Chapter 7
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: The Juiciest Hostage
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thinking about it, it was inevitable.
The moment I heard the story of the kidnapping, I was convinced I was the juiciest hostage available.
"Haa..."
Melissa Cascadia, the current Count Regent of House Cascadia, clutched her head against the pounding headache brought on by extreme fatigue and let out a deep sigh.
"Manpower, funds... there's nothing we don't lack..."
The businesses were crumbling, draining their funds dry, and without money, they couldn't even maintain their forces.
Once trapped in this vicious cycle, the young girl had no idea where to even begin fixing things.
"No. I can't just sit here spacing out."
She slapped her cheeks and shook her head vigorously.
She wanted nothing more than to throw it all away and throw a tantrum, but she couldn't.
Countless lives depended on her shoulders.
"External pressure... just how many people are involved?"
Evidence kept piling up that outside forces were reaching their claws toward Cascadia County.
And there were internal saboteurs as well.
Tibel Cascadia.
Her uncle, now an enemy as bitter as any blood feud.
He claimed he too was qualified to be the next Border Count and was arbitrarily abusing her authority.
Normally, such a thing would be unthinkable.
But unlike her, who hadn't been formally recognized as the count's heir, Tibel had connections in the capital's nobility and had unilaterally seized that authority.
In fact, he'd already snatched up most of the private soldiers and knights permitted to a Border Count, amassing a considerable force, and even stuffed some of the county guard positions with his own men.
And now, he was systematically eliminating those who could support Melissa.
She hadn't noticed at first.
By the time she realized he was pulling strings behind the scenes, it was far too late.
The county's forces were scattered to the winds, and their funding had dried up.
The Berus weapon shop deal was probably the same scheme.
Eliminating Tibel, who held the inheritance authority, would put out the biggest fire, but realistically, his forces far outnumbered theirs, making it impossible.
She hadn't told her big brother Leon out of fear he'd do something reckless.
He was an ordinary guy without great strength or genius intellect, but he had a surprisingly fiery side. If he found out, he might charge straight at Tibel and cause a scene.
They were already unhinged enough to assassinate both her and Leon, so for his safety, she had no choice but to keep it from him.
But she couldn't hide it forever.
Besides, they were so short-staffed that she judged she needed his help too.
Tibel's side was still quiet for now, so they probably wouldn't touch Leon yet.
Before it got any worse.
'I have to protect Leon...'
Even if it meant sending him off as a son-in-law to another house.
That was when it happened.
Bam!!
"Ah... Young Lady!!"
A knight in charge of her guard burst in with a frantic shout.
"Hm?"
It was none other than Hapon, her personal guard and escort knight.
He had originally served the late Count Galeon Cascadia, but now swore loyalty to her.
"Sir Hapon, what is it?"
"You need to come outside!!"
His panicked cry sent unease surging through her.
Melissa shot up from her seat and rushed out, soon spotting two knights kneeling at the mansion's entrance.
"What in the world..."
"We're sorry! Young Lady!"
"Please kill us!!"
The two knights slammed their heads to the ground the moment they saw her.
"What happened?! Explain yourselves right now!!"
Her anxiety accelerated. Had Leon gotten into trouble? No, then where was he?
As all sorts of thoughts flooded her mind, the worst news struck her ears.
"Young Master Leon... it seems he's been kidnapped."
"What? Who the hell?! Don't tell me... Uncle? That bastard?!"
"Tibel Cascadia... it has to be his men. We were chasing the tails following the young master's orders, but it looks like they turned the tables on us..."
Right now, I was heading into a rundown underground hideout.
And knights were pressuring me from front and back, radiating a menacing aura.
"Keep moving."
"This is so blatant—they're not even hiding that they plan to lock me up. Hard to react to something this obvious."
The underground cave the knights dragged me to already held several other captives besides me.
From young boys and girls to adult men and women.
Varied types, but one thing was clear.
These people trapped here were likely relatives or loved ones of those running the count's businesses.
After a long trek, I reached a sturdy iron-barred cell.
"Get in if you don't want to get hurt."
The knights' actions brimmed with intent to chop me down if I resisted, noble scion or not. I entered without a fight and asked,
"Just gonna lock me up? Didn't Tibel say he was looking for me?"
"That's why I'm here, isn't it?"
The response didn't come from the knights.
"Still no manners whatsoever."
Footsteps echoed from the far end of the underground prison.
Soon, a man in his thirties with short grayish hair appeared, torch in hand.
"Long time no see, Leon."
He looked down at me with a cold face and said,
"If you'd just stayed hidden quietly, this wouldn't have happened..."
"Who released the cockroaches into our house?"
My uncle Tibel Cascadia wasn't there. But the man before me was someone I already knew.
Bishiri Cascadia, Tibel's eldest son, the one greedily trying to swallow Cascadia County whole.
A man who needed to be dealt with first to clean up the branch family.
That was his identity.
He'd inherited his father's wild ambitions, and he was also the reason I'd fully realized I had no talent for the sword in the past.
I'd always disliked my uncle for barging into the count's mansion and picking fights, but I hated this guy even more for directly harassing me and Melissa.
—You idiot, useless even with good blood. You're hopeless with a sword. Doesn't the count already know? For trash like you to be direct lineage—such an unfair world.
His words when I first picked up and swung a sword still lingered.
He'd spewed venom even when my father was alive; now that Father was gone, it was obvious he'd go berserk.
"So, where's Uncle, and why are you here?"
"Father's a busy man. Not idle enough to meet the likes of you."
"Then you must be free enough to come see me."
He let out a scoff at my taunt.
Bam!!!
Then he kicked the iron bars between us threateningly.
"Looks like you still don't grasp your situation. Do you even know where you are?"
"What else? Some hideout your lot put together."
I shrugged, found a spot, sat down leisurely, and leaned back against the wall.
On the way here, they'd dragged me to a forest outside the territory.
It would've taken quite some time to find this place on my own.
"You still don't seem to realize your position."
"Hostage, right?"
How could I not know from the moment they brought me here?
No, I'd known it would end this way from the start.
I'd followed without protest just to meet Tibel or Bishiri and confirm if they were truly insane.
Plus, I needed to find out where Berus's son was held.
In fact, before entering, I'd seen numerous iron cells.
And among the captives, one dwarf I suspected was Berus's son.
They'd handed me their hidden lair on a platter.
No need to rummage around complicatedly when they delivered it themselves.
Why refuse?
This was possible because they mistakenly thought I had no power.
No sane person would bring a time bomb into their heart.
"Hostage. Heh, yes, a hostage. One to force Father to receive full Border Count authority."
"You think Melissa will bring me to the negotiating table?"
"Who knows."
"So that's why all the businesses the count's house invests in are packing up and leaving lately. Gathered up the families of those who won't listen?"
"Why bother circling back when easy prey's at hand?"
"Confident you can handle the fallout?"
"With most of the capital nobles on our side, who'll listen to you?"
Definitely not just one or two.
To make Melissa the true Border Count, she'd need a kill list.
He plopped down on a chair a soldier brought and stared at me.
"Behave. Once that wench Melissa hands over authority, I might spare your life, even if not your sister's."
"Melissa's qualified to be Border Count, so she has to die?"
"Painful, but necessary. Legitimacy-wise, it should go to Father or me over her anyway."
I couldn't help but snort at his words.
"You lot, who shouldn't have any rights to the countship, bootlick the central nobles for a shot, and now you talk legitimacy? Well, yeah—the winner who spins the narrative best is the good guy. The loser becomes the villain."
"Quick on the uptake, good. Behave, and no harm will come to you."
He stood as if that was all, done talking.
"Once Father receives all authority, the formal Border Count appointment from the capital will come. From then on, Cascadia County will be managed by him, not you siblings."
"And after that, you'll inherit it?"
"Exactly."
He turned to leave.
"Watch him closely. Don't let him pull any stunts. Break a limb if he resists."
"Yes."
Some knights bowed their heads.
"Knew I'd seen those faces before. Guys who bailed from the count's house right after Father died. How long ago did you recruit them?"
Bishiri Cascadia left without a word to my question.
"Bishiri Cascadia."
I called out, halting his steps.
"I've got business now, so I'll let you go. But we'll meet again soon."
"No different from a yapping mutt."
Convinced I couldn't escape, he quickly vanished underground.
Left in the cell: five knights who looked like Aura Users.
Plus over ten regular soldiers.
Probably more forces waiting outside this underground lair.
I sat, closed my eyes, and slowly circulated my aura.
I was already exhausted from lack of sleep.
The stress was making my mood foul.
Maybe that's why the aura circulating in my body churned roughly, matching my temper.
'Librarian.'
I silently called the librarian through intent, and a question mark floated before my eyes.
The librarian's text seemed invisible to others.
'Any way to force sleep without the usual?'
[It is possible to forcibly lose consciousness by instantly cutting off aura circulation, but it is not recommended.]
Yeah, figured. With this much aura, one slip could cause an accident even I couldn't predict.
This overflowing aura with no outlet was a first for me too.
[However, accumulated fatigue from excessive activity should allow entry into sleep.]
So, basically, go wild till I'm worn out.