Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Debriefing at the Magic Tower
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Ssswick! Chalarak!
The long whip coiled up neatly, and the chakram with its razor-sharp edges, concealed in the gaps between the strands, vanished from sight.
"...I'll accept it. Any more fighting seems pointless."
At Sophia's words, several squad members' eyes widened in shock.
"C-Captain?!"
"Retreating and leaving the trolls behind?! What are you going to report to the clan?!"
Clearly unprepared for this outcome, the squad members' questions brimmed with urgency.
"Everyone, shut your mouths."
Vice-Captain Leona spoke up in Sophia's place, dismissing the squad members' doubts.
"Judgment rests solely with Captain Sophia. If she deems it correct, we follow orders. That's all there is to it."
"B-But...!"
"Since when have Heavenly Flower Squad members been allowed to question the captain's decisions at will?"
"...!"
Leona's sharp tone made it clear no further objections would be tolerated.
Even with the vice-captain laying down the law like that, there wasn't a single member in the Heavenly Flower Squad bold enough to openly rebel.
"If you understand, shut up and move fast. Treat the wounded, recover the bodies of the dead, and hurry back to Megalobria."
"Yes!"
The Heavenly Flower Squad responded crisply.
"What, do we have to help too?"
"Please read the room..."
The Latent Dragon Squad began assisting them as well.
Even as the Heavenly Flower and Latent Dragon Squad members bustled about under Leona's ironclad orders, the trolls paid no more attention to the martial clan's forces.
Their minds were fully occupied paying silent tribute to their fallen great warrior.
And so, the short but fierce war between the Black Rock Tribe and the Lichtenauer Martial Clan's strike force came to an end.
"...That's how we managed to escape the cave so smoothly. After that, we've just been walking toward Megalobria ever since. The birch trolls' scent clinging to our bodies kept other monsters at bay, so no worries there. I get that the ride wasn't comfortable. We made you a simple bed and carried you all this way without waking you—that's more than enough."
Sophia shrugged as she finished her tale.
Ian, having listened to the end, slowly nodded.
"...I see. Understood. Good work."
His bland response was almost embarrassing for the woman who'd just poured out the story.
Unable to bear it, Sophia shot back at him instead.
"...Aren't you going to ask? Why we didn't see it through to the end?"
Ian's expression turned odd at her question.
Her face flushed slightly at his look—like he'd heard the strangest thing—but she pressed on.
"Well, if it was Captain Sophia, I'm sure there was a reason. Even if it was a snap decision without one, I have no grounds to nitpick. I'd have made the same call myself."
"...So you, Second Young Lord Ian, would have made the same judgment? Mind if I ask what led you to that?"
"It was a dangerous spot for me, wasn't it? Pushing further would've gotten me killed."
Not wrong. But so superficial. A faint sense of disappointment crept in.
'...Wait. Why am I disappointed?'
Ian Second Young Lord had just given his own reasoning.
As Sophia paused amid her inner confusion...
His next words followed.
"Besides, throwing away this board where the magic tower can now manage the birch forest... that'd be downright stupid."
"...?!"
Sophia's eyes, dimmed by disappointment, refocused on Ian.
"Could you explain what you mean?"
"Isn't it obvious? The Black Rock Tribe trolls were dangerous only because of their central pillar, the Black Rock King. With him gone, the request is as good as fulfilled. Trolls without their king aren't that big a threat."
Just a bit more.
A little more.
If only a proper answer, even slightly so.
Unaware of her thoughts, Ian continued.
"So, leaving the trolls in the birch forest is far more rational. Troll blood is a key reagent for mages anyway. Wiping them out would strain the magic tower's supply lines—not ideal. And if other monsters try to claim the forest while the trolls hold it, we can spot the signs."
"..."
Perfect.
Ian had voiced exactly the reasons she'd thought of herself.
But one final check was needed.
"Not disappointed?"
"Disappointed? What do you mean?"
"Stopping the fight to use the trolls as magic reagents and a shield. It's like treating them as livestock or cannon fodder. Don't you find that harsh?"
Pfft!
Despite his pain, Ian couldn't help chuckling at Sophia's idealistic remark.
"Isn't that what war is?"
Yes. The natural outcome.
Victors take all; losers lose all.
That was war's essence—the Path of Domination's goal.
If they'd fallen to Black Rock King Attila's hand.
If he'd grown his forces and solidified control over the birch forest.
The adjacent magic tower wouldn't just lose troll blood; it'd suffer massive losses from an enemy magic barely pierced.
A weakened tower would shake the Lichtenauer Martial Clan and Aslan Kingdom's power in turn.
The end? The cataclysm's three great powers ravaging Aslan's lands.
Some might scoff—trolls causing that? Ridiculous.
But war was like that.
A small crack could ignite an uncontrollable blaze if ignored.
Lucas had ignored a minor poison, only to lose a major battle and his nation.
Ian, scarred by that past life, found Sophia's judgment utterly sound.
Yet her expression grew more complex at his words.
'...No way. The halfwit Second Young Lord... shares our mindset and judgment?'
Ian's answers came from a ruler's vantage.
Anyone could think it, but deciding instantly? Not just anyone.
The clan's stars.
Those expected to lead the clan's future—gazing at the world from the same height.
'...Second Young Lord. What... are you really?'
Unaware of her turmoil, Ian lay back comfortably on the shaking makeshift bed.
Sophia watched him with a strange look before heading back to the group's front, apparently done talking.
But she could never imagine.
Ian didn't view the world from the young stars' height.
But from far, far above them.
As their thoughts clashed, a tower piercing the heavens gradually came into view before Ian and Sophia's group.
Megalobria.
They had finally arrived in the magic tower's domain.
Ian and Sophia headed straight to Tower Master Rozelto's room upon arriving at the magic tower.
With the mission complete, meeting the client first was only natural.
Knock, knock!
"Come in."
Rozelto greeted Sophia and Ian from behind the door that opened at the knock.
"Welcome, Captain Sophia. I've been waiting."
Correction. He welcomed Sophia.
"My, the battle in the birch forest must have been fiercer than expected. Your beautiful face looks so weary."
It was unavoidable.
Missions took priority.
Rushing to the tower upon reaching Megalobria left the traces of fierce combat on their bodies.
But Sophia felt no shame; she boldly displayed her minor wounds.
"It was worth it."
The warrior she'd faced, Munjuk, had chilled her to the bone multiple times.
That alone made him a foe worth risking her life against.
She had no intention of hiding scars from such a battle.
"Hmm."
Rozelto's face fell awkwardly at Sophia's bold retort to his light tease.
"Well, that backfired. My apologies."
"No need."
"Right, to business. Can you brief me first on what happened in the forest?"
"..."
Rozelto asked Sophia to report, but she said nothing, just looking at Ian.
"Hm? Lady, you need to recount the forest events for the reward. Too exhausted to speak now? Rest first if so."
"No, Elder. It's not that."
Shaking her head slowly at his words, Sophia looked at Ian.
"Second Young Lord Ian, you tell it. No matter what anyone says, you earned the greatest merit this time."
"...?"
Rozelto and Ian's eyes both widened at her words.
Rozelto couldn't believe Ian had merits—he'd expected none.
Ian was stunned by Sophia crediting him so suddenly.
"No, Lady. What is this...?"
"Who do you think I am? I'm not the type to steal others' merits. That's for Manus."
Ian let out a deep sigh and rose from the sofa at Sophia's unyielding stance.
Looks like he'd have to handle the hassle himself this time.
"Where to start... It wasn't special at first. We split forces at the fork in the forest with Captain Sophia and..."
Ian's story continued until the midday sun dipped into sunset hues beyond the horizon.
Tower Master Rozelto, hearing it all, could scarcely believe it. Without Sophia's constant affirmations of truth, he'd have dismissed it as nonsense long ago.
At least make it believable.
The Second Young Lord soloing Black Rock King Attila?
'He expects me to believe that?'
Attila had survived a deathmatch with Iron Mask in the past.
How could such a monster fall to a mere teen's sword?
Fatigue crashed in from the unbelievable tale; Rozelto rubbed his temples and spoke.
"...I've heard enough of your account. I'll send people to the forest tomorrow to verify, then pay appropriate rewards. Go rest."
Dismissing them curtly, Rozelto pondered alone in the room, face pale.
'Did Second Young Lord Ian have a hidden card? Even so, there's a limit. This is like a different person.'
This forced the magic tower to rethink ties with the clan.
Some might say who leads the clan matters not to the tower.
Ignorance.
The tower and clan were Aslan's twin pillars against the cataclysm.
The clan's heir mattered greatly to the tower.
'...Headache. Verify truth first, then decide.'
He decided simply.
If lies, protest formally to the clan for mocking a tower elder.
But if true...
He might need another scenario for the clan's heir.
The rest would resolve after checking the forest tomorrow.