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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
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Chapter 127: When Will I Finally Meet My Mother?
The massive corpse of Nepherus was being disassembled into several cargo pieces and neatly stacked onto the ship.
"Watch your step! One misstep, and it'll be a disaster!"
"Keep it level!"
"Hold for a moment!"
The knights, with their sturdy builds, were cutting through the tough flesh, while the squires, occasionally getting kicked in the rear, carried the pieces away. The process was surprisingly efficient.
"Hmm."
Venion, his face smeared with blood, suppressed his nausea as he quietly observed the youthful faces of the squires hauling the monster's corpse.
'This is quite an efficient method in many ways.'
Using those who only train and eat as laborers was a common occupational habit among all commanders.
'It also helps them get accustomed to blood and corpses.'
After all, what kind of knight fears blood? This, too, was part of their training.
"Sir Venion."
The squad leader of the knights saluted.
"The work is nearly complete."
He was visibly tense, having received instructions from his superiors to treat Venion with utmost respect and caution, though he didn't know the exact reasons.
"Thank you."
Venion nodded with a dignified expression, quite different from the casual, playful demeanor he showed when teaching Allenvert.
"...Did young master Allenvert really slay this massive monster alone?"
He couldn't believe it even after seeing it. The sheer size, the toughness of the scales, the thickness of the hide, the girth of the body, and the sturdiness of the bones—it was overwhelming.
'Even cutting through its already dead and decaying corpse is no easy task.'
To put it simply, this was an enemy he wouldn't dare face even if he stepped forward.
Perhaps it would take a full squad of well-trained knights, proper tactics, and equipment to barely take it down? Hunting monsters wasn't his specialty, after all.
'Does that mean the young master has already surpassed me in strength?'
It was hard to believe.
He had dedicated over a decade to the sword, honing his skills through countless battles, surviving near-death experiences, and burying comrades. That's how he had reached his current level.
But this easily? This quickly?
"Surprisingly, it's true."
"Wow..."
The squad leader could only click his tongue in disbelief.
Seeing his astonished expression, Venion guessed that by tonight, this news would spread not just through the entire knight order but throughout the entire ducal castle.
'This isn't news that Verdzig will welcome.'
After failing to interrogate and intimidate Allenvert about his secrets, he had quietly focused on his duties without showing much reaction.
'Though there have been some suspicious movements lately.'
Even Venion couldn't quite grasp his intentions. Much like Allenvert, he remained an enigma.
But one thing was certain: Verdzig wouldn't just sit idly by.
'The succession battle is heating up.'
Allenvert had once again proven his exceptional talent and combat prowess, enough to move to the 'next stage.'
'But what exactly are those strange techniques?'
The techniques he used were oddly crude and simple, not something one would expect from a noble clan's refined teachings.
'And more importantly...'
Venion couldn't figure out the nature of the power that allowed Allenvert to absorb Nepherus's breath at the critical moment and make it his own.
'It wasn't magic or an artifact. It was closer to a physical trait.'
Moreover, it synergized perfectly with Grunewald's secret techniques. Coincidentally, the ‘Eternal Ocean Chain Technique’ was known for its exceptional versatility, capable of digesting even the most incompatible energies.
'...This is absurd.'
Just how much of a monster could Allenvert become?
"Well, there's no time to be bored."
Venion chuckled softly to himself.
The elders in the council might pop their eyes out reading the reports.
* * *
After returning to the annex, I washed up first. I soaked in a hot bath, closed my eyes, and enjoyed the pleasant sensation of floating.
How much time had passed?
"...Wow, I fell asleep."
I woke up feeling a slight chill, realizing I had dozed off with my mouth open.
"Almost caught a cold."
I changed my clothes and stepped out. The salty scent of the sea, the stench of the sea monsters, and the smell of blood had all been washed away.
"You've worked hard, young master."
"Yeah."
Even I had to admit it was tough. If the Mordecai incident required a lot of mental effort, this time it felt like intense physical labor.
When I returned to my bedroom, Jeffrey and Olivier were waiting for me.
"Oh, my loyal retainers."
I waved at them.
"Feels like it's been a while since I last saw you."
"Young master, your face looks haggard after just one day."
"Honestly, today was rough."
So much had happened. It was exhausting, really.
"How was Nepherus?"
I slumped deeply into the chair, leaning back.
"Venion is insane. Who in their right mind would send someone as precious as me to hunt down a monster like that alone?"
Thinking about it now, it really pisses me off.
"Honestly, I was genuinely surprised this time. I never expected you to take it down by yourself."
"Don’t even mention it. It’s only because it was me. If it were someone like Barclava, they’d already be holding a funeral."
Olivier looked at me skeptically.
"Wouldn’t Venion have stepped in before that?"
"There was no time. That crazy snake even shot a breath attack at me."
"Huh? A breath attack?"
Jeffrey exclaimed in surprise.
"Was Nepherus really that high-tier of a monster?"
"From the looks of it, it was at least a 5th-tier monster. I could even feel its monster aura."
"Wow."
Jeffrey and Olivier exchanged identical looks of disbelief.
"This is absurd. You took down a 5th-tier large-class monster all by yourself?"
"Even for me or Squad Leader Jeffrey, that wouldn’t have been easy."
"Yeah, I couldn’t have done it. Maybe the butler could, but not me."
I snorted at their exaggerated reactions.
"Your petty common sense doesn’t apply to me. I’m a genius, after all."
Peter, looking both clueless and impressed, asked.
"Then how did you block the breath attack? Did you cut through it with your sword?"
"You’ve been listening to too many hero tales. I’m not my father—how could I do something like that?"
"Then how?"
I raised my left hand.
"I was ready to sacrifice an arm, gathering all my mana into my left arm in an instant. But then..."
I continued with the most sincere expression I could muster, even though it sounded like a lie even to me.
"It suddenly started absorbing the breath."
"Huh? Absorbing it?"
"Literally. A massive breath attack came flying, and I absorbed it with my palm."
Jeffrey pressed further.
"Is that even possible?"
"Of course not. Even Venion was asking what the hell that was."
Then Peter cautiously asked.
"Could it be related to the residual energy that caused terminally disease in your body?"
"That’s the most plausible hypothesis right now."
Peter’s expression turned solemn. If someone saw him, they’d think he was the one with the time limit.
"By the way, Olivier."
"Yes."
I looked at my reliable butler.
"I was told that the ownership of the monster’s remains belongs entirely to me. It seems like a decent amount of money will come in. How should we handle the budget?"
Olivier answered simply.
"Leave that to me. I’ll handle it appropriately."
I pointed at Olivier.
"Good. You’re as dependable as ever."
"You flatter me."
"If it goes well, I’ll even give you a bonus, so do your best."
"Really?!"
Jeffrey’s eyes sparkled. Out of the three of us, he was definitely the one most obsessed with money.
"Of course. I’m not the kind of stingy man who hoards his generosity."
Even though they’re my retainers, all three of them are currently on my father’s payroll.
But if I truly want to establish myself as an independent force, I’ll need to have many subordinates who are loyal to me.
'Come to think of it, I should probably allocate some budget to Zizek too.'
His business still needs more time to stabilize.
'Until then, I’ll have no choice but to keep funding him with my own money.'
Business in the underworld is inherently risky and uncertain.
Anyway, no matter where you go, money is always the issue.
"By the way, is there no separate budget allocated for things like maintaining the dignity of a young master or something like that?"
"There is."
Olivier answered.
"However, you have to account for every expense, so its usage is limited."
"Is that all? That’s manageable, right?"
"No, even getting approval requires navigating through the strict financial officers."
From his expression, I could tell what the real problem was.
"So, they’re stingy misers who won’t even spare a drop of water, huh?"
"...That's correct."
Jeffrey, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, made a suggestion.
"By the way, Your Highness."
"What is it?"
"Wouldn’t it be a good idea to use the highest quality fangs or scales from Nepherus to make armor?"
"Oh, that’s a great idea."
The byproducts of high-tier monsters boasted strength far superior to steel.
"Or perhaps crafting a new scabbard would also be a good idea."
"Good call."
A lightweight yet sturdy scabbard could double as a shield or a wooden sword in emergencies, making it a solid choice.
"Yaaaaawn."
Suddenly overwhelmed by fatigue, I let out a big yawn.
"I need to sleep now. I’ve hit my limit."
"Sleep well, Your Highness."
"Yeah. Don’t wake me unless it’s urgent."
Olivier responded.
"Understood."
"Man, I’m so damn tired."
Feeling myself slipping into sleep almost instantly, I headed to my bedroom.
* * *
"Goodnight, Young Master."
Peter, who had tidied up my bedding, turned off the lights and bid me farewell.
"Be careful on your way."
"Yes, don’t worry."
Peter was planning to return home tonight to retrieve a message from Zizek.
"...Don’t push yourself."
"Hehe, don’t worry. What’s there for me to push myself about?"
"That’s exactly why I’m telling you not to."
"Yes."
With a foolish smile, Peter left, and darkness enveloped the room. I closed my eyes and prepared to drift off—
"Wait, hold on."
But then, as if lying, my eyes shot wide open.
"What the hell is this?"
I was exhausted, but sleep just wouldn’t come. Maybe it was because I had resisted falling asleep earlier?
'If this keeps up, I won’t be able to sleep at all.'
After lying there for a while with my eyes closed, trying to force myself to sleep, I gave up and opened my eyes again.
"This is messed up."
There was no way I was falling asleep anytime soon.
I stared at the ceiling for a while, then absentmindedly raised my left hand.
'...But what exactly happened earlier?'
The toxic energy that had been lying dormant, occasionally flaring up to torment my veins.
The energy that disrupted my mana flow, caused excruciating pain, and couldn’t be removed no matter what I tried—yet had been subdued by the Eternal Ocean Chain Technique. That very energy had saved me today.
'It greedily devoured the enemy’s mana.'
Perhaps those energies didn’t act to save me but simply to satiate their own hunger.
'Thinking about it that way, it feels like some kind of parasite.'
Kind of gross.
'Anyway, if that power truly originates from my maternal bloodline, as I suspect...'
The only person who might know this secret is my mother, Lusatia Grunewald.
'Or perhaps the survivors of Eisenach might know something too.'
I wonder if Zizek managed to meet them.
If he did, what kind of conversation did they have?
I was burning with curiosity.
If everything went well, Zizek’s reply would reach me tomorrow through Peter.
'Whether the news is good or bad...'
I wanted to rush out right now and hear the results from Zizek myself.
But I knew better than to do that. The watchers planted by Verdzig would be wide awake, keeping their eyes on me, waiting for the moment I couldn’t contain my impatience and made a move.
'Whether that’s paranoia or reality, I can’t say.'
Besides, I had already established a new communication method through Peter and Bridget.
So, I couldn’t afford to make a foolish mistake by letting my impatience ruin everything.
'Even so...'
The long wait was making me increasingly anxious.
'...This is driving me crazy. When will I finally meet my mother?'
It’s not like we’re some separated family.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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