Chapter 139. Merry Christmas

It's winter.

The season of romance.

It is also a difficult season for everyone.

Since the engineers of Fahrenburg City invented the first thermometer in the Empire, a proverb has spread among the nobles that the lower the mercury column goes, the more miserable the lives of the domain's residents become.

Not only the north, which is cold even in normal times, but also the central part of the Empire with its four seasons could not escape that proverb.

Cities that have had a sufficient harvest would be in a better situation.

If there is an exception, it is the south.

And among them, the cities on the southernmost line of the Empire.

Places like Gunterburk, Burken Fortress, and Wolfskrig can avoid the biting cold wind blowing from the north.

It rains a lot because it's the rainy season, but if you have to choose between heavy rain and heavy snow, heavy rain is the better option.

That is why many nobles of the Empire go on vacation to the south every winter.

Several influential people also visited Wolfskrig.

Honestly, there aren't many.

It must be proof that the city still has a long way to go.

Beyond simple transportation, security, and industrialization, the population itself needs to grow and the service industry needs to develop.

I am planning a major overhaul.

Of course, there is something to do before that.

Our expedition has some unfortunate soldiers.

They were captivated by their outward beauty and dallied with the Paradise elves disguised as a delegation, and had their vas deferens tied by a spell in their sleep without their knowledge.

As a benevolent commander, a noble, and a man, I could not just leave them be.

“Uaaaaargh!”

As soon as the expedition returned, I immediately pushed forward with a secret project.

The so-called vas deferens restoration surgery project.

“Ugh….”

The cafe on the first floor of the medical corps building.

I am sitting in a corner of the cafe with a hat pulled down so people won't recognize me.

As I sip a cup of freshly brewed coffee, a soldier who participated in the expedition periodically walks out from inside the hospital.

A soldier who seemed to be a friend supported him as he walked out awkwardly in a one-piece patient gown with top and bottom attached.

“Does it hurt? You took a potion, right?”

“Fuck, I thought I was going to die. I still feel weird even after taking the potion.”

“What did the medical corps say? You can't do it for a while?”

“They told me not to even go near a woman for at least fifteen days. Haaah…….”

I smirked as I watched the soldiers leave the medical corps building, grumbling.

Actually, it's their own responsibility.

Playing around with their lower parts was their own will, after all.

‘Humans, honestly. Tsk tsk….’

“Hmm?”

‘Isn't it because they couldn't endure a single lustful desire? If they can't even endure the most primitive desire, how do they intend to accomplish great things… slurp! Hehe.’

“……”

That doesn't seem like something to say while licking a sugar cube with a tentacle.

Anyway, although it was their own mistake, the surgery was performed completely free of charge with my support.

As a kind of soldier welfare, I suppose.

And at the same time, to further develop the city's surgical medical technology.

“Uaaaaargh!”

“Pa-patient, please calm down!”

“Tie the ropes tighter! Priest, the hemostasis here…!”

“Kuaaaaaargh!”

Well, it seems that anesthesia technology still needs a lot of development.

Thanks to my developed hearing, I could hear the screams coming from the operating room deep inside the building.

I wrote ‘Kambad Merchant Guild - Anesthetic Herbs’ in my notebook.

As I put down the pen, I felt a presence.

Brown eyes. Blonde hair tied back. A surgical cap and a green surgical gown in her hand.

It's Alina.

“How did you recognize me?”

“Your appearance is exotic, isn't it? Especially your gray hair.”

“I'm wearing a hat.”

“To my eyes, it shines as brightly as a star.”

[[Phantom Step] is deployed.]

[[Scattered Shadows] is deployed.]

I deployed some stealth skills appropriately.

Alina sat next to me with a teacup.

The faint smell of blood tickles my nose.

It seems she just came from the operating room.

As is common in the imperial army's military hospitals, the medical corps of Wolfskrig also has priests.

Because the miracles of a priest can provide help to a patient on the operating table that is impossible with just a regeneration potion.

So, the church army is a powerful special force and also field doctors.

“Is it their doing?”

Alina asked.

She's talking about the Paradise elves.

“Yes.”

I nodded my head.

“I have told the soldiers as you instructed. That you received a revelation from an angel in your dream. That some of the soldiers are losing their reproductive functions….”

“You've done well. This is a violation of church law, isn't it?”

“Yes, I can be burned at the stake for a false revelation. You'll have to take responsibility later if I get caught.”

“Is that the only thing I could be burned at the stake for?”

“That's true too.”

Alina chuckled.

When the power of religion or superstition is strong, it's convenient at times like these.

Because you can make up as many excuses as you want.

Still, if it becomes known that all the soldiers who underwent surgery this time slept with the elf women of the delegation, some strange rumors will probably spread by word of mouth.

For example, a rumor that sleeping with an elf makes you sterile.

“Is the soldier in the operating room now the last one?”

“Yes, he is the last one for today. There are about ten patients left… so it should all be over in about three days.”

“You've worked hard. You should probably head in soon too.”

“My lord.”

Alina stood up with me.

“Are you free later?”

* * *

The southern part of the Empire has two rainy seasons.

Winter and summer.

While most of the imperial citizens are fighting against the sweltering heat or the biting cold, the people of the south face a downpour of water as if a hole has been punched in the sky.

Though it seems more accurate to say they are unilaterally beaten rather than facing it.

Anyway, it doesn't rain every day just because it's the rainy season.

There are days when the clouds also take a day off, about one or two days a week.

At times like that, they maintain the broken sewage facilities and drain the water from flooded areas.

The Blue Magic Tower are experts at this.

“Hup!”

With an exaggerated heave, the clogged drain was cleared.

Dirty water gushed out for a moment, but soon, clear water flowed freely and rushed down the drain.

It's the [Bending Water Stream] spell.

A mage in a blue robe let out a sigh and pretended to wipe away sweat.

There are onlookers watching him.

Children.

The mage, conscious of the audience, grinned mischievously and muttered a spell.

Soon, with a snap of his fingers, thin streams of water shot up from the cracks in the drain all at once.

A simple fountain had been created.

Fountains are a playground for children, regardless of the era or world.

“Kyahahaha!”

“Catch me if you can!”

I watched the children running and playing among the streams of water from the opposite side of the street.

I'm not alone.

I have a companion.

“The children seem to like it.”

“They do.”

“Do you like children?”

Alina asked.

I wonder.

When I was young, I used to gather with my cousins during the holidays and play around.

I was among the kids who looked after the other kids.

Because both my parents worked, and they got married early.

However, as I grew up, I don't think I had many opportunities to see children.

Of course, who dislikes children, but.

“You do like them.”

“Why do you think so?”

“You're smiling right now. You don't smile often, my lord.”

Alina suddenly poked her head forward.

A little too close.

I unconsciously took a step back.

Alina, with a pouty smile, turned her head towards the children.

“I won't bite. I'm a devout bishop, you know?”

When did she become so sly?

When I first met her, she had a personality like a bookworm who only studies.

It's a good thing I was wrapped in stealth skills since I came out to the street.

I don't want to create a scandal between the city's bishop and a noble.

“Ah, look over there.”

I looked in the direction Alina was pointing.

“Now, look at this! Hup!”

The mage from before stretched his hand towards the fountain he had made and chanted a spell.

[[Warrior’s Insight] is deployed.]

[Skill acquired.]

[Blizzard (Level 3)]

“Wooooow.”

“What is this?”

It snowed.

The small water droplets that shot up from the fountain froze and scattered.

The children, with wide eyes, stared blankly at the gently scattering snowflakes, as if they were so fascinating.

Seeing that, a thought came to my mind.

“Alina.”

“Yes, my lord?”

“Was there a winter festival in your hometown?”

“There wasn't. Winter is a difficult season for most, isn't it? Of course, I know it's held every year in the Imperial Capital.”

“Shall we try hosting one this year?”

The preparations proceeded quickly.

It rained for a week.

Alina and the medical corps rescued all the soldiers who were in danger of not being able to have children.

The expedition, having fully recovered from their travel fatigue, entered their usual guard and training.

The mines sent iron ore along the river as usual, the hydraulic smithy churned out ingots, the merchants traveled long distances to transport goods, and the farmers went out to the fields from early morning to evening.

In the meantime, old man Poodle, in collaboration with the engineers sent by the Dwarf King, began full-scale construction of the water supply and sewage facilities.

The first maintenance target was the tall buildings.

A dwarven-style water and sewage system was installed in the main buildings such as the Lord's Castle, the two magic tower branches, the barracks, and the guilds.

On the day the pouring rain subsided into a drizzle, the festival was announced.

The date was the very next day.

It was a busy time for everyone, and the plan could only be executed if it didn't rain, so it was unavoidable.

On the day of the festival, people gathered in the square.

There weren't many since it was the farming season.

It doesn't really matter.

Because this festival is not one that can only be enjoyed by coming out to the square, but a festival that goes directly to every nook and cranny of the city.

[[Commander’s Roar] is deployed.]

[[Lord’s Unyielding Mind] is deployed.]

“You have all worked hard. This city was able to come this far thanks to your strength.”

I went up on the stage and added a few comments more like a mayor than a lord.

“In the future, Wolfskrig will establish itself as a trade hub and industrial city in the southern part of the Empire. Let's watch together the birth of the most prosperous city in the Empire after the Imperial Capital.”

I raise expectations with a suitable vision declaration.

“In the sense of opening such a new era together, I will show you a sight that has never been seen in the south.”

And in front of their expectant faces, I spread my hands.

“This is the first snow festival of Wolfskrig!”

Fwoooosh-!

Streams of water shoot up.

The Lord's Castle, the barracks, the magic towers, the guild buildings.

From every tall building surrounding the square and scattered throughout the city, temporarily extended hoses from the newly connected water facilities spray high-pressure streams of water towards the sky.

If this were the end, it would be nothing more than a reenactment of the rainy season's downpour that had fallen until yesterday.

But.

[[Blizzard] is deployed.]

The scenery of the sky changes.

[The mages of the Blue Magic Tower deploy [Blizzard].]

The mages who were waiting on the rooftops of the buildings all cast their spells at once.

[[Blizzard] is deployed.]

The streams of water that shot high into the sky turn into heavy snow and descend upon the city.

A sight that cannot be seen in the hot south.

Snowflakes slowly scattering and settling.

“Waaaaah!”

“Kyahaha! Look at this!”

There are children who are excited and running around.

“What is this?”

“It's snow! Frozen water!”

“Isn't frozen water ice?”

“Umm, well…!”

There are also children who are discussing with a curious look.

“Haha… to see snow in the southernmost part of the Empire.”

“Honey, doesn't it remind you of home?”

“All I remember is the roof collapsing in the middle of the night.”

Various memories and impressions are mixed, but the feeling is the same.

They are all smiling.

Adults, children, men, and women, all of them without exception.

“My lord, you're smiling again?”

It seems I am too.

Watching the streets slowly being covered in snow, I make a wish.

Even if this is a world where war never ceases, may there be a chance for peace like this to come once in a while.

I muttered quietly.

Merry Christmas.