Chapter 275: Definitely Different
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 275: Definitely Different
“M-Mother...?”
“Mom...?!”
Rubica and Rubia froze instantly. There, sitting on a rock not far away, was the woman who had remained only a hazy memory from their childhood—the woman they now only remembered through a few flat photographs and drawings. Their biological mother was sitting right there.
“How... How is this possible...?”
Misiri Spanya naturally turned around and stepped outside the Banshee’s barrier. Since there was no reason to stop her, I guided her so she wouldn't wander aimlessly as she exited.
I had to consider the possibility that Luciana Spanya, now a Banshee, might harm Rubica and Rubia, but the chances seemed slim. After all, the Lich had mentioned that becoming a member of the Necro Species didn't mean one lost their memories of when they were alive.
‘It’ll be fine, right?’
When I posed the question to the Lich in my mind, he sent back an affirmative response. I followed her out of the barrier, and it wasn't until three long hours later that the two sisters finally emerged.
“Brother!”
“Rivier. Where have you been hiding your face?”
“I’m sorry! I was shivering in fear!”
I liked his honesty. Misiri Spanya had sent him to a distant annex anyway, and it wasn't like he would have been much help even if he had come.
It seemed the one remaining knight who hadn't stood out was guarding the annex where Rivier was staying. Once the Banshee’s mana erosion vanished from Misiri Spanya’s body, the maids gradually regained their senses. They stood up within the Lord’s Castle and began searching for the lady of the house and the Family Head.
“So, they have no memory of it.”
“T-That is correct...”
Their memories of what had transpired were almost entirely a blur. I considered this a stroke of luck. It would be quite awkward if they remembered that the lord they served had temporarily become a man-eating monster and that they had assisted in that endeavor.
While Misiri Spanya was retracing her memories, I made sure to thoroughly clean up the corpses and bloodstains in the Family Head’s room and Misiri’s room on the fourth floor. The commoners wouldn't know that their lord had become a ghoul that feasted on corpses, and the Family Head, who woke up shortly after, similarly remembered nothing.
“So only you know the truth, Madam.”
“Aside from you, of course...”
“My lips are sealed, so don't you worry.”
The Family Head, Stonen Spanya, had been deeply affected by the mana erosion. Although he had regained consciousness, he wasn't in a state where he could move his body properly. In the end, he really did end up bedridden just as the rumors suggested, though it seemed he would return to normal after a few weeks of rest.
“Lich, what happens to the Hollow Breeze now?”
According to the Lich’s information, the Hollow Breeze begins at the location where mana erosion has been most effectively achieved. To put it another way, since the Spanya family’s estate failed to succumb to the mana erosion, the Hollow Breeze would start somewhere else on the surface that exhibited similar symptoms.
“I guess we can't stop it entirely.”
I had heard as much from Iris, but there was no way to completely prevent the Hollow Breeze in advance. The only way would be if not a single living creature died on the surface for three years. That was obviously impossible.
* * *
“Why is Rubia sleeping?”
“She just fell asleep after crying her eyes out.”
“I see.”
Rubica arrived with Rubia piggybacked on her, the younger girl sleeping soundly. I didn't ask what they had talked about inside the barrier; I simply had the Lich confirm that the Banshee’s mana had completely vanished.
“Thank you, Aven.”
“Don't mention it. It was an easy job.”
“It wouldn't have been easy for just anyone. If not for you, the Spanya estate would have been literally destroyed.”
“Is that so?”
Stonen Spanya, having regained his senses, and Misiri Spanya, now free from the voices echoing in her head, worked hard to restore the estate. While all the residents who had fled might not return, it was still an estate where their homes remained.
If they showed that they were living well, perhaps the people would return eventually. Normally, fleeing was a serious crime, but the Family Head publicly announced that no punishment would be dealt to those who returned.
They were even planning to distribute flyers to neighboring cities. Since most of the residents were powerless people, the news would likely reach them.
* * *
“So, you are the next Family Head?”
“It’s a bit embarrassing, but yes, that’s how it turned out.”
Fortunately, Rubica had been reinstated as the successor. Rivier hadn't been particularly interested in the position anyway, and the whole situation had only happened because of Misiri Spanya’s poor condition.
“I don't know how to repay you for this. I will do anything within my power. Just say the word, Aven.”
“Hmm.”
It wasn't like I did this expecting something in return. If I had a wish, it was to set up a base in the Spanya estate where the Hollow Breeze was supposed to occur and prepare for the Labyrinth Opening. But the Lich said the Hollow Breeze wouldn't happen here anymore.
“Come to think of it, is your runaway phase over now?”
“Hmm? Ah, I suppose so.”
In the first place, Rubica had left the estate and come to Calax as a rebellion against being stripped of her succession rights. Rubia had simply followed her sister.
“In the end, we never got to enter a Labyrinth together as a party.”
“Seeing your strength, I don't think my martial prowess would have been of any help anyway.”
“Haha.”
However, Rubia planned to stay in Calax. She had started as the mischievous second daughter of the Spanya family, but after running away, she had become a proud daughter who achieved the significant rank of Cobalt Grade in Calax.
She wasn't the heir, and it seemed she had taken a liking to life in Calax.
“Then you won't have any use for your skills anymore, Rubica?”
“Well, I suppose you could say that. I won't be active as an explorer anymore, after all.”
“Oho.”
I remembered Rubica having three skills. Combustion Acceleration, which increased physical strength based on how much food she consumed; Saliva Ignition, which caused fire to erupt from her spit and other secretions; and Sparkling Blood, which made blood exited through a wound glow in the dark.
And then there was a minor Translation skill that allowed her to understand unknown languages by substituting them with words she knew.
“I have a question. If you could transfer your skills to me, would you hand them over?”
“Huh...? Transfer skills? Well... if you need them, Aven, I would. I won't have any use for them now...”
“I see. Then I’ll take them gladly.”
—Crack!
“U-Ugh...?”
* * *
“I... I feel strange...”
“You should keep the state of the estate’s granary in mind. If you eat forty steaks per meal, you’ll be a tyrant. You know that, right?”
“T-That’s true...”
Since I had done it once before, the success was easy. There was a minor blunder where Rubica’s clothes ended up being removed in the process, but since her trust in me was high, it ended without much fuss.
“Please take good care of Rubia, Aven.”
“Rubia is a Cobalt Grade now. Besides, I’m not part of the Mayerbridge Union anymore.”
“Is that true? Then you and Rubia are in a relationship where you exchange personal contact...?”
Rubica tilted her head slightly as she looked at me. In her mind, I already had a primary partner, so she wondered if I perhaps had romantic feelings for Rubia as well. Of course, I didn't, and I had heard about this incident from Rivier, not Rubia.
“Ah, right. There is one thing I’d like to ask, Aven... Would you consider coming to the Spanya estate...?”
“To the Spanya estate... as a resident?”
“O-Of course not. How could I take someone like you as a mere resident? I mean something with better treatment and a stronger position... like a... a vassal...? The estate isn't large, but I feel like many good things would happen if you were here...”
“Haha, I’m sorry. I don't plan on quitting my job as an explorer yet.”
“Right... I suppose so. I understand. I must have spoken out of turn.”
Rubica let out a shallow sigh, looking slightly disappointed. Shortly after, Rubia, who had been visiting the bedridden Family Head, came bursting into Rubica’s room with a loud thud.
“Aven! Shall we head out?!”
“Rubia, did you finish your conversation with your father?”
“Of course! I even got an allowance!”
Rubia held out a leather pouch that jingled at her waist. I knew she was an adult, but seeing her so happy over an allowance from her dad was something else.
“Sister, you’re staying at the estate now, right?”
“Yes, Rubia. Since I’ve become the legitimate heir, I have to start helping with the family affairs I’ve been neglecting.”
“Yeah! You have to work hard! Because I’ve become a Cobalt-grade explorer!”
Rubia stood tall with her hands on her hips, puffing out her chest energetically. It didn't really change anything, but it was good to see her so lively.
“I offer my thanks once again, Aven. You are a hero to the Spanya family.”
“You don't need to feel so burdened. Rubica, I only came here because of you.”
“Wha-wha-wha-what?!”
As soon as Rubica heard my words, her face turned beet red, and she began flailing her hands and stammering.
“This ring. Do you remember it?”
“The... ring...?”
“It’s a storage artifact. I replaced the magic crystal, but I’m still using the one you gave me during our first meeting. It’s useful.”
“Ah...! That time.”
Rubica seemed to reminisce for a moment. Soon, a small smile played on her lips, and she nodded.
“Yes, that did happen.”
“Good deeds have a way of coming back around.”
“Well, from my perspective, I just handed it over in exchange for deer meat when I was about to die of hunger.”
“Is that so?”
* * *
“Alright! Let’s go! It’s Rubia, the pilot of the High-Speed Magic Airship!”
I wasn't entirely sure why, but Rubia seemed to find sitting in the cockpit of the fighter jet quite thrilling. Since the word 'fighter jet' didn't exist here, I just called it something similar.
For the record, the word 'airplane' did exist. It seemed to be considered a type of airship.
‘Shall I test out the skills I gained?’
Sparkling Blood wasn't much. I felt like I could do something fun with it, but it wasn't particularly useful.
Saliva Ignition seemed like it would be quite helpful. Until now, every ignition process I used relied on the Synthetic Eldyokul’s flame core and flammable saliva. Since producing flammable saliva consumed a fair amount of mana, it was a somewhat restricted activity. Now that I could ignite any saliva, that problem was solved.
The Translation skill didn't seem like something I’d need immediately, so the best one was definitely Combustion Acceleration. I could now burn the low-quality organs I no longer used as fuel to generate even more power.
To put it another way, even the low-level monsters from the early floors of the Labyrinth now had a use. Even if I just devoured every creature I saw, they wouldn't just pile up uselessly.
‘Let’s try burning about 8 tons of unused fat and muscle.’
As the Combustion Acceleration skill activated, a massive amount of useless organs began to burn away as calories, converting into raw power. I felt my mana boiling, a sensation similar to when Bleeding Berserk was active.
—Sizzle!
BOOOOOOM—!!!!!!!!
‘Whoa.’
The sense of speed was incredible. It was definitely different from before.
“Ugh... Bleeergh...!!”
So much so that Rubia was actually vomiting inside the cockpit.
‘Goddammit.’