Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Carmelda's Legacy (2)
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Miracle Forest.
It was once a forest called the "Nightmare-Devouring Flood Dragon."
In this place overflowing with all kinds of fruits, vegetables, and grains, the forest spirits were communing with the plants.
[Humans have something called taxes.]
[We just have to give them fruits as taxes, apparently.]
[Then the humans will eat the fruits and spread the seeds far and wide.]
[Instead of cutting the stems and taking them, they'll transplant small branches.]
The forest spirits chatted among themselves, seemingly content with the pact they'd made with humans.
At that moment.
Thud— thud— thud— thud—
Amid the red shadow cast by the four-yang beast, there came the sound of footsteps.
Queenbits.
She had come to find the forest spirits.
Her demeanor was more serious than ever.
"Kids. I have something to discuss."
At Queenbits's words, the forest spirits gathered around in a swarm.
Soon, Queenbits spoke.
"The human who visited before is showing interest in Master's legacy."
[……!]
The forest spirits' eyes widened.
Queenbits continued.
"He says he'll provide support, so he wants to take up Master's mantle. And that he'll protect us in the meantime."
The forest spirits began swirling around Queenbits.
[Dangerous! Dangerous! Dangerous!]
[Scary! Scary! Scary!]
[Run away! Run away! Run away!]
They all looked terrified.
But Queenbits gently soothed the forest spirits.
"Don't worry. He didn't threaten me or anything. He was just matter-of-fact about it."
[He won't force you?]
"No. Not at all."
[Humans are good at lying!]
"If he was, I'd know right away. You can't hide the stench wafting from that black heart with mere words."
[Queenbits. What do you want to do?]
The forest spirits stared intently at Queenbits.
Queenbits let out a sigh.
"Master's legacy is incomplete. I need to research and refine it. It'll take quite some time. I can't hand it over right away anyway..."
She fidgeted with her fingers, staring at the ground.
Unable to decide, her words dragged on.
Queenbits squeezed her eyes shut.
Master's face flickered before her eyes.
Carmelda was a once-in-a-century grand mage.
Yet the vested interests had eliminated even her.
It was a truly vile and protracted intrigue, sparing no means or methods.
And on the day her master was executed, Queenbits had fled, shedding bloody tears.
Though she had steeled herself to fight to the death, it was Carmelda herself who had pushed her away.
'You must survive to the end. And create a world where all lives can love each other equally...'
Recalling her master's kind voice, Queenbits opened her eyes.
"I want to complete Master's research. And use it to get revenge on Master's enemies."
Having sorted her thoughts, Queenbits found the forest spirits clustered neatly before her.
The eldest forest spirit nodded.
[We respect our friend's wishes. Whatever you decide, Queenbits, we'll help you.]
"Thank you. Talking it out with you has lightened my heart. Now I've made up my mind."
Soon, Queenbits spoke.
"I'll go see Federback. Right now."
It was nearly midnight.
Thirty minutes before midnight.
"You've been enjoying yourself lately, haven't you?"
Rorschach had come to Federback's bedroom.
Federback had been tending to his knife 'Adara,' made from a baby dragon's tooth, when he received her.
"What do you mean?"
"I heard you've been enjoying yourself lately."
"What's there to enjoy?"
"If you ask that, other men would curse you out."
"Speak plainly."
As Federback furrowed his brow, Rorschach replied in a cold voice.
"I heard you brought back an elf mage from the Nightmare-Devouring Flood Dragon."
"And why would that be enjoyable?"
"She's pretty. An elf."
"......"
"They say her figure is incredible too? A body type you could never see on Northern women."
"Who the hell is spreading such nonsense?"
"Not men—women. Info from the maids handling the elf mage's clothes, so it's reliable."
"Is that even worth calling information?"
"Anyway. Sticking around with a beauty who transcends human standards must be enjoyable. While your subordinates can't even change their undergarments, scraping by on the brink of death, and here you are with romance. So envious. If only Lady Cardina had delayed her Northern expedition a bit, she could have seen this new side of you..."
"Enough nonsense. What do you want?"
As Federback waved her off irritably, Rorschach cleared her throat.
"Regular report."
"That's at dawn tomorrow."
"I came early due to the budget deadline."
"......There's still an hour left until the deadline?"
"Finishing an hour early changes nothing. The allocations for each department are already approved by the Patriarch. It's basically just execution left, right? Execute it quickly; I have other work."
Federback fell silent at Rorschach's words.
Then.
"There's still an hour left, so do it then."
"Pardon? Why bother...?"
"Because that's the rule."
Federback insisted on midnight.
Rorschach tilted her head in confusion, but Federback had his reasons.
'Queenbits. She'll have no choice but to accept my proposal in the end.'
Queenbits had two goals.
First, completing her master's research.
Second, avenging her master.
They were two, yet one and the same.
And Queenbits's objectives didn't conflict with Federback's—they complemented each other.
There was no reason not to join hands.
'......Carmelda's legacy.'
Federback rested his chin on his hand.
He had spoken harshly to Queenbits earlier, but Carmelda's legacy was essential.
It was key to Federback's plan to knight-ify Meursault's soldiers—and ultimately all of humanity.
'If we fully establish and train with Carmelda's theory, even ordinary soldiers without talent could gain power rivaling 2nd Circle knights.'
Before his regression, Carmelda's theory had been thoroughly suppressed by the vested interests.
Thus, when the Demon King revived, humanity's numbers plummeted in an instant.
Queenbits's research succeeded late, but humanity's absolute population was already too low for the theory to make an impact.
......But what if that theory could be perfected and disseminated now?
Every human becomes a 2nd Circle knight.
And those already training mana grow at least one rank stronger.
If every human can harden their armor and emit aura blades from their sword tips, they could much more effectively repel the Demon King's invasion.
'That's the first step.'
Federback needed Queenbits.
Only she could inherit Carmelda's research, complete it, and spread it.
'And I must chase away the flies approaching her.'
The grand mage Carmelda had been branded a heretic and executed 100 years ago.
Enough time for humans to forget.
But the empire's great nobles—and some hermits—still pursued Carmelda's ghost.
'I need to strike first, before they come.'
The ones who wanted to kill Queenbits.
Federback already knew who was behind them.
'The Demon King's followers.'
Humans awaiting the Demon King's return—traitors to humanity.
Recalling the names at the top of his hit list from after his regression, Federback closed his eyes.
Meanwhile.
"Young Master? You're not dozing off right now, are you?"
Rorschach, reporting on documents, crossed her arms in disbelief.
Federback opened his eyes.
"I wasn't asleep."
"That's what you said as a kid when Father caught you. You were clearly dozing..."
"I said I wasn't asleep, so continue."
"Ugh, fine."
Rorschach pouted and continued the report.
"Lady Cardina, who went to the Northern Region, sent the first batch of mined goods. Three hundred kilograms of gold bars and thirty-two kilograms of mithril."
The Beauvoir Mine had been reclaimed.
The relocated miners and their families had splendidly adapted to what was once a no-go zone for human survival.
Proof that Cardina and her knights were successfully culling monsters.
Federback nodded.
"Use the gold bars where needed, and send all the mithril to the forges."
"Shouldn't we sell the mithril?"
"We'll use it domestically for now. Make alloyed armaments with it all."
"Understood. Good thing I came early to report. We'll be busy from dawn tomorrow."
Rorschach peered at the documents with a brighter expression.
Just then.
Knock knock knock—
Someone knocked on Federback's door.
Rorschach turned her head.
"Who is it at this hour? So rude."
"......"
Federback already knew who was outside.
Soon, the door opened, revealing a woman's face.
Queenbits. She had come to see Federback.
Rorschach's eyes narrowed.
"Hmm? Oh ho? Ahh?"
A string of meaningful nonverbal expressions followed.
But ignoring Rorschach's reaction, Queenbits spoke.
"Let's do it."
"Sure."
Federback nodded at Queenbits's words.
Rorschach stammered.
"Wh-what? Sh-she suddenly shows up and wh-what are you going to do?"
"Human woman. Mind giving us the room?"
"Wh-why? Why should I leave? What are y-you two planning to do alone in a room at this hour? S-something I can't be here for? I-I can do it too!"
"......"
Soon, Queenbits and Rorschach's gazes turned to Federback simultaneously.
Federback nodded with his usual expressionless face.
"She came before midnight, so deadline hasn't passed. Rorschach."
"Y-yes?"
"Allocate research funds to this woman."
"Oh, research funds... Pardon?"
Rorschach, momentarily relieved, asked back in bewilderment.
"What research funds out of nowhere? The budget allocations are already finalized..."
"Deadline hasn't passed yet."
"I just gave you the final-final-final-final revision!"
"Then make the final-final-final-final-final revision."
"This is insane! Thirty minutes to deadline! And research funds aren't pocket change!"
Rorschach clutched her disheveled hair.
"I'd have to redo everything!"
But Queenbits remained resolute.
"One condition, though."
"What?"
As Federback asked, Queenbits hesitated before speaking.
"Master's research requires a lot of money."
"Doesn't matter."
"A lot enough that it does."
"How much?"
"Tons of silver and rubies. Platinum, copper, jadecite—all massive amounts, and lead and mercury we'll use like water..."
"I asked how much."
"Well... um... that is..."
Though she had prepared a budget, Queenbits hemmed and hawed.
Then.
"At least a million gold, I think..."
Her voice trailed off to a mosquito's wingbeat.
Rorschach interjected abruptly.
"A million gold? The budget's already allocated—where do you expect us to find that spare cash? And who are you to barge in demanding budget like this? Not that it matters much, but a grown woman entering an unmarried man's room so late at night—how do you think that'll look? If rumors spread, it'll be a huge obstacle to the Young Master's marriage prospects..."
Rorschach rambled unusually, while Queenbits stood tense.
Federback's response to the two women was concise.
"That amount is rejected."
"......!"
Rorschach and Queenbits reacted oppositely.
Rorschach nodded as if it were obvious, while Queenbits deflated slightly and continued.
"Th-then I'll hustle to cover shortages, so at least nine hundred thousand gold..."
"No, that's still too low."
"Eight hundred thousand. Anything less and I can't gather materials to proceed..."
"No."
As Federback shook his head, Queenbits's face crumpled.
But his next words flipped both women's expressions instantly.
"The research you're undertaking can't even be attempted with that pittance."
Federback crossed his legs and leaned back in his chair.
"One hundred times that. I'll give you 100 million gold."