Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: The Price of a Face
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‘Whether she’s realized the trick I played or not, she’s probably in for a world of suffering either way. If she doesn’t realize and gets healed, it’ll heal in its twisted state. Even if she does realize, they’d have to peel the skin off her face to treat it properly, and she’d have to endure the pain of that process. There’s no way they could properly anesthetize her…’
The development of medical arts was significantly stunted by the miracles granted by the Goddess, both 500 years ago and 500 years later—there was no difference.
In Beonald’s case, he had learned and studied medicine as a bonus from the mysterious alchemist imprisoned by his family, so he could create somewhat professional anesthetics. In contrast, priests could only administer strong liquor or narcotics to reduce the pain, nothing more.
‘Moreover, it’s not just a matter of peeling the facial skin and healing it; they’d also have to realign the positions of the twisted bones. That’s an impossible task at the priest’s level. They’d have to worry about bleeding too. So, the remaining choices are…’
Either live with an ugly face until death, or die attempting a reckless surgery.
Even if she somehow recovered, the pain she would endure during the process was a sufficiently satisfying price to pay.
Smiling to himself, Beonald continued to quicken his pace when Erasol, who was behind him, spoke up.
“But, Young Master… is it true you’re leaving now?”
“Huh? That’s how it turned out. It might seem sudden, but looking at how the situation is unfolding, it seems better that way. It’s a shame I couldn’t inform Sir Maldrove in advance~ But I think it would be good if you delivered a letter for me. And don’t worry too much; the compensation is waiting where I’m going.”
“Yes!”
With that, Beonald’s party returned to their mountain hideout.
Heidi was still steadfastly guarding the captives while diligently training herself. The moment she spotted Beonald, she ran over to report, her pale golden hair fluttering like a puppy greeting its owner returning from work.
“You’ve returned, Young Master! I have carried out your orders thoroughly. But… it seems the number of people has increased quite a bit?”
“Ah, it’s nothing. Anyway, Heidi, I have something else for you to guard for a while.”
“Yes! Oh! It’s quite heavy.”
After handing over the treasures received from Lady Meira and her father and leaving the party behind, Beonald first took only Erasol somewhere.
Around the time they were out of earshot of the others, Beonald kindly explained the secret of the ley line to Erasol.
A place where a portion of the world’s flowing magical power stagnates and pools due to certain terrains or sections. He explained it was an unparalleled location for training in mana breathing techniques.
“M-my goodness, is that true? I… I had no idea such a thing existed?”
“I only knew about it from books myself, so I realized it late. Anyway, training here will be much better. You’ve trained in the basics of mana breathing, so you’ll feel the difference if you try.”
“Th-thank you!”
“Then my debt is repaid. You’ll remember the location, so please handle escorting those knights from the Royen Viscountcy back to their territory on my behalf. We need to rest before we depart.”
After settling the payment, Beonald entrusted the Royen Viscountcy knights to Erasol to escort them back to the Callermain territory.
Being the son of the renowned high knight Sir Maldrove, the Royen knights followed Erasol’s lead without any second thoughts and returned home.
Meanwhile, Beonald’s party quickly packed up their hideout and prepared to move.
“Alright, now that all the things we need to worry about are settled, let’s move immediately. We could rest here, but isn’t it unsettling to rest with enemies at our backs? It’s much better to rest in a nearby village.”
“Where are you planning to go, Young Master?”
“First, to Baron Zelkerd’s territory. Ah, and I’m not ‘Young Master’ anymore, so please just call me Lord Beonald. Everyone~”
After saying that to Heidi, Sian, and Selina, Beonald began moving with Alterio carrying the luggage.
However, the pouch filled with gold, platinum coins, and gems was especially heavy, so Beonald and Heidi carried it between them.
Then, as they headed toward a nearby village, they shared various conversations.
“Um… Lord Beonald, did you perhaps inform Young Master Erasol about the ‘ley line’?”
“Yes. I received compensation, so I must pay it back. That much is necessary to balance the scales.”
“Is it really alright to do that? What if Young Master Erasol informs his family and they use it as a training ground…?”
“Ah, are you worried that if they secure the ley line, they might catch up to us, and the Callermain Earldom might become strong enough to be a threat? Don’t worry. A ley line is merely a place where the world’s flowing magical power has pooled. Even if unused, it will eventually overflow or disappear due to natural flows, changes in the world, and other factors. Using it just speeds up the change.”
“Ah! I see.”
“On the contrary, there are also places where it flows eternally. The life points of the stars, where magic gushes forth and is scattered into the world. I call those places ‘star veins.’ There’s maybe one such location on the entire continent.”
“Good heavens! Just how profound is your knowledge of magic, Lord Beonald? To know about both ley lines and star veins…?”
When a familiar term came up during Beonald and Heidi’s conversation, Selina, who had been trudging along wearily, was startled and squeezed herself between the two.
Ley lines, star veins, places where magic flows—as a mage from the Magic Tower, she couldn’t resist such topics.
The moment Beonald realized she was there, he began his usual excuse.
“…It was just written that way in an alchemy book I read.”
“Waaah~ Goodness! Is it right to memorize such a good book and then just let it vanish? You should write down what you remember to preserve the knowledge, Young Master.”
‘What nonsense. Would I just give away my own things? Anyway, I do need to find a star vein. That place is…’
Benofis, Beonald’s home and a place like his hometown.
Of course, it wasn’t where he was born, but it was undoubtedly the territory he had found, cultivated, and built up himself.
Come to think of it, his family name is Neumel, but have you ever wondered why the territory’s name is Benofis, not Neumel?
Until the time of Felix von Neumel, they lived in the Neumel territory. But after Beonald became the family head and mastered alchemy, he formulated theories about ley lines and star veins and searched for such a place.
Later, after seizing power, he naturally established a new territory at the location of the star vein. That place was Benofis, which was said to have been founded by Beonald von Neumel and later perished—the place that would accompany him for a lifetime.
“Anyway, Young Master, what will you do now? You must have some plan, right? Staying in a village tonight is one thing… but could you tell us about the future schedule…?”
“Hmm, I see. I should tell you that much. First, we go to Baron Zelkerd’s territory. It would be nice if Viscount Royen just backed down, but it’s clear Lady Meira won’t stay idle. If we disappear, she’ll naturally seek a target for her anger, and it’s obvious she’ll aim for Baron Zelkerd’s territory where Heidi is.”
“Huh? But I’m already… a person entrusted to Lord Beonald…”
“Hmm~ That’s precisely why the possibility exists. Of course, it would be nice if things quieted down, but if a dangerous situation becomes reality, we’ll have to help Baron Zelkerd. Heidi, wouldn’t it be better for your household to remain safe as well?”
In response to Beonald’s words, Heidi nodded in agreement.
No matter how poorly she was treated at home, it was still her birthplace and family home.
And from Beonald’s perspective, having experienced a trash-tier father like Felix von Neumel, Baron Zelkerd seemed like a relatively decent knight who had tried his best.
“Hmm, then, um… what after the matters at Baron Zelkerd’s territory are settled?”
“What’s next? That’s a secret. Let’s focus on what we need to do first.”
“How about~ going to the Magic Tower? With your alchemical knowledge, Lord Beonald, you’d surely be welcomed?”
“Unfortunately, I have no intention of walking the path of a scholar or mage. I have things I must do.”
“Things you must do?”
Yes, though he seemed to live joyfully, Beonald was, in fact, someone entrusted with a divine mission by the Goddess.
He had come to this world on the condition of overseeing the continent’s peace and safety and preparing for the unprecedented threat of the Dark God.
Thus, his duties naturally condensed into one thing.
“What else? As a noble, what should one dream of? Isn’t it to possess and cultivate ‘my garden’?”
“By ‘garden’… do you mean a territory?”
“Not just a territory. Everything around me and everything I command. In that sense, Heidi, Sian, you two are the flowers of my garden and fellow cultivators. That’s why I did my best for you. As I said, I want to cultivate ‘our garden’ together with you.”
Though he used the expression ‘garden,’ it ultimately meant building a nest together.
Having understood this bold approach and confession, Sian and Heidi blushed and bowed respectfully to Beonald.
“What about me? What about me, Lord Beonald?”
“Selina, aren’t you serving me because you covet my knowledge? So, for now… you’re in a ‘no entry’ situation.”
“Hmm~ Then won’t you let me in? I think I’m still young and pretty, you know. Despite how I look, I received quite a few marriage proposals at the Magic Tower.”
“It’s true that a good appearance is pleasing, but I won’t be swayed by it. If someone possesses the character and talent fitting for my garden, I would accept them even if they were a female goblin.”
At Beonald’s resolute answer, Selina could only retreat, utterly defeated.
Seeing this, Sian and Heidi felt deeply moved, sensing that Beonald wasn’t just a lecher obsessed with women, though an awkward feeling inevitably remained.
“Still, a goblin is a bit… don’t you think?”
“First of all, are there even female goblins? I’ve participated in a few subjugation missions, and I only ever saw males?”
“It’s a metaphor, a metaphor! Anyway, let’s hurry. Even with Alterio here, unexpected situations could arise.”
Neiiigh!
With Alterio’s whinny in response to Beonald’s words, the party quickened their pace.
After walking for about 1–2 hours, they spotted smoke rising in the distance.
Beonald’s party safely arrived at the village, but as there was no inn, they rented an entire family’s house to stay in. Finally, they could rest their exhausted bodies after a whole day of fatigue.
‘Phew~ I’m really tired. I wonder what happened to Lady Meira…’
Briefly curious about what choice Lady Meira had made, Beonald, overwhelmed by extreme fatigue, fell into a deep sleep.
Though he appeared composed on the outside, he had done so much in a single day that he would have collapsed long ago if not for his mana breathing and swordsmanship training.
Similarly, Heidi, who had endured a schedule almost as grueling as Beonald’s, also complained of exhaustion and fell asleep the moment she lay down.
Around that time, Lady Meira of the Callermain Earldom was looking at her bandaged face with eyes filled with hatred.
Due to the wounds inflicted by Beonald and the low-grade potion, her face had not returned to its original state even after the priest’s healing and remained twisted into an ugly shape.
She had taken measures to cover it with bandages for now, but she kept ruminating on what the priest had told her.
‘So… Madam’s face has already been ‘healed’ to completion, so it cannot be… healed again. If you wish to attempt healing… you would have to peel off the facial skin, realign the positions of the already twisted bones, and then heal… but such a thing is utterly…’
“Aaaargh!”
Crash! Shatter!
Remembering the priest’s words, her fury erupted again.
Her face. The visage of an elegant lady that was the face of the Callermain Earldom. In this state, she wouldn’t even be able to attend tomorrow morning’s breakfast gathering, and she’d likely have to cede her seat to another ‘lady.’
“Damn half-breed! Half-breed! Half-breed! Half-breeeeeed! Me! How dare he do this to me! That half-breed… and that damned Sian… I can’t forgive this! Absolutely… absolutely can’t forgive them! When Sir Zed returns… when Sir Zed returns! I’ll definitely!”
Her loyal subordinate, Sir Zed, had set out to track down Beonald and Sian the moment he learned her face couldn’t be fixed.
Burning with vengeance as she looked at her reflection in the shattered mirror, she was determined to capture Beonald, who had ruined her precious face, and Sian, who had betrayed her, and make them pay.