Chapter 67
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Golden Goblin
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“Ah……! So the rumors were true. How could the Patriarch suffer such divine punishment……!”
“Dawn Goddess, please look upon our lord with mercy…….”
“Prayers? No! He must secure an heir as soon as possible……Hup! Lady Jevella had it all planned out!”
Shock. Terror. Confusion.
Reactions like mortals facing an otherworldly horror beyond comprehension.
There are no Cthulhus in this world, but since it's a multidimensional realm with false gods and such, it's not entirely impossible.
At least, not the reaction you'd expect after my business plan presentation.
“Fuck……”
Is it that shocking that Zahav is using his brain?
The surrounding reactions made it seem like my intelligence was gained at the cost of my lifespan, drawing deep sighs.
Agh, self-evaluation!
I thought I'd researched various records on Zahav and gotten used to facing Shakar directly lately, but... my self-evaluation still exceeded imagination.
Fortunately, Jevella wasn't swayed by the atmosphere.
Only she lightly bit her lip, pondering something with calm eyes.
After thinking long and hard, she looked my way and slowly lowered her eyebrows.
“Sorry, Enoch.”
“Yes?”
“You worried so much about Zahav's future, but this sister wasted the gold.”
“Not wasted to that extent……”
Jevella didn't seem to believe the recent rumors like the others.
Yes, that's normal. Who would think gaining strength or using your brain eats away at your lifespan?
She probably doesn't know I'm on borrowed time, so she's the only sane one here.
Well, Jevella's standing in my heart rose another level today all the same, but I still had things to say.
“Don't worry too much, sis. I said that, but it's just regrettable, not a total waste.”
“……Is that so?”
I shrugged and sat down, popping the slightly cooled dishes into my mouth one by one.
Of course they were delicious, and as they slid down my throat, a warm heat spread through my body.
I deliberately devoured the mandragora headfirst and then spoke.
“Money can be earned back. And it's not bad for me to get stronger, right? …Especially in turbulent times like now.”
“Ah.”
Jevella's eyes widened as she realized what I meant.
That's right. Turbulent times.
In the south, dungeon outbreak cycles are shortening, and that unidentified entity bound at the bottom of the dungeon has surfaced.
The west's Wild Hunt was smashed by me, but up until then, it had been happening more and more frequently.
As for the east, what is there to say? Decades ago, House Calypso was wiped out, and the left arm of Tragodea they had sealed vanished somewhere.
Nothing happened after that, so now no one pays it much mind.
Beyond that, the central imperial court is growing bloody with heir competitions, while the north's Pantheon remains silent amid all the chaos.
The empire stands strong, but problems are bubbling up from within one by one.
In the worst case... the apocalypse postponed a millennium ago, the tragedy of all intelligent beings, might return.
Even short of that, the empire's power could disperse, weakening those watching Calypso Territory.
Just freeing the criminals festering inside would bring massive chaos.
“Of course, it might not happen. It shouldn't. But building strength for if it does isn't wasted effort.”
“Enoch... thank you for saying that. My heart feels so much lighter.”
Jevella smiled softly, placing a hand on her chest.
I knew it was a gesture of relief, but... I couldn't help my gaze drifting to her warm bosom.
Is her mana pouch as explosively grown as Ignis's?
No, maybe they look similar because of the size difference, even if hers is actually bigger?
I'd wanted to compare them properly after seeing Ignis's, but even with Jevella right here, I still couldn't tell.
Unless I lined them up side by side...
Noticing my gaze, Jevella shyly hunched over, hiding her chest.
And then I realized the surrounding fuss had gone quiet.
“Grandfather. Doesn't look like a big problem, right?”
“For now, no immediate crisis for the Patriarch.”
From Karen and Aaron's exchange, I realized it wasn't just Jevella—everyone else had caught on too... and were relieved.
Not life-threatening, but after forcing a mana rampage, I seemed a bit more honest about my desires, like before.
I let out a dry chuckle and silently finished my food.
Absorbing the southern mercenaries and losing the initial funds for guilds across the empire was regrettable.
But a 900,000-gold tonic feast wasn't something to take lightly.
No elixirs crafted by skilled alchemists—just mana-rich ingredients properly cooked.
Even so, it was a huge help to me.
Especially since it was all fire-attribute mana. I could absorb it perfectly without waste.
The sensation of stuffing my belly with elixir after so long. The feeling of becoming more substantial was as satisfying as ever. Addictively so.
While I was wolfing down the special dishes on the table, I suddenly felt a gaze and turned.
“Hehe. What's wrong? It's all yours—no need to mind this sister.”
Jevella was looking my way with a pleased expression.
...Though it felt like more than just pleasure—like someone who'd heaved a sigh of relief.
A bit embarrassed for no reason, I wiped my mouth and asked.
“By the way, where's Yuria? She said she'd wash up and be right out.”
“Ah, I know about that, Patriarch.”
“Hm?”
Karen, dressed neatly in her butler uniform, stepped forward.
“Yuria's maid reported she fell asleep in the bath from exhaustion. They woke her somehow and put her to bed... but she won't wake easily.”
“……That tired?”
“Did something happen in the dungeon?”
“Nothing special. Just watched her fighting style a bit.”
Yuria's combat style was unique. No bloodline ability, yet every move proved her Zahav blood—sharp as a blade.
The problem was how brutally simple it was.
She excelled at striking unexpected openings, with solid fundamentals... but faltered in prolonged fights and had poor matchups against cunning foes.
If she'd awakened her bloodline ability, she could smash petty tricks with raw power, but that was impossible for Yuria.
Stronger than a regular knight, but a bit shy of senior knight level.
“So at first, I taught her how to fight smart.”
“Fight smart... you say?”
“……My lifespan's fine, so don't give me that look.”
“That wasn't what I meant.”
“Looked like it? Not that impressive anyway. Striking gaps sounds cool, but it means the opponent has to show one first. Initiative goes to them inevitably.”
Fine against weaker foes than Yuria. But equals or stronger forced her passive.
With her sharp instincts, focusing on counters wasn't bad...
“To fight smoothly, you need to control the flow in the end. Even if it doesn't suit you, you have to grasp the basics.”
So I taught her how to seize and hold the initiative.
“Lots more movement since she was fighting aggressively... guess it was more tiring than I thought.”
She'd even traded light jokes right after leaving the dungeon, so I'd assumed she was fine.
Karen, who'd been listening, blinked and asked.
“So... you had her learn a new combat style through straight real combat against dungeon monsters?”
“Don't worry, I helped when it got dangerous. Almost no real danger anyway.”
“From lunch to dinner... almost half a day nonstop.”
“She handles aura better than me? Should be a breeze.”
“……Patriarch.”
“Yeah?”
“Yuria has sword talent, true. But without bloodline awakening, her physical abilities and aura capacity are about average noble level.”
“That's why I went easy based on her level.”
“Taking her normal regeneration into account, right?”
“……Huh?”
I hadn't thought of that.
Karen spoke in a slightly serious tone at my flinch.
“Patriarch, you still haven't fully grasped how special you are.”
“I thought I had……”
Regeneration isn't flashy unless you're actually injured, so I overlooked it.
Inevitable.
A lot happened in the past few months, but that also means it's only been a few months since I escaped Calypso.
I still don't know the 'normal' level of this world well.
Calypso life itself was a factor, thinking back.
What I thought was a black mage branch office was actually HQ. The 'local' assassins I fought endlessly operated continent-wide.
I took them for granted, and my comrades who fought alongside me acted like it was nothing special.
Even the fallen noble who'd snuck in from outside didn't bat an eye, so I figured it was like that everywhere.
As those thoughts connected, one popped up.
Orphan crew comrades... kinda miss them.
We had a big falling out and split, but 5-6 years together through thick and thin.
I'd planned to check if they were living well using my Grand Duke status...
Changed my mind.
I polished off the last plate and called... not Karen, Aaron. Better for this.
“Head Butler.”
“Your orders, Patriarch.”
“Remember where I lived in Calypso?”
“Of course.”
“Others lived there too. Remember them?”
“Not faces. But auras, yes. Very distinct.”
Mm-hm. As expected from shadowy Aaron—'devoted retainer' nicely put, sinister as hell otherwise.
His vibe closer to the assassins I fought sick of.
He teaches Karen his skills too... but her aura isn't that shady.
“Go back, deliver a letter to any remaining comrades. Bring them if they want.”
“……Can't extract people from Calypso without cause, Patriarch.”
“Ah, right.”
“If it's not rude, the reason? I'll arrange justification to bring your comrades officially.”
“Nothing big. Making a mercenary guild? They're good at that stuff, so borrowing help. They wanted out anyway—easy to convince.”
“Then there's a good method.”
“Oh? What?”
“Say you're bringing pre-selected concubines in Zahav's name. Normally takes time, but imperial court knows current Zahav situation—will approve fast.”
“Eh……Really?”
“Guaranteed. Surest, most legitimate way.”
“Then……”
Felt off no matter how I thought, but Zahav's a family beyond my understanding anyway. Whatever.
Perfect timing too—just finished eating.
A week passed after that.
A peaceful week, as if nothing major would happen anytime soon.
I fully assimilated the tonic energy I'd absorbed and slowly refined the still-tangled mana into aura.
Storing excess aura bit by bit in Ignis's fangs, time flew by. Aaron returned.
With bad news.
“……Sorry. After Patriarch returned to Zahav, your comrades fought among themselves, scattered, and secretly fled Calypso.”
“Can you just 'secretly flee' like that?”
“Empire-wide warrants issued, naturally.”
Aaron politely drew a bundle of papers from his bosom.
Thus, I received three wanted posters.
“Crazy bitches……”
Couldn't hold it in and bolted, huh.
As I sighed deeply, Aaron bowed his head toward me.
“But there's good news too.”
“What?”
“The black mage cipher from the dungeon. Deciphering finished today.”
“Oh? Yeah? What's it say?”
“Fund request document. Helped identify one funding source for black mages disguised as merchants. Famous lately for big earnings in the capital.”
“……Aaron. Legally, black mages aren't empire citizens, right?”
“Yes. Lose imperial protection the moment they touch black magic.”
“Meaning no one guarantees their property rights.”
“Black magic items go to the imperial family by danger level... but gold itself isn't dangerous.”
“Just had a great idea.”
Too bad about comrade coworkers turning wanted criminals...
But a way to replenish the funds that vanished into my gut.
“Going straight up might draw suspicion? They hit Zahav castle last time—seem to track our moves.”
“Next week is academy midterms, apparently?”
“Hm?”
“Practicals at sites, but exams proper back at academy. Yuria grumbled about it.”
“Indeed indeed. Time for a doting brother to comfort his lovely sister?”
“Then I'll hide information as best I can.”
“Counting on you, Head Butler.”
“Hohoho.”
“Hahaha!”
Only Aaron's and my laughter echoed in the room.
“Ugh. Why are you both laughing so creepily……?”
Karen looked faintly sickened as a side note.