NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 64
– 1 –
“This is the place.”
“It’s a hard place to find, even if you know the location.”
“It’s quite suitable as a hideout.”
The village where the Claymel House was hiding was called Mozakar, located about five days by carriage north of Copgerin.
I felt relieved.
Sonataph was a two-day carriage ride from here.
It was the city where the black market auction I had originally aimed for was held.
“It’s best to take my time.”
Hailey informed me that the date for the black market had been postponed due to the events in Copgerin, so there shouldn’t be an issue with timing.
Still, there was no need to live too tightly.
If asked which was a priority, “Revenge for my dungeon members” or “Recovering Serika’s core,” I would choose the former, but ideally, achieving both would be preferable.
“It’d be nice if I could handle it carefully.”
I surveyed the geography of the village.
This place was near the foothills of a mountain. As could be inferred from its location, this village was a mix of shifting cultivation and mining.
However, the yield from the mine wasn’t very significant, and Elenore shared the reason as well.
“Our house purchased the mine. It’s already been dug out up to where humans could mine, so we plan to send criminals and slaves to it soon.”
“Where will you get the labor?”
“There was a dungeon within the mine.”
“I see.”
The core and the Dungeon Lord had settled into that nearly abandoned mine.
It seemed that the Adventurer’s Guild from Claymel House had already subdued and was training within the dungeon they had purchased inside the mine.
It might sound odd that a zealot who worshiped the Demon Clan would buy and utilize a Demon Lord, but their object of worship was a demon of the Demon World, not a fallen Dungeon Lord on the surface, which might shift perceptions. Power commands respect; a Lord who has lost power, however, is merely a slave.
Humans are strange in that they place value even on their kin, so it wouldn’t be too surprising.
“The race is Were Beast… it’s worth meeting initially.”
“You seem to be planning to build an army.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
It appeared they intended to draw labor and soldiers from this Lord. If risk management was thorough, it was quite an acceptable method.
It’s a good situation.
Whether I dominate this Dungeon Lord or absorb the core as it is, I’ll just decide after meeting them.
Personally, I hope there’s enough value to keep them alive.
“Welcome. Thank you deeply for rescuing my nephew.”
“Thank you for the warm welcome, Lord.”
Together with Elenore, Xue, and Talhan, we received a grand reception from the Claymel House.
As she mentioned, the family consisted of Elenore’s four relatives who formed the main branch, five of her uncle’s family who were the “first contacts,” and six elders and two youths of the cadet branch.
The elders had unusually tight faces, and there wasn’t a single minor… particularly child in sight.
“Is the plan to marry into nobility even if it means dying alone? Still, that’s quite a lot.”
They appeared to be a proud breed even among fallen nobility.
Maintaining a typical aristocratic attitude, these elderly folk, invigorated by the power of the Demon Clan, seemed to seek youth. Still, with this many, they were maintaining a good presence for fallen nobility.
It’s likely they have gathered hope among the family members due to the Demon Clan’s strength.
Otherwise, what reason would cadet nobility have to cling to a main family that’s lost both property and power?
This is also beneficial for me.
The collaboration with the Demon Clan hadn’t been so lengthy, so there weren’t many members of the family with strong power.
Materials or soldiers; more is indeed better.
“It’s just about time for dinner. Would you like to join us?”
“Thank you for the invitation. I happen to have some excellent spices; how about we share a meal?”
“Oh! What is it?”
“It’s from the homeland of the great beings, given to me by one of them. It should be great for us too.”
“Oh…!”
Upon hearing my words, the head of the family expressed polite admiration and then, after hearing what I said next, he genuinely brightened and began to marvel.
For the zealots of the Demon Clan, the homeland of those great beings refers to the Demon World.
Perhaps having already heard from Elenore, the family members showed no suspicion towards my words and instead praised as if they were worshiping, gladly taking the spices I offered.
“The meal should at least be good.”
Of course, with this, their fate was already sealed.
– 2 –
After Libertus and Elenore arrived at Claymel House, that evening.
“For the honor of our honored guests and our family—!!”
– For honor!!
The meal at the Claymel House began in a warm atmosphere.
Elenore found it amazing.
It had been so long she couldn’t remember the last time a family meal wasn’t gloomy or oppressive.
“Thank you once again for rescuing our precious nephew.”
“Not at all. Surely it was under the care of the great beings.”
Of course, the center of that cheerful atmosphere was the Lord they referred to as “the enigmatic powerhouse and zealot sister, Angelita,” who was actually Libertus.
Wearing an aristocratic smile, she engagingly conversed with them.
“I’m embarrassed that we have nothing prepared.”
“It’s more than enough. You are people who know how to maintain dignity and grace with simplicity. Elenore, who has been educated by you, couldn’t possibly grow up ordinary. She will surely become an extraordinary person.”
“That’s impossible! But hearing such words makes me happy!”
“With talent and luck, Elenore will surely become a great warrior in the future. Perhaps she may even become a rider of one of the great beings.”
She elegantly and adeptly guided the atmosphere.
Like a true high noblewoman.
The elders of the Claymel House couldn’t keep up with her lead.
Currently, while the Claymel House had a somewhat sufficient number of members, most of them were elders who couldn’t let go of their “past glory,” making dining occasions generally reflective of the past.
“Hahaha! Hearing the honorable person’s blessings, it’s like honey to the ear!”
“You have good taste!”
“Hahaha!”
Yet, now they were preoccupied with laughter and chatter.
As if intoxicated, feeling as if they had regained their past glory.
Had they understood that Libertus’s remark, “Having lost both property and power yet not forgetting the past, they had fallen into decadence by hosting lavish banquets, causing children to descend into such states,” was sarcasm, they might not have laughed so heartily.
“This friend already passed out? Seems like they’re drinking faster than usual…”
“Ah, I’m sleepy. Just need to use the bathroom for a moment…”
So, engrossed were they in her that they failed to notice some among them gradually dozing off.
By the time a few young ones barely realized it, enough time had passed for those who did so to have also succumbed to slumber.
“What’s happening…?”
‘What event is unfolding?’
Elenore couldn’t comprehend the sudden shift.
Just a moment ago everyone was enjoying the meal, and now she found everyone asleep.
The uncle, who seemed to realize something, staggered without even drawing the short sword at his hip, while she herself was too drowsy to focus properly.
“Is it because the rank is higher that you hold on better? That’s only it.”
Only Lord and the formal heir, Elenore, were managing to stay awake.
But no matter how hard they tried, the strength within them was being drained away.
And it didn’t stop there.
“You…!”
“Mind your tongue, old man.”
Bam!
The head of the family was unable to resist even the ordinary punch from Talhan, having lost all strength in his body.
Though she had never experienced it herself, she knew there could only be one explanation for this kind of situation.
“Magical energy… has been condensed… ugh… why… are we…? Sister?”
“Was it the Kingdom’s… undercurrent?”
In response to their questions, Libertus, who had erased the serene smile she’d previously worn, offered no answers.
She simply let her eyes glow ominously.
…
When Elenore, who had fainted, awoke again.
Her world had already changed.
– 3 –
“Ugh…”
When Elenore opened her eyes once more, she couldn’t help but tremble in surprise.
For right in front of her was a ‘head’ of a person.
Moreover, it belonged to someone she was very familiar with.
With a face contorted in agony, as if it had been terribly painful to die, it was the greying middle-aged man.
“Uncle…?”
The identity was her uncle and the head of the Claymel House.
He was the one who boasted to the family about regaining his youthful strength through the power of the Demon Clan, but ultimately, he had died without even wielding that power due to the schemes of some Dungeon Lord.
“Did you sleep well, Elenore?”
“You…!”
Placing her hand on top of his head, the woman greeted with a calm voice.
Elenore’s eyes ignited with flames of realization as she recognized her as “the sister” who had saved her and escorted her family.