A Novel Concept - He Who Eludes Death Chapter 131: Dishnu's dowry

"Hold it."

Kazuki halted his precise carving and presented the wooden piece to Alain. The architect-carpenter-craftsman examined it from every angle before breaking into a satisfied grin. The hoplite's Spear Mastery allowed for such intricate cuts.

"It's perfect. I'll need three more like this, Kazuki, if you please."

"With pleasure, Alain," the hoplite replied in fluent English.

As the hoplite continued his ticulous work, Alain swiftly ascended Log-a-rhythm. He could have asked the magical tree to open a portal directly to its upper branches, but there was sothing satisfying about using his muscles to climb. Alain still rembered the weight of age and his atrophied muscles before the apocalypse. Today, he could reach the top faster than a monkey.

One of the upsides of the System, I suppose. Those who survive get stronger.

He passed Rose's and Sphinx's cabins a few seconds later, eventually arriving at a construction site. Log-a-rhythm had laid a large square foundation, and the beginnings of a structure were visible. This third cabin was ant for Kazuki and his wife.

In the center of the square wood slab, Alain found Louis sitting cross-legged with closed eyes.

"Apologies for interrupting your ditation, old friend, but I have work to do," he warned.

Alain waited a few monts for a response that never ca. Furrowing his brows, he circled around his friend and crouched to face him.

"Louis?"

A snore answered him.

"LOUIS!"

"Huh? Oh!" The old man jolted awake, shouting. "You just ruined my ditation, you idiot."

"You an your nap," chuckled Alain. "You need to move, I’m going to test a new technique."

"A construction one?" Louis asked as he stretched.

"Yes. I think it might help level up my skills to rare rank," Alain smiled.

Indeed, his skill level-ups were becoming scarcer. [Carpentry] had plateaued at level 17, and [Construction] at level 16. So far, Alain had assembled cabins using pre-cut boards and vines - his seafaring past made him an expert in knots. Unfortunately, it was no longer enough to improve his skills.

"You'll use this?" Louis asked, pointing at the piece of wood in Alain's hand.

"I'm going to see if it fits well with another piece. Without tools, I have to use kigumi joinery."

Louis raised an eyebrow, and Alain explained.

"It involves fitting two complentary pieces of wood together. One has a tenon that slots into the mortise of the other."

Louis grunted, taking the piece from Alain's hands. He examined it from all angles before understanding.

"You're just inserting the male part into a female part. It's like making love but with pieces of wood. No need for complicated words."

"... Anyway, the point is to join pieces of wood without glue, screws, or nails."

"Smart. Reminds , it's been a while since I've made love. Think Mirscella..."

"Sort it out with Mirscella," Alain sighed. "And mind your language around the kids."

"Priam is an adult."

"I was talking about Rose and Sphinx. Otherwise, it'll be Mirscella who will play the male part with her blades in your body."

Louis shuddered. Suddenly, Alain felt a presence caress his mind. According to Log-a-rhythm, Dishnu had returned. Damn.

"Take down," he said aloud, ignoring Louis's surprised look. The square base of the construction site lit up before sucking him into the magical wood. A mont later, the tree gently deposited him at its trunk's base.

In the middle of the clearing, at the edge of Log-a-rhythm's barrier, Dishnu awaited. Despite the illusion that should have prevented it, the drya locked eyes with him, and he nodded in greeting.

Alain felt his heart tighten. Dishnu wasn't exactly an enemy, but he wasn't an ally either. He was here for Log-a-rhythm, and without Priam, the tree wouldn't hold out against the guardian of nature.

"Sphinx!"

A mont later, his son's friend appeared. Drool still trailed down her cheek, a sign that he had just awakened her from a deep slumber.

"Yes?" she asked in a sleepy voice.

"Go fetch Priam, please."

The request fully woke her. "But I thought that..."

"Right now," Alain interrupted. For the mont, Dishnu remained passive, waiting patiently by the barrier, but he didn't want to take any chances. Alain hadn't sent Sphinx looking for his son to respect the rules they had set, but they needed him now. Kazuki had confird he was no match for the drya.

"Understood!"

Sphinx focused for a mont, and soon a miniature portal appeared. She jumped in.