Chapter 880: Spreading Culture

As the night deepened, the party began to wind down.

The older couples took to the dance floor for slower, more melodic dances, while the younger generation gathered around the bonfire to share stories.

The men, stuffed beyond capacity, slumped at the tables in various states of food-induced stupor.

"Best night ever." One soldier mumbled into the table. "I can’t feel my legs."

"That’s because you ate three entire platters of meat." His companion replied weakly.

"Worth it."

"Absolutely worth it."

Isabelle sat in a corner, surrounded by a circle of wives who were hanging on her every word. She was telling stories about Cassius’s kindness, his dedication, the little things he did that made her fall in love with him over and over again.

"And then." She was saying. "He spent an entire day learning to bake because I mentioned, just once, that I’d always wanted to try a particular pastry from my childhood."

"He messed up at least thirty batches before he got it right, but he refused to give up. When he finally presented me with the finished pastry..."

She sighed happily. "It was the most delicious thing I’d ever tasted!"

The wives made soft, swooning noises.

"He sounds like a dream." One of them said wistfully.

"Does he have any brothers?" Another asked hopefully.

"Unfortunately, yes, but they’re all taken." Isabelle said with a laugh.

The wives immediately turned to glare at their husbands, who were slumped at nearby tables.

"Did you hear that, Grendar? Sir Cassius learned to bake for his wife!"

"When was the last time you did something romantic for me?"

"I get it! I get it! Just now many times do you ladies have to tell us that!?"

—

Meanwhile, Ragnora rose from her seat, deciding it was time to make good on her promise.

The party was winding down, but she still owed Cassius a drink. A toast, at the very least, to express her gratitude.

She made her way through the square, searching for the white-haired mage. The crowd had thinned somewhat, making the search easier, but it still took several minutes before she finally located him.

And when she did, she stopped dead in her tracks.

’What is going on here?’

A crowd had gathered in the far corner, perhaps thirty percent of the party’s attendees. But they weren’t dancing or feasting.

Instead, they were gathered around a series of tables that had been pushed together, which were covered with an astonishing array of items.

Strange crystals that pulsed with inner light.

Bottles of oil with labels from distant estates.

Exotic fruits that couldn’t be found anywhere on this side of the continent.

Wooden toys carved into intricate shapes.

Leather-bound books with titles in languages Ragnora didn’t recognize.

Hundreds of objects spread across more than twenty tables.

And standing behind those tables, holding court like a merchant at a bazaar, was Cassius.

"Ladies, gentlemen, miners, soldiers, and all good people of the Holyfield Mines!"

He clapped his hands together, his voice carrying across the crowd before finally saying,

"Welcome to the Cassius Merchant Association’s Remote Shop!"

Everyone got excited like they were ready to storm a black friday sale.

"Nothing is off-limits, everything is for sale, and if you see in what strikes your fancy, just bring your coin to the fine ogre at the counter..."

He gestured toward Brenda, who stood behind a makeshift counter looking somewhat bemused by her sudden career change.

"...and she’ll ring you up!"

The moment he finished speaking, the crowd surged forward.

"Did you see this crystal?! It’s beautiful!"

"Look at this fabric! I’ve never felt anything like it!"

"Is that a music box? I haven’t seen one since I was a child!"

"This knife—the balance is incredible!"

People were picking up items, examining them, showing them to each other with growing excitement.

Some approached Cassius with their finds, asking questions.

"What is this, Sir Cassius?"

"Ah, that’s a resonance crystal from the eastern provinces. It absorbs ambient mana and releases it slowly, keeping the air fresh in enclosed spaces. Very useful for mine tunnels."

"And this?"

"That’s a heat-preservation flask. Keeps hot things hot and cold things cold for up to twelve hours. Perfect for packed lunches."

"What about this strange fruit?"

"That’s a Moon-Pear. Very sweet, with a slightly citrusy tang. Excellent for juicing or eating fresh. I have about two dozen of them."

The transactions continued at a rapid pace.

Children begged their parents for toys. Husbands examined weapons with eager hands. Wives haggled over clothes and ornaments.

And through it all, Cassius moved among the tables like a seasoned merchant, explaining products, answering questions, and making sales with an enthusiasm that was almost infectious.

—

Ragnora stood at the edge of the crowd, watching the scene with a mixture of confusion and admiration.

’Where did he get all these things?’ She wondered. ’More importantly, why is he selling them like a traveling merchant?’

She wanted to ask, but Cassius was currently surrounded by eager customers, explaining the properties of some kind of enchanted compass to a group of wide-eyed children.

"He’s certainly full of surprises." She murmured to herself.

Just then, a young boy tugged at her sleeve.

"Commander Ragnora! Commander Ragnora! Look what I got!"

He held up a small wooden figurine of a dragon, its wings spread wide.

"Sir Cassius says it’s from the Sky Territory! It’s so cool!"

Ragnora smiled, crouching down to examine the toy. "It’s very impressive."

"I’m going to put it on my windowsill so it can watch over me while I sleep!"

"That sounds like a wonderful idea."

The boy beamed and ran off to show his friends.

She decided to wait until the crowd thinned before approaching him. In the meantime, she would simply watch, and appreciate the sight of her people smiling.

It was, she reflected, a beautiful thing.

—

Before long the eager crowds had settled into their own happy commerce, browsing the tables among themselves.

Cassius had retreated to the corner, watching the chaos with the satisfied expression of a man who had accomplished exactly what he’d set out to do.

It was then that Ragnora approached.

But the moment Cassius spotted her, his entire demeanor transformed.

His eyes lit up with an enthusiasm that was almost like a puppy spotting its beloved master after a long separation.

"Commander!" He greeted, his voice bright with energy. "What can I do for you? Looking for something special?"

Before Ragnora could even respond, he was already gesturing toward his remaining wares.

"Take this, for example—" He snatched up a small, ornate box. "I brought this from the coastal territories. Genuine sea salt infused with sun-dried herbs. The flavor is absolutely divine. And this—"

He pointed to a polished stone. "A heating crystal. Place it under your bedroll and you’ll stay warm through the coldest nights."

He moved to another table, his enthusiasm building.

"And this right here—this is a sword polish. The finest you’ll ever find. No matter how rusty or battered your blade might be, a single application will leave it absolutely immaculate. Squeaky clean, as they say!"

That particular item did catch Ragnora’s attention. Her own broadsword was well-maintained, but she knew countless soldiers who struggled with weapon maintenance.

A polish of such quality could be genuinely useful.

But she shook her head firmly.

"I’ll look at everything later. Right now, I’m more curious about something else."

She gestured at the sprawling display.

"What...exactly are you doing, Sir Cassius? Weren’t you supposed to be a Magic Researcher? Why are you acting like a merchant and selling goods?"

Cassius’s eyebrows rose in genuine surprise. Then he laughed—a warm, genuine sound.

"Of course I’m a Magic Researcher."

They began walking together, moving slowly among the tables as the remaining customers browsed around them.

"But that’s not all I am." He began counting on his fingers. "I’m also an inventor. An artisan. A bookkeeper. A chef. A traveling merchant. A storyteller. A humble husband." He grinned. "I wear many hats, Commander."

Ragnora’s brow furrowed. "A bookkeeper?"

"Someone has to keep track of all my wife’s expenses." Cassius lied with a grin. "She has expensive tastes."

Ragnora found herself smiling despite herself, before having another doubt.

"But why? Why become a merchant when you could simply focus on your research? With your abilities, you could become one of the wealthiest people on the continent without much effort."

Cassius shook his head, and his expression softened into something more genuine.

"It’s not about money." He said quietly. "It never has been."

He folded his hands behind his back as they strolled past a group of children playing with newly purchased toys.

"I simply enjoy bringing things from one place to another. You see, in one town, people might never see the wonders of another. They live their entire lives in the same spot, never knowing what exists beyond their horizon."

Ragnora considered this. It was true. Many of the miners here, and especially their families, had never traveled far.

The younger children had never seen the ocean. The older workers hadn’t left the territory in decades.

Cassius continued, his voice taking on a wistful quality.

"That’s why I like bringing new creations to new places. Spreading culture. Showing people that the outside world isn’t as frightening as they might believe."

He paused, meeting her eyes.

"There’s a certain joy in watching someone’s face light up when they realize how beautiful and diverse this world truly is. When they see something they’ve never seen before and their imagination catches fire."

He let out a soft sigh. "I want to encourage people to explore. To interact. To never stay trapped in their own small corner of the world."

Every word Cassius spoke was actually the truth.

In his past life, when he had traveled across lands and seas, he had done the exact same thing—carrying tools and oddities across borders simply to share them with the locals.

Seeing their wonder had brought warmth to his otherwise mundane existence.

What Cassius never realized, however, was that his little hobby had historically altered the course of entire civilizations.

The strange tools and items he left behind often inspired local artisans to replicate and improve upon them, accidentally planting seeds of technological advancement in regions that were centuries behind.

He was, in the truest sense, a bearer of knowledge and culture, a catalyst for progress wherever he walked.

Ragnora, unaware of his cosmic influence but deeply moved by his philosophy, stared at him in awe.

While every other powerful wielder in the world chased authority, titles, and military strength, this man simply wanted to live fully and share joy with others.

’What a strange, wonderful man.’ She thought.

A soft chuckle escaped her lips.

Cassius tilted his head. "What are you smiling about? Is there something on my face?"

He reached up, touching his cheek. "A bunch of the mothers came over and kissed me earlier. And a few of the daughters, too. Their husbands were gritting their teeth something fierce."

He laughed. "There’s probably lipstick all over me, isn’t there?"

Ragnora’s smile widened slightly. "No, no. It’s nothing like that. I was simply thinking about how unusual you are, Sir Cassius."

"Unusual?" He raised an eyebrow. "I prefer ’uniquely charming.’"

"Of course you do."

They continued walking, and Ragnora found herself drawn to the remaining items on display.

"I recognize some of these things from my reading." She said, gesturing at the tables. "But there are others I’ve never seen before. Where exactly did you acquire them?"

She pointed to a peculiar device, a metal box with two slots on top and a cord trailing from its base.

"Ah." Cassius picked it up, his eyes gleaming with pride. "That’s something I invented myself."

Her eyebrows rose. "You invented this?"

"Indeed." He held it up for her inspection. "I call it a toaster."

"A...toaster?"

"You place slices of bread in these slots here." He explained, demonstrating. "Then you connect it to an Aether power source, and within minutes—"

He mimed popping motions.

"—perfectly toasted bread! Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. Ideal for breakfast!"

Ragnora stared at the device with genuine fascination. She had never seen anything quite like it.

"And this creates heat using Aether?"

"Yep. The internal mechanisms channel the energy through specially designed elements that produce consistent, even heat. No open flame required."

She reached out, running a finger along the metal surface.

"Remarkable. The implications for military rations alone..."

Cassius beamed. "Would you like to see some of my other inventions?"

She nodded eagerly, more eagerly than she’d intended.

But the prospect was genuinely exciting!