The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 30

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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 30. Certainty
My Predation [S+] ability might be absorption rather than duplication.
I had harbored this suspicion vaguely for some time.
I had doubted it since my days with the Allied Forces as Predator, and only now, having returned to the past, could I confirm it with certainty.
It was thanks to Ian’s ability.
◆Predation [S+]
: By devouring the heart of a living being, you absorb that creature’s abilities and convert them into skills. However, mental fortitude is consumed in the process.
Ian’s ability—the semi-transparent text that materialized before my eyes.
It stated that Predation [S+]’s mechanism was “absorption.”
In other words, it described the act of “stealing” abilities from the target entity.
And the mechanism behind it was “genetic absorption.”
Absorbing the “mutation factor” that allowed the monster to possess such an ability in the first place.
In essence, absorbing Madness itself.
Therefore, the final mechanism of Predation [S+] was as follows:
1. I devour a living being’s heart with Predation [S+].
2. Through this, I absorb the mutation factor that enabled that creature to manifest its special ability. (For monsters, this becomes Madness.)
3. The mutation factor imprinted at the cellular genetic level is immediately applied to me.
4. I gain the ability to use that power.
Therefore, the reason I become engulfed in Madness each time I use Predation [S+] lay precisely here.
And it was undeniably true “absorption” rather than duplication.
‘The monster whose Predation [S+] ability I used would have no Madness remaining.’
Because I had completely “absorbed” the monster’s Madness.
It was a hypothesis bordering on certainty.
Still, being merely a hypothesis, I needed to verify it.
So I had intended to feed it to Seraphia.
The flesh of Gelu Drake, whose heart I had devoured with Predation [S+]. I wanted to confirm whether Seraphia’s mind would remain intact after consuming it.
‘Kai eating it first was unexpected….’
Yet the result only reinforced my certainty.
Monsters whose hearts I devour with Predation [S+] have their Madness removed. More precisely, it is “absorbed” into me and vanishes.
‘Which also means Ian’s ability has disappeared.’
It signified that Ian no longer possessed Sole Leveling [EX] and Player’s Will [EX].
Yet I felt no concern.
The likelihood that Ian possessed another ability I was unaware of was high.
The strength of Ian that I had witnessed.
It never relied solely on Sole Leveling [EX].
After all, Ian was the Hero of the Continent.
The Emperor’s only rival.
He would never fall merely from losing a single ability.
Still, I needed to find Ian somewhat sooner.
In any case.
‘I could sell this.’
Thus was born the specialty product of Whitewolf Territory.
Of course, this required the use of my Predation [S+] ability.
In that sense, it would be more accurate to call it ‘my specialty product’ rather than Whitewolf Territory’s.
‘Regardless, the Merchant Guild’s reputation will spread rapidly.’
It would become the only merchant company on The Continent dealing in monster meat.
Through that, I could broadcast my presence in Whitewolf Territory across the entire Continent.
‘They’ll probably be desperate for it.’
The monsters of Snowy Mountain possessed flesh far more tender than other meats.
To endure the brutal cold, they had fundamentally evolved with thick layers of fat.
From my own experience, no other meat could compare to that of Snowy Mountain’s monsters.
In that regard, it seemed necessary to conduct additional hunts to secure sufficient quantities.
‘Should I return to Snowy Mountain?’
Just as I was about to move, that moment arrived.
“Did it truly have to be done this way?”
Kai spoke to me.
And his expression was somehow even more sullen than before.
“Then should I have fed it to the soldiers or the servants? Or perhaps the territory’s people?”
At that, Kai’s mouth clamped shut.
He was a man mad with loyalty, but his sense of responsibility was no less fierce.
That foolish knight, Kai, was the type to willingly shoulder burdens unnecessarily grave.
Rather than shift danger onto others, he would bear it himself.
“You didn’t consider that no one would eat it?”
“That wouldn’t work. Someone had to taste it without fail.”
“What if we had gone mad because of it?”
Then I would have killed him on the spot.
In that sense, the dragon’s claw [A] that had blocked Kai’s blade.
Facing a sword imbued with aura directly, I could discern its nature.
‘I believe I could sufficiently block even a Master’s sword.’
It boasted performance no different from a true dragon’s claw.
If I were to fight Kai right now?
I had confidence I wouldn’t lose.
Whether I could win… I wasn’t entirely certain.
Regardless.
Based on the mechanism of Predation [S+], I possessed a certain conviction that his mind would not break.
“Don’t worry. I had confidence it wouldn’t happen.”
“What possible basis could you have for—!”
“I’m the proof.”
“….”
Kai’s words caught in his throat.
And for good reason—Kai had witnessed me consuming monsters with his own two eyes.
Not just any part, either. I’d torn out and devoured their hearts. More than once.
Kai had directly witnessed it twice.
Yet my mind remained perfectly lucid. I hadn’t succumbed to madness or lost my reason.
Of course, that was thanks to Ian’s ability—the Player’s Will [EX]. But there was no way Kai could know such circumstances.
“Do you truly… know a way to eliminate a monster’s madness?”
“I do.”
After that, Kai asked nothing more.
He’d witnessed it with his own eyes, and now he’d experienced it firsthand as well.
Denying it any further would be utterly foolish.
“Once others gain confidence that they too can safely consume monster flesh, we can generate substantial income through Whitewolf Territory’s specialty products. That alone would resolve the territory’s financial troubles in an instant.”
“….”
“Furthermore, we can solve the food shortage for the territory’s residents in preparation for the coming winter. Not just this winter, but all winters to come.”
“….”
“Wasn’t it a gamble worth taking?”
That is, assuming the gamble succeeded.
And succeed it did, spectacularly.
Then Seraphia, who had been silent, spoke up.
“Then the reason you’re establishing a merchant company is also…?”
“To sell monster flesh. I’ve already laid the groundwork, so now it’s just a matter of filling the positions. To that end, I’ll be recruiting several soldiers and residents from the territory.”
“Eh…?”
Seraphia’s face went slack with astonishment.
She clearly hadn’t expected that I’d already established a merchant company.
And understandably so—establishing a merchant company is far more complex than it sounds.
Beyond the capital required, one must construct an entire operational framework from the ground up.
But I had led the Special Task Force of the Allied Forces.
Admittedly, the command structure of the Special Task Force and merchant operations were fundamentally different.
However, I had observed the Supply Command’s operational system firsthand, right beside it.
The Supply Command led by the Allied Forces’ hero, the Spirit Summoner.
That command had traversed the entire Continent, supplying and managing the Allied Forces’ military provisions and distribution—
Ensuring the Allied Forces never went hungry even once during the entire war—
I had witnessed and experienced that meticulously orchestrated, spine-tingling supply command structure.
All that remarkable knowledge and experience remained intact in my mind.
Though I could never match the Allied Forces’ hero, the Spirit Summoner, establishing a small merchant company like this was truly trivial.
“In such a short time…?”
“How on earth did you…?”
Kai and Seraphia, unaware of the circumstances, were left in continuous amazement.
Their eyes, fixed upon me, had shifted from confusion to outright suspicion.
Both wore expressions desperately seeking explanation.
But I chose not to speak.
There was no need for elaborate explanations, no reason to justify myself, no meaning in doing so.
They were two people who had to die anyway.
So why was I making excuses and trying to persuade anyone?
I suppressed the doubt.
I crushed suspicion beneath the weight of authority.
“Then I’ll be going.”
I turned on my heel and left the Dining Hall at once.
* * *
Adrian departed from the Dining Hall as abruptly as he had arrived.
Though Adrian’s demeanor was cold and distant, it was only by watching his retreating figure that Seraphia could finally be certain.
‘My brother has truly changed.’
Adrian had undoubtedly transformed.
The reckless, dissolute Adrian of old no longer existed.
‘Thank goodness….’
It was truly a relief.
She had worried terribly that Adrian might have reverted to his old ways, but such fears proved entirely unfounded.
Perhaps because of this, Seraphia’s eyes gleamed with longing as she gazed at the empty plate.
‘It was the first dish my brother had ever prepared for me with his own hands….’
And Kai had snatched it away in one gulp.
It had been to verify whether poison was present, but still, it stung a little.
Yet that was merely Kai’s way of showing concern for Seraphia.
Knowing this, she did not blame him or sulk.
…She merely allowed herself to feel a touch of disappointment.
Still, seeing Adrian’s efforts—establishing the Merchant Guild himself and working tirelessly for the prosperity of his territory’s people—her troubled heart quickly eased.
‘I must work hard too!’
Seraphia had to strive even harder in proportion to Adrian’s efforts.
With that in mind, Adrian’s parting words lingered in Seraphia’s thoughts even after she left the Dining Hall.
‘He said he would be going… and returning.’
As if this place were where he truly belonged.
Of course, Adrian had said he would leave the family once his ‘task’ was complete.
And he had said they would never meet again, no matter what… but that was fine.
Seraphia was determined to change Adrian’s heart.
Even though Adrian currently despised her with a passion.
But if Adrian and she lived under the same roof, an opportunity would surely come eventually.
Whether he liked it or not.
Was that not the power of the bond called family?
Had Adrian not just prepared a dish with his own hands for her?
Though it had been under the guise of an ‘experiment,’ they had nonetheless grown closer by a step.
‘Family….’
These days, Seraphia was overwhelmed with happiness.
* * *
Territory—the domain governed by a nation’s sovereign authority.
On the Continent, territorial sovereignty could be broadly divided into three classifications.
Crown Dependencies, lands ruled directly by the monarch.
Territories, lands granted by the monarch to lords.
And Free Cities.
Free Cities were administrative regions guaranteed independent autonomy, belonging to no nation whatsoever.
Thus, Free Cities were not governed by absolute powers such as monarchs or lords.
The citizens of Free Cities were freemen, subject to no one’s dominion.
Fundamentally, Free Cities were privileged communities capable of specializing in various fields and achieving prosperity through such focus.
Frecce—a commercial city.
Frecce bustled daily with countless merchants and visitors.
Stone-paved streets echoed with the endless passage of horses and carriages, while red-brick shops and residences crowded densely along both sides.
In the expansive central plaza, various shops and stalls lined the area around an ancient stone fountain at its center.
Leather, crops, precious metals, provisions—and more.
Specialty goods from each region of the kingdom were displayed in their respective shops with distinctive character, while merchants engaged in haggling and negotiation to draw customers.
“Wine from the Kingdom of Venethi has arrived! This is no everyday shipment!”
“Silkworms raised on mulberry leaves from the Protina Forest! Weave silk from these, and noble ladies will be absolutely enchanted!”
“We have everything except what doesn’t exist! Do step inside!”
Carts overflowed with fruits, vegetables, and grains.
Craftsmen hammered away at weapons and armor.
Amid the clamorous din of smithing hammers and merchants’ haggling voices.
Clatter, clatter.
A couple of shabby carriages came to a halt in a corner of the plaza.
The carriages settled into a cramped, secluded spot befitting their decrepit appearance.
Presently, several people emerged from within, moving about busily as though evading the street vendors.
Some merchants watching the scene clicked their tongues dismissively.
And with good reason—their choice of location was utterly misguided.
At first glance, they were clearly novice merchants.
Yet here they were, calling themselves a merchant company and arriving in the Free City of Frecce.
[Predator Merchant Company]
As expected, it was a merchant company no one had ever heard of.

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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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