Chapter 169: [Day 144] – “Home” (2/2)

While Lily was a very salacious woman in her mannerisms, she was still a human woman. That was one thing I needed to remind myself; that she was not Mia.

Mia was a monster, and a greenskin to boot. That meant she was extremely forward, although presently shy at times, with what she wanted. There wasn't the same courting and relationship building that there were with what I was familiar with back in my human life. It simply just wasn't the same. And I couldn't treat it as such.

Smiling back at the wily woman that had managed to entrance me, I met her gaze which now conveyed a cute pout; obviously, a ploy to make me feel guilty, in which she was very successful.

”How about you allow a humble fellow to take such a fine woman as yourself out on a tomorrow evening date?” I asked in my best mock impersonation of a gentleman. ”I have quite a lot to take care of I'm guessing, especially with the... uhm, handful of monsters we've brought back.”

Giving me a surprised but pleasant glance over, Lily's grin turned into a genuine smile.

”My oh, my - what a refined man we've got here,” She giggled. ”I would love to.”

Letting her down, I watched as she greeted Bob with a pat on his chest as that was about as high as she could reach. With Mia, it was quite different as she practically swept her off her feet with her having to bend down to hug her much shorter stature. It was pleasant to see those two gettings along so well as they were already talking excitedly to each other like friends getting back together.

Only a little more than an hour later, and essentially all the rest of the monsters had arrived at the base of the newly rebuilt settlement, and I could already see the unabashed faces of awe coming from both sides. Those who had already spent a considerable time here in the basin and helped start the settlement stared with awe at the sea of new monsters, whereas the new monsters gawked with open amazement at the surroundings that was the paradise-like basin.

It also brought my attention to a certain figure that had me do a double-take. About as tall as me, lanky, and furry, like Rykas the advisor, this individual was a troll-subrace and one of the important workers I had recruited. Mar'v, an architect and city planner by my understanding, was someone appointed by Nosferas himself.

In fact, Mar'v was one of the few apprentices who had been mastered under the late master craftsman who had laid out the infrastructure for most of Ebongrave, so my expectations were quite high for this individual who had otherwise been very muted in the few interactions I had with him.

But the main thing about him that caught my attention was that... he was... crying?

”Ahem... uh - Mar'v?” I tried hesitantly, unsure how to handle the crying man. ”Something wrong?”

He just looked at me, peeling his gaze off the settlement and the sprawling surroundings.

”I-I...” He muttereed, his face almost seeming like it was twisted between euphoria and injustice.

A long silent moment passed, no additional words coming from the man. Restraining myself from letting out a groan of exasperation as these master craftsmen and workers seemed to get more eccentric by the second they were in my presence, I put on a placid but consoling smile.

”What is it?” I asked.

”This place is... beautiful! A lush untamed paradise - a unique habitat breeding unique resources! Perfect locality to uncontested waters, and so much more!” B the end, he was practically preaching but his face suddenly turned dark and his tone somber. ”B-but... this!”

He pointed an accusatory finger at the settlement behind me.

”It's blasphemy! It's a waste of the gods' gifts, look at it, its as if a gods' blasted goblin built all of this!” He shouted, drawing awkward glances from nearby monsters.

I had expected him not to think much of the settlement beforehand as it was quite bareboned and we had made do with what we had, but this was this reaction was beyond anything I had imagined.

Drily listening to the troll's rambling, one thought went through my head.

”I have a sneaking suspicion these next few days won't be as relaxing as I had been hoping them to be...”