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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: The Aftermath
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Thump. Thump.
With every step.
The ground trembled, and vibrations echoed.
It was a boisterous way to travel for the middle of a labyrinth, but it couldn't be helped.
After all, it was harder for a divine beast carrying an entire estate—even one with just a single manor—to move quietly.
Especially if that divine beast was dragging another territory behind it.
How much time had passed?
The lizard-like divine beast, the Basilisk, which had been carrying one territory and pulling another, finally came to a halt as the light from the mana stones began to dim.
And in contrast to the divine beast, which began to rest, the people of the two territories started to move about busily.
"Check the chains!"
"The tow rig? Is it holding up?"
"Check it thoroughly. If the connection breaks here…"
"Don't jinx it!"
Resupplying provisions.
Tending to the injured.
Preparing meals.
The people of both territories bustled about with all sorts of tasks.
They paid special attention to the tow rig connecting the two territories—more precisely, the linking device that allowed the Basilisk to pull the Gwaemokjang.
Having keenly experienced what happens to a territory stranded in the labyrinth over the past few days, it was only natural for the Hara clan to develop a sense of paranoia they never had before.
But among all these people, only one person could check the most important thing.
"How is she, my lucky charm?"
*Flick.*
"Hmm, so she's more tired than usual, but not enough to be a problem, right?"
*Nod, nod.*
"Still, if it gets tough, tell me anytime. Your well-being is the most important thing to our territory."
*Wag, wag.*
Perhaps she was happy, even if they were just empty words.
Or maybe she was content with the feeling of her head being stroked.
Dion smiled warmly as he watched Orr Kai, the Lyeobinjok girl, wagging her tail with a happy expression.
But those words just now were by no means empty.
The fate of two territories rested on the shoulders of the Basilisk and its driver, Orr Kai.
That was why.
After Orr Kai had fallen into a deep sleep, her head resting on Dion's lap.
Dion could leisurely pose a question to the two people who had come to see him.
"So, have you made a decision?"
"..."
"..."
After the dungeon break had ended.
Was it because they had fled with only the mana core and the boss monster's materials, working nonstop until they arrived here?
Or was it because of the weight behind Dion's question?
Of the man and woman from the Kobold Leader tribe, who stood in silence with faces full of fatigue, it was Chavera who spoke first.
"Gongja, could you not accept something else as compensation?"
"Something else? Like what?"
"Money, treasure, beautiful women—anything."
"Hmm... is that so?"
Whether it be tens of billions of crutal.
Or treasure greater than their family heirlooms.
Or even the most beautiful woman of their clan.
After gazing intently at Chavera, who said he would do his best to prepare whatever was desired.
Dion let out a chuckle.
"If you really prefer that, do as you please."
"Really?!"
"As long as you pay the proper price, I don't care either way."
"In that case...!"
"Please, pretend you didn't hear that, Gongja."
"...!"
"Get a grip, Chavera. Don't you know that a life debt must be repaid with a life?"
"But the Baekmyeongongja agreed to it!"
"That's why I'm saying this."
Was it because his sense of loss was too great?
He was clearly more talented and ambitious than her.
To her cousin and rival, who, for that very reason, failed to realize the obvious, Rea spoke softly.
"Do you think our clan has the strength to protect the Gwaemokjang on its own right now?"
Chavera couldn't answer.
The death of Patriarch Las, who had been their driver.
The loss of their breeding stock, raised with immense money and time, and the damage to the Gwaemokjang.
On top of that, they had to pay compensation to the families of the nobles who died during the hunt festival.
The Hara clan's current situation was dire.
Militarily.
Economically.
Geographically.
They couldn't possibly claim to be able to protect their territory on their own.
This was especially true for them, as they relied on their breeding stock for nearly everything, from combat to business.
Above all…
"Besides, the Baekmyeongongja himself said it. 'As long as you pay the proper price.'"
"..."
"What price do you intend to put on the lives of our clan?"
Dion himself might not care about the price, but those who might help them in the future would.
And if they felt the favor was undervalued in the slightest, they would offer a blade of plunder instead of a hand of aid.
In the end, their clan would be torn apart by bandits and nobles, or perish entirely.
This was Odobaekryeong.
Whether an Awakened clan or a territory.
A world where the weak could not survive without a protector.
Chavera, who had squeezed his eyes shut after hearing Rea's words, eventually raised his head slowly to look at Dion.
"...Gongja, will you forgive my rudeness?"
"There's nothing to forgive. Like I said, I don't care either way."
Those words, which had sounded so merciful just moments before, now sent a chill down Chavera's spine.
It was only after seeing the boy's smile, which seemed to genuinely reflect his indifference, that he realized.
The indifference beneath that mask, the feeling that it was someone else's problem whether they all died or not.
The confidence that he could extract his price, no matter the means.
And having experienced that this confidence was not arrogance, they realized their choice had been clear from the very beginning.
"I, Chavera Hara, in order to repay the grace of saving our clan, will offer everything of the Gwaemokjang to you, Gongja."
"I, Rea Hara, swear that as long as you protect our bloodline and territory, we will become your hands and feet, my lord."
That was…
the moment the two heirs of the Gwaemokjang swore to repay their clan's benefactor as promised.
It was also the moment Dion acquired his first vassal territory.
***
"Congratulations on acquiring your second territory."
After Rea and Chavera departed, looking ten years older.
Of the two dark elves standing by Dion's side, the elegant woman was the first to speak.
"What are you talking about? It's all thanks to Arsha's hard work."
"What could I have possibly done? You did all the hard work, my lord."
"Come on, that was also thanks to you reliably defending the Gwaemokjang, Arsha."
"However…"
Dion chuckled.
Until the Waryongjang actually arrived.
the Gwaemokjang was able to hold out steadfastly thanks to Arsha's command and leadership.
Although she specialized in internal affairs rather than combat, few were as skilled at directing a defensive battle as she, with her [Monarch] class.
In that respect, it was natural for Dion to praise Arsha.
And conversely, it was natural for her to praise Dion's great feat of conquering the labyrinth, but…
"Could you two please stop laying the praise on so thick over such a trivial matter?"
The dark elf maid cut them off, her face twice as expressionless and her tone five times colder than usual.
At her daughter's harsh words, Arsha unknowingly furrowed her fine brows.
"What do you mean, trivial?"
"At the end of the day, you've only acquired a single vassal territory."
"In that they pay taxes and their forces can be conscripted at any time, it is practically my lord's territory."
"Have you forgotten that the territory can flee at any time?"
"How is a territory with no driver supposed to flee?"
"That's…"
"Alright, that's enough."
"..."
"..."
"I understand your concern, Parsha, but there's no need to consider that just yet, is there?"
*Clap.*
Dion stopped the mother and daughter's argument with a clap of his hands and smiled warmly.
"In the first place, being a feudal lord isn't all that different from a landlord holding a large security deposit."
"...A landlord holding a large security deposit? What's that?"
"Well, let's see... a noble family that's become a slave to their work just to protect their house and territory?"
Of course, a feudal contract was more complicated.
It was a pledge of loyalty from a noble family that lacked the strength to protect its own territory, given in exchange for protection.
While in some ways it was similar to entrusting the entire territory to a regent…
...it required careful consideration, as they could pack up the entire territory and leave at any time if faced with unreasonable demands.
But that was a story for later.
The Hara clan, having just barely escaped the brink of ruin and in no position to be self-reliant, would only dream of independence in the distant future.
Despite Dion's relaxed point, Parsha retorted with a cold expression.
"Even so, we need to be prepared."
"Prepared? You mean by taking a hostage?"
"It would be even better if you were to take another concubine."
"Parsha, that's...!"
"Hmm, she's not wrong."
"..."
Arsha was at a loss for words.
In Odobaekryeong, alliances in name only were meaningless anyway.
The only thing that could be trusted was a political marriage that mixed bloodlines.
In that sense, Parsha's suggestion was not just extremely rational but practically a given.
After all, some within the Hara clan might even hope that if she bore an heir, they could swallow up the Waryongjang in turn.
That was also why all of Dion's siblings had different mothers.
"But that's not necessarily required."
That was why.
Parsha raised an eyebrow at the single sentence Dion tossed out.
"...Are you being serious?"
"Besides, the Gwaemokjang doesn't have a clear ruler right now anyway."
"That is a matter that could be resolved if you were to appoint the next lord, Doryeonnim, or at least give a hint."
"Nah, that would just speed up their independence."
Rea, who was skilled in diplomacy and popular with the people.
Chavera, who was capable and quick to act.
Either of them had the talent to unite the Hara clan if they became the lord.
So, he wouldn't take sides.
Dion pointed out coolly that it was more beneficial for him and the Waryongjang if the two heirs competed with each other, and finished with a warm smile.
"It's more entertaining that way, too."
"..."
How amusing it would be to watch the two heirs compete for his favor to become the next lord.
Seeing Dion speak with a bright smile, Arsha, on behalf of her silent daughter, asked as if she had just remembered something.
"By the way, my lord, will *she* be alright with this?"
"She? Who?"
"The Jaeakgongnyeo, of course."
It was Pandora who had participated in this hunt festival with the intention of making the Gwaemokjang her vassal territory.
Would she really just stand by and watch silently now that the Gwaemokjang had fallen into Dion's hands?
To Arsha's question, tinged with doubt and anxiety, Dion answered leisurely.
"Pandora won't be a problem. The one we should be worried about is someone else."
"Someone else...?"
"A father who's come looking for his daughter himself because she stopped contacting him after being sent to a party."
"...?"
Just as the two dark elf mother and daughter wore puzzled expressions at his sudden remark.
a strange vibration was felt.
*Rumble.*
Too light to be an earthquake.
Too calm to be a commotion.
Yet it was a vibration that gently shook the entire Waryongjang.
As if sensing it, Orr Kai, who had been sleeping with her head on Dion's lap, shot her eyes open.
And bursting through the door was a rabbit-eared boy carrying a lute.
"Gongja! There, over there!"
"Yeah, I see it."
Letting Naru's shout go in one ear and out the other.
He calmed the growling Orr Kai by stroking her head.
Alongside the grim-faced dark elf mother and daughter, Dion quietly gazed out the window.
A shadow ten times larger than the Waryongjang and Gwaemokjang combined.
Covered in layers of tents stretched between countless pillars made of bone instead of buildings, it pushed through the dense forest as it approached.
A colossal castle led by six manors—or more precisely, the divine beasts that carried those territories.
—Nakrangseong.
"Honestly, just like an orc. That guy has no class."
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