I Alone Regress in a Hero Party That Was Annihilated - Chapter 13

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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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#13. Great Plunder (1)

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Mörsolt was victorious.

The subjugation of the Orc settlements in the Northern Region.

The Mörsolt family’s expedition was successful.

People scattered flowers for the victors’ triumphant return.

From the Outer Castle to the Inner Castle, people formed long lines, cheering and blessing the Heroes.

However, Featherback was not caught up in the atmosphere of victory.

“How much damage was there?”

“I heard it wasn’t too severe. Just a few Villages were plundered…”

The Maid following behind answered.

Her tone suggested it was nothing serious.

It wasn’t that the Maids were cold-hearted. This would be the general perception of Northern Region people.

Monster activities and the resulting civilian casualties were common occurrences in the Northern Region.

But Featherback knew.

‘The petty thieves will start getting bold.’

This incident would trigger the Northern Region’s scoundrels to make their move.

‘About five of them for now.’

Featherback quietly stroked the Sword at his waist once.

His Sword would be stained with dog blood.

* * *

The Expedition Party passed through the Castle Gate and returned inside the Mansion.

The Family House’s Knights and Soldiers looked exhausted, but at this moment they seemed happier than ever.

“Damn Orc bastards. They must have enjoyed harming our compatriots.”

“We paid them back several times over, so this should be enough.”

“Long live Mörsolt! Long live Family Head Soleil!”

“This victory is also thanks to the Young Master providing information about the Orcs.”

“That’s right! Long live Prince Featherback!”

However, that festive atmosphere gradually faded as they approached deeper into the Castle Interior.

The place where merit evaluation was taking place.

Sharp voices were already echoing from there.

“Are you satisfied now?”

A dark atmosphere.

Mörsolt’s direct lineage, including Family Head Soleil, were confronting the Administrators led by Judas.

“Satisfied?”

“Three hundred stones of Military Rations. 10 deaths. 30 wounded. Are you satisfied with these results?”

Yudi Administrator spat as he argued.

The Knights’ expressions soured.

He hadn’t even removed his armaments still soaked in blood.

Soleil sighed and spoke.

“Judas, the merit evaluation isn’t even finished yet.”

“Merit evaluation? There needs to be merit first before we can evaluate anything, doesn’t there? Didn’t I tell you? That the losses would be greater than the gains. You insisted so stubbornly, and in the end… tsk tsk.”

Judas said while scanning the knights.

His manner was like that of scolding a disobedient child.

Soleil’s expression hardened.

“Our army was victorious. Through this expedition, we annihilated over a thousand Orcs and cut off their chieftain’s head. Isn’t this sufficient achievement?”

“So you think you’ve achieved victory? Against mere Orcs?”

Judas wore a bitter smile as he raised one finger and spoke.

“100,000 gold.”

“100,000 gold?”

Judas nodded and spoke.

“That’s the deficit created by this expedition.”

“That’s too much of an exaggeration. That’s nonsense. That amount would be our family’s entire annual income, wouldn’t it?”

“Perhaps feeling anxious about news of the Family Head’s expedition, our neighbor Lord Rebarb has sent a letter. He’s urging us to repay our debts as soon as possible. When we’re already struggling to make ends meet, why did you insist on going on this reckless expedition… oh my.”

Judas clicked his tongue as he spoke.

At those words, Soleil shook his head in disbelief.

“That can’t be. We only borrowed 30,000 gold?”

“That’s what makes compound interest so frightening, isn’t it? I’ve tried to handle it on my end until now, but even that has reached its limit. Tsk tsk, hunting those Orcs won’t produce even a single grain of wheat. Why won’t you heed my loyal advice, Family Head? Hmm?”

Judas beat his chest as if frustrated.

Then he widened his eyes and shouted.

“Starting next year, people will starve to death in our territory! There’s only one way to prevent that!”

Family Head Soleil listened to Judas’s words with a furrowed brow.

Though he didn’t want to admit it, Judas was quite clever.

He was also skilled in schemes and machinations, quite adept at administration and finance.

The problem was that most of it was exercised only for his own benefit.

“What method are you talking about?”

At Family Head Soleil’s inquiry, Judas bowed his head and answered.

“Leasing Meursault Mountain of the Mörsolt Family to the Rebarb Family for 10 years.”

“What did you say?”

At Judas’s answer, Family Head Soleil opened his mouth halfway in astonishment.

Meursault Mountain was the Mörsolt Family’s ancestral mountain.

Judas was suggesting they hand over the very mountain where their ancestors rested to another family.

“The Levarb family wants to completely level that mountain and create a new trade route.”

The Levarb family was currently a house famous for commerce and moneylending.

Originally, they too had been one of the northern sword families, one of the vassal houses under the Mörsolt family, but at some point they became people who used their swords for calculating on abacuses.

But even so, to say they would level their master family’s ancestral mountain—what kind of madness was this?

Family Head Soleil asked with bewilderment.

“Not other things, but you’re saying to hand over the family’s ancestral mountain to another house? And to those who were once our vassal family?”

“When we don’t have money to survive right now, who cares who’s master and who’s servant? Such old-fashioned talk about social hierarchy was only valid decades ago. These days, whoever has money is the master. What does status and title matter in front of money? At this rate, you’ll be bringing up the four-class system next.”

“Are those things the same? Say something that makes sense, Administrator Judas!”

“Then are you saying the Family Head will just sit back and watch the territory residents starve to death?”

At that moment.

“Father.”

Someone interrupted their conversation.

“This is not a topic worth discussing.”

Cardona Mörsolt.

At the appearance of the Mörsolt eldest daughter, Judas flinched momentarily.

Soon, Cardona gazed at Judas with her remaining eye opened coldly.

“We cannot give up Meursault Mountain. There are various reasons besides the justification that it’s the family’s ancestral mountain. That place is a strategic point where you can look down on the fortress’s inner structure completely.”

“Oh~ Then the young lady must have a way to arrange 100,000 gold?”

“We’ll have to find a way somehow. But giving up the ancestral mountain is unacceptable. Don’t make statements that cross the line.”

“Young lady. I am merely doing my best as one who serves the Mörsolt family. What do you plan to do about the debt that must be repaid to the Levarb family? Adult logic cannot be countered with a child’s tantrum.”

“Tantrum? Are you saying that to me right now?”

Cardona placed her hand on her sword handle.

Judas broke out in cold sweat but didn’t back down.

He thought that as long as there was realistically no way to arrange 100,000 gold, Cardona couldn’t do anything to him.

As he expected.

“….”

Cardona only frowned but didn’t draw her sword.

Judas took the opportunity to provoke her once more.

“If Meursault Mountain really won’t do, well. It’s not like there’s absolutely no way to obtain 100,000 gold. As long as the young lady is prepared to sacrifice herself for the family.”

“Prepared? What kind of preparation?”

“I heard there are many old bachelors past marriageable age in the Levarb family. If you just have good conversations with them, about 100,000 gold in dowry for Lady Cardona could easily come in…”

But his words couldn’t continue to the end.

Cardona, unable to hold back any longer, finally drew her sword.

“So. You’re telling me to become a 100,000 gold whore?”

“Gasp!? No, no, Miss, that’s not what I meant! Please calm down…”

Judas, who had been trying to gradually cross the line, was horrified.

Just then.

“Wait.”

A cold voice froze everyone’s actions.

Step― Step― Step―

Featherback was walking out toward the Castle Gate.

“Family Head.”

All eyes instantly gathered.

Family Head Soleil called out to Featherback.

“Son, you came out to greet us.”

“Yes. I also have something to tell you.”

Featherback surveyed the gathering.

On the right were the Mörsolt Direct Line and Branch Family members led by Soleil and Cardona.

On the left were the parasites within the Family House led by Yudi Administrator.

In this divided situation, Featherback took the side of the left.

“This time, Yudi Administrator is right. If we owe a debt, we must repay it.”

“…!”

Everyone’s eyes widened at those words.

Cardona burst out shouting.

“What are you saying right now…!”

“Wait.”

Soleil stopped his daughter’s words.

Then he gestured toward Featherback as if telling him to continue speaking.

Featherback continued.

“While the Family Head was away on expedition, I used the Family Head’s Seal to open the Document Storage. After carefully examining the Contract contents, I found that we must repay 100,000 gold.”

“Hehe, it’s somewhat unexpected that Young Master would agree with my words?”

Judas moved next to Featherback and nodded his head.

Featherback continued speaking.

“If we owe a debt, we must repay it. Trying to default on it would be the petty mindset of a thief, wouldn’t it?”

“Petty thief! And you! What have you been saying! Whose side are you on…!”

Cardona stepped forward once again.

Her expression showed bewilderment and a sense of betrayal.

Soleil was also watching Featherback with his mouth shut.

Just then, Featherback continued speaking.

“So we need to notify the Levarb Family. To pay their debt.”

“That’s right! The Levarb Family should pay their debt…?”

Judas, who had been nodding beside him, soon expressed confusion.

“Young Lord, telling the Levarb Family to pay their debt? You seem to have misunderstood something… We’re the ones who have to pay the debt. The Levarb Family is the one receiving payment.”

“As I mentioned earlier, while the Family Head was away on expedition, I used the seal to investigate the document storage. During that time, I discovered this.”

Featherback lied.

What Featherback was about to produce wasn’t from the family’s document storage, but something he had secretly taken from the family’s secret vault.

Rustle―

It was a very old piece of parchment.

The contents written within were as follows:

【Vassal House Levarb swears that for generations to come, with the posture of dogs and horses, they will devote body and soul to serve their liege lord House Mörsolt, and firmly pledge to offer provisions or goods worth fifty percent of their annual production on the last day of each year. Should they fail to uphold this, penalty interest will be calculated at 33.3% compound interest annually. This document is written in the blood of Levarb’s founding Family Head…, and all parties confirm it is guaranteed by His Imperial Majesty and proven by covenant magic cast by the Magic Tower mages.】

A contract written in blood of kinsmen and magical ink.

It was even a genuine original with anti-forgery magic cast by Magic Tower mages.

Moreover, beneath it was stamped the imperial seal, meaning the Emperor of that era had guaranteed this content.

With the imperial seal stamped on it, denying this would be dangerous enough to be branded as treason.

“… … …”

Yudi Administrator had his mouth hanging open wide enough for his jaw to drop.

Featherback spoke before him.

“From now on, I intend to collect the debt from those despicable thieves. With compound interest.”

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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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