The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 684: Volume Nineteen: Lost Horizon - Thirteen: Bard

Chapter 684: Volume Nineteen: Lost Horizon Chapter Thirteen: Bard

"Uh, I am a bard, and my homeland is in Gutenberg of the Kingdom of Nicosia. I’ve also been to the Kingdom of Bohemia. I’ve visited Piraeus and Oubeia before and really loved the scenery there, so I plan to go back for another look," Komer said, placing a hand over his heart and bowing to the dwarfs to express his heartfelt thanks for their warm hospitality. This was a sincere gratitude, for dwarfs are always enthusiastic towards outsiders, although they might not know the specifics of his background. The simple and straightforward dwarfs often see the world in a very naive way.

"Oh, so you’re a friend from the north. You’ve been to Piraeus and Oubeia; it seems you’ve traveled quite a bit. I wonder if you’ve been to Sparta?" A few dwarfs got excited when they heard that Komer had been to Piraeus and Oubeia, places not far from their destination.

"Sparta? I heard it’s a place one could never forget. Hmm, I once passed through Patre, but only spent a night there," Komer replied apologetically. Patre is the only seaport city of Sparta, not very large, but it is Sparta’s only port on the Aegean Bay. The Akmon River flows into the Aegean Bay there, and it is also a pivotal water hub connecting the bay with Sparta’s inland regions.

"Oh, that’s a pity. We plan to go to Sparta to broaden our horizons. I heard they really need forging craftsmen there, and I think me and my mates would fit in well with the lifestyle. Plus, it’s not too far from our homeland," the dwarf named Shinions said with a wide grin: "I heard the honey wine there is quite famous."

"Hmm, Sparta is a fine place, though honey wine seems more suited for women to taste. However, as long as you have money, every bar on the Aegean Bay can serve you exquisite drinks from all over the Continent. I’m sure Patre is no exception—gin, rum, or Red Maoshao, even tequila from the Mang Continent won’t be missing. Everything’s available," Komer could well understand the dwarfs’ mindset; to them, good drink was always a priority no matter where they were.

Komer’s words made the dwarfs gulp down their saliva uncontrollably, the gurgling sounds from their throats were clearly audible, and Komer could even feel the vigorous trembling at their Adam’s apples.

"Friend, are you serious? I heard tequila has a strong, majestic flavor, unparalleled; I wonder if that’s true?" Perhaps attracted by Komer’s extensive travel experiences, the dwarfs naturally shifted their attention to what intrigued them most.

"Hmm, tequila is indeed potent and packs a punch. If it’s accompanied by dried lemons from Corinth, the taste is even more indescribably delightful," Komer couldn’t help but lick his lips as if savoring the bold flavor. "But for my dwarf friends, perhaps Wedga or whiskey would inspire more creativity, the sensation of being half-asleep and half-awake could spark the creation of even more exceptional artworks, right?"

Komer’s subtle flattery immediately made the dwarfs beam with joy. They became much more affectionate towards him. For dwarfs, the most welcome title was that of a master artist. Whether they were engaged in building, forging, smelting, or mining, they always believed their talent in these areas was incomparable. The buildings they erected, the metals with unique properties they smelted, the unusual ores they mined, the weapons or tools they forged—all could proudly outshine any other race on the Continent. Naturally, to stand out among their kin was to possess the demeanor of a master.

Without much effort, Komer had successfully integrated into this newly formed dwarf circle. Their straightforward and simple nature also allowed Komer to feel their open-hearted generosity and their go-with-the-flow attitude, and soon he was enthusiastically conversing with them.

In Komer’s opinion, Shimaina seemed to be an ideal living paradise for dwarfs, flanked north and south by the Selowe Principality, forming the two most important realms established by the dwarfs on the Blue Continent. The Kingdom of Shimaina was located inland with a dense population, bordered to the north by the Barbarian-controlled southern part of the Cordillera Wilderness, and was a crucial safeguard for southern powers on the Cang Continent against the Barbarian forces pressing southward.

The dwarfs did not object to leaving their homelands to live elsewhere, but even when lured by better living conditions, they preferred short to medium term stints of work. Once they had saved up enough money, they liked to enjoy life, and once their funds were depleted, they would invite their friends to join them in hard labor to earn money for their next vacation.

However, this time Komer seemed to have heard some bad news from the dwarfs. Over the past year, the barbarians in the north appeared to have become increasingly aggressive. This had put great pressure on the south and the west, including the Kingdom of Shimaina. The quality of the barbarian troops had noticeably improved; not only did their number of soldiers increase significantly, but more importantly, their weaponry seemed to have greatly improved, allowing them to gain some advantage in the wars with various countries.

The barbarians also seemed to have changed their war strategies, no longer attacking on all fronts but selectively targeting one or two countries or cities. This sharply increased the danger of these nations and cities being overwhelmed by the barbarians, causing tensions in the northern regions of the Kingdom of Shimaina. And it was under these circumstances that a few dwarfs boarded the cargo ship, "Louisa," recruited to head to the Kingdom of Sparta.

When Komer heard that the barbarians were initiating more ferocious attacks in the southern region, he guessed that this must be related to the steady relaxation of the food and weapons blockade policy that he had implemented in Caucasus.

While the export of food couldn’t fundamentally change the situation in the Cordillera Wilderness, to some extent, it allowed the barbarians to muster more strength for their never-ending war preparations. The occasional inflow and smuggling of weapons and equipment also gave the barbarians the impression that they might be able to effectively counter other races’ joint containment in the south.

Each quality Bin Iron Lance or large battle axe they obtained could more than double the combat effectiveness of their warriors, and each set of bison leather armor or lizard skin armors could decrease the likelihood of their warriors being killed or wounded by crossbow attacks by over sixty percent. This continuous escalation of power gave the barbarian chiefs increased anticipation of breaking through the deadlock they had been stuck in for years through ceaseless warfare.

As the Kingdom of Shimaina faced increasing pressure and the threat of war ravaging some of its northern regions grew, the dwarfs, while trying their best to fortify defenses, also considered heading north or simply seeking a living elsewhere. The dwarfs sitting with Komer had left with that idea in mind.

Komer hadn’t anticipated that some policy changes he’d made in Caucasus would induce such a gradual but profound shift in the entire south. In his mind, he had been careful to control exports of strategic materials to all but the Sanjia Tribe, especially military supplies, so as not to inspire unrealistic notions in the barbarians. But now it seemed his intentions hadn’t been effectively implemented, and perhaps it was time to tighten the noose around the barbarians’ necks. Otherwise, these brutes might cause even bigger trouble in the south, eventually making Caucasus a target for all.

At this thought, Komer couldn’t help but let out a wry laugh. He had already become a thorn in the side of the Church of Light; if he made an appearance in Caucasus, the Court, having suffered enough at his hands, would probably come out in full force against him. If that happened, he might not even have the chance to be banished to a Different World. Even now that he had fortuitously merged and absorbed a substantial portion of Kennifer III’s magic power and memories, it didn’t seem possible to contend with the entire Church of Light, unless he could find a power to match it.

Seeing their new friend so absorbed in thought, the dwarfs politely refrained from disturbing Komer, until he snapped out of his deep reflection on his own.

"Friend, when you’re lost in thought, you’re like Prins’s ’The Thinker.’ I wager if you were in Gamai City, those guys in the cave would welcome you happily," a dwarf said with a sigh of admiration.

"Friend, thank you for your praise. A Bard is not one to live off the exploitation of his own superficial image. If you don’t mind, I’d like to offer a song for my Dwarf friends." Komer smiled slightly, feeling truly joyful in the company of these Dwarves, always able to evoke those beautiful memories from years past.

"Sure, sure, friend, we’re looking forward to it," the Dwarves cheered, delighted at the prospect of enjoying a drink while listening to a song, finding the experience utterly blissful. The lower deck was well-sealed, and there was no worry of their voices carrying to the cabins two levels above.

"Where the high mountains stand, there must he find a kindred spirit,

By the rolling waves of the sea, that is his homeland,

As long as there are azure skies and bright storms,

He likes it, he has the energy to wander in those places;

Deserts, forests, deep caverns, the mist of the waves,

All hold a certain friendship for him; they speak

In a language that he understands better than the writings

Of his native land, often he sets aside his books

To open the natural tome that is sunlight reflecting on the lake.

Sitting on a rocky mountain, meditating by the river and the marsh,

Or slowly seeking out the shady scenes of the forest,

Venturing into places never trodden by foot,

Living amongst all entities as imagined by human realm,

Or ascending the hidden obscure peaks of the solitary path.

With the unclaimed wildlife of the Wilderness,

He leans alone against the cliffs, watching the waterfall’s spray—

This is not loneliness; this is but a conference with Nature’s beauty,

Perusing the riches she has uncovered."

(To be continued. If you want to know what happens next, please visit WWW.CMFU.COM. More Chapters available, support the author, support authorized reading!)