Reincarnated as a Genius Prodigy of a Prestigious Family - Chapter 242

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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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Reincarnated as a Legendary Talent Genius of a Noble Family Episode 242

161. The Mana Stone Theft Incident (1)

Darbado said he would stay in the city with the vampires for now.

Because of that, I gave Belwood one more warning.

If they caused any trouble, I would return here and sweep them all away.

The agreement between dwarves and vampires was their business to handle, but touching Darbado was a different matter.

“We want a place to live. If we can just avoid the surveillance and attention of the Imperial Army, we’ll pay any price.”

Anyway, it seemed like an amicable agreement would be reached, which was fortunate.

After all, the vampires were in a position where they had to stay here somehow.

If that didn’t work out, they would have no choice but to go to the Habarosk Mountain Range or the frigid Northern Region to survive.

“I’ll need to contact my kinsmen. The matter of dealing with the vampires will require more discussion. Honestly, it’ll probably take quite a long time for my people to return here.”

Darbado, who had suddenly been burdened with a great task, sighed, but he also seemed happy on one hand.

“Just reclaiming the city my parents’ generation lost is enough. Damn it. Though I haven’t completely reclaimed it yet.”

Actually, strictly speaking, the expression “reclaimed” was somewhat inappropriate.

The unknown entity that had driven them away was still brazenly there in that temple.

“In many ways, it has become a temple.”

A transcendent being that had taken residence in a place meant to worship the dwarves’ god.

Then what was the meaning of that temple?

That would become a philosophical matter for the dwarves to contemplate from now on.

“Well then, it’s time to head back. Follow me. I’ll guide you to the exit.”

Anyway, we finished our adventure and followed Darbado toward the exit of the underground city, Acrium.

The exit was quite unique.

Just like when we entered, we reached it by taking an elevator, but getting out wasn’t easy either.

“Fortunately, it hasn’t been sealed. It’s working normally.”

Darbado approached what looked like a plain wall with nothing visible, then repeatedly pressed and pulled at certain positions.

Rumble!

Then the wall split open, revealing a gap, and an entrance suitable for dwarves opened up.

“It’s an emergency exit. Since it’s built for dwarf standards, you’ll have to crouch or crawl.”

It was fortunate that Darbado had looked at the blueprints and remembered these details.

Otherwise, it would have taken forever just to get out.

“Really… the dwarves’ technology seems amazing.”

Ernest seemed amazed that mechanical devices could be naturally hidden in what appeared to be an empty wall, and that they still worked after all this time.

“I saw you drawing diligently earlier, so feel free to sketch as much as you want.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Unlike those damn other Empire bastards, you’re my benefactors.”

And Ernest excitedly started sketching at Darbado’s words.

It’s not like any technology would be leaked from that, but what’s important is that Darbado showed this attitude.

“It was good that you came.”

“Dane Sogress. Because you came, our people were able to reclaim their homeland. Though there’s still a lot of work to be done.”

I shook hands with Darbado, and Darbado grinned.

“I’ve noticed this since before, but I like that you don’t kneel down.”

“What do you mean?”

“There were idiots who would kneel down to match my eye level, claiming to be polite.”

At those words, a chuckle escaped me.

“Anyway, farewell. See you again. I need to go have a talk with those damn vampire bastards. I just hope they don’t bite my crotch while I’m sleeping.”

For someone saying that, he didn’t seem particularly worried.

Anyway, we bid farewell to Darbado like that and…

“Wow! This is damn narrow!”

“Can’t you go faster up front? Your butt is touching me!”

“Even if you feel like you might let something out, please hold it in. Please.”

We crawled and finally managed to get outside.

“Sunlight…”

“It’s outside!”

“We’re out!”

Anyone watching would think we’d been inside for a month.

Still, being outside was nice.

“Everyone worked hard.”

This adventure was a bit short.

It ended in less than a day.

But in that less-than-a-day period, we saw and felt a lot, and gained much.

“What? Karnas is the only dragon in the world?”

“Including the World Beyond the Horizon? My goodness.”

Everyone looked surprised when I finished telling them the stories I hadn’t shared yet.

And when I spoke more specifically about the entity we met in the temple, they showed disbelief.

“Then could it be the dwarves’ god?”

“That’s really unbelievable. Such a being is there?”

“If it were me, I’d conquer the world with that power.”

A being that lives for ‘interest.’

Whether that reason was due to boredom, or if it was born that way, or if there was some other reason I didn’t know—

One thing was certain.

Such a being had taken interest in my existence, and as a result, things concluded well.

“What would have happened if it wasn’t for Dane?”

“Well, we’d probably be vampires by now.”

“Ernest has been casually talking about such brutal things lately.”

“Maybe it’s because he came back from the dead.”

Amid all this, Jenna’s contributions were also mentioned.

“If it wasn’t for Jenna, we wouldn’t have known what was happening.”

“Right. Her necromancy was amazing.”

And Altur seemed displeased.

He pretended otherwise, but it was all over his face.

“There will be plenty of opportunities to shine later.”

When I quietly approached and whispered to him, he was startled.

“Do, do I look like I’m disappointed about something?”

“Never mind then.”

“…”

It was all obvious.

He was disappointed thinking he hadn’t contributed properly.

But he had contributed plenty when fighting the undead.

It’s just that Jenna’s necromancy had quite different applications.

“Alright then. Shall we distribute our loot before we go?”

Ah right.

There was this.

The vampires who had been thoroughly beaten by us and had their loot taken.

Of course, I didn’t feel sorry for them at all.

“Let’s check the dangerous items first and set them aside. Those aren’t things we can handle.”

“We should give those to Senior Arabella, right?”

The vampires had quite faithfully collected treasures.

From gems to unidentified tools, and even weapons.

Our loot distribution method is simple.

Each person picks what they need and takes it, then we divide the remaining items fairly.

And freshmen are no exception.

“C-can I really take this…?”

“Of course.”

Jenna accepted what looked like expensive jewelry with a dazed expression, and Altur wasn’t much different.

“…If I sell this, I could pay off my research debts quickly.”

As Altur said, many Magic Department students who can’t expect family support or find it difficult to secure sponsorship often end up in debt.

Altur is one of them.

“You had debts?”

“Old debts. Ever since I went under Professor Denabo.”

“He worked you that hard and didn’t even help with that?”

“Right. Looking back now, it’s strange why I stuck under him so desperately when he wouldn’t even do that much.”

Altur’s expression turned bitter.

“You’ll forget about those debts later.”

“Do you go on adventures that often?”

“There’s an adventure addict over there.”

As soon as those words came out, Ernest, who had secured his share, approached and whispered to me.

“Dane, speaking of which, there’s another place I’ve been eyeing…”

I chuckled and shrugged my shoulders.

“See?”

But I didn’t have time to hear more of Ernest’s words.

Just then, the communication crystal opened with an incoming contact.

The crystal displayed Grax Otier’s communication code.

The man who was researching medicine to cure his daughter’s illness, and whom I had invested mana stones in.

“Wait a moment. Go ahead first.”

I sent my friends ahead and connected the communication.

-Ah! Dear God. I finally reached you!

“I couldn’t answer due to business. What’s the matter?”

And instantly, I had to furrow my brow.

-It’s terrible. The mana stones you invested… the mana stones… have been stolen…

Returning straight to the Academy, I disguised myself appropriately and met with Viscount Otier.

“I know you’re confused, but please explain everything from the beginning step by step.”

“W-well, you see…”

He hesitated and wavered for a long time.

His condition was far from good – rather than his face that seemed melted by the plague, his completely gaunt appearance was more noticeable.

“…I can only offer my sincere apologies.”

A few days ago.

When he heard noise from the laboratory below and went down to check, he found that the experimental equipment in use had been stolen entirely.

Including the research journals and mana stones connected to the experimental apparatus.

Simply put, thieves had broken in during the night.

“I was… so shocked and at a loss that I didn’t know what to do, so I contacted you, my benefactor, but I couldn’t reach you.”

Probably the mana couldn’t reach while I was in the underground city.

Of all the timing.

“Did you report the theft to the security forces?”

“No. I didn’t. Just in case…”

Just in case.

Viscount Otier knew the value of these mana stones and the value of the medicine he was developing, so he was concerned about potential information leaks that could occur if he reported it.

“Is your daughter alright?”

Actually, that’s one thing, but this case is more worrying.

If there are setbacks in developing the treatment made to cure his daughter, her life would also be in danger.

“Ah, actually… she had another seizure yesterday.”

“Are the episodes becoming more frequent?”

“Recently, yes.”

An expression full of anxiety and hands that seemed to be sweating.

So I nodded to Priscilla, who came with me – that is, who was wearing a hood pulled down like me.

“Let’s go. Even if it’s not a cure, temporary healing should be possible.”

“H-how do you mean?”

“I brought someone precious.”

A moment later.

“So this is the child.”

Following Viscount Otier, Priscilla and I faced a young child who could truly be described as small and pretty.

However, her pale complexion and shallow, uneasy breathing indicated that life was slowly fading away.

“Anyone who sees this, not just me…”

Priscilla said that much then closed her mouth, carefully placing her hand over the child’s hand.

“What are you trying to do now…”

“Just watch.”

After I stopped him, Priscilla asked.

“What is this child’s name?”

“Annie, Annie Otier.”

“Annie. What a pretty name.”

A moment later.

Whooom…

Bright light flowed from Priscilla’s hand and streamed into Annie’s hand.

Then her complexion visibly improved.

Her breathing also became stable, and her expression was much more comfortable.

“She’ll be fine for a while now.”

“Ah… a p-priest…”

“Shh. It’s a secret.”

Viscount Otier shed a single tear.

“I had no money… I couldn’t call a priest more than a few times…”

He’s going to burst into tears at this rate.

I waited until he wiped his tears before speaking.

“Let’s return to the story. The child will be fine for a while.”

“Ah, yes. I understand. Then, let’s go to the laboratory.”

We then headed to the basement laboratory of the manor and faced a well-organized laboratory rather than a messy one.

Perhaps that’s why.

The large empty table in the center particularly caught the eye.

“This is it. Where the experimental equipment was.”

“Yes…”

I already knew the design of the experimental equipment through the monthly reports he sends me.

“Naturally they would have put it in subspace. After disabling the theft prevention devices too.”

As far as I know, the theft prevention devices on that experimental equipment and mana stones are quite sophisticated.

When activated, alarms sound just from touching them, and they forcibly block mana flow to prevent storage in subspace.

But disabling that means this wasn’t just a simple petty thief.

Therefore, I asked.

“Do you happen to have any competitors?”

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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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