Chapter 44

Before setting out for Par Lake this time, Cyrus wanted not only to inspect the construction of the castle and the progress of the Black Ore excavation, but also to relax after so long and find an opportunity to receive the gift 098 had given him.

Visas and Komoy Fort were under nonstop construction, while Par Mountain was gradually changing as well.

Checkpoints had been set up in many places on the mountain, with soldiers dispatched to guard them.

The southeastern side of the mountain remained open to nobles, commoners, and slaves, allowing them to enter the mountain to gather firewood, hunt, and so on.

However, the northwestern side, including Par Lake, was forbidden territory, clearly separated from the southeastern side by a boundary line.

In the future, the northwestern side of Par Mountain would become the main residential area for the Lord of Desinia.

Most importantly, Cyrus intended to establish an overall defense system covering Par Mountain. Defense, vigilance, and resistance against potential enemies were all indispensable.

The sun hung high in the sky, and the sunlight was bright without being harsh.

The breeze drifted across the grass-covered mountains, carrying the unique fresh scent of plants and making people feel exceptionally comfortable and at ease.

Cyrus sprawled out leisurely.

He leaned against Coalball, squinting at the emerald lake and the rolling hills beyond it. One hand could not help tugging at Coalball's thick, long tail wrapped around his waist.

This made Coalball, who had nearly fallen asleep, raise his head to look at him.

"Roar?"

Cyrus muttered softly, "Look, this is the kingdom Dad conquered for you!"

Coalball flicked the tip of his tail and twitched his ears. Clearly, he had not understood the little lord's mumbling.

But that did not stop a spoiled purr from spilling out of his throat as he affectionately rubbed Cyrus down into the soft grass.

Coalball retracted his claws and fangs, attempting to bury his increasingly round and enormous head against the little lord's soft belly.

Cyrus could not help crying out. He grabbed Coalball by the ears and scolded him, "Do you have any idea how big and heavy you are now?!"

"Are you trying to crush me to death?"

He flailed and pushed beneath Coalball's huge head.

Snowball had originally been taking a walk by the lake with Walker. Seeing this, he rushed over, swatted Coalball away with one paw, then lowered his head to bite Cyrus's clothes and gently helped him back to his feet.

"Roar."

Snowball nudged Cyrus's arm, his tiger eyes full of gentle warmth.

Walker could not help slinging an arm over Ferdinand's shoulder and shaking his head with a sigh. "I've served Snowball good food and drink for so long, yet his true love really is still Lord Cyrus."

No comparison. No comparison at all.

Ferdinand could not be bothered with him.

After speaking, Walker smiled and tilted his chin toward Coalball. "Of course, you aren't doing any better than I am."

While Snowball would at least occasionally acknowledge him, Ferdinand also brought fresh meat to feed Coalball.

But every time the black tiger finished eating, he ruthlessly discarded him without a second thought. He was even more ferocious and unruly, roaring at Ferdinand whenever he tried to approach.

Ferdinand glanced at the large black tiger, who was once more edging toward the little lord, then expressionlessly shook off Walker's arm. "It's different."

Walker did not understand.

A faint smile appeared on Ferdinand's lips. "The lord let me groom Coalball's fur all over."

"When?!"

Walker's eyes widened involuntarily, feeling as though he had swallowed a lemon sour enough to kill.

Ferdinand said, "When you didn't know."

"..."

Cyrus found an opportunity to tell Judas that he was taking Coalball and Snowball farther away to have a look. "Don't follow me. I'll be back soon."

Judas stopped walking. "Please be careful."

"Mm, all right."

With two fierce beasts protecting him, there was no need to worry about danger.

Cyrus walked quite a distance before finding a cliff face that was neither too high nor too low.

He stared at a thick branch jutting out from it and thought, "098, place the Gyrfalcon egg there."

[All right, Host. Please wait a moment. The gift is being placed... Placement successful. Please receive it promptly.]

Cyrus rubbed Snowball's ears. "Snowball, go call Walker and Ferdinand over."

Snowball gave a low roar, turned, and ran off.

Before long, he returned with Walker and Ferdinand. Judas followed behind them as well, and seeing that Cyrus was safe and sound, he let out a breath of relief.

"My lord, what is it?"

Cyrus innocently pointed at the conspicuous bird egg on the cliff face and pressed his lips together in a slightly embarrassed smile. "I want it."

Want it? Then you shall have it!

Walker decided to climb up and bring the egg down himself. This height was nothing to him.

On the cliff's tree trunk was a bird's nest made from dried branches, grass, and mud. No bird circled overhead, and there was only one grayish-white egg inside.

After Walker carefully carried the egg down, Coalball curiously stepped forward to sniff it, then turned his huge head away in disinterest.

Ferdinand asked, "What kind of bird laid this egg?"

Walker shook his head. "I don't know. But if it built its nest on a cliff, it probably wasn't a small bird. Yet there's only one egg inside. Could its parents have abandoned it?"

Seeing the little lord eagerly hold out both hands, palms flat and eyes full of expectation, he gently placed the grayish-white egg in Cyrus's palms and smiled. "My lord, do you want to raise it?"

Cyrus nodded. "Mm. Once it hatches, we'll know what kind of bird it is."

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098 spoke at that moment as well. [Host, the Gyrfalcon will hatch in two days. 098 suggests that you carry the egg with you, as hatchlings imprint when they break out of their shells.]

"All right."

After leaving Par Mountain and returning to the castle,

Cyrus placed the Gyrfalcon egg beside his pillow. Two mornings later, he woke to 098's call.

[Host, Host, the Gyrfalcon is about to hatch.]

Cyrus's lingering sleepiness vanished instantly.

He lay on the bed, widened his eyes, and stared at the egg from close up. A faint cracking sound rang out as the egg began to hatch.

The shell at the very top slowly fell away first, followed by cracks gradually spreading across the middle of the shell...

In the blink of an eye, a tiny red chick, covered in wet egg fluid, tumbled onto the soft bed and let out a young cry.

Cyrus could not help holding his breath as he cautiously drew closer. By chance, he met the newly opened eyes of the chick. He froze for a moment. "098, is a Gyrfalcon's eye color... supposed to look like this?"

Bird irises came in a variety of colors. Black and brown were common, while gray, red, and orange-yellow were less so.

Yet the young Gyrfalcon before him had an exceptionally beautiful blue-gold iris color, rare and unusual.

098 said, [Host, this Gyrfalcon has the bloodline of a divine eagle after all. It is normal for it to take after its father.]

Cyrus was somewhat puzzled. "098, you brought it back... Doesn't it stay with its father?"

[It is a pitiful little bird without a father's love. Because its bloodline is impure, its father abandoned it.]

"Chirp."

At that moment, the chick let out a tiny, soft cry and tried to shift its still fragile body toward Cyrus.

Cyrus reached out and slowly touched it, stroking the chick's back with his fingertips. "From today onward, I'll raise you properly. What should I name you?"

The matchstick figure popped its head out from the system interface. [Host, the Chuunibyou System and I have each given it a nice name.]

[Host can choose one of them.]

"What are they?" Cyrus asked curiously.

[The Chuunibyou System named the little eagle Overlord.]

"...And yours?"

[Uranus, the god of the sky.]

"Both names sound very nice. I like them both."

Cyrus lay on the bed, carefully cupping the chick with both hands. It rested on one of his fingers as though exhausted and no longer moved, only its tiny belly slowly rising and falling rhythmically.

Afraid of waking the still delicate chick, he spoke softly. "The Gyrfalcon is the undisputed king of the skies."

"It should soar freely through the vast heavens, unshackled and unbound. It has a pair of one-of-a-kind blue-gold eyes... I know what to call it now."

[What?]

Cyrus solemnly said, "Its name will be Qing Tuan Uranus Overlord."

The matchstick figure was visibly stunned for a moment, then clapped like a little seal. [Host, that name is wonderful.]

Cyrus shyly pressed his lips together. "You're too kind. Thank you for the compliment."

Vina was very confident in his written examination.

Not long after returning home, he received news delivered by soldiers stationed in the city.

He had passed the written examination with excellent results and would return to Visas in one month for an interview.

Viscount Lauren could not help feeling delighted for his son. "That soldier said fewer than a hundred people passed the written examination. The interview will even be conducted by the lord himself... Vina, you must not be nervous..."

Vina nodded. After remembering Viscount Lauren's advice, he set off once more for Visas with two servants.

His friend Nat had also passed the written examination.

The two began preparing for the interview in advance.

One month later.

The interviews for selecting mayors and other officials were held in the same examination venue.

This time, however, they had to enter the room one by one and answer questions from the Lord of Desinia, the two knight commanders, Reverend Grove, and the others.

Vina entered with a nervous, unsettled heart, then emerged with the feeling that everything had finally been settled.

The interview results would be announced three days later, so they needed to remain in Visas for the time being.

Inside the interview room.

Cyrus watched the last examinee leave. Sheets of paper with scores already marked lay on the table before him.

Just as he was about to pick one up, he suddenly felt something move against his chest. Then, a fluffy little head poked out.

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"Chirp chirp."

The Gyrfalcon named Qing Tuan Uranus Overlord was no longer a bald little hatchling. Dense white down had already grown all over his body. Brown spots dotted his head and the tips of his wings, while his chest and tail were pure white. His beak was thick and long, the same iron-gold color as his sharp little claws.

The chick rubbed against Cyrus's outstretched finger, his blue-gold eyes full of affection.

Walker could not help leaning over from the side. "Overlord is awake. Does he want meat?"

The chick only ate meat fed to him by Cyrus.

Cyrus said, "Mm, Qing Tuan should be hungry now. I'll feed him meat when we return to the castle..."

He tapped the chick's fluffy little head with one finger, then looked up. "Judas, sort out the list and bring it to me later."

"Yes, my lord."