Chapter 55
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: The Journey
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The White-Masked Young Master was a celebrity.
He was a rising star in the Deformed City, an individual whom few had not heard of.
But the rumor that the White-Masked Young Master had annihilated the Kahul family shook the Deformed City in a way nothing had before.
Of course, in Odobaekryeong, death was commonplace.
Entire families, along with their estates, could vanish overnight, so the destruction of a single house wasn't particularly noteworthy news.
However, that was only in cases of what could be considered normal deaths.
The fact that a noble house was brought down over the mere theft of a single slave was enough to send ripples of unease through aristocratic society.
"The head of the Kahul family did commit a shameless act, stealing a borrowed slave, but…"
"It was something that could have been settled with compensation. To go so far as to wipe out the entire family…"
"Well, if the White-Masked Young Master is truly from one of the Hundred Great Families, it's only natural."
"Even so, isn't there such a thing as precedent?"
"I heard his slaves were quite capable and was thinking of borrowing some, but I might have to reconsider."
Some grew wary.
Some condemned him.
Some feared him.
But regardless of the myriad emotions with which people watched Wyrm's Roost…
The boy at the heart of it all couldn't care less about the attention he was receiving.
No matter how uncomfortable the nobles felt, as long as the Guild was actively making its move, few would dare to openly oppose Wyrm's Roost.
The problem was the very fact that they could gossip like this.
The survival of the fittest was the most absolute law of Odobaekryeong.
If Wyrm's Roost had been truly, overwhelmingly powerful, these gossips would be too busy watching their own backs to speak.
‘As I thought, I’m still not strong enough.’
And so, Dion was lost in thought.
By wiping out the Kahul family, Wyrm's Roost had proven it possessed power comparable to that of a respectable noble house.
But what was the flip side of that coin?
It also meant that their strength was only enough to warrant a fight if a noble house—and a minor one at that—decided to challenge them.
Of course, Dion hadn't used his full strength this time.
Had he brought the slave soldiers or the studs from the Monstrous Tree Pasture, he could have crushed the Kahuls with far greater ease.
But then, no matter what magic Naru and the Guild worked, they wouldn't have been able to prevent immediate retaliation, making it an unviable option.
From that perspective…
They had to become stronger.
Wyrm's Roost.
And Dion himself.
‘…The problem is, getting stronger right away is difficult.’
【Bloodfiend Star】.
【2x Experience Gain】.
Thanks to these two overpowered traits, Dion had been growing at a speed that defied imagination.
But even 【Bloodfiend Star】 wasn't omnipotent.
Even with the boost from both traits, the slowing growth rate for 3-star classes and above was inevitable.
There were two solutions.
Continue to fight and slaughter…
—Or conquer a high-difficulty Labyrinth of 3-stars or higher.
The problem was that neither method was immediately available.
Having already wiped out the Kahul family and raised the guard of others, starting another fight would be a self-destructive move.
And a 3-star Labyrinth was something even Dion couldn't conquer alone.
This was especially true considering that even the 2-star [Hunter's Forest] Labyrinth, which had a relatively simple clear condition, required the mobilization of his entire estate to conquer.
‘This is why I proposed a partnership with the orc.’
If he intervened in the war at Nakrang Fortress, he could gain a massive amount of experience while avoiding the scrutiny of others.
Focusing on training the slaves until then wasn't a bad idea either, but…
The Kahul incident made one thing clear.
Neither Dion nor Wyrm's Roost was in a position to take their time and grow at a leisurely pace.
Therefore, after deep contemplation…
Having finally made a decision, Dion summoned three people to his office.
"You called for me?"
"What kind of trouble are you planning to cause now that you've gathered us here?"
"…Hello, my lord."
Arsha, the elegant dark elf beauty, regent of Wyrm's Roost and his first concubine.
Parsha, the emotionless dark elf maid who was her daughter and looked so much like her they could be sisters, and also his personal attendant.
And Naru, the rabbit-eared Myoto boy with a weary face.
Calmly.
Suspiciously.
Anxiously.
As the three of them looked at him, each with their own expression, Dion spoke lightly.
"It's nothing much. I just think it's about time."
"…?"
"Bluffer, what's the situation outside?"
"…For now, at least, no family is going to make an issue of what happened with the Kahuls."
"Really? That's a relief."
"A relief indeed…"
Bribing.
Sowing discord.
Even dropping subtle threats.
Naru had so much to say about how much money and manpower the Guild had mobilized to sway the opinion of the hostile nobles.
And about how busy he himself had been running around.
But he just nodded his head listlessly.
He knew that no matter how much he boasted of his achievements, Dion would just dismiss it as something a friend would naturally do.
"Parsha, what's the status on the requests?"
"A few nobles have canceled their requests, but overall, we're actually receiving more than before."
"And the slaves?"
"Their morale, at least, seems to be fine."
Parsha stated with a blank face.
Even for an Awakened One…
A slave's life was worth less than a fly's.
Yet, he had annihilated a noble family for the sake of a single slave.
All the slaves were stunned, and some even looked moved.
Moreover, the incident had unexpectedly led to an increase in clients who came with the expectation that their requests would be carried out perfectly.
Looking at it purely from the mercenary business perspective, it was a blessing in disguise.
"Arsha, any problems with the estate?"
"None at the moment."
"Hmm, are we short on anything or in need of something?"
"No. The Monstrous Tree Pasture is still being restored, but that is a matter of time."
Three things were paramount in managing an estate.
Funds.
Defense.
And a Driver.
Not only were they able to defend the estate with the studs from the Monstrous Tree Pasture and earn operational funds by dispatching slaves,
but thanks to the Driver, Orr Kai, they could now move about freely.
Wyrm's Roost was already a proper manor, lacking nothing.
Arsha, who had been speaking calmly, couldn't help but pause at Dion's next question.
"Then while I'm away, I can leave the estate's affairs to you, right, Arsha?"
"…"
"What do you mean, you'll be away?"
"I told you, I think it's about time."
After shrugging his shoulders…
Dion shared his thoughts.
Right now, Wyrm's Roost and he himself needed more power, and to achieve that, they couldn't stay put.
They needed to move more busily and challenge more dangers.
And…
"There's only one way to get stronger faster than we are now."
"…And what way is that?"
"It's simple. There may be no way for the White-Masked Young Master to grow stronger right now, but it's a different story for my other identity."
"Don't tell me you mean…"
"Yep, that's right."
Naru's jaw dropped.
Parsha's brow furrowed.
Arsha's ears twitched uncontrollably.
To them, who seemed to understand his meaning yet couldn't quite believe it…
Dion revealed his true intentions.
"I think it's time to take off the mask and get to work."
* * *
"Are you out of your mind?"
The first of the three to react was the maid, who understood the meaning of his words most accurately.
"If you're so determined to die, please ask me. I will ensure you die painlessly, at the very least."
"I don't particularly have any intention of dying, though?"
"Then what on earth are you thinking, spouting such nonsense?"
A look reserved for the craziest man in the world would be gentler than the one Parsha was giving him now.
But this was a matter that would have drawn a sharp rebuke from anyone, not just her.
"Do you think the other Young Masters and Young Ladies will stand idly by if you reveal your identity now?"
"I don't plan on revealing my identity as the White-Masked Young Master. I'm saying I'll operate separately as Dion Unlight."
"That's the same thing. No matter where you show yourself, Young Master, the family will catch your tail in no time."
The succession war of the Unlight family was notoriously harsh, even in Odobaekryeong.
Brothers and sisters were not people to be protected and helped, but enemies to be crushed.
The only reason Dion was still alive…
Was because he had been utterly incompetent.
Had he shown even a sliver of talent, he would have been eliminated long ago.
In other words, now that he had Awakened, he was in a position where he could lose his life at any moment.
This was especially true since most of his siblings must have already noticed his Awakening after the incident at the Soma Fortress.
"That's why it has to be now."
"…What kind of nonsense is that?"
"If not now, when else can I operate under my original identity?"
"That would be after you've gained sufficient power and influence…"
"And what's the standard for 'sufficient'? When I'm about as strong as my brothers and sisters? How long would it take to gather that much power in a remote place like this?"
"…"
"Even with a miracle, it would take several years. If I'm unlucky, more than ten. And that's all under the assumption that I don't get discovered."
That statement.
Parsha could not refute it.
As a personal maid of the Unlight family, she knew better than anyone just how absurdly monstrous Dion's siblings were, and how powerful their factions were.
It would be a miracle if the gap between them didn't widen further, let alone catch up, even with a hundred years, much less ten.
And she knew that the faster the White-Masked Young Master grew, the more it was only a matter of time before his identity was exposed.
"Parsha, we can't hide forever. If we do, we'll just end up as prey."
"And you think revealing your identity now will change anything?"
"It will."
Knowing this fact just as well…
Dion said with a faint smile.
"—Only an Unlight can prey on an Unlight."
"…!"
"The fact that my brothers and sisters will be targeting me also means that no one other than an Unlight can touch me."
As doubt turned into suspicion, and suspicion into shock…
Arsha, who had instantly grasped his meaning, clenched her fists unknowingly.
While Naru stared at Dion as if he were looking at a madman…
Parsha, after a long silence, spoke again.
"…That is madness."
"But it's worth a try, isn't it?"
"…"
"And it's something I have to do."
The Voice would have stopped him.
In fact, during the second playthrough, it had advised him to hide his power and identity until the very end to avoid the notice of his siblings.
After all, with the Bloodfiend Star, time was on their side.
But in Dion's opinion…
While that wasn't a miscalculation, it wasn't the best course of action either.
By secretly gathering all sorts of opportunities, the Dion of the second playthrough had grown quickly and safely, but that was all.
Because he hadn't utilized his power as an 'Unlight', he had to struggle more against his siblings later on.
So, this moment…
When he had only recently Awakened…
And everyone still looked down on him…
This was the only chance to use his siblings' complacency to shatter the 'balance' and, furthermore, grow by chipping away at their power.
Dion, after speaking nonchalantly, turned his gaze to the side.
"In that sense, Arsha, I'd like to hear your answer soon."
After staring at Dion with wavering eyes for a moment…
Arsha closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she faced Dion with her usual—no, a calmer-than-usual gaze and spoke.
"So that my husband may return at any time, I will protect this estate with my life."
"No, I don't need your life. You're more precious than some estate, Arsha."
"…"
Perhaps because she hadn't expected such a reply…
Belying her recent composure, Arsha's ears turned bright red as she slightly averted her gaze.
As Parsha watched her mother's reaction with a cold stare…
Dion looked at the third person, who wore an expression that said, 'Why am I even here?'
"Since it's come to this, Bluffer, you should start the handover process quickly too."
"…A handover?"
"The request brokerage. While you're away, someone else will have to take over."
"Me, be away? Why?"
"Because you're coming with me, of course?"
"What?"
"I'll have a lot to do, traveling here and there, so I figured I'd need a guide."
"N-No, why me of all people…"
"Because we're close friends who wouldn't demand compensation from each other for a small mistake, right?"
"…"
*If you don't want to, then don't.*
Dion said with a wide grin.
As Naru was keenly reminded of why the Guild had a saying, 'Not all bastards are nobles, but all nobles are bastards'…
He asked with a woeful expression.
"Where on earth are you planning to go?"
"First, the Underground City."
"…?"
It was a completely random destination.
As Naru blinked, and Arsha looked puzzled at the unexpected place that had nothing to do with the Unlights…
Parsha's eyebrows shot up.
Others might not know, but…
She could guess Dion's objective.
It was one of the cities whose location Dion had looked up as soon as he acquired Wyrm's Roost.
It was…
"There's more than one way to gain power."
Getting stronger is important.
Building a force is also necessary.
But those things require sufficient effort and time.
The best way to shorten that process was to bring in an already powerful asset.
In that regard, there was something he absolutely had to acquire.
Back in the second playthrough…
When the Calamity War broke out…
The reason Dion was able to conquer numerous Labyrinths and repeatedly vanquish the Calamities that possessed the power to destroy the world.
A Vassal.
As he thought of his first Vassal, a pawn he absolutely had to obtain to reach the end of this world…
Dion smiled with delight.
"—I think it's about time to go pick up Shuttley."