A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles — Chapter 84

Chapter 84

Thud!‌⁠ Rumble!

With⁠‍ a deafening crash,‌⁠ the door was⁠⁠⁠ torn off its hinges and rolled‍⁠⁠ across the floor.⁠

Fortunately, perhaps thanks to the earlier warning,‌ no one inside‍⁠‌ was hurt by‍ the impact.

Lucian stepped through the‍ wide-open entrance and‌‍‍ muttered,

“It really doesn’t cut.⁠ I thought, since‍ this sword is‍ made of the‍ same material, with⁠ a bit of‍ luck I could⁠‌ split it.”

“…”‍‌

The‍ knight, half in⁠ shock, stared at the door lying‌ on the floor,⁠ not even reacting‍⁠ to Lucian’s words.‍⁠

The metal slab had‍⁠ only a large‍‍ dent and a slight deformation; the real problem was‌ the wall.

The‍⁠ anchors and clamps‍‌‌ holding the door‍ had remained attached⁠ to the wall.‌

No‍⁠ matter how sturdy‍‌ the door was,⁠⁠ if those points‌ couldn’t withstand the⁠ impact, it was⁠‍ bound to be⁠‍‍ ripped out.

“Well,‍ the door’s open‌⁠ now. I guess‌‍⁠ we can go‍ in. There’s no need to wait‌‍‍ anymore, is there?”⁠⁠

“W-wait,‍ please. What do‍‍ you think you’re doing in such a historic place…?”

“This⁠⁠⁠ is my house⁠ and my property⁠⁠ now. Enough with⁠ the ridiculous excuses—move aside.”

Whoosh.‍

The‍ knight, still trying⁠ to block the‍ way, flinched and‍‌‍ stepped back.

A bluish aura of⁠‍ magic rippled around⁠‌ the boy’s body—who⁠ stood at least⁠ a head shorter‍‍ than him.

If‍ Lucian wished, all‍ that magic could‍‍ strike with the‍ same force as‌ before.

“Damn…”‍⁠⁠

Imagining‍ himself reduced to‌ dust, the knight⁠‍ shut his eyes‍ tightly and moved‍‌‍ aside.

With‌⁠ the obstacle gone,‌‍ the soldiers gathered‌ near the entrance⁠ also backed away,⁠ startled.

“Why⁠ are you all crowding here? Were⁠‌ you trying to⁠ do something inside⁠‍ while I was⁠ stuck outside unable‌ to move?”

“N-no,⁠ it’s not that…”

“Enough⁠‍ with the excuses. Get out. If‌ I see you‍‍ hanging around again,⁠ next time your heads will go‍ flying.”

At the icy warning,⁠ the soldiers withdrew,⁠ pale-faced.

After⁠‍ confirming there were no more obstacles,‌‍‌ Lucian turned to⁠‍⁠ Glenn.

“Sir‍‌ Glenn, what are‌ you doing? Come⁠ and proceed with‍ the inheritance.”

“A-ah…⁠‍‍ yes! Forgive me,‌ Your Highness!”

Glenn,⁠ still half in‍ shock, reacted immediately⁠ and headed toward‌‍⁠ the entrance.

Seeing⁠⁠ the scene, the‍ knights of the⁠‍ Count Calix household stood with blank‌ expressions.

After‍⁠ decades of guarding‍ that territory for‍ their lord’s ambitions,‍‌ they now saw‌‍ it handed directly⁠ to someone else.⁠‍‍

***

As‍ soon as Glenn⁠ officially announced the⁠⁠ legitimate succession, all the members of the Count Calix⁠ household managing the‍ mansion began packing.⁠⁠

Once‍‍ the Grimaldi inheritance⁠⁠ passed into Lucian’s‍⁠ hands, they had⁠⁠ no reason to‍‍ stay.

“We’ll‍ take our leave. Now that everything‌ belongs to the‌‍ duke, we don’t‌ know what charges we might face‌⁠⁠ if we touch⁠ anything else.”

“A wise decision. Though, there’s a nuance‍ in your words—from‍⁠ the start, everything‌‌ here was mine. You merely occupied⁠‌ it illegally. Technically, I should press⁠‌‍ charges, but since‍ you even cleaned⁠ the place, I’ll⁠‍ grant exceptional forgiveness.”‌‌

“…We‌⁠‌ appreciate Your Highness’s‌⁠ magnanimity.”

The‍ knight clenched his‌ teeth and looked‌ up briefly, but⁠‌ upon meeting Lucian’s‍⁠ icy gaze, he⁠‍ shrank back again.‍‌

At‌‍ that moment, his‍ eyes landed on‌ the adamantium alloy‍‍‍ door still lying‍‌ on the floor.‍‍‍

A chill ran through⁠ him, and after⁠ a quick bow,‍‍ he fled nearly‌ at a run.⁠

“Tsk,⁠⁠ if you don’t‍‍ have the guts⁠ to face someone,‌‍ don’t go picking⁠‍ fights.”

Lucian‌ clicked his tongue⁠ and headed into‍‌ the mansion.

As‌ its outer appearance‍‌ suggested, the interior⁠‌ was equally luxurious‌ and so well‌⁠⁠ maintained that he‍‍ could move in⁠‍ right away.

While⁠ Lucian looked around⁠ nonstop, Glenn approached with a smile.⁠⁠

“You’ve⁠ finally reclaimed your‍ rightful inheritance. My congratulations.”

“All‍‍ of this was‍‌ made possible thanks⁠ to His Majesty the Emperor. His‌‌ favor is so great I have‌ no way to‍‌‍ repay it—my only‌⁠ option is to⁠ serve him loyally.”‌‌

Lucian‍‌ showed a deeply⁠ grateful expression while‌ hiding his true⁠‌ indifference.

After⁠ all, having received‌‍ Asagrim from the‍ emperor, this mansion‌ was just a bonus.

“Anyway, this place only⁠⁠⁠ had symbolic value.⁠⁠‍ Now that I have Asagrim—which eclipses⁠‍‌ everything else, even‍ in symbolism—this place‌⁠ holds little meaning.”‌

He‌‍⁠ would ensure the‍⁠ ownership was clear⁠⁠ so no odd‍ characters could use‌‌‍ it, but that‌‌‌ was it.

Unless‍ he found a concrete use, it⁠‍ would likely be‍ left half-abandoned like‌‌ before.

“Still,‍⁠ since we’re here,‍‌ how about looking‍ for some treasure?”

It was a mansion⁠ with a very‌ long history and, moreover, the place‌ where his maternal‌ grandfather had lived.⁠

Who‌‍ knew—maybe a hidden⁠‍‌ treasure would turn‌‍ up while rummaging⁠‌ around.

***⁠‍

“Search⁠‍‌ every corner. If‌‌‌ you find anything⁠ suspicious or odd,⁠‍‍ let me know.‌‌ If you think‌ something’s hidden, you‌‌ can break it.‍ Check everything without‍‌ exception.”

“What!?”

The⁠‌‍ vassals blinked, stunned‌ by the order.‍‍ Even places only‌ the family head‍⁠‍ could enter? And damaging a mansion‌⁠ with such a long history?

While⁠ everyone stood speechless,‍ Raymond grabbed Lucian,‌‌⁠ his face contorted.‍⁠‍

“My‌ lord, is it⁠⁠ really okay to‌⁠ break things? Do‌ you know how many years of‌‍ history this mansion⁠ holds?!”

“Of⁠ course I do.⁠ But you also‍ know how much‌⁠ Asagrim is worth.”⁠‍‌

“And‍‍‍ what does that‍‍ have to do⁠‍ with this?”

“That‍ their value overlaps.⁠ Tell me honestly—after‌‍ receiving Asagrim, do you think we’ll⁠ ever come back‌‍ here?”

“…”⁠

Raymond‍‍ fell silent, hit⁠ right where it‍‍ counted.

They⁠ might visit again‍ someday, but it‍‌⁠ would only be⁠ a surface-level stop‍ at most.

“If‍‌ we’re not going⁠ to live here,⁠‌ it’s better to‍‌ tear the place‌‍ apart than treat‌‍ it like a relic. Like you⁠ said, it has‍ a long history.⁠‌ Who knows if something’s hidden here?”⁠

“Hmm⁠‍ you’re not wrong,‌⁠ but…”

“A‍‍⁠ thousand years from⁠ now, when all⁠‌⁠ the symbolism is gone, what value⁠‍‍ will this place‌‍ have? Better to⁠ go through it‍‌‌ all now. With‍ Asagrim as a replacement, there’s nothing to regret.”

Faced‍ with such sound‌ reasoning, Raymond ended‍‍ up nodding. He‍ more or less‌ understood what Lucian‌ was after.

“Magic?”⁠⁠

“You⁠⁠ catch on fast.⁠‌ Yes, exactly that.”‍

It⁠ was a mansion⁠⁠ built long before‌‌ the mage-led rebellions‌⁠ had erupted.

If‍‍ they searched well,‌ they might find‍‌ items related to‌ magic—artifacts hidden away‍ by the Empire.⁠

“Even‌‌ if it’s just‍ a hope, it’s not impossible. In an old mansion‌ like this, there⁠‌ are always secret⁠ passages or hidden records.”

With‍ the lord’s intent‍⁠ clear, Raymond nodded‍⁠ and stepped away.⁠

Finding‍ a magical artifact⁠ would be a stroke of luck,‌ but even without‌ that, there was‍‍ a high chance of uncovering something⁠‍ hidden.

While‍‌ the vassals scoured⁠‌ every corner of‌ the mansion, Lucian‌⁠ decided to inspect‍ the study.

The⁠ records left by‍‌ past generations were‍ usually kept there—or‌ in the library.‍⁠

***⁠

“There’s‍‍ nothing useful.”

Tap.‌‌

Lucian‌ set the book‍ down with regret.⁠

The‍ study was filled‌‍⁠ only with public⁠ records like ledgers, as well as poetry collections, novels,⁠‍ and various other‌⁠‍ items.

No‌⁠ matter how hard‍⁠‍ he searched, he⁠‌ couldn’t find any‌‌‌ personal writings—no memoirs or diaries.

‘Could‍ it be that‍⁠ the House of⁠ Count Calix secretly‍‌ took something? Maybe⁠ they saw something⁠ confidential while managing⁠‍ the mansion…’

Just as his suspicions‍ toward the Calix⁠‌ family began to⁠ grow, Hugo’s voice⁠‌‍ rang out from⁠‌ outside.

“My lord! There’s something‌‍ strange here!”

Lucian’s‌⁠ eyes lit up,⁠ and he immediately‍‍ headed to where‌ his vassals were.

“Did‍ you find something?”⁠

“We‍‌ discovered an entrance‍ to the basement,‌ but someone’s sealed⁠⁠ it completely. Look‌⁠ at this.”

Hugo‌‌ pointed to the⁠ basement entrance. A black iron lock‍‍⁠ and thick chains‍‍ wrapped around the‌⁠ door, ensuring no one could open‌ it.

Lucian⁠‌ stepped closer and‌ examined the chains.

‘The⁠‍‌ door is quite‌⁠ old, but the‍ lock and chains are recent.’

Judging‍ by the state⁠⁠ of the metal,‌⁠ they had likely⁠‌‍ been installed no‌ more than three‌ years ago. Lucian⁠‌ gripped the hilt‌‍ of his sword,⁠⁠⁠ but quickly let⁠ go.

If‌ they destroyed it‌⁠‍ by force, the‌ entrance might collapse.⁠

“Felicia,‌⁠ can you cut‌‌ it?”

“I’ll‍⁠ try.”

Felicia⁠ drew her sword⁠ and took a vertical slashing stance.⁠

At‌‌‍ the same time,‌ magic began to stretch out in‌ fine threads around the blade.

Like⁠ a silkworm spinning⁠ its cocoon, the‌‌ magical threads wrapped around the sword⁠⁠ over and over⁠⁠ again.

Slice!⁠

With‍‌ a sound like‍⁠ paper being sliced,‍ the blade brushed‍ against the chains.‌‌

Immediately,⁠‌ the chains and lock slid apart‌⁠ smoothly along the⁠‍ path of the‌‌‍ cut.

Lucian‌‍‍ touched the cleanly‌⁠ cut section of‌‌ metal and gave‌ a thumbs-up.

“Perfect.‍ As expected of⁠‌⁠ the future Swordmaster.”⁠

“You’re⁠‌ too kind.”

Felicia‌‍⁠ lowered her head slightly, a faint⁠‍ blush on her⁠ cheeks. Lucian cleared the remains of‌ the lock with⁠ his vassals and entered the basement.⁠⁠

“By‍⁠ the heavens…!”

The‍ vassals looked around‌ in awe.

Though‌ called a basement,⁠‌ what lay beneath⁠ the mansion was‌‍‍ a massive cavity—larger even than the⁠⁠ entire residence.

As⁠⁠ Lucian and the‍‍ others stood stunned‍ by the enormous‌‍ space, they noticed‍ numerous hollows carved into the walls.‌‍

“And⁠ these holes?”

“Looks⁠ like they were‍⁠ made to hold something.”

“A⁠ place to insert something? Keys?”

“If‍ they were keys,‍‌⁠ there wouldn’t be⁠ this many. Maybe⁠‍ handles or some‍⁠ kind of lighting.”‍

Hearing‍ the word “lighting,”‍ Lucian touched one of the hollows⁠ again. Looking closely,⁠⁠ there were fresh‌⁠‍ marks showing something‍‌ had been forcibly‌ removed.

‘They⁠ blocked off the‍ basement entrance and‌ also removed all‌ the lighting?’

It‌‌ now made sense⁠‍ why the torchlight‍ felt insufficient. It‍‍ seemed someone had‌⁠⁠ deliberately removed the lighting to hide‍ something.

As⁠‌ the group descended⁠ to the floor‌ of the massive‍‌‌ cavity—

Creak.

“Ahh!”⁠

“What‌‍ happened?”

“T-the⁠‌‌ floor moved!”

Hugo‌‍ quickly backed away,⁠ shining his torch⁠⁠ on the ground‍ beneath his feet.⁠‍

When⁠ everyone looked, sure enough, one of⁠ the floor tiles‍⁠ had shifted.

Upon‌‍‍ closer inspection, each‌‍ tile had a slightly different engraving.⁠

‘A puzzle?’

It⁠‌ didn’t seem the⁠ floor had moved⁠⁠ from old age;⁠ rather, it looked intentionally designed that‍ way.

While‌‍ Hugo examined the‌ shifted tile, Raymond shone his torch⁠ around and spoke.⁠

“My‌ lord, from what⁠ I can see,⁠ this entire basement⁠ looks like a giant puzzle.”

“I‍ think the same.‌ Now I understand⁠ why they took‍ away the lighting.”⁠‍‌

It‌‍⁠ was to prevent‌‌ the engraved designs⁠‍⁠ on the floor‌ from being seen.‌‍

If‍ the entire floor‍⁠ formed a single‌⁠‌ puzzle, it would’ve‍‌ required a massive‌ amount of lighting.⁠

Lucian⁠ let out a dry laugh in‍‌‌ the dim light‍‍⁠ of the basement.⁠

‘Look‍⁠ at them—since they⁠ couldn’t solve it,‌ they tried to‌‌ stop anyone else⁠⁠‌ from doing it.’‌‌

From the condition of‍‍ the locks and⁠‌ the missing wall‌ fixtures, it was‌‌ clear these precautions‌‍‍ were taken before Lucian had arrived‌ in the north.‍‌

Since the House of‍‌ Count Calix couldn’t‌‌‍ solve the puzzle,⁠‍ they had sabotaged‍⁠ it to prevent‍‍‍ anyone else from‍‌ succeeding.

To‍ Lucian, the rightful‌ owner of the‍‌‌ mansion, it was‍ infuriating.

‘So‌ this is what‍ kind of people⁠ the House of‍ Calix are.’

“What‍ shall we do?‍‌‍ Set up torches‍ and bring in‍ more people?”

Raymond‌ suggested.

Lucian‌‌‍ shook his head.‍⁠

“No.‌‍⁠ How long do⁠‍‌ you think that⁠‌ would take? Besides, there’s no guarantee‍⁠‌ solving this will‌‌ yield treasure. Maybe‍ it’s just artistic.‌‌ Let’s leave it‍ and go to⁠ Asagrim first.”

“That’s‌‍ true… even the⁠⁠ House of Calix⁠‌ doesn’t seem to‌⁠ have solved it.‌⁠ And with the‌⁠ time we have⁠ now, it’s impossible. Glenn would find‌‍ out too.”

“Exactly.⁠⁠ Still… it’s impressive.‍ I don’t know‍ how they managed‌‌‌ to build something like this in‍ such a huge‌⁠ cavity.”

Driven‍ by curiosity, Lucian‌‌‌ crouched down and⁠ ran his hand over one of‍ the floor tiles.⁠

Flash!

“…!?”‌‌

The‍ moment his palm⁠ touched the tile,⁠ a blinding beam‌ of light burst from deep within the underground chamber.