Chapter 186 - After Winter Set In (2/2)

Having the aid of the “otherworldly cement” that Rebecca came up with, together with the support of Heidi’s magic, as well as Nicholas Egg’s control over metal building-materials — the construction of the new residence was completed at a speed far faster than Gawain had estimated. A brand-new three-level manor sat on the originally empty space near the tent —— no feudal lord’s castle had been completed this fast in history. This naturally ought to be credited to the building materials that Rebecca came up with, but Gawain believed that the more important reason was that he hadn’t, like those conventional aristocrats, insisted on using natural boulders to construct the castle or even having the castle built on a mountain.

Constructing a villa on level ground using bricks was far easier than constructing a castle on the top of a mountain using rocks.

Gawain knew that the purpose of the construction of conventional castles was to resist enemies. Instead of calling them a certain residence, using “military fort” as a description would be even more apt. However, he did not intend to build that kind of castle in the Cecil territory —— firstly, it was a waste of money and manpower; secondly, he couldn’t get accustomed to living in those cold and hard rock houses, and thirdly, he didn’t need it.

If they really were to encounter an emergency situation, the ancient facility in the mountain would definitely be more hardy and reliable than any kind of castle of the present era.

This three-level house was probably the most luxurious big building in the territory, but if it was placed amongst the aristocratic residences of the current era, perhaps only “overly plain” could be used as an adjective for it. Gawain’s personal design allowed it to cast off the various extravagant yet uncomfortable drawbacks of a conventional aristocratic house. The entire structure was arranged with the aim of being practical and useful. When Gawain finally moved into the bright and spacious and walled study, he instantly felt that his brain-draining design previously was all worth it.

Although there weren’t any marble window sills with splendid carved ornamentation, no sparkling crystal sculptures, no vault drawings or exquisite columns in the style of the northern states — he had two magic laboratories and a mechanical workshop, and this beautiful big study before his eyes —— this study was walled!

Amber was also sauntering in the study. Miss Half-Elf seemed to be even more pleased with this residence than Gawain was. She checked the lock on every door and then inspected all the cabinets and drawers in the study. Finally, she opened the window facing the “middle square”. With her head bowed, looking at the courtyard below, she said with admiration from the depth of her heart, “In the future, I can finally climb through the window…”

“Go next door to be crazy.” Gawain looked up from his book and glanced at this half-elf. “Remember to use the door.”

“Tch, I was just making a joke. Why are you taking it so seriously?” Amber staggered to the front of Gawain’s desk. “But then again, you’re really weird. I thought you’d stayed in the tent for so long because you wanted to build another magnificent fortress or palace. In the end, you only constructed such a place?”

“Building a palace in a territory with a total population of a mere few thousand?” Gawain chuckled. “I’ve yet to reach that level of extravagance.”

“I heard the stir at the riverbank square earlier. I think the last batch of refugees has finally arrived.” Amber’s ears quivered. “You can finally be at ease this time… Say, what is it that you keep looking down at?”

Gawain lifted his hand and held up the big book with a hard cover and bronze title that he’d been reading since the start. “A book that is rather popular in the central and southern regions. It is said that 70% of the readers are aristocrat madams and young ladies.”

Amber’s expression instantly became weird. “A book that madams and young ladies like to read? You actually like reading such— Damn!”

Her comment became an exclamation before she could finish it. It was because the title of that book was truly eye-catching: Gawain Cecil’s Romantic Affairs —— The Story of a Hero and Various Princesses.

Then, Miss Half-Elf’s expression became even odder. “This… this interest of yours…”

“What interest? I’m studying my own life biography.” Gawain sighed. “Of course, it’s really a surprise to be able to see such things…”

The sigh in Gawain’s heart was even heavier: rising from his coffin of 700 years and seeing his own book, this accomplishment was really unreplicable.

Amber immediately leaned over slyly. “Hey, hey, let me see, let me see… Turns out you still have such stories circulating? That bunch of book writers are really… tsk, tsk…”

“It was widely regarded that arranging a heap of romantic affairs for ancient heroes is both a kind of praise and embellishment of their lives. After all, those people were dead. Neither would they jump out to criticize mistakes and give them trouble. Moreover, the heroes who’d been prettified would most likely be very pleased with this. ——When they thought this way, they certainly didn’t expect me to crawl back to the living.” Gawain pursed his lips. “I still admired them quite a bit. I only lived for a total of thirty-five years. I only had one wife in my entire life. They were actually able to arrange more than eighty female soulmates in my thirty-five years into a compact and intense life. How the f*ck did they shove this name list in?”

“He’s cursing, he’s cursing, eh he!”

“Eh he, your foot! Go get Pittman here!”

Amber was instantly stunned. “This book is his? That old pervert…”

“It’s not his.” Gawain gave Amber a sidewards glance. “I want to ask him what race the ‘sea demons’ mentioned in this book are. ——This is the only one out of numerous biographies that mentioned I had experiences of going out to sea. But in that ‘experience’, it mentioned a species that I completely do not know!”