Chapter 15
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Friction
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Waryong Estate.
Originally an ordinary, small territory in Odobaekryeong.
But after the previous lord adopted a witch as his daughter, it began to prosper.
Then, one day, the lord and most of his family died in a disaster of unknown cause, and even the subjects fled, abandoning the land.
The place, which had been vacant for years due to grim rumors, was now bustling with people for the first time in a long while.
And they were all dark elves—youthful and beautiful, with skin as smooth as black pearls and long, pointed ears.
The dark elf tribe.
Following Dion's orders, they had finally left Soma Castle and were now preparing to settle in Waryong Estate.
Of course, relocating was a difficult and even disheartening task, but the atmosphere among the migrating dark elves was bright.
Compared to their previous residence in the lowest level of Soma Castle, which was no better than a sewer, Waryong Estate was a paradise.
“Hmm, the preparations for the move seem to be going well.”
“……!”
That was why.
When a boy, attended by a dark elf maid, nonchalantly appeared at the estate.
The bustling dark elves all ceased their movements and stepped back.
In contrast, a woman, exceptionally beautiful and elegant even among the dark elves, stepped forward and bowed her head respectfully.
“Welcome, my lord.”
“What’s with the ‘my lord’? Just call me Young Master.”
“You have accepted our humble elven tribe as your subjects. How could we commit such an impertinence?”
“Is that so?”
Not displeased by her exceedingly polite demeanor, Dion let out a faint chuckle and glanced behind him.
He then grinned at the maid, who resembled the woman before him like a sister, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.
“Still so formal, Parsha’s mother.”
“As I have said before, an old woman who has done nothing but age will inevitably become set in her ways.”
“For someone who says that, you seem to be quite efficient at your work.”
“It is a task I have performed for over hundreds of years. If I could not manage it for a mere decade or so, it would mean my mind is failing.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
Dion readily agreed.
For almost every lesser race, not just elves, the skill of migration was a necessity.
In Odobaekryeong, where even the superior races lacked space to live, lesser races like the elves had only three options.
To live scattered like slaves.
To overcome the limits of their race.
Or to become nomads.
That was why Arsha asked, even more politely.
“But are you certain it is all right to accept us as your subjects?”
“All right? What do you mean?”
“I mean to say that there are many others who could be of more use to you, Young Master.”
There were plenty of races that could be of immediate help to this territory—the mighty orcs, the keen-sensed kobolds, the goblins skilled in calculation.
Especially since they weren’t ‘cursed’ like the elves, who had nothing to offer but their beauty, youth, and needlessly long lives.
In that sense, accepting the likes of dark elves as subjects was an act anyone would deem foolish, but…
“The races more useful to me than you probably wouldn’t come to my territory.”
“……If you were to offer benefits for relocating, you could gather subjects.”
“I don’t have the money for that.”
“……”
No money.
It was a simple, yet profoundly difficult problem. Faced with Arsha’s silence, Dion spoke nonchalantly.
“Besides, I got this estate for you all. Kicking you out to accept other subjects would be putting the cart before the horse.”
“You mean to say this entire estate was acquired for our sake?”
“Yeah, I told you that before, didn’t I?”
He had said it.
It was just that no one had taken him seriously.
Ever since the fall of the ancient kingdom, the value of a territory safe from mana contamination was more precious than a mountain of gold.
Life had improved since the era of the Five Heroes, but subjects still had no choice but to accept their lot, even if their lord levied exorbitant taxes and treated them like slaves.
So, to take seriously the words of someone claiming to acquire such a precious territory for the likes of them would have been the act of a fool.
…At least, until Dion actually acquired an estate overnight and accepted their migration.
“Why would you go to such lengths for us?”
“Because you’re Parsha’s family.”
“For such a… trivial reason?”
“It’s not trivial. Considering what Parsha has done for me, and what she will do, it’s more than enough reason.”
“……”
“Besides, if you’re not useful now, I can just make you more useful.”
“……”
Even Parsha, who was listening from behind, was at a loss for words.
Arsha gazed at the boy who had answered with a constant smile, then quietly bowed her head.
“You give a wise answer to a foolish question.”
“Huh? Did I say something profound?”
“To a fool who has done nothing but survive for a long time, your words were more than profound.”
“Really?”
Dion tilted his head at Arsha's now even more respectful attitude, but after a moment, he dismissed it and turned the conversation to a matter of interest.
“By the way, what about them? How are they?”
“The slaves you entrusted to us have been washed as you commanded and are waiting quietly.”
“Are they behaving?”
“They are more obedient than any slaves I have ever seen.”
“Hmm, that’s a relief. I was worried some of them might not listen.”
Parsha did not bother to point out that he had executed several slaves right after buying them, questioning how he could possibly expect defiance after that.
Instead, she simply asked quietly.
“Are you sure about those slaves, sir?”
“About what?”
“The imprinting.”
“I told you it’s fine. Besides, you said they’re behaving well.”
“Even so, there is a great difference between imprinting a slave and not.”
Parsha said, her face expressionless.
Imprinting was the fundamental method to ensure a slave could not defy their master.
The presence or absence of it made a world of difference in managing slaves.
“It’s fine. Slave imprints aren’t perfect anyway.”
But Dion simply let Parsha’s advice go in one ear and out the other.
Knowing better than anyone how many loopholes slave imprints had, he had no intention of wasting money on something so useless.
Especially since it was unlikely any slave would contemplate ‘liberation’ right now, and more importantly, he had a better ‘alternative’.
“More importantly, Parsha, what about that thing I asked you to look into?”
“……Regarding the Underground City, the gate will connect in approximately two months.”
“And if I go there directly without using a gate?”
“In that case, setting aside the 30% chance you would die before reaching the city, it would still take over a month and a half.”
“Hmm, if a relatively close Underground City takes that long, there’s no need to ask about the others.”
Dion wore a thoughtful expression for a moment before shaking his head and muttering.
“I guess there’s no choice. I’ll have to go pick up Shuttle in two months.”
“Is there something you are looking for in the Underground City?”
“Yeah, something very convenient.”
Later, when the Calamity War broke out.
Dion’s ability to achieve miraculous feats was thanks to the advantages of his second life and his innate traits.
But even more important were his vassals.
Without his vassals, each possessing superhuman strength and exceptional talents in various fields, everything would have been dozens of times harder.
The problem was that most of them were in places he couldn’t reach right away, or it would be pointless to meet them now.
It couldn't be helped.
The labyrinths of Odobaekryeong were constantly shifting.
Sometimes, a city could be reached by passing through a single gate, while at other times, it could be inaccessible for years, no matter how long one waited.
After all, the dark elf tribe had passed through several gates to get here.
Of course, this also meant that the problem would resolve itself in a few months, but…
For Dion, whose only available subordinate at the moment was Parsha, it was a frustrating situation.
‘Come to think of it, he should be around here at this time, right?’
Dion suddenly tilted his head.
He recalled an individual he had unfortunately failed to connect with in his second life.
Someone who, while slightly lacking compared to his other vassals, could be contacted immediately and was quite competent.
‘Hmm, now that I think about it, I don't necessarily have to gather only my old vassals. The more useful subordinates, the better.’
Just as Dion, sifting through his memories for immediately available talent, identified his first target for recruitment and smiled.
A dark elf came rushing into the mansion.
Whatever had happened.
The disheveled dark elf pushed past the other startled elves and ran straight to Arsha.
“Lady Arsha, we have a problem!”
“What is it?”
“Soldiers from Soma Castle have captured the rest of our tribe who stayed behind!”
“……!”
Unlike the advance party that had come first to prepare for the move, there was a rear guard that had remained to organize their former residence.
At the news of their capture, the surrounding dark elves stirred with great agitation.
Arsha’s elegant face hardened slightly as she asked.
“Our tribe has committed no crime to warrant arrest. On what grounds were they taken?”
“I had to flee in a hurry from the soldiers who suddenly raided us, so I couldn’t confirm that. However…”
“Speak.”
“……Seeing as Young Master Silan was leading those soldiers, I believe they were taken to the Purgatory.”
“……”
For some reason.
Arsha’s face grew even grimmer than when she had heard her people were captured.
Watching the murmuring dark elves, Dion tilted his head.
“Who’s Silan?”
“He is the son of the Lord of Soma Castle.”
“No, not that. I’m asking why you all have such sour expressions just hearing his name.”
“That is…”
Arsha, who had spoken without hesitation until now, trailed off.
After a short silence, she continued, as if lamenting that she had to say such a thing herself.
“It is because Young Master Silan has repeatedly proposed that I become his mistress.”
“Hmm… I see.”
Dion nodded.
The thugs who had been brazenly picking a fight when he first visited the dark elves.
Why a 2-star Awakened One had been among them, and why Arsha was so certain the Lord of Soma Castle was behind them.
He felt he now understood the reason.
Of course, there might have been other reasons, but… Arsha’s beauty, which stood out even among elves, was a sufficient answer in itself.
That was why Dion turned around and smiled.
“Parsha, it looks like you might be getting a new father.”
“……”
Perhaps because she, too, was just learning of this fact.
Watching his maid, who was clenching her steel-gauntleted fist so hard it creaked and radiating a cold aura, the boy thought.
Odobaekryeong was truly a great place, never a dull moment.