Chapter 165: Our Home (Bonus 17 of 46)

The fire burned for a full half hour.

In the end, after all fuel turned to ash, the last flame was swallowed by the dragon.

"Burp!"

Valentina let out a satisfied burp, reverted to her dragon-human form, and walked affectionately over to Herbert.

Then her cheeks were pinched.

"Eh eh!"

"Did you have a lot of fun?"

"Uh, just average?"

Valentina blinked, her excitement undimmed despite her pinched cheeks, and boasted, "It's just that the place you picked was too small—if it weren't, I could've burned even more… eh eh!"

"Small? I think it's YOU who's small!"

Herbert sighed, loosened his grip, and didn't know what to say.

Well, on Valentina, "big chest, no brain" was indeed an accurate description.

Herbert looked at the scorching, charred earth before him and shook his head slightly.

Anyone who finished second grade knows how deep this mistake runs!

Doubling the diameter means the final area is four times larger!

This isn't even the level of "digging tunnels from both sides of the mountain and missing each other."

This is like flipping the blueprint and turning a well into a water tower!

Though absurd to the extreme, it didn't seriously disrupt the base's overall layout, so Herbert merely gave her a light scolding and let the hungry dragon lady off.

One could only say that while pioneering was inevitable, it was a bit too early.

Herbert went to the center of the village and drove a long, shaved, charcoal-blackened wooden stake into the ground.

"From this moment on, this is my territory."

The stake bore no emblem of the Silverwing Duke's family—only Herbert's personal seal: a white dove in mid-flight.

Though the title carried a teasing tone, Herbert himself felt no aversion to it.

After all, in his mind, the dove symbolized peace.

And he, deep down, had always been someone who cherished peace.

He longed for a life of peaceful farming!

Of course, if someone didn't want him to farm peacefully… then he'd help them get nuclear-plowed.

Whoever stops me from farming, I'll bury them in the soil!

"Everything begins here."

Herbert touched the seal on the stake, then nodded gently.

A safe, viable path had been confirmed, a location chosen, and a clearing cleared.

With that, the first step of site selection was fully accomplished.

"Now, after observing a bit longer, I can start looking for laborers… uh, residents."

"Building a home must rely on their own hardworking hands—I can help, but I can't do everything for them!"

"I'm not actually a contractor!"

I have the land.

I have the title.

So now, as this lord of the estate, it's time to find black… black workers.

But the question is, where can I find those willing to come here in utter poverty and build a bright future home with me?

Should I find some half-breeds in the Frost Crystal Kingdom who can't survive and have no home?

Or… should I really buy some slaves?

If slaves, I'd have to deal with slave traders—those noble patrons are dead in droves; they must be eager to find new ones, right?

Herbert pondered, then his gaze landed on Valentina, and his eyes lit up.

Hey!

"Valentina."

"Hmm?"

The hungry dragon lady rubbed her non-painful cheeks, her ears twitching as she narrowed her eyes at Herbert in alertness.

Internal defense activated!

Defense mode!

She always felt this guy was about to say something ridiculous to manipulate her again!

It annoyed Valentina.

But what annoyed her more was herself…

Though she always sensed it coming, sadly, she always willingly fell for it.

Damn it!

But Herbert ignored her vigilance, pulled her into his arms, wrapped his hand around her slender waist, and pointed to the charred land ahead:

"Look!"

"Do you see? This is our achievement!"

"Imagine—this will be our future home!"

Herbert described to her the plan he'd prepared in his mind.

Here is where the priests will live, here is my residence as lord, here is where you can build your nest, here is where new residents will stay, here is…

Although there was no PPT presentation, Herbert spoke with such flourish, painting the scene vividly, delivering it with passion and emotion!

Moreover, beyond his own natural eloquence, he had quietly applied some stirring and beguiling abilities.

Though it couldn't achieve complete control over Valentina, it would certainly produce some influence.

Valentina, who had originally had no concept of any of this, was drawn into the narration, her eyes gradually lighting up.

"Once in the future, after you leave the monastery, we can live here together forever!"

"No outsider will be able to find us, and no god will be able to cast their gaze upon this place."

"We will be the freest of all!"

Before fate, even the gods are not free; They too are guided by fate's direction.

Yet Herbert now declared that they would be beings freer than the gods themselves!

Of course this was an exaggeration, but why not?

Isn't drawing a big pie exactly this kind of thing?

After speaking passionately for half the day, when the entire sky had already turned completely dark, Herbert finally ended his sermon with lingering reluctance.

He looked at Valentina and said softly:

"So... just for my sake, for yours, for ours! Let us work together to build it from now on!"

"Alright!"

Valentina, already thoroughly immersed in that mood, nodded immediately.

"We'll build it together... hmm?"

The Hungry Dragon Young Lady caught the scent of conspiracy, alertly furrowing her brow, and said suspiciously: "Wait, aren't you tricking me again?"

"Ahahaha, what are you saying? When have I ever tricked you?"

Herbert laughed, released his embrace, let the holy scar disperse the mist, and took her hand as they walked toward the seaside.

"Don't worry, I will definitely work hard together with you."

Valentina lagged a step behind Herbert, looked at his profile, gave a humph, and nodded:

"... Hmph, fine, I'll trust you one more time!"

Although some suspicion still lingered in her heart, she ultimately chose to believe.

Because she truly had quite a strong interest in the matter of building a home together with Herbert.

Nest-building!

And building their own nest together with her mate.

For an adult female giant dragon, this matter carried quite a special significance.

Once the nest was completed and the time was ripe,

she could...

lay eggs!

(End of this chapter)