Volume 57 Chapter 7.4: The Sculptural Creatures' Resolve (4)

Gaushu, Calcus, Lamifter, Boemong.

The commanders pondered as they saw the few comrades who had survived.

'I who fought until the end and survived, I am the winner.'

'What is more joyful than the misfortune of my competitors?'

'I gained so much today. Our relationship with the Arpen Empire will be friendly for the time being. It will be a good time to suggest trades with the specialty products of our territories, the jades and crystals.'

'The world will be different starting tomorrow.'

The power of the Hermes Guild was proven once again.

However, this victory would not have been possible if not for Weed and his preparations.

Weed betting everything on the winning move in Morata and preparing the Brazier of Sacrifice served as key factors. His influence over a variety of factions composed of great lords was shown vividly.

- Gaushu: The Hermes Guild is not currently an unrivalled faction in power, so it would be best to cooperate with the Arpen Empire and wait for an opportunity.

- Lamifter: I also feel the same way. I believe our initial plan was wise.

- Calcus: We also gained hope. Weed's degree of influence gives him immense power, but there exists no contender to the Hermes Guild within the Arpen Empire. Weed, in some ways, is an isolated hero. His personal faction is weak.

- Gaushu: We pulled off the dragon hunt. Weed may have led the battle, but everyone will acknowledge that it was only possible because of us Hermes Guild members.

- Boemong: They all witnessed our power, just as we planned. The great power of the Hermes Guild!

The commanders, though under the ruling of the Arpen Empire, thought it was bearable for a while. It could prove difficult to catch up to Weed, but they were optimistic that further expanding the gap with the competing factions could one day give them an opportunity.

"If we band closely together..."

"There would be no reason to fall out. The Black Lion Guild? Roam Guild? They are incapable. If it weren't for Weed, they'd be long gone."

"Let us keep harnessing the power of our guild."

"Of course. We will become even more powerful."

***

The architects of the North.

Mibullo and Pavo turned speechless at the sight of the ruined city of Morata.

Several steel structures stood firm among the mountains of ashes but they were insignificant; the entire city was far from its past appearance.

"The Art Centre and the Great Library remained. The Art Centre had some damage to the outer walls, but the repairs will be easy."

"The canals are completely gone. We may have to rework our urban planning for this city."

"When are we going to remove all this debris? And how are we going to gather the construction materials for rebuilding Morata?"

The architects fell into despair. Building a city happens over a long period of time. Morata too expanded along with the growth of the Northern Continent, roads and structures followed naturally as trade routes developed. The dragon's rampage had massive ramifications for what had been one of the most popular cities in the continent.

"Rather than repairing it, it may be faster to build a new one adjacent to where Morata had been."

"A complete transfer of Morata?"

"Wouldn't that be better? We have to expand the temporary residence and raise buildings as we go."

"It's not a matter of one or two issues."

The architects faced the harsh reality. Kaybern ultimately was hunted down and the dark cloud over the world receded, but their concern was the broken city of Morata.

It wasn't just a couple of buildings, but the entire city that needed a redesign.

"I don't know where to begin..."

Mibullo, who constructed the royal palace of the Haven Empire shook his head.

Morata had turned into ash and dirt and they had no idea how to proceed.

As the architects were in a state of devastation, Northern players continued to squish into the city. They looked from afar or watched the battle through their TV.

"Is this our house?"

"I don't know. It's completely burned..."

"Nothing but ashes."

The homeless players cleaned up the mess and raised thin wooden panels. They had begun constructing new shacks.

"First, let's open up restaurants."

"Yeah. We're doing all this to feed our own."

"We will also need a market until the trade sector is back up and running."

"Our merchants will provide the supplies somehow. All the merchant councils of the North have come to an alliance."

The players and the merchants created shabby posts near the remains of where the old townsquare and the commercial street used to exist.

"Alright. I will cook up a delicious dish."

"Line up please. There are no proper seats, so sit wherever you want. The food today is on us."

A long time had passed during the battle against the dragon and the night was close.

The chefs stirred up their ingredients to feed lots of hungry players.

These chefs who had competed in the cooking competition the day before were now showcasing their skills once again. Discouragement could not impose itself over the ruined city. The players were already preparing for a new beginning.

The architects smiled.

"Starting tomorrow, we will surely begin the reconstruction business."

"Yes. The history of this city will not disappear. It will step up and reveal itself as being even greater than before."

"The spectacular night skyline of Morata will return someday."

Even if the city had to start over, it felt like it would be something fruitful and exciting.

***

Pale was thrown off by the rumors.

"Seasoned Crab-nim slayed Kaybern?"

"Yup. Being an assassin, I think he pulled it off big time."

Pale exchanged words with Python while tending to the wounded.

"But, that can't be..."

Pale tilted his head in disbelief.

In truth, he clearly witnessed Seasoned Crab die by the impact of Kaybern's magic while he was firing his arrow.

- Shadow Assassination!

Seasoned Crab continued the battle even after death. Unlike the power to resist death by reviving as an undead, the Assassin's secret technique allowed his shadow to fight for him for a set duration. He was able to double his attack speed and critical strikes. He attacked with all he had while he was in the shadow state, but had dissipated in the end.

"He died at least 10 seconds earlier."

"Pardon?"

"Nothing."

Pale was very confidential. He never spoke to anyone else about things he was uncertain with.

"It was such a difficult battle."

"No doubt. Many think that our victory was miraculous."

Geomchi and the apprentices were completely wiped out during battle.

It was a predetermined fate having fought in the frontlines in the most dangerous strategy.

The assault squad too suffered great losses despite not having fought from the beginning.

The sacrifices they made for the final strike of Kaybern's death cost them dearly.

"There is no end to human greed. The words of Weed-nim were true."

"He really strikes you from time to time. It's as if he has some kind of insight."

Python even felt guilty for having survived. The public honored him as a great warrior, but he felt otherwise while he watched the Hermes Guild in battle.

"I will not wish to say farewell to Weed-nim personally. Please send him my regards."

"Are you leaving?"

"I will return as a stronger man. I am going to roam the ten forbidden regions."

Python went off on his adventure with a sword in hand. Soon, countless people visited Pale.

"The merchants of the Central Continent requested a meeting. They wish to join the restoration project of Morata."

"The architects have come up with a plan for the restoration."

"The Grass Porridge Cult have sent an official inquiry about hosting a festival. With the Black Dragon gone, the peace of the continent maintained right here in Morata calls for a great toast, as they said."

Pale freaked out as people came up to him.

"Why are you telling me these things?"

"Weed-nim went off to rest, and so did Seoyoon-nim who prepared for the Morata defense all this time."

"..."

They had left with an entire dump site of tasks.

Pale had to uphold the meeting, making decisions ranging from Morata's festivals to its reconstruction.

"We are short of liquor."

"We need to supply meat. We must submit the request to the Northern merchant councils as soon as possible..."

"An official request has arrived from the Hermes Guild. They wish to purchase large stocks of grape wine. They also inquired about the availability to purchase orders on a regular basis."

A pile of errands flooded in.

"Ah... This is gonna be bad."

Pale sat on the ocean of papers, recorded and reviewed each task one by one. Challenging and tedious jobs stormed in, but his personality was to complete the tasks with detail if he ever took responsibility.

Weed logged in again.

He had food and a short nap, but he wasn't at ease.

"My curiosity gets to me."

It hadn't been a day in Morata, but the players were in the middle of the reconstruction project.

- Now we will build a more gorgeous home!

- Just you wait. It will be a two-story house this time.

- Let us build a place with beautiful homes like Santorini, Greece.

The players began working on amazing homes.

The architects cleaned up the mess and were in the process of laying out wide roads.

"The new city has to be far better than the old Morata."

"It will be awesome if we can maintain all of Morata's culture and identity while also reflecting the history that became the foundation of the Arpen Empire."

"How about asking Weed-nim for a massive sculpture of Kaybern in the heart of the city?"

"That's a great idea. We have to show off our history of the battle against the dragon."

The passion of these architects was heated, talking about building a memorial hall and great landmarks. They were daunted for a bit, but soon gained energy from the other players.

'This is a pleasant sight.'

Weed took advantage of the disruptiveness and squeezed through the debris. He took off all armor and weapons for combat in a split second and wore an adventurer outfit that was worth 10 gold.

"Mmm, no one is around."

Weed confirmed that there was no one else and entered the half destroyed concrete building. It was the quarters of the Morata security guards.

It wasn't accessible for normal players, but was indeed allowed for the emperor of the Arpen Empire.

"No one will enter this place."

The soldiers of Morata would provide no value in a fight against a dragon and so he had evacuated them outside the city since the day before.

"Then... This comes first."

Weed unloaded the ashes with traces of kindle fire.

It was the remains of the Phoenix and the Fire Giant!

He had scavenged the remains of the two that died while fighting Kaybern.

"hu-hu-hu. That's not all."

The following item out of the bag was Kaybern's bone.

He had snatched it the moment the Black Dragon died.