The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 136

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 136. Fate is Woven by Heaven, Bonds are Forged by Man (2)
Broombar, the patriarch of the dwarves.
Seated at the center of the conference hall, Broombar’s presence weighed as heavily as a mountain.
“Patriarch, we cannot simply hand over a ton of high-purity Runesteel.”
A ton of Runesteel ore released into the human city.
In truth, a ton was not an extraordinarily large quantity.
Even with a purity exceeding 18%, the same held true.
Yet Runesteel of such purity is nearly impossible to produce.
It requires environmental conditions that should never naturally occur.
But what if those conditions were somehow created?
The amount of Runesteel that would form there would defy imagination.
In other words, the existence of Runesteel at such purity means—
And the fact that a full ton has emerged means—
“Doesn’t that mean Whitewolf or whoever discovered a Runesteel vein?”
Another dwarf cried out urgently, as if pleading his case.
Yet Broombar found himself unable to answer so readily.
“We should attempt contact, Patriarch.”
The prospect of contacting humans to obtain Runesteel left a deeply bitter taste.
Human greed knows no bounds.
They excavate beyond what the earth permits, forever coveting more, ever deeper.
They know not how to take only what is needed, nor how to recognize their own limits.
Greedy beasts incapable of satisfaction.
Human nobles especially so.
Worse than primitive fools wielding stone axes.
That is what human nobles are.
Adrian Whitewolf, who had supplied the Runesteel this time, was such a noble.
Thus, considerable reluctance stirred within me….
“But we need the Runesteel, Patriarch.”
Runesteel was an essential and vital resource to Feractrum.
Deep beneath the earth where Feractrum lay.
Here, the mana of the land became distorted and concentrated.
This distorted and concentrated mana, subjected to the immense pressure of the depths, would surge violently, erupting explosively like a natural calamity.
Mana storms and mana-release earthquakes.
Two catastrophic disasters that threatened Feractrum.
Runesteel was essential as a shielding mechanism that neutralized such natural mana torrents and kept Feractrum safe.
“The Steelmasters have been reporting in succession that recent strata fluctuations are most irregular.”
Deep anxiety settled upon the faces of the dwarves gathered in the conference hall.
Unprecedented strata shifts.
If the mana storm and mana-release earthquake were to—
If both catastrophes were to occur simultaneously….
“Feractrum could fall apart, chieftain.”
The dwarves’ voices pressed heavily upon Broombar’s shoulders.
* * *
Winter had passed in the Whitewolf Territory.
Yet the change of seasons held little meaning in this place.
A land where cold persisted throughout the year.
Biting winds and swirling snow had become part of daily life, adorning the Territory’s landscape.
But within that landscape, the hearts of the people remained unfrozen.
“This cold is nothing! Our bodies warm when we move! Prepare for another charge!!”
“Waaaaaaaaa!!”
The soldiers’ roars rang out as if they could swallow the very cold itself.
“Lucia! Take a break sometimes! Goodness, your fingertips are completely frozen!”
“Ugh, why is this happening….”
“Sigh, that’s what happens when you work without rest!”
“When I see our children’s smiling faces these days, I can’t bring myself to stop.”
“I can’t help myself.”
Women laboring on, unaware their fingertips were freezing.
Vitality and vigor.
Upon the frozen earth, the tender shoots of hope were slowly taking root—
In the study of Count Whitewolf.
Scratch, scratch.
The gentle sound of a quill brushing against paper drifted through the room.
Piles of documents lay scattered across the desk.
Papers densely filled with meticulously recorded numbers and signatures.
‘This is so difficult….’
Seraphia felt as though her eyes might burst from her head.
The work was on an entirely different scale from what she had handled as a proxy.
Now that she had become a true Count, the weight was far heavier than she had imagined.
Especially with the Territory’s recent flourishing, the duties had become far more complex than before.
Supplies and wages to maintain thousands of soldiers.
Weapon and armor crafting and repairs.
Procurement of provisions.
Material management and maintenance of barracks facilities.
Everything poured onto her desk.
And then there were the countless goods traded within the Territory.
Weaving, craftsmanship, pottery, dyeing, textiles, ornament production, and household goods manufacturing.
The numbers for taxes, accounting ledgers, tariff rates, and more were enough to make her head not just ache but split apart.
She could not afford to overlook anything.
A single figure, one signature.
With each stroke of Seraphia’s quill, the fate of the Territory shifted.
“You’ll wear yourself out at this rate. Please take some rest while you work.”
Kai’s voice, approaching quietly, carried a rare note of concern.
“It’s been ten days now, and you haven’t been sleeping properly, have you?”
Had it really been that long?
I caught my reflection in the mirror—dark circles hung heavily beneath my eyes.
“I’m fine.”
Even so, Seraphia shook her head.
‘My brother has been handling all of this alone.’
I still had a long way to go before I could truly be of help to Adrian.
The position of Count still felt unfamiliar, but….
‘I have to work harder!’
Seraphia turned her attention back to the documents before her.
Yet despite my resolve, concentration eluded me.
Through the window, pale sunlight streamed down.
‘Why hasn’t my brother returned….’
Adrian had departed to survey the new Territory.
That had been ten days ago.
And still, Adrian had not come back—.
Knock, knock.
—May I come in?
“Brother!!”
Without thinking, I leaped from my chair, breathing heavily.
The door opened—.
Adrian appeared, every limb intact.
“You’ve returned safely!”
“Didn’t I say I would return?”
Adrian spoke with perfect composure, as though ten days of absence meant nothing.
Considering all the worry I’d endured, I felt terribly let down….
But if he was back, that was what mattered.
“Did you resolve the matter you went to handle?”
“A complication arose. Which is why, Seraphia—”
“Yes! Please tell me!”
“I need your approval on something.”
Adrian then handed me a document.
“What is this?”
“A peerage elevation document.”
“A peerage?”
Seraphia sat back down in her chair and examined the document’s contents.
“Adlern…?”
A name I’d never heard before was written on the peerage elevation document?
* * *
Adlern let out a piercing shriek as he convulsed, his face contorting with shock.
The world seemed to spin before his eyes, and he staggered backward, collapsing into his chair.
And for good reason—10 million Gold was enough to purchase the entire Adlern Merchant Company and still have money left over.
This was no mere research fund or business capital investment.
In other words, I had no intention of simply throwing 10 million Gold into a venture.
“However, there are conditions.”
At that, Adlern’s eyes suddenly cleared, snapping back to focus.
He swallowed hard, his gaze trembling as he looked at me.
“C-conditions, you say…?”
“Work under me.”
“Y-yes…?”
“I’ll give you the position of Director-General of the Predator Merchant Company.”
The Director-General was the second-highest authority in any merchant company, answerable only to its owner.
This person oversaw all branch managers, supervised all transactions and capital flows, and handled personnel matters—essentially the prime minister of the organization.
In simpler terms, a position equivalent to a chancellor.
Originally, I had considered placing Adlern as the branch manager of Frecce.
But my thinking had evolved.
Adlern was far too talented to remain merely a branch manager.
The abilities Adlern had demonstrated while assisting me behind the scenes—
Adlern possessed the capability to support and expand the Predator Merchant Company’s foundation as its Director-General.
Though this was a connection I had never encountered in my previous life.
Yet there was no need to cling exclusively to bonds from that past existence.
I had learned through our conflict that the connections forged in this life were equally precious.
Fate may be woven by heaven, but affection is woven by people.
In that sense, I would even grant a title of count.
Though I would need Seraphia’s permission for that….
“If you wish, I can also bestow upon you the rank of baron.”
“Kyyyyyeeeek?!?!”
Adlern’s entire body trembled as though struck directly by lightning magic.
“S-Schönne would become…! A noble?!?!”
Her voice rose to an almost hysterical pitch.
“How could someone like me become a noble…! Schönne has never even held a fork and knife at the same time!!”
“Just hold them in both hands simultaneously.”
“I-is that all there is to it?”
“Yes.”
“Oh no, I don’t know! Schönne a noble! What if I make a mistake and smear food all over Adrian’s face?!”
“It’s fine. It’s already smeared.”
“I don’t know anything about noble dignity or etiquette!!”
“Neither do I.”
Adlern’s eyes widened as his mouth fell open.
I asked him again—
“Will you work under me?”
Adlern’s answer did not come as a spoken word.
◆Your affinity with Adlern has reached its maximum threshold!!
A glowing message flashed before my eyes.
And once more, another message appeared before me.
◆Fate Quest, [A Dream Treasured Deep Within My Heart] has arrived.
==[A Dream Treasured Deep Within My Heart]==
[Objective] – Successfully distribute Adlern’s liquor
[Reward] – Unlock Adlern’s affinity level “Bond Stage”
[If Refused] – No penalty
Adlern collapsed flat on the ground, prostrating himself.
As if burying his entire body into the floor, he stretched both arms forward, pressing his face against the ground.
“Kuh…ugh…!”
Stifled sobs escaped, trembling with emotion.
Adlern could not speak a single word.
Therefore, I too remained silent in response to him.
◆Fate Quest, [A Dream Treasured Deep Within My Heart] has begun.
* * *
The name Adlern written on the peerage elevation document.
Seraphia pondered, but no memory came to mind.
In other words, a name she was hearing for the first time.
Soon after, Adrian added his words.
“He has helped me greatly with my affairs. He will continue to help me much in the future. Therefore, I am thinking of granting him the title of Baron…”
Adrian paused for a moment and looked at Seraphia.
“Seraphia, if you refuse, I will defer to your opinion.”
“No! If he has helped my brother so much, I believe he is more than qualified!”
Seraphia picked up the quill without hesitation.
But then—
“There is one more person, isn’t there?”
A soft rustling sound.
“It’s Bernard, the Chief Steward, isn’t it?”
Bernard held the rank of Viscount.
A nobleman higher than a Baron, and the highest title a Count could bestow.
“Bernard has devoted himself to Count Whitewolf’s House since my father’s time. I believe he is fully deserving of the Viscount title, but if you refuse this as well, I will defer to your opinion.”
“No! Absolutely not!”
Seraphia quickly waved her hand in protest.
Just as Adrian said, Bernard was more than qualified.
In truth, this was something Seraphia should have considered first.
The title of count still felt unfamiliar to me, and amid the torrent of duties, I hadn’t yet found time to dwell on it.
But Adrian was different.
Even busier than I was, he attended to each person with meticulous care and consideration.
How could he manage such a thing?
Truly, it was remarkable.
I still had a long way to go to match Adrian’s standard.
I lacked both the time and experience to be a count.
Yet Adrian entrusted me with the countess title, believing in me.
I cannot falter now.
I will work harder, learn more, and one day become a worthy countess worthy of Adrian’s faith.
With that resolve in mind, there was one more person.
“Then shouldn’t Kai also receive a title—!”
“Is it necessary?”
“It is not necessary.”
Kai shook his head with firm resolve.
Not a trace of hesitation in him.
“Eh…? Why?”
Unlike Seraphia, who seemed quite puzzled, Adrian nodded as though he had expected this.
“Well then, Kai, this isn’t quite a replacement, but…”
Adrian drew something from thin air with a smooth motion.
I barely had time to marvel at the spatial magic.
“What is this?”
“A dwarven blade.”
“…Pardon?”
Kai stared down at the sword, his expression bewildered.
Dwarves were the finest craftsmen of The Continent.
A dwarven blade boasted unparalleled quality by its very nature.
Yet because dwarves engaged in extremely limited trade with human society, obtaining a dwarven weapon was nearly impossible.
It was no exaggeration to say it rivaled a count’s title in value.
“I’m not giving it to you—Leon asked me to give it to you.”
“Why would His Highness Leon give me such a thing?”
“A bribe.”
“…?”
Kai tilted his head in confusion.
Adrian approached Kai and whispered something to him—
But because he spoke so quietly, I couldn’t hear what was said.
The whisper continued for quite some time.
Just as I thought the whisper might end—
Kai’s expression suddenly twisted?
It wasn’t merely twisted, either.
A visage of malice and cruelty.
His face was twisted so severely that such a description would have been entirely fitting.
Kai then returned the dwarven-forged blade in his hand back to Adrian.
“I have no need for it.”
“Huh?”
“Are you truly certain you don’t need it?”
“Dispose of it.”
“Wha—?!”
Seraphia shot to her feet once more.
“Why would you throw away something so precious!”
“It is vulgar refuse.”
“Wha—?!”
Her eyes widened involuntarily.
Seraphia made a desperate attempt to persuade Kai, but….
“That thing possesses neither utility nor value—it is nothing but waste.”
Kai remained unmoved.
Eventually, Seraphia turned to Adrian, seeking his aid.
Yet.
Adrian, as if he had anticipated this very moment, merely chuckled to himself.
It seemed some unspoken understanding had passed between the two of them.
Though it stung to be left out—
They truly were like family.
Bickering yet understanding one another, accepting each other, their hearts aligned without need for words.
Though their bond was not yet perfectly seamless.
But as the saying goes, fate weaves the threads of connection, and affection is cultivated by those who share it.
So that this relationship might deepen and interlock more harmoniously.
‘I must try with all my might!!’
Seraphia’s resolve burned bright and fierce.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
“Again? Won’t you rest a while?”
“My business concerns Crawlgar.”
Adrian’s words made no sense to her.
Before she could even ask what he meant, Adrian was already moving away.
“…Oh, that’s right! Brother.”
Then, a memory that suddenly surfaced halted Adrian’s steps.
“A guest of yours came looking for you.”
At that.
Adrian’s eyes widened dramatically as he came to a complete stop.

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