The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 168

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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 168. The Weight of a Count (2)
Iliana could manufacture regeneration potions.
It was indeed Iliana.
She hadn’t earned the title “Sage of Truth” for nothing.
When I thought about it, even The Emperor had created such potions.
There was no reason Iliana couldn’t do the same.
‘If this works out…’
It might actually be possible.
What they called a super-regeneration[A] potion.
If I could just create that, I’d be able to generate my Bone Blade whenever I needed it.
It wasn’t just the Bone Blade either.
I could generate various heteromorphic parts like wings whenever I desired.
But to verify that, I needed the blood factor of a super-regeneration[A] specimen.
The required Sanity value was 3,200.
My current Sanity value was—
‘576.’
Assuming I accumulated an average of 5 Sanity per monster consumed—
‘I’d need to devour roughly 524 creatures.’
That was quite a daunting number.
And it wasn’t a number I could fulfill within the Whitewolf Territory alone.
The Snowy Mountain’s monsters weren’t particularly abundant.
In such a harsh, resource-scarce environment.
Breeding was slow, and competition between individuals was fierce.
Unless I subjugated them in legions like the Lycanthrope did and forced their reproduction.
524 creatures wasn’t a number the Whitewolf Territory could supply.
‘This actually works out well.’
So it turned out to be fortunate instead.
I would need to acquire the abilities of rare creatures anyway.
And coincidentally, I needed to expand my distribution network to keep pace with night beer production.
And once more, I needed to scatter information about rune iron bait to hook The Empire.
‘I should head toward Caravana.’
The trading city, Caravana.
It was the optimal city to expand my night beer distribution network.
The rare monsters positioned along the way to Caravana were a bonus.
Above all else—
‘The Empire’s Merchant Guild should have a presence in Caravana too.’
In other words, Caravana was now a place where I could handle all my accumulated tasks at once, like an Ogre.
“Then I’ll ask you to continue with the remaining research.”
“Leave it to me!”
Iliana’s blue eyes sparkled with determination.
“…Ah, that’s right!”
Iliana suddenly called out again, as if remembering something she’d forgotten.
“What is it?”
“Well… it’s nothing else, but….”
Iliana continued hesitantly, gauging my reaction.
“Before I can manufacture the potions, I need various alchemical materials…”
What now, I thought.
“How much do you need?”
“Well… at the very least, I’d need 2 million gold-.”
Boom!
“Eek?!”
“5 million gold.”
“Y-yes, yes?!”
“Use it freely, and keep whatever remains… as your own, Lady Iliana.”
“Wh-what?!?”
“Consider it a donation.”
“N-no, wait…! Even so, how could I possibly accept such a large sum….”
Iliana trembled, at a loss for words.
But compared to what Iliana was doing for me now, 5 million gold—even 50 million gold—would have been a bargain.
“Then I’ll be counting on you.”
Just as I was about to leave, then.
“Is there anything else you need from me?”
Broombar’s voice caught my ankle.
“Last time, it seemed you had something separate to ask of me.”
“…?”
“Didn’t you say you had something to request in exchange for cooperating in the Ogre hunt?”
…Ah, that.
I’d completely forgotten about it.
Since the topic had come up anyway.
“Could you possibly create an Aether Carriage for me?”
An Aether Carriage.
A means of transportation that used aether as its power source, not horses.
Its speed was dozens of times faster than a carriage.
But the true value of an Aether Carriage lay not merely in its speed.
Optimized cargo storage capacity.
Automatic repair functions through internal magical circuits.
Protective barriers and shock-absorption systems that activated instantly in emergencies.
The Aether Carriage enabled both diverse conveniences and military applications.
During the Allied Forces era, one reason the Supply Command’s provisions never ran dry was precisely thanks to the Aether Carriage.
Both in terms of logistics and strategy.
The Ether Carriage was extraordinarily useful.
Precisely because of this, only those who possessed a profound understanding of advanced magitech could manufacture it.
Therefore, on the entire Continent, there existed only one person.
Only Broombar could create it—.
“The Ether Carriage?”
Broombar tilted his head in confusion.
It was clear he had no idea what an Ether Carriage was.
‘…Ah, it hasn’t been invented yet at this point in time.’
And that made sense.
‘I created it based on Iliana’s idea.’
But while walking through the forest, I apparently attended an elf festival.
Iliana happened to be beside me at that moment.
“To put it simply, sir.”
I explained the Ether Carriage to the best of my knowledge.
Based on my experience using the Ether Carriage in my past life, I was able to explain its core functions in detail.
Once the explanation concluded.
“How could you possibly conceive of such an idea?!”
Iliana exclaimed with wide, astonished eyes.
“If we compress mana through a closed-loop circuit as you suggested, Adrian, we could harness self-propulsion! Then it could run continuously without needing to refuel!”
…When did I ever say that?
I never said anything like that.
And it seems like there’s some misunderstanding here.
Iliana, you came up with all of this yourself—.
“The way you instantly grasped infinitesimals last time too—you’re truly, truly a supreme genius!!”
…Does she even realize she’s praising herself?
It wasn’t just Iliana.
Broombar’s eyes had widened in astonishment as well.
“Indeed, if we compress the residual mana reactions into a closed circuit rather than converting them into a circulation loop as you say… it would certainly be feasible.”
…So when did I ever say that?
I genuinely never said anything of the sort.
In fact, I couldn’t have.
And again, there seems to be some misunderstanding.
Broombar, you’re the one who will create all of this—.
“Such an idea wouldn’t emerge even if one swung a hammer for a thousand years… Truly remarkable.”
…I don’t even know anymore.
Let them think what they will.
I retrieved another gold coin box from my inventory.
Thud—!
“Similarly, five million gold.”
“Why this…?”
“The research and material costs for the Ether Carriage—the Dwarves’ ancestors wouldn’t cover those, would they?”
“….”
“And the materials that went into rebuilding Whitewolf Territory didn’t fall from the sky either.”
The materials required for Whitewolf Territory’s reconstruction had been substantial.
And Whitewolf Territory hadn’t possessed such construction materials.
In other words, I’d upgraded the entire territory using materials the Dwarves had provided.
If I were to pay for that value?
It would still fall short.
Thud—!
“An additional 5 million Gold.”
“No….”
“Do you perhaps need more?”
“T-that’s sufficient. Rather, the problem is there’s too much….”
“Then if there’s any left over, please use it for whatever Broombar needs.”
I’d earned this money precisely for such purposes, after all.
And even if I spent it this way?
The money remaining in my inventory wasn’t lacking.
More than lacking, I had more than enough gold stored in my infinite inventory.
And if I ran short, I could always earn more.
That’s exactly why I was about to go out and earn money anyway.
Above all, considering the utility of the Ether Carriage, even 10 billion Gold wouldn’t be wasteful, let alone 10 million.
And so.
Iliana received 5 million Gold.
Broombar received 10 million Gold.
A total investment of 15 million Gold.
“….”
“….”
Leaving the two heroes utterly dumbfounded in my wake.
“Then I’ll be counting on you.”
I quickly departed Whitewolf Territory 2.
* * *
Seraphia was holed up in the Count’s Castle Library, studying various laws and administrative texts.
But then.
‘This is far too difficult….’
Whether I was even reading the characters correctly.
My mind had gone completely blank.
…It seemed like something I could never master alone, no matter how hard I tried.
As I emerged from the library—.
I caught sight of someone passing through the castle corridor at that very moment.
Despite the gray hood obscuring their face, an unmistakable aura of beauty radiated forth in waves.
‘It’s Sister Isolde!’
I recognized her immediately.
And Isolde was the princess of the Holy Kingdom.
Given that she bore responsibility for a vast nation far beyond mere territorial governance, she would surely possess abundant experience in high-level administration, and I might be able to glean valuable counsel from her.
“Sister!!”
I called out in an elevated voice and hurried toward her.
Isolde recognized me and stopped in her tracks.
“What is the matter?”
“Well, if you’re not too busy, might I ask you something?”
Fortunately, seeing Isolde nod in agreement, I extended the approval document I held in my hand.
“It concerns the amendment to territorial administrative law, right here.”
[When precedents handled by administrators are repeated, even if not formally recorded in statute, they shall be recognized as law.]
“I don’t quite understand what this means.”
“It’s a provision related to administrative precedent law.”
Isolde grasped it immediately upon reading.
It was impressive.
I asked with sparkling eyes.
“Administrative precedent law?”
“Simply put, it refers to laws formed through customary practice.”
Isolde paused in thought before speaking again.
“Let me give you an example. In our Holy Kingdom, we do not levy taxes on regions struck by natural disasters such as wildfires or floods.”
People who have lost their homes to natural calamity.
It would be absurd to tax them when we cannot even help them.
“However, nowhere in the Holy Kingdom’s legal code does it explicitly state ‘we shall not levy taxes on regions struck by natural disasters such as wildfires or floods.'”
“Huh…?”
“Yet for thousands of years, the Holy Kingdom has never once taxed regions suffering such disasters.”
But then.
“What if some cleric now claimed, ‘It’s not written in law, so I shall impose taxation’?”
“That would be unreasonable!”
“Exactly. That’s why the Holy See regards it as ‘unlawful conduct that violates established customary administrative procedures’ and uses it as grounds for disciplinary action.”
“Ah, I see.”
“This is how administrative precedent law operates.”
Even if not explicitly stated in the legal code, if the same method has been repeatedly applied, that practice itself carries legal force.
“That’s an amazing law!”
“Not entirely. Accumulated misconduct can also become solidified as precedent.”
“Ah…! I see!”
I examined the approval document again.
And only then did Adrian’s words truly resonate with me.
—Even my approval documents, you must know how to reject them at your own discretion.
Customs to preserve and customs to change.
Cultivating the discernment to distinguish and judge between them.
Thus, the decisions I make as Countess become the standard for the entire Whitewolf Territory, and the customs of its people—a weighty responsibility indeed.
—That crushing weight. There are times when I grow exhausted from my own thoughts, when I want to abandon everything and flee… yet this is a position I must endure regardless.
‘So that’s what Brother meant…’
Seraphia was gradually learning the qualities necessary to become an excellent Countess.
* * *
After that, Seraphia continued to learn many things from Isolde.
Isolde showed no reluctance whatsoever.
Drawing from her experience as a princess of the Holy Kingdom, she explained in detail with examples that made it easy for Seraphia to understand.
Through this process, I came to understand the anguish Isolde had endured.
And the weight of responsibility.
Isolde, who had borne all of it, appeared to me like a brilliantly shining star.
‘Sister Isolde, you’re so amazing!’
From today on, Isolde was my role model.
I resolved firmly that through my own efforts, I would one day become as magnificent a Countess as Isolde.
Such was my passion.
It continued even into the Administrative Office.
Buried beneath piles of documents, losing track of time—it was at that very moment.
Knock, knock.
—May I come in?
Adrian’s voice accompanied the knock.
“Oh, yes! Please come in!”
Almost simultaneously, Adrian entered the Administrative Office.
His impeccable appearance always took my breath away.
“Have you finished reviewing all the approval documents?”
“Well, about that….”
I quickly hid the book spread across my desk as I spoke.
“I haven’t quite finished yet….”
Somehow, the more I learned, the more there was to learn.
This was absolutely not something I could complete in a single day.
Fortunately, Adrian didn’t scold me this time.
“Since the entire system of the Whitewolf Territory is being restructured, there will be much for you to learn and master.”
Rather, his eyes held praise for my thorough review.
…Somehow, my heart felt fulfilled.
But that feeling was short-lived.
“Then I’ll be heading to Caravana.”
“…Caravana?”
Caravana meant….
“Are you referring to the trade city?”
“Yes.”
So suddenly?
“Once you review the proposal, you’ll understand—the Whitewolf Territory’s trade routes are currently limited.”
“Ah….”
“Given the territory’s geographical characteristics, other merchant guilds can’t easily enter either. We need to carve out our own trade route.”
“I see….”
“For now, securing a route through Caravana would be ideal.”
The trading city of Caravana.
Caravana was a Free City that had developed with trade as its cornerstone.
Geographically positioned where roads and multiple rivers intersected, it naturally became a hub where goods and information from across the Continent flowed freely.
As a result, diverse cultures and goods were exchanged there, and it had become the Continent’s premier logistics center.
And its scale was staggering.
Approximately twenty-three percent of all goods across the Continent were distributed through Caravana.
In other words, establishing a trade route through Caravana meant—
The Whitewolf Territory would gain a trading hub that could extend its reach across the entire Continent.
“I’ll go to Caravana personally and begin negotiations for trade permits and tariff adjustments.”
Seraphia’s eyes widened involuntarily.
‘Brother, you’re absolutely amazing!!’
Truly, there was nothing else to say but that he was remarkable.
Here she was, unable to even properly understand a single bill, while Adrian was already mapping out and planning the entire trade network.
“Can you finish reviewing the proposals by the time I return?”
And the drive to turn those plans into reality.
There was nothing about him that wasn’t extraordinary.
Seraphia pulled the documents toward herself.
If it meant being useful to Adrian—
If it meant not holding him back—
She had to become a capable countess like Isolde, not a useless figurehead.
“Yes! I’ll finish it even if I have to stay up all night!”
Seraphia nodded with determination.
Adrian nodded quietly.
Then he turned to leave without another word.
Seraphia watched his departing back in silence—
“Wait, um…!”
Suddenly, she opened her mouth.
Adrian slowly turned around—
‘Huh!’
Her breath caught in her throat.
…She couldn’t muster the courage to meet his eyes.
Seraphia’s gaze darted left and right, awkwardly avoiding his stare.
“What is it?”
“That… the other day….”
“Last time?”
“Well, it’s just that…!”
“Tell me.”
“Ah, it’s nothing! Just forget about it!”
Adrian immediately turned his back and walked away.
“W-wait…!”
Seraphia called out to Adrian once more, stopping him in his tracks.
And then… I don’t know.
I squeezed my eyes shut!
“L-last time when I was drinking…!”
I gathered every ounce of courage I possessed.

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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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