Chapter 347
Chapter 347
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 347
Chapter Title: Throne Determination Battle: Provincial Nobles Unification Arc -3
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Baron Port cranked his perceptiveness up to 300% and began treating the mad mage with utmost courtesy. It was because the truth had come out: this mage could single-handedly wipe out an entire army.
He'd only ever heard tales of transcendents and such, never witnessed one with his own eyes. The sight of a hundred soldiers dropping to their knees at a mere gesture was something he'd never forget for the rest of his life.
The mage himself denied being a transcendent, but if he could make a transcendent knight kneel in an instant, didn't that mean he had achieved something even greater?
So, he had to serve this mad mage with the utmost care. If the man took offense, the entire territory might go up in smoke.
Of course, Baron Port felt blameless. If asked whether his hospitality had been lacking up to now, he'd say no. He'd even butchered a cow from his meager stores to serve a feast, so he'd done all he could.
Still, dangerous materials required strict handling. Baron Port adopted a remarkably meek demeanor as he offered his respects.
"If I've been rude in any way up until now, I'd like to use this opportunity to beg your forgiveness..."
"Ah, come on. No need to be so wary. Is it the amount of power that matters, or who holds that power? In that sense, I'm a very safe person."
Whoosh.
With a flick of his finger, the mad mage sent Baron Stump's army filing one by one into the narrow jail of Fort Barony.
Baron Stump wore an expression as if he'd been possessed by a ghost. Well, with the war ending at the mage's single snap, anyone would look like that.
"What should I do with these friends? Shall I make them usable as laborers for about a year?"
"...You can do that too?"
"Yes. There are plenty of ways to impose restrictions, like headaches if they disobey orders. Illusion magic excels in that area, after all."
"Hmm... In that case, just send them back. Fort Barony's taxes can't cover salaries for this many soldiers."
The mad mage's eyes narrowed.
Baron Port racked his brains trying to read the man's intentions, but he couldn't discern what emotion lay behind that gaze. Amusement? Displeasure?
"Aren't these invaders who came to conquer your territory? If you'd asked for my help, I could turn them into unpaid slaves. Are you feeling sympathy?"
"No, of course I'm angry. Even knowing they were hired mercenaries. If possible, I'd love to make them pay for trespassing on my land. But... I've been taught to uphold principles before emotions."
"Principles?"
"You shouldn't exploit people for free. If you get used to it, someday you'll start demanding 'voluntary devotion' from your own people. That can't happen."
Humans are cunning and sly, quick to grow accustomed, so firm principles are needed to guard their humanity. That was what Baron Port's father had taught him.
His father had also made him run all sorts of errands without paying the promised reward, teaching him firsthand how awful it felt to be stiffed on wages.
So, even with the chance to absorb a hundred-man army right in front of him, he wanted to pass if possible. Especially if it required dubious means like hypnosis or brainwashing.
"Besides... since Second Prince's proxy accepted my oath of loyalty, if Baron Stump has any brains, he won't invade us again."
"Hmm."
"Moreover—if Fort Barony develops according to your plan as a mage, won't that growth itself become a bulwark protecting the territory? We won't need an army then."
The mad mage nodded at Baron Port's response.
"You're right. In chaotic times, that mindset would get you stabbed in the back, but in peaceful eras, it's invaluable. You're a good lord."
"...That's too high praise—no, is it praise?"
The Throne Determination Battle was about to begin, and with the imperial heirs scrapping over the throne, the empire would plunge into unforeseeable chaos where you couldn't see even an inch ahead.
So, was that a warning to wise up if he didn't want to get stabbed and head to the afterlife...?
"No. Chaos won't come. The Throne Determination Battle will proceed smoothly without a hitch. It is praise."
"........."
"Ideals are hard to uphold. Rulers who govern justly don't exploit, so they seem weak; those who scheme for personal gain exploit and grow strong. This world tends to favor the ruthless over the good."
Tap.
Fwaaah!
The mad mage lightly gripped Baron Port's wrist. A complex magic circle, incomprehensible to ordinary folk, swirled around it, and in an instant, an eye-shaped tattoo etched itself onto his skin.
"So, I'll supply your lacking power. This is free service."
"...This is?"
"A status window. It'll help in various ways. Stay a good lord from now on. I'll be off."
"........."
What the hell was a status window? What kind of magic was this?
When he asked for an explanation, the mad mage brushed it off in some language only he understood and ended it there. Stretching languidly, he asked Baron Port one last question before leaving.
"One final question before I go. Do you know any territories with bad public order, rife with human trafficking? Even better if slave trading is active."
"Pardon?"
"I need to buy something..."
"Pardon?!"
I finished my business in the territory and set off on my journey again. My destination was Count Hollow's domain, recommended by the baron. Apparently, human trafficking was quite active there. Count Hollow ran a usury business, and those who couldn't repay their debts were sold off as slaves. To sum up my travels so far: it was a circus act. I'd punch out the bad guys with magic fists, improve their quality of life, and bam—getting oaths of loyalty from provincial nobles was a breeze. It hit me anew: I was pretty damn strong. But I wasn't roaming the provinces just for that. Faceless had escaped. According to Roderus afterward, she was moving on the Crimson Duke's orders to rally the black mage forces. The capital region's black mages had been nearly eradicated by me and Irid's relentless crackdowns. We'd smash plots when bored and blow up dungeons when restless, leaving it pristine. Except for the Crimson Duke. As a result, black mage remnants clustered on the empire's fringes, which was why I was traveling to wipe them out. Cull the Crimson faction, crush the black mages, capture Faceless. A three-birds-one-stone trip. Installing the emotion amplification magic circle in Fort Barony was for that reason too. To create a compass pointing to those with pitch-black, sinister schemes. It didn't detect only black mages, but wiping out all the nasty sorts would take the black mages with them, right?
Grooooowww—.
I switched my legs to petite kaiju mode. Then cloaked my whole body in camouflage magic to stay invisible, charging through forests and plains alike.
Shiiiiew. The wind whistled sharply past.
These were originally legs for hauling a 150-meter body. Carrying a sub-2-meter adult male? Speed was inevitably insane.
After half a day of sprinting, I reached a village near Count Hollow's domain. I slipped past the guards while maintaining invisibility.
With trafficking booming, the local economy seemed thriving. Too big for a village, too small for a city—very prosperous.
I dropped the optical camouflage in an alley and blended into the crowd. Plan: overnight here, gather intel, then head to the city.
"Beef stew sounds good today. You in?"
Squirm squirm.
Smack.
My shadow wobbled in response. A little hand popped out, lightly smacked my ankle, and vanished. No use hiding it—she was our daughter, Aisha. Currently stealthed in my shadow.
Not a solo trip, then.
"Nothing beats beef stew. Hearty and hot—what's not to love?"
Smack smack.
"If you're that picky, you pick tonight's menu. Let's see what you choose."
Squirm squirm.
Why hide her instead of bringing her out? Caution against the Crimson Duke's transcendent powers. A duke's authority and influence were terrifying.
Up to now, he'd moved passively to hide his black mage ties, but now that Second Prince had drawn his sword...
If the duke unleashed his full power, who knew what would happen.
He had a territory too. He'd left it to proxies while living in his Crown Hall mansion, but surely something lurked there. His army was a problem in itself.
If he sacrificed his entire populace for transcendent rituals... the power would be unimaginable. Tougher than anything we'd faced.
That's why we were moving to sever the Crimson Duke's limbs.
First Princess Elaine returned from the eastern front to block his power in the capital.
Yuna, Yuri, and Selvia infiltrated his territory to prevent mass sacrifices.
Irid toured the provinces, culling his political allies.
Aisha and I cleaned up hidden black mages in the hinterlands.
And—Roderus and Envers would stab him in the back.
Perfect team comp. The thought of swarming the Crimson Duke made my heart race and lips curl. I hadn't forgotten the assassin he'd sent.
But even the Iron Mountains look good after a meal.
"Alright, let's scout today's eats. Quick look around—if no noodle spots, it's beef stew again. Pinch my shin all you want; won't change."
Smack smack.
"Hm? Look over there?"
Not stew complaints? Following Aisha's signal, I turned. A crowd was gathering at one spot, buzzing. I'd glanced but dismissed it.
Maybe street performers drawing watchers, but if Aisha pointed it out, something was up.
Blinking leisurely, I spotted anomalies.
A hooded figure lurking in the corner.
A guy on a bench pretending to read.
Someone hiding on a rooftop.
Their builds and outlines screamed rigorous training. To me, knights disguised as civilians.
Forming a triangle formation, target at the crowd's center. Time to check.
"Excuse me, coming through."
"Hey, no pushing!"
"Wait your turn!"
I shouldered through the throng.
And at the center, what I saw was...
"Saintess, please heal my leg! It snapped carrying bricks, and the bone won't set—I can't work!"
"Mooong."
Squirm squirm squirm!
"I-it's healed! Instantly! Long live the Saintess!"
"N-next is me. Born sickly, I never grew tall. I want two heads taller, and this face feels wrong too. Higher nose, bigger eyes, please!"
"That's not a disease-mong."
The weary-faced girl healing people was Faceless... no, Hayangi.
What the hell? Didn't Faceless revive or something?
Mechanically fixing folks, she spotted me in the crowd. Her blank face lit up. Eyes sparkling like she'd found a lifeline from heaven.
Hayangi threw her arms up and yelled at me.
"Uncle."
"Uncle?"
"Save me~."
"Aw, alright, Uncle's got you. Move aside, everyone! Saintess's free clinic ends today! Unless you want more ailments, back off!"
I shoved through and extracted Hayangi.
I silenced the crowd's cries for "return our saintess" with a muffling spell and escaped. First things first: food. Her stomach was growling fiercely. Grrrrowl. Even from her mouth. I entered an inn and ordered a hearty beef stew bowl. Tipped the owner extra for extra meat—no creepy celery or carrots in sight. Eyes on the hefty bowl, Hayangi gulped saliva and said, "Dad—Mom said eat lots of veggies."
"Like veggies?"
"Nope~."
Roderus was raising her right. As "Uncle," I had to respect his wishes. I hooked my pinky out.
"Then today's a secret between Uncle and Hayangi."
".........!!"
Yeah, no snitching, no scolding. Hayangi and I reveled in our meat-only feast.