Chapter 168
Chapter 168
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: Viscount Douglas's Charge
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“Viscount, have you lost your mind? This is insane!”
Viscount Douglas, the noble more immersed in Don Quixote than anyone else.
His butler hurriedly blocked his path.
Before him loomed a massive rift.
“Beyond that lie my eternal foes.”
He would battle mighty enemies to protect the weak.
The butler's temper exploded at the viscount's Don Quixote-fueled words.
“It's just a novel!”
He had played along with the viscount's Don Quixote antics.
Even when the viscount abruptly set off on a bizarre journey, he had followed without complaint.
“You'll just die a dog's death in there!”
But this was too far.
The viscount was now trying to charge straight into the rift.
In desperation, the butler drew a dagger from his belt and held it to his own throat.
No matter how much he pleaded, the viscount wouldn't listen. This was his last resort.
“Snap out of it!”
“...”
“The man who revived our dying house—why throw it all away over one book!”
Don Quixote?
It was a fine book, sure.
Among the few surviving texts from ancient times to now, it was one of the great masterpieces.
But was it enough to drive the wise viscount into the flames?
Some might say yes, but not the butler who had known him his whole life.
“If you go in there... I'll kill myself!”
At the butler's resolve, the viscount finally turned to look at him.
“Sancho—no, Ethan.”
Ethan, the butler who had stayed by his side even as the house crumbled.
In the viscount's eyes, he saw an old man with more white hair than black.
Which meant he himself had grown old as well.
“Curious why I'm doing this all of a sudden?”
“Yes, why on earth...”
To go mad like this, abandon everything, and charge into a rift.
Viscount Douglas caught his breath for a moment before speaking.
“I've got an incurable disease.”
“...Pardon?”
“I can feel it in my bones. My days are numbered.”
He was still spry enough to run in full plate armor.
But he knew this was the end.
If he delayed any longer, he'd end up a bedridden old man waiting to die.
That was not how he wanted to go.
“We have healing potions! If you drink one...”
“You think I haven't tried?”
Judak's potions, said to even revive the dead.
“I did. No change at all.”
But they had done nothing.
Then he read Don Quixote.
The tale of an old man with delusions, yet nobler than any knight.
“Don Quixote fell in the end.”
In the end, Don Quixote acknowledged his delusions and died of illness.
His spirit broken.
“I won't go that way.”
“Then...”
“My son will lead the house well.”
He had lost his daughter and wife to magic beasts during the Great War.
He'd wanted to give up everything.
But with a young son and his people, he pressed on as their lord.
He had succeeded in reviving the territory. Now, only one task remained.
“Beyond that lie my eternal foes.”
Back to the beginning.
He glared at the rift and repeated himself.
The butler could no longer protest.
The words were the same, but now a resolute knight stood there, not a mad old man.
“Some things just have to be done.”
The viscount dismounted his horse—named Rocinante—and tossed his scabbard to the ground.
Holding only a finely honed steel sword, he spoke lightly, as if going for a stroll.
“While I'm at it, I'll fulfill Don Quixote's unfinished dreams too.”
He paused to catch his breath and looked up at the sky.
Truth be told, he lacked the courage.
Living so long had made him fear death.
But Don Quixote had shown him the way.
“Only now have I steeled my heart.”
Even if Don Quixote's end was realistic.
With those words, he charged straight into the rift.
*
[Title: Update from Viscount Douglas's Territory...jpg]
(Image of the viscount's back as he leaps into the rift)
Holy shit, for real?
I was like no way, but...
Viscount Douglas actually went into the rift
(Image of soldiers gathering late)
(Image of confused territory folk)
Of course the territory's in chaos, everyone's panicking
[Upvotes 5931] [Downvotes 302]
- Even the viscount went all-in
- 1/10
- Nobles gonna noble lol
- Who threatened him with a knife to go in? Lmao
ㄴ Wtf dude, insulting the viscount?
ㄴ He's not the type
ㄴ Shit, what do we do now?
[Title: Just now, update from the viscount's territory ㅇㅇ.jpg]
(Image of private soldiers gathered around the rift)
(Image of scolded eldest son, frozen butler)
I'm the gallery user who posted the recent update
Right now the young master is gathering soldiers to rescue the viscount
Think I'm gonna get drafted too, wtf do I do
I was just farming, this is a disaster
[Upvotes 6129] [Downvotes 12]
- Wait, seriously?
- (Elf corpse standing stiff)
- Run dumbass, stop posting
ㄴ OP) But... he's done so much for us, I have to;
ㄴ OP) They're all gathered now but shit, the mood's turning ugly
“Eh?”
Don Quixote had been on the market for just a few days.
Then a post appeared about some noble charging alone into a rift.
“No way, I didn't see this coming.”
He'd expected some over-immersion.
But not actually leaping into a rift.
Who could've predicted that?
The problem was that this noble was genuinely beloved in his territory.
[Title: Should I do this or not...jpg]
(Selfie from a carriage)
(Image recruiting an expedition at the rift)
I'm a merchant from his territory
Happened to pass by Viscount Douglas's place, heard a commotion at the rift so I checked it out
They're forming an expedition to rescue the viscount
Paying 40,000 silver coins just to join—should I?
[Upvotes 1092] [Downvotes 2]
- 40k??? Wtf
- Ask how long recruitment's open
- Success means life-changing money ㄷㄷ
- Get a grip idiot, that's your life insurance
ㄴ If they pay 40k for my life, that's a hell of a noble?
ㄴ Huh, yeah?
They were even forming an expedition.
40,000 silver coins to anyone who joined.
Up to triple for skilled knights or mages.
Double that again on success.
Maybe because magic beasts had been spotted coming and going from the dwarf mine rift before.
- Can a farmer sign up?
- I'm knight-exam level, will they take me?
- Stone mage, can I apply?
“Surprisingly popular.”
Everyone was itching to go.
Even if they died, their family got 40k.
Success meant striking it rich.
Jobs were scarce day to day.
Seemed worth the shot to most.
[Title: A Request to Lord Judak]
Author: Ethan
(Image of the assembled expedition)
As you may know, we're heading into the rift to rescue the viscount.
The young master is leading it, and we've imperial permission.
Could you support us with weapons or armor?
(Image of iron armor, iron swords, assorted gear)
Steel armor is pricey, and rifts don't appear often here.
Our territory sorely lacks war gear.
If you sell now, we'll buy with every last coin of house funds.
If funds are short, consider it an investment in us.
Return alive, and we'll compile and report everything we find inside.
Please show mercy.
[Upvotes 8932] [Downvotes 92]
- Whoa, this is official ㄷㄷ
- Up first
- Massive upvote
- Dead serious. Even for a viscount, this spending hurts bad ㅇㅇ
“They already formed an expedition?”
The recruitment post was brand new, but it was already full.
The issue was their shoddy gear.
Mostly rusted or scratched armor, barely any decent steel.
“But should I even send this?”
Sorry, butler, but every life mattered to me.
If emotion swept them all in to die, that'd be a huge loss.
The viscount who already went was a lost cause.
Realistically, I should've discouraged it.
“If I weren't the culprit, I might have.”
[Delivered 10 'Steel Swords'!]
[Delivered 10 sets of 'Steel Armor'!]
[Delivered 50 'High-Explosive Grenades'!]
- Judak*) Lol
ㄴ Ethan) This much?
ㄴ Ethan) Payment...
ㄴ Judak*) Nah, just take it
Even in modern times, there was the Werther effect.
Let alone in this doomsday medieval world.
“This was bound to happen.”
I figured rescuing the viscount was impossible.
“But will they listen if I say don't go?”
The expedition was set on it.
If they were going anyway, might as well send them in well-equipped. That's what the support meant.
“Plus, it's not that expensive...”
Rare in medieval times, but steel wasn't precious in the modern world.
And swords didn't take much, so I sent freely.
- Ethan) Thank you! We'll never forget this grace!
“Heading in now!”
A ragtag expedition of skilled knights, mages, and volunteers.
At Ethan's word, they stepped into the rift.
“Should I send more support?”
The outer magic beasts I'd seen were tougher and more aggressive.
I was mulling more aid when—
-Hummm.
“Eh?”
The rift suddenly trembled.
“Wh-what?”
“Why's the rift...”
The expedition froze in confusion too.
As it roiled violently, like vomiting something up, everyone halted.
-Drip. Drip.
Then, from the rift emerged a knight covered head to toe in dark crimson blood—whose, his or a beast's?
“V-Viscount?”
“...”
At the butler's stunned question, the knight slowly raised his head.
He looked out of his mind.
Scanning around, his gaze locked on the gallery.
“Judak... Judak...”
“What?”
He repeated my name, then a system message popped up.
['Viscount Douglas' has requested delivery of '???']
['???' will unlock info on viewing.]
Something unknown.
I bolted up immediately.
And rushed to Penny rolling around the living room.
“Penny-mong, help!”
“Huh?”
With two of the Seven Deadly Sins' powers, I trusted Penny.
I grabbed the confused Penny and delivered the ???.
'Even a mutant beast, she can handle it.'
If it got dicey, dwarf master sword and dryer were nearby.
Securing safety first, since the dying viscount had sent it desperately.
-Tap.
“This is...”
What arrived in the living room was...
A small orb endlessly spewing pitch-black smoke.