Chapter 15
The north right now... “Kuhuhu.”
-Kyu-woong…?
“Kuhaha, kuhuhu.”
-Kyuu-woong….
Kyu-ing stared at me weirdly as I laughed. But I didn't care how Kyu-ing saw me—I just couldn't hold back the laughter bubbling up. Hey, if you're happy, not laughing would be the weird thing.
Behold. This magnificent sight.
I flung open the doors of an unused warehouse beside the manor. Inside was the beautiful form that had me grinning like an idiot.
“This is it. This is it.”
The warehouse was piled high with unprocessed topaz ore. If this wasn't beautiful, what was?
...What? Where's the kidnapped beauty tied up in the warehouse? Pfft, tsk tsk. Can't believe you'd think like that. Live a wholesome life, folks.
Anyway, even I was shocked to see this empty warehouse filled with topaz. It was beyond my expectations.
My plan was to mine topaz solo first to build up startup funds, then hire territory folk for full-scale operations. But the residents volunteered as mining slaves... er, laborers!
Sure, it was just a verbal agreement to help out initially, but they went into the mines without demanding wages. Thanks to them, my timeline got slashed.
Honestly, I was a bit scared. Thought they were luring me to the mine to bury me alive.
Who'd volunteer for unpaid labor otherwise? Still, I trusted them like grasping a rope in the dark, and they really did mine away in silence. Enough topaz piled up for my startup funds.
So I told my verbal contract workers... er, child laborers... they could take a break for now. Plus, selling more from the mine needed prep anyway. Timing was perfect all around.
How could I not laugh?
“Right, Kyu-ing? We can finally see the path ahead. Kuhuhu.”
-Kyu-woong, kyung!
“What's wrong, Kyu-ing? It's good news. Why you keep sulking?”
-Kyu-woong…! Kyu-wut! Kyu-ing thrashed around, refusing to match my good mood. Ever since I came back from the mine, it'd been like this—I had no idea why.
At first, it kept buzzing in front of me, messing with my work, so I shooed it off to play far away. Now it was stuck in this state.
“Sigh, if only you could talk. Bugs can only make sounds...”
-Kyuuu-wuut!!
The headbutt was familiar now. No pain, but seeing Kyu-ing do it made me feel how much it'd grown. Not as big as during the mine monster fight, but at least three times larger than at first.
“Why'd it get so huge in the mine?”
No answers despite pondering. Better to focus on territory business than dwell.
-Kyu-woong….
I ignored Kyu-ing's disappointed vibe and gazed at the topaz ore. Then stepped outside the manor to survey the lifeless territory.
“Ha... damn. Guess I gotta head north after all.”
Selling topaz regularly and reviving the territory's vitality—all answers lay north.
Sure, I didn't have to go. I could sell cheap bit by bit, save slowly, pioneer the deep desert with monsters, find an oasis. Sound good?
Fucking impossible, that's what.
But there was an easy snap-of-the-fingers way. North had a mage who craved quality topaz. North hid a dragon heart that made ice.
I knew this info. So why hesitate? The topaz-hungry mage was a heroine's master. The dragon heart was the hero's canon loot.
Either way, meddling in the original plot. And no What if I had no past-life memories? excuses worked—I never showed up north anyway. Just going would derail the story.
Still, reasons for considering it: Meet the mage, avoid his disciple—the hero's childhood friend—and it'd be fine. The master mage dies north anyway. Trading topaz might save him.
Plot changes, but a near-archmage surviving? Unlikely to go bad. He'd be a solid ally for Arthur's crew.
The ice-making dragon heart? Hero gets it but doesn't power up or use for heroines. Hears its backstory, stashes it elsewhere. Reduces northern chill as a bonus. Unused by hero, vanishes from north.
So I could snag it, no issue.
“Kyu-ing, what do you think?”
-Kyung.
Asked if we should go north—got a half-assed noise.
“Tch, totally useless as always.”
-Kyu-woong!!!
Of course, I didn't forget Kyu-ing let me kill monsters. This was just WWE banter.
Hm...? Forgot something?
Recalling Kyu-ing's mine help jogged a vague feeling.
Eh, probably nothing.
Truth: End-of-fight memories with the monster were fuzzy. Just remembered near-death pain, pouring everything to cleave its magic stone.
Good enough. Key was killing it.
I shut the warehouse doors and headed back to the office to mull it over. Go north or not?
Answer was probably set already. Hesitating meant I still lacked lordly resolve.
“Alright, decided. I'm...”
The continent's north. Snow half the year, endless monster outbreaks.
Not just imperial forces—precious personnel from other kingdoms filled it too. Reason: Years ago, northern monsters surged, claiming more lives.
But it wasn't mere population boom. Omen of the Demon King's birth, long foretold.
Proof: Continental god Pel chose a boy as Hero. He trained at the academy, reached north.
Everyone thought the monster war would end.
But.
“You have to endure the pain! It'll regenerate, so absolutely don't touch it!”
“Saintess...! This one's suddenly convulsing...!”
“One moment! I'm coming right now!”
The north was far from hopeful now. Constant injuries from monster fights, but today's were different.
They'd fought a battle needing more troops—with shortages. More casualties.
Not from skimping empires, kingdoms, or church. Even snarling rivals poured everything into the north against the Demon King.
So why short on combatants?
“It's all my fault...”
“Arthur...”
A bit away from Cecily, the self-blaming man was culprit. His childhood friend Hera patted his back lightly.
“...Hero.”
“...Kuhk, Saintess... I have no face left...”
The Hero spoke to the saintess without lifting his head.
Haa... God...
Severely wounded needed saintess's divine power for full recovery. She'd used today's quota and strength, so she approached the Hero to catch her breath.
“Hero, do you now see that rushing a month ago... was wrong?”
“...Back then, I thought we had to kill the leader fast...”
“You're right—the leader must be taken quickly. But... it needs scouting and planning.”
A month ago. When Cecily was still in Toypus Earldom.
Arthur spotted the leader monster. Leaders command their kind, grow cunning over time—must eliminate ASAP.
But Arthur fixated, ignoring abilities, numbers, positions. Pushed with sheer force.
Result: 20% dead, 40% injured.
Cecily raced north on horseback, scolded him. But until then, the Hero...
If the leader grows stronger... it had to be done. My power could've won one-on-one. And I did...
Losses hurt, but necessary, he believed. Overflowing confidence in his strength.
Time passed. Reduced forces meant easy fights now caused more injuries, longer battles. Changed his mind.
“Saintess... Arthur's... reflecting deeply too...”
Hera defended him. Not because no big mistake, but she knew his sincerity.
...Hera's right. Too much scolding poisons.
Cecily calmed inwardly, smiled gently at the Hero.
“Let's go eat.”
“You forgive me...?”
“...If you never repeat it. And seek forgiveness from the soldiers, not me.”
“Right... I'll apologize to them later...”
“Good. Hera, you too.”
“Y-Yes!”
That night, Cecily, Hera, and Arthur dined. Menu: meat stew, bread, wild berries.
“Saintess, no more?”
Stew bowls were small. Even kids refilled multiple times. Cecily ate one.
Since north... no, post-Toypus, food stuck in her throat.
“No thank you. No appetite.”
“...But Saintess, you need strength. I get tired of it too, out so often.”
“Tired of it...”
She'd once whined at church about repetitive meals. Now ashamed, reflective.
Arthur's words recalled a man who'd never complain at daily meat stew.
“Eat up, Hero. Precious to some.”
Cecily replied sharply, left. Hera and Arthur alone.
“Saintess still mad...”
“...Can't blame her. My fault.”
Hera and Arthur didn't know why Cecily snapped.