Chapter 72

Chapter 72
The drizzle had turned into a soft mist by the time the next surprise of the evening arrived. A gentle hush fell over the crowd as a golden chariot descended through the clouds, pulled by winged horses with silver manes and hooves that sparked against the air.
“Saintess Athena?” Elvie blinked beside me, already stepping forward to greet the arriving guest.
The moment the chariot touched down near the edge of the plaza, the townsfolk parted like a respectful tide. Athena stepped out gracefully, draped in flowing white and gold robes, her long braid wrapped in glowing runes that shimmered with divine magic. Even in the fading twilight, she seemed to radiate calm and command.
I wiped my hands with a towel, stepping away from the grill. “You always show up right after the food’s gone cold.”
She smirked faintly. “You always burn it before I get here.”
We shook hands, and for a brief second, her fingers lingered.
Raymond quickly handed her a warm cup of yoghurt milk, which she accepted with a curious arch of her brow. “Mana-enhanced dairy?” she asked, sipping cautiously. “This is... impressive. Smooth, sweet, and with a trace of... golden wheat essence?”
I grinned. “Triple mana recovery rate. Trade secret.”
She turned to the crowd, noting the tables, the laughter, and the unified faces of different races sharing meals like old friends.
“This town... has heart,” she said softly.
Then her tone shifted. “But I’m not here for fried chicken and snacks, Dirk.”
I nodded. “Let’s talk.”
We walked beneath the canopy near the statue of the Divine Tree where the rain couldn’t reach us. Silvarya was there, listening quietly while warming her hands over a small mana lamp.
Then Athena leaned in closer to me, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I bring a message from the High Council. My father has requested a ceasefire—temporary, against the demon lord. I mean, if you want to call him that.”
I turned slowly. “A ceasefire?”
She nodded, her eyes serious. “Both parties agreed.  The festival is in ten days, and three foreign kingdoms are sending their dignitaries to the capital. We cannot risk war overshadowing it.”
I raised a brow, rubbing my chin thoughtfully. “So… the demon lord agreed to this?”
“Yes,” Athena said, her mouth tightening. “He always does. Every year during the festival.”
“Why?” I asked, suspicion lacing my tone. “That’s not like him. He launched a sneak attack days ago. And now he's backing down because of some party?”
Athena glanced at the ornate window, as if the answers lay beyond it. She hesitated, then stepped closer, lowering her voice further.
“Because… it’s their weakest week of the year.”
My eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
“They multiply,” she said delicately, her cheeks tinged red. “If you know what I mean.”
“Huh!?” Dirk blinked, straightening in confusion.
Athena sighed and folded her arms. “Every cycle, during the first full moon of late spring, the demonkin enters a… biologically programmed fertility phase. Their focus shifts. Males become more territorial, less cooperative. Female demonkin go into protective nesting. It’s a chaos of instincts. Fighting becomes disorganised. Orders get ignored. They're prone to turn on each other.”
I blinked slowly. “You're telling me they go into... demon heat?”
Athena coughed, looking away. “I wouldn’t phrase it like that… but yes. That’s why they’ve always accepted the ceasefire during the Feast of Crowns. It's not just tradition—it’s necessity.”
I ran a hand down my face, trying to picture a horde of feral, hormonal demons fighting for cave space while nobles dined on roast boar and wine. “So basically… they’re too busy making demon babies to fight?”
She glared half-heartedly. “Dirk.”
“I’m just clarifying.”
Athena rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the smirk forming. “Yes. And that’s why we must prepare. The moment the festival ends, we expect skirmishes to resume. But for now, this is a breathing room—an opportunity.”
I nodded slowly, thoughts racing. “If dignitaries are arriving… and the demon horde is lying low… then we need to use this time to solidify our position. Trade routes. Security. Supplies.”
Athena smiled. “Exactly. And your pavilion, your town – it’s now considered a national economic asset. The King is requesting full participation in the feast. Your people, your food, your wares.”
I chuckled. “So much for a quiet recovery week.”
Athena patted his shoulder. “Rest when you’re dead.”
“Thanks,” I said dryly.
As she turned to leave, I muttered under my breath, “Demon mating season. What’s next? A zombie prom?”
Behind me, Kael coughed back a laugh, and Felix, just entering the room, muttered, “Please don’t give the dungeon any more ideas.”
Dirk exhaled deeply. Ten days. One festival. Three kingdoms watching. And a demon army… temporarily distracted by their own urges. I could work with that. “And the Council doesn’t want war smoke ruining the view?” I muttered, folding my arms.
She nodded solemnly. “You’re not wrong. But the King has also sent a formal request—he wants your goods available in the mainland’s festival square.”
“Elaborate,” I said, eyebrow raised.
“The dignitaries—especially the Queen of Astariel and the Trade Prince of Maricel—have heard rumours. Mana-enhancing milk. Magical water. The ‘fluffy bread of Robinson Town.’ Fried chicken dipped in earth honey. Your Humvee armour and magical tools.”
“So they want to taste and inspect?” I muttered.
“They want to buy,” Athena corrected, her eyes sharp. “And if the King can broker that deal, it strengthens his court—especially with the nobles still scheming behind his back.”
“Let me guess,” I said, sighing, “he wants me to parade my wares like a merchant prince at a circus.”
She leaned forward. “He trusts you. Your alliance—your success—has turned the tides. If you back him during the feast, you might buy peace without another battle.”
Silvarya stirred beside us. “Or they’ll wait until your tables are full to poison the wine.”
We both turned to her, surprised at the bitterness in her tone.
She smiled softly. “I’m... remembering things.”
“Even so,” Athena said gently, “this invitation isn’t a trap. Not yet. Dirk, the King is desperate to show unity and strength. Let your goods speak for you—speak for us.”
I stared out over the town as another cheer echoed near the noodle booth. Kids waved pieces of fried chicken on skewers like flags. Elvie and Ella were organising lines for seconds while Karl bragged about being “the prince of mamons.”
“Ten days?” I asked.
Athena nodded.
I gave her a crooked smile. “Then tell the King... Robinson Goods is officially going global. But I’m not stepping foot in the capital without my own guards, my own cooks, and my own table.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” she said with a grin.
As she stepped away to give her formal blessing to the gathered crowd, Silvarya tugged lightly at my coat.
“You’ll be careful?” she asked, voice soft.
“Always,” I said, reaching into my pack and pulling out a small box.
“What's that?” she asked.
“Something for the capital.” I opened it to reveal a new kind of candy—crystallised mana shards in various fruity flavours.
She laughed gently, and for a moment, I forgot the rain, the war, and the politics. Just her laughter, warm and bright, cutting through the gloom.
Ten days. A feast. A ceasefire.
But in my gut, I knew—
This was only the eye of the storm.
The moment Saintess Athena's chariot disappeared into the misty sky, I stood by the watchtower steps, rain pattering down gently on my coat as the last of the festival laughter began to fade into a quiet hum of music and flickering lanterns. The ceasefire had bought us time—but it also meant the eyes of the world would soon turn toward my town.
I tapped open the Guardian Screen.
\[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION\]
You have completed the Hidden Quest: \[Duke of Demonland - Elimination\].
+3,000 Guardian Points
+8,000 Gold Coins
+1 Rare Item: Dragon-etched Soul Crystal
\+ New Quest Available: \[Feast of Crowns Delegation – Impress the Dignitaries\].
Objective: Prepare goods and represent your town during the capital's annual event.
Bonus: Political Reputation + Trade Expansion if successful.
My eyes narrowed.
“I guess the system wants me to dress to impress.”
Two Hours Later – Robinson Town Treasury Hall
“Withdraw ten thousand gold coins,” I told Agnes, who blinked behind her glasses like I’d just gone insane.
“That’s... almost a quarter of our entire liquid reserve.”
“Yep,” I said with a grin. “And I’m about to turn that into the biggest marketing campaign this world’s ever seen.”
She didn’t question it again.
\[GUARDIAN STORE – PURCHASES CONFIRMED\]
✔ 2,000 crates of instant cup noodles, candies and chocolate (multi-flavor: beef, chicken, spicy seafood)
✔ 5,000 boxes of assorted flavored mamons and powdered milk
✔ 800 gallons of mana-enhancing yogurt milk and water bottle (cold-sealed, sweet and plain variants)
✔ 3,000 packs of crispy fried chicken (freeze-dried, for reheating)
✔ 10,000 mana-enhancing candy pops, gums and ketchup ✔ 20 full catering kits (portable food stations, grills, fryers)
✔ 2000 collapsible merchant stalls, tents, pillows and blankets
✔ 1,000 sets of Robinson Town Festival Banners, balloons and Flags
✔ 100 full tactical gear sets for the delegation's security
✔ 2 Humvees (refurbished, with added enchanted plates and long-range mana comms)
✔ 1 stage platform with holographic display function
✔ 300 souvenir gift boxes with Robinson Town logo
Gold Deducted: 9,990
But that wasn’t all. I looked at the rewards again, especially the glowing item floating at the top of the screen.
\[RARE ITEM: Dragon-Etched Soul Crystal\]
A relic bound with ancient divine draconic energy. Allows enchantment or awakening of a dormant guardian soul.
I tapped it. The light pulsed... and then faded gently. I’d need to show this to Silvarya later. There was something about that crystal that hummed the same way her presence did.
For now—focus.
Next Morning – Town Square
I stood on a platform in front of the military barracks as my team gathered: Kael, Felix, Karl, Raymond, Elvie, Ella, and the core commanders of the guard.
Behind us, dozens of crates were being loaded onto enchanted wagons and the Humvees. Town banners flapped. The air was charged with preparation.
“We don’t just go there to sell food,” I began, voice firm. “We go there to tell the world that Robinson Town stands strong. That we survived war, demons, and betrayal. And now—we feed nations.”
The cheer that erupted from the workers, vendors, and guards echoed off the newly repaired walls.
Elvie elbowed me lightly. “You’re actually kind of good at this.”
Ella added with a grin, “Should we call you Lord Merchant now?”
“Call me Dirk,” I said. “The guy who just spent ten thousand gold on yogurt and fried chicken.”
That got a laugh out of them. I brought around 50 warriors and 30 assistant merchants with me.
Raymond approached, clipboard in hand. “The first convoy will leave at dawn. We’ll have rotating shifts all the way to the capital. Should arrive in three days.”
Kael stepped forward, his tone serious. “There’s chatter in the winds. Some nobles are angry that the king favoured your invitation. Be careful, Dirk.”
“I’ve got twelve Humvees and enough mamon to cause a sugar riot,” I said. “Let them come.”