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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“What do you think, Sir Atrok?”
“…As you wish, my lord.”
“You don’t object?”
“His words are sound. He’s making a fair offer, one that’s clearly disadvantageous to him, even though he could demand more. However, he remains a warlock. There could be a hidden motive.”
‘That damned warlock stigma…’
While I had anticipated this since I first accepted demonic energy, I couldn’t help but feel irritated.
“However, I see no deception in his proposal. I can only interpret it as an offer solely for the benefit of Lineta County.”
“Indeed. And what he’s asking for in return is currently meaningless. We’re in no position to demand he fulfill his duties as a recognized warlock.”
A recognized warlock was indeed bound to the appointing lord.
However, even a recognized warlock wouldn’t build a magic tower in such a dangerous place and constantly fight for the county’s defense.
Warlocks weren’t known for such selflessness. They were usually only called upon in times of dire need.
Furthermore, my situation was unique, making such demands even more difficult.
Excessive interference was indeed problematic. That’s why my proposal was focused on the future, not the present.
However, I made this offer now partly because of the dragon research, and also because I wanted to establish a firm foundation within the kingdom.
The Six-Kingdom Alliance wanted to completely eliminate the Holy Empire’s influence, and this kingdom was the safest place for me to operate.
‘Ultimately, it’s all for my benefit.’
While they would also gain significantly, I wouldn’t be losing anything.
Prina, the lord, fell into deep thought.
Then, she looked up and said,
“I accept your offer.”
Sir Atrok, the old knight, bowed his head, accepting her decision.
I smiled and replied,
“A wise decision.”
“Mage Do Inha, as long as your actions do not ‘clearly’ harm the kingdom, our house, or the county, I guarantee your magic tower complete autonomy. We will not interfere as long as the monsters from the Barren Lands do not encroach upon the county. We will formally document this agreement.”
It was the outcome I desired.
Thus, I secured the right to use the Barren Lands and its surrounding area.
If anyone learned the details of this agreement, they would likely say that it was no different from receiving a fief and becoming a lord.
“We can provide the materials needed to build the tower. The royal family has offered to send them. They’ve also offered to provide laborers. However…”
“You want me to ensure their safety.”
“Indeed.”
After receiving confirmation of the formalized agreement, Prina invited us to dinner.
There was no reason to refuse, and building a good relationship with the lord of the land where I would be staying was essential, so I gladly accepted.
Despite the castle’s poor condition, they had prepared a decent meal, though it was a rather modest feast considering it was a count’s household.
However, there was no need to make Prina uncomfortable by pointing it out, and frankly, it was a sumptuous meal, so we finished without complaint.
After dinner, we moved to a more comfortable setting for a serious discussion.
“My first priority is also clearing out the monsters.”
“The monsters in the Barren Lands are more than they appear. We’ve cleared them out once before, but it was pointless.”
She explained that an overwhelming number of monsters migrated there, seemingly out of nowhere.
“And there are many monsters underground as well.”
She wasn’t exaggerating when she said there was more than met the eye.
“Do Inha, I don’t mean to underestimate your skills. You’re a genius who reached 5th circle at such a young age, and your skills are recognized even by the royal family. However, the Barren Lands…”
It wasn’t a place a single 5th circle mage could conquer.
She said it would be difficult even with Kayla, a warrior nearing Master level, by my side.
‘I expected as much.’
For the formalized non-interference agreement to be effective, I had to completely secure the Barren Lands.
It wasn’t an easy task, and I deserved appropriate compensation for such an undertaking.
They had agreed to such an unreasonable demand, formalizing it, precisely because it was so difficult.
“I’m aware of that. Securing that place alone won’t be easy.”
Slowly. Initially, progress would be slow.
“I won’t ask for assistance. I’ll handle it myself. Just observe for now.”
“…Indeed. In the past, provoking them resulted in significant retaliation, but even that has diminished now.”
Most of the county had become monster territory.
Any repercussions would be borne by the monsters themselves.
Of course, there was a minimal defensive line.
However, the problem was that it was too far back.
Therefore, the consequences of my failure would fall upon the monsters.
Even as she spoke, Prina’s words were laced with self-deprecation.
“By the way, the knights in this county seem quite old. Are there no young knights?”
“There aren’t. They all left.”
Prina replied in a strangely calm voice.
The old knight closed his eyes with a somber expression.
“I understand. They wouldn’t want to stay in a hopeless county like this at such a young age.”
“It seems the more they trained as knights and fought monsters, the more they realized this county was hopeless. They contacted other territories and left one by one.”
Prina chuckled wryly, saying it happened during the previous lord’s time.
“Things were much better back then. At least we were holding onto all seven castles. But the situation gradually worsened, and we had to abandon them one by one. We received all sorts of support to reclaim them, but…”
It wasn’t enough, and they incurred debt.
“We paid it all back. But we had to give up all but three castles in exchange.”
They had given them up in advance, knowing they wouldn’t be able to hold onto them anyway.
Numerous villagers left the county, and some were completely isolated, surviving amidst the monsters.
Of course, many had died.
Furthermore, two of the remaining three castles were strategically essential for defense and were maintained through royal support, so effectively, only this main castle remained.
The previous lord, unable to bear the situation, eventually fell ill and died.
“He was my father.”
The previous lord’s incompetence wasn’t solely to blame for the current state of affairs.
It was the culmination of decades, even centuries, of accumulated problems. It was bound to happen eventually. Therefore, even Prina couldn’t blame her father entirely.
While the loss of the castles happened during his time, the county had been shrinking, and villages had been disappearing long before that.
If she wanted to blame someone, she would have to blame generations of her ancestors.
“After my father passed away, I had no choice but to inherit the title of lord.”
She was only fifteen at the time.
“I had a younger sibling, but they were too young.”
Her sibling was currently only ten years old, less than half her age.
Her mother had died from illness shortly after giving birth to her sibling.
Therefore, she and her sibling were the only remaining members of House Lineta.
“Thanks to the royal family’s goodwill, they’re currently living safely in the capital.”
They were receiving a proper education.
She even received letters occasionally.
“Was that too heavy of a story?”
“I thought you should know, Do Inha. We’re in the same boat now. So, what do you think? After hearing all this, do you still believe our county can recover?”
The situation was certainly dire.
Lineta County had once been prosperous.
They had held seven castles.
‘I was quite surprised.’
I hadn’t realized they were once so powerful.
However, now they were at rock bottom.
They only effectively controlled one castle, and two were essentially occupied by the royal family.
Considering the royal family’s goodwill towards Lineta, they might return them once the situation improved, but they would likely demand compensation for their protection.
And most of the population had either died or left…
‘And the remaining villages were either self-sufficient or surviving by serving as relay points along supply routes.’
It was no wonder we hadn’t seen any proper villages on our way here.
We had traveled directly from Doriem to Lineta.
Since there was practically no interaction between Doriem and Lineta, no one used that route.
Therefore, it wasn’t an environment where villages could thrive.
‘They would have abandoned their villages long ago.’
Some would have taken refuge within the main castle.
It seemed they didn’t even have any money left after paying off their debts.
Their only military force consisted of a few aging knights, and their population was small.
They didn’t seem to have any talented individuals either. If they did, the old knight wouldn’t still be by the lord’s side.
Their finances were also in shambles.
All they had left was their name and the faint backing of the royal family.
It was understandable to give up.
But despite all this, I calmly replied,
“…You have remarkable confidence.”
“I’ll prove it with results. I’ll depart for the Barren Lands tomorrow. Please provide me with a map and some food supplies.”
“…Very well.”
“If my companion arrives, please send them to the Barren Lands immediately.”
“That won’t be a problem.”
There was nothing else I needed to ask of Prina for now.
Or rather, she didn’t have the resources to fulfill any further requests.
Therefore, I chose to depart for the Barren Lands as soon as possible.
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Watching the departing carriage, Prina Lineta asked,
“Do you think they can conquer the Barren Lands?”
“…It will be difficult. However…”
Sir Atrok, the old knight, replied to Prina Lineta, his lord.
“They’re not ordinary people. I don’t know much about warlocks, but the two warriors beside him were exceptional. Especially the young woman… Kayla, was it?”
The old knight narrowed his eyes, as if recalling her.
“She was truly powerful. Even in my prime, I’m not sure I could have handled her…”
“Was she that strong?”
Prina looked surprised at Atrok’s words.
She knew Atrok as a high-ranking Expert, a knight who was once renowned as the strongest in the county.
He had once been expected to reach Master level, and while he hadn’t overcome that wall, his skills, honed through years of service and countless battles, were well-known, even to the young Prina.
While they only had a few knights remaining, they had stayed because of this old knight.
She knew that if Atrok succumbed to old age, or even if he simply retired, the remaining knights would likely follow suit.
“For such a person to follow a warlock…”
Prina Lineta recalled the eyes of the man who had spoken of her house’s revival.
Exotic features, black hair and eyes.
-It’s possible.
‘Perhaps…’
She didn’t expect a full revival.
Just maintaining the status quo… at least until her younger sibling came of age…
She wanted to hold on until then.
If that wasn’t possible, she intended to give up while they still had something to offer.
Just as her father had abandoned the castles to repay their debts, she planned to sell the county to secure her sibling’s future.
But then, a lifeline appeared.
She fell into deep thought. Her house had been offered lifelines several times before.
However, all their struggles had ended in failure.
Therefore, she was afraid.
If they failed again… would there be anything left to sell?
She agonized over the decision. And… in the end, she took the lifeline.
No, she had no choice but to take it.
She didn’t know what the royal family would do if she refused.
Hoping they would give her ten years, she grasped the lifeline.
And the one who offered it had set off to challenge the seemingly impossible.
“Please…”
Just a little longer… Complete success wasn’t necessary.
Just ten years. Just ten years.
All she could do was pray.
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“So this is the Barren Lands.”
Kayla spoke, looking down from the empty castle.
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