Chapter 146
lN5AO“Ehem… ahem. Please review the details yourself. I did the best I could in my own way, but there are surely many points where I was clumsy.”9ltHMGz
IFV7VSeeing Hans clear his throat as if trying to shake off a chill, Lucian smiled wryly.W8Wo
F1I“There’s no need to be so humble. For your first time taking on the position of territory administrator, it was quite a clean job. I’m very satisfied.”m4FY
Ag1“Thank you.”eScC
VAOaI1k“From now on, you just need to maintain this level, so keep honing your instincts. I may soon have to entrust you with the position of regent again.”hvHI
5yc8erT“…Huh?”wGYrTI
ALMZapHans, who had just let out a sigh of relief, opened his eyes wide at Lucian’s words.kUkoUn
67tTHe had gone through all kinds of hardships, so much so that he never wanted to take on that position a second time, and now he was being told he might be entrusted with it again later?7FRwO
lPf1Just as Hans was about to protest, Lucian voiced a doubt.cG2qa
MbRxgLI“By the way, I don’t see Lord Eisen. Felicia has also returned after a long time, so I thought he would come out to receive us. Is he resting in the castle?”B2F2S
R5Sw“…”8Mp
rmlAt those words, Hans shut his mouth, his face turning pale. Sensing something amiss, Lucian turned his head and examined his expression.IcOelhR
ZyHVA“What is it? Did something really happen?”S8nl4
JrxS“The truth is… his health isn’t very good.”NsRVN8
uwRxi“What do you mean by that?”iRT
ygW0IABefore Hans could finish, Felicia cut in with a sharp voice.GA8kr9
JRrdQ“My father was in good health up until the moment I left Asagrim. How is it possible that he worsened in such a short time? What exactly happened?”4LdTxR
FvP“A-ah, nothing happened! He just lost a bit of energy!”UEqU2bf
ivPAlthough Hans answered urgently in response to her interrogative tone, Felicia continued to stare at him sternly.OSq7I
J9sKwk5Under her gaze, which demanded a more detailed explanation, Hans let out a deep sigh.Ik8
ccQ“Miss Felicia, I understand your concern, but truly nothing happened. Who would dare harm the Swordmaster? Setting aside intent, there’s no one with the ability to do so.”Vg5PvHR
vgSh“Then my father’s declining health means…”t5Fo
s22B3“Consider his age. It wouldn’t be strange for his health to suffer due to old age. It may be irreverent to say so, but I’ve never seen anyone older than him.”sOh
Cj1EDMIn other words, due purely to age, it wouldn’t be strange if he were to die at any moment.wUYVwIT
5dilOSAFinding no way to refute that, Felicia withdrew with a gloomy expression. Just as Hans said, Eisen’s life expectancy was already brushing against the human limit.ozYF6Id
2gNkaBHowever, Lucian felt confused by Hans’s response.G8bKB1
IbN‘What’s going on? Eisen should still have about five years left to live.’qJqf3
UlfIn his past life, Swordmaster Eisen died five years later. According to rumors, even the day before his death he was still practicing swordsmanship with full vitality.eccMG
JMr3L9And now he was so weakened that he hadn’t even come out to receive his beloved Felicia.lJ1tQOV
IaLA7wo“Did nothing really happen? Didn’t you notice any signs of illness or anything out of the ordinary?”aRrd1d
3pF6“It’s definitely not an illness, but… if I had to say something strange, I’d say he seemed to have lost the will to live.”6rfX
DASb0Eo“Lost the will to live?”5fJNXY9
H5KF6“He used to say things like he had already accomplished everything and had no regrets left. We even found a half-written will.”adrWOI
mZfXeeyAt Hans’s answer, Lucian let out a hollow laugh.MZxWPF
3CVqAAt last, he understood why Eisen, who in his past life had lived five more years, had lost his vitality.itZS0dW
M8510S***c1f59MY
EpO2JD4Lucian returned to the White Castle and the first thing he did was look for Eisen.jII2kX
xGheVEisen, lying back in bed, showed an expression of embarrassment upon receiving Lucian’s visit.0dQ
rz86fKW“Your Highness, congratulations on returning after accomplishing such a great feat. I beg your pardon for this discourtesy, receiving you while bedridden and unable even to go out and welcome you.”YkmC
3TlB“Forgive what? Don’t try to get up for no reason, just rest.”PLcl
6HrpxXLucian gently pressed Eisen down as he tried to force himself to sit up. Even though he barely used any strength, Eisen’s weakened body could not resist and sank back into the bed.ui5cx
pAN3Seeing that state, Felicia fell to her knees, her eyes filled with tears.xNP
1LItl2“Father.”bhsH
p3SKh“This girl… His Highness is watching.”SEQTP
24ent9sThough he scolded her verbally, his eyes were full of affection. Faced with that loving gaze, Lucian sighed inwardly.mPiPHG
RVW0‘In the end, the cause was me.’JYtb
iOae5ZuMore precisely, the problem was that, unlike in his past life, Eisen no longer had any attachment to life.zaM
OciIn his previous life, Swordmaster Eisen had lamented throughout his existence that he had failed to leave behind a suitable successor.Bnlt
qbaqGSuIt was natural that he could not let go of that regret even at the moment of death.uYJBX0S
QMsDso1However, in this life, by presenting Felicia to him, Lucian had completely eliminated all of those regrets.goTnNes
mnejIhOn top of that, he had lost his lord, Grand Duke Sigmund, and Lucian himself had already become independent to the point of no longer needing the Swordmaster’s help.IEXocL3
9xwuLx‘Didn’t he already find a reason to keep living? To think that, once his attachment to life disappeared, death would come sooner…’zet
10hFor Eisen, the present was several times better than his past life.1HX4
3kwKLiving only five more years while carrying lifelong resentment was nothing but suffering.uxr8
Ms9dEven so, Lucian could not shake the feeling that he had caused Eisen to die earlier than he was meant to.ivZRB
aWSZWEisen, seeing the shadow that fell over Lucian’s face, seemed to misunderstand something and formed a faint smile.qBvvv
Zym“Your Highness, don’t grieve so much. Aging is something inevitable for humans. Rather, isn’t it a miracle that I’ve lived until today without suffering a single serious illness?”DgeEP
rQp0“Lord Eisen.”pwaW8qg
pmovU“If you’re truly worried about this old man, then tell me what happened beyond the tundra. I think I’ll regain some strength by listening to the adventures of Your Highness and Felicia.”19Ztr
LYJ“Gladly.”QEaYlq
CpmHLucian sat down beside Eisen and calmly began to recount what had happened beyond the tundra—the extreme cold that even northerners found terrifying, those who proclaimed themselves descendants of the dragon, and Marius’s prophecy.0dbjhq
Ca7He also spoke of the desperate resistance of the tribal chief who tried to eliminate him, and of the trials that arose as a result.ArTh
duiXrt9Eisen listened with interest and burst into laughter when he reached the part where those who had belittled Felicia changed their attitude in just one day.m76h
OQ7wz“Hahaha! For those who looked down on her for being a woman to kneel in just one day! That must have been quite a spectacle!”UWsS
JXhO3Y0“Just a spectacle? Just by walking around accompanied by Felicia, they revered her as if they were receiving a goddess.”bmP
gFqFY“What a shame. If I had accompanied Your Highness, I could have seen it with my own eyes.”JULFK
Y4nAfter laughing heartily, Eisen smiled contentedly, though his body seemed to be running out of breath.BsISt
m4GGNoticing that, Lucian stood up, hiding the bitterness welling up inside him.AeEEI
Dwd6l“I still have many stories to tell you, but I’ve just returned and have matters piled up. It’s better that I take my leave.”QONO9
6YVU“Well then, this old man has detained you for too long. I apologize.”VQEB1
abKhb7g“Don’t say that. Besides, father and daughter surely have many things to talk about. I’ll leave Felicia here. She can tell you the rest.”wRkPvm
4MxI“I appreciate your consideration.”87jOfKf
nSFBLucian responded with a smile and quietly left the room. As soon as the door closed, he wiped the smile from his face and, wearing a hardened expression, looked for Hans.6Edt0hz
j7V“Hans.”IEcQH
vTsR6“Yes, Your Highness.”1gRW30H
vUo04rm“Just in case… does Lord Eisen know what’s going on outside?”ONnR
rtmTJ“He doesn’t. I thought there was no need to give bad news to someone whose health is already fragile, so I blocked the information as much as I could.”oIQa3
f5ea“Well done.”KLGe
48ewDOEven if he had known, Eisen would have had no way of dealing with the merchants. He was a Swordmaster, not a politician skilled in intrigue.Hu8
TzptAt most, he would have worried too much, and his health would have worsened.NG4xmI
cAIIn other words, without Hans’s preventive measures, Eisen’s condition might have been even worse.qC7Be
iyk“Summon those merchants.”rtgpBRW
o9pyQpLucian gave the order in an icy tone as he turned to Hans.YlnxhT
aEK“It’s time they paid their overdue debts.”mWn
0mI***S5VP7
OaEPqUW“Th-this humble merchant has the honor of presenting himself before the duke, rightful lord of Asagrim and legitimate heir of the northern royalty!”uwKPBul
oKdlI“We present our respects to the duke!”Uni
pfZThe heads of each merchant guild who had been summoned knelt trembling before Lucian.CQb
sRWKBeing fully aware of their sins, their faces were all pale. Lucian looked over them and spoke in a flat voice.Iab2Ce
tY0w“Welcome. You’ve probably heard from others why I called you here, haven’t you?”DUh26
FHKww“We heard that you would repay the debts…”ImTl
yq6FLn“That’s right. Every man must pay what he owes. Today, I will settle the debt I owe you.”pJWulLT
rrD24Upon hearing that, the guild leaders raised their heads in joy. They feared he might pretend to forget, but he was really going to pay.CGnwi
2NeWDeAHowever, Lucian’s words didn’t end there.ykHL
ESwr“And I will also collect here and now the debt that you owe me.”4IDe
gCtVjr“…”t3hx
gi2bP“You pressured the person I left as my representative with ridiculous conditions. To what extent did you disdain my authority to dare such schemes?”cf6DX
lhjNk“Y-Your Highness.”KL4Qg
Fma“If you have any reason why I shouldn’t cut off your heads right here and use them to decorate the walls, speak now.”KhP
1rleaHVAt the voice full of murderous intent, the guild leaders trembled even more, their faces ashen.aZ2IIg
mooLEx9They had trusted Dominic’s words and had been reassured, but now it felt like their heads were about to roll.qW15ZM
fgImsAt that moment, Dominic, the only one who still kept a calm demeanor, spoke up.n3Wc
EKhIc“What excuse could we possibly offer? This vile merchant offended Your Highness’s spirit in pursuit of petty profit. Even if I were to die a hundred times, I would have no complaints. However.”dXH5g1r
gBiNJ1n“However?”jZa3
CDH7J“If Your Highness would be so merciful as to spare our lives, I will devote myself entirely to serving you and seek forgiveness for our faults. I beg you to grant us your mercy.”aJYK
oA46bRLucian barely managed to hold back a laugh. Was there anything less trustworthy than a merchant’s oath of loyalty?MF6
AcDhNAnd if that merchant was none other than Steel Dominic, even more so.nU44bZ
CdghLSwallowing his laughter, Lucian feigned interest and spoke as if he knew nothing.ijhIN
DJXi“And how do you intend to serve me? I’ve received oaths from knights, but never from a merchant.”4rjer
vww“There are many ways a merchant can prove his loyalty, but at this moment, there’s only one way to demonstrate it to Your Highness.”p4zi
9UK8“Stop making me wait and say it. My patience is not infinite.”XjV5
gaxAt Lucian’s insistence, Dominic took a deep breath and spoke.Y8A
QCXnAy“I will offer Your Highness a metal comparable to adamantium. In sufficient quantity to fully equip ten thousand soldiers with heavy armament.”yOEZAqd
IJHsvZ7“…!?”kkoT
wYQKXMAt that unexpected declaration, everyone gasped silently.AY8Y0
n6hA metal with resistance comparable to adamantium? Since when had something like that been discovered? And it could be mass-produced to the point of arming ten thousand men at once?gqbU
1Ms1Lty“Are you trying to mock me? Stop spouting nonsense.”Gzet
eYDaNLWhile everyone remained stunned, Lucian’s gaze stayed cold. Dominic shivered at the harsher-than-expected reaction but continued in a calm voice.utD4
qxruEOH“I know it sounds suspicious. That’s why I wish to demonstrate it directly to Your Highness.”C48s
LyUnxw“You’ll say anything just to stay alive. If it turns out you’re lying, what will you do then?”h36DD9
uNQ6WeNDeceiving the representative of a territory might cost a guild leader their head.dGMW
N5fh6tBut deceiving the lord himself—and a duke at that—wouldn’t end with something so simple. At that threat, Dominic answered with a stiff face.ziw
1tHIO“I will offer my head along with everything possessed by the Dominic Guild. All will legitimately pass into the hands of Your Highness, and no one will contest your rightful claim.”JlGZPK
7WyB6Hearing the words he wanted, Lucian nodded with a cold smile.qyJ
6ZDY0hs“Don’t forget those words.”JfgK
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