How a Two-Life Scoundrel Lives - Chapter 78

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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 78】

“I don’t want to drive soldiers into death traps either.”

“What about me?”

“You’re an exception.”

Grand Duke Guntram smiled with slight distaste.

“It’s only natural for Sigmund to be driven into death traps.”

“….”

“Anyway, what I feel isn’t just anger. The rage toward the Royal Family has been passed down through generations of our house.”

“Then what else do you feel?”

“The greatest would be guilt toward the soldiers who died because of orders I gave.”

“…!”

“The sadness I feel while writing death notices, and the helplessness of being unable to resist the Royal Family are also considerable.”

“Hmm.”

Carlisle thought for a moment before speaking.

“You don’t look like it at all though.”

“That means I’m controlling my emotions well. It’s natural for a ruler. I can’t go around crying when I’m the one who drove soldiers into death traps with my own hands.”

“That’s… true.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s too much for you.”

“What is?”

“The reasons for death.”

Grand Duke Guntram put down the casualty report and spoke while pouring and drinking whiskey from his desk.

“If you worry about every single one of those things, your mind will collapse. Of course, since you’re also a Sigmund, you’d be better than others, but the moment you become consumed by those thoughts, you’ll eventually go mad.”

“How can I not worry when I see, hear, and feel things?”

“Then you have to rise up.”

Grand Duke Guntram pointed upward with his finger.

“Rise to a high position and make sure soldiers don’t die meaningless deaths.”

“That’s impossible.”

Carlisle said flatly.

“I don’t have that kind of ability.”

“Aren’t you underestimating your own limits too much?”

“Even the Chaos King failed, and all the previous heads of the family failed – how could I possibly accomplish it? I’m someone who struggles just to take care of myself.”

“….”

“It’s true, isn’t it?”

“I won’t deny it.”

Grand Duke Guntram readily admitted his slip of the tongue.

He had hoped Carlisle would reform and fulfill his role as a member of Sigmund, but anything beyond that was definitely too much to ask.

When just staying quiet without causing trouble would be more than enough to be grateful for, what more could he expect?

“I understand for now. I’ll be going.”

“Wait.”

“What?”

“Let me tell you in advance – please don’t do anything foolish.”

“What kind of foolish thing?”

“I mean don’t plot conspiracies out of petty revenge to screw over the Royal Family.”

“Of course not.”

Carlisle answered with a bright smile.

“I don’t have ten lives, so how could I dare think of screwing over the Royal Family? I do have some sense.”

“That’s somewhat reassuring.”

“Don’t worry and focus on your work.”

“Alright.”

After Carlisle left.

“He says he has some sense…”

Grand Duke Guntram couldn’t help but feel anxious.

He had a strong feeling that the ‘sense’ Carlisle mentioned might actually be a plan for revenge against the Royal Family.

Though someone like Carlisle couldn’t possibly screw over the Royal Family anyway.

* * *

‘They’re buying up magic stones…’

After leaving the Grand Duke’s office, Carlisle racked his brain trying to deduce what the Royal Family’s intentions were.

It wasn’t like Carlisle knew everything.

This was about 9 years before the starting point of the game [Overlord]…

However, since past stories often came up while playing the game, he could at least know fragmentarily what might happen.

Of course, this was a benefit only available to those who had played the game very thoroughly with a patient attitude, without skipping the story.

‘Why are they buying up magic stones? Profit-seeking through market manipulation? Or is something really happening that would require magic stones?’

Magic stones were core materials for magic, energy resources, and also materials for powerful weapons.

Magic stones held a very significant position in this world and were used in so many different places that it wasn’t easy to gauge why they were increasing their stockpile.

‘It could be retaliation for the Evangeline incident.’

Carlisle couldn’t jump to conclusions.

Whether it was market manipulation or retaliation, understanding the Royal Family’s intentions wasn’t easy.

Although they had lost their prophetic ability, their tremendous information network and military power were undoubtedly the strongest among the Thirteen Families in the United Kingdom.

‘What are they scheming?’

While racking his brain trying to understand the Royal Family’s intentions.

Whoooosh…

Carlisle shivered slightly at the bleak wind that blew.

It was early October.

It wasn’t yet cold enough to feel a chill in broad daylight.

‘Why is the weather so cold… wait.’

Carlisle stopped walking at a sudden thought.

‘This isn’t the year the Winter of Doom comes, is it?’

The Winter of Doom.

This was a major event in this world, referring to a year when unimaginable cold and blizzards struck.

It was so cold and snowy that even the Barbarians gave up invading the continent.

It was also an event that caused tremendous casualties, with hundreds of thousands freezing to death within the United Kingdom.

It wasn’t called the terrifying name [Winter of Doom] for nothing.

‘If the Winter of Doom is coming… then the Royal Family stockpiling large quantities of magic stones would make perfect sense.’

During that harsh winter when hundreds of thousands froze to death, almost no one died of cold in the territories directly ruled by the Royal Family.

The Royal Family had gradually increased their stockpiles of magic stones and food several years before the [Winter of Doom], allowing them to suffer almost no damage.

‘The Royal Family’s prophetic ability disappeared about 30 years ago. If this is preparation for the Winter of Doom, they either predicted the weather or are acting based on what’s written in the Book of Prophecies.’

The Royal Family kept a Book of Prophecies where successive kings had left their respective prophecies.

And most of the prophecies covered up to the starting point of the game [Overlord].

Since only three prophecies remained after the starting point, there was a high possibility that content about the [Winter of Doom] was recorded.

Of course, the Royal Family could probably predict weather to some extent through records in history books, weather prediction, magic, and such.

‘I might need to prepare.’

If the [Winter of Doom] struck this year, the damage to Decaron would be absolutely tremendous.

Due to Decaron’s geographical characteristics in the Northern Region, it would face more severe cold and blizzards than other areas…

‘Those disgusting Royal Family bastards. Keeping their mouths shut and hoarding magic stones just to save themselves.’

The Royal Family was always like that.

They are extremely selfish and cunning.

Their true goal is to destroy the remaining Twelve Families, completely seize control of the United Kingdom, and then emerge as a unified dynasty.

To achieve this, they needed to weaken the remaining Twelve Families, so in a way, it was only natural.

Though those on the receiving end would certainly curse them out.

* * *

“Young Master.”

“Ah.”

Carlisle spotted Maranello approaching and temporarily set aside his thoughts.

Beside him was Alicia’s group, who seemed to be on their way to meet Grand Duke Guntram.

“Did you have a good conversation with His Grace the Grand Duke?”

“Well, it went reasonably well.”

“That’s a relief.”

“What about you, Maranello?”

“I’m on my way to introduce Miss Alicia to His Grace the Grand Duke.”

“I see, good work.”

Alicia frowned as she watched Carlisle once again pretend not to see her and ignore her, but since she had sorted out her thoughts to some extent, she didn’t bother expressing her displeasure.

She understood that from Carlisle’s perspective, the Loren Family was an enemy that had falsely accused him and tried to kill him.

‘Not even sparing me a glance?’

However, she couldn’t help feeling bad about it.

While she understood Carlisle’s position, as a woman, she felt like she had lost to Carlisle in terms of appearance.

Regardless, Carlisle was busy going his own way, passing by Alicia.

‘If House Sigmund becomes endangered, my comfortable life will be over too. Unless I secure a good share and hide somewhere.’

Right now, Carlisle’s mind was filled only with thoughts of the approaching crisis.

‘Perhaps you might achieve the great Achievement that neither the Chaos King nor the previous family heads could accomplish. It wouldn’t be impossible if I helped you a bit.’

Carlisle thought he should help Grand Duke Guntram.

He absolutely hated the idea of stepping forward himself.

If he showed off in front, he’d get caught up in all sorts of troublesome matters.

In that case, he had no choice but to put Grand Duke Guntram forward.

“Young Master! You’re here!”

Evangeline greeted Carlisle warmly.

Befitting her status as a maid, she was in the middle of organizing Carlisle’s bed sheets.

“You, sit here for a moment.”

“Yes.”

“Do you happen to have time?”

“If Young Master calls, I must make time even when I don’t have any.”

“Then from tomorrow, spare me a day or two. I have somewhere to go briefly.”

“I will.”

Evangeline nodded without asking any questions about Carlisle’s words.

‘It’s fortunate that I have an Earth Elementalist.’

Basically, the value of an Earth Elementalist is high.

Especially if it’s an elementalist with natural talent like Evangeline, their strategic value is virtually limitless.

Carlisle planned to use this opportunity to clearly teach them why he had been so insistent on keeping Evangeline in Decaron.

The next day.

Carlisle left the Inner Castle in a carriage with Maranello and Evangeline.

“Where are you planning to go, Young Master?”

“Just to get some fresh air.”

“I believe you get plenty of fresh air there as well…”

Maranello spoke as if he found it absurd.

Where else could you find mountain terrain as vast and dense as the Blood-Soaked Land, and yet he says he’s going to get fresh air?

“There, you could die just from taking one wrong step during a stroll. People die there every day. And there are many dangerous things.”

“That’s true.”

“Sometimes you want to look around at the scenery with peace of mind.”

“…”

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“You usually prefer staying cooped up in your room.”

“That’s only for a day or two.”

“Haha.”

Maranello let out a hollow laugh.

He never expected to hear Carlisle say that staying holed up in his room was only for a day or two.

Clatter, clatter.

The carriage carrying Carlisle’s group moved at a very slow pace.

Since they hadn’t yet left the central area of Decaron, if they had sped up like Alicia’s carriage, the probability of an accident would have been very high.

Crash!

Bang bang!

Smash!

Noisy sounds came from the street.

From what he could see, it appeared that a brawl had broken out at a tavern in broad daylight.

“Oh? Young Master.”

Evangeline looked out the window and then turned to Carlisle.

“Aren’t those people over there the ones who serve with you, Young Master?”

“Where?”

“Over there.”

Carlisle turned his gaze in the direction Evangeline was pointing.

“…What are these guys doing here.”

Kudo, Marder, and Wilson were brawling with a group of men.

“To think that what they do with their precious leave is just brawling.”

What on earth are they trying to accomplish by doing that…

Carlisle shook his head.

“Oh? Private Carlisle!”

Kudo spotted Carlisle and shouted.

Startled!

Carlisle reflexively drew the curtain.

“Private Carliiisle!”

As Kudo chased after the carriage, Marder and Wilson, who had been brawling, also followed.

“Private Carlisle! Where are you going!”

Knock knock!

Kudo ran alongside the carriage and knocked on the door.

“Where are you going, youngest!”

“Hey youngest!”

Marder and Wilson also followed Kudo in chasing the carriage.

“Those bastards!”

“Where do you think you’re running!”

“Catch those bastards!”

The men who had been brawling with Kudo’s group gritted their teeth and gave chase.

“Young Master, it seems we’ll have to stop the carriage.”

“Go.”

“Pardon?”

“I said let’s just go.”

“Even so, turning your back on comrades in crisis is….”

“How is that a crisis? They were beating them one-sidedly.”

Carlisle scolded Maranello as if telling him not to talk such nonsense.

“Getting involved would only make things tiresome. Let’s just ignore it and….”

Click, the carriage door opened and Kudo poked his head inside.

“Private Carlisle, where are you going?”

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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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