Chapter 87
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Northern Honey Wine (1)
To normalize Tochika Fortress, a great deal of manpower and time were needed.
Zubba Popi.
The poison of this massive solitary spider, which had wormed its way into the nightmare-devouring floodplains and ruled as it pleased, was truly potent. Just a few drops could render an entire well unusable for months.
Federback had dumped a considerable amount of spider venom into the water sources to temporarily neutralize Tochika, and as a result, every plant in the area had withered and died.
This unnecessarily kept Queenbits busy.
She swept the ground with hands imbued with verdant energy to draw out the poison and breathed out air infused with the life force of fresh greenery to purify the water.
Thanks to the forest spirits who followed Queenbits diligently working away, clear water began to flow little by little through Tochika's frozen tundra, and pale yellow and black plants started to sprout.
"Phew... This spider poison is too strong. For the next few years, the plants that can grow in this soil will be quite limited. Naturally, only ones inedible for humans. Things like winter cacti or frost plantains. And maybe a few species of mushrooms?"
"That's more than enough. Once they've fully purified the toxins, we can plant edible seeds then."
Federback thoroughly inspected the water sources inside Tochika Fortress.
He then issued a command to Queenbits.
"But years are too long. Whether it's weeds or mushrooms, remove all the toxins from the fortress within three months."
"What? That's impossible! The spider poison you dumped into the water sources has already spread everywhere through the ley lines!"
"Making the impossible possible is what magic is for. Didn't Garmelda teach you that?"
"......"
Queenbits clamped her mouth shut at the mention of her great master's name.
But her cheeks, puffed up like freshly baked bread, seemed filled with words she wanted to say.
Most of them were probably curses.
Regardless, Federback continued.
"I'll cover any material costs, so make it happen. Three months."
"You're really squeezing me dry. So this is why you brought on a magic slave."
"Slave? She's a comrade."
Federback tapped Queenbits on the shoulder.
"I mean that sincerely."
"......"
A serious expression and a low, steady voice.
It was no different from his usual demeanor, but for some reason, it seemed different to Queenbits.
"W-what are you saying all of a sudden! Putting on airs like that won't make the work go any faster!"
"No need to do it better. Just keep doing what you're doing."
"I'd do that even if you didn't tell me!"
"Then that's fortunate."
With that, Federback descended the hillside.
Queenbits grumbled as she followed behind.
Her nose and ear tips were unusually red, perhaps not just from the northern chill.
Whoooooo...
A gale howled outside the window.
Northern winds almost always carried blizzards with them.
Soleil, patriarch of the Meursault House, was in the highest and deepest office in Tochika.
"......"
Soleil surveyed the interior of the office.
The walls, made of black granite, were solid and cold.
Crackle—crackle—crackle—
Thick logs burned in the fireplace, casting light and heat that stretched Soleil's shadow long.
This place had originally been used by Serubret, patriarch of the Furosanke House.
But now, Soleil of the Meursault House occupied it.
"......The ways of the world are unknowable."
Until recently, the Meursault House had been on the verge of losing its margrave position to the Furosanke House.
But now?
The Meursaults had destroyed the Furosankes and taken this place.
Soleil knew exactly where all these miracles stemmed from.
"Federback. It's all thanks to that boy."
A child he loved more than his own eyes, a son he was proud to show to the world.
The sickly finger that had once caused him so much worry had grown into someone accomplishing miracle after miracle.
"As patriarch, as a father, I'm ashamed. I need to work harder too."
Soleil vowed this while gazing at the white gale whipping outside the window.
Then.
Knock knock knock—
A knock came.
Soleil opened the door himself.
A boy in a thick yate fur coat appeared.
Hair as white as yate fur, and ruby-red eyes peeking through.
"You called for me, Patriarch."
Federback was there.
Soleil took the iron candlestick Federback held and said,
"Come in. I wanted to talk."
Father and son sat across from each other at the pine table by the fireplace.
Soleil grinned and asked,
"What's with that yate fur coat? Looks awfully warm."
"Caught it on the way to the Beauvoir abandoned mine. If you need it, I can take it off. I have a few more of similar size."
"How could a father take his son's coat? No need."
Soleil waved it off at Federback's words.
Soon, Soleil slid a glass toward Federback.
"First time drinking with your old man?"
"Seems like it."
"Liquor should be learned from adults."
Honey wine warmed over the fireplace filled the silver cup.
Soleil raised his glass, and Federback followed.
The father and son drank in silence for a while.
Eventually, Soleil set his glass down.
"How's the taste? I brewed it myself."
"Bitter and harsh."
"Hahaha— Thought it'd be sweet and smooth since it's honey-based? It was at first. But ferment it long, freeze it dozens of times to remove the ice, and it becomes this bitter, harsh northern distillate."
Soleil gazed steadily at Federback.
"Looking at this honey wine feels like looking at you."
"What do you mean?"
"At first, you were just sweet and gentle. That's why I worried a lot."
"......"
"Remember? The first time you defied this father."
"I said I wanted to learn violin instead of the sword."
"That was later. First, you wanted to learn painting. Said you'd become a full-time artist. Drawing only pretty girls, majoring in beauty portraits."
"Embarrassing past."
"You were so cute back then."
"Weren't you disappointed?"
"As patriarch, I had no choice. But as a father, I found that you cute and pitiful. What if you'd been born not in a northern sword house, but an ordinary family?"
Soleil poured another round.
Federback's glass filled too.
The father and son clinked glasses.
Soleil downed the harsh honey wine in one gulp and laughed.
"But frozen and frostbitten by the north's brutal cold, you've become this bitter, harsh guy. Even I brewed it, but damn, it's bitter and harsh."
"I thought you'd be pleased with my change."
"I am. Couldn't be better. But I also liked you before the change. That's all I wanted to say. Hahaha—"
Soleil laughed.
Only then did a faint smile tug at Federback's lips.
The room's chill warmed by the fireplace flames.
...But the warm breeze didn't last.
Federback spoke in a cold tone.
"More importantly, Patriarch."
"Just call me Dad like before. It's just us."
"Yes, Father. Actually, I have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
Soleil asked cheerfully.
But Federback's next words hardened his expression too.
"I tortured Shedioldis and got some classified info. Behind this, besides Furosanke, Levarb was involved. I saw one of their people when we faced the ranger group."
"The Levarbs still haven't learned. Maybe send Viscount Bargo, detained in the main castle, back to the Levarb House. He's so thoroughly brainwashed he trembles and collapses at your name alone. Better to puppet him if we're installing one."
"Agreed. And..."
Federback continued.
"It seems a great noble in the Imperial Capital has been backing Furosanke and Levarb all along."
"!"
Soleil's eyes widened.
The North was practically extraterritorial.
With its harsh climate, barren vegetation, and frequent monster appearances, even the central imperial family treated it as abandoned land.
Thus, northern houses had earned and exercised a degree of autonomy in exchange for blocking monsters from beyond human borders.
Not for nothing was Meursault called a margrave house.
Now the Imperial Capital meddling in northern power struggles?
This ignored the long-standing convention of non-aggression since the empire's founding and infringed on the margrave autonomy guaranteed by imperial constitution.
Soleil asked,
"What mad bastard in the capital dares interfere in northern affairs?"
"House Berserkir, the marquises."
"......!"
Soleil's brow furrowed deeper at Federback's answer.
"House Berserkir... Led by Marquis Tse Berserkir. He's a sly old fox."
He held vast estates near the capital, a great tycoon.
Known as a powerful warlord whose private soldiers rivaled a small kingdom's army.
Federback cross-referenced his pre-regression memories with info from Shedioldis and said,
"Furosanke were their pawns. After toppling Meursault, they'd have openly sided with Berserkir, receiving funds and troops to rule the North."
"Marquis Berserkir's grandson is the empire's Second Prince. You know?"
"Yes. Probably wanted to pacify the North to solidify the Second Prince's base."
"Hmm. The old grandpa overreaching in his old age to impress his grandson."
The continent-unifying Rikeion Empire.
No matter how dominant Meursault was in the North, it was just a small house under this great empire.
Rikeion currently had many imperial princes, second in line being the one with Berserkir as maternal house.
Soleil stroked his chin.
"It's been years since His Majesty took to his sickbed. Time for blood winds over succession in the capital."
"How does the capital's blood wind compare to the North's blizzard?"
"No comparison. The North's blizzard is just cold snow and ice shards. But blood spilled over the throne boils like molten iron."
Federback nodded.
"Civil war soon."
"Too peaceful for too long."
Soleil shoved the glasses aside.
"Guess this isn't the time to be boozing."
"Agreed. Better summon Sister Cardina and Lorshar."
Federback grabbed his coat and stood.
Short time, but father-son bond mended sufficiently.
Now, time to work.