Chapter 520: Dragon Vein Dog-man

Chapter 520: Chapter 338: Dragon Vein Dog-man

The festive mood from the enfeoffment was instantly washed away. The Lord strode powerfully at the head of the group, his face grim. A train of High Cliff Castle’s leaders followed close behind, not daring to even breathe too loudly.

Although Old Neil the Kobold was a non-combatant, everyone knew perfectly well that ever since he had learned that particular Magic, their Lord held him in extremely high regard. He had even rescinded his slave status, making him a settler of High Cliff Castle responsible for managing all the Kobold slaves.

This leader of the agriculture group lived in a wooden cabin in the Settler Area on High Cliff Castle’s hill.

As the crowd swept in, bringing the cold wind with them, two female Kobolds in thick woolen sweaters stood at the doorway. Their scales were smooth and delicate, a sign that they were young—barely adults by human standards.

Seeing the group of important figures arrive, the two female Kobolds panicked and immediately dropped to their knees. “My Lord…”

Before they could finish kneeling, Mier helped them up at a gesture from the Lord. “Old Neil is inside, isn’t he?”

“Yes, My Lord.” The two female Kobolds nodded, tears welling in their eyes. “Neil… he will soon return to the embrace of the Wilderness God.”

“You all wait here. Mier, you’re with me.” After giving the order, the Lord pushed the door open himself and walked inside, his eyes immediately falling upon the old Kobold lying in bed.

The small scales on his body had turned a pale white, and his skin was as wrinkled as an old man’s of seventy or eighty. His eyes were lifeless, and his entire being was cloaked in the gloom of twilight.

Levi knew these were the signs of a life that had reached its end, its vital spark about to be extinguished.

“My… My Lord.” The old Kobold tried to rise from the bed, but Levi stopped him.

“Old Neil, I recall you’re only in your thirties, not even forty yet. And as far as I know, the lifespan of a Kobold should be about the same as a human’s.” Levi sat down on a chair Mier pulled over for him and asked his question.

“My Lord, I’m honored you even remember my age.” The old Kobold gave a bitter smile. “But how can Wilderness People, who grow up in the harsh environment of the Wilderness, live for so long?”

“If not for your pity on a poor, helpless Wilderness Person like me, I’m afraid my soul would have returned to the Wilderness last winter.”

“I am deeply sorry that I couldn’t attend your wedding and ended up bedridden like this.”

Old Neil looked pained. Although he had long felt his life was nearing its end, he never expected it to come so suddenly.

When the first rays of sunlight had streamed through the window, he had tried to get up and prepare to attend the Lord of High Cliff Castle’s wedding, just as he would on any other day. But to his shock, he couldn’t muster an ounce of strength. Panic began to set in, but then he saw the two female Kobolds beside him, and a sense of calm washed over him.

“I absolve you for your absence,” Levi said with a wave of his hand.

He understood now. Theoretical lifespan and actual lifespan were two entirely different matters. A Kobold could live for sixty or seventy years if raised in comfort, but for those who grew up in the brutal environment of the Wilderness, almost none reached their full potential lifespan.

“My Lord, I have done many wrong things in my life.” The old Kobold’s voice became calm. In that moment, he no longer seemed like some worthless Kobold thug from the Wilderness. “I’ve led Wilderness Bandits to plunder merchant caravans and robbed weaker Tribes, but the one thing I regret the least is attempting to raid your convoy.”

“Before that, I had no purpose. It felt like I was living just for the sake of living.”

“But after I met you, everything changed. I no longer went hungry or cold, and I didn’t have to worry about being eaten by a Magical Beast from the Wilderness.”

“But from now on… I’m afraid I can no longer continue to serve you.”

Old Neil poured out all the words he had long kept in his heart.

‘Although the past was too painful to recall, at least the outcome was worth it.’

The Lord hadn’t expected this Kobold to possess such deep insights. ‘No wonder it’s said that a dying man’s words are wise.’

“Those two female Kobolds outside, they’re pregnant, aren’t they?” Levi asked, changing the subject.

He wasn’t blind. The bellies of the two Kobolds were obviously swollen. Besides, as an Elemental User, he could easily sense the tiny lives developing inside them.

“That’s right, My Lord. Th-they… they carry my seed.” Old Neil grew uncharacteristically embarrassed.

‘After all, even at his age, he was still indulging himself day and night.’

“I promise you, your descendants will live in High Cliff Castle as settlers. You need not worry that they will ever lack for food or warmth,” Levi said slowly.

“My Lord…” Just as Old Neil felt his eyes begin to fill with hot tears, the familiar voice cut him off once more.

“However…”

Levi continued in a low, serious voice:

“Old Neil, you have failed to complete the mission I gave you. To this day, not a single person in High Cliff Castle has learned the Soil Fertility Technique. For that, I must punish you.”

Hearing this, the light that had just sparked in the Kobold’s eyes dimmed once more. His lips trembled, but no words came out.

“My punishment for you is this: you will become the Head of Agriculture for High Cliff Castle, and you will serve me until the sun falls forever and the oceans run dry!” the Lord proclaimed.

At these words, the two female Kobolds and Old Neil were all momentarily stunned.

“But, My Lord, my lifespan…”

“Just tell me, are you willing?” Levi pulled out a palm-sized bottle filled with a silver liquid that shimmered like starlight in the sun.