Surviving The Fourth Calamity

After the first caravan departed, the number of caravans braving the Undead Swamp began to grow.

The most hectic trade journey of the Northern Continent before the winter had officially commenced, and not even the onset of the deadliest Dead of Winter would see the caravans dwindle.

The name of Agleya, the Goddess of the Sea, also began to spread throughout the North from their lips.

The North had many beast tamers capable of training Flying Eagles to carry messages, so even minor incidents spread quickly, let alone the emergence of a new deity, which was a major event.

However, to Hill's great surprise, Ambori displayed no reaction whatsoever.

After inquiring for a few days, even Marsha came back with a look of astonishment, informing Hill and Agleya that the Goddess of the Near Seas hadn't been notified at all.

Even the Luskanese who came specially to drink did not bring the news, and Hill remembered there was an Ambori Temple in their area, and they did not take kindly to domains of the Orderly Good Alignment like his.

It was only the irresistible strong liquor that brought so many leather-clad, haughty Luskan merchants to this place.

In Hill's tavern, the enormous oak barrels behind the bar were actually inexhaustible barrels he had refined. As long as there was enough energy from the gemstones placed beneath the barrels, turning the copper tap would yield various beverages.

Apart from the simplest ale, Hill knew dozens of brewing recipes, and he was never short on ingredients.

So, inspired by the spice bags, he had devised these inexhaustible barrels himself.

Though they were called inexhaustible, the gemstones at the bottom of the barrels could only last for three years before needing to be replaced.

When Hill had free time, he would refine some semi-finished barrels inscribed with Runes, and later, by placing gemstones and pouring in the alcoholic base, they could be put back to use.

Terry had decided to carry on as the barkeeper and wasn't eager to build his Dragon Nest, leisurely reviewing the blueprints Marsha had given him every day.

Hill could only promise that as long as Terry managed the tavern, half of the business earnings would be his; thus, Terry became even more motivated.

For now, no one dared to get drunk and cause a ruckus in this place, as the floating castle in the sky exuded a suppressive aura, causing even the Luskanese to behave themselves.

But as time passed, drunkards looking for trouble would inevitably appear, and Terry was eagerly waiting for the first one to step out of line!

Being able to earn money for the first time, Terry was excited and didn't even return home to sleep, watching intently every day for someone to start trouble, so he could make an example of them.

For now, the caravans were passing by infrequently, but once they realized the barkeeper was on call 24 hours a day, they would surely suspect something amiss with his identity.

However, Hill didn't expect Terry's cover to be blown so soon, and both he and Terry were caught off guard.

No one could have anticipated a Dragon Person clad in warrior's armor would swagger into the tavern.

The caravans had been passing normally for just a week when a Silver Dragon Person, a subordinate of Terry's dragon parents, spotted Terry serving drinks.

Perhaps because Hill's territory had been established, the major powers of the Northern Continent had sent observers, and as rulers of the North, Velara Malendith and Diszedroten Silverywing were bound to send subordinates.

But Hill felt that they must have known about their son following him for a while, otherwise, they had human subordinates, and many harpists in the Silvermoon Alliance were serving the dragon couple.

There was no need for them to send their own personal guard.

However, when the Dragon Person saw Terry serving drinks, his normally impassive dragon face seemed to freeze.

Although he didn't say much, the Silver Dragon Person's extremely respectful demeanor and the almost blurted 'young master' made the traders sitting nearby drinking take notice of the truth.

Merchants brave enough to embark on long journeys were seldom fools; such people would have already perished at the hands of bandits or fellow travelers.

Although they didn't show it overtly, after that incident, no one complained in front of Terry about why the entertainment wasn't provided by real women and the like.

There were no more incidents of people getting blindingly drunk.

Even if Terry was from a Kind Alignment of Giant Dragons, no one thought he wouldn't grab all the money from a drunkard when tossing him out to pay for his drinks.

This was certainly not a place to get drunk.

As for Terry, after being discovered by his father's subordinate, he came to Hill to purchase several inexhaustible barrels filled with different strong liquors to send back with the Silver Dragon Person.

Hill, concerned, asked him if he had prepared a gift for his Gold Dragon Mom.

Otherwise, once those barrels were sent back, even without the influence of Dragon Madness, those two dragons would end up fighting.

Terry was stunned for a few minutes before he understood Hill's point. His expression shifted, almost deciding to forgo giving his father's gift.

In the end, he reluctantly decided to send one type of gold colored Pearl back to his mom from his treasure.

Agleya looked at Terry with a strange expression in her eyes, and after he had left, the Sea God commented with an ethereal voice, "Yesterday I teased him about treating trash as treasure, showing him the Large Pearl I held to illustrate the difference.

Terry even said he wanted to learn to dive so he could search the Deep Sea for Magical Beast Shells to collect Pearls himself.

I remember he put those Pearls into a box labeled for sale.

And now he's decided to give them to his mom? And not even all of them, just one type?"

Hill couldn't help but laugh, "Terry's nature is already quite generous. You need to get used to it, Agleya; that's just the way dragons are.

What belongs to them, even if it's truly trash, is not to be touched by anyone else, let alone actual jewelry.

"His mom would be so touched if she got her hands on it, it's truly something to boast about for a lifetime."

"I thought Terry was different. Isn't he normally splitting money with Dad? He doesn't seem as stingy as the books say!" Agleya asked curiously.

Hill couldn't help but laugh, "That's because Terry really sees me as his most sincere friend.

So with me, he's willing to reluctantly abide by these rules.

You have to understand how painful it is for a Giant Dragon to tolerate parting with most of the money he receives, even if that money was originally mine.

So I specially configured the cash register to not only calculate the price and give change automatically but also to directly split the incoming money into two compartments.

Terry doesn't have to personally hand over the money that's meant for me, which makes things much easier for him.

Didn't you notice? All the alcohol here is priced with even numbers, just to make the splitting easier."

But why are you bothering him again? What did he do to annoy you?"

"He came to me and said how nice it would be if you really were his father," Agleya grumbled with a pout, "I think he's got his eye on Hill's Dad's barrels of liquor!"

Hill smiled helplessly; Terry seemed to have picked up on Agleya's slight possessiveness, always trying to get one over on her, and thus had to accept retaliatory strikes as his own fault.

It didn't take long for Hill to understand why Terry had gifted his Silver Dragon father a barrel full of strong liquor.

The Silver Dragon People soon arrived with a squad of followers, demanding to buy a batch of semi-finished liquor barrels.

Hill had no intention of going through with this deal.

If these were actually sold, the entire luxurious liquor business of Toril would go bankrupt.

Especially the so-called Elf Wine, an apple wine that could sell for 500 gold a bottle.

But Terry cheerfully struck a big deal with his dad and then came back to share the profits with Hill fifty-fifty.

Hill was almost shocked when he heard the price Terry quoted.

He was really fleecing his own father!

"That's because he has a few types of liquor that are almost extinct," Terry said, pursing his lips, "Those are from back when Myst Zono's city still existed.

My dad always wanted to drink them but was a bit reluctant. Now with these barrels, he can finally have his desire met!

He'd pay any amount for them.

To him, liquor is more valuable than gold.

Dear friend, could you help poor, impoverished Terry? I remember you've made several hundred in stock!"

"No more than ten barrels," Hill thought for a moment and then agreed, "But you can't sell any more, Terry! Didn't you just come into a treasure?"

Terry was silent for a few seconds before he answered, "Dear Hill, a treasure is a treasure; it's not money that can be spent.

For a dragon, only the gold, silver, and copper coins earned through work are spendable, whereas treasure, especially unexpected treasure, must absolutely not be spent.

It's financial luck!"

Hill was speechless and had to let him be.

Following this little episode, the days in the Undead Swamp finally got on the right track.

And to everyone's surprise, Agleya's Temple began exhibiting a faint divine light even before the Dead of Winter arrived.

This indicated she had at least a thousand shallow believers willing to sing praises of Agleya.

Agleya, just as surprised as Hill, watched in astonishment.

"She's really a nuisance!" Agleya muttered, "Is this deliberately to make me fight with Ambori sooner?"

"The Undead Swamp freezes over during the Dead of Winter, doesn't it?" Hill said after some thought, "Even if Ambori discovered it, she'd have to wait until spring to come knocking."

"What?" Agleya exclaimed in surprise, "She can't even cross seas that are frozen? Isn't thawing the most basic ability of Water Deities?"

Hill couldn't help but pat her little head gently, "Read your books properly, Agleya."

"I'll go get ready for the future battlefield!" Agleya hurried off.

Hill, who had thought everything was set for the coming spring, unexpectedly welcomed visitors on the day before the Dead of Winter arrived, visitors he never anticipated.

The Paladins of the Hand of Tyr, whom he had once helped rescue when he fell into a vortex.

Hill flew out of the castle in a hurry, and the leading Demi-God Paladin, mounted on a tall white unicorn, waved at him, "Mr. Hill! It's been a long time."