Reincarnated as a Genius Prodigy of a Prestigious Family - Chapter 267

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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 267

172. Eastern Territory, Land of Fierce Battle (2)

The Imperial Intelligence Agency of the Alteon Empire is a group no less formidable than the commonly known assassination guilds.

They carry out all kinds of covert missions including intelligence gathering, VIP assassinations, and terrorist plotting, all solely under imperial orders.

Their history alone spans over two hundred years, and if you compiled all the missions they’ve performed during that time, dozens of books wouldn’t be enough.

Therefore, at this very moment, the agent with codename ‘Benacio’ who had been assigned the ‘boy tracking’ mission was honestly quite dumbfounded.

‘To give me such a mission…’

He had just returned a few days ago after completing a VIP assassination mission.

It was some viscount who would curse the Emperor whenever he drank, but perhaps out of fear, he had surrounded himself with multiple layers of security.

After completing such a troublesome mission and returning, the next assignment was merely ‘boy tracking’?

‘They even told me not to reveal myself and not to do anything at all.’

They even said not to do anything.

Could this possibly be a vacation?

But for that, the target was a VIP among VIPs.

The Sogress County.

A family of war heroes and one whose reputation rivaled that of Duke Termion’s house.

To track the eldest son of such a family, a genius boy renowned throughout the Empire, and report everything in detail.

Especially, to find out what he likes.

That was precisely Benatio’s mission.

“What kind of mission is this.”

As with all intelligence agency missions, there was no way to know the reason for carrying out the mission.

If ordered to assassinate, you assassinate without question; if told to blow something up, you just blow it up.

But this time, he was truly curious about the reason.

Dane Sogress.

What exactly does this genius boy like?

No, why exactly do they need to find out what this boy likes?

He couldn’t understand it at all, but Benatio decided to carry out the mission as he always did.

“Finally coming out of the Academy.”

Benatio finally began his pursuit and started recording everything in detail.

“Stayed at the Academy for exactly 2 hours and 34 minutes, then purchased several items from a shop selling exploration equipment… Hmm. Where is he planning to go?”

Then the three of them left the capital streets, went outside, and mounted their horses.

“Direction is the eastern territory.”

Following behind them, Benatio estimated their approximate destination.

“Among his companions, Ernest Dylan is from the west… Leila Termion is from the capital, but her Big Brother Owen Termion was in the east.”

Then there’s a possibility they’re heading east, where fierce battles with barbarians and local conflicts with Drenick are taking place.

“This will be a long pursuit.”

It was still an incomprehensible mission, but what could he do.

He had no choice but to follow and figure it out as he went.

Even so, not understanding and following were separate matters.

“The horse is incredibly large. Is that the ‘Chiron’ that supposedly no one could ride?”

Benatio remembered and recorded everything about Dane.

How many times he drinks water.

Which of his two companions he talks to more.

“That thing… is it a summon? A wyvern chick?”

In the midst of this, Benatio discovered the presence of Karnas perched on top of Chiron’s head and tilted his head in puzzlement.

Of course, he never even imagined it could be a dragon, and simply recalled the fact that Dane’s Little Sister Claire was a Summoner.

“They say he has talent in summoning too, so maybe he received a gift from his Little Sister or perhaps he’s maintaining a summoning spell.”

Benatio maintained his distance, acting like an ordinary traveler who just happened to be going in the same direction, continuing his leisurely pursuit.

Perhaps that’s why.

On one hand, he felt at ease.

It had been truly a long time since he had a mission where he didn’t need to kill anyone, didn’t need to install explosives, and didn’t need to poison drinking water or beverages.

‘I should consider this a vacation.’

Benatio was a professional at tracking, stealth, and assassination.

There was absolutely no chance of being caught.

So he could leisurely follow while recording, then return when he received orders to come back.

But then it happened.

‘Hmm?’

Dane Sogress.

The tracking target looked back in this direction.

Naturally, Benatio maintained his gaze and walked naturally as he always had.

It was a common occurrence.

But why was it.

Strangely…

It was a gaze that bothered him.

‘Surely I couldn’t have been discovered.’

Like Drenick, the last war had changed many things in the Alteon Empire.

That’s what war is like.

It can create lives never imagined, and many suffer from the aftermath of war.

That’s why we decided not to stop at villages while passing through the eastern territory.

“Why do we have to do that?”

“Because we’ll become targets.”

“Targets?”

At my words, Ernest tilted his head. Leila looked at me as if she understood and asked.

“By targets… you mean because there are many starving people?”

“Right. Of course, those people are the ones in danger, but they’re starving nonetheless.”

The closer you are to where battles take place, the more directly you’re affected by them.

The eastern border where countless major battles once occurred, and the villages around it, need no explanation.

I heard that ten years have passed since the war ended, but how could things recover in just ten years.

Many people would have been conscripted, and supplies go without saying.

“Then what are the Nobles managing that area doing?”

“They can’t do anything even if they want to. Everything’s already completely destroyed.”

“…”

That’s why war is so tragic.

A declaration of war is made with a few written words and a stamped seal, but the devastation brought by that single declaration of war document is immense.

Above all, the Alteon-Drenick war was a conflict that left only wounds for both sides without any significant gains.

The people I saw countless times in my previous life weren’t Nobles, but those who were dragged in thanks to that declaration of war.

“So let’s just pass through quietly. All the guys we’ve been involved with so far were problematic fellows, but the eastern people… they’re just starving.”

“Let’s do that. But Dane, you’re surprisingly like a humanist.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. Usually you’re so calm and cool-headed, but when you talk about people who’ve experienced war, your eyes look different?”

I tilted my head at those words.

“I’ve never been like that.”

“Why haven’t you? It’s clearly visible. Anyway, the Viscount Otier incident and sending those people to the Magic Tower this time too. You’re surprisingly full of affection. Right, Ernest?”

“Actually, if Dane didn’t have affection, he wouldn’t treat us this well either.”

Why are these guys suddenly making such assumptions and making a fuss.

“But it’s true that whenever war stories come up, you act like that. Did Count tell you many war tales when you were young?”

“Then wouldn’t you rather admire it?”

“That would be right? It’s fascinating. Sometimes when I look at you, you seem like an old man who’s lived through everything in the world.”

Even combining my previous life and now, I’ve barely passed forty.

“…Then am I really an old man?”

“Huh?”

“No, nothing.”

Anyway, we departed toward the Eastern Territory.

“Puhihihing.”

“Are you happy?”

“Puhing, puhihing!”

“Kireuk!”

Keiron seemed to be in a good mood as we ran again.

Karnas settled gently on top of Keiron’s head.

Anyone who saw us would think we were a circus troupe.

“Things are gradually becoming more desolate.”

A week since we left for the Eastern Territory.

Scenes different from what we’d seen so far began to catch our eyes one by one.

First of all, we had to endure uneasy stares from every person we encountered.

“Why are they glaring at us like that?”

“They’re sizing us up. Whether we’re worth robbing or not.”

Karnas, who drew ‘too much’ attention, went back into my arms, but Keiron alone was giving off considerable intimidation.

Thanks to that, we thought we could head to the Eastern Territory without any particular problems with just the three of us.

Until we entered the mountain path.

“Wait.”

Ernest, who was leading, raised his hand to stop us.

“It’s a trap.”

“As expected.”

Crude traps placed on the mountain path came into view.

From simple snares to things designed to cause bleeding and immobilize ankles.

They were too obvious to both my eyes and Ernest’s.

They had tried to camouflage them, but the camouflage methods were quite basic and sloppy, making them even more noticeable.

“That means…”

“There are mountain bandits.”

No matter how powerful the Empire is, it can’t control every region.

So naturally, people who found it hard to make a living went into the mountains to attack passersby.

Since everything was stolen or farmland was devastated, they had to steal from others to survive.

“Hand over everything you have and back away, and we’ll spare your lives.”

Just like those people.

I looked at the group of ten who had surrounded us.

For people telling us to hand over everything, their appearance was quite pitiful.

Half of them had sunken cheeks.

The other half looked like they could barely hold their weapons.

Those weapons weren’t proper swords or spears either, but pickaxes, plows, and pitchforks.

Only one fellow was holding a sword with half its teeth missing.

“Can’t you hear me? Hand everything over and go!”

They shouted as if they’d attack immediately, but they looked like they’d collapse with just one hit.

I remembered again.

Right…

“This was war.”

“What are you muttering about! Surrender right now! We said we’d spare your lives!”

Why did it sound like they were begging for food?

The sight of hands holding pitchforks and plows trembling was even pitiful.

However—

Whatever their reasons, these were people prepared to attack and kill someone.

“These bastards…”

When one fellow approached, Leila stepped forward and drew her sword.

Sring.

“Stop.”

“…!”

A proper sword.

That alone was reason enough to make the pitiful band of mountain bandits hesitate.

But hunger is often a terrible pain that makes people eat people.

The mountain bandits’ eyes gleamed.

“Attack all at once!”

“Uwaaaaaaah!”

The battle cries they let out to overcome their fear echoed from all directions, but only briefly.

Skuk, chaak!

Leila instantly cut down two, and I also quickly dismounted and stabbed three.

“Keuueuk!”

“Kraak!”

Amid the rising screams, Keiron kicked hard with his hind legs at a mountain bandit who had charged at him—

“Kkeok.”

That mountain bandit’s chest was crushed with a scream and he fell over.

Ernest also took out his bow but instead of shooting, struck the head of a charging mountain bandit with the bow shaft.

“Keuueuk!”

That left three.

“Im, impossible…”

“In this kind of world…”

And those three no longer seemed to have the will to fight.

Because seven had been taken down in an instant.

And among them, two had died to Keiron and Leila respectively.

The remaining five would die from excessive bleeding if left as they were.

I looked at them and said briefly.

“Get out of the way.”

The answer came quickly.

“Run away!”

“Damn it, let’s go together!”

Only five fled, including the three unharmed ones.

Of the remaining five, two were dead, and three got up limping and hurriedly chased after those who had fled.

“Will they keep appearing from now on?”

It was Leila’s question as she wiped the blood from her sword.

“Probably.”

“Should we turn back and take another route?”

“No. If we go back, it’s a path that will take at least another month.”

Then we’d miss the start of the school term.

It was a very student-like reason.

“Can’t be helped.”

Still, I wasn’t worried.

Both Leila and Ernest had reached a skill level where they could comfortably handle mountain bandits.

What followed was as we expected.

We encountered mountain bandits two more times, and we repelled them twice more.

However-

The next guys I encountered approached me a bit differently.

“P-p-please spare me…”

It was a young child.

A young child who had been included among the mountain bandits, probably only about ten years old.

From the moment I appeared, rather than thinking of attacking, he trembled and couldn’t do anything, then was abandoned and left behind when the other guys fled after being defeated.

The weapon he was holding was even just a kitchen knife.

This is a bit too much.

I suddenly remembered my young self from my previous life, who had to please the soldiers to survive.

It’s been several years since the war ended, yet things are still in this state.

Right now, this Empire’s problem isn’t reconciling with Drenick.

To think it’s in this condition while proclaiming a unified Empire.

“What’s your name.”

I crouched down and asked while matching the child’s eye level.

“Al… Allen.”

“Allen. I see. What about your parents?”

“…They passed away.”

Right, of course they did.

I asked Ernest.

“How much farther to our eastern village?”

“Hmm… about three days now?”

As I was gauging the time, Leila spoke.

“Dane, I’m fine with it. Do what you want to do. I’m pretty pissed off right now too.”

That’s Leila for you.

She knows me.

Anyway, I asked the child.

“Are there other children like you at the main base?”

“Y-yes…”

“Are they all in the same situation as you? Brought here after losing their parents?”

“Yes… The knight there brought us saying he would feed us and give us shelter…”

Right, of course.

That’s what war is like.

“We should go, shouldn’t we, Dane?”

At Ernest’s words, I stood up as if it were obvious.

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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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