The Weight of a Name
“So, you want me to spread word about Legrian Territory—food, seasonings, daily necessities, and some rumors?”
“That’s right.”
After finishing his work, Albert visited the Flower Merchant Group and was now speaking with Richel in the reception room.
“Understood. I get the rest, but what exactly do you mean by rumors?”
“Legrian Territory has become a wonderful place to live—safer than before. If you move in right now, they’ll even provide housing and reduce your taxes. No territory has ever offered such terms before. Is this truly a noble’s domain, or just a village? Come to Legrian Territory immediately—spots may fill up on a first-come, first-served basis.”
[Are you filming a home shopping commercial?]
[What do you mean……]
‘Why not? It’s a perfect promotional line, isn’t it? Even I’d want to move in right away.’
Could there be a more flawless advertisement? It included every necessary detail—housing support and tax reductions. Nowhere else would offer such conditions.
[Aren’t you going to mention that it’s right next to Monster Land?]
‘You’re supposed to hide the disadvantages.’
[Isn’t that fraud?]
‘Now, now. Fraud? I haven’t deceived anyone. I simply didn’t mention it.’
After rationalizing to himself, Albert looked at Richel.
“What do you think?”
“It’s good. Anyone who hears it would definitely want to go. The benefits are solid, and offering housing would bring plenty of people.”
‘See?’
With Richel’s agreement, Albert smiled triumphantly.
“But why spread these rumors? Are you trying to gather people?”
“Yeah. Honestly, the territory is short on residents right now.”
[Honestly, the current population is more village-sized than territory-sized.]
[We do need more people.]
She was right. When the Legrian family had been a count’s household, far more residents had lived there. After their fall to baronial status, many had left, leaving the vast lands sparsely populated. That shortage of hands was becoming a real problem.
“You’re right…… That makes sense. All right, I understand exactly what you mean. But this isn’t our specialty, so it’ll take some time.”
“Can’t be helped.”
It was a shame. In his old world, he could have simply posted an online ad, but this world had no such thing. Spreading rumors required people to move directly.
“As for the goods, we can probably source them cheaply through the Merchant Guild. I’ll need to look into what’s required…… but I’ll send everything by the end of this week.”
“Ah, and could you try to get some mithril?”
“Mithril?”
“Yeah. I need a bit.”
[For the armor, I assume?]
‘Exactly.’
When he had recruited Hort, Albert’s first request had been to repair his father’s armor. With Hort’s divine craftsmanship, it should be possible. However, mithril was required for the repairs.
‘No wonder that armor was so expensive.’
He finally understood why his mother had struck his father’s back so hard. Who would have guessed the armor had mithril plating? He wondered if his father’s armor otaku tendencies had contributed to the family’s downfall. That was a deeply concerning thought.
‘Anyway, if we want to fix that armor, we need mithril.’
It was his father’s keepsake. If possible, he wanted it restored.
“Mithril is an extremely rare ore, so obtaining it won’t be easy…… but I’ll see what I can do.”
“Good. Then I’ll head back now.”
“Wait a moment.”
“Hm? Why?”
“There’s something I need to ask you.”
At her words, Albert, who had started to rise, sat back down. Richel wore an unusually serious expression.
“Something incredible happened in front of the Landolf Territory library today. Someone picked a fight with the Sun Temple’s holy knights and got into a brawl.”
Richel closed her eyes briefly, then opened them.
“Was it related to you, Lord Albert?”
Her hands trembled as she asked, her tension plain. She stared fixedly at his lips, silently praying the answer would be no. And yet—why were those lips so unfairly attractive……?
‘No, what am I even thinking? Idiot! Geez……’
This wasn’t the time for that. No matter how tempting those cherry-like lips were, his answer mattered more right now.
Under her anxious gaze, Albert chuckled.
“Are you suspecting me right now?”
“W-well, isn’t it? You’re not involved, right?”
Richel’s face brightened instantly. So it wasn’t him after all! Her eyes sparkled with renewed trust.
“No, I was involved.”
“……Then why phrase it like that? You say you’re involved, yet act offended that I suspected you……”
No. There was something far more important to address.
“Th-then…… did you, Lord Albert, wear a strange mask and beat up the holy knights……?”
Albert waved his hand dismissively, laughing.
“Come on, you think I’d actually hit them?”
“R-right? Ahaha, of course not! Lord Albert is intelligent and sensible. Even so……”
“I beat them.”
“Eh?”
“You saw it earlier. That wasn’t just ‘hitting.’ I beat them like dogs.”
“……”
Richel felt a wave of dizziness. She had desperately hoped it wasn’t true. No matter how reckless Albert could be, she had firmly believed he possessed common sense. He wouldn’t pick a fight with the Sun Temple. She had repeated it to herself like a mantra. Yet—
“Y-you really beat them!?”
“Yeah, I did. The first one I met got his head slammed into the ground. The second took a fist to the gut. The next one had his jaw shattered……”
“S-stop!! I-I don’t want to hear the details! W-why? Why the Sun Temple!?”
“Well……”
Albert leaned back in his chair as if the question itself was strange.
“They were illegally blocking access to the library.”
“Th-then…… people were suffering because of the Sun Temple’s tyranny, and your sense of justice……”
“One of those holy knights tapped me on the head. How was I supposed to let that slide? So I beat them.”
“Then you only needed to hit that one person!”
“Collective responsibility.”
“……”
“How could I single out just one? They have camaraderie. If only one got hit, he’d feel wronged. So I beat them all equally.”
Watching Albert boast with a smile, Richel felt her head spin. She might develop anemia she didn’t even have. The most maddening part was—
‘Why does even this side of him look handsome……?’
Her judgment seemed hopelessly clouded.
“Ah, and one more thing.”
“Yes?”
“Could you get me a lot of books? After this incident, I probably won’t be able to visit the library for a while. As many…… different kinds as possible.”
“……Understood.”
[(๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و]
After finishing his conversation with Richel, Albert stepped outside the merchant group and raised his hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Taxi!!”
Time to head back.
* * *
Mage Guild.
Having completed his tasks as ordered, Grandel descended to the first floor to catch a carriage back to the territory. The lobby, however, was strangely noisy.
“I said I need to see Lord Hades right now!”
“As I’ve told you, that’s impossible. Lord Hades is the Mage Guild Master. How do you expect to meet him without an appointment?”
“I’m a member of the Mage Guild! This is an extremely important matter! Look at me—I was beaten to a pulp!!”
“And complaining about being beaten here is supposed to accomplish what, exactly?”
When the receptionist spoke with obvious disdain, the mage shouted furiously.
“A member of the Mage Guild was assaulted! This is a challenge to the Mage Guild itself! It’s a matter of prestige! Our dignity has been tarnished!”
“Well…… Haah, that may be a problem, but why involve Lord Hades……”
“That monster can only be dealt with by Lord Hades! He’s a dra……”
“What’s going on here?”
Grandel, who had been watching the commotion, stepped in to stop it before it escalated further.
“Ah, Lord Grandel. Well, this person……”
“L-Lord Grandel……”
The mage turned his head.
“Hmm.”
His appearance was far from presentable. Wherever and however he had been beaten, the marks were so precise they could only be described as expertly applied. Striking required skill, and the traces left on the mage’s face spoke of a master’s noble touch.
‘I don’t know what happened, but if a member of the Mage Guild was attacked, it’s a serious issue.’
“I’ll handle this. You, come with me.”
“Ah, understood.”
The mage followed Grandel into the reception room. Seated across from him, the mage placed a hand over the circle on his chest.
“My name is Hansen.”
“Hansen? Never heard of you.”
“I’m a 4-Circle mage who’s been working abroad under the Carnival family.”
“Ah.”
The Mage Guild had various factions; some mages, like Hansen, conducted research outside the guild.
“So, what’s the matter?”
“Well, you see!”
With a tone of deep injustice, he recounted everything that had happened, pouring out his grievances. He framed the attack on himself as a direct challenge to the Mage Guild and tried to tie it all together. Grandel’s face twisted with rage.
“How dare they challenge the Mage Guild? Unforgivable.”
Even if the mage had left for external work, he was still undeniably a member of the Mage Guild. Attacking such a person was a clear affront to the guild. This could not be overlooked. The guild’s prestige was at stake.
“I’ll deal with that monster myself.”
“You will, Lord Grandel?”
“That’s right!”
“But…… No……”
‘Lord Grandel is Lord Hades’s disciple. I heard he’s a 6-Circle mage…… That should be enough, shouldn’t it?’
He knew well how powerful a 6-Circle mage was. It was the realm of perfect talent. And as Hades’s disciple, his strength was beyond question.
“I beg of you! Please, avenge the one who challenged our Mage Guild! If we let this pass, the guild’s dignity will be damaged!”
“Leave it to me. By the way, what’s that bastard’s name?”
“Ah, I forgot to mention it. That madman’s name is Albert Legrian.”
The moment he heard the name, Grandel felt something spin in his head. It was the feeling of hearing a name he should never have heard.
“W-what did you just say……? A-Albert Legrian?”
“Yes!”
“……”
Deep furrows formed on Grandel’s brow.
‘Could it be someone with the same name? I-it happens sometimes, right? There could be cases where the family name and given name match.’
There were countless nobles and people across the continent. Naturally, coincidences where family and given names overlapped could occur. Yes. Even if the probability was extremely low—approaching zero—as long as it wasn’t a perfect zero, it could happen.
‘Coincidence……’
“That family was once ruined, and now they’re adjacent to Monster Land. Plus, there’s the guy who returned after ten years……”
“Ah……”
Coincidence of matching names? There was no such thing.
“Come on! Let’s go right now! With Lord Grandel’s power, you can show that damned bastard the greatness of the Mage Guild!”
“Hey, you crazy bastard!”
Thud!
At that moment, Grandel’s fist slammed straight into the center of Hansen’s face. A perfect strike. Even a catcher, umpire, and batter would have to admit it was a strike. Hansen’s nose collapsed completely.
“Guh, urgh…… Why…… L-Lord Grandel, why…… me…… N-not me! That Albert! That damned bastard!!”
“Shut up, you lunatic! Who the hell are you asking me to take revenge on!? Have you lost your mind!? Are you insane!?”
Grandel couldn’t contain his agitation. His fists moved rapidly, pounding Hansen’s body like a madman. It was a grave mistake to assume mages were physically weak just because they were mages. What was needed for magical research wasn’t just knowledge in the head—physical stamina to continue researching was equally important. That was why mages who reached a certain level never neglected physical training.
“What? The Mage Guild’s dignity is tarnished!? You just tried to shake the very existence of the Mage Guild! You idiot! I! Can’t even meet him! Because of the shitshow you’re pulling! Who the hell are you trying to ruin!!”
Grandel had been punching, but now he was stomping with his feet.
“Gah! W-what’s all this commotion!? Lord Grandel!”
As the reception room grew noisy, three mages rushed in to pull him away, but Grandel’s rampage didn’t stop.
“Let go! That crazy bastard! I have to kill him!!”
“No! What on earth is wrong with you!? Lord Grandel! Please calm down!”
“Th-that’s right! Calm down! Calm down!!”
As the mages tried to restrain him, Grandel took deep breaths and forced himself to suppress his emotions. Then, trembling, he glared sharply at the fallen Hansen.
“That damned bastard—he was clearly sent by the Assassin Guild to assassinate me!!”
“N-no, the Assassin Guild…… What are you……”
“Enough! Get rid of him! No—throw him outside!! Hah, ptui!!!”
The mages were utterly bewildered. Normally, within the Mage Guild, Grandel was dignified and solemn, guiding juniors with his exceptional talent as a mage. He was the very model of a respected mage. He always said:
‘A mage must always remain rational. Even if the heart burns hot, the head must stay cool. A mage who loses control in battle will lose their life.’
He lived by those words. But look at him now.
“Tch! Seriously, the more I think about it, the angrier I get! That bastard! Tried to assassinate me! Who was it!? Who sent him!? Who commissioned my death!!”
Suddenly agitated again, Grandel rushed over and stomped on Hansen. The current Grandel was not the model of a mage, but the model of someone with anger management issues. Instinct was dominating reason, not the other way around.
‘Why on earth……?’
Even as they held back the agitated Grandel, the mages couldn’t shake the question from their minds. And among them, the one with the strongest doubt was Hansen himself.
Thrown out of the Mage Guild, Hansen, fading into unconsciousness, held onto a single, powerful question.
‘Why on earth……?’
* * *
In front of the library, countless holy knights and priests had gathered, forming a human wall so no one else could see. They were cleaning up the scene.
Having barely received treatment and regained consciousness, Albert supported his swaying body and approached the Saintess, Elin. Fortunately, she wasn’t seriously injured. Through her, Albert learned the identity of the one who had caused this incident.
“A Main…… you say?”
“Yeah……”
“Are you certain?”
“Y-yes, I’m certain……. That wicked energy…… that disgusting sensation that drags fear from deep within…… I-it’s definitely magi!”
Deep fear filled Elin’s eyes. Her trembling pupils and faintly shaking hands revealed just how terrified she was.
“I’m…… truly sorry.”
Albert knelt before Elin. The moment he did, sunlight reflected off his head like a true Sun Temple holy knight, tormenting Elin’s eyes. She nearly burst out laughing but barely held it in. Glancing around, she saw several priests also struggling to suppress their laughter. But Albert was so serious that she absolutely couldn’t let it show.
“I should have protected the Saintess…… This old man…… lacked the strength to do so.”
Albert had received orders from the Pope to protect the Saintess. She was the Sun Temple’s treasure and jewel. She must not be harmed. Albert had been confident. As a Master who had become a superhuman, he believed he could protect her from any danger. But that—
‘Was arrogance and overconfidence.’
The result of thinking he could protect her alone was this.
‘I couldn’t win.’
The Main’s strength was overwhelming, to say the least. It was so powerful that even he, a Master, couldn’t lay a finger on it. Upon becoming a Master, he had felt as though the world lay beneath him, but that had only been the delusion of a frog in a well. There was another sky above this world, and that Main existed in that realm.
‘An existence beyond humanity. Mains are originally beings who have shed their human skin, but that Main was even more special.’
Fear surged up within him. Once one reached the realm of superhumans, they naturally became detached from many things. Controlling emotions was simple. Anger, sadness, loss, joy—such feelings could be managed, and one rarely got swept away by them. But the emotions he had felt the moment he saw that being—
‘Anger, despair, and frustration……’
And fear. It was as if he had faced an insurmountable wall that no amount of effort could overcome. In this life. In the next. No matter how many times he was reborn, he was certain he could never defeat that thing.
‘The problem is that it’s a Main. Mains are the enemy of the temple…… A Main that even I, a Master, can’t handle……’
Could they win? If it decided to target the temple? He would stake his life to stop it, but even then, would he succeed?
“By the way.”
“Yes, please speak.”
“Are Mains…… really such sorrowful beings……?”
At her question, Albert looked up. The Saintess possessed a special ability. It was the power to see the true nature of her target—in simpler terms, the ability to see souls.
“……There’s no need to feel sorrow.”
“But……”
“Saintess, he is a Main. A cruel and brutal Main. He abandoned his humanity to gain power…… That Main is no different. He gave up being human at a young age to seize that power.”
“Young……?”
“Anyway, I need to clean up for a bit. So please wait here for a moment.”
Before Elin could say anything, Albert had already left to handle the situation. Left alone, Elin recalled the Main she had seen.
“Young……? No, that can’t be……. His voice sounded old……. And……”
In the final moment, Elin had seen his true nature. Since she had only recently awakened as a Saintess, she couldn’t control her ability well. It wasn’t something she could see just because she wanted to—sometimes it appeared, sometimes it didn’t. The Pope had said it was because she wasn’t used to it yet. In that last moment, she had seen the Main’s true nature, and what she saw was—
“He was old……. Covered in wounds, lonely…… with a huge hole in his chest……”
It was a lonely soul riddled with wounds. Were Mains always such beings? And there was another part that bothered her differently. This was purely her womanly intuition, but—
“That Main…… probably looked handsome……”
She wanted to meet him again and see the bare face beneath that mask. She was a hopeless looks-worshipper.