Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Collection (6)
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Scolseiji Meursault.
A steadfast and loyal knight who had devoted his entire life to the Meursault House.
He was standing watch in the middle of a coniferous forest spread across the snowy plains.
The Meursault House army, marching toward Levarb Castle, was camping here for the night.
"……."
Scolseiji stared at the northern snowy plains from the edge of the coniferous forest.
The snow-covered expanse looked like an endless white blanket.
The sky hung heavy and low, with thick gray clouds so close it seemed you could touch them.
The snowy plains reflected the sunlight so brightly it hurt the eyes, and occasionally fierce winds whipped up snowflakes, creating large and small storms.
Kiiiiing……
The wind was cold and sharp enough to cut skin; even brief exposure could lead to frostbite.
That's why many men in the North had lost the tips of their noses or fingers.
Scolseiji faithfully carried out his sentry duties.
In the center of the snowy plains he was watching, small snow hills were scattered about.
The rarely exposed rocks were covered in snow and frost, white as bone.
Between them, streams and brooks that had once wound through now held only traces of flowing water, frozen solid.
The surrounding mountain range rose majestically and threateningly.
It was a spur of the Meurso Mountains, which permitted no human footsteps.
The mountains encircled the snowy plains like colossal guardian deities.
The snow-capped peaks looked pure and white, but the rocks beneath contrasted in dark hues.
The wind-carved ridges appeared sharp and jagged, with protruding rocks jutting toward the sky like giant teeth.
The canyons along the ridgelines were deep and dark.
Endless winds howled through them with mournful cries.
Whoosh―
Scolseiji exhaled.
Even at midday, the merciless cold bit deep.
In this frozen world, traces of life were hard to find.
The harsh cold tested humans cruelly, and as Scolseiji gazed at the Meurso Mountains' peaks before him, he felt how insignificant he truly was.
Then.
Crunch―
The sound of someone stepping on snow rang out.
Scolseiji, born and raised in the North, could tell if it was human or beast.
Crunch― Crunch crunch―
……Human.
……Two of them.
……Heading this way.
Scolseiji drew his sword.
He glared at two shadows flickering between the pointed conifers.
In one hand, he gripped a conch shell horn, ready to blow at any moment.
An arrow might fly, so he took cover behind a tree.
He brought the horn to his lips and gripped his sword tightly with the other hand.
Soon, two men appeared before Scolseiji.
One was a fat man wrapped in thick furs, panting heavily.
The other was a boy with a ghostly presence, barely noticeable.
Scolseiji's eyes widened at the sight of them.
"Young Master Federback!?"
The heir of the Meursault House had returned.
"And…… Viscount Bargo?"
Having captured the enemy leader, no less.
The Meursault army's encampment.
Inside the command tent, Patriarch Soleil Meursault warmed himself by the bonfire.
He couldn't hide his astonishment as he listened to his subordinate Scolseiji's report.
"So, you're saying Federback captured Viscount Bargo and dragged him all the way here?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"And Viscount Bargo is now in custody, handed over to our knights?"
"Yes."
Scolseiji nodded.
Even he, delivering the report, seemed unable to believe what he'd seen with his own eyes.
Soleil had initially expected the fight with the Levarb House to be tough.
If they used their wealth to hire mercenaries and fortify their castle, even the Meursault House would struggle.
The Levarb House was that rich and tricky an opponent.
Yet their patriarch had been brought back alive.
And moreover…….
"Viscount Bargo is on the brink of death, drained almost entirely of blood?"
Soleil asked again.
Scolseiji nodded once more.
"We've mobilized all the healers from the expedition to keep him alive somehow. He had a corkscrew lodged in his neck."
"Why the hell was there a corkscrew in his neck?"
"There was probably a wine bottle at the negotiation. Things must have gotten urgent."
"Hmm."
Soleil stroked his chin.
He tossed a few logs into the bonfire.
Crackle― Crackle― Crackle―
The flames burned brighter.
Soleil nodded.
"Understood. Go fetch my son."
"As you command, Patriarch."
Scolseiji bowed and rose.
Soon, the tent flap rustled.
The one who entered was a boy with white hair and red eyes.
Federback.
The son sat before the bonfire at his father's summons.
Soleil spoke to Federback.
"You shoved a corkscrew into Viscount Bargo's neck."
"He wasn't listening to reason."
"That doesn't mean you treat a man's throat like a wine bottle. Sure, they both have red stuff inside……."
Soleil's idea of a joke.
Federback showed no particular reaction.
"Sigh……."
Soleil shook his head.
"Son, what you did was incredibly reckless. You were just supposed to deliver my letter. Yes, that was dangerous too, but the letter's content—on the surface, waiving the debt and seeking peace—meant they wouldn't get overly violent."
"But it worked out even smoother, so that's fortunate."
"Fortunate my ass! You nearly died!"
"I can find my own way out. And even if I hadn't, Father would have avenged me."
"What? Avenged?"
"Wouldn't you?"
"Hah……."
Soleil let out a hollow laugh.
He leaned back in his chair.
"I don't know when you grew up so much. Not long ago, you were throwing tantrums demanding famous bards for your birthday party."
"To reiterate, stirring up the Levarb House and getting out wasn't that hard. No matter how many dogs gather, they're still dogs. One wolf is enough to keep them frozen."
"……Dogs, huh. The Levarb House are still a force to reckon with in the North."
Soleil gazed quietly at Federback.
His eyes betrayed unmistakable pride, admiration, and approval.
"Understood. We'll discuss rewards for this later. By the way…… Yuda the administrator's end was unexpected."
"I gathered plenty of evidence that he was selling internal secrets. On the way here with nothing else to do, I tortured Viscount Bargo a bit, and he spilled surprisingly quickly."
"I knew he was greedy and overstepped, but not to that extent. His administrative and supply skills were exceptional, so I valued him highly. It's a shock. He was my childhood friend, after all."
Yuda the administrator had been greedy, but he'd served the Meursault House for a long time.
His exceptional administrative and logistical talents had helped Soleil greatly in their youth, propping up the house.
Of course, no one has just one side.
Even scum like Yuda had layers.
But the past of a dead traitor meant little to Federback.
"Sister Cardina's administrative skills are far superior, so she could take over seamlessly."
"Cardina? Does she know administration?"
"Sister can do anything."
Federback said, recalling the past.
Before the Meursault House fell, Cardina had handled all administration and supplies.
Thanks to her incredible managerial prowess, the house had held out longer.
'She'll handle it this time too.'
Cardina, nicknamed the Hexagon Genius.
Federback nodded, picturing her face.
Meanwhile, Soleil pondered Viscount Bargo's treatment.
"Capturing the Levarb House patriarch. This changes the entire situation. But I'm not sure how to handle him going forward."
Federback offered advice.
"He's just a vassal house patriarch anyway. We've renewed the oath, so we can keep him on a leash."
"Detaining a noble long-term violates protocol."
"We'll release him soon enough. Just after infighting breaks out over succession in Levarb."
"Brilliant."
Soleil slapped his knee.
The Levarb sons weren't on good terms; they'd clash over inheritance.
With Bargo handing everything to Meursault, they even held the right to appoint a successor.
Meursault could pick a palatable puppet from the successors and release Bargo.
The fractured Levarb would be left a hollow shell.
"We were going to dissolve the house anyway, so no issue."
"We get the justification and the gains. Son, how did you come up with this?"
"Learned from history."
Federback answered honestly.
It wasn't a lie—he'd learned from history.
Just future history, not past.
Soleil nodded.
In noble territorial wars, capturing prisoners and ransoming them was common.
With justification on Meursault's side, ending it smoothly was easier.
"Good. Then we return to the castle like this. For Levarb……."
Soleil nodded.
"Relay this: We'll protect Viscount Bargo for a while. Any who seek recognition as Levarb's legitimate heir must come to us and pledge oath fulfillment."
"They'll come crawling before we even send it."
Soleil nodded again at Federback's words.
Thus, the war between Meursault and Levarb ended anticlimactically.
……No.
"Oh, Father."
"?"
Before leaving the tent, Federback tossed something onto the table before Soleil.
It was a black book with no title.
"While dragging Viscount Bargo back, I picked up an interesting book on a frozen lake. The blizzard was so bad, I don't remember the exact spot."
"What book?"
"One you should read and study, Father. What was inside…… Ah."
Federback pretended to think for a moment, then added,
"It said 'Meursault Swordsmanship Complete'."
"……!"
Soleil's eyes widened impossibly as he looked down at the book.