I Alone Regress in a Hero Party That Was Annihilated - Chapter 39

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

#39. To Meursault Mountain (3)

— — —

Kiiiiing―

The cold attacks from the extremities of the body first.

It felt like small dwarves who had developed a taste for human flesh were sawing away at the tips of noses, fingertips, and toes.

“Uuuuuu…”

The prisoners groaned like ghosts as they pulled the cargo wagons.

Storms in the morning.

Blizzards at lunch.

Hellish bitter cold at night.

Each time, Featherback generously distributed relief supplies.

Matches and firewood, rat meat, dried fruit, fur boots and gloves, thick cloaks…

Of course, their prices were as murderous as the cold.

But the prisoners had no choice but to buy them.

‘Let’s just buy the essentials at first.’

‘Winter gear can be used for a long time once you buy it.’

‘After that, I can endure by eating only one meal a day.’

The prisoners first bought winter gear, and from then on bought provisions to eat sparingly bit by bit.

Who was it that said humans are animals of adaptation?

At some point, the prisoners gradually began to save money.

At first, they had spent every penny they had due to cold and hunger, but once they had somewhat resolved the cold and hunger, even this hard labor became bearable.

‘This is money I’ve saved up somehow, I can’t squander it in a place like this.’

‘I will definitely survive and return to receive a pardon. And I’ll live luxuriously with my hidden assets.’

‘I must have been crazy. I wasted too much money at the beginning. Getting fooled by that young master’s smooth talk… from now on I should save…’

With warm backs and full bellies, greed rears its head again.

The prisoners were once again harboring vain dreams.

However.

“It’s about time for them to appear.”

Featherback was fully aware of the prisoners’ schemes.

Soon, strange movements were detected on both sides of the cargo wagon procession crossing the center of the snowy field.

Several sharp-eyed prisoners began to tremble.

“Mo, monsters! It’s monsters!”

A group of shadows was approaching from the forest beyond the snowy field.

Frost wolves.

Fanged beasts that travel in packs through bitter blizzards.

These fierce predators had caught the scent of the prisoners.

The prisoners froze at the monsters’ movements, as if wondering what kind of chunks of meat these were.

Soon.

[Growl!]

Death came charging.

The Frost Wolf’s teeth were about to sink into the prisoner’s nape.

Right at that moment.

Crack―

The head of the Frost Wolf charging with its mouth open was cleanly severed.

“Finally some mutts are showing up. We’ve entered the foothills of the mountain.”

Featherback stood holding his snow-white sword.

The blood splattered on his white skin and white hair truly suited his notorious reputation as Blood Lily.

“Light the fires and maintain formation. Those things come in swarms once they start attacking.”

He was right.

[Howl! Howl! Howl!]

[Graaah! Gaaaah!]

[Grrrrrrrrrrr…]

The monsters’ assault began.

They circled around the prisoners, baring their teeth.

The prisoners were terrified.

Right then.

Flutter―

The curtain of the last cargo wagon was pulled back.

Featherback pointed inside the wagon.

“I figured you’d all be sick of just selling fur clothing and provisions. So I’m putting out different auction items.”

Inside were spears, swords, and shields piled high.

“A warrior of the Northern Region should protect himself. How about it? Right now I’ll offer a bleeding discount. Spear, sword, shield – a 3-piece set for just 10 million gold. If you want to buy individually, it’s 5 million gold each.”

“….”

The prisoners’ mouths fell open.

Right then, one person among the prisoners shot his hand up.

“I’ll buy it! I’ll purchase immediately with the money I saved up from before!”

It was Goat-bearded Sancho.

Featherback nodded.

“You shop frequently so you’ve accumulated quite a bit of points. Will you use them?”

“I’ll use them!”

“Good. Then just pay 8 million gold for the spear, sword, and shield.”

Despite the outrageous markup of 10,000 times, Sancho bowed repeatedly as he received the spear, sword, and shield.

The prisoners wondered if Sancho had gone mad and tilted their heads in confusion.

Flash!

A flash of venom gleamed in Sancho’s eyes as he grasped the spear, sword, and shield.

“Hehehe— Prince Featherback. You’ve let your guard down. To return teeth and claws to a wild beast!”

Having finished speaking, Sancho instantly spun around and raised his spear toward Featherback.

“You’ll regret giving me weapons…!?”

In that moment, Sancho’s eyes widened in shock.

White Aura was gathering at the tip of the sword Featherback held.

It was the very same aura that had severed the Frost Wolf’s neck in a single strike earlier.

Featherback narrowed his eyes.

“What did you say I’d regret?”

“That…”

Sancho broke out in cold sweat.

Then with a resolute expression, he spun his body around and thrust his spear toward the Frost Wolves in front of him.

“I-I’ll make those damn Frost Wolves regret it! For Lord Featherback!”

The Frost Wolves in front of Sancho leaped back and retreated.

Humans certainly become stronger when they have something in their hands.

The eyes of the prisoners changed as they watched Sancho drive away the Frost Wolves.

“I-I’ll buy some too!”

“Aaaah, I need a spear and armor and helmet and…!”

It was another moment when sales surged dramatically.

* * *

At that time, at Mörsolt Castle.

There was a man looking out at the Northern Mountain Range from atop a high spire.

Bold features and deep pupils.

Eyes with a clear distinction between black and white were scanning the lower areas of the distant mountain range.

Behind him stood two women.

One was a Female Knight with a well-trained body and cold impression.

The other was a woman with a languid expression, openly displaying her curvaceous figure.

They were Cardona and Rorschach.

Cardona spoke first.

“A letter has arrived from Featherback, who went on the expedition to Meursault Mountain. He says there are no particular problems except for a slight reduction in the number of prisoners.”

Then Rorschach also continued speaking.

“I also received a letter from Young Master. The prisoners have voluntarily expressed their intention to transfer their hidden assets. Everything was processed as donations.”

At those words, Cardona, who was beside her, twitched her eyebrow slightly.

“The hundred prisoners that Featherback took with him are each troublemakers, and you’re saying those bastards willingly donated their hidden assets?”

“That’s correct. Even at this very moment, letters continue to arrive informing us of the locations of hidden assets and their intention to donate.”

“Featherback must trust you quite a bit. He’s not the type to send letters frequently.”

“Is that so? He sends them to me about once every three days.”

“…Well, that’s because it’s work-related.”

“He’s also asked about my personal well-being several times. He seems like a truly warm person.”

“Hmm— Legal Officer Rorschach has more sentiment than I thought.”

“Compared to Executor Cardona’s warmth and compassion, it’s an embarrassing level.”

“….”

“….”

Cardona looked at Rorschach and narrowed one eye.

Rorschach looked at Cardona and smiled brightly.

Just then.

“Legal Officer Rorschach.”

Soleil opened his mouth.

Rorschach bowed her head.

“Yes.”

“Do you not resent Mörsolt?”

“….”

At Soleil’s words, the smile momentarily disappeared from Rorschach’s lips.

Soon after, Soleil turned his head to look at Rorschach.

“Due to my incompetence, scoundrels ran wild without distinguishing right from wrong. You and your parents were sacrificed because of that. If only I had been a little more capable…”

Having finished speaking, Soleil bowed his head to Rorschach.

“I’m truly sorry. I should have apologized long ago.”

“Father!”

“Cardona, stay quiet.”

Cardona tried to say something, but Soleil stopped her.

“….”

Rorschach just stood quietly with a subtle expression, saying nothing in particular.

Eventually, she spoke.

“I did resent you in the past.”

“….”

“But now I’ve forgotten all about it.”

“…?”

At those words, Soleil and Cardona tilted their heads in confusion.

Rorschach smiled brightly.

“The beer that a certain Young Master from the Mörsolt Family gave me was stronger than I expected. I have a constitution where I black out whenever I drink alcohol.”

“….”

At those words, Soleil slowly closed his eyes.

Then he muttered quietly.

“Featherback. That guy really makes me ashamed in so many ways. They say a tiger father doesn’t have a dog son, but perhaps a dog father can have a tiger son.”

Eventually, Soleil spoke to Cardona and Rorschach.

“The reason I called you both here today is because there’s a matter we absolutely must discuss together.”

“…?”

Cardona and Rorschach looked at Soleil with puzzled expressions.

Cardona mainly handled law establishment and enforcement, while Rorschach handled administration and supply management. Since the two women had completely different spheres of activity, there was rarely any need for them to coordinate.

However, at Soleil’s next words, both women’s expressions hardened.

“Three of the Northern Region’s five fingers are moving.”

“…!”

Cardona, who had a thorough understanding of Northern Region politics, was the first to react.

“Portofino, Purosange, and Modificata. Are these the ones?”

“That’s right. The other three excluding Levarb and Daytona.”

Soleil placed the merchant guild leaders’ reports on the desk.

They contained information about the military operations of the Portofino, Purosange, and Modificata families.

[Political marriage concluded between the Purosange Family and Portofino Family.]

[Portofino Family forces advance-deployed to the Purosange border.]

[Modificata cavalry entering tactical training. Officially for monster subjugation, but the designated area has no reported monster sighting damage.]

.

.

The five great families of the Northern Region, once called Mörsolt’s five fingers.

But now they were hunting dogs that didn’t recognize their master and were ready to bite.

Soleil said.

“When Featherback returns, I don’t want to remain as a shameful father and an incompetent Family Head.”

“….”

Cardona and Rorschach’s eyes lit up simultaneously.

They too were thinking exactly the same thing as Soleil.

“I can’t lose to my younger brother. As his older sister, it’s time to set an example.”

“This is my chance to gain Young Master Featherback’s recognition. I’ll prove my true worth.”

The two women’s gazes met once again at a single point.

It was truly a strange(?) standoff.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————