I Alone Regress in a Hero Party That Was Annihilated - Chapter 35
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
#35. War Clouds (4)
— — —
Several months passed after that.
In the depths of winter when even the monster invasions had ceased due to the cold.
A grand banquet was held at Mörsolt Castle.
It was the merchant group founding commemoration party.
“Let us toast.”
Soleil, the Family Head of the Mörsolt Family, raised a silver cup filled with wine.
Countless people raised their cups in response.
“Glory to Mörsolt!”
The guests’ cheers made the candles above the chandelier flicker.
The feast began in earnest.
People’s excited laughter flowed along the walls adorned with ancient murals.
Servants busily passed back and forth across the polished marble floor.
Well-dressed ladies and gentlemen chatted while enjoying the music that flowed sweetly throughout the banquet hall.
Food was being continuously carried to the long table.
Golden-brown roasted meat and bread, along with enormous fish freshly caught from the Ice Sea of the Northern Sea, were brought forth.
The wine sparkled as if liquid ruby had been created.
The faces of the guests clinking wine cups in toasts bore unmistakable anticipation.
They were all people who had invested in the Mörsolt Merchant Group.
“If Mörsolt enters commerce in earnest, we’ll be able to reap tremendous profits.”
“Of course. They’ve absorbed all the power of the Levarb Family, so naturally.”
“If they continue with this dominating momentum, turning a profit might be possible within the next month.”
“How fortunate that I was able to invest here. If I had been just a little late, I wouldn’t have been able to invest. Truly nerve-wracking.”
They recalled when the Mörsolt Family first announced they would organize a merchant group.
‘This will work.’
Everyone had the same thought.
If it had been the old Mörsolt, they would have scoffed at such news, but now the story was different.
Mörsolt had eradicated all corruption within their territory and expanded their army to become the hegemon of the Northern Region in one stroke.
Even those who initially clicked their tongues saying they would face backlash had somehow become completely captivated by Mörsolt’s radical and dominating course of action.
“Family Head Soleil has made a tremendous resolution.”
“I’ve recognized the power of the Mörsolt Family from long ago.”
“Miss Cardona is also said to be so brilliant, isn’t she? Heh heh heh—”
“Since they’re of Mörsolt blood, how could it be otherwise? They must all be geniuses or prodigies.”
Those who had been whispering soon fixed their conversation on one topic.
“By the way, have you heard that rumor?”
“Shall I guess what the Chairman is going to say?”
“I could guess as well. After all, isn’t it about that person?”
“The hidden dragon of the Mörsolt Family. The fifteen-year-old boy hero who has been holding his breath and waiting for his time!”
These days in Mörsolt Territory, whenever three or more people gather, they talk about this figure.
“That’s right, Prince Featherback.”
“He’s truly the greatest contributor who single-handedly raised up the Mörsolt Family, isn’t he?”
“Do you know why Prince Featherback has endured the derogatory names of scoundrel, coward, immature fool, and useless noble all this time?”
“Hahaha— Is there anyone in this territory who doesn’t know that? It was to prevent his political enemies from being wary of his genius. It was a thorough disguise technique, wasn’t it? Truly, a hero’s schemes run deep and magnificent. No one knew about it, did they?”
In fact, the nobles gathered at this party weren’t particularly interested in commemorating the founding of the merchant group.
They had already invested in the merchant group, so they just needed to sit quietly and wait for the dividends to return.
Strictly speaking, there wasn’t really a reason to attend the party.
Nevertheless, the reason these dignified old gentlemen attended this party was…
“Ahem—hmm. I’ve been watching Prince Featherback for a long time, you see. He’s quite tall, handsome, and at fifteen years old, he’s just perfect.”
“Perfect for what?”
“My goodness. Perfect for what, indeed. My youngest daughter is now fifteen. She’s of marriageable age. Wouldn’t they make a beautiful picture standing together with Prince Featherback?”
“Oh come now—Prince Featherback would suit our eldest daughter better. I don’t mean to brag, but each of my daughters is exceptionally beautiful, aren’t they?”
“What? Are you saying my youngest daughter isn’t much to look at?”
“That’s not what I meant, I’m saying our eldest daughter would be more suitable.”
Most were there to recommend their family’s daughters as Featherback’s marriage partner.
‘I will absolutely make the Mörsolt Family our in-laws!’
So among the influential families in this region, the fathers with daughters had dressed up splendidly and brought lavish gifts to attend this banquet.
Finally, with everyone’s attention focused, one person appeared on the stage.
“Good evening. I am Featherback, who will be taking the position of the first merchant group administrator.”
White hair and red eyes.
A boy with such delicate features that one might mistake him for a girl at first glance stood under the chandelier’s light.
Featherback.
A fifteen-year-old boy with beautiful and delicate features.
A member of Mörsolt who would sit in the position of the merchant group’s top administrator.
But among the people gathered here, no one doubted Featherback’s qualifications.
They had clearly witnessed the changes after Featherback appeared at the forefront of the Mörsolt Family.
“S-so that’s Prince Featherback.”
“His nickname is ‘Blood Lily,’ right?”
“That’s a chilling nickname. Why is he called that?”
“Prince Featherback executed so many criminals that the lilies at the execution ground bloomed red.”
Blood Lily.
A nickname meaning that lilies that should have been born white bloomed red after absorbing blood.
It was a name that suited Featherback’s white hair and red eyes quite well.
Soon, Featherback drew the white sword ‘White Phosphorus’ that he wore at his waist.
“Now we will proceed with the signboard ceremony.”
Since this was a ceremony commemorating the establishment of the merchant group, formality was necessary.
Featherback raised his white sword and looked at the red ribbon before his eyes.
Cutting the ribbon with his sword would declare the establishment of the new merchant group.
…Snip!
As Featherback cut the ribbon, thunderous applause erupted from all around.
Soon, numerous people rushed toward Featherback.
“Lord Featherback! It’s nothing special, but my daughter is an ardent fan of yours…”
“When you have time, if you could share a cup of tea with my daughter, it would be an honor for our family…”
“The reason people call our household a house blessed with daughters is because we have six beautiful daughters…”
All sorts of old gentlemen and noble ladies approached, appealing about their daughters.
Faced with the madness displayed by parents stepping forward directly, even seasoned matchmakers didn’t dare to speak up.
However.
“I am terribly sorry, everyone.”
Featherback drew a firm line.
“I must leave immediately.”
“What!? Why is that!”
Sounds of disappointment leaked out from among the crowd.
Featherback answered in a mechanical and businesslike tone.
“Because I must return to work as quickly as possible, even if it’s just one second sooner. My dawdling means the merchant group’s departure will be delayed. If that happens, the dividends you all receive will also decrease.”
It was a valid point.
The time a merchant group spends before setting out on a trading journey is money.
Feed consumed by horses, wages for personnel, goods that depreciate over time, storage fees for keeping those goods… a merchant group was no different from a monster that devoured money just by standing still.
Featherback continued.
“I am bound by my promise to provide you all with maximum profits. I cannot waste even a single second. I will return immediately to the work front to fulfill my duties. To deliver the excess dividends beyond what I promised you all by year’s end, I must throw myself into work starting now.”
In summary, it meant ‘I will work hard to earn money for you all.’
Since Featherback declared this first, no one could block his path.
“Then, I’ll be going.”
With a polite farewell, Featherback completely exited the banquet hall.
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
The mothers and fathers with unmarried daughters watched his figure quietly, harboring the same thought.
‘Someday I will definitely make him my son-in-law.’
* * *
Featherback immediately sought out Rorschach’s bedroom.
…Bang!
As the door opened, Rorschach, who had been changing clothes in front of the bed, turned his head.
“Ah. I was just in the middle of changing my underwear.”
“Finish changing. Did you contact the Magic Tower?”
“Yes.”
Though it was a somewhat embarrassing situation between a man and woman, neither Featherback nor Rorschach paid any attention to it.
No, Rorschach seemed to be paying at least some attention as the tips of his ears were slightly red… but that wasn’t particularly important to Featherback.
Rorschach answered while finishing putting on the clothes he was wearing.
“As you instructed, I posted a public notice toward the ‘Frozen Forest’ on the outskirts of Baikal City.”
“And then?”
“There were no applicants, but…”
At Featherback’s question, Rorschach searched his memory.
“A few tips did come in. They were sightings of some ‘Independent Mage.'”
“Extraordinary people are always found where everyone’s predictions fall short.”
Pleased with Rorschach’s answer, Featherback’s attitude became much more relaxed.
Then suddenly, Rorschach asked an unexpected question.
“I posted the notice as you said and gathered all the tips, so aren’t you going to give me a reward?”
“…”
Featherback closed his mouth.
Eventually.
“Yes, you did well.”
Featherback gently stroked Rorschach’s disheveled hair.
Rorschach seemed to enjoy Featherback’s touch like a cat.
A few seconds later, Featherback quickly withdrew his hand.
Rorschach said urgently.
“Why. Why is it short today? Usually it was about 10 seconds… but just now it wasn’t even 3 seconds…”
“Aren’t I busy.”
Featherback said curtly.
This trading venture has the Family House’s name on it.
The number of investors alone exceeds five hundred, and the merchants directly participating in the trade number over one hundred fifty, making it a massive scale.
“From now on, you’ll have to manage all of them. So work diligently until the deadline. If you have time to change your underwear, I recommend looking at one more document instead.”
“I’m only changing this underwear after a week. I don’t even have time to wash, so I’m wiping my body with a towel dipped in water. My body smells like well-fermented cheese.”
“I haven’t washed once either since coming up from Narok until attending the banquet.”
“When did you change your underwear?”
“I didn’t wear any to begin with.”
“…”
Rorschach frowned as if displeased.
She soon confronted Featherback.
“So this is why you dragged me up from Narok?”
“It’s what I told you from the beginning. Didn’t I pay the proper price too.”
“Now that I think about it, sharing one beer each was too cheap a deal.”
“If there’s anything you want, feel free to tell me. I’ll grant you anything within my authority.”
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
Only then did Rorschach return her narrowed eyes to their normal shape.
Soon after, she asked something she had been curious about.
“By the way, if I end up managing the Merchant Group, what will you do now, Young Lord?”
“Conquest.”
The answer came back ridiculously easily.
Rorschach tilted her head and asked back.
“Conquest? Where?”
“The entrance to Meursault Mountain, the Abandoned Mining Area. I will reclaim that place.”
“…I learned that place is a Sealed Zone? Designated by the Empire as a Human Survival Impossible Zone.”
“Whether survival is possible or impossible is not for the Empire to decide.”
“Then who decides?”
“Me.”
At Featherback’s confident answer, Rorschach’s mouth fell half open.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
