Ch.6363. Kendrid

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Viscount Goldic was forced to open his office to others against his will.

That would be the most moderate way to put it.

At least it sounds better than saying someone grabbed him by the hair and smashed his face into the door until it broke.

“…”

The administrator of Goldic territory stared blankly at the woman who, after “using” the unconscious lord in such a manner, tossed him into the office like garbage.

“…After dragging his unconscious body all the way here, this is what you intended to do with him?”

“Well, one should at least get permission from the master for certain matters.”

Even as this conversation took place, the administrator couldn’t string together a proper response, his mouth just hanging open.

His brain couldn’t process the absurdity of the scene unfolding before him.

So.

“…All our forces were breached? You must be joking?”

In less than a few hours, three academy students had swept through the territory’s entire security force, leaving the lord’s castle completely defenseless.

“They did their best.”

The man who had followed meekly behind the two women spoke with a tone of great regret.

Just for not running away while dealing with these two women who were like natural disasters, one could say he had done his duty.

“…”

“…”

While the administrator and Count Chester’s head steward were too stunned to respond, the white-haired woman strode purposefully to Viscount Goldic’s desk and flung open all the drawers without hesitation.

“I’ll be taking this.”

The woman, who had instantly retrieved the seal bearing the territory’s insignia, said this to Viscount Goldic who was writhing on the floor.

Some unintelligible mumbling escaped from his direction.

Probably something close to “absolutely not” or something similar.

The woman shrugged her shoulders, paying no mind as she continued.

“Yes, thank you for the seal. The proper procedures for taking over the territory will be handled legally by my family.”

“W-wait a moment! What kind of outrage is this!”

One of the men who had been too shocked to properly react until now stood up abruptly and exclaimed.

“I don’t know who you people are, but you’ll all pay for your crimes!”

Indeed, that was true.

Though he may only hold the title of viscount, Goldic is undeniably a noble of the Empire. Such violence against someone whose status is protected by law cannot be tolerated in any way.

“Assaulting a noble, invading a territory, these illegal acts…!”

The administrator’s voice trailed off as he was speaking.

Probably because Elnore shot him a cold glare.

“I should clarify a few things.”

Elnore continued in a monotone voice.

“I clearly said proper procedures. I’m not doing this without any legal basis.”

“What do you mean?”

“Insulting a family of marquis rank or higher is sufficiently recognized as a legitimate cause for conflict. Moreover, if the offending party loses in such a conflict, confiscation of territory is not difficult.”

A nameplate flew toward the administrator’s face.

The identification card bearing the seal of the Tristan Dukedom hit the administrator’s forehead and slid down.

“The Tristan Dukedom will formally process this matter. If you have any complaints, appeal to the Imperial High Court.”

“…”

The administrator examined it with an expression of disbelief, and soon all color drained from his face.

Because he immediately recognized it as genuine.

“…”

He looked back and forth between the collapsed Viscount Goldic and the woman who had thrown the ID, his face ashen.

It seemed certain that the lord he had served for 20 years had made a terribly grave mistake.

And against monsters one should absolutely never tangle with.

‘…Then, my lord…!’

His decision was quick, and his action even quicker.

This was the moment for the bond built over 20 years to shine. A resolute determination settled on the administrator’s face.

“Viscount Goldic.”

“…Uuugh.”

“It has been an honor serving you all these years.”

With those words, the administrator instantly fled from the office.

It was an action clearly stating that he had nothing to do with the accident his master had caused.

“…”

“…”

While everyone in the room was contemplating how loyalty is truly meaningless in the face of overwhelming power, Elnore pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it.

She stamped it firmly with the lord’s seal and handed it to Darwood.

“Darwood.”

“…Yes?”

“From today, you are a viscount.”

“…”

It was a moment when an entire viscounty was transferred as casually as if appointing a class president.

●

< System Message >

[ You have been awarded the noble title of ‘Viscount’! ]

[ Your ‘Stat: Authority’ has been upgraded from F to D! ]

[ ‘Dungeon Subjugation’ is now available! ]

[ You can now participate in ‘Joint Monster Subjugation’! ]

I wipe my forehead as I see these notifications appearing one after another.

‘…This is a huge jackpot.’

Aside from main scenario rewards, the biggest growth events in the game are ‘Relic Exploration,’ which takes place through dungeon subjugation and joint monster subjugation—both events that are only available to ‘nobles who possess territory.’

Just look at the Luminary’s Sky Fracturing Device that recently destroyed the Lightbearer’s barrier—’powerful relics’ can have firepower comparable to strategic weapons.

No wonder there was even a route where players would ignore everything else from the start, focus solely on the imperial palace and relationship building, and begin with being awarded territory.

‘It’s better to secure territory early.’

As the scenario progresses toward the later stages, events related to ‘large groups’ become more frequent, so having my own power base makes a huge difference.

It’s not for nothing that ‘Authority’ is embedded in the status window. There are numerous events that only unlock when this stat is high.

This will be tremendously helpful in the upcoming third chapter, the battle with the ‘Apostle of the Inverted Tide.’

There will be many entanglements with the Tribal Union and many ‘negotiations’ with them. There are definitely branches that only open with a lord’s authority. In ways that significantly lower the difficulty of clearing.

“…Is it really okay for me to just receive something like this?”

But no matter what, I never expected to receive something so important in this manner.

“Looking at your actions, someone would have snatched you up and given you this even if I hadn’t, so don’t worry too much about it.”

“…”

“And legally, if there’s too much difference in rank, well, it can cause issues with interactions between families. At least rising to marquis rank would prevent major complaints.”

“…Pardon?”

“Think of it as the starting stage of the titles you’ll gradually receive in the future.”

“…”

She casually tosses me a viscounty and then says it’s just the beginning.

“…Well, I agree that the teacher should have a title. Keeping someone with such extraordinary talent at a mere baron rank doesn’t make sense.”

Elia, who had been watching from the side, shrugged her shoulders and said.

“Shouldn’t we deal with that first?”

As she spoke, Elia pointed to a middle-aged man who was sweating profusely with a tense expression.

“…The matter with Viscount Goldic is truly shocking. I express my regrets.”

The man who had been silent until now spoke with what appeared to be recovered composure.

He seemed to have been quite shocked after seeing the Tristan Dukedom’s seal, but,

“As the head steward serving Count Chester, I declare that the Count’s house has no connection whatsoever to this incident.”

“…I wonder about that. Isn’t that just hiding your head in the sand?”

Elia twisted the corner of her mouth as she replied.

“Without something to rely on, no one would cause such trouble in someone else’s territory, regardless of rank differences. He himself said there was someone backing him.”

“There’s no evidence that it’s Count Chester’s family. Imposing sanctions based on mere suspicion is clearly illegal.”

“…”

Elia frowned.

Though it was obvious to anyone that Count Chester’s family was behind the harassment of surrounding territories, what he said was undeniably correct in principle.

“If you intend to apply physical pressure to me here, I won’t remain passive. I have the means to respond.”

As the steward spoke, a massive steel giant emitting white steam appeared behind him. It immediately aimed its weapon at us with a threatening aura.

Seeing this, both Elia and Elnore’s expressions hardened simultaneously.

They must have realized this wasn’t an opponent to be taken lightly.

‘An automaton?’

Though it appears to be of much lower quality than the automaton I saw when hammering the Star Heart, it’s still a formidable opponent.

Dealing with it easily was only possible because Yuria was there. Originally, automatons aren’t something students can handle. This applies even to these two monstrous women.

“Only the Inquisition and the Lord of the North have the authority to pass summary judgment without material evidence. Even the Tristan Dukedom cannot… Why are you looking at me with that expression?”

The middle-aged man changed his tone midway after seeing my face.

He must have instinctively sensed something from my pitying expression.

“It’s nothing.”

I sigh and take a step back.

I had been wondering when ‘that person’ would appear since we entered this place.

[ A crisis situation has been detected. ]

[ Though the opponent is not directly expressing hostility, an overwhelming difference in ability is detected. ]

[ Skill: Desperate Situation is applied at B rank. ]

Seeing this notification appear means it won’t be long now.

Without any hostility or action.

Just the ‘presence’ alone causing such a notification to appear—there aren’t many humans capable of that.

I gesture to Elia and Elnore, who are looking puzzled, to step back a few paces.

This should keep us safer from the ‘damage radius.’

“I just remembered that words can become seeds.”

As I speak.

What I’ve been waiting for begins to happen.

-!

It starts with just a distant thud.

At first glance, it might sound like someone beating a drum in the distance.

“…What is that sound?”

As the steward speaks, the sound reverberates again.

Louder than before. Enough to make the entire building shake.

-!!!

This time it’s heard from closer. Like the sound of a bomb exploding.

The impact is stronger too. The entire building shudders, and dust falls from various places.

“…What’s happening? Did you bring siege weapons?!”

No.

We didn’t bring anything like that.

But what’s coming is much more serious than that.

-!!!!!!

With a deafening roar that could make one’s eardrums burst, one side of the lord’s castle wall shattered into pieces.

And.

Through the billowing dust, a man reveals himself.

“Hmm.”

The man snorted and stepped boldly into the wall he had just destroyed.

Behind him, man-sized holes were punched in a straight line through all the walls leading outside the castle.

“…I didn’t sense any ability being used. Did he just break through all of that with his bare fists?”

Such words escaped from Elnore like a groan.

Though modest in size befitting a viscounty, all imperial lord castles are built to standard safety specifications that can withstand attacks from large monsters, at least temporarily.

Breaking through that with bare fists, without any special abilities, just ‘trained’ hands, strongly suggests that this man is a monster beyond standard specifications.

The following scene continues in that context.

The first thing the Margrave of the Border did upon entering the office was to scan everyone present.

His gaze passes once over Elia and the automaton pointing its weapon at her.

“…”

After sighing once, the man walked steadily toward the automaton.

“W-what! Stay away!”

The terrified steward shouted such commands to the automaton, but.

It was a futile action.

–!!!

With a casual uppercut from the man, the massive steel automaton shattered into pieces in one go.

Not stopping there, the debris smashed through the castle ceiling and soared high into the sky.

It was an absurd scene that felt almost like something out of a cartoon.

“…!”

Everyone except me had their mouths hanging open. The steward seemed to have fainted at the sight.

Again, this was accomplished without using any special abilities.

A human. Against an automaton that must weigh at least several dozen tons.

“What are you doing pointing weapons at my daughter? You want to die?”

“T-this, what…! Count Chester will not stand for this. Daring to do such a thing against a noble’s private forces is against imperial law…!”

“Right. Count Chester.”

The man said with a grin.

“Thanks for telling me the name. Saved me the trouble of finding out. I won’t rest until I’ve uprooted everyone who’s harmed my family.”

“W-with what authority do you make such threats…!”

“I don’t need permission to take someone down. That’s imperial law.”

“…”

The steward could only gape in shock, but.

As I said earlier.

Words can become seeds.

“…Margrave Kendrid?”

At Elia’s voice, which sounded as if her soul had left her body, the steward looked at the opponent in horror.

“…Margrave? What, no, it can’t be…!”

Remember what he said about those with summary judgment rights, including ‘the Lord of the North’?

He was referring to this man.

“I told you to call me Dad, kid.”

The man said with a grin.

Being close to him, I can feel even more clearly how bizarrely overwhelming his presence is.

His towering physique is no less impressive than the automaton that just went flying. Shabby pants. Completely bare upper body. Muscles that writhe with vitality across his entire body and the brutal scars that cross all over it.

Judging by appearance alone, he looks no different from a martial artist who has wandered for many years, but I know this person isn’t particularly interested in martial arts.

Rather, this is more like his own ‘proof of faith.’

“…”

In the Sera world, holy knights are largely divided into two categories.

Holy knights typically take angels, known as messengers of the gods, as their model, and train themselves accordingly.

The first category follows the general image of angels. Devout, kind, noble, and above all, mindful of dignity and conduct.

The pinnacle of this field would be someone like Calivan. A case where overwhelming force is combined with being a Guardian who serves as a model for all knights.

This is the image of holy knights that knightly orders encourage. It looks good, after all. And it’s popular.

However.

There are those who believe in what academia treats as quite minor—’the true form of angels.’

Those who are deeply impressed and captivated by the bodies of angels that are trained to their limits through extreme physical labor every day.

Crazy hel… no, physical training devotees who constantly pursue asceticism and hardship to reach that form.

The pinnacle of that field is this man.

The world’s greatest eccentric who rushes into battlefields with bare fists and bare body, without a single weapon.

Krat Bellium La Kendrid.

Commonly known as Margrave Kendrid.

“But let’s deal with this Chester fellow or whatever later. There’s something more urgent now.”

Saying this, the Margrave turned away from the steward and walked steadily toward us.

“W-what brings you h-here…?”

And seeing him, Elia.

Backed away with an expression of ‘terror.’

Considering that she maintained her composure even when facing off against the Boy King in a life-or-death situation, this is truly a remarkable scene.

“After getting the letter, things seemed a bit concerning. Thought I should come see for myself. Who’s been bothering my daughter.”

With those words, the Margrave’s gaze turned sharply toward me.

Then.

“So.”

Followed by.

“Are you Darwood Campbell?”

The strongest holy knight of the current generation asked with a fierce smile that showed all his teeth.

And just from that.

My knees feel weak. I want to back away.

Is this how people feel when they encounter a tiger with their bare hands?

But.

“…”

Looking at him, I choose my words carefully.

【Event: First Impression】

-Margrave Kendrid has considerable interest in you. Mostly not in a good way, but the Margrave only believes what he sees firsthand!

-Try to leave the best possible impression on him inside Viscount Goldic’s castle! Something good might happen!

Just from the event window that appeared, it’s clear that Krat hasn’t approached me with particularly friendly intentions.

His next words confirm this.

“You look like even less than I expected. Skinny as a stick. You’re the one making my daughter suffer so much?”

“…”

Well, anyone would look that way when being evaluated by someone like you.

While inwardly giving a bitter smile, my thoughts continue.

I’ve had a ‘plan’ since the event of meeting this person appeared.

“…Did you come all this way just to see me, Margrave?”

I manage to say this without my voice trembling.

Considering the gap between us, it could be considered a bold statement. But this is the kind of attitude this person would appreciate.

Indeed, Krat’s eyebrow twitches slightly at these words.

An expression that seems to say, ‘Look at this guy?’

“Kid, I like your courage.”

The fierceness in his smile intensifies.

“But I don’t particularly like it when someone I’m not close with acts cocky, you know?”

My entire body feels like it’s being torn apart. That’s the level of pressure this person emits.

“…!”

“…!”

Beside me, Elnore and Elia turn to look at me with urgent expressions. Both seem to be trying to stop me with their gestures.

“…”

For once, they’re in perfect agreement.

That’s how urgent this is.

They probably want to say ‘Please don’t do anything crazy against this person,’ but.

“…Then shouldn’t we become close?”

“What?”

As direct as his attitude is, the way to deal with this person is much simpler compared to Gideon.

Unlike Gideon, who required creating various angles to work with, there’s a way to immediately win over this person even in such a sudden meeting.

The event window even states that this person ‘only believes what he sees.’

“Let’s not drag this out. There’s a quick way for men to become friends. I think you know what I mean.”

So, I just need to show him.

What he likes.

“Would you like to fight, Margrave?”

“…”

“Let’s have a match.”

Elnore and Elia simultaneously let out silent screams.

Their expressions are close to wailing.

“…”

Don’t be like that.

This is more doable than you might think.

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