The Teddy Bear Sends the Insomniac Villain to Dreamland - Chapter 75

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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 75
A small town in the Eastern Region.
Pitter-patter—dark clouds gathered, and rain began to fall.
Blake Leblanc brushed away the water droplet that had landed on the bridge of his nose with a flick of his finger, his brow furrowing.
It was unsettling weather.
No Demon Beasts had appeared yet, nothing was amiss, and yet my instincts screamed with alarm.
My gaze turned toward the direction where the Capital lay.
It was too far away to see the Capital, of course, but Vivian would be there regardless.
‘I need to hurry.’
Blake Leblanc turned to Rein, the vice-commander waiting beside him.
“How many people live in this town?”
“Roughly a hundred or so. They’re slash-and-burn farmers.”
“And the population of nearby towns where Demon Beasts have appeared?”
“Similar numbers.”
Blake Leblanc unfolded a map across his lap while mounted.
Around the areas marked with red circles, yellow notations indicated the peculiarities of each town.
The common thread among the towns where Demon Beasts were expected to appear was that they all had ‘many young children.’
The reason these villages had so many children was simple.
Slash-and-burn farmers had long inhabited this mountainous region, and since the terrain was vast, most of them lived by farming the land they had cultivated.
In such a lifestyle, manpower meant survival itself. It was only natural that a culture of bearing many children took root in villages where agricultural labor was perpetually scarce.
Moreover, with almost no medical facilities due to the distance from urban centers, mortality rates were high, so many families followed the logic of simply having more children.
“All of them—towns full of children and poverty.”
Blake Leblanc couldn’t suppress the cold smirk that escaped his lips.
“Perfect sacrifices for the taking, aren’t they?”
Rein, standing beside him, nodded in agreement with the cynical murmur.
“Indeed.”
“Overflowing children, impoverished lives, isolated from the city, and negligent guards. The Demon Beasts must be delighted.”
“So you believe it will appear here.”
Rein’s eyes followed Blake Leblanc, his usual playful demeanor completely stripped away.
The scent of blood seemed to linger in the air.
The rain intensified, and the humid air grew heavy. Blake Leblanc stepped forward, his boots squelching against the increasingly muddy ground.
The rain lashed at his face, but he didn’t blink once.
My mind held only one thought.
‘Finish this quickly and return.’
I needed to resolve this as fast as possible and return to the Leblanc Mansion. Vivian would be waiting there.
Even without sleep, my body overflowed with energy.
‘How strange.’
My head didn’t ache, and I felt no tedium.
I could sleep once I returned to the Mansion.
Blake Leblanc tapped his horse’s flank with his heel, urging it faster. The knights behind him kept pace closely.
At that moment, the sound of a horn echoed from the mountainside.
It was a signal from the Mekain Cartel scouts who had been patrolling the area.
Pwooooo—.
The piercing blast of the horn made Blake and Rein’s eyes meet.
Rein immediately turned back and shouted to the knights.
“Demon Beasts! Prepare yourselves!”
Blake turned his horse to face the knights.
He opened his mouth slowly.
His face was serene, showing no fear despite the appearance of Demon Beasts.
“We’re going to subjugate the Demon Beasts. This time there’s no prophecy, so some of you might feel afraid.”
“Not at all!”
The knights’ faces radiated eager determination as they answered loudly.
Blake observed them quietly. Their numbers were modest, but their resolve was unwavering.
The Demon Beast subjugation unit of the Leblanc Family consisted solely of those who had gathered out of love for the sword.
They were knights who studied swordsmanship under the Leblanc Family with only the ambition to reach the pinnacle of blade mastery.
Yet now they faced Demon Beasts—not because they sought it, but because they were knights of the Leblanc Family.
Though they risked their lives, they voiced no complaints.
While it was their duty as members of the knight order, Blake would have understood if they refused.
“If you wish to flee, then flee.”
Blake offered this sincere counsel as he regarded them.
Surely there were those who followed the blade, not him. He would not force anyone.
If he did, what would distinguish that from sacrificing them?
“This is your chance. Your chance to escape.”
Yet no one moved. Rein, who had been silent until now, let out a low chuckle.
“I knew it. All of you adore the Commander. I’ve always known.”
Rein’s jest lightened the mood. Blake let it pass without comment.
Having seen Vivian so often, I found Rein’s antics hardly surprising.
“Come now. Words brief, blades sharp! Let us depart!”
The moment Rein finished speaking, Blake wheeled his horse around and charged forward fiercely.
The rain was intensifying.
***
Unlike the Eastern Region, the Capital’s midday sun blazed with early summer’s piercing heat.
Splash—the oars cut through the lake’s surface with rhythmic strokes, churning the water back and forth.
A pristine white boat glided slowly, carving through the ripples.
Emperor Ruwein sat comfortably in a chair positioned at the boat’s center.
Water recreation was something he indulged in every summer.
And how fortunate that Saint Ophelia graced him with her company today.
This was the day—once a month—when he heard the word of God.
“Saint, do try this as well. A special steak prepared by the Royal Palace’s chef just for me.”
The Emperor cherished these moments with the Saint.
Perhaps it was age, but the thrill of hearing prophecies that glimpsed the future never grew old.
The audacious vigor of his youth had long since faded; now he simply hoped to spend his twilight years with fate favoring his side.
Demon Beasts and other vexing matters plagued him endlessly, but did they truly matter?
“I shall partake with gratitude.”
Ophelia lifted her utensils with elegant grace and tasted the food.
“You labor greatly in attending to this old man, Saint. So tell me—what does God say this month?”
“Ah. This month’s divine message is somewhat extraordinary—it may well signal a turning point. Shall I speak of it now?”
The Emperor exhaled softly. A hint of tension gripped him.
“Go on, let me hear it.”
“The celestial configuration has shifted. The star that guards the Empire moves with altered purpose, and a time of change may be approaching.”
“Your words are cryptic. Can you explain more plainly?”
Ophelia smiled with gentle warmth.
“The succession has entered a new phase. You must pay close attention to Ian.”
“Ian?”
The Emperor was taken aback by this unexpected revelation—as was the Advisor standing nearby, who had been pretending not to listen.
“That hardly seems a wise course…”
“While Crown Prince Edwin certainly possesses the virtues of an excellent emperor, would it not be more fitting to select one whose character aligns better with the Empire’s trajectory?”
“Trajectory… yes, that is indeed a crucial matter.”
Despite the vague and somewhat evasive nature of the prophecy, the Emperor placed absolute faith in Ophelia’s words.
“Moreover, should you create a rivalry between Ian and Crown Prince Edwin, you would be able to judge with certainty which is more suited to the throne that protects the Empire.”
As Ophelia gestured, an attendant at her side swiftly approached and handed her a handkerchief.
Behind the handkerchief as she dabbed her lips, Ophelia’s smile deepened.
‘If the Emperor destabilizes the succession, Edwin—born of noble blood—will find it unbearable that Ian has become his rival.’
Edwin’s pride would crumble, and that was precisely when Ophelia would strike.
She would make clear that if he wished to remain Crown Prince, he must join hands with her.
The boat drifted slowly toward the lakeside dock and moored.
The moment they disembarked, a knight rushed toward the Emperor’s Advisor.
After receiving word from the knight, the Advisor hurried to the Emperor’s side.
“Your Majesty. I have urgent news.”
“Speak.”
“Blake Leblanc of the Leblanc Family has marched to the Eastern Region.”
“The Eastern Region?”
The Emperor raised his hand, dismissing the attendants who had been fanning him with languid waves.
“Yes. It was an independent action taken without an expedition order, which seemed peculiar, so I made inquiries. Apparently, he went to prepare for Demon Beasts.”
The content was so dubious that I questioned whether my ears had heard correctly.
“He went to the Eastern Region to prepare for Demon Beasts without any prophecy?”
“That is correct.”
“Ha! I knew he was willful by nature, but this is outright contempt for the Temple. What if the divine becomes angered? Tsk.”
“What shall we do?”
“What can we do? Leave him be. Truly, what a chaotic household this is. The Duke vacates his estate to break his curse, Blake Leblanc, who is to inherit the title, is obsessed with Demon Beasts and departs leaving only his young sister behind. Unbelievable.”
The Emperor’s lips twisted upward in a cruel smile.
“I rather hope he returns empty-handed. The morale of the Leblanc Duchy’s knights is far too high. They have achieved nothing but victory in every Demon Beast war.”
The Leblanc Family had long protected the Empire through their formidable military might.
Though their numbers were few, the family’s military strength rivaled that of the Imperial Court’s armies.
They played a crucial role in Demon Beast wars and the defense of the Capital, so they were shown respect and courtesy, yet the Emperor’s true feelings were different.
The Leblanc Family was like a thorn in his side.
An independent house that coveted no power, yet distanced itself from none—a family immune to the influence of any noble.
They conducted themselves as though they had no need to curry favor with the Imperial Court, making them difficult to control.
They were a card that was dangerous and vexing to keep close, yet too useful to discard.
And now they departed to handle Demon Beasts without any prophecy?
“Hahahaha! Is it not amusing, Saint?”
The Emperor laughed heartily, looking at Ophelia, who had remained silent until now.
Yet despite the Emperor’s laughter, the Saint’s face had grown cold and rigid.

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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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