Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 769 - 710 Old Friends from the Old City

The brawl between the two Black Dragons did not affect Lyle, and after confirming that the plan was proceeding normally, he left. The dream game was now his main focus; the planning for the Black Dragon Kin was just a part of it. The abilities of the Dream Crafter had been validated with a little surprise added. Now equipped with the capabilities of the Phantom Clan and having entered the Four Locks, he met the hardware requirements for game development; Lyle began to work on designing professional modules for the Dream Elves to experience.

Some negotiations, some arrangements, some friendly collaborations—all required Lyle to run around personally.

The Scansor Mountains, seldom visited by humans, were still displaying a tendency to become the "Mortal Cliff." Verdant greenery climbed upwards, while the highest peak’s bald crown was covered in ice and snow.

Lyle once again savored one of Mr. Scholar’s titles, World Builder.

Liveser and Dreya, nations under the care of the Twilight Memories royalty, lands of cavalry and rangers. Uncle Ralph was still the honorable Protector of the Nation here. A clear, winding boundary line existed between the wilderness and the forest; Dreya’s solid city walls, elongated by the sunlight, appeared even taller. Standing within the city walls, one could hear the constant bleak wind from outside. Everything seemed unchanged, but with careful observation, one could find more rangers among the crowds and arrow buckets piled in the corners of weapon shops. The footsteps passing over the eaves provoked the shop owner’s scolding, but he quickly used it as an excuse to drink a large cup of fruit wine.

Lyle was taken by the knights to the central tower, and after several handovers, he knew he had encountered acquaintances. The rough bracers lifted his arm, and the grainy feel like touching sand made Lyle realize their identity. Even if he hadn’t noticed that, the iconic tower shield and super heavy armor also betrayed the knights’ identity. They were the Dreya Royal Knights, the Queen’s protectors, Defender Knights empowered by the king’s might.

"It’s been a long time, gentlemen," Lyle greeted, signaling that he was a guest, not a prisoner being transported.

The Defender Knights of Dreya’s Queen Lina were not only Dreya’s highest combat force but also Lina of Dreya’s personal fanatical support group. Because of past misunderstandings, Lyle had shared quite a few laughs with them.

"Hmph, are you here to see Lina?" the knight put Lyle down, and only then did they walk together like friends.

"Yes, I’m here to see Queen Lina and Princess Kaila of Liveser, for some official business."

Lyle had his doubts that they heard the latter part of his statement; they just hummed meaninglessly and then stuffed a gift box into Lyle’s hands.

"Having the nerve to visit without a gift, how audacious! Even though you forgot, we prepared for you. Lina has recently taken a liking to collecting cute trinkets; don’t be rude, kid. Be careful, these are rare imports from the City of Wandering!"

Lyle looked at the long and rhombus-shaped gift boxes in his hands, feeling their weight. They were probably a short sword and a dagger—not light, but certainly cute compared to the large cavalry spear that Her Majesty usually wielded. Holding the gift box, Lyle reached the tower of the Dreya Royal Family’s castle. Before he could step inside, an explosive bang sounded overhead, and a figure flew out of the tower, conveniently plummeting beside Lyle.

The figure was tall, with his head buried in a hole, obscured from view. He lost his balance, kneeling on the ground, giving a thumbs up with his right hand before pulling his head out of the hole.

"We meet again, Knight Benjamin."

The first knight of Dreya, the Queen’s loyal dog, Benjamin, considered himself an elder to Queen Lina, treating his contemporary as a child, although Lina herself found the guy to be an annoying creep. Hearing Lyle’s voice, Benjamin, covered in dust, stared at Lyle with wide eyes. First, he was stunned; then tears squeezed from the corners of his eyes, and a bear hug nearly strangled Lyle to death.

"You rascal, have you finally found your way back? Let’s get this straight, if you can’t recite ’Lina Lina is the Cutest in the World,’ I won’t agree to this marriage!"

"Cut it out, I’m in Dreya for serious matters!"

"What are you talking about! The future of the queen is Dreya’s most important affair, and the most serious matter is the queen’s marriage! Quick, someone marry off my Lina; if she keeps going like this, she’ll really become a workaholic who sacrifices herself for the country!"

The conflict between the members of the Dreya Royal Family seemed unresolved, as the irate Queen Lina refused any assistance from the late King Reed, the knight. After the nation emerged from the crisis of the holy light’s judgment, she became even busier.

Benjamin was furiously rubbing his face, his eyes revealing a state verging on hysteria. The First Knight was deeply concerned about the Queen’s succession issue, but at this rate, it wasn’t just her lineage that was worrisome—Lina’s personal health was becoming a cause for concern as well.

Lyle shifted the gift box to one hand and sidestepped past Benjamin through the large doors, giving the knight a pat on the back as he did so.

"I’ve brought a new agreement that, if successful, should help optimize the livelihood of Dreya’s citizens, so step aside, big lug of a knight."

"Can’t you help all the way and turn this public affair into a private one? Damn it, considering Lina’s circle of male acquaintances, I’m so pissed I want to step in myself!"

"Why not?" Lyle raised both hands in approval of the suggestion, just to avoid future encounters with the Defender Knight that would inevitably involve being subjected to Lina-related indoctrination.

"That’s absolutely out of the question! My feelings for Queen Lina have transcended the love of this world! Not only do I want to assist her in household and child-rearing duties, but even after death, I intend to turn into ashes to guard over her."

"...That’s disgusting."

Lyle climbed up the spiral staircase, with the doting knight naturally following suit, launching into a new round of preaching. Lyle thought hard about how to interrupt his incessant chatter.

"So, why were you thrown out again?"

"I want to take off Lina’s clothes." Benjamin spoke seriously, his eyes gleaming in the dimly lit corridor.

"During our gladiator fights in the City of Wandering, we formed a close bond with the Black Abyssal Demons, and I noticed that members of the opposite sex from the Demon Race have an allure that Queen Lina lacks. It must be the clothes! Lina has worn that heavy cavalry armor for too long. Although she wears cute clothes in private, in public she always presents herself as an iron tin can."

"The citizens have forgotten Queen Lina’s beauty, they only describe this young girl with words like ’steady and powerful.’ How can I accept such a painful reality! Every night, I lie in front of the youthful portrait of the queen stolen from the old king, washing my face with tears."

"I must strip away that layer of hideous armor, letting Queen Lina’s beauty blossom like a flower!"

Lyle nodded habitually.

"And then you were thrown out, along with your dreams crashing to the ground."

Benjamin clenched his fists.

"I am the Defender Knight, my convictions are firm as iron and heavy as mountains."

"Don’t apply your knightly spirit in such matters."

As Lyle grumbled, he pushed open the doors to the Queen’s office area.