Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: 5. Orphan Awakening System Open
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Clang!
“Do not fall back! Hold your positions!”
“Lord Richard!”
“Butler, what's the situation!?”
“It's not good. The 2nd and 3rd Knight Orders are being pushed back hard, and while the 1st Knight Order is somehow holding the front line...”
“It's only a matter of time.”
Richard, the head of the Beril Count Family—known as the bulwark of the north and bearing the title of Margrave—ground his teeth. On the map of the nearby snow mountains, the territory of the Beril Count Family was steadily shrinking.
In stark contrast, the enemy's forces surging from afar resembled an avalanche.
“...Send the order to retreat to the 1st Knight Order as well.”
“But my lord, if we do that, the front defensive line will...”
“I know. However, if the 2nd and 3rd Knight Orders on the left and right flanks have been pushed back, the 1st Knight Order holding the center risks being surrounded on all sides. We have no choice but to pull back the defensive line here.”
“Understood. I'll relay the orders immediately.”
The butler and the servants of the Beril Count Family dashed about without rest. Due to the harsh terrain at the peak of the snow mountain, the family couldn't employ many servants, but those they did hire were individuals who fully understood their duties and loyalty to the Beril Count Family.
To check the enemies beyond those snow mountains—the wicked foes targeting the Empire—the Beril Count Family had no choice but to establish their main stronghold at the summit.
Snow King... It wasn't just some ordinary monster. The Snow King was practically the very reason the Beril family had earned their margrave title and honor, and existed in this place. Richard's father, grandfather, and ancestors before them had continually faced this 'beast.' Unlike monsters born in grotesque forms, only a tiny fraction of wild animals that absorbed mana were called beasts. And among those beasts, extremely rare individuals worthy of the title 'king' existed. The Snow King was one such king. It had ruled the northern snow mountain region even before the Empire unified the continent, constantly eyeing the Empire to expand its territory. This damned blizzard was also its handiwork.
“How's the blizzard?”
“No sign of it letting up. The blizzard itself is just ordinary weather, but the problem is...”
“That it cuts off our supplies, and expands its territory.”
Just as humans gathered information on the Snow King, it too learned how to counter humans through combat. Suddenly unleashing blizzards of this magnitude for months at a time was part of that. Unlike the Snow King, the Beril Count Family required continuous supplies of food and weapons, and this endless blizzard made delaying or severing those supplies all too easy. Moreover, the lands blanketed by the blizzard became its territory outright. In this way, it had whittled away at the Empire's land, forcibly expanding the snow mountains bit by bit. And yet it never lets its guard down. It hides itself thoroughly, sending only its subordinate monsters and beasts. In other words, despite the grand title of northern bulwark, the Beril Count Family was struggling not against the Snow King itself, but its underlings. However, this wasn't due to the family's incompetence. Even the previous Emperor had mobilized a great army to subjugate the Snow King, only to suffer massive casualties and fail. How could a single family accomplish what even the Imperial House could not? From the palace's perspective, they were pleased that one noble house was holding it at bay, so they favored the family with titles like margrave and influential house. But even with such favor... We can't reduce the sacrifices. Thinking of the knights dying on the front lines even now, Richard clenched his fists, trembling. His nails dug into his flesh, drawing blood, but such pain was nothing compared to what those knights endured. He wanted nothing more than to grab a sword like them and charge to the front, to ease their burden even a little. But Richard could not. His death, without an heir, would mean the collapse of the Beril Count Family. That's why I wanted Laila, that child. The Beril Count Family was a margrave house, treated as influential by the Imperial House. But that didn't mean recognition in noble politics. Of course, no house dared ignore the Berils. Any proper noble expressed gratitude and respect for their devotion and duty, but the recognition Richard sought was different. After all, virtually no nobles sought marriage with the Beril Count Family. That's what Grandfather and Father said—how difficult marriage was for them too. From the nobles' viewpoint, it meant leaving comfortable, warm lands to be confined for life atop this barren snow peak. If there were value in a marriage alliance with the Berils, perhaps—but they had no special products, heavy duties prevented political involvement, and while favored by the Emperor, they held no real power in court. There was no reason for any house to send their daughters into the cold, barren summit devoid of anything proper. That's why they had sent knights to the orphanage to adopt an orphan. Given that Richard could die facing the Snow King at any moment, they had even written donation letters to bring Laila. Perhaps... Perhaps it was fortunate she hadn't seen this scene. No matter how tough the child, being not yet of age, this brutality might break her spirit. She would have to face it someday if inheriting the Berils, but surely after growing stronger. Yet regret stirred as well. If Laila were here, perhaps they could turn this around— No. Was it the Beril pride to pin all hopes on an unproven talent? For now, they must hold this place so Laila could come to the Berils someday. Richard intended to endure this assault somehow for that purpose.
“B-, my lord! This is bad!”
“What? Has the Snow King appeared!?”
“No! Someone suddenly ambushed the monsters...!!”
“What?”
“Thanks to that, the 1st Knight Order retreated safely!”
An ambush? On the monsters? In the heart of these snow mountains, amid this blizzard? Why would such a powerhouse wander here at this exact timing? Joyous news, yet Richard couldn't fully rejoice. Still, they owed this unknown entity. At Richard's glance, someone approached with the 1st Knight Order. And he was a face Richard knew.
“Ulfric...!?”
“Pardon? Ulfric?”
Not long ago, after Galen's report, he'd investigated adventurers to learn about Director Yujin. Surface-level, of course, but enough to know famous Empire adventurers. Yujin's name wasn't among them, but this man's face was. The Great Warrior of the Wilderness, the Empire's most secretive figure, branch chief of the Raden Adventurers' Guild. And one of the key figures in a rare human history 'king' subjugation. Even if a young specimen, he'd participated in a king hunt like the one the Berils now faced. A top-tier adventurer—why here? Raden was near the north, but still distant. The question resolved upon seeing those following Ulfric.
“Galen!”
“Knight Galen, reporting after defying your orders and coming on my own.”
“And... Director Yujin, even Laila.”
“It's been a while, Lord Richard.”
“...We've met again, my lord.”
Seeing Galen, Director Yujin, and Laila, Richard understood. Galen, worried by lost contact, had brought them. Ulfric joined via a quest in an intermediate city. In this situation, what pleased Richard most wasn't the top adventurer Ulfric, nor knight Galen, nor the fine young man Yujin.
“Laila.”
“My lord?”
“No time. Will you come with me?”
It was Laila herself. Though just a girl not yet adult, Richard knew why Galen had brought her here. At Richard's earnest request, Laila immediately looked to Director Yujin.
“Director...”
“Go with him, Laila. I'll be right here.”
“...Yes!”
A conversation showing who Laila relied on, but Richard ignored it. More important matters pressed. Staunching his hand's wound, Richard's eyes gleamed quietly. Perhaps. As the saying went: opportunity in crisis. At this moment of Snow King invasion... a turning point might emerge. And its core wouldn't be the Beril Count Family or Ulfric. Just Laila, and the orphanage director she relied on. So Richard thought. *
The goods delivery was done. But Richard chose cash payment upon meeting, and we hadn't received the delivery tip yet.
Given the Beril Count Family's state, taking full payment might be tough.
Monster invasion, huh. Not particularly scary. Just a few years ago, scenes like this were daily for me. Still, unwanted memories surfaced, so I averted my gaze.
“Senior Yujin, are you alright?”
“I'm fine, so go help the knights. You fought well earlier.”
“Understood, senior.”
Ulfric and Galen headed straight to the front. Galen aside, Ulfric would be huge help. With Laila clutching my clothes, we followed Richard to the mansion. The peak mansion felt even colder today. ...Huh? Wait, no. It wasn't just feeling—it was actually cold. What's this? No heating? Naturally activating Laila's warming function and pulling her close, Richard led us to the mansion's basement. Not some ordinary cellar. An ice tunnel descending deep into the mountain.
“The Beril Count Family has held the snow mountain peak for generations. Do you know why, Director Yujin?”
“I've heard it's for a clear view of northern monsters and the Snow King's movements...”
“Not wrong. But the root reason is different. Our ancestors built here because this peak was the safest.”
“Pardon?”
“The north teems with beasts and monsters. Why none on this mountain?”
“Because the Beril Count Family manages—” “True, but even without us, no beast or monster approaches. All thanks to...”
After descending further, the tunnel opened into a vast cavern. The chill intensified; I hugged Laila tighter.
At Richard's gesture, mana lamps in the cavern lit up.
There...
“...the mighty ice spirit, the mountain lord of this peak.”
“What is this...?”
Trapped in transparent, glittering ice was a massive tiger with closed eyes.
Its fur was white, its body exuding majesty, its fangs and claws gleaming sharply even in the ice.
This is spirit king level, right? Second time seeing one this grand. Why was such a spirit confined in ice akin to its own power? Pondering briefly, I realized my mistake. The ice spirit—the mountain lord—wasn't trapped. It was sleeping in the ice. Like hibernation.
“...I understand why the Berils settled this peak. But why show us? A spirit this powerful wouldn't care about human affairs.”
“You know spirits well.”
“A acquaintance is a spiritist.”
An irritating old coot, enough to shift my elder respect—lingering from my old world—into elder-bashing.
“If you know, this'll be quick. As you say, Yujin, such spirits ignore human matters. But even they have concerns.”
“...No way?”
“When a spiritist they fancy appears. And—” “D-Director...”
“Laila?”
“My body... it's suddenly hot. I can't look away from that spirit...”
The moment Laila, in my arms, reached toward the ice-bound mountain lord... The seemingly dead-asleep lord opened its eyes.
“—Laila has the talent of a spiritist.”
And simultaneously.
No way, Orphan Awakening? Right before my eyes. A flash bomb exploded.