The Strongest in the Game by Dominating Monster - Chapter 49

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Monster Domination: Game’s Strongest Episode 49

 

“Who is that person!”

 

The Lord grabbed Lucia’s shoulders and shouted like thunder.

 

Lucia flinched in surprise at his desperate intensity, shrinking her shoulders.

 

“He… he’s my master…”

 

Master?

 

Kairen’s eyes gleamed with interest at Lucia’s answer.

 

Oh ho. That sounds promising.

 

She was the owner of a hidden class called ‘Minstrel of Many Stars’.

 

If he was such a person’s master, he must be an incredible healer.

 

Though he couldn’t be certain yet, it was quite possible.

 

“What is that master’s name? And his profession? Is he perhaps a priest? Does he have connections with the Heretic Inquisitors, or friendships with other nobles?”

 

Before paternal love, there was no aristocratic dignity or lordly composure.

 

Arken spat as he fired questions at Lucia with eyes mixed with hope and anxiety.

 

If he was such a person, then the hope that had just bloomed would be futile.

 

“Speak quickly! Quickly!”

 

When Lucia didn’t answer, Arken lost his reason and roughly shook her shoulders, urging her.

 

Madness-filled desperation.

 

To him it was love, but to Lucia it was terror.

 

The forgotten fear of people came rushing like a tsunami.

 

She couldn’t breathe. The pounding sound of her heart struck her ears, and her vision went white.

 

Just as she was pushed back to the wall and about to collapse.

 

“Lord. Please calm yourself.”

 

A quiet but firm voice cut between the two people.

 

Kairen stepped between them, blocking the Lord and facing Lucia.

 

And with steady hands, he grasped both her shoulders and held her up.

 

His eyes were strangely calm.

 

Though they contained worry, an even greater sense of certainty and stability could be felt.

 

That solid and gentle gaze suppressed Lucia’s fear.

 

“Lady Lucia. Are you alright?”

 

At that calm question, Lucia’s anxiety melted away like snow.

 

Her pounding heartbeat found its rhythm, and her labored breathing regained stability.

 

“Whew. Yes. I’m alright.”

 

Lucia took a long deep breath and calmed her mind.

 

Then, over Kairen’s shoulder, toward Arken who was still looking with eyes tangled with hope and despair, she opened her mouth with a much clearer voice.

 

“Your concerns are unfounded. My master is neither a priest nor someone who has formed deep connections with nobles.”

 

How much relief must that answer have brought?

 

Arken let out a deep sigh and staggered.

 

“Ahh…”

 

“My Lord!”

 

Allen rushed to support him urgently, but Arken raised his hand to stop him.

 

“I’m, I’m fine.”

 

Arken, who had steadied himself by gripping the wall, looked at the two people.

 

These were people who had already failed at treatment once.

 

There was no guarantee that the healer they would bring would succeed either.

 

However, these two were the only hope he could lean on right now.

 

That alone was more than enough to be grateful for.

 

“Please, please I beg you. My, my daughter please…”

 

The father, who had barely been holding on with the crown of nobility, finally collapsed and sat down on the floor.

 

“Save her…”

 

Hot tears flowed from the eyes of Arken, who had fallen to his knees, wetting the cold marble floor.

 

* * *

 

After leaving the inner castle, Kairen stretched and let out a groan.

 

It had been a meeting like a brief storm passing through.

 

Still, since they had found a solution, his heart felt light.

 

“Thank you. Lady Lucia. Thanks to you, we found a clue.”

 

“Oh, no. Actually, I may have overstepped my bounds, but I’m not certain…”

 

Lucia waved her hands dismissively and trailed off.

 

“My master is someone I can’t figure out either. Whether he’ll have the will to heal the illness, whether treatment is even possible, honestly everything is uncertain…”

 

Lucia fidgeted with her fingers and watched for his reaction.

 

She had stepped forward confidently.

 

But looking back, it seemed she had been too hasty.

 

“Still, how is that a problem? If it weren’t for Lady Lucia, it would have been even more uncertain. I couldn’t think of any method at all.”

 

“Is, is that so?”

 

Lucia’s expression brightened at the comforting words.

 

“Yes. So you don’t need to feel burdened. Really, it was a great help.”

 

“Hehe.”

 

At the repeated thanks, Lucia grinned broadly and scratched the back of her head.

 

“Now. Then we need to go find that master of yours. Do you happen to know where he is?”

 

“Yes. The Kamatra Mountain Range. I know that’s my master’s residence.”

 

Kamatra Mountain Range?

 

At the unfamiliar place name, Kairen unfolded his map and quickly scanned it.

 

Though New World boasted a vast size, it didn’t take very long to find it.

 

South from here.

 

It was a place they could reach by leaving Gania Castle and passing one more castle.

 

“It’s not too far.”

 

“Yes. At the fastest it would be one day, at the latest about two days’ distance.”

 

He nodded satisfactorily at Lucia’s answer.

 

That was fortunate.

 

This Quest had a time limit.

 

If the distance was far, the possibility of failure would be that much greater.

 

“Then Lady Lucia, would it be alright to depart immediately?”

 

“Ah! Yes. That’s fine. But we need to stop by the shop. I’m all out of potions.”

 

“I need to restock too, so let’s go together. Shall we buy necessary supplies at the shop and depart right away?”

 

“Yes. Kyaa! Rookie!”

 

Lucia, who had been answering energetically, saw Rookie approaching from afar and let out a cheer.

 

He was a child she had missed as much as Kairen.

 

However, Rookie passed by her and rushed to Kairen.

 

Woof! (Kairen! Who is that woman?!)

 

“Someone we’ll be traveling with for a while.”

 

Woof! (Really? Then is she a good person?)

 

A good person, huh.

 

Kairen wore a faint smile.

 

Woof! (I think he’s a good person! He has a pleasant smell!)

 

Stroking Rookie’s head as he wagged his tail and barked, Kairen nodded as well.

 

“I think so too, for now.”

 

He chuckled softly, feeling her gaze watching him play with Rookie with deeply envious eyes.

 

“Go on, Rookie. Go play with her.”

 

Woof! (Yes! I’d love to!)

 

With permission granted, Rookie barked energetically and turned toward Lucia.

 

“Oh my? Oh my? Are you coming to me? You’re coming to me? How wonderful!”

 

Lucia stomped her feet excitedly as she watched Rookie approach with his tail wagging.

 

Rookie also smiled brightly as he licked her hands and face, while Lucia caressed his entire body, savoring the texture of his fluffy fur.

 

However, their affectionate communion didn’t last long.

 

In the plaza lined with shops.

 

A scene unfolded there that made Lucia doubt her own eyes.

 

“Is that person Lord Kairen?”

 

“Isn’t he the one who achieved tremendous feats in the Subjugation Territory?”

 

“The Lord himself personally gave him an insignia!”

 

“Wow! What an amazing adventurer!”

 

Every time Kairen passed by, exclamations of admiration burst from the NPCs.

 

“Lord Kairen! When I grow up, I want to become someone like you!”

 

A little child approached and looked up at Kairen with sparkling eyes.

 

“Wonderful adventurer. Won’t you stop by our establishment for a drink today?”

 

A tavern employee beckoned to Kairen with a coquettish voice and sultry gaze.

 

“Wh-what is this…?”

 

Lucia stammered at the NPCs’ attitude, which she had never seen before in her life.

 

It was completely different from how they treated herself, or rather, other adventurers.

 

Those who merely treated the rest as ‘Adventurer 1′ looked at Kairen alone with gazes full of reverence and goodwill.

 

If anyone even blocked his path, they would be startled and clear the way themselves.

 

While Lucia’s mouth hung open and wouldn’t close, Kairen was also quite surprised.

 

Was this the effect of the insignia?

 

Receiving goodwill from NPCs in Gania Castle. It was one of the effects of the insignia received as a reward from the Subjugation Territory.

 

Well, he had wondered how much goodwill they would show.

 

This was beyond his imagination.

 

“K-Lord Kairen?”

 

“Ah. Don’t worry about it too much. It’s because of an item effect.”

 

“What? An item?”

 

What kind of item could have such an effect?

 

Her bewilderment and astonishment grew, and those feelings were amplified even more at the shop.

 

“What? Only 200 gold?”

 

She had nodded when Kairen suggested he would pay and charge her for it.

 

But the amount he charged was 20% cheaper than the market price she knew.

 

“Ah. This is also thanks to the item effect.”

 

Kairen said nonchalantly as he placed a mountain of arrows on the counter.

 

That casual remark only made Lucia feel more deprived.

 

No. What kind of item…

 

Lucia glanced down at her entire body and pouted her lips dejectedly.

 

Her already shabby equipment looked even more pitiful.

 

…Should I spend real money?

 

Just as the desire that every gamer carries in a corner of their heart began to boil up, Kairen turned his head.

 

“I’m all ready now. How about you, Lady Lucia?”

 

“Ah. Me too.”

 

“Then let’s go right away.”

 

As the two left the shop, the noise of Gania poured into their ears.

 

“Looking for one healer to go hunting gnolls!”

 

“Selling rare-grade parchment! Send me a whisper!”

 

The lively noise of users melted into the warm sunlight.

 

“Hey! Let’s go!”

 

“Dude! Are we really going to hunt orcs?!”

 

“Hey! I’ll carry you guys!”

 

The bright smiles of users heading out to hunt passed by them.

 

That noise was somehow enjoyable, and Lucia wore a faint smile when.

 

Kieeeeeek-!

 

A sharp cry echoed along with a massive shadow covering the sky.

 

Everyone in the city looked up and burst into cheers.

 

Dozens of wyverns were flying in formation across the sky, heading somewhere far away on the continent.

 

“Wow…”

 

Lucia unconsciously let out a deep exclamation of admiration.

 

How should she put it? It was no different from her usual departures, but it felt very different.

 

The real adventure hadn’t even begun yet.

 

But somehow her heart was pounding.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

Knowing well that the reason was because of that man.

 

She smiled softly as she closely followed behind Kairen, who was leading the way through the crowd.

 

* * *

 

“Guild Leader.”

 

“Yes. How did it go?”

 

When Vice-Leader Kavel hurriedly entered the inn, Rain, who had been sitting at the table, quickly stood up.

 

Not only her, but all the other Bow Mercenary Group members around also fixed their gazes on him.

 

With everyone holding their breath and staring only at Kavel, the air inside the inn was stretched taut.

 

Unable to live up to such excessive attention, Kavel smiled bitterly and placed a sheet of paper on the table.

 

“These are the conditions they’re demanding.”

 

Snap!

 

Rain roughly snatched the paper and read through its contents.

 

And her expression instantly hardened coldly.

 

“…These ignorant muscle-headed bastards.”

 

Though she usually acted faithfully in-game no matter what happened, she couldn’t do so now.

 

This is what they sent as a peace treaty proposal? Wasn’t this complete bullshit?

 

Just as Rain was about to crumple and tear the paper at such an absurd story.

 

“Guild Leader.”

 

Kavel grabbed Rain’s hand.

 

He fully understood her feelings.

 

The opponent’s proposal made no sense.

 

One….

 

“If we tear this up, it really means war.”

 

War.

 

The weight contained in that word pressed down on the mercenary group members’ shoulders.

 

Moreover, the mercenary group that sent this proposal was the Araon Mercenary Company.

 

A 78th-ranked mercenary group that, objectively speaking, possessed stronger forces than the Bow Mercenary Group.

 

“So?”

 

However, Rain’s voice was still as cold as ice.

 

“You want us to accept this ridiculous proposal? When they were the ones who started the fight?!”

 

Bang!

 

Kavel bit his lips at Rain’s anger as she slammed the desk hard enough to break it.

 

Every word she said was right.

 

The proposal written on the paper was nothing short of blatant plunder.

 

A massive compensation of one million gold.

 

An absurd subordination clause demanding they deploy all forces when support was requested.

 

These proposals mocked their efforts of negotiating with all their might over the past few days.

 

Moreover….

 

“And these bastards’ true intentions are obvious! This is just telling us to hand over Kairen and get lost!”

 

Rain shouted while roughly tapping the last clause with her finger.

 

That was right. They had blatantly demanded it.

 

To hand over the mercenary group member, Kairen, to them.

 

Kavel was also furious at that absurd proposal, but he maintained his composure as much as possible.

 

Now that Rain had lost her mind, he couldn’t afford to lose his reason too.

 

“Then will you really go to war? They have the justification too. After all, our side was the first to draw weapons.”

 

Kavel looked at the member who had been hanging his head in shame since earlier.

 

It wasn’t that big of a mistake.

 

Scuffles with other mercenary group members were common occurrences, so they thought it could be resolved lightly.

 

However, the Araon Mercenary Company didn’t do that.

 

They inflated a small issue into a massive justification and made a big deal out of it.

 

‘Tsk. They prepared this thoroughly and well.’

 

Though they were enemies, Kavel acknowledged what needed to be acknowledged.

 

The opponent’s scheme in this matter was too excellent.

 

Since it was simply a dispute between mercenary groups and they had the justification, they didn’t even leave room for allied mercenary companies to interfere.

 

Their skill in escalating a small matter was good, and they secured the justification excellently too.

 

In other words, they left absolutely no escape route for them.

 

“Ha. Kavel. Are you seriously saying this right now?”

 

What broke the silence was Rain’s sneer.

 

It wasn’t a laugh suppressed in silence.

 

She laughed out loud as if Kavel’s reasoning was absurd.

 

“So now, you want us to accept this bullshit? To hand over our kid to those ignorant muscle-headed bastards just because we’re at a disadvantage in justification?”

 

She roughly snatched the paper.

 

All the members’ gazes focused on her hands.

 

“If we’re outmatched in power? So we should tuck our tails and crawl? Listen well, everyone….”

 

Rain held up that arrogant proposal document before everyone’s eyes.

 

Riiiiip!

 

Torn paper fragments scattered to the ground like snow.

 

Rain smiled through those fluttering paper fragments—more beautiful than ever but cold as ice.

 

“Prepare for war.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————