The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 375

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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 375. Collapse (1)
Absolute darkness.
It felt as though the entire world existed within a sealed space.
My physical senses had been erased.
My consciousness gradually drifted away.
Then, ever so slowly.
Something pulled at Marzen’s consciousness.
Following that pull, my consciousness began to move.
The sensation of being drawn upward from a bottomless abyss.
First, thought returned.
Then, emotion.
Finally, the sensation of my body slowly awakened.
My eyelids gradually lifted.
My vision remained unfocused.
But the ceiling visible through the haze was… how should I put it.
‘Wood?’
…Is this right?
I turned my head and surveyed my surroundings.
Tree branches jutting upward as if piercing through the ceiling.
Lush green leaves hanging abundantly from their ends.
And Kim Fujiwara sitting there with an indifferent expression??
“You’ve awakened.”
Kim Fujiwara asked indifferently.
I was momentarily at a loss for words.
“What…?”
“How is your body? Are you well?”
My body? What about my body?
I lowered my gaze and examined myself.
…It was perfectly fine.
My body, which had been shattered within the Chromatic Aberration phenomenon, had been completely restored.
Moreover, the state where I had been on the brink of death while dragging Kim Fujiwara here was now entirely healed, but wait.
“Are you alright?”
“As you can see.”
Kim Fujiwara shrugged.
He certainly appeared to be fine.
More than fine—he was in peak condition.
‘How does that make sense?’
I muttered inwardly and looked around again.
A landscape as if we had entered inside a tree.
“Where exactly is this…?”
“I’m inside a tree that’s half out of its mind.”
Then came a sharp creaking sound!
Green stems shot upward, tearing through the ground.
Creak! Creak!
It was as if—
-Kyahahaha! How did you know I’m doing ‘photosynthesis’ right now? That’s why I’m half crazy~!
—that’s what it seemed to be saying.
“As you can see, it’s a tree that seems almost insane, but it possesses an ability that maximizes the cycle of life—something like that.”
“…???”
“The details are complicated, so just accept it as is.”
Kim Fujiwara shrugged.
Marzen’s bewilderment was fleeting.
Kim Fujiwara spoke again.
“In that case, why did you bring me here?”
“I don’t even know where here is.”
“It’s Whitewolf Territory.”
“…??”
At that moment, green stems approached.
Creak~♪
Leaves dancing merrily.
It seemed as if—
-Welcome~! First time in a crazy territory~?
—that’s what it was conveying.
“This is Whitewolf Territory?”
“Yes. Why did you bring me here?”
Marzen answered with a reluctant expression.
“…Well, didn’t you say you needed to come here?”
If this really was Whitewolf Territory.
Surely he hadn’t forgotten that memory too?
Fortunately(?), that wasn’t the case.
“That’s correct. What I meant was—why did you save me?”
Kim Fujiwara continued immediately.
“You could have just left me there and gone.”
Well, that was true.
Marzen’s physical condition at the time had been abysmal.
Not on the verge of immediate death, but close enough that it would come soon.
There was no reason to drag Kim Fujiwara across such a vast distance.
It was dangerous, troublesome.
And there was no guarantee whatsoever.
Saving Kim Fujiwara offered no tangible reward upon return.
“We were on the same ship, weren’t we?”
“….”
“I merely saved the captain of the vessel I was aboard.”
My voice trailed off.
Marzen’s expression wavered slightly.
Even I hadn’t expected to say such words.
Marzen deliberately shifted the subject to hide his reaction.
“Then why did you save me?”
“….”
“When we were attacked, you could have abandoned me and fled alone.”
“….”
“You even shielded me from air resistance, absorbing every impact yourself.”
Of course, Marzen had deployed a shield with his own mana.
But at a speed where even light itself warped.
It far exceeded Marzen’s capacity.
That he could endure it at all was only possible because Kim Fujiwara blocked the resistance.
As a result, Kim Fujiwara had to bear twice the resistance.
“We were on the same ship, were we not?”
“….”
“I merely saved a crew member aboard my vessel.”
A moment of silence.
Then Kim Fujiwara continued, his eyes gleaming with resolve.
“It is in that spirit that I make this proposal.”
* * *
“Would you consider working under me?”
My sudden offer.
Marzen’s eyes widened in surprise as he questioned me.
“Under the Raven Dung Merchant Company?”
“No. The Raven Dung Merchant Company is being dissolved as of now.”
There was no further business at Langritd Magic Tower.
The rune iron trade with The Empire could no longer proceed.
The Raven Dung Merchant Company’s purpose had ended here.
“I speak of the Predator Merchant Company.”
“…????”
Marzen’s expression twisted grotesquely.
More precisely, it was the expression of someone asking, ‘What nonsense are you spouting?’
“…The Predator Merchant Company? You mean the merchant guild of Whitewolf Territory?”
“That’s correct.”
Marzen’s expression contorted strangely.
This time it was the look of someone asking, ‘What kind of drivel has this bastard been spouting all along?’
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
It was slightly off, but remarkably close.
“Please, do not be too alarmed.”
I immediately released my transformation.
Crack, crackle, crackle.
My bones realigned, and my muscles returned to their original configuration.
My hair color and eye color reverted to their natural state as well.
“…!!!!!”
Marzen’s eyes widened in shock.
He recognized me instantly.
“…Surely not, you, you─!”
“Yes. I am Adrian Whitewolf.”
“!!!!!”
Marzen’s mouth fell agape.
Confusion, bewilderment, fear, astonishment.
A tempest of emotions beyond mere surprise contorted Marzen’s face.
“…This cannot be. Kim Fujiwara, you were Adrian Whitewolf all along…?”
Then, in a flash!
The despair of one who has glimpsed the truth descended upon him.
“Wait, then everything that happened in Caravana…?”
“Truth is not always the right answer, so wisdom lies in knowing when to turn away from it.”
Marzen fell silent for a long while.
All that could be heard was a long breath.
A sigh laden with resignation and despair rather than anger.
Time passed in this manner.
“…Damn it.”
Marzen spoke, biting his lip.
“So back then, I purchased Camirus’s blemish from you, and then gave it back to you as a bribe?”
“Well, that is essentially what happened.”
Marzen clenched his teeth.
“Not only have you toyed with me all this time, now you intend to use me as well?”
“No. I intend to save your life.”
“Save my life? Me?”
“The Empire will not overlook the possibility of collusion between Kim Fujiwara and you, sir.”
Marzen’s eyes wavered for a moment.
His ability—Context Reading [E].
He could sufficiently comprehend the current situation.
“Do you believe you can survive if you return to the Empire?”
“….”
“Or do you believe you can escape the Empire’s pursuit network and live quietly alone?”
“….”
“I don’t believe The Empire would be so generous.”
Marzen fell silent.
Because he understood perfectly well.
After a long silence, Marzen spoke again.
“…So, what do you intend to do with me?”
“I wish to protect you. And help you achieve your dreams as well.”
“Dreams?”
“Didn’t you say you wanted to work in information-related matters?”
So I had already prepared a position for him.
“Strategic Intelligence Officer of the Special Task Force. What do you think?”
“…??”
Marzen tilted his head in confusion.
Strategic Intelligence Officer of the Special Task Force.
His thoughts seemed to pause at the unfamiliar title.
“What is that?”
“A position responsible for gathering, analyzing, and utilizing information necessary for operations. It’s an extremely important role.”
“You want me to do that?”
“I believe you would be perfect for it.”
The abilities I had observed in Marzen over time were exceptional.
So originally, I had considered giving him the position of Special Task Force Commander.
‘But that’s my position.’
After placing Ian as Supreme Commander.
I intended to step back into the role of Special Task Force Commander myself.
In that sense, Marzen was a precious talent who would become my hands and feet.
“…What happens if I refuse?”
“You already know without me having to say it.”
Marzen fell silent.
Again, because he understood perfectly well.
The Empire aside, I had no reason to keep Marzen alive.
A Marzen who wouldn’t cooperate was a significant threat.
Especially now that he knew all my secrets.
“…Quite an unkind proposal, I must say.”
Resignation lay thick in Marzen’s gaze.
I smiled faintly and spoke.
“Then we’re in the same boat now.”
Marzen exhaled a sigh.
“I thought I’d changed ships, yet the captain remains the same.”
“But this ship is somewhat different.”
“How so?”
“If this ship goes down, I’ll go down with it.”
And so.
“Then shall we negotiate my salary first?”
I successfully recruited Marzen into my Special Task Force.
* * *
After recruiting Marzen into the Special Task Force.
I handed him a list I’d prepared in advance.
Marzen received the list and tilted his head in confusion.
“…What is this?”
“Talented individuals…but what?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why the sudden formality?”
“We’re no longer in a mere business relationship. Since I’ve become your subordinate, I must naturally show proper respect.”
“….”
“Adrian, please speak comfortably as well.”
In any case, the moment I mentioned a generous salary, his attitude shifted instantly.
Indeed, nothing ran deeper than the roots of money.
And somehow, that made him seem all the more trustworthy.
And as he said, we were no longer in a mere business relationship—now we had a hierarchical superior-subordinate dynamic.
In other words, there was a clear chain of command.
“Then let’s proceed that way.”
I naturally adjusted my tone.
Marzen accepted it naturally as well.
“Please continue.”
“Marzen, you are to recruit the individuals on that list first.”
The people on the list were agents who had served in the Special Task Force in my previous life.
As the Special Forces Duke Commander, I knew their names, origins, abilities, and temperaments completely.
The foundation for the Allied Forces would be fully established.
It was time to finally act on what I’d been putting off.
“…You’re putting me to work without even giving me time to adjust?”
“I could give you time to acclimate gradually, but securing talent quickly comes with substantial bonuses.”
Marzen immediately unfolded the list again.
His eyes transformed in an instant.
Marzen was truly Marzen.
“I’ll inform Bernard in advance, so request whatever you need.”
“Bernard?”
“The head steward of Whitewolf Territory. He looks exactly like a head steward, so you won’t have any trouble identifying him.”
“Understood.”
“Then I’ll step away for a while. Handle things well.”
“Where are you going?”
“If there’s something important to attend to.”
None other than Isolde’s canonization ceremony as The Saint.
Even now, there was a sense of urgency.
And though the distance from Whitewolf Territory to the Holy Kingdom was considerable.
‘If I depart now, I can still make it in time.’
I turned my steps immediately.
Then, suddenly.
A thought struck me, and I paused mid-stride.
“Ah, and one more thing.”
“What else?”
“Investigate Ian—no, Invictus as well. Include methods to make contact with him.”
Originally, I had planned to meet him this time.
But it had become difficult to enter The Empire any further.
Therefore, I needed another way to make contact with Ian.
“Invictus?”
Marzen tilted his head in confusion.
He seemed to be pondering something.
“Ah, I meant to tell you about that back then.”
“Tell me what? About Invictus?”
“Yes.”
Marzen nodded.
And then, briefly.
“Invictus has been eliminated.”
In that instant, the air in the room seemed to shatter.

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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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