The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 229

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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 229. Blood is Thicker Than Water (2)
The Allied Forces, gathering all the power of The Continent.
The Allied Forces were entangled with diverse cultures and races.
Because of this, the Allied Forces were a succession of conflicts.
Especially the Engineering Corps and Supply Command.
Dwarves and Elves.
The disputes between these two races were the most chronic problem within the Allied Forces.
How much so that Leon would sigh heavily whenever operational meetings came around?
-I just hope today the Conference Room doesn’t shake itself apart.
Unable to bear it any longer, Leon stepped in to mediate.
But he failed.
Even Leon, whose abilities were almost cheat-like, could not resolve the conflict between these two races.
And it was the same at this very moment.
◆Currently, the relationship between Broombar and Rielin is in a [Conflict] state.
◆Relationships in a [Conflict] state cause disputes through collisions of opinions, actions, emotions, and goals.
◆Such relationships have a high probability of creating friction during mutual interactions.
A [Conflict] state in the dispute phase.
It was practically on the verge of collapse.
But the reality was different.
◆However, do not worry!
◆Affection and hatred are but a hair’s breadth apart!
◆If you smoothly resolve a conflicted relationship, you can promote mutual relational cohesion and lead to a more creative and change-oriented relationship!
◆Remember that relationships without conflict are merely static, apathetic, and conservative!
Conflict could draw out the development of a relationship.
Because conflict arises when people care about each other.
Thus, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, the Hero Ian.
As the commander of the Operations Command and Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, Ian rapidly dissolved the resentment that had accumulated over hundreds and thousands of years.
And I asked him.
How he had resolved the conflict between the two.
Ian answered me like this.
-Adrian, doesn’t it seem to you that Broombar and Rielin don’t get along?
-Of course it does. They don’t even speak to each other normally, and they fight every time at operational meetings.
-But actually, it’s the opposite.
-The opposite?
-They fight because they get along well, you could say.
-They fight because they get along?
-Adrian, it’s the same as how you hate The Frost Lord to death.
-Are you insane?
At that time, there was no such crazy talk.
-Above all, I don’t merely hate The Frost Lord—I ‘despise’ her.
-The root of hatred is affection. People call it love-hate, don’t they?
-So you’re saying I have affection for The Frost Lord?
-She’s your only sister.
-Don’t talk nonsense. From the start, The Frost Lord and I don’t share a single drop of blood. We’re complete strangers.
-Which is precisely why you can care for her all the more, isn’t it?
-You crazy bastard.
…Looking back on it now, truly.
I’d never encountered madness quite like that before.
-Stop spouting nonsense and tell me how you reconciled those two.
-I never reconciled them.
-…?
-I simply pushed them to be honest with each other.
I didn’t understand it at the time.
But looking back now.
‘When danger struck, it was those two who rushed forward first.’
When the Imperial Army’s massive invasion isolated the Engineering Corps, it was Rielin who first broke through the encirclement.
When the supply convoy vanished in a surprise attack by the Imperial Army, it was Broombar who first assembled a search party.
Broombar and Rielin, always turning their backs to one another.
And because of that.
Broombar and Rielin, entrusting their backs to each other first.
-That’s what siblings are.
Broombar and Rielin were siblings bound by the same root.
* * *
A whisper that brushed past the ears.
The shouts of Dwarves and Elves cut off abruptly.
Rielin’s spirits scattered.
Broombar’s muscles relaxed.
As if overwhelmed by a predator, everyone froze in place.
Then, thump, thump.
Oppressive footsteps pressed down upon the surroundings.
“Brother!!”
Seraphia’s crimson eyes widened greatly.
A flood of words cascaded through her mind.
You’ve awakened?!
How is your body?!
Are you alright?!
You’re not injured anywhere, are you?!
No fractures or….
Ah! That doesn’t matter for brother.
Dizziness, or a foggy head.
Strange sounds ringing in my ears.
Isn’t that happening to you?
A sinking feeling, a lack of energy—you’re not experiencing that, are you?!
Words like these rose to the tip of my throat.
But I barely suppressed them.
Such fussing.
It would damage the dignity and majesty befitting an excellent female Marquis.
…Though it already seemed somewhat compromised, at any rate.
Seraphia bit down hard on her lower lip.
Then she examined Adrian’s condition carefully—
‘Brother?’
…Adrian looked different somehow?
As if he’d become far more impressive.
Or perhaps a sharpness she’d never witnessed before had been revealed.
His gaze had grown considerably deeper.
A silent aura.
He radiated considerable pressure.
Seraphia wasn’t the only one who felt it.
Broombar felt it differently too.
As if he’d been refined into an entirely different being after prolonged tempering.
Rielin felt the same.
Like a sacred tree that had endured long years of hardship and finally awakened.
Gulp. Gulp.
Broombar and Rielin swallowed simultaneously.
The two who had been fighting fiercely moments before now stood speechless, crushed beneath Adrian’s presence.
The Town Square fell silent in an instant.
Everyone was overwhelmed by Adrian’s presence.
Adrian came to a halt.
And he spoke first to Rielin.
“Lady Rielin.”
“…Ah, yes.”
“Now, please regard the Dwarves as Dwarves.”
Rielin’s ears twitched.
At that, Broombar tilted his head and asked.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Lady Rielin, you’ve been thinking of the Dwarves as Dark Elves.”
“…?”
“In other words, you regard the Dwarves as kindred—fellow Elves and guardians of the forest who must be protected.”
“What?”
“That’s why you’ve been treating Broombar more harshly.”
Seraphia blinked.
…Ah, so that’s what it was?
“Because you regard the Dwarves as fellow Elves, I hoped you would show more consideration for nature than others.”
“I, I’ve never… done such a thing.”
“Then why are you so tolerant of the sound of our human craftsmen’s hammering?”
“Huh? Now that you mention it…”
Seraphia’s eyes widened from their previous blinking state.
Now that she heard Adrian’s words…?
“Is that really true?”
The Whitewolf Territory had many human craftsmen.
The craftsmen who had learned techniques from the Dwarves were now producing high-quality weapons and armor.
The Blacksmith’s Forge operated day and night.
And yet.
Rielin had never once scolded them for it.
“…..”
Rielin pressed her lips firmly shut.
But her ears trembled slightly.
“Hmph!”
Anyone could tell she had done exactly that before.
“And Broombar, you didn’t regard Rielin merely as a bothersome Elf, did you?”
Seraphia blinked again.
…Ah, so that’s what it was?
“When you hammered, you deliberately did so where the Elves weren’t present, and you only chose times when the wind song couldn’t be heard, didn’t you?”
“Huh? Now that you mention it…”
Seraphia’s eyes widened once more from their blinking state.
Now that she heard Adrian’s words….
“Is that really true?”
I had thought it was mere whim.
But it wasn’t.
It was his own form of consideration to avoid unnecessary conflict with the Elves.
‘How does my brother know such things?’
Hadn’t he just awakened?
“It was for efficiency.”
“For efficiency? It seemed more like consideration for Rielin and the Elves.”
“….”
Broombar clamped his mouth shut.
But his muscles trembled slightly.
“Quiet!”
Anyone could tell it had nothing to do with efficiency.
The argument stopped in an instant.
It was a fight that even Seraphia’s desperate pleas couldn’t stop.
As expected.
‘Brother, you’re seriously so cool!!’
Right now, my brother was incredibly awesome.
* * *
◆Through your wisdom, both sides begin to see each other anew!
◆Relational cohesion is promoted!!
◆The relationship between Broombar and Rielin has changed!
In an instant, luminous text flashed before my eyes.
◆The relationship between Broombar and Rielin has entered the [Indifferent] state!
Unfortunately, it wasn’t the [Friendly] state required to complete the Quest.
So I couldn’t let my guard down just yet.
◆A relationship in the [Indifferent] state means neither party has any particular interest or dislike for the other.
◆They are indifferent to whatever the other does, and unless one takes special action, there’s no reason to gain favor.
◆But be careful!
◆Excessive indifference can lead to ‘contempt,’ which may result in resentment!
In other words, additional measures were needed to bring the two closer together.
Some special event.
Or some memorable incident.
Without such a turning point, there was a risk of falling into contempt rather than achieving [Friendly]—
◆Seraphia’s affection toward you explodes!
◆The favorability in [Trust] state has changed!
Suddenly, new text appeared.
But this time it was text related to Seraphia’s favorability.
◆Error: Seraphia is a person who cannot reach the [Affection] state.
◆Favorability obstruction factors – older brother, family, incest.
◆You cannot reach the [Affection] state unless you remove the favorability obstruction factors.
◆Seraphia’s favorability toward you is in the [Trust] state of the “Bond Stage.”
‘What?’
When I turned my gaze, Seraphia was looking at me.
Ruby-like gleaming crimson eyes.
◆You and her—not a single drop of blood shared!
◆Which makes the relationship all the more affectionate!!
Why is this system always so obsessed with this?
It was like this with Ian in my past life too—clearly it’s been influenced by Ian.
I casually dismissed the text.
…Anyway.
If I don’t make the relationship between Broombar and Rielin reach [Friendly] status, I won’t be able to obtain the 【Territory World Tree Mode】—
◆Curious what 【Territory World Tree Mode】 is?!
The text seized the moment!
I recalled Mungu, brimming with theatrical flair.
But this time, I found myself curious.
World Tree.
The very name carried an ominous weight.
As I waited for Mungu’s next words, they materialized before my eyes.
◆What is 【Territory World Tree Mode】?
◆Drumroll!
◆A mode where the entire territory operates as a single organic living entity and grows autonomously, without the player’s direct intervention!!
As if he’d never been sulking, Mungu came alive—words cascading forth like a torrent.
◆When the population increases?!
◆Just as the World Tree’s branches extend outward!
◆Villages and outposts expand automatically!
◆That’s not all, you ask?!
◆That’s a no-no!
◆Major facilities upgrade automatically based on usage frequency!
◆Resources regenerate automatically through the World Tree’s cycle!
◆Natural disaster occurrence rate: 0%!
◆And furthermore?!
◆There are even more broken features, you say?!
◆But I’m not telling you about those!!
Well.
…This one’s definitely insane.
At minimum, he was absolutely out of his mind.
But setting that aside, the features were utterly broken.
Villages and outposts expanding on their own.
Resources cycling perpetually.
Buildings evolving without intervention.
The entire territory becoming a World Tree itself, taking root and spreading branches as it grew.
If I combined this with the 【Optimization Monitoring Tool】?
I’d have a territory that developed with perfect efficiency and grew of its own accord…but.
“Ha! And I’m sure you’ll go on and on about nature this and nature that.”
“Hmph! You brainless, bearded lump who solves everything with a hammer.”
To achieve that, I absolutely needed to improve their relationship.
“Before you start preaching about nature, fix your own manner of speaking to be more nature-friendly, you spirit-summoning brat.”
“S-spirit-summoning brat?”
“What else do you call someone who goes whining to the spirits every time something happens?”
“Ugh! You sweat-drenched, foul-smelling cauldron lid fungus!”
“C-cauldron lid fungus?”
“That’s right! The way you stumble around reeking of sweat and oil—you’re exactly like mold blooming on an old cast-iron cauldron lid!”
Indifference, where art thou.
They couldn’t hold back and were fighting again in the meantime.
“This is a symbol of honor, forged by those who till the earth and refine metal to create the world! What would beggars who grovel before spirits possibly know?”
“I wish you’d at least wash away that stench by begging! Your body reeks far more of fermented stables!”
‘What did Ian do this time?’
I recalled the methods one by one to reconcile the two of them.
* * *
The Eastern Annex of Count’s Castle.
Iliana sat at the desk in the Library, gazing at the letter in her hand.
[From: Langritd Council of Elders]
A familiar seal, a familiar hand.
From within the paper emanated an oppressive gaze.
Iliana drew a deep breath and turned her gaze toward the window.
It had already been two months since arriving in Whitewolf Territory.
So many things had happened during this time.
For the first time, I had done something by my own choice, not by command.
For the first time, I had made a friend with whom I could open my heart.
For the first time, I had stayed up through the night researching together, pursuing the same goal.
And I had even faced a crisis where I nearly died.
…There was also something terribly embarrassing.
“Ugh…!”
Just thinking about it made my face burn with such profound embarrassment.
Yet every single one of those moments had been such a precious and special experience.
‘I’m happy.’
Being in this Territory filled me with such joy and contentment.
So over these past two months, I had experienced a happiness I could never have imagined.
Family.
The warmth of family that I could never receive at the Marquis Segretus Family, I could feel here at House Whitewolf.
So.
I could not be happier than this.
That would be truly impossible.
If it were any better, I might truly burst from the joy.
‘I must return now.’
My place has always been in a cramped attic.
Located where no one’s gaze could reach.
Iliana carefully composed a letter.
Pressing sincere feelings deep within, scratch by scratch.
Writing each character with care to Seraphia and Broombar.
Finally, to the person I am more grateful to than anyone in this world.
The one who allowed me to exist not as a concubine, a lowborn, but as a person—.
“You were here.”
…Adrian’s voice—.
“Huh?!”
Iliana jumped from her seat in utter shock.
“A-Adrian?!?!”
“I didn’t intend to startle you so.”
“Oh, oh, that… that is…!”
Iliana’s eyes darted about in flustered confusion.
“Y-you’ve awakened?!”
“I’ve been conscious for some time now.”
“Your body… you’re truly well?”
“Thanks to you, Miss Iliana, I’m perfectly fine.”
“But I didn’t do anything remarkable….”
“You brought me safely to Whitewolf Territory, and it was you who persuaded the Elves to come here as well.”
“That was….”
Iliana fell silent, pressing her lips together.
She wasn’t accustomed to receiving praise.
…More precisely, she found it embarrassing.
A strange warmth bloomed in her chest.
“However—.”
Adrian’s gaze shifted to the letter Iliana had been writing.
“What were you composing?”
“Oh, no! It’s nothing at all!”
Iliana hastily concealed the parchment.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
“M-more importantly, what brings you here?!”
Iliana clutched the letter tightly in both hands.
She silently prayed Adrian would ask no further questions.
Fortunately, Adrian did not press the matter.
“It’s nothing grave—I merely wished to ask a favor of you.”
“What sort of favor?”
“Would you be able to make soap for me?”
Pardon? What did he say?
“…Soap?”
Iliana’s head tilted in bewilderment at this unfamiliar word.

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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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