Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: The Origin's Crest
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"Crest?"
"Yeah. I figure I need to give certificates to the Mopern branch manager and Verlon. But I'm no good at that sort of thing, so you're the most learned one around—the mage. You should make it."
"Uh...."
Mages were basically sharp-minded by nature.
But ever since meeting Eugene, she'd only been nagged at—not quite bullied, but close—and now suddenly saddled with this important task(?), Romari could only react with a dazed blink.
"What, nothing decent? Maybe I put too much faith in...."
"I have one! I just thought of it!"
"Yeah?"
Just as Eugene started to look skeptical, Romari blurted out her answer first, then desperately racked her brains as she spoke.
"People usually think bats when they hear 'dark kin.' But for an Origin, it has to be... a dragon! Yeah?"
"Hoo."
Eugene showed interest in her hasty idea, so Romari pressed on excitedly.
"The moment I first saw Sir Eugene, bam! I knew it was a black dragon and a red dragon. So, mix the colors half and half!"
"Not bad. Give it a shot, then."
"Huh? M-Me?"
"I'll do it! I'll do it! I draw dragons great!"
Mirian popped his head out and shouted, but Eugene firmly corked the bottle shut and said,
"What? You don't want to? Then the wyvern wing lining and tail stinger...."
"It's an honor to craft a crest that will eternally express Your beautiful and noble honor. Entrust it to me, and I'll make one that fits Your heart perfectly."
"Good. I need a flag and signet ring made too, so can you do it by tomorrow?"
"Yup."
Time was short, and it had nothing to do with being a mage, but Romari resolved to pour her soul into it.
* * *
The lodging the branch manager personally showed them to was splendid.
But as promised, they hadn't rented out an entire inn.
The group was too large, and unexpected issues had arisen.
"Oh! Sir Eugene! It's a true honor to host the first wyvern slayer himself."
Gardye, a leading figure in Mopern City and head of the merchant guild, greeted Eugene with a beaming smile.
"Kieek!? S-Silk clothes! This flat-faced human must be filthy rich! Hah, hah."
The spirit of desire panted after a long hiatus, just as Mirian said.
Gardye had a large, flat face, but his clothes and jewelry were outrageously luxurious.
"Thanks for providing the lodging."
"No need for such words. Come, everyone must be tired from the long expedition. Rest and enjoy yourselves."
At Gardye's glance, waiting servants and maids swarmed in to guide the troops.
Some gawked slack-jawed when their eyes met a maid's. And no wonder—the maids all boasted voluptuous figures, as if specially selected.
But the men only stole glances at Eugene, not daring to make moves.
"Not bad treatment, huh? Those guys have been through a lot, so letting them loose tonight seems right."
"That's what I was planning."
Galpredic whispered at his side, and Eugene nodded.
Knights sought deeds and honor, but mercenaries craved gold and women.
A respected, exemplary employer and leader had to satisfy those desires appropriately.
Most were simple brutes living by instinct, so if you didn't cut them loose when needed, they might start getting ideas.
"Everyone, have fun tonight. But anyone too drunk to rise in the morning gets no silver—no excuses."
"Yes, sir!"
Their loyalty and obedience to Eugene, forged through recent events, rang out in unison.
'Hoo! Even these unlettered roughnecks are under iron discipline.'
Gardye marveled at the discipline worthy of a famed noble's army.
He'd heard most were half-bandits not long ago, yet in that short time, the leader had whipped them into shape. Impressive.
"Come, sit here."
Eugene took the seat of honor under Gardye's guidance.
Romari had gone ahead to the annex to work on the crest, while Galpredic, wanting fun, joined the troops and groped maids' rears with glee.
'Wasn't that why he suggested it earlier, that guy?'
As the thought crossed his mind, Gardye smiled plumply and said,
"Have a drink, Sir Eugene. Come serve Sir Eugene."
At Gardye's gesture, a well-built girl with brown skin approached lightly, holding a bottle brimming with wine.
She kept flashing coy smiles while pouring for Eugene—clearly flirting.
"My youngest daughter. If you want, take her anytime."
Gardye's tone was subtle.
In the old days, Eugene would've thought, what kind of madman is this? But now he knew it was custom to offer sons or daughters for a night to promising nobles.
Especially in the open, passionate Calsbagen Peninsula.
Eugene shook his head lightly.
"Much appreciated, but no thanks. Took a light wound during the subjugation—need rest for a bit."
"Oh dear! I see. But with pure elf blood in your veins, you'll heal fast, right?"
"A day or two should do it."
"Glad to hear. Haha."
Gardye chuckled lightly, waved his sulky youngest daughter away, then spoke low.
"By the way, do you have any guess why I invited you and your men to my home?"
"More or less. Heard it might burden the city, having me and my crew around."
"Exactly. Anyone has to tread carefully around a wyvern slayer."
The tale of Eugene slaying the wyvern hadn't spread through the city yet, but the guild head wouldn't be in the dark.
"And your forces have grown quite numerous. Verlon aside, is that knight the famed Silver Flash, Sir Ludrian?"
Few knew Ludrian was a fake knight.
He could read and write, and with a decent face, everyone assumed as much.
"Yes. He's sworn loyalty to me."
"Truly impressive."
Gardye lowered his voice in renewed admiration.
"Anyway, inviting you here avoids troublesome encounters at an inn."
"And no needless worry for the townsfolk?"
"Yes. Thank you again for your great consideration."
Relieved Eugene was reasonable, Gardye bowed politely.
"From my side, no gain in souring ties with Mopern. You've heard quite a bit about me, it seems. Did some digging?"
"Understand, please. A single force over forty strong entering the city isn't commonplace."
"So you know I was put in charge of Paran, Ronan, Mintan, and nearby areas?"
"Yes?"
"Hm? You didn't? Sir Beogalan's drafting certificates and circulating pledges. Wasn't that why the branch manager introduced you?"
Eugene genuinely believed it, tilting his head.
"....!"
Eyes bulging, Gardye's mind raced like lightning.
Those villages alone made a hefty population combined.
"Nearby areas" meant more villages and hamlets under Eugene's hand.
'A knight about to become a lord!'
"This, this! I nearly committed a grave discourtesy."
Gardye, who had spoken highly yet casually as an equal, uncrossed his legs swiftly.
"Forgive my rudeness, Sir Eugene—so soon to be a lord, and I failed to recognize you."
"No. Can't know if you don't, right?"
Eugene replied indifferently, used to such reactions.
But Gardye was seasoned, experienced enough to become Mopern's guild head.
He read intentions from faces, eyes, tones—like a master.
Though he missed occasionally.
'That cold, haughty look! Means he knows I know now—treat him right from here on.'
No clue how, but this super-knight succeeded where ruins subjugations failed repeatedly, grabbing villages in no time.
If Baron Beogalan moved personally to recognize him as lord, it was verified.
"If there's ever anything I can help with, say the word. A mere merchant can't match knights' honor, but I stake my name on giving my all."
"Hm? Ah, sure, appreciated."
Wondering what flipped in this guy, Eugene nodded anyway.
Merchants were shameless gold-grubbers, he'd heard, yet all he'd met were oddly kind.
"Haha! Tying such good ties with Sir Eugene—I can't sit idle. Managing villages needs literate number-crunchers. Our Mopern guild will lend a hand. Hahaha!"
"That's mighty grateful."
Feilin Merchant Group branch, now Mopern guild stepping up?
Too lucky? Wary but savoring the windfall for now.
* * *
Post-banquet night.
In the estate's annex, best room for Eugene, he shed armor for once and bathed in hot water.
Mirian, gorged and drunk from the feast, had long been out cold.
Knock knock.
"Sir Eugene. Sorry for the late hour, but someone insists on seeing you."
A servant's cautious voice followed the knock.
"Me? I said no visitors."
"Yes. We tried sending them away, but they said you'd meet if they passed this message."
"What?"
"'The cold and red blood of Nophelos.'"
Delmondo.
Eugene told the servant at once,
"A distant cousin. I'll see him—bring him right in."
"Yes."
Soon, Delmondo entered, far cleaner than when last pummeled.
"Long time, cousin."
"Huh? Ah! Truly, long time no see, Sir Eugene."
Cunning dark kin that he was, Delmondo grasped Eugene's intent and bowed swiftly.
"This friend's just passing through—note that."
"Yes, sir. I'll withdraw."
Door shut, Delmondo eyed Eugene, then dropped to one knee, head bowed.
"To the great Origin of the kin, lowly foolish son of Nophelos, Delmondo...."
"Enough greetings. Stand."
"Yes."
He rose, but his awkward stance and trembling shoulders showed deep fear and tension.
"You. I told you to scout villages and hamlets, but it seemed half-assed? Mostly scum moved in, bar a couple spots."
"Th-That is...."
Delmondo explained eagerly.
In sum, his injuries from Eugene were severe, recovery took ages, so he couldn't complete the task properly.
"...So I judged waiting here for the great and noble one to report was better. But it's still my failing—chastise me!"
"Hmm. I see."
Circumstances checked out.
He'd failed orders regardless, deserved rebuke, yet kept the promise—not hopeless.
"What's your specialty?"
"Uh, specialty? You mean as kin?"
Delmondo blinked, asking carefully.
"No, what you're better at than others. Reading, fighting, whatever."
"Ah! No formal knight training, but Father taught me skills—I can handle two or three mercenaries without kin powers."
"Not bad. More?"
Eugene nodded; that was solid.
"And I know letters and numbers. Four languages. Learned wandering after Father claimed me."
"What? For real?"
Eugene's real surprise hit; Delmondo sensed opportunity, bowed hastily.
"Yes! Why lie in safety? Before kin, I was mid-level administrator in Roman Empire. Specifically, finance and personnel in Reno city. Long ago, but well-regarded."
"Hoo...."
As Delmondo intuited, Eugene was shocked.
No big expectations from vampire skills, but by human standards, top talent.
'Hm? This could....'
Idea flashing, Eugene loosed slight pressure, stern-faced.
"Delmondo of Nophelos."
"Yes, great Origin."
A human would've just jolted; fellow vampire Delmondo felt boulder-weight, bowing deeper.
"You. Work for me."
"....!?"
"Do it right, and I forgive your sins forever. Swear on my honor—no, the cold blue blood of the kin."
"By Nophelos's name, I'll devote all!"
Eugene smirked down at the prostrate Delmondo.
A capable estate manager cum fake cousin just got born.
(To be continued in the next episode)