Chapter 119
iAFtPaxLucian looked at Helen with an incredulous expression.5op
FtL“Don’t tell me the dragon you’re talking about is the same one I’m thinking of? The most powerful creature that flies through the skies, breathes fire, and surpasses humans in intelligence?”r0PhDxq
wQcCj3r“That’s right.”60pWwDU
TvWX“As I understand it, even ancient heroes armed with legendary weapons could barely face a dragon. How am I supposed to hunt something like that?”jgmZd0
HjHHqIts fangs and claws could tear through any armor with ease, its roar made all living beings tremble in terror, and the flames it spewed could melt mountains and shred heroes like insects.Mk4
MaGUjPJEven if only half the legends were true, a single dragon was enough to destroy an entire kingdom.HBP
tWN2veH“Wait… weren’t dragons supposed to be extinct? According to the scholars of the time, they no longer existed when the Empire was founded. Did one survive?”XqJc76
GpLLPY“No. There isn’t a single dragon left alive.”Mm7
ggaJph“What?”f2uspXK
z2AGg“All dragons returned to nature a long time ago. Their former greatness can only be confirmed through legendary records and the remains they left behind.”rL6W
ekXHelen’s calm response made Lucian frown. If a dragon’s heart was needed, how did that fit with the fact that they were all dead?H3T
kjBGao“Are you mocking me?”bJLY
ank6a“A dragon’s heart is different from other remains. It is practically an eternal organ. Unless deliberately destroyed, it doesn’t decompose even after the dragon’s death.”09PcWK
8OE“…So the dragons are dead, but their hearts still exist? You don’t have to face a dragon, but retrieve the heart from its remains?”6kSI
HCm“Actually, you have to take it from those who guard it. They’re mere keepers who acquired it by chance, but after preserving it for so long, they believe themselves to be its rightful owners. They won’t hand it over willingly.”MIbYVX
V3FySLLucian’s eyes widened in surprise. A dragon’s heart wasn’t just any object.36R7
zfSLjg8It was an infinite source of magical power, an ancient treasure said even to grant immortality. And there were people who already possessed and used it?dRkG3g
SFyUmA“Who is using the heart of a dragon?”tNhw
XlfDGDAt Lucian’s question, Helen bowed her head.rACu
omj14G“Those who rule the tribes beyond the ice field. Those who call themselves the Children of the Blue Dragon.”zvfKRtW
9tB***lxkFRCl
k4lAfter speaking with Helen, Lucian returned to focusing on stabilizing the territory.MlXKb
IXXnu3However, unlike before, he stopped personally handling every matter and began training Hans to act as his replacement.7Sw
dU2KtMHans, horrified by the tasks assigned to him for the first time, asked nervously.2mkJ
vTrR2vX“Your Highness, I’m still not even used to being the chief steward. Being entrusted with such important matters is too much for me.”Il3cCW
LQiSUy4“It will be difficult, but there’s no other choice. I have no one else I can delegate to.”f2Q
O6j19“Delegate? You mean to act in your place? As the regent of the territory?”bni
2YXZD“Exactly. When the lord is absent, it’s normal for the administrator or chief steward to act as his representative.”M1Eh
4sB39Upon hearing that, Hans was left speechless. It wasn’t incorrect, but for someone who had only recently become chief steward, the burden was overwhelming.Z0C
kcJreRNormally, someone who assumed that role was a person who had served the lord for decades.GVO
XsWVsG“I can’t do it!”BwJDflR
dnyR“Don’t worry. I won’t ask you to do anything complicated. The administrative matters will be handled by the other officials, and the military by Sir Gareth. You’ll only need to intervene when a conflict arises.”FHF
zZttc“Even that’s too much! Mediation requires authority. Who’s going to obey me?”gyOa
zRN“Then ask Sir Eisen to stay by your side and just impose presence. He understands our situation perfectly—he won’t refuse.”SKw
iI1fUV“But…!”n9n
Fq0uxWLLucian interrupted him firmly.0bdfNl
3JGv“I don’t expect great achievements from you. Even if the territory is a mess when I return, I won’t blame you. Just hold the position. As long as a rebellion doesn’t break out and we don’t lose Asagrim, that’ll be enough.”W9GCk
LQVoc9“Ugh…”FrYo
6u2ymHans let out a groan. He understood that no matter what he said, his lord wouldn’t change his mind.ydW
MaOqE9L“Alright. But I really will only be able to keep the seat warm. Don’t blame me later if I tarnish your accomplishments.”h1ua5B
C7TbC“I already told you. That’s enough.”nSN
x6DcA“Then tell me one thing. Where do you plan to go this time?”1RTc4J
NW8m0a“To retrieve a dragon’s corpse.”iPSe
ctBx1Ir“…What?”sRf1p9x
iuodE“Something like that.”Wsh
My8BLFLucian smiled bitterly and left it at that.iSnoFR
FFChTo be honest, not even he was entirely convinced by Helen’s words.HXLlAj
gF6If dragon remains really existed, if beyond the ice there were tribes using its heart—he could only be sure after seeing it with his own eyes.5SRp
BrWB***As3JwT
VUuVIt had already been half a year since he began training Hans to leave him in charge as regent of the territory.H0g
87XjEach day, the number of people settling in Asagrim increased, and half the territory, which had once been empty, was now bustling with people.IDd
MemLMerchants, drawn by the scent of money, rushed in to begin trading, and the number of those opening shops thanks to that commerce also grew.1YJo
qksiGMOnce the foundations of the territory were fully established, even the administrators could breathe a sigh of relief as the workload decreased significantly.E7mC
EmfWznsAnd it wasn’t only the territory that had changed over those six months.eyFc
YdQENg“Hugo has completely mastered the Lion Sword.”GumoD4
Ltnw8pp“Already?”mHUkr
IRLk1cLucian, enjoying a rare moment of calm after finishing the reduced workload, was startled by Eisen’s words.xa9By
1nYEveryone who served the Valdeck bloodline had the right to learn the Lion Sword, but that only applied to knights.m1uYZqP
AO2G4sAUntil now, Hugo hadn’t been one, so he couldn’t learn it. That’s why, after being formally knighted, they decided to teach it to him—but for him to master it in just half a year was unexpected.5C2zUWK
HCU“I always thought he had talent, but it seems that once he freed himself from the burden in his heart, he blossomed even more. If he continues training like this, it won’t be long before he surpasses Sir Raymond.”3mz96y
TUy“Wow… that’s as pleasant as it is surprising…”HDdf
2j35For the Swordmaster himself to say that he had “already mastered it” meant that, at least in terms of that style, there was nothing more to teach him.2Oot
2EUwV4He couldn’t help but smile at seeing one of his subordinates make his hidden talent bloom.Np4R
7mDJOBut Eisen wasn’t finished yet.H91E
CTQ“And I’ve also taught everything to Felicia. Yesterday we had our final duel, and there’s nothing more I can pass on. The rest, she’ll have to refine through real combat.”egdAUEY
MhCQT3b“…”F0sVB06
QtGLucian’s eyes widened. Unlike Hugo, Felicia was Eisen’s adoptive daughter and direct disciple—the heir to everything he had built.94R0
J3SK8If Hugo’s “already mastered it” referred only to the Lion Sword, Felicia’s “I’ve taught her everything” meant the entirety of Eisen’s swordsmanship.3M5Hfqy
tkFc0LOIn other words, in Eisen’s eyes, Felicia had already reached a level worthy of being called a Swordmaster.PdOHZC
3tSq“Your Highness corrected all my foolishness and mistakes. This old man now has no regrets. The day the Eight Gods come for me, I’ll be able to leave with joy. Words aren’t enough to thank you.”aVF2O
yJup“Don’t say that. Don’t you want to see Felicia shake the world with her name?”zUVf6
rhA“Haha… that’s true as well.”NzA8Mp
pBgSeeing Eisen’s serene expression, Lucian felt a strange heaviness in his chest.BZANoP
7NqAttachment weighs down the heart, but it also acts as a chain that keeps people alive.NPG
RH4Eisen had let go of all his attachments through Felicia, and that meant he might leave the world even earlier than in his past life.6PpiO8n
tt1‘I need to hurry.’dy3
6lNJAfter saying farewell to Eisen, Lucian went to see Ian and Raymond.V5Hi9D
AWnWC7As expected, Ian was buried in the medicinal herbs brought from the underground treasury, researching enthusiastically.ZPE9
8wPd“I’ve already identified almost all the effects of the herbs. Each leaf has incredible properties. If I make potions with this, the effectiveness will be…”sWW0
Ctry9o4Ian ended up murmuring to himself, staring into space with glassy eyes. He seemed to be living in paradise, able to research freely.7B97
QhGIQy“The only regret is that there’s no herb that can replace the Moonlight Herb. And that one’s the most important.”ZEO
vBMU1“Yes, that’s truly unfortunate. By the way, what about the nectar I asked for?”MAux
8dOfV“Since there was so little Moonlight Herb, I barely managed to make two more. They say that no matter how hard they try, they can’t get more.”ayCe
6PkJERE“That’s enough.”J2ix
dUkBZTZAlthough the Empire’s situation had made it difficult to obtain Moonlight Herb, it was nothing compared to his past life, when even the imperial family couldn’t get it.t5rCWs
5xlsu0For Lucian, it was more than a satisfactory amount.hMSp
5nzxxtVHe stored the two vials of nectar Ian gave him and immediately went to see Raymond.UHp
Kfx4Ew“Your Highness? What brings you here?”1u2Pm
ToDg“I just came to see how you’re doing. How are things lately?”mJyj6
5Ku“Too well—that’s the problem.”nJOgTl
RLO77qtRaymond replied with an ambiguous smile. He had never been this at peace before.3ws
6L9aGH0The problem was that while everyone else worked hard, he had nothing to do.wyx8JU
TN3UAEven though he had been promised the position of commander of the personal guard, that guard still didn’t exist.wRys
zhCoySensing his thoughts, Lucian smiled and held out the nectar.0cyEth
gsM“Here. Nectar.”zjR9b
BuYFv“…My turn has finally come.”aDDC
XseDespite seeing the nectar glow with a bluish hue, Raymond remained relatively calm.lpN
ovZUH6He knew that sooner or later he would receive it as one of Lucian’s trusted men.Kyh
NJV74But then Lucian added something unexpected.OdfOweM
5mhx3h“Yes, it’s your turn. It’s time to start recruiting the personal guard.”RryQUxy
fTw“What?”L8u
GULowCA“The personal guard. You can’t be a commander without a guard forever, right?”dzk
W858SP“…!”UHL
RflrxeRaymond’s eyes, which had been half relaxed, instantly sharpened. As if his carefree attitude had been an act, a sharp pressure emanated from him.XOk
M2d“I thought I was going to die from waiting.”iTrDqnb
s5FFEI“Weren’t you just saying you were doing too well?”bGJ4
7tW“That’s exactly the problem. What’s the point of inflating someone’s ambitions and then leaving them abandoned for half a year?”lz7J
xcJ“…Ahem.”rG2GLgF
RbugPFAt a loss for words, Lucian looked slightly away. Seeing that, Raymond smiled lightly.BKl
fhXU“Still, I’m glad I can finally act as a true commander. Where do you plan to recruit the knights from?”rJf
4sY“From the barbarian tribes beyond the frozen wasteland.”TT40
bcJ“…What’s beyond the wasteland?”l4GlDU
YSM“Barbarian tribes.”VcRcvQ
yc0tTo Raymond, who had never heard of such a thing, Lucian calmly explained that beyond the wasteland existed barbarian tribes who were once the root of his bloodline, and that although it was believed they had vanished, they were still alive.r27
E9jCn62He also explained the plan Helen would open the path, and Lucian would go to bring them back and turn them into an army.wQd7i
t5urpi4“They say they revere strength just like the northerners and possess the heart of a dragon. If I can subdue them, I’ll gain both an army and the dragon’s heart.”7fIT6zM
7WQoX“Can we trust that mage? It all sounds too convenient…”gIH
yAnSuspicion of a trap appeared on Raymond’s face. Lucian smiled at it.RZqYX
i6J“What would she gain by deceiving me? The moment I suffer, the dark age of mages begins all over again.”SIG
oRwxg“That’s true, but…”pG2
kMfReRaymond couldn’t argue with that. Lucian had been the one who allowed mages, persecuted for centuries, to return to the light.ZDMxi
qdlIf someone like that were betrayed from the beginning, the witch hunts would spread across the continent like wildfire.Glh3WM
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