I Alone Regress in a Hero Party That Was Annihilated - Chapter 30

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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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#30. Child of the Abyss (2)

 

— — —

 

Slice―

 

Pork that had been cured in salt for a long time is sliced thin.

 

This ham had been salted for so long that its color had turned brown and it was extremely hard.

 

However, the inside of the cut surface still retained a pinkish hue, and salt crystals were visible here and there.

 

Next to it, an entire deer hind leg was being roasted whole.

 

The meat placed on the hot pebbles was cooking while releasing droplets of oil that bubbled and sizzled.

 

Bread and cheese followed, being placed on the table.

 

Soft white bread was torn along its grain, revealing the dried fruits inside.

 

Cheese made from goat milk was placed alongside goat milk, spreading its savory aroma all the way here.

 

Chomp chomp chomp chomp―

 

Rorschach, the Child of the Abyss, was devouring all of these things at tremendous speed.

 

Where could all that food possibly fit in that small, scrawny body?

 

Munch munch munch munch―

 

Rorschach chewed and swallowed a large chunk of salted ham whole, then picked up a deer leg that hadn’t even cooled down yet.

 

After ravenously chewing the hot meat, Rorschach soon gulped down cold milk and began grabbing bread and cheese again.

 

Ten days’ worth of provisions for an adult man disappeared in the blink of an eye.

 

However.

 

“Eat plenty. There’s as much food as you want here.”

 

Featherback piled more food beside the table.

 

Fish caught from the pond pooled in the cave were sizzling and crackling as they cooked on the grill.

 

Fried dishes made from birds caught near the Abyss entrance and egg pancakes were continuously placed on the table.

 

Crabs and shrimp caught from the mud in the water pool were heaped high on plates.

 

“…! …! …!”

 

Rorschach’s eyes lit up as he looked at the food.

 

Watching him like this, he was unmistakably a child.

 

However.

 

‘An unexpected sight indeed.’

 

Featherback was searching through his memories from before the regression as he watched Rorschach.

 

‘Looking at those fierce-looking eyes, it’s definitely that guy.’

 

Those were definitely the same eyes he had faced on the battlefield before the regression.

 

Though he looked quite young now, that was mutual.

 

Rorschach Roschek.

 

The name of the monster who had once driven the Mörsolt Family to the brink of destruction.

 

“Want more?”

 

Nod nod—

 

But right now, he was just a child.

 

Featherback continued giving food to Rorschach.

 

‘If I can win his favor this easily.’

 

Rorschach would grow up to become a terrifying figure.

 

A military strategist who lacked nothing in military strategy, administration, or supply management.

 

A monster who used Narok’s emaciated prisoners to kill thirty percent of Mörsolt’s elite forces.

 

Because of that, hadn’t Featherback been forced to spend a full six months in Narok?

 

‘…Since that day, I came to believe that a single individual could turn an entire group upside down.’

 

Featherback glanced away.

 

At Rorschach’s feet lay a wooden crate.

 

Inside that crate filled with salt and sawdust was Hadley’s severed head.

 

He had been Rorschach’s longtime enemy.

 

A demon who not only killed his parents but also pursued Rorschach himself.

 

Featherback said to Rorschach.

 

“I’ve already proven your parents’ innocence.”

 

“…”

 

“I’ve also eliminated all those who framed them. They’ll soon be imprisoned here.”

 

Then Rorschach responded.

 

“Why are you being so good to me?”

 

“…”

 

This time it was Featherback who fell silent.

 

The child of a couple framed by Judas and imprisoned in Narok.

 

A child raised by all the prisoners in Narok and some of the prison guards.

 

And a genius among geniuses who would grow up to become humanity’s greatest military tactician.

 

There was no reason not to recruit such an existence in advance.

 

“I’m not being good to you. Saving the innocent and compensating them is a noble’s duty.”

 

Featherback gave a principled answer.

 

It wasn’t exactly a lie.

 

Rorschach tilted his head.

 

“Mom and Dad said that. That the Mörsolt Family people aren’t bad. That the bad ones are the administrators in between.”

 

“I am a person of the Mörsolt Family. I’m in charge of executing the bad administrators.”

 

Featherback pushed thinly sliced salted pork toward Rorschach.

 

“I want you to help me with my work.”

 

“Mom and Dad also told me this. There’s no such thing as a free meal in this world.”

 

Rorschach chewed the ham as if he were eating the most delicious thing in the world.

 

Featherback nodded his head.

 

“Good that the conversation moves quickly. You received proper family training.”

 

Then he continued speaking to Rorschach.

 

“I have many things I need to do. Half of them require using my head.”

 

“What about the other half?”

 

“Things that require using a sword.”

 

“I’m not confident with swords.”

 

“Then use your head. There are many things you could do.”

 

At Featherback’s words, Rorschach fell silent.

 

And soon after, he made one request.

 

“I’ll do whatever work it is. But please grant me just one favor.”

 

“What is it.”

 

Featherback asked.

 

To this, Rorschach answered.

 

“Give one glass of beer to everyone here.”

 

“Beer?”

 

“Yes. It has to be cold enough to make your teeth ache.”

 

“That’s all?”

 

“….”

 

At Featherback’s question, Rorschach nodded his head.

 

“After Mom and Dad passed away, the grandfathers raised me.”

 

“The prisoners, I suppose.”

 

“Yes. They all said they came here under false accusations.”

 

“….”

 

At Rorschach’s words, Featherback cupped his chin with his hand.

 

That probably wasn’t true.

 

As soon as Featherback took office as Prison Warden, he had investigated the personal details of all the criminals.

 

Among them, there weren’t many who had come in under false accusations, and even those were already dead.

 

So the prisoners who raised Rorschach were probably people who had truly committed crimes.

 

Perhaps knowing this, Rorschach didn’t ask for the prisoners to be released.

 

Featherback soon nodded his head.

 

“Understood. I’ll have it prepared right away.”

 

* * *

 

Each of the Prisoners of Narok was distributed a mug of beer.

 

The teeth-chatteringly cold beers were brought over buried in ice containers.

 

The prisoners who had been waiting only for death inside the iron bars accepted a mug of beer with bewildered expressions.

 

They picked up the beer mugs with trembling hands and held them to their faces.

 

“This isn’t a dream, is it?”

 

“To think I’d be able to drink beer again in my lifetime.”

 

“This is my favorite beer. Oh— they’re still selling this.”

 

The prisoners slowly savored their beer.

 

Even Spiritual Medicine that could grant immortality with a single sip wouldn’t be treated this preciously.

 

They shed tears as they drank the cold beer.

 

Then.

 

♩♪♬…

 

Music could be heard from somewhere.

 

Where the prisoners turned their heads, Rorschach was standing.

 

The child playing the violin.

 

The song the child was performing was ‘Song of the Free Poet, Movement 7’.

 

The prisoners closed their eyes while holding their beer.

 

And listening to the violin sound performed by the Child of the Abyss, they forgot the world for a moment.

 

…Meanwhile.

 

‘This is taking quite a while.’

 

Featherback stood behind Rorschach with an indifferent expression.

 

Despite this being Rorschach’s first time playing the violin, he was performing it very skillfully.

 

He learned how to read sheet music from his parents and learned how to play the violin from other prisoners.

 

To see him play the violin so well with just the experience of playing a makeshift violin made from stone, wood pieces, and bat sinew a few times—truly a genius is a genius.

 

“Tsk.”

 

Featherback clicked his tongue lightly once.

 

In the distance, he could see the prisoners shedding tears.

 

Were they feeling regret? Or were they being self-deprecating?

 

Originally, Featherback pursued punishment rather than rehabilitation, so whatever the prisoners felt was outside his interest.

 

Eventually.

 

The musical performance that had continued for quite a while finally ended.

 

The prisoners returned their empty beer mugs, and Rorschach came back to Featherback.

 

Then.

 

“Take care of yourself.”

 

As Rorschach passed in front of the iron bars, an old man spoke up.

 

“….”

 

Rorschach did not answer.

 

He simply bowed his head once toward those iron bars.

 

Seeing this, Featherback clicked his tongue once again.

 

Then he asked the prison guard beside him.

 

“What kind of meals are being served to the prisoners of Narok?”

 

“Originally, potato stew and black bread were served twice a day. But according to the orders you gave after becoming Prison Warden, only potato stew is being served once every two days.”

 

Upon hearing the prison guard’s answer, Featherback clicked his tongue for the third time.

 

Then he briefly issued a corrective order.

 

“From now on, give them three meals a day. Serve potato stew and black bread like before, but also add a little pickled vegetables on the side.”

 

“!”

 

The prison guards’ eyes widened upon hearing Featherback’s order.

 

This was because Featherback’s attitude, which had been ready to starve all the prisoners of Narok to death, had loosened up just slightly.

 

* * *

 

Featherback had a long conversation with Rorschach.

 

Countermeasures against monsters coming from the Northern Region, the impact of military expansion, strategies for securing tax revenue, relief plans for the poor within Mörsolt Territory, management methods for increasingly diversified merchant groups….

 

Most of these were things that the Roschek Administrator Couple, who were Rorschach’s parents, had been pushing forward but were blocked by Judas.

 

‘If these bills had been discussed and implemented in time, the Mörsolt Family wouldn’t have declined to this extent.’

 

Rorschach’s parents were the incorruptible officials this territory desperately needed.

 

And now that they were dead under false accusations, Featherback planned to raise Rorschach well and place him in that position.

 

“From now on, think of me as family. Your sorrow is the sorrow of the Mörsolt Family, so I will personally become your guardian.”

 

“How old are you?”

 

“?”

 

Featherback frowned at Rorschach’s words.

 

Then Rorschach continued speaking.

 

“It would be strange if my guardian were younger than me. You look much younger than me.”

 

In noble society, elders usually become guardians of the younger ones.

 

Featherback answered Rorschach’s question.

 

“I am fifteen this year.”

 

“I’m fourteen, so… then that should be fine.”

 

After hearing Featherback’s answer, Rorschach seemed to think about something, then suddenly asked a question.

 

“Since you told me to think of you as family, I can call you big brother, right?”

 

“….”

 

“Just kidding. My mom and dad always said that. That you should have the composure to joke and laugh in any situation.”

 

Rorschach spoke with a bright smile through her disheveled hair.

 

“From now on, I’ll call you Lord Featherback. Please take care of me.”

 

“…Right.”

 

Featherback nodded, making a tremendous effort not to show his surprise.

 

‘To think she was a woman.’

 

With her disheveled hair, dirty face, and emaciated body, he had naturally assumed she was a man.

 

Before his regression, when he met her during the chaotic battle, she had been wearing thick armor and a large helmet, so there was no chance to see her appearance in detail.

 

‘Still, nothing will change.’

 

Featherback stood up from his seat.

 

Then he spoke to Rorschach.

 

“I’ll give you a gift to commemorate becoming my subordinate.”

 

“?”

 

Rorschach lifted her head.

 

Featherback placed a key on the table.

 

…Clack!

 

Rorschach turned her head in the direction of Featherback’s gaze.

 

In the corner of the stone wall, a large steel door could be seen.

 

The key was meant to open the lock there.

 

Click—

 

Rorschach picked up the key and tried opening the lock.

 

Then.

 

“…!”

 

The things inside the room came clearly into view.

 

“Mmph mmph mmph—”

 

“Hnngh—sob sob—sob sob sob…”

 

Men and women who appeared to be in their 50s to 60s.

 

Every one of them was gagged and tightly bound with cord.

 

Featherback walked up behind Rorschach, who wore a shocked expression.

 

“These are the bastards who were involved in framing your parents.”

 

“…!”

 

At those words, Rorschach’s atmosphere changed drastically.

 

At those words, Rorschach’s demeanor changed abruptly.

 

Seeing her expression grow extremely cold and sunken, Featherback could sense it instinctively.

 

‘It seems I chose the right gift.’

 

Indeed, when it comes to capturing a woman’s heart, there’s no gift quite like an enemy’s head.

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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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