The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 335

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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 335. Uninvited Guests (2)
Central District of Whitewolf Territory.
The Central Plaza Market bustled with countless people.
Residents of the territory had come out to shop.
Dwarves drinking evening ale.
Elves painting watercolors of spirits.
Different races mingled together, creating a vibrant energy that seemed alive even in the night air.
One Dwarf burst into hearty laughter.
“Krhahahaha! A honey badger lost control of its anger and destroyed everything?”
“That’s right! So today’s lecture changed to ‘What is Anger?’!”
The tavern erupted at their conversation.
Empty beer mugs were refilled, and the atmosphere grew heated.
“What was it yesterday? Moles went on about ‘truth lies in the strata’ and dug underground during the lecture?”
“That’s not even the best part! In the pessimism class, all the goats escaped. Turns out they thought it was ‘goat-ism’!”
The Dwarves clutched their bellies with laughter.
The Elves who had been listening quietly sprayed their drinks and fell backward in their chairs.
“In all my days, I never thought I’d see beasts debating philosophy.”
“But I really want to see that class once.”
“Apparently there were so many requests that they started accepting auditors?”
Beasts learning philosophy.
This bizarre spectacle had become the territory’s greatest attraction.
And with it came fresh vitality to the territory’s economy.
“If you time it right when classes end, business is incredible.”
“Two cartloads of snacks go out in a single day!”
Every time a lecture ended, the streets filled like a marketplace.
Children debated the day’s lecture topic as a form of play.
Thus philosophy flowed into the streets and seeped into the daily life of Whitewolf Territory.
“These days, the questions beasts raise really hit home.”
“Exactly. And the one who hits hardest is that fellow.”
“Who?”
“His name is Zemu, I think?”
“Ah, the teacher at Werebeast Academy?”
“That’s the one. Despite his appearance, he’s incredibly erudite.”
So night after night.
And tavern after tavern.
Whitewolf Territory overflowed with talk of the Werebeasts’ lectures.
* * *
After Zemu’s lectures began.
The Werebeasts gradually started breaking free from their hive mentality.
They began learning language, bit by bit.
They learned emotions step by step.
Eventually, individuals capable of thought began to emerge.
Some even started communicating with one another.
“I am angry today.”
“Angry… painting… drew…?”
“Because the morning meat was delicious.”
…They were still clumsy.
Their emotional expressions were often misplaced.
They couldn’t even distinguish between joy and anger.
Yet there was undeniable progress in their ability to recognize and express their own emotions.
‘Continued education will be necessary, but…’
This seemed sufficient for now.
They had reached a point where The Emperor’s hive-mind manipulation would not easily sway them.
All of this was Zemu’s doing.
He had taught the Werebeasts.
‘More capable than I expected, it seems.’
Truly, he deserved to be called a Drakhan who inherited the Dragon’s intellect.
Because of this.
I could not help but ask.
“Zemu, why did you come to me?”
Zemu tilted his head in confusion.
The reason he came to me.
He had already answered that question before.
“Because I wish to learn evolution from the Evolution Lord.”
“Ask the question differently.”
I rephrased my inquiry.
“Why did you abandon the one you originally served and choose me instead?”
From the circumstances, Zemu appeared to be a Legion Commander-class individual.
In other words, one of the Werebeasts newly created by The Emperor.
And what Zemu demanded from me was evolution.
That is, genetic extraction.
To be frank, The Emperor could do that as well.
Zemu could have evolved sufficiently under The Emperor without needing me.
In fact, The Emperor could have injected far more genes, faster and stronger.
Yet despite this, Zemu chose me.
He turned his back on The Emperor.
Zemu abandoned the easy path and took the difficult one.
With Zemu’s intellect, he could not be unaware of this.
Therefore, I could not help but harbor suspicion.
A spy sent by The Emperor.
I had no choice but to consider that possibility.
Zemu did not answer hastily.
His face was lost in thought.
He seemed to know.
Though I had not mentioned The Emperor directly, Zemu already knew that was whom I spoke of.
And he knew something else as well.
“He will annihilate all life.”
The Emperor, who sought to destroy The Continent.
Zemu also understood The Emperor’s purpose.
“Then all evolution ceases.”
“….”
“If evolution ceases, change vanishes. If change vanishes, survival becomes impossible. I cannot serve him.”
Zemu gazed at me.
“That is why I wish to serve you. Lord of Evolution.”
Now I could finally understand.
Zemu’s allegiance to me was not born of oath or submission.
It was survival alone.
A desperate struggle to keep evolution from ceasing.
His oath and obedience to me were merely the means to that end.
The Emperor and I.
Between these two paths, which would endure longer?
Zemu had made his judgment and chosen to serve me.
At least until that desire was satisfied.
I asked Zemu once more.
“Then Zemu, if you ever became stronger than me, would you still serve me then?”
“That possibility does not exist.”
“It does not exist?”
“It does not.”
“Why not?”
Zemu continued with conviction.
“I accept evolution. The Lord of Evolution designs it.”
“….”
“I am the result. The Lord of Evolution is the cause.”
“….”
“Without the Lord of Evolution, my evolution halts. Therefore, I cannot stand above the Lord of Evolution.”
What was he saying?
The talk of inheriting a Dragon’s intellect was giving me quite the headache.
Well, in any case.
“I serve the Lord of Evolution.”
Zemu follows me because he needs me.
And since they cannot evolve without me, they follow me more than necessary.
With this, I could be certain.
As long as the hostage of essence extraction remains in my grasp.
As long as The Emperor’s purpose to destroy The Continent is not thwarted.
Zemu has no reason to betray me.
Therefore.
Now it seemed I could accept Zemu and the Werebeasts as both a race and subjects of Whitewolf Territory.
* * *
“…and so, I was hoping to prepare a settlement in Whitewolf Territory where the Werebeasts could dwell.”
Adrian’s lengthy explanation continued.
Finally, Adrian broached the subject carefully.
“Seraphia, what do you think?”
Seraphia blinked her eyes.
She organized Adrian’s words in her mind once more.
“Do you mean….”
Seraphia lifted her head cautiously.
“That we should accept the Werebeasts into Whitewolf Territory?”
“That’s right.”
Adrian nodded.
Seraphia fell into thought for a moment.
That would mean four races living in the territory.
Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Werebeasts.
But harmony and coexistence among the existing three races was already far from easy.
And now the Werebeasts would be added to that.
Somehow, Whitewolf Territory was gradually becoming a multi-racial coalition.
There would be countless coordination issues to manage as a result.
“Very well.”
If I succeeded once, why couldn’t I do it a second time?
Besides, this was Adrian’s request.
If it was something Adrian desired, Seraphia wanted to accomplish it no matter how troublesome or difficult.
So Seraphia had no choice but to ask carefully.
“Which area did you have in mind for their land?”
If we were to accept the Werebeasts, naturally they would need a place to live.
The Education District was literally just an education district.
It was not a residential area for the Werebeasts.
And the territory’s land was already fully allocated.
Farmland, defensive positions, reclaimed areas.
Residential zones for Elves and Dwarves, and so on.
Not a single plot of land was being wasted.
“I will handle that.”
Adrian seemed to have everything planned out.
After all, wasn’t this the same Adrian who had effortlessly brought the Dwarves’ Hilly Region under his control?
There was nothing to worry about.
“Then I’ll prepare a temporary settlement for them.”
Seraphia mentally unfurled a map of Whitewolf Territory in her mind.
‘Not too far from the existing villages. I need to avoid closed-off, enclosed terrain.’
Even as a temporary settlement, it would be their home.
I had to make it as comfortable as possible.
In that sense, it was fortunate.
Seraphia had been attending classes alongside the Werebeasts all this time.
Thanks to that, I had already grasped their ecology and habits.
But there was that one thing.
Seraphia stole a glance at Adrian’s side.
Elongated limbs. Hardened skin.
An expressionless gaze.
“That’s Zemu.”
“Eek!”
Seraphia flinched violently, her body trembling.
I knew the name.
But seeing him up close was simply terrifying.
Especially those razor-sharp teeth gleaming between his gaping maw—they were absolutely horrifying.
‘So scary…!’
Seraphia clutched at her chest.
Then Zemu slowly tilted his head.
“Individual weak. Biological rank lowest tier. Genetic abilities to absorb: none.”
Adrian then asked.
“Zemu, besides genetic ability, do you sense anything else?”
Zemu answered without hesitation.
“Factors beyond genetic ability do not influence evolution. Unnecessary information.”
“So you’re saying you don’t sense anything?”
“I do not sense it.”
“That can’t be right. You should have a predator’s instinct, shouldn’t you?”
Adrian tilted his head, muttering to himself.
“Could it be that the Authority of Bitter Cold wasn’t perceived as information through a predator’s instinct?”
Adrian paused to think, then spoke.
“Then just do as I say.”
“I will obey.”
“From now on, you will also obey Seraphia’s commands.”
Zemu froze for a moment.
His eyes showed signs of deliberation.
After a moment, Zemu opened his mouth.
“…I cannot accept this.”
“Why not?”
“This specimen called Seraphia possesses the lowest biological grade. Low survivability, insufficient judgment reliability. Unsuitable as an auxiliary commander for the Evolution Lord.”
Seraphia’s eyes widened sharply.
But Zemu did not even glance at her.
“Hierarchy reversal is a logical error. No evolutionary benefit.”
“So?”
“I lodge an objection. I request command reconfirmation.”
“Denied.”
“The command is unreasonable.”
“Just do as I say.”
Zemu clamped his mouth shut.
He remained motionless for several seconds before muttering.
“…A valid reason is necessary.”
“She is my Sister.”
In that instant, Zemu’s eyes went wide as saucers.
“This inferior specimen shares 25% genetic kinship with the Evolution Lord?!”
Zemu cried out in disbelief.
“Impossible! This specimen’s genetic information is inferior and defective!”
“….”
“The Evolution Lord’s genetic information is superior and perfect!”
Zemu pointed at Seraphia as he shouted.
“The genetic kinship between this inferior specimen and the Evolution Lord is 0.0000000001% or less! I propose the possibility of genealogical manipulation—!”
“Silence. If I say it is so, then it is.”
Adrian cut him off coldly.
Zemu’s body flinched.
His eyes darted about, gauging Adrian’s reaction.
Resigned to the inevitable.
Zemu opened his mouth.
“…Proposition amended. The specimen is classified as primary blood relative of the Evolution Lord. I will obey the command.”
Zemu fell silent for a moment.
Then he spoke again, slowly.
“…But it remains useless.”
Adrian exhaled deeply.
He pressed both temples with one hand, muttering.
“Born so recently, yet he judges everything by his own standards.”
“That is incorrect. My judgment follows the logic of genetic superiority—”
“Be quiet.”
Zemu fell silent immediately.
Zemu was someone Adrian could never quite pin down.
That was why Adrian looked even more exhausted.
Seraphia bit her lip.
Zemu’s words—that she was useless.
She wanted to refute him.
But there was nothing to refute.
Compared to Adrian, the truth was that Seraphia fell endlessly short.
Of course, there had been times when Seraphia proved helpful.
But never in the critical moments.
She had boldly stood against the Immortal Queen.
Yet in the end, she had needed to be saved.
She had protected Adrian from the King of Death.
But ultimately, it was Rielin who had saved Adrian.
It was always like that.
In decisive, crucial moments, Seraphia either held him back or failed to be of use.
‘Am I… actually helping at all?’
Yet she remained useless.
Zemu’s words had ruthlessly dragged up the doubt Seraphia had been desperately swallowing and hurled it before her eyes.
“─phia.”
Perhaps Adrian himself acknowledged it, which was why he didn’t stop Zemu.
“─raphia.”
Her head drooped of its own accord.
“Seraphia!”
“…Oh! Yes! Four!”
And she snapped her head up.
Adrian stood before her with his arms crossed.
“Since we’re here anyway, let’s start right now.”
“Start…? What do you mean?”
“Your Authority lessons.”
Adrian had promised to teach her how to use her Authority instead of Dragon equipment.
But that promise had faded away when Adrian entered his chrysalis state.
Seraphia stood dumbfounded before hastily straightening her posture.
“Right now…?”
“Yes.”
Adrian replied indifferently and pointed at Zemu.
“Show that legion commander and his genetic copycat who you really are.”

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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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