Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 251

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 251

Epilogue

It was an exceptionally warm spring day.

The Coffee House in the Square, known as the birthplace of all sorts of rumors and scandals, was bustling with people enjoying the early spring.

Ian Rechel was no exception, but unlike the people with bright smiles, deep furrows were etched between his brows.

A year ago, he had graduated at the top of his class from the academic department of the Royal Academy, but he didn’t take the civil service exam to become a high-ranking government official in the Royal Court as he had originally planned.

Instead, he decided to dive into the business he had conceived. It was an uncharacteristic decision for someone who usually pursued safe paths, but he had confidence in his own way.

The connections and knowledge he had gained through the Academy.

His innovative planning skills and thoroughness that belied his young age.

On top of that, with Belinda’s investment after she took notice of Ian’s business plan related to the North, there was nothing to fear.

However, the world wasn’t as easy as Ian had thought.

To the people of the world, Ian was nothing more than a greenhorn with no track record who was young and lucky enough to receive investment from Marquess Blanche.

He didn’t mind people insulting him, but he couldn’t tolerate his trading company taking a hit because of it.

‘So first, I need to show my abilities without anyone’s help.’

He couldn’t rely solely on Belinda’s investment. It was true that he lacked experience.

‘I’ve already mapped out the northern development routes, so I think I just need to promote them well somehow.’

He was clutching his head because he couldn’t think of any groundbreaking promotional methods.

“Ian, did you wait long? Am I very late?”

A shadow fell over Ian as he heard a voice that had become much deeper after just finishing puberty.

When he looked up, he saw a neat face bathed in spring sunlight.

Leo, who had recently celebrated his eighteenth birthday and undergone his coming-of-age ceremony, had grown into a splendid handsome man who could capture people’s attention just by appearing.

“No, I came early because I had things to look over.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

As Leo sat down across from Ian with a grin, the surroundings that had briefly quieted due to his arrival began to become noisy again.

However, Ian could clearly see several young ladies glancing at Leo and blushing.

Leo must have been aware of it too, but he acted as if the surrounding gazes didn’t bother him at all.

‘When he was young, he used to feel burdened even by the attention he received while commuting to school in a fancy carriage.’

When did he become so bold?

“Ian, the reason I asked to meet today is because I have a favor to ask of you.”

Ian nodded while sipping coffee so strong it made his tongue curl.

“I’ll listen.”

Literally, he would only ‘listen.’ Right now, he didn’t have the luxury to grant others’ favors.

Leo swallowed nervously, then spoke bravely as if making a public marriage proposal.

“Include me in your future life plans!”

“Pfft, cough, cough.”

Whoosh.

At Leo’s words, silence fell over the bustling Coffee House.

Even without looking around, he could feel it. Dozens of pairs of eyes were directed at him and Leo.

Ian quickly covered his face with his documents.

“You, you crazy monkey! Are you determined to ruin someone’s marriage prospects?! How am I supposed to get married now!”

Though he shouted with a bright red face, Leo remained calm.

“Listen to me. I have a goal now.”

“What does your goal have to do with me?”

“First, I’m going to become the head of the Blanche Family.”

“So, what does that have to do with me?”

“Lady Belinda said she would support me as much as I want, but I’m not of Blanche blood. The cadet branches will probably oppose it tremendously. Because I lack justification.”

Most people didn’t know that Leo was of Baluashten blood, but the cadet branches would have opposed him even if he were of royal blood.

What mattered to them wasn’t noble blood, but ‘Blanche’ blood.

Therefore, to silence the cadet branches, he needed tremendous justification that would surpass the direct bloodline.

Something that would make people point to Leo and acknowledge, ‘Indeed, he’s better than the Blanche Family bloodline.’

“So I thought about it, and I should probably go to the North and close the gate.”

“…What?”

“Being a hero who closed the gate would be sufficient justification, wouldn’t it?”

Ian was speechless at this unexpected ambition.

While the world seemed peaceful on the surface, gates connected to the demon realm still existed in the North. Therefore, they weren’t completely free from the threat of magical beasts.

The Council of Five Nations took this problem very seriously and dispatched elite knight orders from each country to destroy the northern gates, but they hadn’t achieved any notable results for three years.

Therefore, finding and destroying the northern gates was humanity’s destiny.

But he was going to use that as a stepping stone just to become Marquess Blanche?

“And then I’ll push for the marriage between Lady Belinda and the Knight!”

At Leo’s subsequent words, Ian felt dizzy.

“So right now your goal is…”

“To close the northern gate, be recognized for that achievement and become Marquess Blanche, then arrange the marriage between Lady Belinda and the Knight.”

Should this be called ambitious, or should it be called devoted?

Three years ago, Belinda and Cesar got engaged once again under the blessing of Mikhail, who had become king.

However, even after three years had passed, there was still no news of their marriage.

Belinda was busy as Marquess Blanche making up for the family’s losses caused by the Second Bongma War, and Cesar was preoccupied with the work of subjugating magical beasts with aid from various countries.

Moreover, since both of them lacked suitable successors, neither could abandon their family and move to the other’s family.

Ultimately, for various reasons, they had been spending their third year like a weekend couple, spending summers and autumns together in the Royal Capital, passionately dating.

While they themselves were satisfied, Leo, who watched this from the sidelines, felt uneasy.

“So will you help me? I’ve selected the personnel to join the northern subjugation, but I have no idea how to handle things like material support. I’d like you to take charge of that part. Oh, and later when I become marquess, I’ll need trustworthy people to support me. I’d like your help with that too.”

Leo had good judgment when it came to people. The moment Ian heard his words, methods and routes for delivering the materials needed for subjugation immediately came to mind.

However, Ian wasn’t such an easy opponent.

“Why do you think I’ll help you with all that?”

“Won’t you help me?”

“No, I mean, why do you think I’d do such troublesome work without any compensation?”

“Well…”

Well?

“We’re friends, aren’t we?”

Ian’s eyes turned cold. Since when did friend mean the same thing as slave?

“And if you think about it business-wise, it would help the business you’re planning too, Ian.”

Tap. Leo’s index finger landed on the proposal Ian had spread out.

“You need an opportunity to make your trading company’s name known, don’t you? I’ll promote it for you.”

“…”

“This is a really, really good opportunity, you know? Think about it – the hero who saved the continent returning to the Royal Capital bearing your trading company’s emblem. What great publicity would that be?”

“…”

“And I never said anything about no compensation. I’m the next heir to the Blanche Family. I know how to spend money now.”

“You really are…”

Ian quickly extended his hand for a handshake and finished his sentence.

“Really a good friend.”

“I think so too.”

Leo grasped that hand and shook it with a grin. For a moment, Ian thought he saw Belinda’s smile on his friend’s face, which made his spine tingle a little.

* * *

Leo’s next appointment was with Asillia.

Having safely arrived at the meeting place, Leo stood at the bow of the ferry, creating messenger animals one by one, two by two, while explaining his plan.

The white weasels that poked their heads out from between Leo’s cupped hands spread out here and there, illuminating the underground waterways that were tangled like a maze.

“So, that’s my plan for now.”

Similarly, Asillia, who was holding the rudder at the stern of the ferry, answered while pushing away the sirens that kept clinging to the boat’s edge with her oar.

“Good, sounds interesting. When should I join in?”

“If everything goes according to plan, we’ll head to the North sometime next month.”

“I’ve never been to the North. I won’t have to take boats there, right? Perfect.”

Afterward, while wandering through the Siren Dungeon discussing various matters about the northern subjugation, Leo asked worriedly.

“By the way, you said the Royal Knight Order’s discipline is strict. Will you be able to come to the North with us?”

Asillia had joined the long-awaited Royal Knight Order upon graduating from the Academy.

However, life in the knight order wasn’t as easy as she had thought.

“Don’t even get me started, that damn group of old-fashioned hardasses. There’s so much they say you can’t do. Still, if I pretend to be deathly ill and take sick leave, they won’t have a choice.”

If Ian had been there, he would have lectured that it wasn’t the Royal Knight Order being old-fashioned hardasses, but rather her being an absolutely terrible troublemaker, but unfortunately, Ian wasn’t by their side.

“What about you then. Did you get permission from the Marquess?”

“…My teacher who taught me magic said this.”

Leo, who had suddenly become solemn, slowly continued speaking.

“If you’re going to keep secrets, you must deceive the other party completely.”

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