Chapter 305: Inheritor
Translator: imperfectluck Editor: Pranav
My memories were missing more parts than I had expected, and since I didn’t even have anything possibly related to Cher in my logs, then it probably wasn’t anything good. It was likely to have been something I intentionally forgot of my own volition.
“…How do you feel, suddenly becoming a daddy? Are you delighted?”
“It’s a very complex feeling. Also, if you keep intentionally misusing certain words like daddy, I shall make you into the ammunition for the next test firing of the new cannon in the experimental laboratory.”
I smiled and nodded as I accepted Harloys’ taunt, before threatening her right afterwards.
However, she seemed to not care about this punishment at all, which made me realize that such a common punishment wouldn’t be able to scare her. Wait a moment, who would use stuffing someone into a cannon and firing them off as a common punishment anyways?
“Beifeng—”
“I shall pay extra attention that it shall never happen again.”
I nodded in satisfaction at this. Threats, after all, didn’t need anything new. They only needed to be scary enough. Since a certain Banshee Queen was becoming more and more used to her cat form, the Saint-ranked beast tamer was definitely her mortal enemy. Thankfully, Beifeng still had some very basic morals. At the very least, I had never heard any complaints about him forcing anyone unwilling before.
But to be honest, I really did have complex feelings towards what Harloys intentionally worded in a way to make fun of me.
To begin with, I had no way of knowing if Cher truly was my descendant or not. Although there were many ways of ascertaining if someone was related to you or not in this world, none of those methods were usable in this particular situation. There was just no way to find out if she was 100% related to me or not.
In this world, in order to determine if two people were related by blood, apart from the now completely unreliable divination magic, it would require something related to the physical body. No matter if it was secrets of a bloodline or magic that searched for a soul’s origins, they all needed a part of the physical body as a basic catalyst.
However, my physical body had been restructured after being revived this time. Although my physical appearance was the same as it was in the past, and I greatly resembled a human on the surface, I was probably no longer human internally.
“System?”
[…]
Alright then, just as expected, the System was completely unreliable at such a critical moment. However, Cher had her own thoughts about this as she was a Weaver of Fate.
“I can tell that your Fate Line is connected to my birth. Even if you aren’t one of my ancestors, you have a very deep connection to my ancestor.”
Not to mention, with Reyne and East Mist as an excellent example, even if Cher was indeed related to me by blood, she might not necessarily be my descendant. After all, I had a headache-inducing playboy younger twin brother.
“This time, it has nothing to do with me. Second Brother Karwenz told me to tell you this.”
Alright then, I didn’t know what to say anymore as I saw how happy and excited Reyne seemed to be.
“You’re really delighted about this?”
“Yeah, yeah, of course! If she’s Brother Roland’s descendant, doesn’t that make her my relative as well? I finally have another relative apart from little sister Clint.”
“Little sister Clint? Shouldn’t you be calling her big sister Glina?”
I finally came to the conclusion that perhaps it was the destiny of descendants of the Mist to have great misfortune. Both Glina and Reyne could be considered textbook definitions of orphans, not to mention the two of them didn’t have a good relationship with each other… Fine, from a certain standpoint, neither of them was anyone normal. Glina was especially a strange one that most people would have trouble getting along with.
“Right, how are things with Glina these days?”
“Very successful. Since the north and east have all been quiet, and they no longer need to worry about their backs, the Sleuweir Kingdom’s restoration has been better than the other areas. In the letter I received from her two days ago, she was even complaining that she wanted to come out and play. Hmph, little sister Clint has far less to do than us. How could I possibly give her the chance to come out and play?”
Although the Sleuweir Kingdom suffered significant losses during the battle in the Northlands, it had a solid foundation and was able to recover quite quickly. It was originally a country where trading was an important business to begin with, and it now had opportunities to trade with the elves and the new beastmen tribes.
Meanwhile, East Mist was more limited in population and basic industries compared to Sleuweir. Even focusing the entire country’s resources on preparing for the spring crop planting would be quite difficult for East Mist as they still needed to focus on basic military defenses. Although Reyne and Glina were both the leaders of entire countries, there was still a huge difference between them.
Of course, if I looked at military capabilities, things were exactly the opposite. East Mist was my most important base of all in the Northlands, not to mention it was also the main headquarters of the Church of Law. The newly-born technologies and military squadrons all came from East Mist as well. They were top-level in military power out of all the Northlands countries despite East Mist’s size. However, it was precisely because East Mist focused too much on military development that even the East Mist royal knights had to participate in planting new crops during spring.
“Sleuweir is fine, but East Mist seems to have become rather unbalanced in its development. Military-related matters are taking up far too large a percentage of the government’s tasks. The earth there is also poorly suited for agricultural development. I hope Amelia’s new crops will be able to bring about an abundant harvest. Otherwise, I’m going to have to find some other rich fool to scam for East Mist’s food money.”
I was slightly worried about the current situation when I thought about it. After all, the domain lords there would all have their own expectations and ambitions. If Reyne kept playing around outside in such an idle manner, there would be many troubles if something happened back in East Mist.
“How about you go back to East Mist and take charge there? I have plenty of people here with me right now.”
Although Reyne hadn’t become queen yet, everyone knew that she was the leader of East Mist. However, Reyne obviously wasn’t the type to obediently stay in the royal palace and rule like a proper queen. This time, just like before, she claimed to come here to support me and came along with the Borealis of her own volition.
“Even if I go back, I’m nothing more than a rubber stamper. That’s so boring.”
Reyne pouted and seemed to disagree with me.
This gave me an even bigger headache. After all, in a way, Reyne was right. The military matters in East Mist were being taken care of by my Red Hunting Hounds, Kelly could deal with political matters, and the Church of Law’s authority was beginning to exceed royal authority as well. If you looked at it from a certain standpoint, it would even make us seem like we were intentionally usurping power from the orphan princess for a nefarious scheme.
“Fine, fine, forget it. Do whatever you like. But here is—”
“Yep, it’s really boring here as well. I can’t understand all these mage things anyways, which is why I was about to say goodbye to you and go on a journey.”
“A journey? Where to?”
“I was thinking either the Forest of Dreams or Auland.”
Although Reyne was still smiling and acting so casually like always, I immediately understood her wish. There was no need to go more into the details. Judging from her honest and direct tone, she had already made this decision, and now she was merely notifying me.
“Yep, it’ll help me to gain more strength through practical combat experience, and I also want to earn Justice Points. There are plenty of treasures that I have my eyes on.”
Since the rules were set, they couldn’t be changed so easily. Reyne, who had been following me for all this time, naturally understood just how important Justice Points were. Since she wished to become stronger, she would, of course, be quite interested in obtaining Justice Points. She also understood that now was the easiest time to obtain Justice Points and strengthen herself before everyone caught on to their importance.
There were many items that could be exchanged for which were one-of-a-kind. Those that wanted such items would obviously have to act as quickly as possible. I had heard news from the Forest of Dreams that many people had already arrived there, including plenty of powerful individuals that had formerly preferred to remain as hermits.
However, Reyne’s plans weren’t so simple as merely strengthening herself.
“If you need them, just tell me. Otherwise, if there’s not anything, I’m going to take the Silver Cross Squadron with me, as well as the Aurora Knights. It’s too much of a waste to have them standing around here in the Cloud Tower acting as employees of Thorn Garden. I’ve already set aside five thousand Hero Armlets for their use. Just treat it as the appropriation of governmental property.”
This was obviously well-planned by her before she notified me. She was intending to go into battle. Not only would this help train herself, she would also train the soldiers and knights under her as well. They would obtain Justice Points and grow stronger together with her.
This was Reyne’s choice. She chose to lead her own people and knights to grow stronger together to deal with the future challenges and difficulties.
A bright spring sun shone in through the window as the smiling Reyne waved goodbye to me. I felt like this all happened too quickly and mysteriously without me even realizing it.
Her silver armor flashed with solid metallic plating, and traces of fear and hesitation had long since disappeared from her beautiful face. Her smile wasn’t forced at all, and the silver Roland Sacred Sword was glowing with a resolute light. When I finally woke up, I discovered that time had flown by and that this girl had imperceptibly become a warrior who was a leader in her own right.
“Right, I also brought that flag with me. You don’t mind if I use it, right?”
This famous dragon-slaying princess of the Northlands was still using that tattered flag of the Mist. At this moment, I paused in surprise, before I finally figured everything out.
Obviously, Reyne had already planned all this out. She wasn’t escaping from her responsibilities as the leader of a country—in fact, it was the opposite. She believed that since calamities were destined to endlessly come in the future, merely guarding what one had wasn’t enough. After all, that was a passive way of defending. Only by obtaining enough strength would one be able to overcome the upcoming difficulties. And now was the best time to obtain greater power and reputation.
In this world, even something as intangible as reputation could transform into solid, actual fighting strength. When faced with calamity and danger, a well-known hero’s summoning for assistance would be able to attract numerous people who trusted in them as allies.
Reyne made her choice. She chose to take her knights with her to experience the battlefield and to avoid the safety of my protection. She chose to obtain the power to protect herself and her people through life-and-death experiences, both to help herself gain a reputation as well as to inject new history and fame into the flag of the Mist. The entire land of Eich would witness once again what it was to be a descendant of the Mist.
She knew that mentioning such ideas of hers in East Mist itself would be impossible. Since Reyne was the only royalty left, Kelly and all the other long-time retainers would definitely refuse, which was why she used the excuse of supporting me to come here. Then, she would go to the frontlines as planned before finally informing Kelly and the others afterwards.
Right now, although the girl before me still looked the same as before, that formerly hesitant “flower-vase princess” had completely vanished. This princess knight was now someone who smiled while facing future calamities and was bearing the burden of a country and her citizens’ trust.
I really didn’t know what to say even after thinking for a long while. Even though she was asking me about it on the surface, she probably never even considered the possibility that I would reject her.
Would I reject her? Of course I wouldn’t. Since the young bird had now matured into a soaring eagle that was ready to spread her wings and leave the nest, there was no way I would force her back into the nest and fold her wings. That would only make a talented individual waste away into an idiot.
“You’re really going to make me suffer with this. You want Kelly to lecture me to death that badly?”
“…Hehe, even Brother Roland has something you’re afraid of? I apologize for that; I’ll write a letter to her. So, this means you’ll allow me to go?”
“Even if I don’t allow you, you’ll probably sneak off on your own. Honestly, there’s nobody at all around me that doesn’t make me worry.”
I laughed as I shook my head. I was both feeling relief as well as regret.
“I love you the most, Brother Roland.”
When she discovered that her request had been approved, the mature female knight instantly became a defrosting ice mountain that transformed into a shy young girl who was smiling as prettily as a flower… and then she jumped on me, knocking over both me and my chair.
*Kiss!*
I felt a light peck on my cheek, and when I finally came to my senses, there was nothing before me anymore other than a faint smell of orange-scented perfume and Reyne’s figure escaping in the distance.
I rubbed my cheek where I could still feel a lingering soft sensation, as if her red lips were still brushing against my cheek. I had no idea what to say anymore, and it took quite a long while before I finally managed to make a comment.
“…Heh heh, that little girl is such a passionate one.”
“Sometimes, intentionally acting dumb when dealing with something awkward can be considered gentlemanly. Sometimes, even though you clearly know what’s going on, you still intentionally act dumb, which is something ridiculously overboard. Little Roland, which type do you think you are?”
“Shut up, Harloys. Otherwise, I’ll feed you to Beifeng.”
“…”
My best weapon against her was far too threatening so the silly cat fell silent. However, a while later, I couldn’t help but ask.
“Was I really being overboard?”
“…Scumbag, demon, pervert, bastard, gentleman, Roland, Beifeng!”
Alright then, it appeared as if my and Beifeng’s names had the potential to turn into adjectives. Since my level of wickedness in her mind was only one level off from Beifeng’s, it seemed that I really needed to start self-reflecting.
After Reyne escaped at top speed as if she was fleeing the scene of a traffic accident, my emotions that were already in a mess, due to the issue of Cher’s identity, became even messier. Not to mention, the silly cat continued adding to my burden.
“…Oni Chichi, Beifeng, Roland, Oni Chichi, Beifeng, Roland…”
When I began seriously considering if I should try tasting some cat meat for the first time in my life—and started taking action as well—only then did she snicker at me and disappeared into a shadow.
After thinking about things for another two minutes, I decided to focus on something else, instead.
“Reyne, you’re becoming more and more like him.”
Mysteriously, in my mind, my impression of Reyne was beginning to overlap with Karwenz, the idiot who sought strength above everything, to an incredible degree. From another standpoint, Reyne’s determination to go train herself in battle gave me a warning as well.
“Since I’ve already made all the plans I can, it’s about time I started focusing on my own cultivation. In the end, power levels are more important than anything else. Even Reyne understands this much, so how can I possibly fall behind her? When I finish all these things here at the Cloud Tower, I should go find a place to cultivate as well, along with earning some Justice Points.”
As long as I could steady the situation here before the Undead Emperors descended, this would be the final period of peace for the mortal plane. Karwenz’s overwhelming power was a thousand-kilogram boulder weighing in my mind. Not only that, ten years from now—no—perhaps only seven or eight years from now, all the Undead Emperors would be able to descend to the mortal plane at full power, which was the biggest threat before me right now.
I had already solidified my foundations and discovered my own future path. The rest would be to persist down my own path and furiously train myself through actual combat and earn both Fate Points and Justice Points to improve at an almost rule-breaking level of speed.
“Right. If I want to enter the Legend rank, I need to restore three more Soul Imprints. I still don’t have any methods for Holy Light and Law right now, but I’m currently in the Mage Country. My undead magic has long since reached a bottleneck, and I bet I can find some relevant knowledge here to make a breakthrough. Also, I need lots of top-quality elemental materials to improve my Frigidwinter Earth. It seems that it’s time to rob my old friends—er—have some discussions with them.”