A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special - Chapter 47

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 47. Two Problems (6)

“Dezir, I hear you’ve accomplished yet another feat. They tell me you replaced the provisions in the Granary with sand. Is that true?”
“Yes, my lord. It is.”
“You persuaded Jefran, who has access to the Granary, and the three of you swapped out the provisions for sand. But I must ask — how did three people manage to move all that grain?”
How could three people possibly move all the provisions in the Granary?
The Granary that Esteban attacked held enough food to feed the entire populace of the domain for a month.
Even calculated at bare minimum rations, the quantity was so vast that three people could never have transported it all.
“We didn’t move all of it, my lord. For them to shift the Granary’s provisions without detection and with haste using only a small number of people, what they could access would necessarily be limited to the outer layers. We simply replaced only the quantity we predicted they would be able to transport.”
The amount of provisions a hundred people could carry at once — that volume was manageable for three in the span of two days.
“Even if they failed to obtain grain, if they’d set fire and burned all the remaining provisions, the action would seem to have little consequence.”
Wilhelm’s brow furrowed.
“Precisely, my lord. Which is why we made them believe the entire Granary contained nothing but sand. We covered the upper layer of the boxes filled with sand using actual provisions, and bored small holes in the lower section to let sand trickle through. To them, it would appear as though those holes had simply opened by chance. And once they confirmed sand flowing from those holes, once they realized their plan had been seen through and the grain replaced with sand, no rational person would set fire to the storehouse and expose their own intrusion without any gain whatsoever.”
“If showing them sand inside through the holes would have sufficed, why deliberately leave provisions on the upper layer?”
“To make the stratagem itself more convincing, my lord. We led them to believe: ‘They hid the sand inside the boxes and tried to deceive us into thinking grain remained.'”
But Dezir’s true purpose was to make the Esteban tribespeople believe every single box held nothing but sand.
“By revealing the deception in part, we concealed the true strategy beneath it. In fact, they never even examined the boxes inside the Granary.”
Wilhelm’s expression shifted to one of admiration.
“Quite so. A sound stratagem indeed. Thanks to you, they obtained no provisions and set no fires.”
Wilhelm allowed Dezir a moment to catch his breath before speaking again.
“Yet there remains one thing that must be clarified. How did you, a mere attendant, foresee that Esteban would attack?”
“You would not find my reasoning satisfactory, my lord, I fear.”
“What?”
“Because there was no evidence whatsoever to support that judgment. It was purely my analysis of the Esteban tribespeople’s nature — nothing more than inference.”
“Inference… mere inference. You moved the provisions based on such inference alone?”
“Yes, my lord. We judged that Esteban would likely attack and made our preparations accordingly.”
Of course, this was a lie. He had the System Message; he knew with certainty that Esteban would strike.
“In this time, all provisions are classified as Military Provisions. To tamper with Military Provisions is tantamount to Treason.”
Treason.
Wilhelm stated their crime clearly.
“Had Esteban not attacked, you would have led three people to their deaths.”
“Then we would have accepted death gladly, my lord.”
“Hmm?”
Wilhelm raised an eyebrow.
Dezir continued calmly.
“My lord, I am of vagrant origin. I have witnessed many deaths. Among them, none were more agonizing than those who perished from starvation — wasting away until only bones remained, every organ within the body crying out, the body writhing in torment yet lacking even the strength to struggle, instead lying still as death takes hold. That is what hunger is.”
Half truth, half fabrication. The vagrant origin was false; but having witnessed countless deaths was true.
“I understand better than most what a single warm meal means to the people of this domain. I know well how happiness a person can feel from a piece of bread, how joy a single bowl of broth can bring.”
Since his return, Dezir has never forgotten his first meal at Hebrion Academy.
It was merely the hard bread and thin broth given to the Beta Class, yet he ate with relish — more relish than any other food had ever afforded him. To one who had survived on monster scraps and muddy water, even that was a heavenly repast.
“Had Esteban successfully raided the Granary, those provisions would have been plundered and burned. The possibility — even a remote one — that the domain’s people might suffer agonizing death from hunger. If we could prevent that possibility, we were willing to lay down our lives.”
Dezir cast a brief glance toward Fram. Quick-witted as always, Fram nodded enthusiastically.
Having heard his account to the end, Wilhelm fell into thought.
“…For the people of the domain.”
Beyond the window, the sky was visible. The snow that had fallen through the night was gradually ceasing.
Dezir waited, studying Wilhelm’s face, for him to speak again.
At last, as the snow stopped, Wilhelm opened his mouth.
“A commendable resolve.”
‘It worked!’
Dezir exulted inwardly.
“I maintain strict adherence to the rules, but I find I cannot bring myself to punish you three.”
Wilhelm was just settling the matter with a warm conclusion when—
Bang! Bang!
The sound of the door being struck roughly echoed through the room. Dezir, Fram, and Wilhelm turned in bewilderment toward the commotion.
“Out of the way!”
“My lord, if you would just—!”
The sound of quarreling drifted faintly through the air before the door suddenly swung open. A man strode in with an air of undeniable authority.
It was Jefran. He had rushed so hurriedly that the carefully groomed mustache he usually maintained was now disheveled, and his breathing was decidedly ragged.
“Wilhelm! This won’t do! These people haven’t done anything wrong!”
He spoke with vehement intensity.
“Execution is absolutely out of the question! This boy moved the grain from the granary for a reason—he had thought it through! It was to prepare for an Esteban invasion! If not for this boy’s plan, we would have faced serious disruption to our food supply! I didn’t believe his words at first, I confess, but look—didn’t they actually attack us? They did. If you’re going to punish him, then punish me as well! I too moved the grain trusting this boy’s words, so I bear responsibility!”
His words came in a rapid torrent.
“Compose yourself, Jefran.”
Wilhelm spoke calmly.
“Do I look composed to you? I beg you, this fellow is too talented to die like this! As your friend of twenty years, I ask you—please do not order his execution!”
“You have two reasons to calm down. First, you’re speaking to me in casual language in an official setting. Second, what you fear will not come to pass.”
“What?”
Only then did Jefran compose himself enough to take in the atmosphere of the room.
Dezir Armang was smiling awkwardly. Fram appeared startled, but that was merely from Jefran’s sudden intrusion, nothing more.
The air carried a warmth entirely at odds with talk of capital punishment.
“Are you two… all right?”
“…Yes, we are fine.”
“We’re all right, Jefran.”
“Ah, I see.”
Jefran laughed awkwardly and scratched the back of his neck.
“…Well, I understand. My apologies. Or rather, I beg your pardon.”
“Withdraw.”
Thump.
Jefran hastily shut the door behind him and departed. The man vanished as swiftly as he had arrived.
Once the commotion had passed, Wilhelm released a long, heavy sigh. His expression suggested he had no idea what to do with the man.
“Jefran has been my friend for many years. I trust you will pretend you did not see his outburst?”
A moment later, he collected himself and turned his gaze toward Fram.
“Fram Schneider, kneel before me.”
At those words, Fram stepped forward and knelt, bowing his head respectfully. Wilhelm glanced at Dezir Armang and nodded; Dezir brought him his sword.
Wilhelm raised the blade, directing its point toward Fram’s shoulder.
“Fram Schneider, I hereby confer upon you the rank of knight in this informal ceremony.”
“Fram Schneider swears his loyalty!”
Once the informal knighthood conferment was complete and Fram had returned to his place, Wilhelm turned to Dezir Armang.
“Dezir Armang. You are sharp and brave—a truly capable talent. I apologize for dismissing your words when you said my work would be hindered.”
“Not at all, my lord.”
“You said before that you would help me with my duties? I ask you to do so now. Henceforth, stand at my side as my counselor. You have earned that right.”

-You have cleared the Quest “Ambush.”
-You have been appointed Strategist. Wilhelm Evernation’s favor toward you has risen to “Trust.”
You may now access detailed information about the domain.

All the effort expended on the quest had been rewarded handsomely. Fram and Dezir Armang smiled with genuine pleasure.
As they were savoring the fruits of clearing the quest—
“My lord, the Commander of the Knight Order has arrived.”
‘The Commander?’
“Show them in.”
The door opened. Someone walked through.
Long platinum hair streamed in the air. An elegant beauty that seemed to gaze down upon all things.
It was a familiar face. Fram’s and Dezir Armang’s eyes widened.
“Allow me to introduce her. She too achieved great distinction in this battle. She is the Commander of the Knight Order—”
“Azest!”
“Azest!”
“What, you know her already?”
Of course they knew her. Azest offered them a light nod of acknowledgment.

-Main Quest “The Survival of Evernation” begins.
Resolve the two problems facing Evernation Domain.
-Esteban Tribe (Progress: 42.4%)
The chieftain of the Esteban Tribe, Scarlet Talon, has been captured. Bereft of their rallying point, they will not launch an assault on Evernation Domain in the near term.
-Vagrants (Progress: 30%)
Public order has stabilized considerably, and crime has diminished. The domain’s people go about the streets without fear. The vagrants are under strict oversight and cannot commit crimes.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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