Chapter: 667
The shocking truth that Leviathan was not a sea whale, but a flying whale, turned the usually calm Cheness Duchy upside down.
I mean, if a gigantic whale was approaching while flying over the ocean, and you just shrugged it off, that would be the weirdest reaction ever. It must have felt something like witnessing a meteor crash down.
Fortunately, perched on Leviathan, was the Wise Duke, transforming this ‘unknown creature’ into a familiar sight—rather, a creature that the lord had somewhat picked up from somewhere. At the very least, they knew it wasn’t a threat to them.
“Being so close to land just emphasizes its size. You could build a city on that back of his.”
As the Golden Duke observed Leviathan, who gracefully flew over, anchoring just near the harbor, he showed an expression of utmost satisfaction.
Just like the Golden Duke said, when it was out in the open sea, its massive size seemed vague. But now, comparing it to the land, it truly felt like a moving city-state.
“Now, I’m stumped on how to repay such a massive gift. Is there something you want?”
After shifting his gaze to me and the Wise Duke, the Golden Duke shrugged, looking a bit perplexed.
I totally get it. The hypersensitive Golden Duke had just acquired a multi-purpose flying whale. Though Leviathan had become his friend thanks to the Osiden family, it was our presence that made their meeting possible. He must have been scratching his head over how to reciprocate.
“Don’t hold back! Just write it down!”
“Well, that’s just it. You’re making this way too easy.”
The Golden Duke chuckled lightly at the Wise Duke’s words and pulled out something from his pocket.
It was a blank check stamped with the Golden Duke’s seal.
“No matter how I think about it, I can’t measure that friend’s worth. So, write down anything you need, and I’ll give it to you.”
“Wow! Really? Anything at all!?”
“Anything that’s not the Duchy itself. I’ll even tell my son, so don’t worry if I kick the bucket.”
“Yay!”
A blank check that the Osiden family would guarantee forever. This was pretty much the peak of the Golden Duke’s sincerity, so the Wise Duke tucked the paper into his pocket without a second thought.
Of course, I also received a blank check while standing next to the Wise Duke.
“Um, Your Grace?”
“What is it, Minister?”
“I think you may have given too much.”
I trembled at the realization that it was a bundle of checks, not just one.
Wait, is he really giving a universal wish right to the Golden Duke? And not just one, but a whole stack? Isn’t that just excessive?
“Didn’t I just say that I can’t measure that friend’s worth? Ending such a deal with just one would be like robbery.”
Yet, the Golden Duke simply patted my shoulder and burst out laughing.
“Don’t fret, Minister. With that friend around, you’ll gain even greater benefits than you think. So, don’t make this awkward for me; take it comfortably.”
This was a firm declaration that leaving it was no longer an option, so I nodded in a daze. Turning down such an offer could make the other party uncomfortable.
“Well then, I’ll go back together with that friend. I won’t forget this gift for the rest of my life, Wise Duke.”
“Yeah! I’ll drink some nice wine too!”
While expressing his gratitude for the Boyar wine instead of the blank check, the Golden Duke couldn’t help but smirk.
And just a few days later, I heard that Leviathan, along with the Golden Duke, had entered the territorial waters of the Jerano Kingdom.
Well, technically, it was more like floating in the sky above the territorial waters.
‘So it was this.’
As soon as I heard that news, I realized the immense benefit the Golden Duke had spoken of.
An airborne aircraft carrier. A strategic weapon soaring through the sky—not in territory or waters, but in the skies above them. If Jerano complained, the Golden Duke could just retort, “Is the sky yours?”
He had effectively acquired a means to unilaterally deal with a nation.
Moreover, if he parked Leviathan just slightly outside the Jerano Kingdom’s territorial waters? If Leviathan was decked out like a relay station, he could carry out maritime trade without needing Jerano’s cooperation.
‘This is incredible.’
I suppose that’s why he unceremoniously tossed out a bundle of blank checks. With maritime supremacy locked down, nothing given could be deemed wasteful.
“Well, while we were resting, it looks like such things unfolded.”
Hearing this dynamic piece of information, Trixie couldn’t help but stroke the triplets, who were sickling her hair and sucking on it, while in awe.
While me and the Wise Duke were meeting Leviathan, the Golden Duke was returning to Boyar with Leviathan—meanwhile, the family was enjoying a peaceful time at the Cheness Duchy. Even the Golden Duke, who intended to greet Trixie, was too mesmerized by Leviathan, making it a completely undisturbed vacation.
Thus, Trixie only learned of the upheaval in the Cheness Duchy afterward.
“Why didn’t you tell me? If it’s a child that eats mana and grows, I could have done research on it.”
And so, it was a little disappointing, just as Trixie said. I had completely forgotten that the continent’s top archmage was right nearby.
“Seeing flying whales, it just left me blank…”
I could only rationalize my negligence with some pretty lame excuses.
But honestly, who could maintain their sanity when witnessing a flying giant whale? Just the fact that I hadn’t gone to Boyar with the Golden Duke felt like a testament to my remaining lucidity.
“How could you enjoy something so good alone? What a stingy dad. Don’t you think?”
“Yeah! Dad! That’s lame!”
“That’s lame! That’s lame!”
“Lame~”
“I’m sorry…”
Of course, making these excuses just made me look like a ‘crazy dad who forgot his family while obsessed with whales.’
Guilty as charged. I am the sinner.
“But what does ‘whale’ even mean?”
But then, with Maria’s question, both Trixie and I couldn’t help but grin.
Right, Maria lives inland, so she wouldn’t know what a whale is.
“They’re humongous creatures. They live only in the sea.”
“What’s a sea?”
Ah, I guess I need to explain that first.
*
I’ve now developed a mental fortitude such that I no longer get surprised by any reports that come my way.
The sky splits open, divine blessings rain down, councils hold meetings, the World Tree resurrects, and seals of evil gods lift—events that occur once every hundred years, let alone thousand years, seem to line up one after another.
‘A whale flew.’
Perhaps it’s why, even after learning of the discovery of an artificially created whale by the Trika Empire—a whale that became friends with the Golden Duke and is now flying skyward—I felt utterly unphased.
I suppose whales flying could happen. Both the sky and sea are blue; isn’t that the same? If the Emperor didn’t consider every possibility, the entire Empire would become stagnant.
‘Flying over Jerano Kingdom for several hours.’
And understanding that the whale was now floating above the territorial waters of Jerano Kingdom—not in its territory—made sense. It’s well-known throughout the continent how feisty the relationship is between Boyar and Jerano.
The Boyar Duchy and Jerano Kingdom have a long history of rivalry. Even though Jerano has shown obedience to the Empire since the treaty signed about 30 years ago, old habits die hard, especially as a maritime kingdom, constantly clashing with its maritime counterpart, Boyar.
That said, Jerano’s actions were firmly under treaty rules, so engaging the Empire wouldn’t make sense. Though it might irritate, they weren’t breaking any treaties, and their actions were aligned with the Empire’s loyal friends. It was Boyar who seemed to be the most troubled here.
‘And this is how they resolve it.’
Thus, while I was leaving the Jerano issues to the Golden Duke, I never expected him to bring in the legendary flying whale to subdue Jerano. Just a few hours prior, I had heard the desperately painful pleas of Jerano through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It was almost heartbreaking to ignore their desperate cries to unilaterally revise the treaty, just to please let them keep their relay station’s status.
So I delivered the news of Jerano’s surrender to the Golden Duke, and soon received a reply that he would make an appearance at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to amend the treaty. A truly beautiful outcome.
Yes, beautiful. All beautiful, except…
“There’s no place left out.”
In the midst of this, the Minister of Inspections was involved.
He should have been quietly enjoying his vacation at the mansion. Yet there he was, popping up in all the reports.
Of course, it wasn’t strange for the minister—who seems to have first discovered the flying whale, Leviathan, being connected to his relative, to get involved. Not to mention, it was the Golden Duke, not the minister, who brought Leviathan to the Duchy. So all things considered, the minister was more of an observer here, rather than an active participant.
‘But it still feels infuriating.’
Deep down, a strange feeling of resentment began to boil. If he’s going to stir up all sorts of trouble everywhere, wouldn’t everyone be better off if he just stayed at the mansion? What makes him so restless that he can’t just stay inside?
While my head knew the minister was innocent, my heart, riddled with past grievances, consistently cursed at him. Truly, it’s a bizarre feeling.
‘Calm down.’
To soothe my burning insides, I took out a bottle of vodka I had secretly tucked away in my desk drawer. A little tipple helps with work.
‘… Water, huh.’
As I took a cautious sip, the sharp taste of vodka was replaced by the bland flavor of water.
Looks like the Empress switched it up with water.
“Damn it.”
This is all the minister’s fault.
*
I went to visit Atelius to uncover the identities of the three pillars that Leviathan mentioned.
Atelius was an ancient being who had been around long enough to tussle with evil gods. He might have insights regarding Leviathan and the three pillars.
“Leviathan?”
“Yes. It’s a whale that was artificially created by the Trika Empire.”
“Hmmm, Trika and Leviathan…”
Contemplating my question, Atelius tapped the ground with his fingertip, lost in thought.
“I’m not sure. I haven’t really visited the sea much.”
That was a bit disappointing.
I mean, even if he lived during the Trika era, it would be pointless if he hadn’t heard any information—
“However, I’ve seen a beast called Behemoth, is it something similar?”
‘Oh.’
Just like that, I learned of one of the three pillars.
Indeed, if you want to know about the past, getting help from the elders is the way to go.
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