The Doomed Fief’s Dying Lord (50)

“Really… really made it this far…”

I muttered unconsciously.

Avenger* tilted his head.*

“Young master?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. In the end, my brother has returned. Really.”

Avenger* let out a laugh.*

“I remember as well. You said it — that Denabi’s ruin was originally scheduled for this time. You didn’t tell me the reason, though.”

“Hm. Yes, that’s right.”

It certainly was.

That had been the beginning of this operation.

“I trust you, young master. So I have no doubt we’ll believe that we defended this territory. Today is truly a blessed day.”

Truly.
Just as Avenger said.

This point was originally meant to be used up as a brutal scene in the prologue.

The Mana Plague spreads. Most of Denabi’s people die or suffer irreversible afflictions.

‘I really did survive.’

I felt it anew.

But I can’t just smile all the time now.

A prologue is a prologue.

It’s only the start of hardships, not the moment of a fresh start after all suffering ends.

I asked Avenger.

“As I thought, you brought the news of defeat, didn’t you?”

“…“

Avenger* fell silent.*

What has likely just arrived is Jin’s main force.

The vanguard must have already sent word of the battlefield while I was asleep.

And that news will be of defeat.

It’s set that way.

“You seem to know everything, young master.”

“…Thanks to that, I can prepare in advance for unexpected sorrow.“

We shared a moment of silence.

Jin Astrier is an exceptional swordsman.

He possessed talent surpassing his father, Alejandro, and grows through all manner of hardships in the original story.

It’s only natural.

Because he’s the protagonist.

Jin’s expedition is the sharpest blade of the Denabi Corps.

And capable people are inevitably given tasks that match them.

The Library of Crystals.

It was the name of the Dungeon Jin’s expedition had to conquer.

Its difficulty was Grade 4.

It’s a scale too heavy for a single small fief to handle.

Yet Jin took on that mission.

Jin had confidence,
Alejandro had faith in his son,
and Denabi had that necessity.

Because the Library of Crystals blocked the passage toward Denabi’s east.

Only by securing that Dungeon could they advance into the isolated west.

But what lurked in that Dungeon were not ordinary monsters.

The Library of Crystals was an ancient library turned into a Dungeon.

So who would the ‘originals’ and ‘copies’ there be?

They were the librarians buried with the library.

Librarians of a magical library at that.

Of course, they could use magic.

Every single cannon fodder using magic?

As soon as the soldiers learned the Dungeon’s true nature they’d be horrified.

Jin advanced through the Dungeon step by step with brilliant tactics and overwhelming combat power.

But what did I say again?

Dungeon assaults are a race of speed.
And because it’s a race, it’s a test of stamina.

Jin and his unit gave their all, but they couldn’t prevent the depletion.

And the consumption demanded by a Grade 4 Dungeon was despairingly high.

The Dungeon assault ultimately failed.

All Jin’s force could do was suppress the Dungeon’s influence beyond its walls.

Thus Jin returned bearing the news of defeat.

If it weren’t for the times, Jin’s defeat would have been remembered as just one failure.

But in the original timeline, that defeat became the final piece of Denabi’s ruin.

Of course, after that happened, few remained who could even remember that despair.

Several days passed like that.

During that time I handled all business from my room.

Avenger*, the Administrators, and those involved in the liquor business came and went to receive my orders.*

To put it simply, the operation was successful.

We stockpiled inventory and released it all at once alongside the alcohol tax reduction.

The market impact it caused was nearly a tidal wave of beer.

The illicit moonshine trade completely collapsed under the sudden supply of cheap alcohol.

Our liquor sold like crazy despite not being particularly good.

Of course, it was all within expectations.

Didn’t I say so?
Alcohol is man’s friend.

The people of Denabi met an old friend for the first time in ages.

So how excited would they be?

“I wish this drink could soothe those people as well…”

I murmured to Avenger.

Avenger*, who had been taking down my orders, lifted his head.*

“Are you talking about the great young master’s expedition?”

“Yes. If possible I’d like to meet him and say a few words.”

In the past few days stuck in my room I only met Avenger and staff.

I couldn’t meet Jin, let alone Ronari.

Alejandro seemed intent on completely separating military matters from me.

Ugh. It’s itching.

I opened the Status Window for a moment.

What I checked was Denabi’s mana concentration.

[Current: Mana concentration of the Denabi territory.]
[It is at 93.33% of the Crystallization Threshold.]

Fortunately, our operation succeeded.

With the white basin deactivated, we averted annihilation for now.

But we couldn’t prevent Jin’s defeat.

We were still on the brink of ruin.

‘Business must go on, but the Dungeon assault mustn’t stop. I want to meet Jin…’

“Avenger. Could you let me out soon? Staying in this room all the time is driving me crazy.“

Avenger* grinned.*

Ah. Damn.

His response when he smiles is always the same.

“Absolutely not.”

“Why!”

“You know it too, young master. It’s the lord’s orders.”

“Ah… can’t you do something about that…?”

“Are you telling me to defy orders?”

Avenger* chuckled as he spoke.*

“And I think the same as the lord. You need to be punished, young master.”

“Punished? Do you know how much merit I’ve earned…?”

“Exactly because of that merit.”

Avenger* cut me off.*

“You used magic, young master. It was the magic of the late Lady Astrier.”

“Why is that?”

“Feigning ignorance won’t help. The military council has already reached a conclusion: it’s too dangerous for you to use Lady Astrier’s magic.”

“It doesn’t work on people anyway.”

Avenger* glared at me.*

“I told you that playing dumb won’t work.”

“Wha-what do you mean ‘playing dumb’…”

“That magic is dangerous to you yourself, not us. Did you think we didn’t know? There’s an obvious price you’ve already paid.”

Avenger* looked down at my right arm.*

I wore a glove and bandages…
But that disguise won’t help for those who saw it directly.

What was there instead of my arm was not my arm but a Mana crystal replacing it.

It still functions properly?

Look. It moves this well!

Avenger* looked at me with contempt as I swung my arm.*

“Why are you looking at me like that…?”

“We don’t want you to die, young master.”

“It’s touching to hear you say that…”

“This is not a joke! The magic you used was overwhelmingly powerful! Anyone, even a child, knows that if an amateur like you abuses such magic there will be a cost!”

Avenger* stood up and ranted angrily.*

“And your arm ended up like that… who could possibly not worry about you!? What about the lord, your father? Please, consider the feelings of those around you!”

“…“

I clasped my hands and glanced up at Avenger sideways.

Sensing…

There are a hundred things to say, but none can be spoken.

Because it was unreasonable, after all.

Avenger* seemed about to leave.*

“Anyway. Young master, you need to rest. I’ll be going now!”

“No… Avenger…”

I reached out toward him, but it was an empty gesture.
I couldn’t stop him.

I was left alone in the room murmuring.

“No, I need to meet Jin and Ronari and Izack who saved me, and there are so many people I have to see — how can you leave me alone like this…?”

- Ugh.

I let out an empty groan.

I laid my body on the bed.

“I want to go out, I want to go out, I want to go out, I want to go out…”

So many unresolved questions.

The image of the space I saw beneath that well still circles in my mind.

The sea of mana.

What exactly was that place?

Could I go back there once more?

‘I’ve read the original to the end, but no such place appeared. What on earth was it? That device, the leyline mana flow, the veins of the earth… I can’t make sense of it.’

I opened the Status Window again.

Since that incident, a tab that wasn’t there before had been added to the Status Window.

[Quest]

Under that tab there was a subcategory labeled World Quest.

And beneath it sat a single quest titled [(REDACTED) Device Activation].

The objective was the same as what I saw last time.

[Collect the Four Seasons Swords (1/4)]

I’ve never even heard of these Four Seasons Swords.

Many artifacts appear in the original work, and I remember most of them.

But these Four Seasons Swords aren’t on that list.

I can’t even recall anything related.

Why the four seasons?
Is it because there are four?
What’s their purpose?

There’s so little data I can’t even speculate.

I decided to set that thought aside for now.

Staring at the Status Window made my eyes ache.

I got up for a moment and went to the window.

From my room I could see the castle’s inner courtyard.

The courtyard was empty.

“So desolate…”

But someone was caught in the corner of my vision.

It was someone who shouldn’t be there.

What the—
Why are you here?

Vittorio Leviner.

He was leaning against the side of the courtyard.

I opened the window and called to him.

“Hey.”

He noticed me and looked this way.

“Why haven’t you gone back yet?”

He didn’t answer my question.

Instead he muttered something.

Was he shaping words with his mouth?

‘From the window… what?’

I didn’t know what it meant.

Still, Vittorio didn’t say it twice.

He pushed off from where he stood and started running.

Of course, he was heading this way.

‘What’s going on? Why is he running over here?’

Ah.
No way.

I instinctively knew what he was about to do.

I hurriedly stepped back from the window.

But it was a little too late.

- Thud!

Vittorio flew into my room.

Did I mention?
My room is on the second floor.

“Wow! As if this were a fantasy — showing off physical prowess like that! At least turn on a blinker before entering!”

I said that sprawled on the floor.

He cast a shadow over me.

“Didn’t I tell you to step back?”

“You mouthing words isn’t something I can understand unless I’m some kind of lip-reader.”

- Sigh.

I sighed and tried to get up.

But Vittorio’s foot gently pressed down on my chest.

“Ugh.”

I looked up at him.

“…What is the meaning of this?“

“You saved everyone’s lives. You accomplished what no one else could.”

“Thanks for the praise. But I demand an answer to my question.”

“I still have something to collect from you.”

He thumped his own chest as he said it.

“You promised to save me, didn’t you?”

Ah.
So that’s what it was.

We definitely made such a promise.

“So you’ve been staying behind until now?”

“Fulfill that promise.”

Of course.

I didn’t think I could weasel my way out of it.

I thought to myself.

‘Shane’s father. I’m sorry.’

They locked me up here telling me not to use magic.

In the end, it looks like I’ll have to use it.

“Alright. So put your foot down.”

Vittorio did so.

I brushed myself off and stood up.

Who do you think I am?

Even without being intimidated, I keep my promises.

Even if it means risking death once more.

[Current: Shane Astrier’s blood mana concentration]
[0.048%]