Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: The Hidden Reason for Civilization's Decline
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There's a saying that a person with talent and wisdom can do anything. The princess's gem-like talent shone brilliantly in every field.
Like a sponge absorbing water, she made everything she was taught her own. Beonald also felt joy in her talent, and thanks to his unstinting support, after a month had passed, she had become an excellent queen of the field and a skilled technician.
"I've made all the items you mentioned, Sir Beonald!"
"Ohh... Are you even better than me now? You have strength through Aura... and there's delicacy in it too."
"It's all thanks to you teaching me well, Sir Beonald."
"You're good with words too."
A few months ago, she would have worn an academy uniform or a dress. But now, the princess had her hair tied back with a headscarf, and oil-stained leather pants, a sweat-soaked shirt, and a tool belt at her waist had become natural for her.
Moreover, her attitude had changed too. She used to be quiet and reserved, but now she was lively enough to banter easily with Beonald.
If not for her eyes, no one could imagine she was the same princess from before.
"This... If we get caught, we're dead, right?"
"Just dead? We'd be lucky to only get the death penalty... One saving grace is that once she's like that... even if she goes outside, absolutely no one would ever imagine she's the... princess."
"That one thing is truly a relief."
"Is it a relief? That?"
Selina and Heidi, who knew the princess's true identity, watched her transformation with worried eyes.
Of course, the person in question seemed to be enjoying it instead, continuing to chatter with Beonald while diligently performing her assistant duties.
For nearly a month, the two had been together almost like a chick following its mother bird.
"...What are you two talking about so much?"
"Ah, um! It's just that... you... the prin... ahem! Miss Vessia has changed so drastically, you see."
"Indeed. When she first arrived, she was confused about what to do... I never knew she had such talent. By the way, Miss Selina, could you look at this?"
Sein, who didn't know she was the princess, appeared wearing glasses, as if her eyesight had worsened from the increased intensity of her work and studies lately.
Recently, she had to study new additional knowledge from Beonald, making things tough. What she was newly learning was 'mathematics'.
The study of handling numbers and calculations. It was the fundamental foundation applicable to all fields involving numerical values, so Beonald hadn't exactly lied.
"They're all correct. But just deriving the right answer isn't enough. Knowledge also requires a solid foundation to withstand difficulties later. So, review."
"Yes, I understand. I'll review after finishing today's work."
Sein went back like that to carry out her maid duties.
Although Vessia, assigned as her junior, had suddenly switched to manual labor, she still worked together on tasks before Beonald's work, so the workload had decreased compared to before.
Moreover, knowing Beonald would manage those who entered his 'garden', she could put her mind at ease and devote herself fully to her work and studies.
'Now it feels like the organization's structure is taking shape. Numbers are important for people. And... having talent on top of that is the icing on the cake.'
With more people to share the work, the one happiest about the reduced workload was naturally Beonald himself.
He only had to appraise the antiques here, pass salable items to Deren to sell, and leave useless items to Vessia for destruction or disassembly, reducing his workload.
And he assigned caring for Alterio and external tasks to Heidi, creating an optimal state.
'The only regret is that... jackpot items aren't showing up here.'
Occasionally, moderately reassembled magical tools with decent convenience appeared, but no core magical tools related to Benofis's location or alchemy's essence were seen, which disappointed Beonald.
He diligently read the books too, but they were all trivial histories, literature, or records—none of what he wanted could be found.
'Well... if it were easily obtainable, civilization regression wouldn't have occurred in the first place. Deciphering aside. The only achievement is... roughly understanding how civilization regression happened over the past 500 years?'
Though the reliability was low since it came from trivial histories and literature, he could draw his own conclusions about why the civilization he'd worked so hard to cultivate over 500 years had regressed.
First, the Goddess Church, which had a poor relationship with him, declared his knowledge and information heretical and concealed information.
Second, items were lost due to wars during the Great Schism and Civil War era in the Unified Empire after his death.
Third, the Magical Tower's civil war over his legacy. This much was known from existing general information, but there was a newly discovered fourth reason.
'The Dark God cult... they were involved too.'
Yes, no matter the era or chaos, humanity's desire for advancement and lust for power and authority never disappears.
And if they fought over his legacy, someone should have won, possessed it, and kept it all this time—its disappearance didn't make sense.
Of course, he'd hidden his collected treasures and legacies well, but even the wealth and knowledge revealed to the outside were enormous, so someone should have owned them normally.
'...Useless records, but helpful for deduction. Many questions still remain, though.'
It was understandable that the Dark God's forces descended from the north, and the Unified Empire, confused by civil war, was pushed back and split into multiple countries.
But from why they weren't still attacking now to many other points he still couldn't understand, there was no way to know.
'The gap in records... should I visit the temple?'
The only place he thought might know was the religious order that had maintained its organization from 500 years ago until now. They'd likely left and manipulated records for their own legitimacy, even if they erased and made others' records disappear.
And they probably wrote the truth somewhere in a corner just in case, so it would definitely be there if he went looking, but Beonald felt awkward since his relationship with the order had been terrible even in his past life.
'I'm also someone chosen by the Goddess and sent down... ugh... I might be able to get cooperation, but...'
'Duke Beonald! Please be reasonable. How far do you intend to break the world's balance?'
'What trouble have you caused this time? Duke Beonald!'
'Duke Beonald! Duke Beonald!'
'Ugh... Just thinking about it is frustrating. My stomach hurts.'
He thought it might be better to do without rather than join hands with those he couldn't recklessly touch or control.
Having excluded the order from consideration again, he continued appraising antiques when Deren descended here after a long time.
"So~ Is work going well?"
"So-so. You look busy though, what's up?"
"I was busy thanks to you. And with proper antique appraisals, reselling is easier too."
"Any troublemakers?"
Though appraised by someone who lived 500 years ago, 'item appraisal' sometimes involved skewed judgments before the authority of the appraiser.
There were always those who made right things wrong and wrong things right for their own pride and authority, so Beonald asked with a tone of concern, but Deren waved his hand as if there were no problems at all.
"No such worries. They weren't incredibly innovative items to begin with. And anyway, the purchase price was properly hit from gambling before, right? It's profit if sold regardless."
"That's true. So, what's the business? You didn't come just for that talk, right?"
"Ah, a message arrived from Young Master Escal of the Kremel family. Here..."
"Finally arrived."
Beonald took the message Deren offered and immediately opened it.
Inside was a letter detailing the message, a map of the Haldeon region with the precise location of the ruins, and even paperwork stamped with the Kremel family's seal for participating in the excavation work.
Thorough preparation. All that remained was for them to go.
"Hmm... I should go alone for this."
"What's the content?"
"Confidential."
"You're doing it again~ Isn't it about time you gave permission?"
"Unfortunately, this isn't ordinary business."
There might truly be Unified Empire-era relics there, but that place was where secret struggles between the Imperial family and the Kremel family would occur, making it very dangerous.
So he thought the best choice was to travel light, go alone quietly, just confirm if it was a ruin, and return.
"Therefore, I'll be away from here for a while. Selina, you take responsibility and protect the others. About two weeks should do."
Among the remaining members, the one with guaranteed status was still Selina from the Magical Tower. Sein was a maid, Zelsi was a fugitive, Heidi was a baron's daughter but not yet an officially appointed knight and her status wouldn't hold weight in such a capital, so he had no choice but to entrust it to her.
At the sudden statement, Selina looked at Beonald with a bewildered expression.
"...What are you talking about all of a sudden? If you're going, we should go together. What do you mean going alone to stir up trouble somewhere?"
"I'll tell the others too."
"No, that's not the important point..."
"There's important business. And it's very dangerous. I plan to just scout and run away quickly if possible. And just in case, if I send no word for a month... escape from here, and I've instructed Deren on disposing of the remaining items and distributing assets."
Having said that, Beonald called Sein, Heidi, and Vessia and told them the story too.
He briefly informed them about the message from the Kremel family and going to the Haldeon region, and that he had business there but needed to go alone.
However, Beonald was already an indispensable existence to them, so they all looked at him with worried eyes.
"Don't worry. I won't do anything dangerous. I'm just going to check and come back. There are Unified Empire-era ruins there, so I'm going to check them."
"If... there happens to be a dungeon or something, wouldn't it be better to go together?"
"That's true too, but the problem is that place will be quite dangerous. I want to travel as light as possible to escape safely. That's why I'm having you wait here. Understood?"
Despite Beonald's persuasion, everyone still wore expressions full of concern, but they had to understand given his words about safety, and knowing he wouldn't listen if they stopped him, they ultimately had no choice but to send him off.
And from past experience, they knew Beonald moved alone for important matters, so in a way they could accept it, but Vessia, for whom this was the first such case, seemed anxious, holding onto Beonald and gazing at him earnestly while seemingly not knowing what to say at all.
"Anyway, don't worry too much. What I said just now was assuming a worst-case scenario. Then I'll prepare and depart right away."
Beonald quickly packed his luggage and, taking Alterio with him, immediately departed for the Haldeon region.
If it weren't Unified Empire-era ruins, it would be a waste of time, but if by any chance that place was one of the works he created or worked on in his past life, he absolutely had to obtain it.
Leaving the capital with Alterio, Beonald arrived at the border of Haldeon territory on the third day.
"Hmm, came from the capital? But that griffin... isn't it dangerous?"
"I've tamed it well. Here's the Kremel family's certification too."
"...If it's the Kremel family, well, can't be helped. Go in."
Having safely passed the checkpoint at the territory border, Beonald headed straight for the ruins without taking another route.
Breaking through valleys and mountain paths to reach his destination, he sensed signs of activity in the middle of the mountains.
'Is this it? Already quite progressed.'
What he saw were first the fluttering Kremel family flag, numerous tents set up for camping, and laborers diligently excavating the ruins.
Perhaps because it was a remote place, security wasn't very tight, and most knights were gathered at the excavation site, trying hard to see what would emerge.
'...That's!'
And Beonald identified the nature of the wreckage being extracted and sent a surprised gaze.