episode_0099
by fnovelpia
99. Feeling Depressed
Finally, I escaped lifelong singlehood.
Yeah, that’s right—I even ended up dating a gorgeous girlfriend.
But does dating for just one day even count as a relationship experience?
“Uuuuugh…”
As soon as I got back to my tiny room, I collapsed onto the bed.
Burying my face in the flat pillow, I wallowed in the peak of pathetic self-pity.
I thought I handled it pretty smoothly in front of her, though…
At least Luna seems fine, so that’s a relief.
But damn, heartbreak really hurts.
It hurts so freaking much.
“Hey, you okay?”
“Are you okay?”
It was Brook and Eightree, waking me up with concern in their voices.
Since their workshop was right next to my tiny room, they must’ve come rushing over as soon as they heard my whining.
With my face pressed into the pillow and snot everywhere, my eyes were probably swollen like crazy.
So I kept my face hidden as I answered.
“Feels like there’s a hole in my chest.”
“Ugh… What kinda melodramatic nonsense is this…?”
“Yeah…”
As I just mumbled in agreement, still face-down in my pillow…
Brook seemed to realize something was seriously off this time.
The Huldera sisters grabbed my body and started shaking me urgently.
“Hey…! Hey! Are you actually hurt—?!”
“The physician! We need to go to the priest right away—!!”
These adorable dwarves were making a fuss, trying to pull me up.
But I resisted stubbornly because I didn’t want them to see my puffy face.
No way they could easily lift a guy weighing over 100kg.
After barely managing to ignore their attempts to pull me up,
I kept my face hidden and asked:
“I’m so messed up… What should I do about this…?”
Thanks to these cute dwarves, my mood improved a little, but the hole in my heart remained.
Brook, hearing my question, responded like it was the simplest thing in the world.
“What, feeling all restless and stuff?”
“Yeah….”
“Then just make something!”
Brook said it as matter-of-factly as stating fire is hot.
Even timid little Eightree agreed.
“Same here! That’s what we dwarves do.”
“Right~ That’s what Eightree did when she got confessed to by three—”
“Unnie!”
“But why’d you reject them again?”
“‘Cuz they were ugly…”
Even sweet, puppy-like Eightree cares about looks, huh?
A little surprising.
Anyway, it ended up being more helpful than expected.
When I got fired from my company because of a failed invention in the past…
When my family nearly collapsed under the lawsuit rush from oil tycoons…
I survived by burying myself in writing research papers back then too.
“That’s kinda your thing, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it is.”
Now that I had sorted my thoughts, I lifted my head.
Since they weren’t teasing me, my face must not look horrible.
Quietly fixing my messed-up hair, I took a deep breath.
“Alright, I’ve got an idea brewing.”
“Whoa…”
Eightree ignored what I said and just gasped in admiration.
When I gave her a questioning look, she shyly turned away and mumbled:
“Your crying face is kinda…”
“Sexy?”
“Unnie!”
Setting aside the comedy act, I got up.
Especially since this next invention is something blacksmith dwarves love the most…
Their absolute favorite—weapons.
“Yeah!! Nothing beats the hype of making weapons!”
“Weapons you can make even without mana are the best!”
First, I had to get Erica’s approval, so I was about to leave—
When Brook suddenly asked me:
“But what about your museum date with Luna…?”
“*Gasp*…!!”
“Hey?! Hey?! Why are you crying?!”
“…Can I cry a little longer?”
I’ll have to forget about Luna for a while now.
Because I need to work.
────────────────────
I headed straight to Erica’s office.
Being the absolute alpha male I am, I never bother knocking—so I just swung the door open.
There was Erica, working on documents like always.
She glanced at the clock when she saw me, then…
“Here to submit your resignation letter?”
What does she even take me for?
Obviously, submitting a resignation letter is just common sense, right?
I immediately slapped a pristine resignation letter onto her desk.
Erica picked it up and, naturally, slid it into her drawer.
Now she doesn’t even bother acknowledging the result—it’s just expected.
“So, what brings you here, my little fox?”
Since the resignation was automatic, she got straight to the point.
Guess I should adjust the pacing?
Anyway, to drown my heartbreak, I took the initiative to find work.
“I want to make a new weapon.”
“Hmm? What support do you need?”
“A lot. As much as you can spare.”
Erica looked startled by my answer.
She blinked her huge eyes at me like she couldn’t believe it.
“…Fox, did you just ask for support? And a lot of it?”
She was so shocked, she kept repeating herself.
Well, obviously.
I’ve always asked for the bare minimum.
Plus, my role was just designing or explaining “Make it like this~”—nothing more.
But this time’s different.
I feel like I *have* to do *something.*
I sat in the chair across from Erica.
“What exactly are you planning to make?”
“You said this war is total warfare, right?”
“Indeed.”
I answered her question with another question, but Erica just smiled slyly and played along.
Restless to start making something, I pushed further with more questions.
“Lots of people will charge in, right? Like, against infantry…”
“You mean a war of attrition?”
“Yes! That!”
Erica smoothly corrected my fumbled terminology.
I snapped my fingers in agreement.
Anyway…
“How would you handle enemies swarming in a war of attrition, Countess?”
“The standard way? Or my way?”
“Either.”
Erica pondered for a moment.
Then she waved her finger in the air like she was sketching a diagram.
Must be running simulations in that brilliant, computer-like brain of hers.
Once she finished calculating, she explained:
“The standard way is the hammer-and-anvil strategy.
Jet’s cavalry breaks the enemy’s formation at the waist, then herds them toward Luna’s infantry for the final blow.”
“And your way?”
“Cannons. Loaded with multiple small iron balls instead of one big one, then fired in a spread.”
“Whoa…”
“But I’m not as smart as my little fox… So I’m not sure how well it’d work.”
Nah, I hadn’t even thought of that.
Using cannons like shotguns? That’s wild.
Not a bad idea, but not the best either.
Scattering shots like that would drastically reduce range.
She must know that too, given her slight hesitation.
“If we mounted cannons on hot air balloons… Hmm… That doesn’t seem great either…”
Erica really is a genius, huh?
I can imagine it easily since I’ve seen shotguns and similar stuff from my original world.
But Erica’s a medieval person with no concept of gunpowder—yet she can simulate it in her head.
Would things really be that different without me?
Just a matter of time.
Anyway, I wasn’t here to debate, so I snapped Erica out of her thoughts.
“So yeah, I want to make a weapon specifically for wars of attrition.”
Erica burst into laughter, delighted.
“My adorable little fox! First sky-crossing balloons and siege weapons, now attrition warfare too?”
“Uwaaah…!!”
She got up and immediately put me in a headlock.
Then, shameless as ever, she showered me with kisses.
Not sure why, but it feels like she’s indulging some twisted desire… Must be my imagination.
No way a regional noble—practically a queen—would actually be into me.
After the kiss assault, Erica finally let go.
She ruffled my hair and asked:
“So, what’s got you volunteering to work all of a sudden?”
“For myself.”
I answered honestly.
Erica looked at me with amused interest.
But since I’m this cute liege’s subordinate, I should at least show some loyalty.
After hesitating, I mumbled—
Too embarrassed to be heard, in the tiniest voice possible:
“…For my liege.”
*Liege*—what a weird word to say.
But like Isobel said, I’ve been way too casual with nobles.
A mere commoner like me, acting like that toward a regional noble and the daughters of a former duke?
So I tried being polite for once.
Too embarrassed to meet her eyes, I muttered…
“Ah…”
“Countess?! Your… Your nose…!”
Bright red blood trickled from Erica’s nose.
First clutching her heart last time, now this—what’s up with her lately?!
────────────────────
First, I sent Cain out of the office.
After hearing him say *that*, as his liege, I couldn’t refuse.
So I handed him a document allowing him to recruit as many personnel as he wanted.
“I’m completely bewitched by that fox.”
I wiped the blood from my nose and sighed.
The document I gave him was practically an imperial edict.
Just by showing it, he could get anything for free—a symbol of my authority.
Not quite a royal command sword since I’m not king yet, but close enough.
Honestly, it was excessive to give to a mere subordinate.
If Cain got greedy and started embezzling, tracking it would be near impossible.
And all that money would vanish from my ledgers without a trace.
I’d basically handed him the power to corrupt anyone…
“Honestly, even if he took everything, it’d still be worth it…”
My fox has no greed for money.
He could’ve demanded royalties for his inventions—no one would’ve blamed him.
But he never did, only ever asking to resign.
Even if he skimmed some now, compared to what he’s created…
“It’d just be him collecting his own salary.”
Even if not, I doubt he’d do it anyway.
The idea of my fox committing fraud is unimaginable.
But still…
“I almost wish he *would* commit fraud.”
Please, embezzle to your heart’s content.
Then I’d have an excuse to work him to the bone.
As I leaned back in my chair, another nosebleed came.
*‘…For my liege.’*
I pressed a handkerchief to my nose.
That arrogant, tail-swishing fox…
Called me his liege—*and* was shy about it.
“We’ll have to hold a grand wedding.”
Imagining that happy future, I got back to work.
If my fox says so, we’ll definitely win this war.
And I’ve got a surprise gift prepared too…
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