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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
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Chapter 34
“The Count of Cascadia has already demonstrated her ability to fulfill her responsibilities and duties. This proposal seems rather meaningless.”
The nobles murmured in shock as Duke Berli, who had always maintained neutrality, suddenly took this side.
They never saw this coming.
To make things even more surprising, Princess Bata also stepped forward—something she rarely did.
“The Duke is right. Is there any reason to strip the Count of Cascadia of her authority?”
“T-that is…”
Following Duke Berli, even the gentle-hearted princess took a strong stance.
Yet, the one who should have been their greatest pillar of support, Marquis Vider, was inexplicably pale and silent.
It was too bizarre to be explained simply as concern over the instability of his position as Royal Mage.
“If there are no objections, then I will dismiss this proposal. With Father unwell, power struggles do not reflect well on us.”
Once Princess Bata dismissed the proposal, the nobles grumbled but could not openly object.
With that, the state council meeting ended, and I was summoned by Princess Bata.
This was likely the real reason she had called me to the council meeting.
“Welcome, Leon Cascadia.”
“It is an honor to meet the Kingdom’s Little Moon.”
Beside her sat Duke Berli.
“First, I must thank you. If not for you, we would not have been able to save my father.”
“It was merely my duty as a vassal.”
Of course, I don’t believe in duty feeding me.
“Thank you for saying so. Though there is little I can do for you, I will at least ensure that the hyenas seeking to tear apart the Cascadia family’s authority are kept at bay.”
“I am grateful for such an ocean-like grace.”
Maintaining proper decorum, I bowed slightly.
She let out a small sigh.
“Grace, you say. Without you, this country would have fallen into great chaos.”
She bowed her head in return, then took a deep breath before speaking.
“The truth is, I summoned you here because I have something to ask you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Last night, the Vider Marquisate was attacked.”
The Vider Marquisate?
As I furrowed my brows in confusion, Duke Berli spoke on her behalf.
“It is undoubtedly the work of those who attempted to assassinate His Majesty. They seem to believe that the one who lifted the curse on the King was the necromancer mage, Goldsun Vider, the son of Marquis Vider.”
Only then did it start making sense.
Unintentionally, Goldsun had become my shield.
No wonder Marquis Vider had looked so shaken during the council meeting.
So it wasn’t about responsibility for the assassination attempt.
Even so, why would a man who had been willing to throw his own son under the bus for power be acting like this?
“There is a high likelihood of that. But… are you asking me to save him?”
At my direct question, she shook her head.
“Do you want to?”
“Not at all.”
“Then I won’t ask that of you. It is something for others to handle. Of course, compensation will be provided.”
She kept glancing downward as she spoke carefully.
Is she… cheating?
Can a princess even do that?
Is the future of this country going to be okay?
Still, if I can put them in my debt, they will protect Melissa and act as a shield against any troublesome incidents that may arise in Cascadia.
Melissa may have said she wasn’t interested, but I had a different perspective.
If the necromancer faction had the capability to kidnap Goldsun Vider in just one night, it was obvious that their next target would be me.
And in that process, both Melissa and I would be in danger.
So… I might as well maximize my gains.
I formed a circle with my thumb and index finger, then smirked at the two of them.
“How much do you know, Your Highness?”
* * *
To me, the County of Cascadia holds great significance.
The labyrinth in my dreams, Labyrinthos, was nothing short of a prison.
Trapped there for an eternity, I had only one goal.
To return home.
It wasn’t as if I had hidden some great secret in the Cascadia estate.
It was simply my home, the place I could return to at the end of this nightmare.
That’s why, for me, the County of Cascadia and my family were my anchor—the place I had longed for so desperately.
Thus.
My top priority was the safety of my county.
I decided to think positively.
They were going to attack me sooner or later anyway.
Whether I crushed them now or later made no difference, but if I could turn this into a chance to gain something for my family, it would be wise to do so.
At my request, Princess Bata looked tense, while Duke Berli did not intervene.
After all, he still owed me.
“May I take that as an acceptance?”
At the princess’s question, I nodded.
“Simply refusing wouldn’t be wise.”
Even if she knew that, was there any need to say it out loud?
“There is a royal mine near Cascadia, isn’t there?”
“Yes.”
“I will grant it to you.”
At that statement, I glanced at Duke Berli.
Ah.
So that’s what his earlier words were about.
Honestly, this was more than I expected, which made me a bit uneasy.
“Are you sure? You’re willing to give away something like that?”
“Yes. There had already been discussions about transferring it to the Cascadia family. I will take this opportunity to officially grant it to you. This is within my authority.”
At her words, I fell into thought.
So, it was a mine that was already being considered for transfer, but now she was using this as an excuse to finalize it?
It was a royal decision, but if the noble faction opposed it, the process could drag on for years.
Using this situation as justification to settle it neatly…
With this, Cascadia won’t be able to bother them over compensation in the future.
Of course, if this were an official transaction, this would be the end of it.
But will I try to get more out of it?
Then I need to leave some room for maneuvering.
“Very well. However, one should never miss an opportunity when it arises.”
“What more do you want?”
“If I contribute significantly to the subjugation, I’d appreciate it if my merits were not forgotten.”
She hesitated for a moment before nodding.
“Alright. If you achieve such merit, the royal family will never forget your contributions.”
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“Then may I hear the details of the operation?”
“Don’t you need to consult with your head of family?”
At her question, I recalled Melissa’s reaction.
I can guarantee that if it’s just the ownership of the mine, Melissa would be overjoyed beyond belief.
Given the dire financial state of the family, she would place immense value on gaining ownership of the mine.
“She will certainly approve.”
“Alright. Then I will explain the subjugation operation. Duke, please.”
* * *
“So, you’re saying you’re going to rescue that bastard?”
“No, he doesn’t matter.”
“The necromancers, then? But does the royal family know about your abilities?”
“Not exactly. The royal family only asked for my general knowledge on necromantic magic. Most likely, I’ll be part of the subjugation force as an intelligence officer.”
She pondered carefully before speaking again.
“That’s ridiculous. You’re a monster with both magic and the sword.”
She is one of the very few who knows that I can manifest something similar to sword energy and wield 5th-circle necromantic magic.
In fact, she may be the only one who knows both.
Even if she understands that my combat abilities aren’t within normal bounds—
The group being targeted was responsible for terrorism in the kingdom.
It wouldn’t sit well with her either.
“So, you didn’t agree to help for free, did you?”
She has to be that pragmatic to keep her family afloat.
I confidently pulled out a document from my coat.
“Let me see.”
“Oh? Not for free.”
“Why are you making such a big deal? What, are you going to say you got mining rights or something?”
When I simply smiled without answering, she wiped the smirk off her face.
“…For real?”
I waved the paper lightly instead of answering, and her eyes trembled as she hesitantly approached.
Then, she reverently knelt and raised her arms high as if worshiping a god.
“Oh… look at this radiant glow…”
“You should take good care of it, right?”
“Of course! It’s the mining rights, isn’t it?! It’s real, right?! There are no sneaky clauses or anything…?”
“Oh-ho! How dare you doubt the divine?”
Would she dare slander a god?
I corrected her mistake with a stern expression.
“How could I hand you mere mining rights?”
“…Not the mining rights? Then…”
Her eyes widened even more.
“No way?! The ownership?!”
“You should take good care of it, right? That’s the only way I’ll hand it over to you.”
“Brother! I’ve been waiting for a brother like you my whole life!”
“Honestly, me too.”
“Really?”
Her eyes sparkled like those of a goblin I once crushed its head in battle.
Feeling oddly unsettled, I gently pushed her forehead away.
“…I lied.”
Pushing her away decisively, I tossed the envelope to her and stood up.
“I have to leave immediately, so you handle the paperwork.”
“…Wow. Ownership… It’s real? Unbelievable…”
Whether she was shocked or not, she kept staring at the document, reading it over and over to confirm its legitimacy before suddenly standing up.
“Wait!”
When she returned, she threw a uniquely designed bracelet at me.
“Take that with you. It’s a defensive artifact I bought at a high price. And promise me one thing.”
Her earlier foolish expression vanished, and she grabbed my wrist tightly, looking up at me with a serious gaze.
“Never, ever come back injured.”
In her eyes, I could see the deep sorrow buried within.
I suddenly recalled the past—the moment she took over the family upon hearing the news of my father, mother, and youngest sibling’s accident.
The sight of her in my father’s study, staring blankly at his journal with hollow eyes.
She had pretended to be fine on the surface, but inside, she had been rotting away.
“As the head of the family, this is my first order.”
Letting out a small chuckle, I responded theatrically.
“I will obey, head of the family.”
Ah, if I carried a grudge against the Labrynthos itself, then she must have a deep-seated fear of family members leaving.
After losing her family all at once and holding up the crumbling house alone,
It wasn’t surprising that she had a severe trauma about losing loved ones.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
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