Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: The True Lord's Return
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It was, in a way, an utterly displeasing sight.
Just a few days ago, the lord's castle had fallen without a single battle, and now the rearguard of the occupying force(?) was passing through the gates and marching across the city.
By normal standards, the city residents should have been furious at the occupiers or at least wary of them.
Yet the people of Sioinia merely gazed at the procession crossing the main avenue with indifferent eyes.
There were no cheers, but no hatred either.
‘If I had just arrived in this world not long ago, I wouldn’t have understood it either.’
Walking through the city he had built with his own hands, Sion gave a wry smile inwardly.
The reason the people of Sioinia felt neither anger nor wariness toward Sion and his group was that, to them, the occupiers were also ‘Sion.’
From the start, it didn’t matter to the residents of Sioinia—or even the nearby villages or the people of Paloma—who became the duke.
What mattered was that someone become Duke Sion as soon as possible.
Almost none of those who had first pioneered the territory here alongside Sion remained.
The current residents of Sioinia were all born here.
And so they knew.
It wasn’t the duke who was great, but the ‘Sion Dukedom.’
To the people of the dukedom, the only truly great duke was the founding Duke Sion, and no one else.
Sure, his eldest son Theo was considered excellent too.
But his successors were ordinary.
Yet the Sion Dukedom hadn’t changed.
From the time of the third duke, Byron Sion, to now, it had thrived without major issues.
The administrative system, begun under Duke Jang Sion and perfected under Duke Theo Sion, had kept the dukedom running smoothly.
Moreover, both Gedena Blint and the others vying for the ducal seat were ‘Sion.’
No matter who became duke, everyone knew they would do their best for Sioinia—or at least not ruin it.
That was why they felt nothing as they watched Sion’s group walk quietly down the main avenue, escorted by the guards.
If anything, some seemed openly pleased—though not showing it too much—at the prospect of a duke finally being decided.
‘They think we’re Gede’s forces.’
Incredibly, the people of Sioinia looked more favorably on Gede, the governor of Paloma and brother of the previous duke born outside Triple-Headed Eagle Castle, than on Blint, the previous duke’s son born in the castle.
Blint had the edge in legitimacy, but Gede was so superior in ability that comparing them felt unfair.
Jenna’s detailed report from Iron Mountain had stated as much.
-Blint Sion is rumored to be extremely incompetent.
If rumors were widespread, even the people of Sioinia knew roughly.
Thus, while many residents didn’t care who won, they preferred a capable Sion take the ducal seat.
‘Incompetent? But that doesn’t matter.’
Jenna’s report on Blint contained something far graver.
-It is said that Blint Sion was involved in the deaths of the previous duke’s eldest son, Setios Sion, and second son, Katien Sion.
Blint might have committed a greater sin than Gede, who had brought in outside forces out of ambition for the ducal seat.
* * *
Blint Sion was an utterly ordinary-looking young man.
Like any noble youth his age, he sported a short mustache and slicked-back hair, wearing a silver circlet adorned with a gem on his smooth forehead and a short tunic embroidered with ornate patterns on the sleeves.
He was the picture of a tidy yet foppish typical noble youth.
If he walked down Sioinia’s main avenue or market like this, anyone would glance at him once as a neat young noble.
But those gazes would scatter after a second.
Because Blint Sion was truly featureless and plain.
If you asked someone who had seen him pass by what the young man looked like, all—without exception—would answer, ‘Uh… just an average face?’
And Sion, seeing his own great-grandson for the first time, felt the same.
“Y-Yonas, sir, it’s been a while.”
The sunlight was mild, and he wore a thin tunic, so there was no reason for him to be hot, yet Blint’s healthy bronze forehead glistened with sweat.
Sion thought he’d bet his entire fortune (whose amount even he didn’t know) that it wasn’t from outdoor training or hunting as he stared at Blint facing Yonas.
“It’s been a while, Viscount Bennett.”
Yonas addressed Blint by his official title.
For now, Yonas was leading the group in this situation.
The people of Triple-Headed Eagle Castle, including Blint, believed the group had been sent by Gede Sion.
“M-Master Blaho has informed me. For now, uh, please come inside.”
“Very well.”
Unlike the extremely tense Blint, Yonas was calm and reliable.
Sion suppressed a sigh.
They were clearly from the same lineage, yet so different.
Blint was truly disappointing.
It wasn’t just because he was young; he seemed worse than Sirban, who was around the same age. No, Sirban was actually better.
Sirban could be immature and arrogant at times, but at least he knew when to mind his place.
Even now, over there, wasn’t he standing confidently yet unobtrusively alongside Piot?
In contrast, Blint kept stealing glances at Sion and the others while forcing a smile.
‘Like a frightened herbivore.’
Though both the occupiers(?) and the surrendered were his descendants, Sion felt anger rising.
But he kept his expression neutral and quietly observed those who had come out to greet them alongside Blint.
Two men and three women.
The men appeared to be castle nobles, pass.
The women seemed to be Blint’s mother, older sister, and younger sister, but they too showed raw fear, pass.
‘Katrina Bello.’
Sion’s eyes fixed on the noblewoman who was clearly Blint’s mother.
The previous duke’s second wife.
Known to be in her mid-thirties, yet her skin was as taut as a twenty-year-old’s.
Her smooth forehead, like Blint’s, was exposed, her swept-back hair secured with a tiara and pins, and her neatly clasped hands before her bore six rings.
As the duke’s consort, flaunting jewels was natural.
But even that had its time and place.
Other noble families aside, Sion had taught otherwise, and daughters-in-law from other houses were no exception.
Yet now, Katrina was dressed as if heading to a grand ball.
And her expression, her gaze.
‘Similar.’
Sion recalled the mother of Anserman, former heir to Ogreust Territory, whom he had confined with his own hands.
Katrina neither shot venomous glares like her nor openly displayed vengefulness.
But the immortal monster, who had lived over a century including his original world life, could detect the cold flame hidden in Katrina’s serene gaze.
The chill in those fleeting glances whenever she looked at Yonas, Sirban, and Piot.
‘It’s gone beyond hostility… to killing intent.’
Sion sensed—no, was certain.
If Blaho’s report was true and Blint had plotted to murder his kin for the heir’s seat, it wasn’t the ordinary coward of a great-grandson, but her.
‘Then what to do? She doesn’t seem like an easy mark.’
Walking slowly behind Yonas, Sion pondered briefly. Then, oddly, certain faces flashed in his mind.
Billy and his young siblings, who had bowed to their waists before him days ago.
Sion’s dilemma ended instantly.
There had been no reason to hesitate in the first place.
‘I’ll go straight at it. The aftermath… I’ll think about it then.’
With that resolve, just as Sion stepped over the drawbridge and into the wide-open gates of Triple-Headed Eagle Castle.
[Error]
[Erreur]
[Fehler]
[錯誤]
[エラー]
“……!!!’
Sion had to stop in his tracks, eyes widening at the successive messages appearing at the top of his vision.
[Error detected]
[Error correction in progress]
[Error correction confirmed]
[User information confirmed]
[User 01, Duke Jang Sion, has occupied the first base.]
[User 01, Duke Jang Sion, has constructed the first territory.]
[User 01, Duke Jang Sion, has founded the first nation.]
[User 01, Duke Jang Sion…]
Countless messages scrolled up in less than ten seconds, pushing out the previous ones. ‘Watching’ them, Sion resumed walking naturally to avoid suspicion.
And the final message appeared.
[User 01, Duke Jang Sion, has returned to his owned base.]
[Information messages can be reviewed again.]
* * *
Brief greetings were exchanged in the main castle’s grand hall.
Blint and the castle nobles seemed eager for more conversation there, but Yonas—who had received Sion’s instructions before entering the castle—suggested moving to the council chamber.
It was called a suggestion, but no one was naive enough to take it as such. Soon, a dozen high-ranking officials selected by Yonas’s (Sion’s instructed) criteria headed to the council chamber.
Beneath the arched ceiling, a 10-meter-long stone table stood in the council chamber, with portraits of past dukes (heavily idealized) hanging on one wall.
At the end of the long stone table was a raised dais one step high. Absurdly, the moment they entered, Blint naturally headed for it.
But that foolish attempt was stopped by Katrina following behind, and Blint startled before beginning to eye Yonas.
Not just Blint—all the high officials of Triple-Headed Eagle Castle watched Yonas.
In this situation, the only one qualified for the head seat was Yonas, Gede’s brother and his proxy here.
Thus, under everyone’s gazes, Yonas strode confidently toward the head seat.
And as if it were natural, he pulled out the plush chair stuffed with cotton and covered in ornate purple velvet.
“……!?”
But instead of sitting, he stepped slightly aside. Amid the nobles staring at Yonas in bewilderment, one person walked to the head seat, placed a hand on the chair’s backrest.
“Lock the council chamber door for now.”
“Wha…?”
“W-what?”
At Sion’s low voice, the high officials’ faces turned dumbstruck as if by prior agreement.
Among those not in Sion’s group, only Blaho looked slightly surprised but intrigued as he watched him.
Stelmann quickly locked the council chamber door.
“Who is that man?”
“Beats me… maybe from the royal family…?”
The high officials murmured lowly.
Sion, having looked them over, met Katrina’s gaze.
Toward her, with slightly parted red lips in surprise, Sion twisted his mouth.
“I declare myself the master of this place. Everyone shut up.”
At that moment, another message appeared in Sion’s vision.
[Do you wish to re-register the base?]
(To be continued)