Chapter 79
Chapter 79
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Onward to the Tournament
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Lord Eugene! Safe travels!”
“It was truly an honor serving alongside you, my lord!”
“My lord! We’ll see you in the territory in a month!”
The Mopern mercenaries and the seven free knights had all come out to see Eugene off.
Though their time together had been rather short, to them, Eugene was the finest employer and a reliable leader.
In particular, those who would soon be formally appointed by His Excellency the Marquess—no longer wandering free knights without a lord—displayed fervent loyalty tinged with resolve.
“We shall return having earned feats worthy of Archduchess Essendra and your honor.”
“We promise. The names of Archbolt and Eugene will echo thunderously across the skies of this peninsula.”
“Good, good. Don’t push yourselves too hard. As I said once more, you must obey Archduchess Essendra’s orders without question. If word of any disobedience reaches me, there will be no fiefs granted to you—don’t forget that.”
“No need for concern!”
Even if it was just a handful of households here and there, the knights brimmed with enthusiasm at the prospect of soon having their own fiefs and tenant farmers.
The revenue from that alone would suffice to replace their gear and feed their horses.
Moreover, Eugene was a knight with no intention of settling for just the peninsula’s territories.
If they followed him loyally, they too might one day become proper sub-lords—the thought swelled their hearts with pride.
“Then, I wish you all good fortune.”
“Yes, my lord!”
Leaving the mercenaries and knights behind, Eugene exited the castle gates with Galpredic and a small contingent of troops.
“But… do we really have to bring that thing along like that?”
One knight tilted his head, his gaze lingering on the undead ogre dressed in priestly robes and perched atop the wagon.
“Hah! Isn’t it obvious? That’s the clearest miracle proving the Lord’s love for Lord Eugene and the marquessate!”
“R-Right, you’re correct. I misspoke.”
Chastised by his comrade, the knight who had spoken first hurriedly made the sign of the cross in repentance.
“Lord, forgive me. How dare I doubt You and the Lord Eugene whom You so dearly love.”
A wave of profound remorse then swept through the knights.
“Oh! Blessings upon Lord Eugene’s path!”
“May the Lord’s grace ever accompany Lord Eugene!”
Thus, the knights reverently made the sign of the cross, offering their utmost blessings to the Origin Vampire.
* * *
“You came all this way just to deliver this?”
“Y-Yes. The man who brought it to the Feilin Merchant Group was quite disappointed that you weren’t there, Lord Eugene.”
Only after departing Archbolt Castle did Romari hand the letter to Eugene.
Having read it through carefully, Eugene stroked his chin.
“Hmm.”
“What does it say?”
“The preamble’s lengthy, but it boils down to ‘come quickly and join the knight tournament.’”
“Oh? Has it been four years already?”
“Four years? What do you mean by that?”
Eugene turned to Galpredic at his words.
“Earl Winslon holds a knight tournament every four years. Looks like this is the year.”
“I see. A knight tournament. Similar to the one hosted by the Evergrow Earl’s family?”
“Way grander, I’d say. Rumor has it the last one four years ago had over a hundred participants.”
“Really? How many were at the Evergrow tournament?”
“Around thirty? Minus the riffraff, maybe ten real knights. The Evergrows lorded over the Maren region, but they’re not in the same league as Winslon.”
“Winslon’s that impressive?”
Eugene, who knew scarcely more than a handful of noble houses, cocked his head. Galpredic grinned as he replied.
“For starters, they’re a family that branched off from the founding royal line. Vast territories, immense power—even the king treads carefully around them, or so I’ve heard.”
“Really? How much power are we talking?”
“I’ve only heard tales myself, but they say Earl Winslon commands over five hundred direct troops, and with his vassals’ forces, it nears a thousand. Plus, the Winslon family maintains an order of knights.”
“An order of knights?”
“Yeah. Dozens of guys like me, answering only to the earl.”
“That’s… impressive indeed.”
Eugene inwardly clicked his tongue.
He’d handed off even a few dozen mercenaries to Essendra because the expense was too much, yet here was a house maintaining dozens upon dozens of standing troops, complete with a knight order!
“So, their knight order knights will join the tournament too?”
“Guys who live and die by their fame? Bound to. Winner gets a chest brimming with gold coins, plus priceless gear.”
“Hmm.”
Nodding, Eugene’s gaze drifted to the Wolfslayer hanging from his saddle.
A famed sword once bestowed upon a renowned knight by the Winslon family.
‘Appointed by a noble house even grander than the Archbolt Marquessate, win gear on par with Wolfslayer. With luck, even claim a demon realm.’
It had been months since receiving the letter of recommendation—time to go.
“First to the territory, then straight to Maren. Prep there and depart promptly; should make it in time.”
“Heh! Great idea. This’ll be fun.”
“What are you talking about? You’re staying to guard the territory.”
Eugene shrugged at Galpredic’s expectant expression.
“Huh?”
“You’ll play lord of the territory in my stead for a while.”
“Master, what do you…?”
Eugene flicked his eyes toward Galpredic’s saddlebags, cutting him off.
“Why’d you take that girl as your squire instead of mine?”
“No, how’s this baggage related to that?”
Galpredic scowled at Selena, slumped unconscious over the rear saddle.
“Only if Essendra knows her nephew trusts his squire enough to leave the territory in his hands will she be satisfied, right?”
“Ha…”
Galpredic finally grasped the point.
“Better the baggage than this. She’s basically my boss now? Ugh.”
“Just for a while. Besides, stabilizing Karlsbagen Peninsula will take time regardless. Delmondo’s capable enough, but I rest easy with you there. No comparing him to you.”
“Tch! Fair enough. Plenty of romps ahead.”
“Of course. If you get bored, go demon realm hunting with Archduchess Essendra or Lord Beogalan. It’s all arranged.”
“Oh! Music to my ears.”
Galpredic’s expression softened somewhat.
Noticing this, Romari sidled her pony up to Silion’s side, gauging their mood.
“Lord Eugene, Lord Eugene. What about me? Surely I should accompany you to Maren to study this ogre…?”
“You’re staying in the territory with Galpredic.”
“Me? Why?”
“You planning to drag an undead to Maren? And what about refining the silver? How long do you intend to mooch off food and scraps?”
“N-No, of course I’ll do it. Yes, I must.”
Galpredic burst into hearty laughter at Romari’s deflated demeanor.
“Haha! Lady Romari, let’s get along splendidly for the time being.”
“Me? Why?”
Romari tilted her head, parroting the same line she’d given Eugene.
“Same words, but why do they irk me?”
“Good, that’s the intent.”
“Being chewed out by you brings that dead hag Talula to mind.”
“No! Enough about that bitch Talula already…”
Eugene cut in low as the two began bickering.
“By the way, Romari. Any other mages from the Pilgrim Shadow School besides you?”
“Uh, far as I know, just my master. Our school’s not single-lineage transmission, but entry and exit conditions are brutally strict. Why do you ask?”
“Strange. The mage I killed told an Archbolt direct lineage member he was from the Pilgrim Shadow School.”
“...!”
Romari’s perpetually vacant eyes widened in shock before she urgently pressed.
“I-Is that true? It can’t be!”
“You doubting me?”
“No! I didn’t mean—”
“Then they were impersonating.”
“Exactly! Our Pilgrim Shadow School never makes undead. Only chimeras! Creating chimeras is our ultimate goal. It’s utterly unlike black magic. Because…”
Romari desperately defended her school.
The issue with undead is binding or controlling the souls of the dead—be they human or monster—with magic.
Chimeras, however, combine traits from various monsters to birth a new species, requiring the crafting of a fitting soul.
The difficulty and very direction differed entirely.
“Crucially, chimeras react only to mana stone-bearing monsters. They obey their creator, but won’t inherently hostile non-mana stone targets.”
“I see. But do ordinary folk grasp that distinction?”
“Probably not. Plus, our school stays hidden from the world due to my master’s status…”
“So impostors beat you to the punch. Troubling, no?”
“Y-Yes… Ah! But since that mage died to you, Lord Eugene…”
“His apprentice lives.”
“Pardon?”
“One of the dead mage’s disciples went to investigate his master’s death and fled. Nothing says that one won’t make more undead and impersonate your school again.”
“Gasp!”
Romari’s face darkened sharply—the gravest expression since they’d met.
Seizing the moment, Eugene tossed the bait he’d prepared well before broaching the undead mage topic—to this small fry(?) who held vast potential as future big game.
“Speaking of which, I took the dead mage’s magic tools and grimoire. Might be useful…”
“Yes! It will! Please, give them to me! I’ll uncover exactly who they are, I swear on my school and magic!”
“Do it.”
Eugene nodded contentedly, though her instantaneous shift from despair to sparkling eagerness was absurd.
Atop Silion’s mane, Mirian—patting his bulging belly from a massive breakfast—chimed in.
“Tsk tsk tsk! Wizards’ greed outstrips even a dragon’s gut. Never satisfied, never. Urp!”
The remark was brazen from a spirit who’d stuffed himself silly.
* * *
“G-Great… my liege, I greet you.”
Delmondo nearly slipped but hastily corrected his address to Eugene, bowing deeply.
Even resurrected once already as a vampire, the sight of Eugene set his heart pounding with awe and terror anew.
“Everyone out but the steward.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Once the village folk hired as servants had bowed their way out, Eugene settled comfortably into a chair.
“Things seem to be progressing well? The village was bustling.”
“Yes. The Mopern guildmasters cooperated fully. To begin with…”
Dropping swiftly to one knee in prostration, Delmondo reported more precisely and concisely than he ever had to his imperial superiors.
“…Thus, the castle should complete in half a year, and for internal territory affairs, I plan to utilize those recommended by each guild. Any directives, my lord?”
Eugene nodded at Delmondo, who couldn’t hide his anxiety.
“You’ll handle it fine.”
“Ah! To think you’d trust this humble one so…”
“Fail, and you die.”
“I stake my life on it.”
Delmondo’s brightening face paled as he trembled and bowed low.
“I won’t be at the territory for a while. Take orders from Galpredic. The mage and troops with me will stay too.”
“I obey the great one’s will.”
An Origin’s vassal and his own station were worlds apart. Worse, in a way, Galpredic was an even tougher foe—Delmondo felt his vision swim.
* * *
Gardye and the Mopern guildmasters, hearing of the Archbolt Marquessate incident, praised Eugene in unison.
Trade routes from the peninsula interior had reopened after nearly two years.
Moreover, they’d handle not only monster byproducts and mana stones from the demon realms but also silver from Eugene’s mines.
And that wasn’t all.
“You’ve likely guessed, but Archduchess Essendra has no plans to stop here. She intends a show of force against the southern territories and cities. She seemed to greatly anticipate Mopern’s support.”
Gardye and the guildmasters teared up with joy upon receiving the letter Eugene proffered.
Bearing Essendra’s signature and the Archbolt seal, it listed at length the supplies needed for her army.
Peace fattens merchants slowly; war bloats them swiftly.
Mopern’s environs had grown peaceful thanks to Eugene, while Essendra ensured the peninsula’s south stayed turbulent.
Mopern City had been handed the chance to rake in coin with both hands.
“Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah thrice!”
The guildmasters’ cheers echoed endlessly at the harbor toward the ship carrying Eugene and monster byproducts to Maren.
Eugene, too, was immensely pleased.
‘Building the castle, developing the mine, even covering mercenary wages for a stretch. What accommodating folk.’
An exquisite alignment of mutual interests, though oblivious to such nuances, Eugene simply basked in satisfaction.
(To be continued)