Chapter 47
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Know Your Place
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[Wanderer's Forest]☆
The result of a mana contamination surge.
A place that was encroached upon by the [Hunter's Forest]☆☆ when a dungeon break occurred.
However, after the Hunter's Forest was conquered, it reverted to a 1-star Labyrinth.
Of course, even a 1-star Labyrinth was still a Labyrinth, but the atmosphere in the Monstrous Tree Pasture and the Crouching Dragon Manor, which had settled in the Wanderer's Forest, was peaceful.
After the dungeon break was resolved, the contamination level actually dropped lower than before, drastically reducing the number of monsters. This, combined with the reassuring view of Nakrang Fortress…
Above all, the familiar scenery of the Labyrinth, which they had known since birth, put them at ease.
This was Odobaekryeong.
A world long ago swallowed and destroyed by the Labyrinth.
A world where relatively safe Labyrinths might exist, but absolutely safe places had long since vanished.
*'This should be safe enough.'*
That was why.
Arsha had ordered the two domains to lower their guard.
Perhaps because of the harsh battles they had endured, Rea and Chavera showed open signs of anxiety, but Arsha's will was firm.
Sticking close to other domains within a low-contamination Labyrinth.
It was a simple, yet incredibly effective survival strategy that had allowed the most intelligent species to endure in Odobaekryeong for a long time.
As long as they were stationed at Nakrang Fortress, the chances of them being in danger again were practically zero.
Of course, they had to pay a docking fee for it.
*'I see now why the Monstrous Tree Pasture consistently held hunting festivals.'*
Arsha let out a small sigh.
With all its subjects being Awakened Ones, the Monstrous Tree Pasture was strong enough to be counted among the small-to-medium domains, and it was thanks to this military strength that they had survived the dungeon break.
The numerous broodmares excelled in group combat, especially in defensive battles.
There was just one problem.
The upkeep costs were just as high.
The cost of feeding the broodmares alone, especially the price of mana stones, was horrifying.
That was also why the Monstrous Tree Pasture was run solely by the Hara clan.
In that sense.
It was inevitable that Lord Las had made the hunting festival a regular event.
He needed many broodmares to protect his domain, but the upkeep would have been unmanageable through ordinary means.
It would normally have been a reckless, suicidal act, but the fact that he had protected the domain for a hundred years proved Lord Las was an extraordinary man.
If he hadn't died so meaninglessly, the Monstrous Tree Pasture would never have been plunged into such a sudden crisis.
Lord Las's attempt to form a feudal contract might not have just been about the succession issue, but also a preparation for such a situation.
If they had become vassals of another high-ranking domain, they could have expected help even in an unexpected crisis like this.
Knowing this.
Arsha suddenly remembered.
Something everyone had overlooked amidst the repeated chaos.
A question that should never have been overlooked, one that everyone still found suspicious.
*'...In that case, who on earth was the one who murdered Lord Las?'*
Pandora's name had been cleared.
She wasn't the culprit.
Dion had guaranteed it.
The problem was that the fact remained: Las had been murdered by someone.
As she was lost in thought, wondering who the culprit could be.
Arsha snapped her head up.
"Ah."
Perhaps because she had been too engrossed in catching up on her work.
She belatedly realized how much time had passed beyond the scheduled hour and shot to her feet.
Then she rushed out.
Down the wide corridor.
Down the long staircase.
When she reached the first floor.
She was met by the dark elf maid, who was just preparing to leave through the main entrance.
"What's the matter all of a sudden?"
"I came to greet my hus... the Lord."
"..."
As befitting an Awakened One, she was swift and didn't stumble.
The maid stared blankly for a moment at Arsha, whose rushed exit was all too obvious.
As if not even wanting to question it, the daughter turned around. Arsha left the Crouching Dragon Manor with her and waited in front of the drawbridge.
A short while later.
The moment the familiar half-masked boy appeared from among the countless tents covering Nakrang Fortress.
Arsha, who had reflexively started to step forward, froze.
It was because she saw the beautiful woman with a blindfold over her eyes, who appeared alongside Dion as if seeing him off.
"Young Master, thank you for keeping your promise."
After bidding farewell to Pandora.
He paused while crossing the drawbridge and looked back.
Seeing Pandora gaze intently at the boy's back as he started walking again.
Arsha reflexively stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
As thanks for keeping her promise to Dion, just as they had kept their promise to her...
...and to shield Dion from Pandora's gaze, hidden behind the blindfold.
It was too rude.
If someone were to point it out.
Honestly, she couldn't deny it.
Even setting aside the fact that she was one of the Paljongyungma, Pandora was the adopted daughter of the Lord of Nakrang Fortress.
She was not someone a mere concubine could dare to face as an equal.
Nevertheless, Arsha had no choice.
*'What if... what if the Calamity Princess was the one who harmed Lord Las...'*
She wasn't so dense as to not understand the meaning behind Nakrang Fortress appearing at such a perfect time.
And what if Pandora wasn't just a framed suspect, but the real culprit pretending to be one?
Pandora was a monster capable of murdering a negotiation partner and playing innocent.
She was not someone to get close to.
Of course, it was only speculation... but even if it wasn't, she had no choice but to be wary of Pandora.
Because her intuition, as an elf who had lived for a long time, had been telling her so from the very first moment she saw her.
—That she was dangerous.
Arsha herself didn't know exactly what was dangerous or how.
It was like shunning vibrant mushrooms in the forest, fearing colorful snakes, and avoiding filthy swamps—so obvious it needed no explanation.
The Hara clan had likely only imprisoned Pandora, the suspect, because they had instinctively sensed it too.
For some reason.
Dion trusted her, but...
That was all the more reason for Arsha to be wary of Pandora.
It was her responsibility as Dion's regent and concubine to look after what the lord could not see and to guard the back her husband did not watch.
"Did your discussion go well?"
"Yeah, it's all settled."
As Arsha was composing her thoughts.
Dion, having returned to the Crouching Dragon Manor, told the two dark elves about his negotiations with Urk.
"Urk is going to support the Monstrous Tree Pasture's operating costs from now on. In return, we'll sell all our mana stones to Nakrang Fortress at a cheap price."
"And as a bonus, we'll be participating in other people's wars, I presume?"
"It's our war now."
"...To think you were serious about that insane idea of creating a mercenary domain. You've truly lost your mind."
"Parsha, how can you say such reckless things to the Lord?"
"It's not recklessness, it's advice."
Despite Arsha's stern rebuke, Parsha spoke with a deadpan expression, not even twitching an eyebrow.
"Building up military strength for the succession war is a good thing. I'll even commend the idea of a mercenary domain, for now."
Dion's brothers and sisters had all already formed powerful factions, so having a power base was essential to survive the Unlight family's succession war.
In that sense, Dion's actions so far had been not just successful, but downright unconventional.
It hadn't even been a few months since his Awakening, yet he had already acquired the Crouching Dragon Manor and made the Monstrous Tree Pasture his feudal domain.
The idea of working as mercenaries wasn't bad either.
In that it was a way to kill two birds with one stone—training troops and securing funds for the domain's operation.
There was just one problem.
"But Young Master, war is no game."
Compared to the Labyrinth, mercenary work was certainly safer.
But that only applied to simple jobs like bounty hunting, escorting, or proxy collections and intimidation.
War was a different matter.
Victory and defeat are the common fortunes of war.
Siding with the losing side meant suffering heavy losses, and it was common for mercenaries to be wiped out even on the winning side, used as nothing more than cannon fodder or bait.
All the more so because the employer could save on the hiring fees in that case.
At least in a war between small-to-medium domains, they might be able to ensure their safety to some extent, but...
"Do you truly believe you can get involved in a war waged by high-ranking nobles and come out unscathed?"
Urk was a high-ranking noble.
A lord who was rapidly expanding his power and gaining attention even in the Deformed City.
That meant Urk's opponent in war would also be a formidable figure.
All the more so given that he was bringing in other domains, as if the card of the Calamity Princess, one of the Paljongyungma, wasn't enough.
In that respect, Dion's choice was, in some ways, a more dangerous and foolish act than diving into a Labyrinth...
"Yeah."
"On what grounds do you make such a claim?"
"Well, if I had to say, track record and experience?"
Dion smiled faintly.
The Calamity War.
The worst and final war in the history of Odobaekryeong.
To Dion, who had been a key player from its beginning to its end, a war of this scale was nothing more than child's play.
"...Track record and experience from someone who's never even set foot on a battlefield. What a remarkable basis."
"Right?"
"..."
Parsha, who had no way of knowing the truth, wore a cold expression, but...
she couldn't bring herself to spew any more venomous words.
Whether by coincidence.
Or not.
Since his Awakening, all of Dion's actions had seemed insane, but they had certainly yielded results.
With no evidence to suggest he would definitely fail, it was difficult for her to flatly reject his choice this time either.
Thus, reluctantly accepting it, Parsha said with a blank face.
"If you're done talking nonsense, go wash up before the bathwater gets cold."
"Oh, how did you know I wanted to wash up?"
"I prepared it before a certain idiotic Young Master went off to Nakrang Fortress without even grooming himself."
"Hey, I did that on purpose. I had to look like I'd been through some trouble to make an impression on the orc fellow."
"Trading your dignity for such petty gains. I'm simply astounded by your shamelessness."
Was it admiration?
Or mockery?
Or both?
Parsha, who led the way while spewing vitriol that was hard to decipher due to her characteristic expressionless face.
Dion followed her into the steamy bathroom.
As Arsha tried to follow them.
The dark elf maid turned to look at her.
"What are you doing?"
"...Pardon?"
"I asked why you are trying to come in here as well."
"Well, of course, to attend to my hus— the Lord's bath... Ah."
Truly out of the blue.
While answering reflexively, flustered by her daughter's incomprehensible question.
Arsha belatedly realized something and fell silent.
Parsha, looking at her mother with a blank expression, spoke softly.
"I'm grateful that you looked after the Young Master during your time at the Monstrous Tree Pasture, but attending to him is my job."
"...I know."
"If you know, then please leave."
"..."
"I don't mind if Arsha stays. Bathing together would be even better."
"Don't bother the busy lady for no reason. Could you please shut up?"
*Creeak.*
Until the sight of Dion undressing with Parsha's help disappeared through the slowly closing door.
Arsha, who had been standing there silently, finally returned to her office.
And as she checked the documents on her desk again, she let out a soft sigh.
*'It was certainly my mistake.'*
From the work that had piled up while she was away from the Crouching Dragon Manor, to the tasks that arose from accepting the Monstrous Tree Pasture as a feudal domain, and the increased duties following the agreement with Nakrang Fortress.
Before being Dion's concubine, as the domain's regent, she still had a mountain of work to do.
And yet she had tried to attend to his bath on top of all that.
Her daughter must have been considerate, drawing a line in her duties so she wouldn't overwork herself.
Having sorted out her thoughts, Arsha focused on her work.
Or rather, she tried to focus.
A short while later.
If an unexpected visitor hadn't come to see her.
"What is it, Parsha?"
As if she had come straight after attending to Dion's bath.
The dark elf maid, her skin still damp, opened her mouth with her usual expressionless face.
"I wanted to let it slide, but I felt I had to say this."
"...?"
"My lady... no, Mother."
Perhaps because she couldn't guess her purpose.
Or perhaps because it had been so long since she'd been called "Mother."
To her blinking mother, the daughter spoke in a voice as cold as ice.
"—Know your place."