Chapter 35: The Easy Way to Make a Minion
My mood was strange.
Honestly, I didn't have much contact with Gaion.
Still, seeing him made me glad.
Especially with his gaunt face beaming like that—it made all the hardship worth it.
The only downside was not being able to fully reveal my exploits.
"A combat mage? What... You've been hiding until now?"
I deliberately played dumb.
In this war, the hero was Iron Mask.
I figured Gaion, who'd been stuck in the castle the whole time, wouldn't know the fine details.
But I'd underestimated Baron Sellevan's intelligence network.
"No need to play coy. Why pretend you don't know? If those massive arrows weren't yours, whose were they?"
"Ah, you must not know... There's this rising star called Iron Mask."
"Iron Mask? A rising star? Haven't seen you in ages, and your skin's gotten thicker than a fortress wall? Calling yourself a rising star... Pfft!"
Gaion chuckled, his thin face struggling to hold back laughter.
His tension must've eased—he was even cracking jokes, which he rarely did.
"A rising star! What an honor to have that great star right in front of me. Is your face plated in iron, hence the name? Come on, spill it."
I'd thought he knew nothing, but he seemed to know it all.
Looks like Baron Sellevan's side hadn't just hunkered down in the castle.
They must've planted spies in Viscount Haft's army.
"Well... about that..."
I lowered my voice, but Gaion waved it off like it was no big deal.
He'd already anticipated my concerns.
"I know what you're worried about, so don't fret. See? I kept the soldiers out on purpose."
"Ah, so that's why..."
"Not only did you rush here to help us, but you handled this mess too... Of course we owe you. Ah! This isn't the time to stand around. The Baron's waiting..."
Gaion started leading me to the lord.
But it wasn't necessary.
Baron Sellevan had already rushed over, forgetting all noble decorum, and was catching his breath.
"I never dreamed you'd return. It's as good as winning this war thanks to you! I'll never forget this favor. Truly, thank you, Mage Theo!"
He stepped forward and enveloped me in a rough embrace.
The war had just ended, so his emotions were running high.
His grip was no joke.
His eyes even seemed misty—hard to get used to.
This emotional side was a far cry from the man I'd seen before.
Then he pulled something from his bosom.
"This is the crest of House Mistain. Take it."
"Pardon? Why this...?"
"It's the sole token we give to benefactors of our house. As long as Mistain blood endures, you are our eternal ally."
A solid mithril crest engraved with the family symbol.
It looked luxurious at a glance.
But the real surprise...
This wasn't just a crest.
It was a lump of magic circuits.
Acquired an ancient artifact.
Sealed content detected.
View contents?
The system message confirmed it was something special.
But Baron Sellevan handing it over seemed oblivious.
I quietly tucked it away.
Refusing would be rude.
"I gratefully accept."
"If there's anything you want, name it. I'll grant whatever I can."
"Ah, then... not here, but do you have a warehouse or something?"
"A warehouse?"
"Yes. I have items I need disposed of. Too much for me alone..."
Baron Sellevan and Gaion led me to a nearby warehouse, then watched in stunned silence as I emptied my deep space pouch.
Clatter-rumble-crash—
"Ah, still more?"
"These are just the immediately usable ones... I hid the food separately. Can you handle that too?"
"Food? Did you say food?!"
"You brought food all the way from Asterium? Remarkable foresight!"
At the word "food," Baron Sellevan's eyes lit up, as did Gaion's.
The castle's food shortage must've hit hard—they showed more interest than in weapons or gear.
But they were misunderstanding, so I corrected them.
"Not bought... It's Viscount Haft's supplies."
"Ah, supplies! With this many weapons, the food stash can't be huge... A cartload, maybe?"
"A single cart? That's... a bit off."
Seeing my hesitation, Gaion stepped in.
They were definitely misunderstanding.
"Cutting off the enemy's supplies and grabbing these weapons is achievement enough. Snagging a cartload of food in that chaos is unrealistic..."
"Ah, right. You'd have burned their rations. I know. Just wishful thinking. The forest monsters must be feasting."
"War's over—merchants will come soon. We'll pay through the nose, but no choice."
At "merchants," their faces darkened.
They were worried about the gouging.
Seeing their concern, I figured it was time to clear the misunderstanding.
"I didn't burn any."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"The food. I didn't torch it. Except when unavoidable."
Silence fell.
They needed time to process the unbelievable words.
Gaion broke it first.
"So... you captured all their food?"
"Not all, but..."
"How much exactly? As much as these weapons? That alone would tide us over..."
Gaion ventured cautiously.
I shook my head.
If it were that little, I wouldn't have hidden it separately.
"Way more. In carts... maybe around a hundred."
"Wh-what?!"
"What did you say? A hundred? I didn't mishear?!"
Their voices exploded.
Baron Sellevan flushed beet red.
He must have facial flushing like Lena.
"Wh-where?! The food!"
It was hidden not far from the castle, so I told them the spot.
Baron Sellevan bellowed, veins bulging in his neck.
"Supply officer! No, Seize! Get Seize—now!"
Soldiers scrambled like Viscount Haft's forces were attacking again.
Townsfolk trembled in unease.
But Baron Sellevan's smile wouldn't fade.
His gaze toward me sparkled intensely—almost burdensome.
"You've saved our territory twice. No, three times. I must reward Seize for bringing you here."
"Glad I could help."
"So, when were you going to tell me? Just checking, but sadly, I have no daughter."
What was he on about?
I could only tilt my head at Baron Sellevan's words.
Business was wrapped up—what else to say?
"What you want. You haven't said yet."
"I did earlier..."
"Disposing loot? That's no reward. If anything, I'm grateful—especially the food... Words can't express it."
Baron Sellevan spoke plainly now.
Yet his face showed regret as he continued.
"Pushed you too hard right after returning. Take a few days to think."
"Ah, yes. Understood."
"Don't say something half-hearted out of politeness. House Mistain may be a humble barony now, but we once ruled the continent."
Baron Sellevan smoothly transitioned into family boasting.
Nobles gonna noble.
The brag flowed naturally, automatically.
"Yawn! How many days has it been?"
I'd crashed hard.
Felt like coming home.
Lena was waiting, same as ever, though her flushing had flared up again today.
"Theo-nim! This is amazing! How can you see distant objects without magic circuits? Your original magic? But originals require 5th-class mages... How did you...?"
With the war over, or maybe more time together, Lena chattered more.
Her looks seemed to glow brighter too.
Her beaming smile was dizzying.
"Hm, not magic—scientific... Anyway, just a simple device. Not magic."
I snapped to and whipped up a basic telescope for her.
A tactical scope with range-engraved lenses.
Essentially a sniper scope.
Lena might need it for ultra-long-range Sunogi shots.
Vital for her without system aim assist.
Didn't expect this reaction.
Second day she'd been playing with it.
"Oh, and Seize left a box. Payment for the goods."
"Ah, he came? Why not wake me?"
"He... said heroes need their sleep. Don't wake him."
Embarrassment surged; I rubbed my dry face.
Wake-up call indeed.
Hunter days made "hero" a bad fit.
Didn't deserve it.
"Hero, huh..."
I shook my head, got up, and opened the box.
Gold blinded me.
More than expected.
A lot more.
"Wha? This much?"
"First time seeing so many gold coins. Are we rich...?"
"About 1,000 gold... Plus gold bars? These 100-gold ones? Twenty of them? Jackpot."
With the coins: gold bars.
Heard of 'em, first time seeing.
Each worth 100 gold, per memory.
100 million a pop.
"Seize said he put in generously... Baron Sellevan really cherishes you, Theo-nim."
"War pays, huh... Maybe just chase wars?"
"Still, that's a bit... Ah! Seize said the Baron awaits your answer."
Probably on the reward.
Time to meet Baron Sellevan soon.
Count Arno stuff too—better explain ahead.
"Let's head out. How's it outside?"
I asked Lena about the situation.
War just ended—still chaotic.
But she'd said the vibe had cleared up these past days.
"People are flooding in! Merchants keep coming."
"Merchants?"
"War just ended... Prime business for them."
Post-war territories crave supplies.
They were swarming for it.
But Lena's next words demanded attention.
"Um... Lots of slave traders too."
"Slave traders?"
"Yes. War's fresh—tons of captured stragglers and deserter mercenaries. They're thrilled."
Lena harbored ill will toward slave traders.
Fair enough.
But I couldn't miss this chance.
The most reliable way to make minions in this world?
Visit a slave trader.