Thank you, Flame Guide. Thanks to you, our clan was able to protect our homeland. You are our clan’s eternal benefactor. The debt we owe you may never be repaid, even in a lifetime.”

Then, he grabbed my hand and shook it.

“Your enemies shall be our enemies, and we swear to fight eternally against anything that troubles you. This will continue from now until forever, until the moment the Book of Debts and Gratitude disappears.”

Sincerity filled the eyes of the Dwarf King, Ironbeard.

With this, I had gained a steadfast ally who would serve as the strongest pillar of support when facing the Demon Cult.