A Journey That Changed The World.

Archer watched the older man think for a second before giving him a price, ''That would be eighty gold for everything. There are some extremely rare metals I picked up on the mainland before migrating to Draconia.''

Without answering, he took out a pouch of gold coins and handed it to the merchant while sucking all the goods onto his Item Box. ''Thank you.''

Following that, the couple continued walking through the market as the older woman was excitedly checking over a bar of metal that gave off a strange purple glow which caught his attention as he had never seen anything like it.

Archer glanced down at her with a smile as he questioned, ''What is that stuff?

''It's called Cosmic Metal,'' the dwarf woman replied in a cheerful voice. ''It falls from the sky in small amount, its good for crafting artifacts or jewelry that can be imbued with mana as a storage device.''

''Interesting,'' he replied as he spotted a tavern in the distance causing him to question, ''Do you want to go get a drink beautiful?''

Dellah turned to him with a big smile as she teased him, ''Yes, I could do with a could ale. You wouldn't be trying to get into this old woman's panties, husband?''

Archer started laughing when hearing this causing him to slap the curvy dwarf's fat ass which made her yelp, ''Don't do that!'' she exclaimed but the expression said anything but that.

Following that, the couple approached the tavern only to see people outside drinking while taking loud like drunks normally do. Dellah led him inside while holding his hand, ''Come on handsome, we might find something that can get you drunk.''

Once they were inside the establishment, other people filled the place, which annoyed the duo, but Dellah bulldozed through the crowds until reaching the bar where they sat down as the dwarf woman sighed.

''The taverns in Dragonheart were always busy,'' she said while leaning up against him. ''When I used to be busy with work, I'd come to a tavern to get away from the Ironfoot girls.''

Archer started laughing when hearing this, ''That's understandable, everyone needs a break,'' he replied as a tavern owner approached.

''Welcome to the Dragon's Den Tavern. I'm the owner, Steven. How can I help you?'' the older man greeted them without recognizing the couple.

Dellah smiled before answering as she put a few gold coins on the side. ''Bring me two mugs of your strongest ale.''

Steven nodded as he went to sort out their order after taking the payment, causing Archer to comment when he was far enough away. ''He didn't recognize me? Which felt refreshing, if I'm honest.''

''Yes, you're like a mythical figure to a majority of people,'' the older dwarf answered while scanning the room. ''All they know is a powerful dragon looks after them and he has a love for beautiful women.''

Archer started laughing. ''You're not wrong, gorgeous, but I'm not a mythical being. I'm real,'' he said with a chuckle.

Steven soon returned with two large tankards of strong, the pungent aroma wafting through the air as he approached. The owner set them down before the pair, then moved on to serve other patrons.

Dellah grabbed one of them as Archer grabbed another just as the older woman started drinking, causing her eyes to go wide with surprise as she commented, ''This stuff is delicious, try some handsome.''

Without a word, he grabbed the tankard and began gulping down the sweet yet potent liquid which he enjoyed. He savored every fiery drop as it burned his throat, relishing the experience before quickly emptying the mug.

'This stuff is strong but won't affect me,' he mused.

The dwarf woman's eyes widened in surprise before a radiant smile lit up her striking face. ''You drink like an old dwarf fella! Come on, we'll get more,'' she exclaimed with a hearty laugh.

Archer couldn't help but burst into laughter at her enthusiasm. Meanwhile, she finished her tale with a satisfying sigh, prompting him to shake his head with a grin. ''You're crazy, Dellah, but in the best way possible,'' he said warmly.

Steven soon returned with more ale, a welcome sight as the pair kept drinking, the cozy warmth of the tavern embracing them like an old friend. Dellah lifted her tankard high, her laughter ringing out like a melody as she toasted, ''To strong ale—and to us!''

Archer smirked and clinked his tankard against hers. ''And to keeping up with a beautiful dwarf's drinking pace,'' he teased before taking a hearty swig.

The sweet burn of the ale hit his throat, and he chuckled as Dellah slammed her empty tankard down. ''Come on, handsome! Is that all you've got?'' she challenged, her cheeks flushed with both drink and delight.

''Not even close,'' he shot back, draining his tankard in one go.

The night spiraled into a haze of laughter, exaggerated tales, and an arm-wrestling match on the table. By the time they ordered another round, Archer couldn't remember the last time he'd laughed so hard.

While sitting there, he glanced at Dellah, who had a beautiful smile as she down her drink like it was water. This shocked him, but soon the two of them continued until the mature dwarf was tipsy.

Archer paid Steven for the rest of the drink before leaving the tavern as the moon hung high in the sky. While standing in the cold air, he quickly wrapped a thick cloak around the short woman who smile.

''Thank you, husband,'' she said with a love-filled smile. ''Do you want to stay in an inn that overlooks the Dragonfire River?''

''Yes. Aisha told me it was the best place to stay in the capital,'' Archer answered before the two continued walking as Dellah led the way.

The mature dwarf grabbed his arm and pressed herself against him. Her giant boobs brushed against his arm. The spark of desire ignited instantly, but he shook his head, smirking to himself.

'She knows exactly what she's doing, but I can't help loving it,' he thought.

Following that, the duo strolled through the cobbled city streets; the night casting a magical glow over the bustling metropolis. Lanterns hung from ornate iron posts, their soft golden light illuminating the streets.

High above, the spires of ancient buildings reached toward a sky glittering with stars. Dellah tugged at his sleeve, pointing toward a fountain in the square. The water danced under the moonlight, its spray catching the colors of nearby mana lanterns.

''Look at that! It's like the city itself is alive,'' the older woman said, her voice filled with wonder.

''It does,'' he replied while admiring his capital.

Archer marveled at how far Draconia had come. A land once under the control of a dead empire was now thriving with life and growth. Cities were springing up across the island, accompanied by countless towns and villages that dotted the vast landscape.

'I can't believe a boy from London built all this,' he thought with disbelief. 'Funny how life works.'

As the couple walked toward the inn where they planned to stay, his senses swept over the island, taking in its remarkable transformation. Over a hundred cities stood proudly, nearly a thousand towns thrived in their shadows.
Your adventure continues at empire

Next was the uncountable number of villages sprawled across the land, each a testament of the spirit and resilience of its people. It was a sight that filled him with awe and a deep sense of pride for the world they were building.

''What are you thinking about, handsome?'' Dellah suddenly asked while looking up at him with a big smile.

''It's hard to believe that I built all this on a spur-of-the-moment idea,'' Archer replied while smiling to himself. ''I came from a terrible family but still found happiness in this life and gave other people a peaceful place to grow.''

He pointed toward a family of seven. Two parents were walking with five children, which shocked Dellah. ''It's unlike the mainland, where people struggle to survive so they can't have many offspring.''

''That was the point, my love,'' Archer replied as they approached the inn. ''In twenty years, Draconia will have so many people that they will have to move to other provinces of the empire.''

The older dwarf agreed with a nod. ''Yes, and those apartment blocks of yours will help. I've seen a city up north full of them. It seems the city lord loves the idea,'' she said.

Archer halted in his tracks, his eyes fixed on the shimmering waters of the Dragonfire River. In that moment, everything came rushing back to him: the lies, the hatred, and the heavy burden of being branded the world's enemy.

It was a weight he had carried for far too long. 'I'll bring all this to Thrylos,' he thought, his violet eyes glowing with fierce determination. 'And show them how the common person can thrive under my rule.'

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