Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Kendrid
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Viscount Goldik had no choice but to open his office.
That was the mildest way to put it.
At least it was better than saying someone had grabbed him by the hair and smashed his face into the door until it shattered.
“...”
The administrator of Goldik territory stared blankly at the woman who had dragged the fainted lord in like that and tossed him aside into the back of the office like trash.
“...You really dragged him here all the way in a coma just to do this?”
“Well, we at least need the owner's permission for this sort of thing.”
Even as that conversation unfolded, the administrator couldn't muster a response, his mouth just flapping open and shut.
His brain couldn't keep up with the sheer absurdity of the scene.
Because...
“...All our forces got wiped out? You're joking, right?”
Not even a few hours had passed since three academy students had swept away the territory's entire guard force, leaving the lord's castle completely undefended.
“They did their best.”
The man who had timidly trailed in behind the two women said that with a tone laced with deep regret.
Considering he hadn't run away while facing these two natural disasters of women, he'd more than done his duty.
“...”
“...”
Before the administrator and the steward of Count Chester could even think of a reply, a white-haired woman strode confidently to Viscount Goldik's desk and yanked open every drawer.
“I'll be taking this.”
She pulled out the territory's official seal in an instant and said that to Viscount Goldik, who was twitching on the floor.
A garbled mumble escaped him that barely qualified as human speech.
Something close to "Absolutely not" or whatever.
The woman shrugged it off indifferently and continued.
“Fine. Thanks for handing it over. We'll handle the territory transfer procedures legally through my family.”
“W-Wait a minute! What is the meaning of this outrage!”
Finally snapping out of his daze, one man shot up from his seat and shouted.
“I don't care who you are—you'll all pay for your crimes!”
He was absolutely right.
Viscount or not, Viscount Goldik was still an imperial noble. Such an outrage against someone whose status was protected by law could never be tolerated, no matter the circumstances.
“Assaulting a noble and invading a territory for this illegal act...!”
The administrator's voice trailed off as he tried to continue.
Probably because Elnor was glaring at him with a chilling gaze.
“I suppose I should explain a few things first.”
Elnor continued in an even tone.
“I said it's through legal procedures. We're not doing this without basis.”
“What do you...?”
“Insulting a marquis or higher is sufficient grounds for a legitimate territorial dispute. And if the offender loses, confiscating their territory isn't hard at all.”
With that, an identification badge flew toward the administrator's face.
The ID stamped with the Tristan Ducal House seal smacked against his forehead and slid down slowly.
“The Tristan Ducal House will handle this matter officially. If you have complaints, appeal to the Imperial Supreme Court.”
“...”
The administrator scanned it with an incredulous expression, then the blood drained from his face.
He could tell immediately it was genuine.
“...”
His face turned ashen as he alternated glances between the collapsed Viscount Goldik on the floor and the woman who had thrown it.
It was clear his lord of twenty years had made a colossal mistake.
Against monsters he absolutely should never have crossed.
‘...In that case, the lord...!’
His resolve formed quickly, and his actions even quicker.
This was the moment when twenty years of loyalty shone through. Determination settled on the administrator's face.
“Lord Viscount Goldik.”
“...Ughhh.”
“It has been an honor serving you.”
With that, the administrator bolted from the office in an instant.
A crystal-clear declaration that he had nothing to do with his lord's mess.
“...”
“...”
As everyone in the room pondered how futile loyalty was in the face of overwhelming power, Elnor pulled out a sheet of paper and scribbled something down.
She slammed the lord's seal onto it, then handed it straight to Dawood.
“Dawood.”
“...Yes?”
“From today, you are a viscount.”
“...”
Just like that, an entire viscountcy was handed over as casually as appointing a class president.
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[System Message]
[ You have been granted the noble title 'Viscount'! ]
[ 'Stat: Power' has been upgraded from F to D! ]
[ You can now participate in 'Dungeon Subjugation'! ]
[ You can now attend 'Joint Beast Subjugation'! ]
I wipe my forehead as these windows pop up one after another before my eyes.
‘...This is a huge jackpot, but...’
Excluding main scenario rewards, the game's biggest growth events like 'Relic Exploration' all happen through dungeon subjugations and joint beast subjugations—events only accessible to nobles who own territory.
Just look at the Pioneer Sky Splitter that wrecked even the Seraphim's barrier recently. A single 'powerful relic' wields strategic weapon-level power.
No wonder there's a route where you ignore everything else from the start, befriend the imperial palace, and get granted a territory right away.
‘Better to snag territory early.’
As the scenario progresses, events tied to 'major factions' ramp up. Having a territorial base makes a massive difference when clashing with them.
Power isn't a stat in the status window for nothing. Tons of events unlock only at higher levels.
It'll be a huge help in the upcoming third chapter battle against the 'Inverted Tidal Apostle.'
That chapter involves lots of entanglements with beast tribes and negotiations with them. Surely there are branches only a lord's authority unlocks, slashing clear difficulty.
“...Is it really okay for me to just take something like this?”
But even so, I never expected something this major to be handed over like this.
“Given what you do, someone would've grabbed you and given it anyway even if it wasn't me. Don't worry about it.”
“...”
“And legally, if titles differ too much, it can complicate family interactions. At least get to marquis before major complaints arise.”
“...Yes?”
“Think of it as the starting step among the titles you'll gradually receive.”
“...”
She tosses me a viscountcy like roasting beans in lightning and calls it just the beginning.
“...Well, I agree you should have a title, teacher. Keeping someone with your talents at just baron level is ridiculous.”
Eliya, watching from the side, shrugged and said that.
“Shouldn't we deal with that first, though?”
She pointed to a middle-aged man sweating bullets with a tense expression.
“...Lord Viscount Goldik's situation is shocking. I offer my regrets.”
The man who had stayed silent until now finally regained his composure and spoke.
He must have been rattled seeing the Tristan Ducal House seal.
“As steward to Count Chester, I inform you that this count's house has no involvement in this incident.”
“...Is it? Not just covering your eyes and bawling?”
Eliya twisted her lips in response.
“You wouldn't rampage in someone else's territory without backing, no matter the rank difference. He even admitted someone was behind him.”
“There's no proof it's Count Chester's house. Sanctioning based on suspicion alone is clear illegality.”
“...”
Eliya frowned.
Anyone could see Count Chester's house was behind the rampages in neighboring territories, but his words were undeniably correct.
“If you try physical coercion here, I won't sit idle. I have the means.”
As the steward spoke, a massive steel giant behind him exhaled white steam. It menacingly aimed its weapon our way.
Eliya and Elnor's expressions hardened simultaneously.
They knew it wasn't an opponent to ignore.
‘Automaton?’
It looked far lower quality than the one that hammered the Star Heart before, but still a formidable foe.
We handled it easily because Yuria was there. Automatons aren't meant for students to face. Same goes for these two monster women.
“Only the Inquisition and the North's master can instantly judge without evidence. Even the Tristan Ducal House can't—why are you looking at me like that?”
The middle-aged man changed his tone mid-sentence upon seeing my face.
He instinctively sensed something from my pitying expression.
“No.”
I sigh and step back a pace.
I'd been wondering when 'that person' would show up since entering.
[ Crisis detected. ]
[ Opponent shows no direct hostility, but overwhelming skill gap detected. ]
[ Skill: Desperate Situation applied at B-rank. ]
This window means it's imminent.
Without hostility or action.
Few humans could trigger this just with 'presence.'
I gesture for the puzzled Eliya and Elnor to step back a few paces too.
Safer from the 'blast radius' this way.
“Just remembered that words plant seeds.”
As I say that.
What I'd been waiting for begins.
-!
It starts with a distant thud.
Sounds like distant drumming at first.
“...What is that sound?”
As the steward speaks, it echoes again.
Louder this time. Enough to shake the whole building.
-!!!
Closer now. Like a bomb blast.
The shockwave stronger too. Dust pours from cracks everywhere as the building lurches.
“...What is this? Did they bring siege weapons?!”
No.
Nothing like that.
Something far worse—a human.
-!!!!!!
A deafening roar that could burst eardrums, and one wall of the lord's castle shatters.
Then.
From the billowing dust, a single man emerges.
“Hmph.”
The man snorts and strides inside through the wall he demolished.
Behind him, a line of man-sized holes punched straight through every wall leading from outside the castle.
“...No ability use detected. Did he smash through all that with bare fists?”
Those words slipped from Elnor like a groan.
Petite for a viscountcy castle, but all imperial lord's castles are built to standard safety specs—even to withstand a large beast assault briefly.
Smashing them bare-handed, no abilities, screams 'off-spec monster.'
The next scene fits too.
Entering the office, the margrave first scans the people.
His gaze lingers on Eliya, then the automaton aiming at her.
“...”
He sighs once, then walks toward the automaton.
“W-What! Stay back!”
The panicked steward shouts a command to the automaton.
Futile.
--!!!
The margrave's casual uppercut shatters the massive steel automaton to pieces.
The debris blasts through the ceiling, rocketing skyward.
Absurd enough to feel like a comic panel.
“...!”
Everyone but me gapes. The steward faints outright at the sight.
No abilities used again.
A human against what must weigh dozens of tons.
“What's with aiming a weapon at my daughter. You wanna die?”
“T-This...! Count Chester won't stand for this. Daring to assault a noble's private forces is against imperial law...!”
“Yeah. Count Chester.”
The man grins.
“Thanks for the name. Saves me the trouble of finding him. I gotta uproot everyone who messes with my family to feel satisfied.”
“W-What authority do you have to threaten...!”
“I don't need permission to crush anyone. Imperial law says so.”
“...”
The steward gapes blankly.
Words plant seeds, as I said.
“...Margrave?”
Eliya's dazed murmur makes the steward look at him in horror.
“...Margrave? No way, you don't mean...!”
He mentioned instant judgment holders earlier, including the 'North's master.'
That's him.
“Call me Dad, punk.”
The man grins.
Up close, his bizarre presence hits harder.
Towering frame rivaling the shattered automaton. Tattered pants. Bare upper body. Muscles writhing vividly across his form, crossed by massive scars.
Looks like a wandering martial artist at a glance, but I know he's not into that.
This is his personal 'proof of faith.'
“...”
In the Sera world, holy knights split into two main types.
Most emulate angels—gods' messengers—with their image, training accordingly.
First type follows the standard angel ideal: devout, kind, noble, focused on dignity and conduct.
Peak example: Kaliban, Guardian admired by all knights with overwhelming might.
Knight orders promote this image. Looks good, popular.
But.
Scholars revere the 'true form of angels'—a niche view.
Angels honed to extremes through endless brutal physical labor.
Those obsessed with that form, pursuing it through relentless asceticism and training.
Mad muscle... er, physical cultivation zealots.
Peak of that: him.
World's top pervert charging battlefields bare-fisted and bare-bodied, weaponless.
Krat Bellium la Kendrid.
Commonly, Kendrid Margrave.
“But that Chester punk can wait. Got something more urgent now.”
Turning from the steward, the margrave approaches us.
“W-What brings you h-here...?”
Eliya, seeing him, backpedals with genuine terror.
Incredible, considering she kept her cool facing the boy king life-or-death.
“Letter seemed off, so I came to check. See who's bullying my daughter.”
The margrave's gaze swings to me.
“So.”
Then.
“You Dawood Campbell?”
The era's strongest holy knight says that with a feral, toothy grin.
And just that.
My legs weaken. I want to back away.
Like facing a tiger bare-handed.
But.
“...”
I choose my words carefully.
【Event: First Impression】
-Kendrid Margrave takes great interest in you. Mostly negative, but he trusts only what he sees!
-Leave the best impression possible on him inside Viscount Goldik's castle! Good things might happen!
The event window alone shows Krat isn't approaching me amiably.
His next words confirm.
“More of a scrawny twig than I thought. You're the one stressing my daughter out?”
“...”
Who wouldn't look that way judged by you.
Bitter smile inwardly, but thoughts race on.
I've had a 'plan' since the encounter event popped.
“...Did you come all this way just to see me, Margrave?”
I force out the words steadily in a polished tone.
Defiant given our gap. But he'll like this attitude.
Sure enough, Krat's eyebrow twitches.
A 'huh, this guy's got guts' vibe.
“Kid, I like your nerve.”
The grin's savagery deepens.
“But I don't care for bravado from strangers.”
Feels like my body's tearing apart. That's his pressure.
“...!”
“...!”
Elnor and Eliya glance urgently at me, gesturing to back off.
“...”
Weirdly in sync for once.
Shows how dire it is.
Probably begging 'please don't do anything crazy against him.'
“...Then let's get friendly.”
“What?”
As direct as his style, dealing with him is simpler than Gideon.
No angles needed like with Gideon; even sudden meetings have fixes.
Event says he believes only what he sees.
“No dragging it out. Men have quick ways to bond. You know them.”
So, show him.
What he likes.
“Wanna spar, Margrave?”
“...”
“Let's go.”
Elnor and Eliya both scream silently.
Near-screams.
“...”
Don't overdo it.
This might actually work.
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