I Alone Regress in a Hero Party That Was Annihilated - Chapter 95

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

#95. The Scent of Money (5)

“I will no longer wear a Mask in front of my Lord.”

Portia removed his Mustache.

Featherback nodded his head.

“Take the Contract Money.”

“It’s quite heavy. I’m worried I might get mugged, ah, no, I’m worried about getting robbed by Pickpockets.”

“If you want, I’ll assign you a few Guards.”

“No. If someone can’t even bring money from others’ hands, let alone protect money that’s already in their own hands, they don’t deserve to call themselves a Merchant.”

Portia grinned and shouldered the Sack.

Her body tilted backward once before returning to its original position.

“…I’m sorry. Could you please assign me some Guards after all?”

“Hounded.”

When Featherback spoke, Hounded emerged from the small door across the room.

“It’s an honor to Escort such a beautiful young lady. Security and Guard duty are my specialty. Leave it to me, Miss Portia…”

Just as Hounded chuckled and grabbed Portia’s hand, trying to kiss the back of it.

…Crack! Snap!

Portia instantly grabbed and twisted Hounded’s wrist.

Then she slammed him straight to the Floor.

Crash—Bang!

“Ugh!”

Hounded let out an unsightly scream as he rolled on the Floor.

Portia exclaimed in surprise.

“Huh!? I’m, I’m sorry! You suddenly approached me so I instinctively…!”

“If you can’t even handle that much, it’ll be hard to do business in the Northern Region.”

Featherback nodded as if it was nothing serious.

Hounded got up from his position while suppressing a groan.

And as if nothing had happened, he politely extended his hand toward the sack containing 1 million gold.

“Then I shall escort you, Miss Money Sack.”

It was quite natural.

* * *

Watching Portia’s departing figure, Rorschach made a comment.

“Another hole has opened up.”

“What hole?”

“A hole for money to flow out.”

Featherback nodded.

And answered in his characteristic emotionless tone.

“It will return hundreds, thousands of times what went out.”

“Lord Featherback always has such confidence.”

“It was the same when I picked you up from Narok. Did you forget?”

“…”

At Featherback’s words, Rorschach sighed while turning the pages of the ledger.

“Just when I think some money is coming in, it immediately flows right back out. Same with Miss Quinbits, and same with that cross-dressing woman over there.”

“She’s a woman who will become the Empire’s greatest merchant. We need to build good relations in advance.”

“In that case, I should also make a good impression in advance. Countless holes for money to flow out have opened up with the merger of Purosange and Lebarb Territory. Ah, so please start with the payments.”

After finishing his words, Rorschach placed a thick document bundle in front of Featherback.

Featherback narrowed his eyes.

“Is that all?”

“How could that be?”

When Rorschach gestured, the servants behind him brought over a wagon loaded with documents packed tightly in crates.

Featherback let out a small groan for the first time.

“What kind of approvals are there so many of?”

“These are status reports, expense reports, and personnel increase requests sent by the administrators dispatched to Lebarb Territory and Purosange Territory.”

“Handle that level of things yourself.”

“I handled most things at my discretion, but what remains here are truly important matters that are beyond what I, a mere Chief Administrator, can handle. Originally, Lady Cardona would have done this work, but now that she has vacated her position, you must review them, Lord Featherback.”

There was somehow a hint of amusement in Rorschach’s expression.

Eventually, Featherback began reading through the documents.

“We’ll need to hire additional personnel.”

“When I was being overworked, you didn’t hire additional staff, but now that documents for Lord Featherback to review are piling up, you finally feel like reinforcing, I see.”

“I didn’t realize it was this much. We’ll promote the existing administrators and hire a large number of new administrators. I suspect there are many experienced people among the refugees who migrated from Purosange and Lebarb this time.”

“We can absorb them directly. I’ll post the job posting immediately.”

“Actually, I already prepared it last night. I instructed the soldiers to post them in every plaza.”

“…I think I might fall in love right now.”

“Think of it as comradeship.”

Then, Featherback stopped while turning through the documents.

“The recruitment of blacksmiths isn’t going as smoothly as expected.”

“We’ve gathered all the master craftsmen in the Northern Region, but there are limits beyond that.”

“Didn’t we also decide to bring over the staff and disciples affiliated with their workshops?”

“Most of the artisan workshops in the Northern Region are made up of small elite groups, and they only train disciples through the apprenticeship system, so their numbers are few.”

“Can’t be helped. If you have connections outside the Northern Region, try pulling those strings too.”

“They won’t budge with ordinary compensation. The deep-rooted prejudices about the Northern Region are still strong.”

“We’ll have to crush them with money then.”

The perception that the Northern Region is no place for people to live isn’t limited to just merchants.

However, there are many master craftsmen in the Imperial Capital who are blinded by money.

They’ll make anything as long as you pay them.

“We need artisans who can properly handle mithril, orichalcum, and silver.”

“You’re referring to what the Northern Region’s artisans are currently making day and night.”

Featherback nodded.

“Lemegeton Killer. It’s a Class 1 military secret, so make sure no one finds out.”

“What a sinister name. To think it references the 72 demons mentioned in legend.”

Rorschach shuddered.

Featherback nodded.

The Lemegeton Killer is a weapon made by coating an alloy of mithril and orichalcum with pure silver that has undergone special processes, including Sacred Awakening by priests.

Also called the God Slayer, it was a strategic weapon specialized for anti-demon warfare from before his regression.

‘With that, one can easily bridge a gap of two star levels.’

Weapons and equipment that enable a 1-Star Knight to kill a 3-Star level demon.

It earned the nickname God Slayer because with this, even ordinary knights could kill mythical beings.

Rorschach asked.

“Lord Featherback, you truly believe in the Demon King’s revival.”

“That’s right.”

“If anyone else had said such words, I would have laughed at them. Just like when I heard the old tale of that ancient Fool who died of weakness from losing sleep, fearing the sky might fall.”

“You’re free to laugh. I will silently walk my own path.”

“What human under the heavens could possibly laugh at Lord Featherback? Someone so strong, wise, and wealthy, while even being blessed with good looks.”

“That’s an unusual way of speaking. Do you have something to ask of me?”

“It’s just my pure thoughts. Ahem—”

Rorschach cleared his throat and changed the subject.

“But if the Demon King doesn’t revive, where exactly will these tremendously powerful Strategic Weapons be used?”

“There’s no law saying the Lemegeton Killer must only be used against the remnants of Dark Magic.”

“…Are you serious?”

“I am always serious.”

Featherback leaned back against his Chair and continued speaking.

“Soon the Emperor’s death will be announced. The Empire will be engulfed in a bloody whirlwind.”

“The Northern Region will also find it difficult to avoid the turmoil of civil war.”

“Avoid it?”

At Featherback’s counter-question, the corners of Rorschach’s eyes, which had always remained calmly composed, rose slightly.

Soon after, Featherback opened his mouth.

“What is there to fear that we should avoid it? Mörsolt will advance through the blood storm. Great crises are great opportunities.”

“Lord Featherback… are you waiting for the civil war?”

“The expression ‘waiting’ isn’t quite appropriate.”

Featherback smiled faintly at Rorschach’s question.

“I should say I’m eagerly anticipating it.”

“….”

Rorschach stood there blankly for a while.

Eventually, the corners of her mouth curved into a gentle arc.

“I’m not sure if I might end up dying a dog’s death from serving the wrong madman… but since it’s interesting, I’ll keep you company until the end.”

“Did you accidentally say out loud what you should have only thought?”

“No? I just said it on purpose.”

“….”

Featherback frowned, but Rorschach was simply delighted.

She wondered just how far the end of this man she was following would reach, whether that end would be prosperous or desolate.

And what she would look like standing guard at that end together with him, with what eyes that man would look at her who had stayed with him until the very end.

Because she was so curious about all these things, she wanted to live for a very, very long time.

Preferably in the closest place to him… ideally, right by his side.

* * *

The conversation with Rorschach was brief, but the document review was lengthy.

After finishing four full days of all-nighters, Featherback left the castle gate.

His destination was what used to be the Nightmare-Eating Tree Spirit… but was now a forest full of grains and fruit, mushrooms, and coniferous trees that could be logged and used as timber.

Featherback went deep into the place that the people living in Mörsolt Territory called the ‘Forest of Life.’

Unlike outside the forest where the cold winds blow, warm breezes circulate inside here.

A lake completely surrounded by green moss ripples with an emerald glow.

Someone waved from the window of a log house high up in a tall tree standing on the far side of the lake.

“Featherback! Over here!”

Quinbits.

Today, unusually, she was the first to call for Featherback.

As Featherback walked toward the tree, Quinbits stepped down the moss-covered wooden stairs.

Ding—dong—dang—

Each time she stepped on the plushly grown moss, cold water seeped out and made a xylophone sound.

Featherback asked.

“Why did you call me?”

“Shh.”

Quinbits extended her long finger and brought it to her lips.

“Your voice is too cold and dry, the forest doesn’t like it. They prefer things warm and humid.”

“….”

When Featherback closed his mouth and remained silent, Quinbits brought up the main topic herself.

“While continuing my master’s research, I achieved an unexpected result.”

“Is Garmelda’s Equation complete?”

“If it were, I wouldn’t be able to speak so calmly about it. Completing my master’s research is still far off. Instead, I obtained an unexpected byproduct. Here—”

Quinbits held something out toward Featherback.

It was a ring, white and glossy as if carved from ivory.

Whitish energy swirled around the ring in wisps, making it appear to be an extraordinary artifact at first glance.

Quinbits said.

“It’s a magic tool that allows you to use Druid Power.”

“Druid?”

Featherback tilted his head.

Druids are also beings from mythology.

They are subspecies of mages who possess the ability to transform into other creatures, ranging from small flies to large dragons, with vast differences in ability depending on their skill level.

Quinbits grinned wickedly.

“Shall I show you once?”

She slipped the ring onto her finger.

The ring shrank to fit Quinbits’ finger size and soon emitted a brilliant light.

…Flash!

A bright burst of light illuminated the forest once.

Where Quinbits had been standing, a green butterfly now sat.

[Since I transformed into something small, now I’ll try transforming into something big.]

The green butterfly whispered in Quinbits’ voice.

…Flash!

Soon, the green butterfly transformed into a large green bear with a bright flash of light.

[Grooooar! How’s that? Scary? Amazing?]

“This has nothing to do with Garmelda’s Equation, does it?”

[…Don’t be so nitpicky. When doing research, sometimes you discover other useful things that have nothing to do with the main study. Still, doesn’t it seem quite useful?]

The green bear emitted light once again and soon returned to Quinbits’ form.

“You can transform seven times a day. There’s no time limit, but after transforming you can’t use mana and breathing is impossible. So the time you can maintain the transformation depends on your breath-holding ability.”

“I can dive for about an hour without using mana.”

“…Are you really human? Anyway. Use it well, employer!”

Quinbits slipped the white ring onto Featherback’s finger.

Despite being placed on Featherback’s snow-white finger, the ring was noticeably white.

Quinbits began her explanation.

“Even if you’re a genius, it won’t be easy to perfectly control the ring at first. You need to operate mana with extreme precision and flow it through each strand of blood vessel, so for now you should start by carrying it around and getting familiar with the magic tool…”

However.

…Pop!

Featherback immediately activated the ring’s ability.

“Huh!?”

Quinbits’ eyes widened in surprise.

Where Featherback had been standing, armor, sword, and shield had fallen to the ground.

And sitting on top of them was a small cat with white fur.

Soon, the white cat spoke.

[Do I have to leave all my armaments behind?]

“I store my clothes separately with a different subspace magic. Since you can’t handle subspace, there’s no other way, right?”

[It’s quite useful. But can’t I get smaller? Ideally, I’d like to transform into something like a fly, flea, or cockroach. For espionage purposes.]

“Unfortunately, you can’t get that small. If your mana amount increases a bit more, maybe you could manage down to a mouse.”

[I should focus on increasing my mana amount for now. If I can transform into a mouse, I wonder if I could use the strategy of crawling into enemy territory covered in fleas and ticks to spread the plague.]

“…I hadn’t thought that far. Wait, is your head filled with nothing but war? Why are all the things you want to do after becoming a cute little mouse like that?”

Quinbits continued chattering after that, but Featherback had already lost interest in her remarks.

[Call me when there’s progress in Garmelda’s Equation research.]

“Hey! This is what I get for giving you such a nice gift!”

The moment Quinbits shouted loudly.

…Pop!

The transformation was released.

On top of the clothes and weapons scattered on the floor, Featherback returned to his original form.

At that moment, Quinbits had to cover both her eyes.

“…I didn’t see anything!”

With the tips of her ears turned bright red.

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