Published at 26th of June 2021 2:00 pm

Chapter 122: Rebuilding and Strengthening the City (2)

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

Empire Year 509. A new year dawned. Ian was nineteen years old this year.

“Oh, come on. Don’t you think that’s a little too exaggerated?”

As the days went by, the rumors of a certain nineteen-year-old spread like wildfire. And some of these rumors were quite true. The rumors concerned none other than Ian Page himself, the Great Mage who had destroyed thousands of the bone monsters all by himself, which was a task that even the original mages had found difficult. On top of that, he had appeared riding on the legendary White Dragon.

“I’m telling you. I’m not exaggerating! Y’know my brother-in-law works as a … what was it… a correspondence security officer? Wouldn’t he be aware of all the rumors going around inside out?”

The stories of the Master Mage everyone was talking about wasn’t simply out of the ordinary. He was now a legend, one who had ridden the White Dragon itself. On top of that, word said he was only nineteen. Not even hero novels were nonsense like these stories of Ian. Stories would sell well only if they made sense. And therefore, the people of the Low Dukedom and the Coldwood Empire were divided in their response to the rumors. Some didn’t believe the stories about Ian.

“Those stories must be exaggerated. I agree he’s a great mage. I’ve been hearing about him for years. But excuse me? He rode a dragon? Dropped tens of thousands of thunder bolts from the sky? You idiot, not even the storybooks my youngest son reads include such nonsense. That stuff isn’t popular anymore.” One side would say.

“Aaagh! I’m telling you, I’m not exaggerating! I heard it from the conversations of the higher classmen! Do you think I would be spreading false rumors? Huh?!”

This was from the ones who believed the rumors. In fact, they had heard tell regarding Ian other than the rumors that were spreading. It was mostly the citizens of Greenriver who lived in the empire but didn’t live near the capital who were the ones who were most likely to believe the stories of Ian. The debates regarding the stories of Ian continued to spread in gatherings and meetings, including a bar somewhere in Coldwood Kingdom. The bar owner had been listening in on the conversations among his customers and carefully spoke up. He was still quite young, with a bushy moustache.

“There’s a group of merchants called the Foians. They are close friends with Ian Page. Their coachman, who has been working with them for quite a long time, is one of my regular customers. According to what he told me a few days ago…”

All heads turned to him, and before he knew it, everyone was listening to his words carefully.

“I heard that all the rumors were true.” The pub owner concluded.

“See? Did you hear him? I told you!”

“Oh, come on. I really don’t think…”

Even with the bar owner’s testimony, the crowd in the bar were divided in opinion, but they all realized something. If the rumors were all true…

“Hold up a second,” someone spoke up. “Let’s say the rumors are all true. If such a monster does live in Greenriver Kingdom. What will happen to us then, huh? Are we supposed to leave the country and seek asylum in Greenriver instead?”

The three nations were already wary of each other. What would happen to the entire continent?

“Let’s say Greenriver suddenly wants to unite all three nations. That’ll be the end of all of us, wouldn’t it?”

The conversations among the men in the bar slowly turned to the possibilities of war. There was no such thing as long lasting peace. There was proof of this all throughout history.

“Eh, I’m sure all the royalties will take care of such things.” A middle - aged man spoke up. “Remember when we had to send over resources and sacrificed our workmen to them? Don’t you all get it? If a war really were to happen, it would happen between two nations that don’t have a problem with having a war. A war always starts with one nation starting it because they are in good condition, and the other thinks they can defend themselves.” He murmured, as if to teach the other customers in the store. He seemed to be quite aware of political affairs.

“But if there’s a mage strong enough to unite the nations…” he continued, “we’ll make our way to him. Become their servants or whatever- that will keep our lives intact. At least, until the mage dies. Do you understand?”

“It seems that the rumors are true. Especially if people of the high class are fighting to get themselves over there, aren’t they?”

“That’s most likely to be true.”

“Huh…”

The pub wasn’t the only place that was buzzing with conversation. Everywhere around the continent, in every city and region, everyone was talking about Ian, or some rumor concerning Ian. It was almost as if his stories were some new kind of trend.

* * *

“They’re all true? Even the dragon?” Hector Coldwood screamed.

“Well… concluding from the ongoing rumors, sir…”

“Are the stories all true or not? Answer me!”

“Well… I expect the stories to be all true… no. They are all true, my lord.”

The stories were more of a shock to the royals and leaders of each nation. They had known Ian to be a great mage for a long time. They saw and heard things as well, and many had sources where they received their information. No one, however, expected Ian to be this big of a deal. No one definitely had expected Ian to be able to control the legendary dragon. Hector Coldwood let out a soft chuckle. Being the emperor and absolute leader of the Coldwood Kingdom, he was showing the biggest reaction in response to his servant’s report regarding Ian.

“Perhaps he could be a dragon himself? Or even better - a god?”

“My apologies, my lord.”

Hector had had his suspicions of Ian, so he had done some investigating that had gone on for a few months. The conclusion was that all the rumors were true. Every rumor and story were perfectly true and nothing to be mistaken.

“And on top of that… the brat’s got his eyes on me, huh?” Hector muttered.

“…” His servant didn’t reply.

“Who is he that my life should be in his hands…?”

“My, my lord. Please calm yourself-“

“AAAAAGGGGHHHHHH!” Hector let out a scream and threw over a table.

A shattering noise echoed all around the throne room.

“My lord!” The servant cried out.

“OUT!”

“My lord, you have to calm-“

Hector pulled out a sword and pointed it at the servant who had made the report regarding Ian.

“Didn’t you hear me? Get. Out.” He continued calmly in a low voice. “Do you think lowly of me? Just like that brat does?”

“N-no sir! Of course not, my lord!”

“Then get out. Don’t stand there looking at me like that. Get out!”

“At… at your command, your Majesty!”

With that, the servant immediately headed for the exit, fearing for his life.

“Dang it. DANG IT!!” Hector screamed and groaned as if he were in pain.

Hector couldn’t understand. How did it lead to this? Where did it go wrong? How can he change things?

“What… What does he want me to do?”

Hector had been living a life of success, until he had made that one mistake of trying to start a war. Little had he known that that one decision would bite him back. He was now caught in the hands of the ‘monster’ that comes every thousand years- and he hadn’t expected himself to end up in the claws of such a monster.

“Grrrrggghh…!” Hector, the emperor of Coldwood, of blood and iron, was being driven mad by the second.

* * *

A few days before the new year had dawned, Terry Greenriver was presenting Ian with an award. He wanted to present Ian with the title as the nation’s hero, which he so deserved. Ian, however, had refused the title.

“I am honored, my Lord. But I cannot receive such a title like this.”

Emperor Terry Greenriver was in awe.

“Why? How? Pardon me for saying this Ian, but you have never refused a gift like this. You actually enjoy being presented with awards and gifts. That’s what made you likable all the more. You’re quite honest.” The emperor said half-jokingly.

The emperor had his reasons for making such comments. Ian never refused a prize that came his way. The same Ian who had never turned something down, even out of politeness, was refusing to be titled the nation’s hero. No doubt there was a reason for Ian to do so.

“There’s no particular reason for me doing so, my lord.”

Ian simply had a conscience, as surprising as it may be. This entire incident was Ian’s fault. After all, the dragon soldiers had attacked in the first place for the purpose of looking for Ian.

‘If I had not been here to begin with…’ Ian thought. Nothing would have happened if he hadn’t been around. How then, could he simply take the title as the nation’s hero?

‘Even if it is for me, I can’t take the title.’

As a matter of fact, he was in a position of feeling guilt towards the people of Greenriver for the rest of his life. However, he couldn’t bring himself to tell the emperor. Ian needed some other excuse.

“You like me for being honest, so may I be honest for refusing this title you now present me? I may sound a little arrogant.”

“Being arrogant is one of your charms. And you have the right to be arrogant. What is it you want to tell me?”

The emperor was quite unique in his own way. Most people would be careful around Ian once they got to know Ian’s abilities, but the emperor never changed how he treated Ian.

“There’s no point in receiving land and riches as a gift. I know that eventually, all of that would be returned to the empire through the Page Organization that’s run by the Princess and my mother. Rather than you going through the trouble of distributing prizes, wouldn’t it be less of a trouble for me to receive thanks from you personally here in the palace?”

Ian didn’t need land. Ian had no need for riches, either. He had plenty of that.

It would be a tedious task having to spend it all. At least, that’s what he was trying to imply.

“I was thinking of placing you at an honorable position as well.” The empire said thoughtfully.

“I have no need for that either, your Majesty.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well…” Ian started, his eyes shining brightly. “Is there a position below yours that is higher than being the Master of the Ivory Tower? It will be quite a headache introducing myself wherever I go, with all the titles I have.”

The king laughed out heartily.

“I did not think of that way. True - what need would you have for an honorary title when you are already known as the Master of the Ivory Tower who knows how to fly dragons?”

When the king was talking to Ian, he treated him as an equal, while showing respect when he was addressing the Master of the Ivory Tower.

“You flatter me, my Lord.”

“I am only describing it how it is.” The king remarked, taking a sip of his tea that was placed on the table next to him. After a few moments of silence, the king spoke up again.

“I’m always thankful to you, Ian,” he said gratefully. “You’ve saved this nation multiple times already.”

“I only did what was needed.” Ian replied.

“I’m always grateful for your pretentious replies as well.” The king said truthfully.

“He still has a long ways to go, but the Crown Prince is finally getting to his senses and fulfilling his duties. It’s all thanks to you. It’s the biggest blessing of our nation’s history that you were born as a citizen of this empire. At least, that’s what I think.”

“No, my Lord. This nation is blessed to have you as their king, because of the way you govern the nation. As for the Crown Prince, it’s all thanks to your teachings-”

“I thank you for your pretentious answers, but I do think you’re being excessive.”

“… and of course, I take some credit as well.” Ian added, and the king laughed aloud. The conversations between them - the two most powerful beings in the country - were always friendly like this.

“It would still be wrong to not award you for what you’ve done. This is a simple matter. If you do well, I award you, and if you do wrong, I punish you. I really don’t want to break such simple rules, so tell me anything you want. Even if it’s a simple request.”

“If you say so, Your Majesty.” Ian spoke slowly. “I do have one request…”

There happened to be something that had been on Ian’s mind for a while.

“Do tell me.”

It was more for the purpose of asking for permission rather than a request.

“I would like to expand the property you have me in.” Ian said.

“Expand your property?” The king asked. “Do explain more.”

“The property was originally used for personal use by the royal family. There’s a lot of space that is not being used due to safety issues.”

The property had been built in form of a garden, but it was as good as a deserted house.

“I was wondering if I could use the property for other purposes, such as a personal laboratory, or an office for our organization.” Ian said. This wasn’t a lie at all. He simply left out another fact regarding how he was planning to use the property.

‘I just happened to need a place for the artisans to stay.’ Ian thought. His plan was to bring the artisans of the island to the city, and there were multiple reasons for doing so.

‘It would be much more convenient for me to fund their projects, and ask for their assistance at the same time.’ Ian thought. Of course, he had other ways to reach them, such as the teleporting portal, the pouch, and the Dwarf-Light, but it would be convenient to keep them at a close distance.

‘And on top of that, letting them stay on the island itself is an issue.’ The artisans had dispersed to different corners of the earth, looking for ways to die, and they were once again living in the Knocking Island, an isolated island located right in the middle of the ocean.

‘Living on the island would only cause them to yearn death all the more.’ Ian decided. The way he saw it, the artisans had to come out to the world. It would be better for them to heal from their past by making new friendships. Even if they did end up dying, at least they would spend the rest of their days happily. ‘Then I will be able to expect them to make more artifacts.’

“That’s not a difficult request for me at all.” The king answered breezily, breaking into Ian’s train of thought.

“I’ll just give you the entire property to call your own,” the king added.

“There’s really no need -“ Ian started.

“And that will be my command as an king, rather than a gift.”

Ian didn’t answer.

And this would be the start of a new chapter for Greenriverdium, the capital of Greenriver, due to Ian’s Garden, which would be a national treasure and the highlight throughout the history of the empire.

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