Chapter 83
546TgPColin rested his chin on his hand and began interpreting the prophecy.MhDHwr
jhUBy nature, prophecies often foretold the future in ambiguous ways. Not even the person receiving the prediction knew its exact meaning, so it was better to interpret it oneself rather than leave it in someone else’s hands.qR92
Ddkk7q‘The meaning doesn’t seem that complicated. Three encounters and three opportunities, two failures and one chance. If I seize it, he’ll be a benefactor; if I let it pass, he’ll become a reaper.’wD5
HGfIf interpreted literally, it meant Colin had had three opportunities, of which he had wasted two.pIYUIhy
GoCBIf he could take advantage of the last one, he would receive great fortune; but if he let that one slip too, he would die.Y3ABA0E
G9fnEiThe real problem was that he had no idea what those “failures” referred to.UNa
ekw8svj‘It’s true I’ve failed twice recently. In Bornholm and in Krephelt I had to flee without even receiving full pay. But those were just jobs—not aimed at any specific person.’T2JBj
4PuWho the hell was this figure that could become either a benefactor or a reaper?oDEu
8IzIf only a few people had been involved, maybe he could make some guesses. But both Bornholm and Krephelt had been battlefields where entire armies clashed.6VD5dzr
N9rApx2It was impossible to know who might have been mixed in among that crowd.ODsgL
4n83j“Is it hard to interpret?”SVqmN7
oIWP“No, the interpretation itself is simple. The problem is the word encounter. Is it used metaphorically too?”3hW3FQz
JBG0TColin handed the paper back to Helen while asking. After thinking for a moment, she shook her head.iTekD
aCJgug“Normally it isn’t used metaphorically. If a prophecy mentions an encounter, it usually doesn’t mean anything else.”Gkt
dq9AVg“Huh I don’t recall meeting anyone twice recently.”cBv
rthiBb“Maybe the failure wasn’t the meeting itself, but the chance to meet—and you missed it.”aTBP
Gae“Not meeting someone, even when I could have, counts as a failure?”yIA
Nwl8“Ah… I’ve said too much. A prophet must not intervene after the prophecy has been revealed.”Ou4dwGv
ZpAWith an ambiguous smile, Helen closed her mouth and said no more. Colin would’ve liked her to help a bit more, but it seemed impossible to get her to speak again.OVWeY9
bsEPHZSighing, Colin stood up.2Hgc
zHGGI“Well, if the prophet says so, I have no choice but to interpret it as best I can.”cxY
tUMlv“That’s the right attitude. I hope you manage to seize your benefactor.”gjGq
k2irEiZColin left the cave, leaving behind her brief words of farewell.HuC
299Hxq8She hadn’t told him to take care—but then again, despite appearances, she could protect herself very well, almost instinctively.DfSVHlv
bq76YNow, his own safety was what mattered, especially since the prophecy explicitly mentioned a “reaper.”wDQLmXF
6YWMi3M‘Three encounters, two failures… damn it, who the hell is this benefactor?’73lT
qBAYl2As he headed to his hideout, Colin kept trying to figure out that person’s identity. But no matter how much he turned it over in his mind, no one came to him.FQ8eua
fJiWVEqThat was when he had been thinking for so long that his head began to ache.BioCT
828“You’re late, mage.”kF0dvyd
0U4Hs3“…Sir Palmir, if you were coming, you could’ve given me a heads-up.”Gy7kEE
ZEH3h8VAt the sudden insult from the side, Colin frowned. Turning, he saw the man who had been waiting.59c0pL
MozD“If you use magic, you should be able to sense things like that. Not even noticing someone approaching, and you still call yourself a wielder of miracles.”ZaFJ
GA8Q4g“I’ve told you many times. Magic varies greatly by school. Just because someone rides a horse well doesn’t mean they know how to tame wolves.”mrb2
jDGe59“You think so? Sounds like an excuse to me.”B9oFR
WbU6“You didn’t come all this way just to mock me. What brings you here?”Skp
ImHColin cut in calmly. Continuing that conversation wouldn’t lead to anything good.eFq9d
yXb9fEClicking his tongue, Palmir got to the point.WvD
apXUbn“There’s someone I want you to take care of. They say you can call down lightning.”29jTh
yzhS6“You want to make it look like a natural disaster? That’s possible, but if dark clouds suddenly form, people will get suspicious.”uS2Ny4
88u7Pr“Doesn’t matter. I’m not planning to do it in front of spectators. As long as it looks like a natural disaster.”i0adq
B4zkB“In that case…”cIoWL
oMaqpYMEven though he accepted the job, Colin couldn’t help feeling bitter.1p3Tmun
5xLIlAs a mage meant for study, how many more assassinations would he have to take?bSteb
O2vkIt was a matter of survival, but sometimes the self-loathing weighed on him like a stone.p9E
uDJ2F3“I’ll give you the exact date later. Until then, gather power. And don’t waste it on nonsense—if you start making excuses on the execution day…”XK82Av
LpbNN“Don’t worry. That won’t happen. Though, I would like to know who the target is.”EqM3EA
oaM“Lucian Valdeck. The third son of Grand Duke Valdeck.”BQG0xu
CWc“I see.”eEHy
8XzqThe House of Count Calix was crossing a dangerous line. Colin thought so, but said nothing.jW0
SVvAs a mercenary, as long as he was paid, the danger of the target wasn’t his concern.MW6
Yt6rUds“Then I’ll be ready. Let me know when the day is set.”rKNDT
pGv“Hmph.”V4m6Nbo
rMIPalmir snorted disdainfully and disappeared down the hill. Even at the end, his attitude overflowed with contempt.rxD8
D80wZ“A guy who flushed his knighthood down the drain but still clings to his pride.”i5SpLui
lp2HClicking his tongue, Colin returned to his hideout and calmly began organizing his potion bottles.tjqqO
mQ8rUgkJust in case, he decided to prepare a few catalysts to amplify his magic for the day of the assignment.kCi
jJrVN‘Valdeck, huh? Strange—I keep running into that name too often. In Bornholm, in Krephelt, and this would be the third time.’anAP
spslyClack.lWD8s
2Ox5Colin froze completely as he set down a bottle.5FD
lpZu3A chill ran through his body as he realized what he had just thought.2Y2Z1M
Xhb8VzThe third time?6hL
iTcZXw6‘Three encounters, two failures. What if the failures were not meeting him when I had the chance?’URIY
JKLTA wave of unease swept over him. He was certain that if he ignored that thought, the real “reaper” would come for him.9FKum1
YwiCYWithout hesitating any longer, Colin dropped the bottles and rushed outside.12TjgjG
qRgR0dHe had to find out what kind of person the third son of the Grand Duke Valdeck really was.krEdxFY
oWP***St2Jk
uqw5QLucian decided to move immediately with his vassals as soon as he sent the response to the House of Count Calix.lfF
2avVSince things had come this far, there was no reason to give the enemy time to react.XxP4f
CA5The best course was to strike like lightning and end it all before they could act.JNdG2
unLGaP“Is the baron not planning to come with me? You might witness quite a few interesting scenes.”JtZI
W0Zqyc“I sincerely appreciate the invitation, Your Highness, but the territory is still unstable. Until the second son returns, I must maintain control here.”0ZO8Q
3xy4hjAt Harald’s words, filled with regret, Lucian nodded.d2i
uNJDOSThe firstborn had sparked a rebellion, so chaos still hadn’t settled, and no one knew what other move Calix might attempt. Until the second son returned and an heir was formally designated, it would be difficult for Harald to leave his domain.0jA
7dyPYWith no other option, Lucian’s group left Harald behind and headed to their next destination — Baile, the only territory that had once belonged to the ducal house of Grimaldi.dPH
kyk“I’ve heard a lot about this place, but it’s really just a forgotten backwater.”z4ocv
ZgdAfter scanning the village, Lucian let out a dry laugh.Wbr
sCgV1HDespite bearing the name of a ducal territory, the population was no more than that of a rural area.gfyH
VLbc9I“Believe it or not, eight hundred years ago there were two veins of rare metals here, and it was quite prosperous. When they were exhausted, it began to decline.”STd6sd
MBwJ8g“How many centuries ago did you say? In eight hundred years, a kingdom can fall and rise twice.”QADA
plTki“Indeed. Seen another way, it’s almost a miracle that this place has survived until now solely for its historical value.”eW0ro
bqh7GAfter finishing the explanation, Raymond’s gaze turned to the lord’s mansion.Pl0u088
x0KhRIn contrast to the village, the building was surprisingly clean and majestic — to the point of seeming out of place.stlDBD
fKf0q0‘Looks like a desperate attempt not to disappear.’wclwGVq
yDCR4XWas it the last pride of the north?yLR6UIt
0h1htXjWhen Lucian’s maternal grandfather was still alive, it was said that neighboring lords contributed collectively to cover its maintenance costs.1nQF
OqlRHAfter his death, the House of Count Calix had continued managing it in exchange for huge sums, hoping to profit from it.gSFhe5N
R2VYHThanks to that, at least externally, the mansion still looked perfectly habitable even now.kf0Ka6F
8zcTZ2“Halt! Identify yourselves!”kLrUj
7LiAs they approached the partially ruined inner fortress, some soldiers blocked their way.suzT
IraH9MSeeing the crest of House Calix engraved on their armor, Lucian clicked his tongue.txb2
Cpam1“Who are you?”VbJC
1iOd“We’re in charge of guarding this place.”nnA
spV“That’s not what I asked. I’m asking why you’re guarding it. I never hired you.”ZXGZv
XVClt“Huh?”4qjxK
5cBE7Fy“I’m the owner of this house.”Smj
iKctp4n“…!?”3fF2w
QmoxAt those words, the soldiers looked at each other, completely confused.HprmU4o
KbMoAt that moment, a knight appeared from inside, accompanied by the metallic clinking of armor.OPwSPu
HCK8GZc“I don’t know what family you’re from, young man, but you’re saying strange things. This is the private residence of the Duke of Grimaldi. Could it be that you’re mistaken?”oaYOj6W
OYPxThe tone was polite, but the voice was so sharp it felt like it could cut if you got too close.IQ4
HcZIEven so, Lucian stared at him without flinching.yW3PBUq
kRpKW4h“No, I’ve come to the right place. I am his maternal grandson.”lIcGwjR
ngz“…Are you Young Lord Lucian? The third son of House Valdeck?”PcV
MHiKdYm“I see you’re well informed. I appreciate that you’ve cared for the place without me asking. Now then, would you please step aside?”PAsrRU4
980QyA“I’m sorry, but…”gcfSAt
p1HqThe knight was about to refuse without hesitation when another figure stepped forward. It was Glenn, the inspector sent by the Empire.WfBOlab
b38yblc“There’s no ‘sorry’. We’ve come to carry out the succession procedure for the late duke’s estate. Step aside. This is an imperial order.”yoNTX
gNJnol“What…?”15O
cjrhtxUpon hearing the words “imperial order,” the knight’s eyes widened.D4LJVC
X4rVyRecognizing Glenn’s seal, his expression turned pale.KNHl96d
hCYQQNorthern parochialism only worked in closed environments; once a “legitimate procedure” entered the picture, there was no room to impose one’s will.bKGqo5
tISKNT“What are you waiting for? Step back immediately. The grandson of the late duke has come to inherit the title and estate. Do you need a greater justification?”07N
k02AZbC“But… the one who has maintained this mansion until now has been House Calix.”oJj
mHk7“How admirable. Taking such good care of an inheritance that doesn’t belong to you. Someday you’ll be repaid for it.”82g8
KKRl0“…”FKP8X
XCSlNThe knight pressed his lips together but couldn’t say anything else and stepped back.4lgt
ipirptrTo confront an imperial inspector would only earn a humiliating reprimand.tJ0
cP8n5fMoreover, Lucian was not only coming to receive the inheritance but also the title of House Grimaldi. That meant becoming fully part of the north.vU1
mzYP‘Even if I call him an outsider, no one here would support me. Damn it, at this point, I have no choice.’qSWo
QGPThe knight gave a subtle signal to one of the elite soldiers nearby, and the soldier slipped inside.ZE0D
5khAnIJust as Lucian’s group crossed the drawbridge and was about to pass through the main gate—Zs1r1
irDBoom! Hiiihiii!D4VjdwO
2DXQ“…!”Vnztec
EtkdFPkThe door slammed shut with a deafening clang. While calming the horses startled by the noise, Felicia shouted in anger.mg3
3Fh“What’s the meaning of this? You act like you’re stepping aside and then shut the gate!”N3Nck5w
pCC“It’s a misunderstanding. It seems the gate mechanism has broken down. Could you wait a moment while we repair it?”cK5S
1Sv9lyIt was a ridiculous excuse. A gate that had worked perfectly until then — and had been maintained by House Calix — couldn’t suddenly break. Clearly, they were stalling for time.N2hReEj
c55‘With such a flimsy excuse, they must be pretty desperate. Are they trying to move something before I get in?’c94f
dH978o2Calix had likely occupied the mansion for its symbolic value.Uu3XVef
PPuq4With no rivals, they had left everything as it was until Lucian appeared to claim the castle.kifVFxg
j2nU‘Sorry, but that’s not happening.’OOju
Vx0HBSEven if they were just symbolic items, all the Grimaldi inheritance belonged to Lucian.ngX
qBFlHe wasn’t about to give Calix so much as a plate or a rag.pqz
Kje1Lucian dismounted, drew his sword, and shouted toward the other side of the gate.EQl3p
3jXcDcH“If anyone’s behind there, move away now. Don’t get involved where you might get hurt.”HO7u
UFeCI“You’d best give up. That door is made from adamantium alloy; you can’t cut it. Resign yourself and wait.”aHQQl
qdstqThe knight’s tone was polite, but it dripped with mockery. Lucian, on the other hand, smiled and raised his sword.0lYgY
TRvn5jAt the same time, he unleashed all the energy he could muster at that moment, fully reinforcing his body.CbPI42
3jQzRY6Uuuuuung—Ebsbv
G0V“What is that…!?”ffAJq
pdSaqThe knight stepped back in horror. Clearly, he had never seen a manifestation of energy; in his wide-open eyes there was only shock.yB5
wvjRJust as he was about to shout something—iO9
mCWedBoom!CZbD
f7LEeaIThe sword, wrapped in explosive energy, slammed into the gate.VNS
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