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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
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Chapter 89: The Tiara of Countess Ellicella Webern
Venion and I went outside the castle for ‘practice" as previously announced. The sun had already set, and it was the time when the dwellers of the night were stretching.
Wearing masks suitable for a masquerade ball and capes that concealed our figures, we walked through the downtown area.
'What on earth is he going to make me do?'
Is he going to have me infiltrate some underworld organization and take someone's head?
"Young Master. Among the virtues required of the successor of Grunewald, what proportion do you think martial prowess holds?"
Venion, who had been silent, suddenly threw out a topic.
"Well, it's important, but it wouldn't be the top priority, would it?"
"It's not just not the top priority, but in my opinion, martial prowess is only the 4th or 5th priority."
"That's quite a bold opinion."
I was curious about this man's insights.
"Why do you think so?"
“Allow me to put it this way. Even if Young Master Verdzig and Young Master Karl’s martial abilities were completely reversed, the current political landscape wouldn’t differ significantly.”
Venion smiled beneath his mask.
“In the northern kingdom of warriors, Brishmar, the strongest naturally takes the throne. But Grunewald is different.”
I quietly nodded.
"I suppose so."
"Of course, I don't mean that martial prowess is unimportant. Looking at the Clan's history, the head of the Clan's martial prowess has generally been among the top five in Grunewald."
"Then it seems that the secret martial arts are not necessarily given only to the head of the Clan?"
"Yes. However, the direct line who inherits those martial arts must swear an oath of loyalty to the head of the Clan and keep that oath under the supervision of the Council of Elders."
"Indeed."
"After all, the secret manuals are eternal. Even if they are not passed down orally, they can be passed down again."
I listened silently to Venion's words and then asked.
"This is suspicious. Why are you telling me this at this point?"
"Haha."
Venion laughed as if asking why I would ask such a thing.
"It's because other qualities are much more necessary than martial prowess today."
"Those words are indeed something to look forward to."
"Young Master, as you know, the Duchy of Grunewald is the foremost powerful nation among the many feudal states of this Litvaleur. It has power that even the royal family cannot disregard."
That's right. That was the reason why I decided to become the head of this Clan in order to gain the power to avenge the Shadow King.
"That means Grunewald has an unimaginably complex organizational chart. It's not just a story that ends with the head of the Clan and the Council of Elders who assist him, with the government and military branches below them, and various organizations positioned below them again…"
I nodded.
"For example, even to operate a single navy, many people would be needed, from the regular army, the reserves, the personnel in charge of their supplies and the personnel in charge of managing their personal information, the personnel in charge of managing the ships and the personnel manufacturing the warships, to the personnel calculating the costs and supervising the construction process."
"Exactly."
"And that's not all, is it? Even they are only a part of the military branch."
I counted with my fingers one by one.
"Units that are constantly operated, such as the Royal Guards, Special Operations Division, Knighthood, and Security Guards, and Border Guard that will be mobilized in times of war, down to the officer corps and non-commissioned officer corps of each unit that are being operated on a small scale in preparation for the organization of those units…"
"It's enormous. Managing such a huge organization, making them follow your will, and controlling factional strife and discord is extremely difficult. Perhaps even beyond your imagination, Young Master."
I silently listened to Venion's teachings.
Living in the underworld, I thought I knew the boundaries of darkness and light quite well, but in other words, I don't deeply know how the world of the light works.
"Therefore, today I plan to examine your strategic thinking, your ability to act, and your ability to respond in practical situations."
"That is a welcome thing."
After all, it means he will be confirming whether or not to entrust me with a position that requires all those qualities.
"Well, we've arrived."
Navigating through a complex network of streets, we arrived at what appeared to be a black market.
Or rather, could this even be called a black market?
"It's splendid. Rather than a black market, it's more like a night market."
"Haha. The essence of this place is indeed a black market. Somewhere in this vast night market, people are sold, drugs are sold, and rare animals are sold."
Venion laughed.
"Even forbidden weapons, demon swords, and the treasures of certain families are openly sold here."
Venion pointed to the night merchants.
"Here, Young Master, you must purchase the item I'll mention. That is today's task. Sounds easy, right?"
"Not likely."
As if amused by my reaction, Venion asked.
"Why do you think so?"
"Just by looking, it's clear you're not asking me to find something ordinary. Then, knowing where and who sells rare items requires information, doesn't it?"
"Hehe, well, that's true."
"To do that, I have to find someone who can give me that information. And after finding them, I have to be able to negotiate while easing the seller's wariness."
Above all.
"To buy it at the desired price, I shouldn't get ripped off, but this is not something a refined, scholarly young master with a noble air can do. Even if I were a merchant, I'd want to overcharge a clueless young lord somehow."
I looked at Venion.
"In the end, isn't this a task that can only be done by someone who knows how this underworld works?"
"Ah, excellent."
Venion clapped his hands.
"That's an incredibly outstanding answer. At this level, it seems you already recognize the necessity of this task without me having to explain it."
"……."
It was a strangely infuriating answer.
"Several decades ago, the Webern County, which was caught up in a territorial war and perished. That County was quite prosperous even within this Litvaleur Kingdom."
Venion continued, looking at the chaotic stalls and people.
"The head of that county 'Strong' Countess Ellicella Webern, was said to be a noblewoman as strong as her nickname suggested, and also beautiful."
"I see."
It was a name I was hearing for the first time, but it might be quite famous in this area.
"But her ambition was too great, and the power of the rivals around her was too strong. In the end, her ambition and competence stimulated the anxiety of the neighboring lords."
"So she fell. She should have hidden either her skill or her ambition."
Those who wield power without hiding it are bound to be checked. That's the same in the world of nobles and the world of the night.
"That's a very correct statement. Humility, or the art of lowering oneself. It's a virtue that ranks among the top two of the virtues needed by a Clan head."
Venion said.
"Anyway, Countess Ellicella Webern's beauty and ruin have been a topic of conversation among gossips for a long time. There is information that the tiara she wore at her wedding has flowed into this very Grunewald underworld."
"Ah."
I tightly closed my eyes. It was obvious to anyone what would be said next.
"Please purchase it."
I sighed.
"Venion. I hope you'll understand that this is just me talking to myself."
"Of course."
Having received Venion's understanding, I said.
"You really give me the most damn difficult tasks."
"Hahahahaha!"
Venion burst into laughter.
"I am somewhat apologetic about that point."
Venion pointed to himself.
"Anyway, as a teacher, I have a duty to receive questions from my student. Therefore, I will accept one question that you deem absolutely necessary."
This was also a test. A test of how good a question you could ask with one chance.
'Clever fox.'
If so, what I would ask was obvious.
"Why is that item needed? Is it for simple collection purposes? Or is there another reason?"
"……That's a good question."
Venion nodded.
"Countess Ellicella Webern, whose Clan was destroyed, had a surviving descendant. That descendant seeks to reclaim the name of Webern and, for that purpose, seeks to avenge their ancestors' enemies."
"Ah!"
A revenger from a destroyed Clan.
It was a truly picture-perfect story.
"That person said that after achieving revenge, they would have the tiara left by their ancestors placed on their bride's head at their wedding. But then rumors surfaced that the item was in the Grunewald underworld."
"So that's why you gave me this task."
I tilted my head and thought for a while.
"……Hmm?"
There was something bothering me, so I asked Venion.
"Perhaps."
"Yes?"
"Was that descendant being protected by the very Clan that had a marriage alliance with the Webern County in the past?"
"……."
Venion looked at me with a surprised face.
"Why do you think so?"
"If they couldn't prevent the destruction of their in-laws with whom they had a marriage alliance, then of course Countess Webern's husband would have felt a great sense of guilt."
Especially since she was a beautiful and witty wife, wouldn't her husband have loved her deeply?
"In that case, it would be quite possible that he secretly took out and protected the descendant of that Clan."
Venion narrowed his eyes.
"And?"
"If that descendant grew up with a desire for revenge and gained enough popularity to borrow the power of that Clan—"
I said, feeling Karzan's feelings.
"—It would be reasonable for them to plan this revenge."
It was just speculation, but I thought my speculation was quite plausible.
"Moreover, the fact that they specifically want the tiara among their ancestors' relics is also significant."
I asked with near certainty.
"Perhaps the descendant of Webern promised to marry someone from that Clan, and in return, received support for their revenge?"
"Hahahahaha!"
Venion burst into laughter.
"That's amazing. Although the specific facts are slightly different, the overall flow is mostly consistent with what you said."
I let out a deep sigh.
"That person also has quite a complicated story."
"……Yes."
Neither Venion nor I explicitly mentioned the destruction of my mother's Clan, the Eisenach.
But he would know. He would know what my purpose was.
"This is too coincidental. Did you perhaps intend even that when you gave me this task?"
Venion's reply to my question was this.
"I said I would only accept one question."
"……I feel like kicking you."
To evade the answer like that.
But I wouldn't rule out the possibility that this was some mischievous malice or a test by Venion, or perhaps my father.
"Young Master. The grandson of Countess Webern, who dreams of revenge, is a young man named 'Kailan Webern.' And the name of the Clan that hasn't forgotten the Webern Clan's revenge is 'Pergrin.'"
"Kailan and the Pergrin Clan, I've confirmed them."
I thought of Kailan Webern, a man with whom I felt a strange sense of kinship.
"Is supporting that man an official decision of Grunewald? Or is it something being done in utmost secrecy?"
"For now, it's the latter."
If so, perhaps someday I could join that man's revenge.
"Anyway, I know the story, so I'll start moving."
"Good. I wish you good luck."
Venion turned his back.
"Where are you going?"
"I won't interfere and will be watching from somewhere."
"Damn it."
"If you really can't do it, just raise both hands. I'll send you home."
"Haha."
He's a man who irritates me at every turn. How long has it been since I met a guy who treats me like a child to this extent?
'I'm not a man who disrespects elders.'
It's the first time I've seen a man who refuses to be treated as a teacher. Could even this be some intention of Venion's?
'……Above all.'
Venion has a secret. I still couldn't trust this man at all.
It was a completely different feeling from what I felt towards the Head Butler Aiden or the old librarian Ludan.
'Well, that's something to confirm later.'
Left alone, I walked through Grunewald's night market with my mouth shut. As Allenvert, not Karzan.
'If it's called the center of trade, even the night market is on a different level.'
Its scale was incomparable to the night markets of other cities. Grunewald's wealth was flowing like a waterfall even to the residents of the night.
'……But this overflowing wealth hasn't reached the orphans of the slums.'
I looked around the merchants who had set up shabby stalls on the very outskirts.
All sorts of counterfeit goods, bogus spirit medicines of unknown origin, and withered herbs were scattered messily.
'What's at the entrance of the market is mostly trash.'
Perhaps if I searched properly, there would be some genuine items mixed in. But now is not the time to find jade among pebbles.
'Deeper in.'
There's no way they would put something like Countess Webern's tiara on these stalls. They're not idiots.
In the end, the first thing I had to do was to find out ‘who is selling that item’ by going around myself.
'Whether it came out at an auction, whether it's being traded on the market. Or whether a wealthy collector has it.'
This complicated task had to start from there.
'It's not that difficult.'
Finding people and objects in the underworld is my specialty—something far from what Venion might expect.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
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