Ch.88. Five Minutes per Day

Deia and the servants stared at me blankly. Their expressions were frozen like plaster, as if time had stopped.

The one who broke the silence was, of course, Deia.

“What did you say? You’ll solve this in just one hour?”

She let out a hollow laugh as she processed my words, finally understanding what I meant.

“Do you even know what situation we’re in? Get a proper grasp of the situation before you run your mouth…!”

“The foreigners crossing into Norsweden are currently occupying our outpost on the ridge.”

I cut her off mid-sentence, and Deia frowned, glaring at the other servants.

Her eyes questioned whether someone had leaked information to me, but they all shook their heads.

Of course.

This was told to me by another invisible servant of the Verdi family.

Taking advantage of the momentum, I recited the information Skraal had provided.

“Their numbers are fewer than expected. However, the problem is that they have surprisingly sophisticated weapons and have been advancing without avoiding combat.”

“…”

Deia glanced at the bed. Darius’s pale face confirmed that I wasn’t talking nonsense.

“We misunderstood their objective. Usually, foreigners flee here to survive, but not this time.”

This time is different.

The woman called Findenai doesn’t run away.

She was indeed trying to sneak into the Griffin Kingdom across the mountains, but unlike other foreigners, she intended to enter boldly through the front gate.

“The fact that these foreigners are battle-hardened veterans is one thing, but their leader is the real problem. The white wolf with blood-red eyes.”

I clicked my tongue.

At the mention of Findenai, Darius immediately grimaced and shifted in bed, causing blood to seep from his wound.

“They’re not refugees. She’s part of the resistance directly opposing the Republic of Clark, known for its cruelty.”

“…How would you know that?”

“I have my ways.”

Normally, I would have curtly replied that it was none of her business, but I wanted to treat Deia as well as possible.

After all, I understood the pain of being hurt by family.

Of course, my answer wasn’t exactly gentle, causing Deia to frown.

‘I can’t treat her like the ghosts.’

The ghosts are happy just hearing what they want without needing reasons.

Unlike Deia, they don’t try to understand cause and effect. What would that matter to the dead?

“Bring me warm liquor, a piece of rice cake, and a fine cloth to wrap them in. If you wait just one hour, I’ll prevent the foreigners from plundering Norsweden.”

I returned to the original topic.

I had demonstrated my ability to assess enemy forces even while confined, showing as much of my capabilities as I could.

The rest was up to Darius and Deia to decide.

“Bullshit.”

And predictably, Deia refused.

“How can I believe that? The head of the family was defeated, and you’re going to stop the foreigners alone? With liquor and rice cake? Are you joking? Are you planning to drink with them and become friends?”

“…”

“You’ve only learned how to put on airs.”

Irritated, Deia tried again to request support from the surrounding nobles.

But from his sickbed, Darius grabbed Deia’s wrist.

“As head of the family, I order it. Go and take responsibility for your words, Deus.”

“Have you lost your mind?!”

Deia shook off his hand and shouted, consumed by anger. Her voice cracked as she berated the foolishness.

“What does the title of Margrave matter! Are we sacrificing the people who still trust us and haven’t left their homeland?”

“If he speaks with such confidence, he must have a plan.”

“Don’t you know who he is? He’s Deus. A good-for-nothing who spends every day drinking with women, coming home in the morning and leaving in the evening!”

“…”

“You’re not trusting Deus. You’re just clinging to the slim hope of a miracle! How is this different from kneeling and praying to gods when armed foreigners are at our door?”

Deia’s eyes were filled with tears. I could feel how precious Norsweden was to her.

That’s why I turned and headed for the door.

“I’ll depart in ten minutes. Have everything ready.”

I left only that brief command to the servants.

“Hey! Hey! Arghhhh!”

I could hear Deia screaming behind me. What I needed to do now wasn’t to beg her to believe in me.

The Deus they knew had been too much of a waste for that. Words alone wouldn’t be enough when there was no credibility.

I had to show it through action.

Now was the time to prove myself through results.

Ten minutes later.

I met the eyes of the servants waiting at the entrance of the mansion.

One of the maids carefully held a bundle wrapped in fine cloth.

I received it and composed myself.

Since I needed to climb the mountain, I had changed into a thick coat and held a staff that was too good for my current magical abilities.

‘Since I need to climb the mountain, the staff will be useful.’

It was more likely to serve as a hiking stick than for casting magic.

As I tapped the ground with the end of the staff, Deia approached from behind, looking at me with resentful eyes.

Judging by her swollen, red eyelids, she must have cried quite a bit afterward.

Now she seemed exhausted, only letting out labored breaths.

I met her eyes and took a step closer.

“If I don’t return within an hour, contact Count Tolkin and Heramus for support.”

“You bastard! If you can’t do it, just say so! Do you know how many heads will roll if the request is delayed by an hour?!”

“I will succeed.”

I was certain of success.

I only said it because she looked so anxious, but it wasn’t the answer she wanted to hear.

How should I handle this relationship?

Then a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

“…If.”

I looked down at Deia and made a request.

“If I resolve this matter and return.”

It might be a bit forceful, but creating an opportunity was what mattered now.

“Five minutes of each day.”

I gave her a faint smile.

Smiling wasn’t easy, but I had done it once before when saying goodbye to my fiancée, so it formed somewhat satisfactorily.

“Give me just five minutes every day.”

“…What?”

Deia stared at me with wide eyes, unsure if she had heard correctly.

Taking advantage of that moment, I reached out and gently wiped the tears from her eyes.

“That would be reward enough for me.”

That was all I had to say.

I turned and headed outside, receiving the deep bows of the servants who were seeing off someone as unworthy and unqualified as me.

I stepped out into Norsweden, where February snow had begun to fall with the fierce wind.

*

I climbed the Norsweden mountains.

Though I knew there was a well-made path, I chose to climb the rugged mountainside instead of following the trail.

Branches pierced my body with each step, and the accumulated snow reached my knees.

It wasn’t a very impressive sight for someone who had left with such confidence.

[Are you alright?]

Ghost butler Skraal had followed me.

I’d heard he could travel as far as the mountains, so he was following behind me.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

I could at least handle basic magic, so I was using a spell to keep my body warm.

It involved burning mana spread throughout my body.

Though extremely inefficient and rarely used, it was better than floating a fireball around, which would be too conspicuous.

[Are you planning an ambush?]

“No, my skills aren’t enough to stop the foreigners.”

[Pardon? That means…]

Skraal was confused by my words, which differed from my demeanor at the mansion, but I calmly continued climbing the mountain.

I was ascending the mountain range, and soon I might reach the outpost occupied by the foreigners.

But they weren’t my target.

Krung.

“…!”

My body resonated with a jolt. I felt the air tremble and the surrounding landscape distort.

Even Skraal, being a ghost, seemed to notice it as he looked around in surprise, but I extended my hand to stop him.

“Return to the mansion, Skraal.”

[Pardon? But…]

“The one I’m about to meet would not want you here.”

Skraal looked confused, but seeing my firm resolve not to withdraw the order, he bowed deeply and disappeared.

[I pray for your safe return.]

His voice faded away.

Then.

Krung!

A thunderous ringing in my ears.

I involuntarily frowned, but the corners of my mouth turned up slightly.

“I’m grateful that you remember me.”

Over the ridge of the mountain.

Unlike Findenai’s blood-red eyes, these were sapphire blue.

White with black stripes, and long fangs.

The white tiger standing on four legs looked down at me majestically.

I immediately cleared the snow around me with magic, knelt down, spread the fine cloth on the ground, and laid out the liquor and rice cake.

Fortunately, Findenai hadn’t come down from the mountain yet.

I’m thankful for that judgment—she wasn’t just a soldier but a resistance “comrade” named Junkyard, trying to recover from fatigue.

Thanks to you still being on the mountain.

I can borrow the power of this being.

The true master of the mountain who has lived here for hundreds, thousands of years—far beyond the reach of the Verdi family, Margraves of the northern lands.

I bow my head deeply to him.

“I am in the presence of the Mountain Lord.”