Chapter 56
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: The Iron-Blooded Matriarch
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"You want some too? Here, eat."
I simply dropped the meat I was holding in my hand. Muyoung snatched it up in a flash and vanished into the shadows.
Watching it pop out whenever it felt like it and demand food made me increasingly doubt whether this thing was really just an undead—a specter wolf, nothing more.
"Ordinary undead don't have egos that strong."
I'd never had an experience like this in the past.
As the question crossed my mind, text from the librarian appeared.
[In Labyrinthos, the manifestation of souls may differ slightly from this world. There is no major difference, but the likelihood of variations in self-awareness is high.]
Was it saying that Labyrinthos used fake souls, while this place had the real thing, so differences could arise?
In truth, undead developing self-awareness wasn't easy.
It required the original soul to be exceptionally strong, but the undead I handled were similar to standard skeletons or banshees—though from a slightly different lineage.
On a broad trajectory, they were closer to banshees, but when scrutinized closely, they were something else entirely.
In fact, it was a method I'd tried to break through the wall, and it had succeeded in doing just that.
That was probably the reason.
I kept feeding the creature bits of meat whenever it poked its head out—before anyone else could notice—and it would retreat into the shadows.
Fortunately, even though I was attending the banquet, no one paid me any attention.
Soon after, the head of House Mielephon made her entrance into the banquet hall.
"Head Maid Misha, is that the head of House Mielephon?"
"Yes. That is Katsi Mielephon, the family head of House Mielephon."
My first impression upon seeing the head of House Mielephon was that she exuded a truly ferocious aura.
Red bobbed hair, cold eyes, and an appearance in her thirties—though her actual age was surely much greater.
She wasn't originally from House Mielephon.
But after marrying her husband, who had since passed from illness, she joined the family. When the family head—her husband—died, she inherited the position.
There must have been trials for an outsider like her to become family head.
Yet she had risen to that seat purely through skill and achievements.
No wonder she was known as the Iron-Blooded Lady.
"Still, it's impressive. It's rare for an outsider to become family head."
"House Mielephon prioritizes ability above all. That is why the family head took up the sword once more—to protect the family and preserve the seat of the late previous head."
She was known as a woman who had never wielded a sword, but rumor had it she actually possessed tremendous talent for it from the start.
In fact, her realm, as I saw it, was beyond anyone else in this room.
Sword Saint Osberg Mielephon was at the upper Sword Master level—or higher, in truth.
She was at least mid-tier Sword Master.
Considering she was still young compared to the Sword Saint, she was undeniably a genius without peer when it came to pure talent.
In other words, far stronger than the middling Sword Masters derisively called strategic weapons.
With that level of power, she could certainly enforce her position.
A woman who had seized the vacant family head seat through sheer strength to protect her children and husband.
Suddenly, I found myself admiring her.
Melissa, the head of our own house but still lacking in many ways, could probably learn much from her.
Even amid the swarm of nobles approaching her, her gaze suddenly turned toward me.
Her cold, emotionless eyes met mine.
There was no particular feeling in that look.
Just a dispassionate once-over, as if sizing up who I was.
Of course, since my engagement to House Mielephon was fake anyway, I couldn't care less what she thought of me.
That was when it happened.
-Young Master Leon Cascadia.
A voice echoed in my mind.
I turned my head and looked back at the family head.
She had just spoken to me via telepathy.
Impressive that she could do it from this distance.
-To think we'd meet like this. I've heard about you from Father. No need to reply since you can't—just listen.
Her voice was polite yet overbearing.
I knew telepathy too, but even at a certain realm, pulling it off wasn't simple.
Telepathy bordered on a specialized technique.
It wasn't something you could just do by handling aura or mana.
Even as she conversed with others, Katsi continued sending me telepathic messages.
-I've heard your request. House Mielephon doesn't forget favors. If you've done Father a great service, it's only right we repay it. So relax and enjoy yourself before you leave.
It seemed considerate on the surface, but I could clearly feel her drawing a line.
Frankly, her approach suited me just fine.
Sword Saint Gramps had this subtle way of pushing the fake engagement further.
-However, I'd appreciate it if you refrained from causing any incidents. I doubt you'd make a foolish choice, but remember: in a place full of people, a moment's folly could lead to trouble I can't help you with.
Don't stir up trouble, enjoy yourself moderately, then leave. And don't get arrogant, cause a scene, and expect House Mielephon to bail you out.
She hadn't said it outright, but the intent was clear from the tone.
I smiled faintly and fired back a pulse of aura like a bullet.
-No need to worry, Lady Katsi of House Mielephon. I'm plenty grateful just for this consideration.
Evidently not expecting me to reply telepathically, she startled mid-conversation and looked my way.
A faint trace of surprise flickered in her gaze.
It was probably a technique she'd developed herself, but at a certain realm, you picked up such skills whether you wanted to or not.
No wonder she was shocked to see me use it casually.
-And happy birthday. I should have prepared a gift, but anything I'd hand over here would be too shabby, so I'll visit separately later.
Of course, I bowed my head subtly to her—out of others' sight—then turned away.
At the same time, the librarian's text floated into my view.
[She is watching you intently.]
'Good enough. I was just returning the subtle dismissal.'
A birthday gift for her was simple—I could pick something suitable and have Head Maid Misha deliver it as a formality.
As if nothing had happened, I found a quiet spot again and focused on sampling the food.
The empire's scale was vast indeed; there were exotic dishes here I'd never seen even at the Bata royal banquet.
Behind me, Head Maid Misha seemed to sense something odd and tilted her head, but soon took her place at my back, standing silently with perfect poise.
"Have you eaten, Head Maid?"
"Yes. I've had my fill."
"Figures. You wouldn't let me eat a thing, but you went ahead without me."
"There are perks to being a head maid."
She was composed enough now to parry my jabs casually—we'd grown closer.
I chuckled and popped a small piece of bread into my mouth.
Katsi Mielephon—the Sword Saint's daughter-in-law and widow of the previous family head.
An outsider who had claimed the role of family head through overwhelming skill and accomplishments: the Iron-Blooded Lady.
She felt a touch of surprise at the unexpected turn of events.
'That boy is definitely worth investing in. I don't know about now, but give it a little time, and he'll make his mark. You can't hide a needle in your pocket forever, dear.'
When he first brought up the fake engagement and handing over a family heirloom sword, she'd thought her father-in-law had finally lost it.
But she wasn't so cold as to refuse his request outright.
Nor did she dismiss his insight. The engagement could be faked superficially. The real issue was the heirloom sword.
Only after hearing that Osberg had broken through the wall did she start considering it positively—but she still couldn't judge if it was right to make such a choice for a boy from another kingdom she'd never met.
So she summoned him to the banquet hall.
Meeting him separately was an option, but she'd been too busy, so she used this opportunity.
In their first encounter, the boy named Leon Cascadia gave off a strange vibe.
He seemed far too composed for a boy his age.
Still, she couldn't judge until she'd checked for herself.
So she tested him with telepathy.
As expected, the boy flinched and looked her way.
She'd thought him worthy of the Sword Saint's praise for granting enlightenment, but she sensed almost no power within him.
At a glance, it was hard to believe he even trained with the sword.
Maybe he wasn't that impressive after all. Even so, his quick situational awareness and lack of poor manners or appearance kept him from a negative score.
That was when it happened.
An unexpected response came from the boy.
He'd replied telepathically—with a smile, no less.
She'd never seen anyone else use this technique.
It wasn't simple. It didn't demand a high realm, but it required extremely precise aura control. For a boy from whom she sensed no notable aura to respond... it was hard to believe.
"Family Head?"
One of her escort knights cautiously approached the dazed woman.
"Are you unwell, perhaps?"
"No. I'm fine."
Coincidence? No, unlikely.
The boy was hiding something she couldn't see.
What could it be?
Katsi Mielephon's gaze drifted back to the boy, then scattered into the air.
"Ugh..."
"Family Head, another headache?"
"I'm fine. More importantly, report to me immediately when we get word on that damned octopus—the kraken."
In truth, she'd been too preoccupied with dire matters lately to focus much on Leon.
The banquet hall buzzed with countless people catching up, discussing business, or chatting idly.