The Reincarnated Martial God Brings Down the Heavens

Chapter 142 – Return (2)

The Hart Kingdom’s Royal Audience Chamber.

“Isn’t Baron Ancelot remarkable?”

King Terry couldn’t stop showering him with praises. In what was almost no different from a private meeting, Marquis Laksir, the real power of the military, was seated alone.

“When he requested that troublesome Black Swan territory, I thought nothing of it at the time…… But now, to think he’d plan to build an entire city there.”

Marquis Laksir was once the commander of the Black Swan War. Naturally, the conversation drifted toward this topic.

“Above all, isn’t it true that the Meeke Principality hasn’t uttered a single word in protest? Ha! How could those rude asses have imagined that the prince they exiled to his death would develop it into something grand?”

“……”

“And we must also thank Duke Herman. Dispatching two knightly orders during a manpower shortage can’t have been an easy decision. To be honest, I didn’t do it myself because I was worried about the other nobles’ reactions.”

King Terry’s tone was direct and honest.

Knowing his character, Marquis Laksir listened in silence, then spoke up at the right moment.

“Your Majesty, I can’t help but be concerned.”

“Concerned?”

“If a city is really built in Black Swan, do you think the Meeke Principality will remain idle?”

“Surely, they wouldn’t object to something happening on land where they appointed him as lord?”

Even King Terry chuckled at the notion.

“That would be shameless.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“It’s not something to be taken lightly, I believe.”

At that, King Terry abruptly stopped laughing.

“What exactly are you trying to say, Marquis?”

“Let me clarify that I do not intend to dismiss Baron Ancelot’s contributions. On the contrary, I recognize his achievements, which is why I’m bringing this up.”

King Terry’s brows furrowed even more.

“Perhaps I am too dull to understand your point.”

“Baron Ancelot single-handedly uncovered the Empire’s plot. It was certainly a great achievement, and Your Majesty has rightly rewarded him. I have no disagreement on this point, and it’s not my place to do so in the first place.”

Only then did King Terry’s face, which had hardened, relaxed again.

“Then what is the problem?”

“Baron Ancelot’s territory was a reward for his ‘achievements’, but for Prince Andrew, it was an exile, a ‘punishment’. Even if he has committed no crime, Baron Ancelot’s origins are his sin. That is the reality of things.”

King Terry smiled bitterly.

His origins were a sin. Those words struck like a dagger to the heart. After all, wasn’t he once the second son, far down the line of succession?

“Given the changed circumstances, will the Meeke Principality let Baron Ancelot retain the land peacefully? I think not. And……”

For a moment, Marquis Laksir trailed off, his eyes glinting.

“……If a new lord takes his place after he’s stripped of his position…… Another war might erupt between the two nations.”

“……”

At the word ‘war’, King Terry’s face hardened.

“Then what do you suggest? Surely, we cannot simply demand that the Meeke Principality leave it alone.”

“I will meet Baron Ancelot personally. I’ll hear his thoughts and, if there is a way to assist him, I’ll take the initiative.”

King Terry, who had been staring at Marquis Laksir with a peculiar expression, eventually nodded.

“If the Black Swan expert himself takes charge, I trust you. Can I count on you?”

“I am practically the former lord of Black Swan. It is only natural to ensure a proper handover.”

“I trust you.”

“Thank you. Then, I will take my leave.”

After a brief bow, Marquis Laksir withdrew from the royal audience chamber.

At the same time.

“……The wolves are already on the move, Baron Ancelot. Heheheh. What delightful news will you bring me next?”

Left alone, King Terry’s eyes gleamed quietly.

***

As Marquis Laksir exited the chamber, his aide quickly caught up.

“How did it go, sir?”

“I try to act like a gentleman, but everyone keeps forcing me to play the villain.”

Marquis Laksir had made a secret pact with the Meeke Principality long ago during his time as commander at the Black Swan.

Before the war escalated too far, both sides had agreed to a temporary ceasefire.

However, before departing, he had deliberately planted seeds of discord.

‘I’ve been waiting for the right moment after enduring every hardship…… And now he’s just going to snatch it all away?’

In truth, Marquis Laksir felt as though his own territory had been stolen.

No one understood the value of Black Swan better than he did. He had seen it firsthand during the long years of war.

‘The value of that land rivals that of the entire Hart Kingdom.’

That was Marquis Laksir’s cold, calculated assessment. It wasn’t an exaggeration—just the reality.

Once territorial disputes with the Meeke Principality were resolved, he had intended to claim Black Swan for himself as a reward for his efforts.

But now.

“I waited too long. This feels like losing a thousand-year-old bottle of wine to a thief.”

His aide chimed in as if waiting for the right moment.

“I’ll create a plausible justification. If needed, we’ll stage a territorial battle to reclaim it.”

“Stop. If you do that, His Majesty, brimming with youthful fervor, won’t stand idly by.”

“But……”

“For now, let’s try to solve this with words. After all, humans are creatures of reason.”

Marquis Laksir was known as a gentleman.

‘I already smell blood in the air.’

However, his aide knew better than anyone what lay beneath the facade.

Yes.

Soon, a storm of blood would come.

And at the center of it all would be Baron Ancelot.

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

Crash!

The front door of Milon’s estate burst open violently. Ignoring the startled butler behind her, the guest who entered shouted loudly.

“I did it! I’ve made the cure for dwarfism!”

“……!”

At Nella’s declaration, her wide-brimmed conical hat drawing attention, everyone gathered in the lobby widened their eyes.

“Already?”

Even I was astonished at the speed. Even Narakas, who happened to be present, shook his head in disbelief.

“As expected…… The most exceptional apprentice of the continent’s greatest alchemist, Raven…… Remarkable.”

With those words, Narakas turned with a smile to face someone.

“Congratulations, Miss May.”

His tone was genuine, conveying sincere congratulations.

“……”

The subject of the comment, however, was so overwhelmed by the news that her mouth simply hung open in stunned silence.

But then.

Drip.

Tears began streaming down Milon’s usually apathetic face.

It was a natural reaction. A lifelong dream, once thought unattainable, had just been realized.

“B-Brother……”

His younger sister, May, who had been too stunned to speak, finally stammered.

She had reached a point where she could no longer stand properly, and her vision was beginning to fail.

Yet she had always made an effort to remain cheerful.

I knew why, as she had come to my room the night before to tell me.

“Thank you. Even if the cure doesn’t work, I’ll never forget your kindness!”

“Save your thanks for when the cure works.”

“I’m already grateful enough! And…… Forgive me for being selfish, but if something happens to me, please take care of my brother.”

Her voice had been bright and casual, yet those words had slipped out so naturally that I had to ask.

“Aren’t you scared?”

“Pardon?”

“If you hadn’t dared to hope, it wouldn’t hurt so much. Isn’t it worse when something you’ve been promised is taken away?”

May’s answer was unexpected.

“I’m scared. It’s hard, painful and hopeless. That’s how my life has been.”

“But you still stay so bright.”

“Because the more I despair, hurt, and struggle, the sadder my brother becomes.”

“……!”

Her bright smile as she said that struck me deeply.

“One person in pain is enough, don’t you think? I don’t want to see the only family I have suffer too.”

Returning to the present, Nella held up a blue vial and continued her explanation.

“Just to set expectations, the treatment will restore her legs and eyesight in no time. The blocked blood and energy channels have already shown signs of clearing. But…… Since her growth phase is long over, her body won’t grow any larger, even after curing her dwarfism.”

Who cared?

The cure was already a miraculous success, even as it was.

Grab!

“……!”

Overwhelmed, Milon stepped forward and grasped my shoulders.

“……Thanks.”

He bowed his head, silently weeping for what felt like a long time.

“Thank you so much, Ancelot……”

“……”

I watched him with a faint smile, letting him release his emotions fully.

Good.

I’m happy for you, Milon.

***

The treatment involved more than just taking the medicine—it also required procedures to restore proper circulation.

So, to avoid getting in the way, I quietly stepped outside.

As I exited, my eyes met those of the maniac waiting in the garden per my request.

“Are you sure you don’t know the formula for mana pills?”

“I don’t.”

At my question, Erina—now with dark hair—replied without a hint of hesitation.

“Be honest. You’re just lying because you don’t want to share it, right?”

She frowned.

“You humans are always like this. Always doubting, criticizing, and showing zero trust in others.”

“Well, what can I do? That’s the kind of world we’re born into.”

“……”

Erina fell silent for a moment.

“In a world where you’ll get stabbed in the back if you’re not doubtful, is it just humans who act that way?”

I’ve been there, and so has she. Although I was a victim, and she was a perpetrator.

“Anyway, your strength didn’t come from some self-made mana pill formula, right?”

“That’s correct. Our strength came entirely from the mana pills I possessed.”

The reason Erina had been dubbed the Swordsman of Slaughter.

Again, she had massacred an entire imperial city. Afterward, she had taken all the mana pills from the noble families’ vaults and disappeared.

She’d gotten away with looting once, which was why she had no qualms about pulling the same stunt on the dwarves.

“While we’re on the subject. Why kill everyone, regardless of whether they were kids or adults?”

“……”

“If you hate someone, you could have killed just that person. Did you really have to kill all of them?”

Despite my reproach, Erina remained silent. She had no intention of addressing this part of her past.

“Ancelot.”

At that moment, Narakas interjected.

“There’s no reason to be disappointed, is there?”

“What?”

“If it’s the formula you want, isn’t the best expert in the field already right here?”

Of course, I knew that.

But this situation was too unsettling. Because I still didn’t know who among the five was the traitor.

Just then.

Nella emerged from the mansion, her expression confident.

“All the initial procedures are complete. If she rests properly today, the results will be evident by morning.”

“Good work.”

“Well then…… Shall we proceed with our deal?”

Raven’s apprentice adjusted her glasses, her eyes glimmering with anticipation.

I had promised her this.

One deal, in exchange for her crafting the cure.

“……”

After staring at her for a long moment, I shrugged.

“……Fine. Let’s hear what you have to say.”

Given the circumstances, I decided to listen to what Raven’s past might reveal.

* * *