Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Chapter 8: Fissure (1)
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“What about the others?”
“Lord Wilhelm von Fezex and Lord Oliver von Bittenfeld arrived just a short while ago.”
“I see. By the way, just call me Father from now on. No need to stand on ceremony when it’s just the two of us.”
“Understood, Father.”
“That’s much better. But are you eating properly? You look worn out.”
“I’m more worried about you, Father. Your hair has more white in it than before.”
Kallain looked at Matheus with eyes full of concern.
His hair had once proudly blazed like flames in vivid red, but now it was streaked with white in places.
It was the clearest proof that Matheus was under immense stress from the current situation.
“Hoo.”
Matheus let out a light sigh at his only son’s worry.
Then he crooked his right index finger.
Woooong.
Space rippled, and a barrier unfurled around them.
There was no one nearby, but they couldn’t afford to be careless.
The conversation they were about to have wouldn’t do anyone any good if it reached other ears.
“Is the young lord still just going back and forth between the dungeon and the Overlord’s Chamber?”
“Yes. He hasn’t taken a single day off, to the point where it’s hard to even catch a glimpse of him. Thanks to that, his reputation among the adventurers is rising day by day.”
“The young lord certainly knows how to win the hearts of the masses. At this rate, the citizens will support him unwaveringly.”
“The masses?”
“...It seems you still have a long way to go before you can catch up to the young lord, Kallain.”
Disappointment tinged Matheus’s low voice.
Kallain’s face hardened as he realized it.
His own father, whom he respected more than anyone, had just said he was inferior to Martin.
A surge of anger rose in him for a moment, but Kallain forcibly suppressed it.
He couldn’t show an even more pathetic side to his father, who had already expressed disappointment once.
Knowing his son’s feelings, Matheus continued without mentioning Martin further.
“You know adventurers mainly operate in dungeons, but that’s not all there is to it.”
“Yes. Stabilizing regions where noble influence doesn’t reach properly and protecting commoners—that’s also an adventurer’s duty.”
“That’s right. So adventurers who aren’t from noble backgrounds are inevitably close to the commoners by nature. It’s only natural since they themselves come from common stock. In any case, the key point is that they wield great influence over the citizens.”
“...Now I understand what you mean, Father. A good reputation among adventurers translates directly to support from the commoners for the young lord. That’s why you mentioned the masses.”
“Exactly.”
Matheus nodded with a faint smile.
His son had a narrow field of vision, but he possessed the talent to become an excellent ruler.
That was why Matheus wanted to fulfill the family’s long-cherished wish in his own generation, no matter what.
He believed his son could lead the new Adalbert family splendidly.
“After the Magic Age began and various weapons were developed, commoners could take to the battlefield as well. They can’t compare to nobles, but their combat power backed by overwhelming numbers couldn’t be ignored easily. Aware of that fact, they began demanding their rights confidently.”
“I have no intention of dismissing commoners themselves. But no matter what they say, they can’t change the overall tide, can they?”
“You’re right—they lack the power to shift the tide. But they can certainly solidify a tide that’s already been decided.”
“Ah...”
“The young lord was quicker than anyone to notice that this monster wave is different from before. He boldly waived fees to rapidly gather adventurers, and as a result, the Adalbert territory has suffered almost no civilian casualties, unlike other places.”
“...To the people of Adalbert territory, the young lord must already be no different from the family head.”
“That’s how it is. That’s why I have so many worries. One misstep, and our generation might fail to achieve the family’s wish.”
“Now I fully understand your concerns, Father. But I think you’re worrying too much.”
Kallain’s voice rose just a fraction.
Matheus didn’t point it out and simply stared at his son.
“Do you really think so?”
“Yes. Our family’s alliance with the Bittenfeld and Fezex families is rock-solid. Elder Oriana may have defected, but the other elders still support us. And you have connections to the central nobles as well. I don’t think the young lord can break through all that.”
“Valdemar thought the same—and he fell to the young lord in the blink of an eye.”
“That was...”
“You must acknowledge it now. The young lord has the qualifications to become the master of this vast domain. Of course, I’ll do everything in my power to stop him, but set that aside and remember this: We must be cautious now.”
“...Understood.”
Matheus patted his son’s shoulder lightly before heading toward the White Dragon’s Chamber.
He didn’t forget to resolve to stay as much out of Martin’s sight as possible.
But his intentions quickly came to naught.
Martin arriving later than scheduled already displeased him.
What truly grated on his nerves was something else.
Thud. Thud.
Martin showed up late yet paid no mind to the others’ reactions.
Even Sien, who appeared with him, stood casually behind Vincent.
Meanwhile, Martin strode in with unabashed confidence and sat on the White Dragon Throne as if it were the most natural thing.
Then he looked down at the people gathered in the White Dragon’s Chamber.
With a bright smile, as if he found it all amusing.
‘It’s going to be an unpleasant time.’
Matheus sighed inwardly.
* * *
Numerous people had gathered in the White Dragon’s Chamber.
But Martin’s gaze was fixed on specific individuals.
‘Nice.’
Martin smiled genuinely.
Matheus von Gustin, Oliver von Bittenfeld, Wilhelm von Fezex.
Along with Elders Aren, Marius, and Oriana.
Just a couple of months ago, they had openly looked down on him.
But now?
Every one of them stared up at him with a sour expression, not uttering a single word of complaint.
They all recognized that the positions had completely reversed.
‘It can’t be helped.’
He had stopped Valdemar von Rustal’s rebellion.
He had predicted this unprecedented monster wave faster than anyone and minimized the damage.
Even with just his bloodline and unique ability, he was fully qualified to be family head—now bolstered by monumental achievements.
The tide had fully turned, and their paths to legitimately claiming the White Dragon Throne had vanished completely.
They had only two choices.
Give up and submit, or rebel.
Of course, he knew they would choose the latter.
“First, I apologize for being late. The dungeon situation was so dire that I lost track of time. My sincere apologies.”
Bow.
Martin leaned forward slightly from his chair.
It seemed like a polite gesture at a glance, but both he and those receiving it knew the truth.
It was mockery.
Still, the elders and branch family heads maintained their composure.
In contrast, their followers trembled with rage.
They hastily reined in their emotions upon realizing their mistake.
“Then let’s begin the meeting in earnest.”
He might be sitting on the White Dragon Throne, but he was still just the young lord.
Within the Adalbert family, his position was equal to that of the elders and branch family heads.
Without an official title, he needed to observe decorum.
“A lot of information has come out over the past two days, so everyone should know by now. This monster wave is on a whole different level from previous ones.”
Monster waves had occurred simultaneously in the four dungeon cities of the Alteria Empire, including Barehain City.
The monsters’ aggression and combat abilities had become terrifyingly enhanced.
Barehain City had suffered minimal damage thanks to Martin’s leadership in quickly forming a defensive line with adventurers, but the other cities had fallen into great chaos with massive casualties.
“But defense alone won’t solve anything.”
“As the young lord says. There’s only one way to resolve this: destroy the core. The problem is that things are different this time.”
Dungeons are vast, but finding the core is relatively easy.
The floor where the core appears has a completely altered landscape, impossible to miss.
That’s why until now, Adalbert family members or adventurers had pushed downward by defeating monsters, eventually manifesting and destroying the core.
But not this time.
The monsters were far too powerful.
If the core was before the 20th floor, it was manageable.
Even stronger, they weren’t completely beyond handling.
The issue was when it was deeper.
If the core was down there, they might suffer heavy losses from lack of firepower and be forced to retreat.
“I agree on that point. With the monsters so much stronger, even descending the floors is difficult. Naturally, spotting the core floor becomes harder too.”
“It’s a relief you recognize the situation. Rather than rushing down recklessly, we should focus on defense and gather our forces as much as possible.”
Vincent’s opinion was undoubtedly sound.
But Martin had no intention of following it.
‘I know where it is.’
That fact was crucial.
And information should always be used to one’s advantage.
“Lord Vincent’s opinion is certainly correct. But the more passively we act, the greater the civilian casualties. It’ll also strain each family’s finances. To resolve this quickly, both the main and branch families must step up aggressively.”
At those words, the elders and branch family heads smirked.
He was openly demanding their sacrifice.
Of course, they had no intention of complying.
‘We don’t want the dungeon or Barehain City to be utterly destroyed, but that doesn’t mean we need to help him.’
‘First, whittle down his and Vincent’s forces as much as possible. We can move our own afterward.’
Overthrowing Martin, who had already solidified the tide, was no easy task.
So they needed to make him commit a blunder first.
One big enough to overshadow all his past merits.
Martin, of course, knew their true intentions and didn’t expect them to just go along.
‘But can they keep up the same attitude with bait thrown their way?’
Martin was confident.
They absolutely couldn’t.
With that thought, he cast the bait.
“Those who earn merit deserve fitting rewards—that’s a noble’s duty, isn’t it? So, to whoever destroys the core, I’ll grant the old Rustal territory and make them its lord.”
“Gasp!”
“A lordship!”
The room erupted in commotion the moment Martin finished speaking.
And understandably so—it was a chance to become a true noble with actual territory, not just a title without land.
The elders’ eyes wavered greatly in particular.
What had been their reason for trying to oust Martin and ally with the branch families from the start?
To gain territory and become real nobles.
Now that moment had arrived, how could they not waver?
“That’s not all. Those who become lords this time will be independent lords, separate from the Adalbert family. Of course, as northern nobles, they can’t completely escape the influence of the Adalbert family, our alliance leader.”
Having said that much, the elders had no choice but to shake.
All territories in the empire already had owners, and there was no situation calling for expeditions to foreign lands.
In the midst of this, a prime piece of land had appeared, and nothing was better for manipulating the elders.
He had bait for the branch family heads too.
Martin gazed at the three excluding Vincent and spoke.
“I have one more proposal for the branch family heads. If one of you destroys the core, I’ll immediately dissolve the lord-vassal relationship. I’ll permit your independence, of course. And I’ll grant you the Rustal territory as well, while recommending you for a noble rank upgrade.”
Tremble.
The branch family heads wavered as well.
‘Can you suppress your greed?’
No way.
Martin laughed inwardly.