Chapter 112

Chapter 112
The resolution of the conflict was managed with incredible efficiency.

Norbeck was hauled back to the cells within the White Palace, and the military forces submitted to their new ruler without much friction. In fact, a significant number of the troops were visibly pleased by the prospect of relocating to Asagrim.

Gareth, who had been dispatched to take control of the region, returned a short while later with a beaming face, his objective fully realized.

“It happened exactly as Your Highness anticipated. They unbolted the gates so readily that my prior stresses felt rather silly.”

“How did the local population take it? Was there no distress over the transition of power?”

“Quite the opposite, actually. Our arrival was perfectly timed to halt the anarchy that was bubbling up due to the lack of local authority.”

Just as Lucian had calculated, Norbeck had squeezed every available resource from his security units to fuel the conflict. This had naturally created a massive gap in public safety, leaving the territory on the brink of total collapse. Fortunately, the arrival of the knights prevented the situation from spiraling into chaos.

It was a wise decision to dispatch the Blue Rose Knight Order ahead of schedule.

Had he been even slightly lax, the local bureaucrats would likely have disappeared under the shroud of the riots. It was a stroke of good fortune that he had prioritized the occupation as a precaution.

“Because the absence of law enforcement was unavoidable, I made the choice to temporarily validate some of the neighborhood watches formed by the peasantry.”

“The militias? Is that a safe move?”

The idea of a local group guarding their own homes sounded noble, but they were essentially bands of impulsive young men. If given the lord’s blessing without oversight, they could easily transform into a gang of oppressors, terrorizing the very neighbors they were supposed to protect.

Detecting Lucian’s hesitation, Gareth offered a confident grin.

“Rest easy. I made it very clear what their fate would be if they overstepped or lost their heads. If they possess a shred of intelligence, they won’t dare engage in any reckless behavior.”

“I see. If you are confident…”

Only then did Lucian relax. He understood that Gareth’s assurance wasn’t empty arrogance, but a certainty forged through years of service.

It is peculiar. The Blue Rose Knight Order answers directly to the Throne, yet they possess a remarkable talent for civil administration following a conquest.

The cleanup after a war was a crucial responsibility, yet it was a task that knights typically detested. To most of them, the prestige of combat was found in leading the charge and breaking the enemy, not in sweeping up the remains once the spectacle had concluded. Consequently, among the martial classes, post-war management was viewed as a tedious chore to be offloaded onto someone else at the first opportunity.

Warriors of their status usually push this burden onto others. Why are they so adept at it?

Lucian briefly thought about questioning Gareth but thought better of it. If they had mastered the work everyone else shunned, the reason behind it was likely somber. It felt more respectful to wait until Gareth decided to share that history on his own terms.

“You have performed admirably. Take some time to recover, as you will need to depart again shortly to bring order to the newly held lands.”

“Understood, Your Highness. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”

Following Lucian’s instruction, Gareth gave a deep bow and exited the study. Left in silence, Lucian sank into his seat and whispered to himself.

“With this, every requirement has been fulfilled.”

His enemies in the Northern regions had been entirely eradicated by this campaign. With links to the Imperial Family severed, no external interference would reach him regardless of his choices. He had even secured formal authorization over the study of magic from the Emperor himself.

Now, no one can find a reason to obstruct me, even if I pursue magical research with full intensity.

Lucian felt a surge of anticipation in his heart and let a small smile grace his features. The moment had finally arrived to uncover the heritage of the Northern Royalty, which had been hidden in the dark recesses of the earth for nearly ten centuries.

—

That night, Lucian assembled his inner circle once more.

The moment they gathered, his retainers peppered him with inquiries.

“My Lord, word has reached me that you provided Sir Felicia with a breathtaking set of plate! And that it’s a standard-issue piece? Where in the world did you acquire such equipment?”

“Was the legacy of the Grimaldi line truly that immense? I was under the impression they had faded into obscurity, but were they actually harboring such wealth?”

Lucian offered a dry smile at the enthusiastic questioning from Hans and Ian.

“It appears she has shared the details with you.”

“My apologies. With the fighting concluded, I assumed it was permissible to speak of it…”

“No, there is no harm done. I intended to inform you all tonight regardless. However, before we proceed, there is an individual I want to present to you.”

Lucian gave a sharp clap. A moment later, a figure walked into the chamber with a visible lack of confidence.

“A practitioner of magic…” Hans murmured under his breath the second he spotted Colin.

Under the collective weight of the intense stares directed at him, Colin lowered his head, his features tight with anxiety.

“It is an honor to see you all once more. A great deal of time has passed since the Sword Saint last graced the White Palace.”

“Hmph.”

The retainers accepted the greeting but did not soften their piercing looks. They were aware that Lucian valued the man’s talents enough to name him a court wizard. Yet, being a paid employee and being invited to this private circle were two very different things. It signaled that Lucian viewed him not merely as a tool, but as a genuine confidant.

This dubious mage is now part of our ranks?

That skepticism was etched onto the faces of the retainers. Unlike the core group who had stayed by Lucian’s side since his time as the third son of House Valdek, Colin was an outsider. Furthermore, he was someone previously employed for the assassination plot by House Calix before he yielded. Even a typical knight would be treated with caution in this position, let alone a mage with a murky past.

“I recognize your face. You were standing with His Highness when he came to collect me.”

It was Eisen who stepped in to rescue Colin from the suffocating pressure. Stroking his silver beard, Eisen spoke in a calm tone.

“It was quite annoying to watch you constantly shrinking away even while saying hello. I was tempted to tell you to stand up straight and speak with some backbone.”

“I—I am truly sorry.”

“From my perspective, you seem to take a fair amount of pride in your own skills. Why then do you lose your courage so easily in my presence? Do you find me that terrifying?”

Colin paused for a long interval at Eisen’s blunt inquiry. When the silence became uncomfortable, Lucian spoke for him.

“He was likely worried that Sir Eisen would hold him in contempt. Particularly given the rumors regarding your involvement in the witch hunts.”

“I had a suspicion it was that. The witch hunts… they are not a memory I find pleasant.”

Eisen gave a pained smile at the sight of the terrified Colin. It was evident the memories were indeed grim, as a faint shadow of revulsion crossed his face.

“They called it a hunt for witches, but the majority were just mediocre mages who couldn’t even manage a proper defense. They were a far cry from being witches; most weren’t even qualified to be called a mage’s apprentice.”

It wasn’t that there were no malicious or powerful wizards. There were certainly individuals who possessed terrifying might, raining down fire or turning entire waterways to ice. But those titans were a minute fraction; the overwhelming majority were so unskilled they could barely produce a spark.

“A woman cast out by her mentor for lacking talent after years of study; a youth who happened to find a spellbook but could do nothing more than hover a light in the air; a man who had walked away from magic but lacked the expertise to mask his own aura. Every one of them had a unique tragedy.”

In Eisen’s perspective, most of those practitioners had simply stumbled into the path of magic; they hadn’t chosen wrongly out of malice. They were harmless people who would have never stirred up trouble if they had been permitted to live in quiet. However, the inquisitors knew no compassion.

“Even if I had the urge to release them, I lacked the power. No, I was required to remain with the hunt units at all times, meaning I had no personal discretion. Consequently, I witnessed many atrocities I wish I could forget.”

“…”

“When common folk hear that I took part in the witch hunts, they envision a heroic saga of slaying dangerous dark wizards. In truth, it was nothing but a harvest—a slaughter.”

At Eisen’s confession, the retainers lowered their gazes in a heavy silence. Surprisingly, Felicia remained composed, but Raymond stood frozen, his jaw slightly dropped. It appeared that hearing the grim reality behind the legends of his youth was a significant blow.

“You, it was Colin, correct?”

“Yes? Oh, yes!”

“Always be mindful of your actions and show your gratitude to His Highness. Is this not a case of divine intervention? If you were to slide back into the pits along with your peers due to senseless greed, the burden of that failure would be impossible to carry.”

Colin shivered at the stern guidance. It wasn’t due to intimidation, but rather because he was touched by the genuine concern shown by the Sword Saint himself.

“I thank you for the counsel. I will etch your words into my soul.”

“Good heavens, I instructed you to thank His Highness, not myself.”

The somber mood brightened slightly at Eisen’s teasing. The looks the retainers gave Colin were no longer as cold as they had been. Thanks to the account they had just heard, their bias against magic users had softened, if only by a small margin.

“I suppose if we are to keep secrets, it is better to fully integrate him into the inner circle.”

“If our Lord places his confidence in him, then we shall do the same.”

“If he has any sense of integrity, he will repay our Lord’s kindness with his very life.”

Raymond, Hugo, and Felicia each added their thoughts. Unlike the more recent arrivals, their remarks suggested they were privy to something deeper. Before any further debate could start, Lucian stood.

“Follow me. I will show you the heritage of the Royal Line.”

—

Lucian guided his circle toward the royal seat. They didn’t move in complete shadows, so they passed a few attendants on the way, but Lucian didn’t let it bother him.

I will have to make this public soon anyway, so there is no use in being obsessed with secrecy.

The treasures buried below weren’t things Lucian could just hoard and use only in emergencies. They represented technologies whose real worth would only be unlocked when they were shared with the world and advanced through formal study. If he kept them locked away and only utilized what was already there, he wouldn’t be able to exploit even a fraction of their capability.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I intend to let just anyone wander into the vault.

After clearing the servants from the throne room, Lucian retrieved the key. Just as he had done before, a shimmering glow traveled up his arm the moment the key met the mechanism.

Screeeech—

“This is…!”

“Come, step inside.”

Lucian signaled to the retainers, who were gaping at the floor opening beneath the throne. With Lucian at the head, three of the retainers moved in, while the others followed with stunned expressions.

“By the gods…!”

“What is this? Am I dreaming?”

“…”

Hans and Ian, viewing the haul for the first time, were in a trance. Colin looked as though he might collapse, his voice failing him entirely. The only one who kept his wits was Eisen, who had caught a glimpse of the hoard previously.

“Now I understand where Your Highness found those artifacts.”

“It is the inheritance of my bloodline that I was fortunate enough to uncover.”

Lucian spoke with a hint of feigned modesty as he nudged the retainers on their shoulders. Only then did they break their trance and rush toward their specific interests. Hans marveled at the currency and gems, while Ian focused on the rare plants and seeds.

After observing them for a bit, Lucian approached Colin, who was frantically reading through the manuscripts.

“What do you think? Can you interpret the text there?”

When Lucian had looked earlier, he recognized they were instructions for making magical items. However, the technical jargon was so dense it was hard to grasp the specifics. A specialist like Colin should be able to decipher what Lucian had missed.

“M—My Lord…”

Colin turned toward Lucian, his eyes wide with shock. He seemed even more overwhelmed than when he first saw the gold; his gaze was darting frantically. Lucian watched him with a confused look at such an extreme reaction.

“What is the matter? Is the method for crafting magic tools that extraordinary?”

“…This is not a guide for magic tools.”

“What?”

“The text here describes the creation of Artifacts. These aren’t just durable blades; these are the schematics for ancient superweapons capable of leveling mountains and drying up entire rivers!”

“…!?”

Lucian was stunned by the mention of ‘Artifacts.’ They were legendary weapons regarded as the summit of ancient science, dreaded even in the distant past as godly miracles replicated by man. Stories claimed they could topple a kingdom in a day or alter the geography of a continent. And these were the instructions to build them again.

“What are the ingredients required to build them?!” Lucian demanded.

He could worry about the specific powers later. What mattered was whether the components needed for assembly could be found in this age. If the supplies were reachable, the rest could be solved through persistent effort.

Colin responded with a voice vibrating with intensity.

“It lists the requirements as a Dragon’s horn, the heart of a Giant, Fairy dust, and the essence of a Mermaid!”

“…”

Lucian barely managed to restrain the fist that had started to clench instinctively.