I Alone Regress in a Hero Party That Was Annihilated - Chapter 20

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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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#20. Collection (6)

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Skolsage Mörsolt.

A steadfast and loyal knight who had devoted his entire life to the Mörsolt Family.

He was standing guard in the middle of a coniferous forest spread across the snowy field.

The Mörsolt Family’s army, which had been marching toward Rebarb Castle, would camp here tonight.

“….”

Skolsage stood at the outskirts of the coniferous forest, gazing at the Northern Snowy Plains.

The snow-covered field looked like an endlessly spread white mat.

The sky hung heavy and low, with gray clouds so close they seemed within reach.

The snowy field was blindingly bright as it reflected the sunlight, and occasionally strong winds would whip up the snow, creating storms both large and small.

Whiiiiing…

The wind was bone-chillingly cold and sharp, causing frostbite with even the slightest exposure.

That’s why many of the northern men had their nose tips or fingertips completely fallen off.

Skolsage was faithful to his duty as a scout.

In the center of the snowy field he was watching, small hills formed by accumulated snow were scattered about.

The rarely exposed rocks were white, covered in snow and frost.

Between them, the winding streams and brooks only showed traces of where water once flowed, now frozen solid.

The surrounding mountain ranges rose majestically and threateningly.

It was part of the Mörso Mountain Range that did not permit human footsteps.

The mountains surrounded the snowy field like giant guardians.

The snow-covered peaks looked white and pure, but the rocks beneath them created a contrast with their dark tones.

The ridges carved by wind looked sharp and pointed, and the protruding rocks here and there stretched toward the sky like giant teeth.

The canyons that followed the mountain ridges were deep and dark.

From within them came the constant sound of howling wind.

Whoosh―

Skolsage exhaled.

Despite it being midday, the cold was merciless.

In this place where the entire world seemed frozen, it was difficult to find traces of life.

The cold wave harshly tested humans, and Skolsage, looking at the peaks of Meursault Mountain spread before him, was realizing how small an existence he was.

Then.

Crunch―

The sound of someone stepping on snow was heard.

Skolsage, born and raised in the Northern Region, could distinguish whether that sound came from a human or an animal.

Crunch― Crunch―

…Humans.

…Two of them.

…Coming this way.

Skolsage drew his sword.

Then he glared at the two shadows flickering between the sharp coniferous trees.

In his hand, he gripped a horn trumpet, ready to blow it at any moment.

Arrows might come flying, so he hid his body behind a tree.

Then he brought the trumpet to his lips and gripped his sword tightly with his other hand.

Soon, two men appeared before Skolsage.

One was a fat man wrapped in thick fur clothing, panting heavily.

The other was a boy with a ghostly presence, his existence seeming vague and uncertain.

Skolsage’s eyes widened when he saw them.

“Young Master Featherback!?”

The prince of the Mörsolt Family had returned.

“And… Vargo Viscount?”

Having captured the enemy’s leader, no less.

* * *

The camp where the Mörsolt army was stationed.

Inside the barracks, Soleil, the Family Head of the Mörsolt Family, was warming himself by a campfire.

He was receiving a report from his subordinate Skolsage, unable to hide his bewilderment.

“So. You’re saying Featherback captured Vargo Viscount and dragged him all the way here?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“And this Vargo Viscount is currently detained, handed over to our knights?”

“That’s right.”

Skolsage nodded.

Even he, giving the report, seemed unable to believe what he had seen with his own eyes.

Originally, Soleil had expected the fight with the Levarb Family would not be easy.

If they used their money to gather mercenaries and expand their fortress, even the Mörsolt Family would have a hard time.

The Levarb Family was that wealthy and troublesome an opponent.

But to capture the leader of such a place alive.

Moreover….

“Vargo Viscount is dying from blood loss?”

Soleil asked again.

Skolsage nodded once more.

“We mobilized all the healers we brought on the expedition and somehow managed to keep him alive. He had a wine opener stuck in his neck.”

“Why is that thing stuck in his neck?”

“There must have been a wine bottle at the negotiation table. Then the situation probably became urgent.”

“Hmm.”

Soleil stroked his chin.

Then he threw several pieces of firewood into the campfire.

Crackle— Crackle— Crackle—

The firelight grew even brighter.

Soleil nodded his head.

“I understand. Would you go and call my son?”

“I will do so, Family Head.”

Skolsage bowed his head and then stood up.

Soon the door of the barracks fluttered.

The one who appeared was a boy with white hair and red pupils.

Featherback.

The son sat in front of the campfire in response to his father’s call.

Soleil spoke to Featherback.

“You stuck a corkscrew in Vargo Viscount’s neck.”

“Communication didn’t go well.”

“Even so, you can’t treat a person’s neck like a wine bottle. Though they’re the same in that they both have red stuff inside…”

This was Soleil’s way of joking.

Featherback showed no particular reaction to this.

“Sigh…”

Soleil shook his head.

“Son. What you did was truly dangerous. You only needed to go and deliver my letter. Of course, that was dangerous too, but the letter’s contents were ostensibly about debt forgiveness and peace negotiations between both parties, so they wouldn’t have been unnecessarily rough.”

“But it was handled even more smoothly than that, so it’s fortunate.”

“Fortunate my foot! You almost died!”

“I can find my own way to survive. And even if that had happened, Father would have avenged me.”

“What? Revenge?”

“Wouldn’t you?”

“Hah…”

Soleil let out a hollow laugh.

Then he leaned back against his chair.

“I don’t know when you grew up so much. Just a while ago, you used to throw tantrums asking me to invite famous bards to your birthday party.”

“I’ll say it again, but stirring up the Rebarb Family and getting out wasn’t that difficult. No matter how many dogs gather, they’re still just dogs. Even one wolf is enough to make them freeze.”

“…Dogs. The Rebarb Family is quite influential in the Northern Region.”

Soleil quietly gazed at Featherback.

In that gaze, unmistakable satisfaction, pride, and admiration could be glimpsed.

“I understand. We’ll discuss the rewards for this matter later. By the way… Yudi Administrator’s end was quite unexpected.”

“I’ve gathered quite a bit of evidence that he was selling internal secrets. Since I had nothing to do on the way here, I tortured Vargo Viscount a little, and surprisingly, he confessed quickly.”

“I thought he was greedy and didn’t know his place, but I didn’t know it was to that extent. His Administrative Supply Management abilities were outstanding, so I valued him highly. It’s quite shocking. He was also a childhood friend I’d been with since my youth.”

Yudi Administrator was greedy, but he had worked for the Mörsolt Family for a long time.

And his Administrative Supply Management abilities were so excellent that in his younger days, he had helped Soleil greatly in raising the family.

Well, how could a person have only one side?

Even a schemer like Yudi Administrator had multifaceted aspects.

However, the past of a treacherous retainer who was already dead wasn’t something Featherback needed to worry much about.

“Elder Sister Cardona’s administrative abilities are far superior, so it would be good to entrust the handover to her.”

“Cardona? That child knows how to handle administration?”

“There’s nothing Elder Sister can’t do.”

Featherback spoke while recalling old times.

Before the Mörsolt Family fell, Cardona had handled even the family’s Administrative Supply Management.

Thanks to her tremendous management abilities, the Mörsolt Family was able to hold out for some time longer.

‘She’ll do well this time too.’

Cardona, who was called by the nickname of hexagonal genius.

Featherback nodded while recalling her face.

Meanwhile, Soleil was pondering the matter of how to treat Vargo Viscount.

“We’ve captured the Head of the Rebarb Family. This is a tremendous development. However, I’m not sure how we should treat him going forward.”

Featherback offered advice.

“He’s the head of a vassal family anyway. Since we’ve even made a new oath, it seems fine to keep him in our grasp.”

“Detaining a noble for an extended period goes against institutional law.”

“We’ll have to release him soon. However, we can release him after conflicts arise in the Rebarb Family over succession.”

“Brilliant insight.”

Soleil slapped his knee.

The sons of the Rebarb Family don’t get along well with each other, so they’ll clash over inheritance rights.

And since Vargo Viscount had surrendered everything of the family to Mörsolt, the right to appoint a successor also belonged to this side.

Mörsolt could select those among Rebarb’s heirs who suited their taste, put them forward as puppets, and then release Vargo Viscount.

Then the divided Rebarb would be left with nothing but chaff.

“Since we said we’d close down the family house from the beginning, there shouldn’t be any major issues.”

“Both justification and practical benefits, we can hold them all in our hands. Son, how did you come up with such an idea?”

“I learned a lot through history.”

Featherback answered obediently.

What he said about learning through history wasn’t a lie.

The only difference was that it was future history, not past history.

Soleil nodded his head.

Taking prisoners in territorial wars between noble houses and releasing them for ransom was common practice.

Moreover, since Mörsolt had the justification on their side, it made ending the situation much easier.

“Good. Then we’ll return to the castle as planned. To the Levarb Family…”

Soleil nodded his head.

“We should convey it like this. We’ll protect Vargo Viscount for a while. So anyone who wants to be recognized as the legitimate heir of the Levarb Family should come to us and pledge to fulfill the covenant.”

“They’ll probably come on their own before we even need to convey the message.”

At Featherback’s words, Soleil nodded once again.

The war between the Mörsolt Family and the Levarb Family ended so anticlimactically.

…No.

“Oh, Father.”

“?”

Before leaving the barracks, Featherback tossed something in front of Soleil.

It was a black book with no title written on it.

“While capturing and bringing Vargo Viscount, I picked up an interesting book on the frozen lake. The blizzard was so severe that it’s hard to remember the exact location where I found it.”

“What kind of book is it?”

“It’s a book that I think would be good for you to read and study, Father. What was written inside… ah.”

Featherback, who had been pretending to think for a moment, added a comment.

“It said ‘Mörsolt Sword Style Complete.'”

“…!”

Soleil’s eyes, looking down at the book, widened to the point where they couldn’t get any bigger.

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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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