Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Feast and Intrigue
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“You'll give me half the mana stones and byproducts as promised, right?”
“……!”
Ascendra, who had been staring blankly at the monster byproducts neatly stacked in the castle courtyard, flinched in surprise and then beamed brightly.
“Of course! Ahahaha! You rascal! Sir! I believed in you!”
Ascendra bounced with joy.
And the nobles and knights standing behind her shuddered.
The amount of byproducts and mana stones Eugene had brought was impressive enough, but the key fact was that he had obtained them all by himself.
‘D-does that even make sense?’
‘Is that knight a monster himself!?’
Occasionally, there were legendary knights whose fame pierced the heavens and crossed the seas.
Knights who overwhelmed hundreds of enemies in a single charge, or hunted down several large monsters single-handedly.
But no one from the past had ever cleared a dungeon alone.
At the very least, they brought squires and a team of mercenaries, and even such figures were hailed as once-in-a-few-years “master knights.”
Yet right before their eyes stood a knight who had truly succeeded in a solo dungeon conquest.
The implications of this unbelievable feat were clear.
A peerless knight who might appear only once every century!
And there was no noble who disliked befriending or enlisting such a knight.
“Hey! Open the castle gates! Invite all the brave warriors who follow Sir Eugene! A feast! Prepare a grand banquet!”
“Yes, my lord!”
Ascendra, evaluated as the most astute direct descendant of the marquess family, saw her orders swiftly carried out.
* * *
A massive banquet unfolded in the inner halls and courtyard of Ascendra’s castle.
The mercenaries, sick of camp rations that were decent enough but tiresome after a few days, devoured the proper food and drink like men possessed.
As the band played lively tunes and dancers and jesters showed off their skills, the atmosphere heated up even more.
“Hahaha! Drink up, keep it flowing!”
True to her bold personality, Ascendra mingled freely with her subordinates, heedless of her status.
She even personally poured drinks for the mercenaries, her hospitality toward Eugene’s forces utterly unprecedented.
Yet her unique charisma that commanded the room and the natural authority she exuded never let her seem like an ordinary woman.
Just seeing the rough, uncouth mercenaries at a loss around her proved she was a born ruler.
“Alright, Sir Eugene. We have some private matters to discuss, don’t we?”
After personally tending to the mercenaries, Ascendra plopped down in her chair, and slaves quickly gathered to fan her and massage her hands and feet.
“How did you capture Gabriel’s knights?”
“On the way to Duke Edrike’s territory, it seems they picked a fight with my companions.”
“Oh~? I thought they were all bluster, but apparently not?”
Eugene glanced at the knights, led by Galpredic, who were laughing uproariously and strutting around, then replied.
“They’re quite capable. They helped me out in various ways.”
“Hmm. Now that you’re a lord yourself, are you planning to formally take them under your wing?”
At her subtle tone, Eugene shook his head.
“I don’t have the capacity for that.”
“Hehe! That’s what I like about you.”
Ascendra flashed a seductive smile and stroked Eugene’s arm.
It was a good thing Mirian was flitting around the banquet hall, too busy eating and drinking to notice. Otherwise, he’d be making a fuss right beside them.
“Knights who chase fame and glory rarely have a practical sense of reality. In that regard, you’ll soar even higher. I guarantee it.”
“Didn’t you once ask if I’d never heard people call me mad?”
“Haha! Knights with grudges aren’t charming, Sir.”
Giggling, Ascendra waved the slaves away and spoke in a low voice.
“Anyway, thanks to you, Edrike will definitely submit to me now. If I send you into the dungeon once a month, it nullifies any excuse he has for sending in a subjugation force under the pretext of tolls.”
“Good to hear. What about Duchess Ellera?”
When Eugene mentioned her sister, who had become the marquess family’s youngest after Bemos’s death, Ascendra smirked.
“Don’t worry about her. She follows Gabriel’s orders blindly, so once Gabriel’s handled, she’ll kneel to me. Though she has a couple of weird mages tagging along, they can’t possibly challenge me.”
“Mages?”
Seeing Eugene’s curiosity, Ascendra found it odd but shared what she knew.
“Yeah. You know how the bishop fled to the royal castle after Father was imprisoned? These guys slunk into the marquess territory not long after. I don’t know their school of magic, but they’re apparently master and apprentice, and Ellera relies on them heavily. Foolish girl. They’d be my first targets once I inherit the title.”
Most nobles didn’t particularly dislike mages.
But it grated on Ascendra that her sister depended on these shady, unknown ones.
For all her straightforward nature, she cared deeply for her siblings.
“May I ask one question?”
“Anything!”
“How loyal is Duchess Ellera to Duke Gabriel?”
“They’ve been inseparable since childhood. Gabriel dotes on her terribly. Just look at how she sent her husband to him.”
“Pardon?”
“Oh, you didn’t know? Lord Andre is Ellera’s husband.”
“……!”
Ascendra giggled at Eugene’s blatant shock and continued.
“Now you see why I welcomed that noble killer so warmly? It’s as good as having Gabriel and Ellera’s lifelines in my grasp.”
“Hmm. Couldn’t they deny it?”
“Maybe. But it wouldn’t matter. The nobles under them would waver anyway. Gabriel accepting a title from the king in that situation? He’d be branded a traitor to the peninsula. He’d never risk it.”
“Congratulations. Soon you’ll be addressed as Marquess.”
“Hahaha! All thanks to you.”
Eugene was genuinely impressed by Ascendra, proving that a future marquess needed this level of political acumen.
Thus, he decided to hand her another card—another surefire one—to ensure she became the next Archbold Marquess.
“Duchess Ascendra.”
“What is it, my handsome Sir Eugene?”
Still unused to her casual arm-stroking at every opportunity, Eugene naturally pulled away and spoke.
“Even if the tide has mostly turned in your favor, there’s still a chance of all-out war, isn’t there?”
“Hmm. True enough.”
Cornered, Gabriel might come at her with a do-or-die fury, leaving Ascendra smacking her lips in regret.
“Then, when you meet Duke Gabriel and Duchess Ellera, say this before bringing up Valmont.”
“Hmm? What?”
“The dungeon mage is dead.”
“……?”
As Ascendra blinked her large eyes repeatedly, Eugene spoke even more softly.
“If they show no reaction, proceed to Valmont. But if they do react, there’ll be no domain war. They’ll kneel on their own. Either way, you lose nothing.”
“……Sir, have you really never heard people call you mad?”
“Not once.”
Ascendra stared at him in disbelief as he answered seriously again.
“Fine, I’ll do it. But what does that even mean? I need to know the details to pull it off.”
“You’re the only one who should know this.”
Speaking quietly, Eugene omitted details like the ogre and greatly simplified the story of the dungeon mage.
Ascendra, untrained as a knight, didn’t know the finer points of dungeon conquests, so she took his words at face value.
Of course, Eugene’s stellar achievements had maxed out her trust and favor.
“I brought the mage’s head, just in case.”
“That vile mage must be one of the ones Ellera kept close.”
Gone was her usual bold, leisurely demeanor; Ascendra’s eyes were icy cold.
“It’s highly likely. Only direct Archbold family members are permitted to enter the dungeon, right? If not, all the better.”
“Gabriel, Ellena. Those insane bastards…….”
Ascendra was truly furious.
Subduing her two siblings perfectly wasn’t the main point.
As blood of the Archbold family—a pillar of the peninsula—disappointment and rage at her siblings for possibly committing the unforgivable tore at her heart.
“Sir Eugene.”
“Yes?”
“Sorry, but please keep this from everyone.”
“Of course.”
A lie, naturally. He’d tell Galpredic and Romari, at least.
Especially Romari, the fellow mage—he had a gift and a task for her.
‘To keep using her even after the chimera’s complete.’
“Whew! I keep owing you favors. Though you must want something in return for handing me this.”
“Yes. Recognize me as a lord, but don’t place me under the Archbold Marquess family.”
“Tch! I figured as much, but it stings.”
“My apologies.”
“Fine. But are you sure? You’ll be free of obligations, but plenty will dislike you for it.”
Joining a great noble house that dominated a region meant duties like answering your lord’s call anytime, but also benefits like protection under their shadow.
Nobles didn’t form persistent ties of marriage and blood for nothing.
“Don’t worry. I’ll have a lord’s authority, but I’ll delegate responsibilities to others. I’ll just need a little help from you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“These guys.”
Following Eugene’s gaze, Ascendra’s eyes turned to the freelance knights laughing and chatting.
“Grant them knighthood under you. I’ll handle dividing up suitable fiefs in my domain.”
“What? No, that’s… ha!”
Mid-sentence, realization dawned, and Ascendra rolled her eyes in exasperation.
“Knights sworn to me, tied to your domain? Peninsula-born knights no one would dare touch? Ha! Unbelievable!”
“Isn’t it good for you too? Seven knights under your command for free. They’re not bad at all.”
“True, but…… ha, haha!”
After a hollow laugh, Ascendra sobered and stared intently at Eugene.
“Alright. I accept all your proposals.”
“Thank you.”
“But I have a condition.”
“……?”
As Eugene squinted one eye, Ascendra smiled meaningfully.
“Nothing proves mutual trust like blood ties.”
“……Pardon?”
“You’re unwed, right? I have a fine niece. Gabriel’s eldest daughter. Take her with you. If not betrothal, make her your squire. She’s the best swordswoman in our family.”
“…….”
Eugene was speechless at the sudden proposal.
But in that moment, a thought flashed through his mind like lightning.
“That’s inconvenient for me. What about my most trusted man? He’s practically my brother.”
“Vassal? Who?”
“That guy. The top contributor who beat Gabriel’s knights like stray dogs—er, captured them as prisoners.”
Eugene and Ascendra’s gazes locked onto Galpredic, who was boldly downing wine and laughing heartily.
“That knight…….”
“Rune of the Galpredic family. I guarantee few knights could beat him. He’s sworn loyalty to me, always at my side. He doesn’t have a squire yet.”
“Hmm. Not bad. Fine, I’ll send Selena as that knight’s squire. Betrothal’s fine depending on the situation.”
“Thank you sincerely for your generosity.”
Eugene inwardly sighed in relief, then spoke on a sudden thought.
“By the way, how old is this Selena?”
“Fifteen.”
“…….”
Noble betrothals often happened far younger.
But marrying off an underage niece to a swarthy knight?
‘She’d freak if she knew I’m a vampire. Not that it’ll ever happen.’
Ascendra would try to keep him close, but Eugene was confident he could escape her influence anytime.
Musing that the true noble world was incomprehensible, Eugene looked at Galpredic, lost in merrymaking.
‘As my kin, you’ll have to play along with this much. Right, Gal-kin?’
(To be continued in the next installment)