Chapter 239

Chapter 239 – Not Just Me

We broke off in different paths upon exiting Decullan territory, subsequently gathering at our predetermined rendezvous point.

I arrived after everyone else, since I had been busy destroying the No. 1 breeding ground, but a large crowd had already packed the meeting area.

“Well. This is quite a motley crew.”

There was really no better description.

Vagrants, Troubleshooter trainees, shadow knights, criminals moonlighting as contraband runners, vampire lords, and even past war legends who had once caused tremors across the whole continent.

It was an eclectic blending of individuals from every imaginable background and ancestry.

“Tower Lord, over here.”

“Mm.”

I gave a nod packed with as much stateliness as I could manage when the shadow knight captain gestured to me.

The captain stopped immediately afterward and shifted his gaze toward me.

“Drop the dignified act. It only makes you appear more ridiculous.”

“…”

Was this proper conduct for a knight addressing his closest comrade?

…It felt entirely inappropriate.

“Original Master, it has been some time. We have crossed paths once before.”

“Ah, my thanks for providing assistance during that idiot’s little display. Things were far too chaotic to express my gratitude properly until this moment. Please convey my thanks to the Patriarch as well. I would do so in person, but my current situation prevents it.”

“Think nothing of it. The outcome benefited Lortel as well.”

The captain spoke with utmost reverence and propriety when addressing Shine.

I watched the interaction blankly before dragging my feet to follow behind them.

‘The location is decent.’

The camp served as a good spot to stay hidden.

Nestled inside a mountain ravine, it provided excellent cover and concealment, and the air was completely still.

It features a wide, open clearing where the trainees and vagrants were keeping warm inside dozens of shelters.

“Right this way, please.”

A subordinate belonging to Henji guided us further inside, toward the central shelter.

The structure was cozy.

Inside, rugs had been laid out to block the cold radiating from the earth, and a campfire popped and crackled. A sudden wave of inquisitiveness washed over me.

“The surrounding shelters look like they took quite a bit of effort to set up as well.”

“We initiated the groundwork the moment the site was selected. There was no reason to restrict ourselves outside of Decullan territory.”

“Mm.”

I gave another stately nod, though perhaps he misinterpreted my demeanor. The subordinate hesitated on his way out and remarked,

“There is no cause for concern regarding pursuers. ‘That one’ issued explicit commands to oversee the matter with maximum vigilance.”

“Mm.”

‘That one’ was the title Henji’s subordinates used for him.

‘Extremely impressive.’

It carried the aura of a colossal, shadowy ruler. I felt a hint of jealousy.

Once my tower expanded, I would instruct people to address me like that. Though ‘That one’ felt a bit too identical… Right, when the time arrived, I would tell Henji to alter his title.

I was immersed in these petty reflections when the entrance flap rustled behind me, and a new figure walked inside.

“You have arrived.”

“Ah, Senior. I trust your physical health and vitality remain robust?”

I extended my regards to Senior Mysern.

As a point of reference, “physical health and vitality remain robust” was the traditional manner of checking on an elder’s state of being.

Right then, a playful grin spread across Senior Mysern’s face.

“I have been perfectly well, however…”

“…”

[You. The Tower Lord?]

“…”

I shut my mouth tight like an idiot whose mouth was stuffed with honey.

Thinking about it now, Senior Mysern likely viewed me as nothing more than a dependent of the Blandoga family. albeit one possessing unusually powerful magic…

I had been so preoccupied with the Troubleshooters that the connection hadn’t even crossed my mind.

[Heh heh, your secret remains hidden with me. Regardless… rumor has it you obtained Lortel’s platinum token. Quite the prominent figure among the newcomers, wouldn’t you say?]

[Ugh.]

[This old man will keep his mouth shut tight. Just look out for yourself. Particularly… take good care of that wyvern.]

He gave my shoulder a reassuring tap and walked further into the space.

“Hmm.”

The shadow knight captain had been observing the pair of us intently, his gaze analyzing the exact nature of our connection.

Sensing that all my cards were on the verge of being exposed, I walked forward and took the seat of honor… which meant the position furthest inside. Then I spoke up.

“Ahem. It appears everyone has gathered.”

Senior Mysern, Shine, and the shadow knight captain.

Every key player involved in this situation was present.

Henji’s subordinates had their own representatives, but given that he had granted me complete authority for this mission, they were effectively working under me as well.

This meant it was time to address the most vital problem.

“Let us decide how we intend to manage the Troubleshooter trainees and vagrants.”

Saving them was merely the first phase of the task.

I had realized this deeply when we liberated No. 17.

‘I cannot take charge of their entire existences, but I can at least provide them with a means to sustain themselves.’

The tower lord possessed profound perspective.

I brought up the topic, and the captain signaled for one of the knights stationed outside to enter.

“Provide the briefing.”

“Understood. Two hundred forty-one trainees were salvaged from the No. 2, 3, and 4 breeding grounds. Additionally, one hundred vagrants were extracted from No. 2 by the Tower Lord. The aggregate comes to three hundred forty-one.”

I cut in just as he finished speaking.

“Are there no vagrants arriving from other locations?”

“No, sir. None have been spotted. We are maintaining a watch for any transports traveling toward the breeding grounds, but the outcome remains identical.”

“Mm.”

It appeared that every breeding ground operated on its own distinct, alternating arrival plan.

It made sense. Even for Decullan, operating all four locations simultaneously would overextend their assets.

Very well then.

“The headcount retrieved from No. 1…”

The captain interrupted.

“Seventy-two.”

“Which means we are dealing with upwards of four hundred individuals in total. Let us put the vagrants to the side for a moment. The trainees require our immediate attention.”

No one spoke up, but every person seated around the table nodded their heads in unison, understanding my logic.

So why exactly were the trainees a problem?

They had not finished the standard instruction program, but they had all been drilled in the core fundamentals of being Troubleshooters.

Granted, their overall competence left much to be desired.

‘That brutal regimen simply wasn’t effective.’

The Troubleshooter approach was never designed to nurture them correctly. Give them the bare minimum, throw them into a meat grinder, and retain whoever managed to stay alive.

Even so, they had acquired some knowledge.

Casting them out into the world indiscriminately would not benefit them—or anyone else.

‘Furthermore, three hundred individuals is a massive quantity to oversee.’

So what should be done with such numbers?

Right then, the captain offered a suggestion.

“Lortel can absorb all of them.”

“By order of the Patriarch?”

Perhaps because he omitted the formal title…

The captain’s gaze turned incredibly sharp for a brief second before he softened his features and gave an answer.

“No. By order of the Young Patriarch.”

“For what reason would the Young Patriarch…?”

“It is beyond my position to speculate on his motives.”

That was reasonable. He was merely acting as the courier.

That left no choice but to ask the individual directly.

I fetched the communication tool connected straight to the Young Patriarch and initiated the transmission.

A voice answered a moment later.

[I understand the situation has been resolved. Is there an issue?]

“Not precisely an issue. You indicated you would absorb all of them, so I was curious about your underlying motive.”

[I comprehend your anxiety. Are you concerned that Lortel will convert them into attack dogs?]

“You certainly know how to get straight to the point.”

He had targeted the exact center of my concern, so I laid bare my thoughts without any pretense.

Decullan displayed their malice openly, but Lortel was hardly a family of blameless saints either.

However, his reply took me completely by surprise.

[To begin, let us clear up this misconception.]

“Misconception?”

[Lortel maintains an organization comparable to the Troubleshooters. I am certain you have already deduced this.]

Deduced it? I had clashed with them repeatedly during my previous existence.

[We refer to them as the Dark Sword, though there are several fundamental differences.]

“…Differences?”

[Correct. To start, we do not accept just anyone. We only take individuals dedicated to Lortel who deliberately choose a path in the shadows.]

“Hmm.”

Was that the reason Lortel’s attack dogs from back then had been so incredibly persistent?

“And the second difference?”

[The Dark Sword are not considered disposable assets. They are knights dedicated to Lortel. How could we mistreat individuals who have surrendered their very reputation for the sake of Lortel? That represents another major departure from the Troubleshooters.]

“And what else?”

The Lortel Young Patriarch detailed the variances between the Troubleshooters and the Dark Sword item by item, according to his perspective.

It did not sound like something thrown together on the spot.

The subtleties indicated hours of deep reflection, mixed with the virtuous Young Patriarch’s painful deliberations on how to properly value these entities known as the Dark Sword.

When he concluded his explanation.

He finished with a final observation.

[In truth, it is mostly justification. Looking at the big picture, we are not entirely different from Decullan. Even so… does this address your inquiry?]

“So it is not a terrible fate to join the Dark Sword?”

[…No, I have zero intention of transforming them into members of the Dark Sword. They have already studied magic, have they not?]

“That is accurate.”

I nodded along with his words.

The trainees certainly lacked the necessary proficiency to enlist in the Dark Sword.

Then why absorb them at all?

‘Out of basic charity? Moral obligation? Chivalric virtue?’

Or perhaps…

‘To utilize the trainees as leverage against Decullan?’

The first scenario seemed highly improbable.

Even for Lortel, taking on three hundred additional mouths to sustain was an absolute drain on resources.

No matter how noble the Young Patriarch’s principles were, in his position as Young Patriarch, he was required to calculate the family’s standing and profits.

That pointed directly to the alternative…

‘True, presenting the trainees as eye-witnesses would make it far simpler to reveal Decullan’s wickedness and corner them.’

However.

‘Haven’t we already handled that aspect? We are utilizing the breeding ground data to apply pressure to Decullan.’

I was unable to deduce the underlying motive.

The true reason.

I was scowling and pondering the matter when the Young Patriarch’s voice echoed through the device.

[There is no need to overcomplicate the matter. They are mages regardless, are they not?]

“Yeah… wait a moment.”

The term ‘mages’ triggered a sudden realization.

“You absolute monster… don’t tell me?”

[…?]

“Look at this depraved monster.”

The pieces fell into place perfectly.

The Young Patriarch despised mages, and the trainees were mages. They had even been affiliated with Decullan, regardless of their choice.

“You intend to bury every single one of them alive… Gah!”

“Ow, you absolute brat!”

A sudden burst of pain hit the back of my skull, accompanied by Shine’s voice ringing in my ear.

He had struck me with such force that my head was vibrating, but Shine wasn’t finished and continued to strike me repeatedly.

“I! Have told! You! Repeatedly! Not every individual resembles you! I am enduring absolute mortification because of your actions, you utter idiot!”

“Ugh, ack.”

I endured the assault without finding an opening to defend myself.

From the communication device, the Young Patriarch’s voice spoke in a deep tone.

[…Original Master, you have my gratitude.]

“Merely performing a basic duty.”

[Ahem. In that case, may I speak now?]

“Proceed.”

My head was vibrating far too intensely to offer any further commentary.

The idiot must have infused the strike with ether… Otherwise, how could it possibly ache this intensely?

While I moved my mana around to calm my throbbing head, the Young Patriarch’s words sank into my mind.

And as he concluded his thought.

I understood.

That I wasn’t the only individual who had evolved.

[If that is their desire, I will integrate them as Lortel mages. If they object, we will pair them with Lortel artisans to provide training and help them establish themselves autonomously.]

The mage-despising Young Patriarch had openly proclaimed with his own lips that he would introduce mages into Lortel.

What did that signify?

‘…He had broken free from a piece of his internal torment.’

Young Patriarch Sion had advanced a step past the convoluted catastrophe that constituted Decullan.