Chapter 119
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 119
Lucian stared at Helen with an expression of utter disbelief.
“Are you telling me this ‘dragon’ is the same creature I’m thinking of? The ultimate lifeform that flies through the sky, breathes fire, and possesses wisdom far beyond that of humans?”
“That is correct.”
“...From what I know, dragons were creatures that even the heroes of old, wielding legendary weapons, struggled to face. How exactly am I supposed to hunt one?”
Their claws could effortlessly shred any armor, and their roar struck terror into the hearts of all living things.
The very name was a synonym for horror—creatures whose breath could melt mountains and who could crush even the most noble hero like a common insect.
If even half of the legends were true, a single dragon was capable of toppling an entire kingdom.
“Wait, weren't dragons supposed to be extinct? I heard the scholars of the era were unanimous in saying they died out back when the Empire was first founded. Are you saying there’s a surviving specimen?”
“No dragons have survived.”
“What?”
“All dragons returned to nature long ago. Their former majesty can only be confirmed through legendary records and their remaining physical remains.”
Lucian frowned at Helen’s calm explanation.
She said he needed to obtain a Dragon’s Heart, yet she claimed all dragons had been dead for ages?
“Are you mocking me right now?”
“A Dragon’s Heart is different from other remains. It is essentially a perpetual engine. Unless it is intentionally destroyed, it does not return to the earth even after the dragon dies; it continues to exist.”
“...So the dragons are dead, but their hearts remain? And I don’t have to fight a dragon; I just have to retrieve the heart from its remains?”
“To be precise, you must take it from those who guard it. They are merely keepers who happened upon the treasure by chance, but because they have held it for so long, they believe themselves to be its masters. They will not give it up willingly.”
Lucian’s eyes widened at the unexpected revelation.
What kind of object was a Dragon’s Heart?
It was a primordial treasure, an endless source of mana often referred to as the elixir of immortality.
And yet, there were people already in possession of it and using it.
“Who exactly is using the Dragon’s Heart?”
At Lucian’s question, Helen bowed her head and spoke.
“The ones who lead the tribes beyond the snowfields—those who call themselves the Sons of the Blue Dragon.”
After his conversation with Helen, Lucian redoubled his efforts to stabilize the territory.
However, unlike before, he focused on teaching Hans and keeping him by his side rather than overseeing every task himself.
Terrified by the responsibilities he was being given for the first time in his life, Hans asked Lucian, “Your Highness, I haven’t even grown accustomed to my duties as Chief Steward yet. Entrusting me with such heavy administrative work is more than I can handle.”
“It’ll be tough, but it can’t be helped. There’s no one else I can trust to act as my proxy.”
“Pardon? A proxy? Are you suggesting I serve as the Acting Family Head?”
“Yes, that. Usually, when a Lord is away, it’s standard for the administrator or the head steward to take over as the Lord’s proxy.”
Hans’s jaw dropped at the mention of being the Lord’s proxy.
While the logic wasn't flawed, it was an overwhelmingly heavy burden for someone who had only recently become the Chief Steward.
In the first place, a head steward usually took on the role of proxy because they had served the Lord for a long time. They would naturally become accustomed to the work after decades of observing and learning. To be thrust into the role so suddenly was unheard of.
“I—I can’t do it!”
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to ask you to do anything too difficult. The other officials will handle the administrative work just fine, and you can leave the military matters to Sir Gareth. You just need to step in and mediate occasionally if a problem arises.”
“That’s also difficult! Mediation requires a certain level of authority. Who would follow my lead!?”
“In that case, you’ll have to ask Sir Eisen. Tell him to just stand next to you and provide some gravitas. He knows our situation well, so he won’t refuse.”
“But...!”
Lucian cut off Hans as he tried to continue his excuses.
“I don’t expect much from you. Even if the territory is a mess when I return, I won’t blame you. As long as a rebellion doesn’t break out and Asagrim isn’t taken away entirely, that’s enough.”
“Ugh...”
Hans let out a groan at Lucian’s firm tone. He realized that no matter what he said, his master had no intention of changing his mind.
“I understand. However, I truly can only promise to keep the seat warm. Please don’t scold me later if I’ve tarnished Your Highness’s achievements.”
“I told you. That’s enough.”
“In exchange, tell me one thing. Where do you plan on going this time?”
“To go pick up a dragon corpse.”
“...Pardon?”
“It’s a long story.”
Lucian brushed it off with a bitter smile.
To be honest, Lucian himself was still half-skeptical of Helen’s words, so he couldn't give a definitive answer.
Whether a dragon’s remains truly existed, and whether there was a tribe beyond the snowfields using its heart...
He would only be able to say for sure after seeing it with his own eyes.
It had been six months since Lucian began training Hans to take over as the Lord’s proxy.
The number of people settling in Asagrim grew by the day, and half of the once-empty territory was now bustling with life.
Merchants who caught the scent of profit rushed in to establish trade, and the number of people opening shops through that trade increased.
With the foundation of the territory firmly established, the officials were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief as their workload significantly decreased.
And the territory wasn't the only thing that had changed over those six months.
“Hugo has mastered the Lion Sword.”
“Already?”
Lucian, who had been enjoying a moment of leisure after finishing his reduced workload, was startled by Eisen’s words.
While anyone serving the Valdek bloodline was eligible to learn the Lion Sword, that was strictly limited to knights.
Since Hugo hadn't been a knight until recently, he hadn't been able to learn it. Lucian had decided to pass it down to him once he was officially knighted, but to think he had mastered it in just six months.
“I thought he had some talent, but it seems he has blossomed even further now that the weight on his heart has been lifted. If he continues to train like this, he will likely surpass Sir Raymond before long.”
“Well, that’s both a pleasant surprise and a shock...”
If the Sword Saint himself said someone had ‘mastered’ it, it meant there was nothing left to teach regarding that specific swordsmanship style. Lucian couldn't help the corners of his mouth from twitching upward at the news that his retainer was realizing his hidden potential.
But Eisen wasn't finished.
“And I have finished teaching Felicia as well. We had our final spar yesterday, and there is nothing more I can teach her. The rest is up to her to develop through real combat.”
“...!”
Lucian’s eyes snapped wide.
Unlike Hugo, Felicia was Eisen’s daughter and his top disciple, destined to inherit everything he knew.
If Hugo’s ‘mastery’ referred only to the Lion Sword, Felicia’s ‘completion’ meant she had mastered the very swordsmanship that Eisen had built over his lifetime.
In other words, in Eisen’s eyes, the current Felicia had reached a level where she could be called a Sword Saint right now.
“Since Your Highness has corrected all my foolishness and mistakes, this old man no longer has any regrets. I can depart happily whenever the Eight Gods come to claim me. I cannot thank you enough.”
“...Please don’t say such things. Shouldn't you stick around to see Felicia make a name for herself?”
“Haha, I suppose you’re right.”
Lucian felt a strange sense of unease at Eisen’s refreshed expression.
Lingering attachments weigh down a person’s heart, but they also act as a shackle that keeps them tethered to life.
But since Eisen had shed all his regrets through Felicia, he might leave this world even sooner than he had in Lucian’s previous life.
I need to hurry.
After seeing Eisen off, Lucian went to find Ian and Raymond.
As expected, Ian was buried under a pile of herbs brought from beneath the treasury, happily conducting his research.
“I’ve identified almost all the effects of these herbs. The potency in a single leaf is incredible. I can’t even imagine how much the performance of a potion would improve if I used these...”
Ian, who had been explaining enthusiastically, drifted off into a monologue, staring into space with dazed eyes. It seemed that being able to conduct his desired research to his heart’s content was like heaven to him.
“The only disappointing thing is that there’s no herb that can replace Moonlight Grass. That’s the most important part.”
“Hmm, that is a shame. By the way, what about the Nectar I asked for?”
“Because of the shortage of Moonlight Grass, I could only manage to make two more. They said it’s impossible to get any more, no matter how much I press them.”
“That’s enough.”
Due to the chaotic state of the Empire, Moonlight Grass had become difficult to obtain, but it was nothing compared to his previous life, where it was nearly impossible even for the Imperial Family to find.
Since he could still get some if he scraped the bottom of the barrel, Lucian was perfectly satisfied with the amount.
Tucking the two vials of Nectar Ian handed him into his robe, Lucian went straight to Raymond.
“Your Highness? What brings you here?”
“I just came to see how you were doing. How have things been lately?”
“Well, things are so good it’s almost a problem.”
Raymond gave a noncommittal smile at Lucian’s question.
In terms of peace, there had never been a time as peaceful as now. The problem was that while everyone else was working hard, Raymond had nothing to do.
He had been promised the position of Knight Commander of the Royal Guard, but he couldn't do anything until the Royal Guard was actually formed.
Reading Raymond’s mind, Lucian smiled and handed him a vial of Nectar.
“Here, take it. It’s Nectar.”
“...My turn has finally come.”
Even upon seeing the faintly glowing blue Nectar, Raymond remained relatively calm. He had expected to receive it eventually since becoming Lucian’s confidant.
To Raymond, Lucian added an unexpected comment.
“Yes, it’s your turn. It’s about time we started recruiting the Royal Guard.”
“Pardon?”
“The Royal Guard Knights. You can’t remain a Knight Commander without a knight order forever, can you?”
“...!”
At those words, Raymond’s half-lidded eyes snapped open.
His aura became incredibly sharp, as if his previous lethargic attitude had been nothing but an act.
“I thought I was going to die of boredom waiting.”
“I thought you said things were so good it was a problem?”
“That is the problem. Is it right to fill a man with ambition and then leave him neglected for six months?”
“...Ahem!”
Finding himself speechless, Lucian looked away.
Seeing his Lord like that, Raymond let out a short laugh.
“Well, regardless, I’m glad I can finally act like a proper Knight Commander. Where do you plan on finding the knights?”
“The barbarian tribes beyond the snowfields.”
“...There’s something beyond the snowfields?”
“Barbarian tribes.”
Lucian calmly explained to Raymond, who looked as if he were hearing this for the first time.
He told him that there were barbarian tribes beyond the snowfields that were once Lucian’s roots. That they, whom he had thought long dead, were still alive and well. And that once Helen opened the path, Lucian intended to find them and turn them into his army.
“From what I’ve heard, they revere strength as much as any Northerner, and they even possess a Dragon’s Heart. If I can bring them under my command, I’ll gain both an army and the Dragon’s Heart at the same time.”
“Can that mage be trusted? She’s saying exactly what you want to hear; it sounds suspicious.”
Doubt flickered across Raymond’s face, wondering if it might be a trap.
Lucian smiled at him.
“What would she gain by deceiving me? The moment I come to harm, the dark ages for mages will begin all over again.”
“That is true, but...”
Raymond trailed off, unable to deny the logic.
Lucian was the one who had allowed mages, who had been persecuted for centuries, to step back into the light.
Would they really deceive and trap Lucian, their savior, right from the start?
The Lords would fall back into their hatred of mages, and a witch hunt would surely spread across the entire continent like wildfire.