The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 29

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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 29. A Variable (2)
“What… did you just say?”
Kai couldn’t believe Bernard’s words.
“You’re telling me that the previous Count’s personal assets were given to that man—no, to Adrian?”
Bernard’s statement that the previous Count’s personal assets had been given to Adrian.
Kai pressed him urgently.
But Bernard had nothing substantial to say in return.
“…I apologize.”
He could only repeat his apologies.
Until Seraphia intervened, Bernard continued offering nothing but apologies.
“No, Head Steward.”
“….”
“My brother’s request was reasonable. You merely followed the proper procedures.”
“….”
“Most importantly, the responsibility falls on me.”
Though I never anticipated it would come to this.
Seraphia deliberately swallowed those final words.
As Seraphia said, Bernard could not be faulted.
Bernard had acted lawfully as the Head Steward of House Whitewolf.
Kai understood this as well.
Therefore, he neither blamed nor reproached Bernard.
He simply felt the path ahead closing off.
The funds Adrian had extorted were not merely the previous Count’s personal assets.
The funeral expenses incurred upon the previous Count’s passing had been substantial, and they had been covered from the territory’s coffers.
They could not recklessly touch the previous Count’s personal assets, which were entangled with Adrian’s claims.
They had to leave them untouched until the will was properly ratified.
That was why they had planned to retrieve them after Seraphia was officially appointed as Lord.
But Adrian had seized them in the interim, extorting them entirely.
“When we must prepare for the approaching winter, lacking both provisions and firewood…!”
“…I apologize. I should have refused him somehow….”
“No. Head Steward, you bear no fault. This is entirely my responsibility, so please say no more.”
Seraphia comforted Bernard and spoke again.
“For now… we should track the funds. We must recover whatever we can. Head Steward?”
“Yes?”
“Do you know what purpose my brother had for taking the funds?”
“That is….”
Bernard trailed off momentarily.
His expression suggested uncertainty, as if he himself wondered, “Is this right…?” before he slowly spoke.
“He said he was establishing a Merchant Guild.”
At that, both Kai and Seraphia tilted their heads simultaneously, their confusion evident.
“…Pardon?”
“A Merchant Guild…?”
Not for gambling and wagering?
A Merchant Guild referred to an organized association of two or more merchants pursuing profit—a commercial enterprise.
Therefore, a Merchant Guild’s purpose was to sell services and goods of economic value.
Thus, Seraphia and Kai’s confusion was entirely justified.
“A Merchant Guild…you say?”
“What do you mean by that?”
A Merchant Guild?
What was this sudden talk of a Merchant Guild?
Well, establishing a Merchant Guild itself was one thing.
“What exactly are you planning to sell…?”
Whitewolf Territory lay at the boundary between the Snowy Plain and the Frozen Peak.
A bitter cold where even coniferous trees could not grow naturally.
At best, only moss-like plants were visible, and even those were rare.
There were no mines or other underground resources. Thus, Whitewolf Territory produced no distinctive local products.
Food was scarce, and everything had to be imported entirely from other territories.
“You did mention selling monster-related byproducts….”
Monster byproducts referred to things like hides and bones.
The monsters inhabiting the Frozen Peak and Snowy Plain had undergone distinct evolution to adapt to the harsh environment, and these materials were sufficient resources and commodities.
If it were such things… I could understand to some degree.
In fact, the only means by which Whitewolf Territory currently sustained itself was through the sale of monster byproducts.
“But the volume wouldn’t be that substantial, would it?”
Yet the quantity was insufficient.
More precisely, consistent supply was difficult.
Thus, once sold, it was finished.
It was hardly enough to warrant establishing an entire Merchant Guild.
“It seems….”
Bernard’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Though he did not complete his words, Seraphia understood what Bernard was trying to say.
He suspected Adrian was attempting to extort money.
The establishment of a Merchant Guild was merely the pretext Adrian had put forward to extract funds.
The true purpose for the money lay elsewhere.
And what that purpose was…, Seraphia knew all too well.
In the end.
‘I thought he had changed….’
Adrian had reverted to his former self.
Once again becoming the wastrel of House Whitewolf, indulging in gambling and debauchery.
Seraphia’s expression darkened rapidly—it was at that very moment.
Knock, knock.
A knock sounded at the door.
Seraphia hastily composed her expression and opened her mouth.
“Come in.”
At Seraphia’s permission, a maidservant from the Lord’s Residence entered cautiously.
“What is the matter?”
“It is nothing grave, but Adrian wishes to see you, Miss Seraphia….”
“My brother wishes to see me?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Why didn’t he simply come in….”
I could understand the knock, at least.
But asking my permission through a maidservant felt somewhat disappointing.
Yet there was a reason for it.
“He wishes to meet you in the Dining Hall.”
“Pardon? The Dining Hall?”
“Yes, though shall I tell him you are occupied?”
At the maidservant’s question, Seraphia waved her hand dismissively.
“No, it’s fine. I shall go to the Dining Hall.”
Seraphia rose at once and made her way toward the Dining Hall.
* * *
From the corridor’s end, an appetizing aroma wafted through the air.
Upon opening the Dining Hall door, a steak lay elegantly plated upon the table.
“Did my brother prepare this himself?”
It was none other than a steak Adrian had cooked with his own hands.
The marbling spread across the plated steak with artistic precision.
Between the deep crimson flesh, fat wove through in white strands, while the surface was expertly seared into a golden, crispy crust.
‘When did my brother become such a skilled cook?’
It was an extraordinarily magnificent steak.
So appetizing that merely gazing upon it made one’s mouth water—one would believe it had been prepared by a master chef of the highest caliber.
‘But where did he procure such rare ingredients?’
Steak-quality meat was exceedingly precious.
Especially here in Whitewolf Territory.
It seemed likely that this was precisely why he had summoned me to the Dining Hall….
“Eat.”
“…What?!”
Seraphia’s eyes widened in astonishment.
She glanced around the room several times, but no one else was present.
Still, just to be certain, Seraphia pointed to her own chest with her index finger.
“Me, me?!”
“Do you dislike it?”
“No! I’ll eat it!! I will eat it!”
Seraphia quickly took her seat.
‘My brother did this for me….’
My heart soared so intensely it bordered on confusion. The question of where this precious meat had come from had long since vanished from my mind.
I swiftly picked up my fork and knife.
And then, at that very moment.
“Allow me to taste it first.”
Someone seized my hand. When I turned my head, Kai—who knew when he had arrived—stood blocking me.
“One can never be too careful.”
In other words, Adrian might have poisoned the meat. After all, he harbored more than enough hatred for me to do such a thing.
Just a month ago, hadn’t Adrian nearly strangled me to death?
Kai glanced sideways at Adrian.
Fortunately, Adrian seemed entirely unbothered.
“Go ahead.”
At Adrian’s words, Kai carefully cut the steak with only a knife, slicing through it smoothly—whether infused with aura or not, the blade worked flawlessly without need of a fork.
Kai set down the knife and speared the cut piece of steak with his fork, bringing it to his mouth.
In that instant.
“…!!”
Kai’s eyes flew wide open.
His gaze went distant, as though struck by revelation.
“What… what is this…?”
Anyone could see he found it extraordinarily delicious.
In fact, Kai was barely restraining an overwhelming urge that had surged within him.
“Me too! Let me try some!”
I quickly snatched the fork from Kai’s hand.
Holding fork and knife in both hands, I gently cut into the steak, revealing its tender, succulent interior cooked to a perfect medium-rare.
I brought it to my mouth at once.
“Mmm…!!”
With each bite, rich juices flowed abundantly, filling my mouth completely.
The thick layer of fat melted delicately on my tongue, leaving behind a deep and complex aftertaste.
Though the fat content was considerably higher than in other meats, it never felt greasy.
Rather, its harmony with the meat was exquisite, adding remarkable depth to every bite.
Munch, munch.
“It’s truly, truly delicious!!”
Without question, this was undoubtedly the finest steak I had ever tasted.
Of course, how could anything Adrian prepared with his own hands be anything less than delicious?
I had no doubt he could fry beetles and make them taste wonderful.
Yet even setting aside such bias, this steak was a masterpiece among masterpieces.
The rich, lingering flavor that filled my mouth.
My mind continued to crave more of the steak.
Unable to restrain myself any longer, I speared another piece with my fork, and too impatient to cut it, I bit into the entire chunk at once.
With each bite, a rich umami flavor bloomed across my palate.
My hand showed no signs of stopping.
When I came to my senses,
all that remained was an empty plate.
The steak had vanished as swiftly as a crab hiding its eyes.
Kai’s gaze flickered with faint regret, while Seraphia felt a profound sense of loss—yet her curiosity burned too intensely to contain.
“What kind of meat is this?!”
It bore no resemblance to any meat Seraphia had tasted before.
Though she had not sampled every beast on the Continent, this flavor was utterly unprecedented—something she had never encountered in all her years.
“Gelu Drake meat.”
Now that I thought about it, the taste truly differed from anything I’d eaten before—?
“…I’m sorry, what?”
“Just now… what did you say?”
Kai echoed Seraphia’s question.
Gelu Drake meat? Surely not.
“Wait, Gelu Drake….”
“You don’t mean the monster we just subjugated?”
Both Seraphia and Kai stared at me in disbelief, their expressions screaming denial.
No, surely not.
That couldn’t be.
Adrian despised Seraphia, yes, but he would never feed her monster meat.
He’d sooner serve her a cockroach.
There was absolutely no way he would ever feed her monster meat—
“I did.”
—or so she thought.
In that instant,
Seraphia’s world crumbled.
“Uuuugh—!!”
Seraphia frantically shoved her fingers into her mouth, scraping desperately with her tongue to dislodge the meat that had already descended into her stomach.
Monster meat must never be consumed by humans.
It was not merely inedible.
It was forbidden.
The madness dwelling within monster flesh corroded the human mind, driving it to insanity.
She had to expel it immediately.
In truth, it was already too late.
Yet Seraphia thrust her fingers deeper, desperate and frantic. As she did, Kai’s teeth ground together as he cried out.
“Are you out of your mind?!”
Kai drew his blade with the speed of lightning. A pale blue aura materialized along the steel, shimmering with lethal intent.
Unmistakable killing intent.
With genuine resolve to end my life, Kai swung his aura-laden blade toward me.
Yet that intention could never come to pass.
Kaaaaang—!
A brilliant burst of flames erupted before my eyes.
“…!!”
Kai’s eyes widened in sheer astonishment.
And with good reason—the weapon Adrian was using to block Kai’s blade was extraordinary.
‘A fingernail…?’
It was no illusion.
Adrian was indeed using his fingernail to parry Kai’s sword.
But what manner of beast would resort to such a thing? It defied all logic.
The very notion that a human’s fingernail could withstand a blade was absurd.
Not just humans—no creature could accomplish such a feat.
Least of all against a sword imbued with aura.
A blade with cutting power sharp enough to cleave steel itself.
Kai’s sword, which had torn through even Gelu Drake’s hide, was being stopped by nothing but Adrian’s fingernail.
And it wasn’t merely a defensive block.
Bwoooom—!
The aura clinging to Kai’s blade shattered upon contact with Adrian. The impact sent lights exploding, dishes shattering, and the Dining Hall descended into chaos.
Kai’s body was hurled violently backward.
He managed to regain his balance, yet his trembling eyes betrayed his shock.
…This was exactly like that moment.
Gelu Drake’s talons.
It was the identical phenomenon he’d experienced when facing that dragon’s claws.
Kai’s mind spiraled deeper into bewilderment.
But he quickly collected himself.
There was a far more pressing concern at hand.
“Don’t you know what happens when you consume monster flesh?!”
“I do.”
“And yet you still—!”
“Exactly.”
Adrian tilted his head casually.
“Are you going mad?”
“Of course I should be—!”
…Wait?
Kai’s movements froze. He slowly lowered his gaze to examine his own condition.
…He was perfectly fine.
But how was that possible?
By now, he should have been consumed by madness, his reason shattered. He should have become a raving lunatic, a monster himself.
Yet he felt nothing amiss.
Kai had definitely consumed Gelu Drake’s flesh.
And anyone who consumes monster flesh is inevitably consumed by madness, their mind shattered beyond recovery.
It is not a gradual process that unfolds over time.
The moment monster flesh is consumed, madness erupts instantaneously.
Surely she wouldn’t be fine just from eating a single bite?
Kai’s gaze snapped urgently toward Seraphia, and he could see her with her soul practically drained from her body.
“Huh? W-what?!”
Seraphia flailed about in panic, her silver hair scattering wildly with each frantic movement.
Her unfocused eyes darted across her own body, utterly lost as to what to do.
Her cheeks, as pale as the snow of the Snowy Mountain, had flushed slightly, betraying her tension and bewilderment.
Her lips attempted to form words, but they tangled and refused to emerge properly.
“Wh-what?! Ah…?”
Seraphia’s delicate, slender hands repeatedly grasped and released the hem of her garment, while her trembling fingers fidgeted with her hair.
She appeared as though dozens of screws had come loose in her mind.
Yet she did not look mad—not truly mad.
Rather than being consumed by madness, it seemed…
“Wh-what in the world?!?!”
The word “flustered”—overwhelmed by panic and confusion—suited her perfectly.
Slowly, Seraphia lifted her gaze.
Kai examined her eyes with meticulous care.
Her irises were a brilliant crimson, as though rubies had been inlaid within them.
Yet nowhere within them could he detect even a trace of madness.
They still shone with the radiant luminescence of a beautiful gemstone…
“Why am I… perfectly fine…?”
As though bound by an unspoken pact, both Seraphia and Kai turned their gazes sharply toward Adrian.
* * *
Seraphia and Kai—both of whom had consumed monster flesh, yet remained perfectly lucid.
Now I could finally be certain.
‘It was absorption after all.’
My Predation [S+] does not replicate the target’s abilities—it ‘absorbs’ and ‘strips away’ their power.
‘I can sell it then.’
And so I could now confirm with absolute certainty that I could take monster flesh as merchandise and sell it without concern.

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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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