Chapter 100
Chapter 100
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Long-Awaited Reunion with Galpredic
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Galpredic, whom he hadn't seen in ages, had bulked up even more, his frame now even burlier and more imposing.
It was thanks to hiring mercenaries to subjugate the demon realms of the Archibald Marquis House and the Beogalan Baron's House once each. He'd slain mid-tier monsters there and drunk their blood, which had turned him into this beast.
'He's probably about as strong as I was right after clearing Tiwin territory's dungeon.'
Galpredic was Eugene's retainer. As such, Eugene could instantly gauge his level as a vampire.
On top of that, Galpredic had always been an exceptionally skilled knight.
With countless real battles under his belt and relentless training, it was only natural that he'd grown far stronger than when they'd first met.
"Brantia?"
"Yeah. That's the plan. We'll head out soon, so keep that in mind."
"If Master's going, of course I'll follow. But what's this all of a sudden?"
"Well, it's like this."
Eugene laid out everything that had happened with Count Winslow for Galpredic, who was tilting his head curiously. If there was anyone he could share everything with, it was Galpredic.
"Hoo! The Duke of Bartla?"
"You know him too?"
Galpredic's eyes went wide, and he grinned.
"Nah, first I've heard of him."
"Then why'd you act like you knew?"
"Haha! A duke's a duke. Pretty much royalty. Means he could make a play for the throne. In other words, if things go right, Master could end up king of Brantia."
"Not interested in that."
"Huh?"
"Squeak!?"
Eugene replied calmly as his retainer and spirit both yelped in surprise.
"Why the shock? Even if we get to Duke Bartla, you think I'd actually end up king? I'm a vampire."
"W-Well... there might be a way?"
"Right! You have to become the Demon King Overlord! Squeak!?"
Eugene shoved the yammering spirit into a leather pouch and continued.
"I don't want it. Say I somehow became king of Brantia a hundred times over. You expect me to hole up in the royal castle playing king? Babysitting the Brantian nobles and lords?"
"Good point. Just thinking about it gives me a headache."
Knights and lords were worlds apart.
No matter how brilliant a knight was on the battlefield, that didn't make him king material. They got different training and walked different paths.
That's why even successful knights often botched running their own tiny fiefs and had to hire stewards for the paperwork.
"Anyway, let's just focus on claiming the Duke of Bartla title for now. It's the only way to finish forging these guys."
"Heh heh. Or are you just eyeing their magic gear?"
"...A little?"
About half his motivation was exactly that, so Eugene grinned.
Truth be told, he was more interested in the Wolfslaughter and Madarajika-grade armor and shield than the duke title itself. Both being defensive gear, he could hardly wait to see just how impressive they were.
"Anyway, great! Haha! My fame as Roan Galpredic will echo across the sea! Oh, but just the two of us?"
"For now, we'll take Luke and the mage. Oh, and the Partek guys too."
"Perfect. Slave No. 1's from Brantia, so he'll be useful. And Partek's crew have gotten pretty solid—more than capable of pulling their weight."
"Hm? You trained them while I was gone?"
"Only someone like Partek's worth sparring with. The scraps Master tossed me were too weak to bother."
"Oh yeah, we should bring your squire too. How's she settling in?"
"She listens well now."
"Hoo?"
Eugene got curious.
A pampered direct-line marquis daughter playing knight, now taking orders?
"That does it. Heh heh."
Seeing Galpredic tap his scabbard smugly, Eugene got it all at once.
"Right you are. Nothing beats a good beating."
"Isn't that how it always is? Haha! Who's the guy who came with you? Looked pretty tough."
Ever since becoming Eugene's retainer, the once-mighty knight Galpredic could size up foes just from their gait and aura.
Lanslo Dulac was among the top knights he'd ever encountered in terms of sheer presence.
"One of Count Winslow's knights. Seemed useful, so I borrowed him. Quarter-elf, and damn strong."
"Hoo. Mind if we spar?"
"Go ahead. Just don't hurt him."
"Awesome. Heh heh. Guess I'll play around a bit by way of intro."
"Yeah! Give the big bear a proper thrashing! No, Gal-retainer! Gotta set the pecking order from the start!"
Mirian, who'd wriggled out of the leather pouch unnoticed, buzzed around Galpredic's head chattering away.
"Gal-retainer? Pecking order...? Did the spirit just say that?"
"Squeak?"
"Can you hear him now too?"
"Yeah. I see this blurry bug-thing. Hear it whining too."
Eugene was stunned.
Made sense, though. He'd grown stronger on this expedition, and so had Galpredic here.
As a retainer bound by a soul oath, it was entirely possible for him to manifest some of Eugene's abilities.
"I'm not a bug! I have a great voice! Don't you know the bards of the spirit realm!? Squeeee!"
"Noisy."
*Smack!*
"Kwek!"
The spirit got squished flat between Galpredic's meaty palms.
He oozed out like water between the fingers, then burst into loud sobs.
"Sob sob sob! Now even the bear's bullying me! Oh, my fate! Hear me, local spirits!"
Eugene stuffed the spirit, mid-rant, back into the leather pouch and sealed it tight.
* * *
"Please take me with you! I beg you!"
Galpredic had only gotten burlier in the meantime, while Romari looked even more haggard.
The shadows under her eyes had deepened to a murky black—you could hardly tell if she was human or raccoon.
Right after Eugene had left, Romari had been thrilled at the chance to seriously study the twin-headed ogre undead.
Undead and chimeras were totally different, but the insights were obviously valuable.
But her hopes shattered in a single day.
The dwarven miners and engineers from Mopern were incredibly efficient, and she had to smelt all the silver pouring out nonstop.
Endless grueling labor she never asked for.
Even then, she'd slaved away on research from dinner until late night, ending up looking half-dead.
"Sob sob. Sir Eugene, please take me. It's too much here. Save me."
"Well, thanks to you, silver production's way up. Fine."
"Thank you! Blessings upon you!"
Romari wiped her tears and bowed repeatedly to Eugene.
"But when do we leave?"
"Sooner the better. The territory's fine without me—Delmundo's got it running smooth."
"I see. Then I'll prepare right away! Oh, you should prepare too, Sir Eugene?"
"Prepare? What for?"
Eugene tilted his head.
The ship to Brantia was being sourced from Maren City, and since he wasn't taking a big force, he figured there was nothing to prep.
"Pardon? You're going to Brantia soon, right? Then you need a coffin."
"Coffin? Like, for corpses?"
"Yes, yes. It's essential."
"..."
Eugene was speechless at the absurdity.
Sensing a chance to flex her mage knowledge after so long, Romari straightened up proudly.
"Ahem! You didn't know, Sir Eugene. The Night Clan must travel in coffins when crossing the outer sea."
"Why?"
"On the inner sea, ships hug the coast, so earth's power reaches them—even for the Night Clan. But the outer sea has none. You need a stone coffin packed with dirt. Seal it tight too. You can pop out briefly at night, of course."
"Damn it."
"No helping it. Heh heh! Anyway, only I, heir to the true Pigremza School, could warn you in advance."
"You're getting cocky."
"N-No way! Ho ho! Must be a misunderstanding."
Romari shrank instantly, peeking at Eugene's face before continuing cautiously.
"But once you're in Brantia, you'll be fine. The continental church has almost no sway there. You might even walk around openly as Night Clan."
"What? For real?"
"Yes! Totally real. See..."
Fearing Eugene might leave her behind, Romari spilled every scrap of knowledge she had.
"So there are more Night Clan in Brantia than here. My master said long ago, some even ruled as lords. Well, only high-status nobles among them, of course."
"I see."
Eugene was floored.
If Romari was right, Brantia might be the perfect place for him to live freely.
'This kingdom's the problem. Even the Empire doesn't hate vampires that much.'
A path forward glimmered. And a new goal.
'Claim Brantia.'
For now, it was just about snagging Duke Bartla's seat—no real plan or method.
But like always, he'd find a way by charging in, fighting, and grinding it out. Eugene was sure of it.
* * *
Three days later, Eugene left the territory again.
He worried he was away too much for a lord, but Delmundo's fiery enthusiasm eased his mind.
Mopern's merchant guildmaster Gardye begged for mercy, but that was their problem.
Eugene praised Delmundo, who'd sworn to devote everything to the territory, and made him tear up again.
There was more good news.
The Essendra expedition was wrapping up soon.
Eugene's free knights would return to their fiefs, solving any security worries.
The neighboring nobles, like Baron Beogalan, had already tasted Eugene's ruthlessness(?) once—they'd have to be mad to invade.
And so, having tidied up internal affairs without lifting a finger, Eugene passed through Mopern to Maren.
* * *
"To your liking, Sir Eugene?"
Eugene nodded despite himself at the beaming Maren mayor.
"Impressive."
"Hahaha! Lucky for us, one of the royalists had a fine merchant ship. Our Maren craftsmen poured their hearts into refitting it. Even Brantia's wild seas won't faze her."
The mayor wasn't bluffing, to Eugene's eye.
The ship, named for the Water Spirit King 'Elion', was over ten meters longer than any Eugene had sailed, with far more masts and oarlocks.
"Bet that cost a fortune."
"Hahaha! The royalists had quite the stash. Thought they'd lost it all, but they'd hidden a mountain for the day they'd swallow our city. Vipers, those bastards."
"How much?"
"Don't faint. Over 300,000 silver total."
"Squeeeeeeeee!?"
The unimaginable sum made even the greed spirit's jaw dissolve into water.
'300,000?'
Eugene's eyebrows twitched in shock. He'd thought himself rich beyond his past life's dreams, but this was another league.
The mayor read Eugene's reaction differently.
'Figures he'd think he owns a share.'
The royalists had sicced assassins on Eugene, after all. And he was a knight-noble.
Custom said the failed assassins' backers paid blood money.
With the culprits imprisoned, Eugene could name his price.
"Ahem! Sir Eugene."
"Yes?"
Still reeling from the 300,000 silver shock, Eugene's face and voice were stiff. Like he was pissed.
'What endless greed! But yeah, takes that to dream of Brantia. No ordinary man.'
Emboldened, the mayor said carefully, "City laws and guild rules being what they are... Your compensation's ten percent of the seized assets. I trust your generosity to understand..."
*Whoosh!*
"...!"
The mayor flinched at Eugene's blazing gaze.
Hero of Maren or not, surely he wouldn't assault the mayor...
*Grab!*
"40,000."
"H-Huh?"
"40,000 it is?"
"Y-Yes! 40,000—perfect!"
"Yay! Hurray! Squeeeee!"
The greed spirit went berserk at the parting gift before Brantia.
It was a fortune it'd take years of digging the territory's silver mine to match.
(To be continued)