The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 164

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 164. Festival
An unexpected festival had erupted in Whitewolf Territory.
Broombar’s head tilted curiously to the left.
“What in the world is this…?”
“Chief!”
A voice called out to Broombar from behind.
A human girl with silver hair.
It was Seraphia.
“Have you just arrived?”
“Yes. But… what is all this about?”
“It’s a festival!”
“A festival?”
Broombar’s head tilted to the opposite side this time.
Admittedly, the atmosphere did seem festive.
But what I could see before my eyes was….
“Brother! You just stole my beer!”
“Stole? I simply took it.”
“That’s the same thing!”
“So what? And listen here, you fool, I told you not to call me brother.”
Crash!
The soldiers of Whitewolf Territory were fighting and brawling with each other.
The Dwarves who witnessed this laughed heartily, egging them on.
And judging by how long they’d been at it, the buildings lay in ruins, and the surroundings resembled nothing but devastation.
“…???”
What kind of festival was conducted like this?
Were human festivals so different from Dwarf celebrations?
“Ahaha… well, there were some circumstances.”
Seraphia scratched her cheek with an embarrassed smile.
Broombar felt puzzled, but quickly dismissed the thought.
Whatever the case may be.
“Anyway! I’m just so relieved that everything worked out!”
The problem of Feractrum had been resolved.
Because of that, I was able to return safely.
And that was made possible thanks to the humans of this Territory.
If only.
If this small girl hadn’t been here, what would have happened?
The Arcanoheart would have detonated without a moment’s hesitation.
Without Kai, I would not have endured that perilous moment.
And most of all, without Adrian….
This moment would never have come to pass.
The land of the Dwarves, Feractrum.
A legacy carefully preserved through countless ages would have vanished in vain.
Everything would have turned to ash, and the Dwarves would have disappeared into the shadows of history.
…At the very least, Broombar would not have been here.
Why did he stake his life for the Dwarves?
At first, I thought it was because of the Runesteel Ore Vein.
Greed and avarice.
I believed their actions were driven by desire for the immense value of Runesteel and the technological prowess of the Dwarves.
But… it was not.
What moved them was not greed for Runesteel.
-We don’t need that blasted Runesteel Ore Vein!!
Nor was it desire for the Dwarves’ technological mastery.
-We can’t abandon the precious homeland of the Dwarf people-!!
The Dwarves.
They simply wished to protect the Dwarves themselves.
For Feractrum, a land with which they had no prior connection, they fought with their lives on the line.
In truth, Broombar had been skeptical.
Could humans and Dwarves truly stand together in any genuine sense?
Now they laugh and call each other brothers, but what if one day humans betray the Dwarves again, exploit them, and cast them aside?
After all, humans are fundamentally selfish creatures, are they not?
As the Chieftain of the Dwarves, Broombar did not trust humans.
The chieftain’s position determines the survival, honor, and future of the entire Dwarf Clan.
Therefore, trusting humans was an impossibility.
So he would not trust them in the future either.
But as Broombar, a single Dwarf… well.
Whether great or small.
His life had been a series of failures anyway.
So making one more mistake now would likely change nothing.
“Allow me to introduce myself properly once more.”
Broombar opened his mouth again with resolute determination.
“I am Broombar.”
Normally, this name alone would have explained everything.
The Blacksmith, Chieftain of the Dwarves.
Master of Magitech, and more besides.
All the achievements Broombar had accumulated throughout his lifetime were woven into this name.
But in this moment.
Broombar sought to approach them as a brother and friend to humans—something he had never been before.
“…An old, stubborn, and cantankerous Dwarf.”
Broombar’s brow furrowed in quiet contemplation.
Seraphia smiled warmly and offered an elegant bow of respect.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Broombar. A dwarf of deep experience, unwavering integrity, and formidable conviction and sense of responsibility.”
Broombar’s thick lips curled upward.
Broombar promptly kicked a passing Dwarf, snatched his drinking cup, and gulped down the ale in great swallows.
“─Kwaah! I look forward to working with you, sister of fierce will and wisdom combined.”
…Somewhere in Broombar’s chest, a seed of trust had begun to sprout.
* * *
Drink, pour, fight, die.
The entire Whitewolf Territory had become one grand festival.
…Or rather, a complete pandemonium.
People had lost all sense of reason.
Throughout the Town Square, ale and laughter mixed with screams…?
“Kyeeeeeeee!!”
“Whooooooo!!”
…Festival or bedlam, who could say.
“Nothing runs thicker than blood—except ale!!”
At the Dwarf’s resounding toast, everyone downed their night ale in a single gulp.
“Kyaaaah─!!”
“Insane!! This is genuinely insane ale!!”
And all erupted in wonder and astonishment.
The Dwarves especially—their eyes were nearly splitting wide open.
“This isn’t ale!!”
“It’s a masterpiece, pure art!!”
Then they grabbed Adlern, who’d been tucked under their arm—?
‘Why is he wedged under their arm?’
In any case, they seized Adlern by the collar and began shaking him vigorously.
“We must recognize this brother as ‘Weasel-Kin’ at once!”
“Indeed! Only a true brother could craft such artistry!”
“Weasel-Kin! Our brother!!”
Adlern was instantly accepted as a brother among the Dwarves.
From that sight, I could be certain of one thing.
It was simply a matter of timing.
“P-please, spare me!!”
…The night ale strategy was the supreme tactic for enchanting the Dwarves.
And thus the chaos descended into complete pandemonium.
Within this very chaos.
Isolde and Iliana were present as well.
“Does it taste good…?”
“Quite delicious.”
“An adult flavor… isn’t it?”
“You mean it’s not bitter, yes?”
“I thought alcohol was supposed to taste bitter….”
“It’s not bitter at all. It’s sweet and nutty.”
“Really…?”
“If you’re curious, would you like to try just a little of the foam?”
“Eh?!”
“It’s delicious, isn’t it?”
“It’s incredibly delicious!!”
…When did those two become so close?
Fate truly was something you could never fully understand—
◆Broombar’s favorability toward you has increased!
A message suddenly flashed before my eyes.
◆Broombar’s favorability toward you is now in the [Trust] state.
◆A person in the [Trust] state will believe in you completely, depend on you, and follow you in all things.
◆Broombar will gladly bear any loss for your sake.
…Truly, fate was incomprehensible.
I glanced around and spotted Broombar.
It seemed he had just returned after resolving the issue in Feractrum.
Broombar was already swept up in the festival atmosphere.
He kicked a passing Dwarf out of the way, snatched a drinking cup, and chugged the chestnut ale in one go.
“Th-this is…!!”
Broombar’s eyes widened in shock at the taste of the chestnut ale, his expression frozen in surprise.
Isolde and Iliana.
Even Broombar himself.
All the heroes of the Allied Forces acknowledged the excellence of the chestnut ale.
Perhaps that’s why.
‘I’m curious about the taste.’
Even at the Royal Social Society, I had never tasted peanut wine.
Judging by the nobles’ explosive reactions, it must be far from ordinary.
“…Huh? You’ve already finished it?”
“More…! Don’t you have any more?!?”
Seeing them cry out the moment their cups emptied, it seemed the chestnut ale surpassed even the peanut wine in flavor.
The chestnut ale had also benefited from the Dwarves’ technological expertise.
And right on cue.
The Dwarves arrived carrying large wooden barrels filled with chestnut ale.
Even though they were drinking it like a spring had burst open, they kept bringing more.
‘How much did they make?’
This truly was the Dwarves’ brewing mastery at work.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
As the heavy wooden barrels settled onto the ground—
“Monster Audo should have a drink too!”
The Dwarf carrying the wooden barrel shouted and swung his fist with all his might.
In an instant, the barrel shattered, and golden beer cascaded down like a waterfall.
Another Dwarf beside him brought over a mug, filled it with the pouring autumn beer, and handed it to me.
“Go on, give it a taste!”
For the Dwarves, alcohol was far more than mere entertainment for pleasure.
It was their unique culture and ritual.
It transcended simple camaraderie—it was a ceremony of brotherhood itself.
…In other words, refusing was difficult.
Besides, I was curious about the taste anyway.
I accepted the mug.
The moment it touched my lips, a savory autumn aroma stimulated my senses.
I took a long, slow sip—
“…!”
My eyes widened involuntarily.
First… the smoothness of the swallow was extraordinary.
A sweetness that gently enveloped my tongue.
Followed by the rich, savory notes of autumn.
But was it merely sweet and savory?
It was not.
The characteristic bitter aftertaste of alcohol was distinctly present.
…The realization struck me immediately.
‘This is absolutely a massive hit!’
A flavor beyond imagination.
To exaggerate only slightly, this autumn beer alone could captivate the entire Empire.
As my eyes widened, the Dwarves erupted in laughter that shook the heavens.
“Kahahaha! The Monster Lord approves!”
“Come now, brothers! Let us all raise our glasses!!”
The Dwarves smashed all the wooden barrels down.
Crack!
The autumn beer burst forth spectacularly, pouring like a cascade, and the Dwarves began filling mugs to distribute.
“Take it, brothers!”
The Territory residents and Dwarves, united in the festive atmosphere, raised their glasses high with cheers.
And I summoned a Quest notification before my eyes instead of raising my glass.
It was the Affinity Quest with Adlern.
==[A dream cherished deep within the heart like a treasure]==
[Objective] – Successfully distribute Adlern’s alcoholic beverages
[Reward] – Adlern Affinity 「Bond Stage」 Unlocked
[Failure] – No penalty
The completion condition was not successful ‘production’.
It was successful ‘distribution’.
Considering the experience points I could gain from Quests along with the ‘Bond Skill’, this was absolutely not something to take lightly.
Fortunately, the Dwarves were currently helping with the Runesteel Ore Vein mining.
Once Broombar returned with the regeneration potions, Iliana and I would begin our work soon enough.
So before I could hook The Empire, I needed to quickly distribute the night beer and expand my foundation for the future.
‘I should move immediately.’
Just as I was about to get going—
“Um…, big brother.”
Seraphia called out to me.
When I turned my gaze, Seraphia was looking up at me with sparkling eyes.
Seraphia pointed her finger at the night beer bursting from the wooden barrel.
“Can I try some of that too?”
Her eyes were desperately hopeful.
She clearly wanted to taste it very much.
Seraphia was sixteen years old this year.
It was somewhat early for her to drink alcohol, but….
“Just one glass.”
“Really?!”
“As a Count, you’ll often find yourself at drinking gatherings with other nobles. Think of this as practice for those occasions.”
“Yes! I’ll practice really hard!”
Seraphia’s face flushed with excitement as she filled her glass.
Then she squeezed her eyes shut!
“—Here goes!”
She downed it in one smooth gulp.
Gulp, gulp.
She drank it quite well, actually.
“Phew…! …Huh?!”
…Something was wrong.
Her pale white face flushed crimson in an instant, and her eyes began to glaze over.
The moment she set down her glass with a thud—
“Hehe! Hic! Hehe…!”
…She was completely drunk.
She couldn’t even keep her body upright, swaying unsteadily.
“He… hehe….”
Despite her body wavering and unable to maintain balance—
One step, then another.
Seraphia stumbled into my arms.
I immediately tried to kick her away with Dragon Burst [E]—
◆Error: Cannot use derived skill Dragon Burst [E].
◆Cooldown of 18 hours applied.
…A skill cooldown still in effect.
I couldn’t dodge—my body and mind were shattered from the overload, leaving me unable to react in time.
Seraphia buried her face against my chest.
Every eye in the crowd snapped toward us in unison.
What is she trying to—
“Big brother….”
—What?
* * *
Morning sunlight tickled my eyelids.
Seraphia wanted to open her eyes, but her head throbbed with splitting pain.
“…Ugh, ughh….”
Unable to open her eyes, she writhed for a long while.
For some reason, her throat felt parched and burning.
“W-water….”
As she managed to murmur weakly, she felt the rim of a water glass touch her lips.
Cool water flowed into her mouth, and her mind began to clear slightly.
The moment she finally opened her eyes, handmaidens stood before her.
“Are you alright, Countess?”
Seraphia shook her head.
…Her head felt like it would split open.
Truly.
“Would you like some more water?”
She nodded, and a handmaiden carefully tilted the glass.
Gulp, gulp.
As she sipped carefully like a baby bird, one handmaiden asked hesitantly.
“Do you… remember anything at all?”
Remember?
Remember what?
Seraphia gazed at the handmaiden with half-closed eyes.
“Yesterday with Adrian—”
Before the handmaiden could finish speaking.
Memories flashed through her mind like lightning, and she spat out the water she’d been drinking.
“Ptooey!!”
The bedsheet soaked through, and the handmaidens jumped back in surprise.
Seraphia bolted upright and cried out.
“Ah, ah…! Did I… did I make some kind of mistake?!”
The handmaidens wiping away the moisture with dry cloth let out awkward laughs.
“Ahaha…”
“You certainly… did something…?”
Seraphia blinked, piecing together the fragments of memory that surfaced one by one.
First and foremost.
Fragments of memory pieced together—drunk and nestled in Adrian’s embrace.
“Brother…”
Starting with the memory of first calling Adrian “brother”—
“I don’t want to get married…”
“Let go.”
“Brother… I want to stay here forever and…”
“Let go.”
“I want to…”
“Final warning. Let go.”
“I want to stay in your arms longer…”
The memory of burrowing deeper into Adrian’s embrace.
The memory of wrapping both arms more tightly around Adrian’s back and waist, rubbing her flushed, intoxicated face against his chest.
And Adrian’s face and expression… were no longer of this world.
Murderous intent incarnate.
The memory was covered in killing intent and rage so overwhelming that even such words fell short.
Suppressed by something in that moment, yet it felt as though any trigger would unleash that terrible liberation.
But whether she knew or didn’t know.
“I love being in your arms…”
The memory of her pressing her body even closer to Adrian with a foolish smile.
“Your arms are the most comfortable… Brother, I’m going to live with you forever. I’ll never let go… hehe…”
And so, finally.
Crack!!
When all these memories surfaced—the moment Adrian’s rage achieved that terrible liberation.
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaa─!!!”
Seraphia screamed.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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