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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: The Perfect Hostage
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Thinking about it, it was only natural.
Upon hearing the story of my son's kidnapping, I was immediately convinced that I was the tastiest hostage available.
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"Haa..."
Melissa Cascadia, the current Count Regent of House Cascadia, clutched her head against the pounding headache brought on by extreme fatigue and let out a deep sigh.
"Manpower, funds... there's nothing we don't lack..."
With the businesses faltering, funds were drying up, and there was no money left to maintain their forces.
Once trapped in this vicious cycle, the young girl had no idea where to even begin fixing it.
"No. I can't just sit here dazed like this."
She slapped her cheeks and shook her head vigorously.
She wanted nothing more than to throw it all away and throw a tantrum, but she couldn't.
Far too many lives depended on her shoulders.
"External pressure... just how many people are involved?"
Signs kept emerging that outside forces were reaching their claws toward Cascadia County.
And there were internal saboteurs as well.
Tibel Cascadia.
Her uncle—and now an enemy as bitter as any blood feud.
He was claiming he too was qualified to become the next Border Count and arbitrarily exploiting her authority.
Normally, such a thing would be unthinkable.
But unlike her, who hadn't been formally recognized as the count's heir, Tibel had connections in the capital's nobility and had unilaterally seized that authority.
In fact, he'd already snatched a significant portion of the private soldiers and knights permitted to a Border Count, amassing a considerable force, and even filled some of the county's guards with his own men.
And now, he was systematically eliminating those who could support Melissa.
She hadn't noticed at first.
But by the time she realized he was pulling strings from the shadows, it was far too late.
Because of that, the county's forces were scattered to the winds, and their funding had dried up.
The issue with Berus's weapon shop was probably the same ploy.
Eliminating Tibel, who held the inheritance authority at the root, might put out the biggest fire—but realistically, his forces vastly outnumbered theirs, making it impossible.
She hadn't told her big brother Leon out of fear he'd do something reckless.
He was an ordinary brother without great power or genius intellect, but he had a fiercer streak than expected. If he learned the truth, he might charge straight at Tibel and cause a scene.
They were already going so far as to potentially assassinate both Melissa and Leon, so for his safety, she had no choice but to keep the information from him as much as possible.
But she couldn't hide it forever.
Besides, they were so short-staffed that she judged they needed his help too.
Tibel's side was still quiet for now, so they probably wouldn't touch Leon yet.
Before it got any later.
'I have to protect Leon...'
Even if it meant sending him off as a son-in-law to another house.
That was when it happened.
Bang!!
"Ah... Young Lady!!"
A knight in charge of her protection burst in with an urgent shout.
"Hm?"
It was none other than Hapon, her guard and attending knight.
He had originally served the previous count, Galeon Cascadia, but now swore loyalty to her.
"Sir Hapon, what's wrong?"
"You need to come outside and see!!"
An uneasy feeling surged at Hapon's panicked cry.
Melissa jumped from her seat and rushed out, soon arriving at the mansion's entrance to see two knights kneeling there.
"What in the world..."
"We're sorry! Young Lady!"
"Please execute us!!"
The two knights slammed their heads to the ground the moment they saw her.
"What happened?! Explain yourselves right now!!"
Her anxiety accelerated. Had Leon caused trouble? No, then where was he?
As all sorts of thoughts flooded her mind, the worst news struck her ears.
"Young Master Leon... it seems he's been kidnapped."
"What? Who the hell?! Don't tell me... Uncle? That bastard?!"
"Tibel Cascadia... It must be his subordinates. We tried to shake off the tails following Young Master on his orders, but it seems we got played instead..."
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Right now, I was heading into a shabby underground hideout.
Knights flanked me front and back, pressing in with menacing auras.
"Keep moving."
"This is so blatantly obvious they're planning to lock me up—hard to even react."
The underground cave where the knights dragged me already held several other captives besides myself.
From young boys and girls to adult men and women.
They varied, but one thing was clear.
These people trapped here were likely relatives or loved ones of those running the count's businesses.
After walking for a while, I reached a sturdy iron-barred cell.
"Get in if you don't want to get hurt."
Feeling their clear intent to chop me down if I resisted—noble heir or not—I entered without protest and asked,
"Just gonna lock me up? Didn't Tibel say he was looking for me?"
"That's why I'm here, isn't it?"
The knights didn't answer my question.
"Still no manners whatsoever."
Footsteps echoed from the far end of the underground prison.
A man in his thirties with short grayish hair soon appeared, torch in hand.
"Long time no see, Leon."
He gazed down at me coldly and said,
"If you'd just stayed hidden and quiet, this wouldn't have happened..."
"Yeah, like after you unleashed cockroaches in our house."
My uncle Tibel Cascadia? No. But the man before me was someone I already knew.
Bishiri Cascadia, eldest son of my ambition-ridden uncle Tibel, who was trying to devour the county.
A man who needed to be dealt with first to clean up the branch family.
That was his identity.
He'd inherited his father's greed, and he'd been the one who made me realize beyond doubt that I had no talent for the sword.
I'd hated my uncle for barging into the count's mansion and picking fights, but I hated this guy even more for directly harassing Melissa and me.
"You idiot, even good bloodline's wasted on you. The sword's not for you. Doesn't the Count already know? For trash like you to be direct lineage—what an unfair world."
His words as he watched me swing my first sword were unforgettable. He'd spewed venom even when my father was alive; now that Father was gone, it was obvious he'd go berserk. "So, where's Uncle? Why are you here?" "Father's a busy man. Not idle enough to meet the likes of you." "Then you must be free enough to come see me." He snorted at my taunt. Bang!!! Then he kicked the iron bars between us threateningly. "You still don't grasp your situation. Do you even know where you are?" "What else? Some hideout you lot set up." I shrugged, sat comfortably, and leaned back against the wall. On the way here, they'd dragged me to a forest outside the territory. It would've taken quite some time to find it ourselves. "You still don't seem to get your position." "Hostage, right?" How could I not know once they brought me here? No, I'd known this would happen from the start. I'd followed without complaint just to meet Tibel or Bishiri and confirm if they were sane. Plus, I needed to find out where Berus's son was held. In fact, before entering, I'd seen numerous iron cages. And among the captives, one dwarf I suspected was Berus's son. They'd hand-delivered me right to their hidden lair. Why bother rummaging around when they brought it to me? No reason to refuse. This was possible only because they mistook me for powerless. No one in their right mind brings a time bomb into their heart. "Hostage. Heh, yes, a hostage. One for Father to secure full Border Count authority." "You think Melissa will bargain with my life on the table?" "Who knows." "So that's why all the businesses the count's house invested in are packing up and leaving lately. Gathered up families of those who won't obey?" "Why go the hard way when there's an easy one?" "Confident you can handle the fallout?" "With most of the capital nobles on our side, who'll listen to you?" Definitely more than one or two. To make Melissa a proper Border Count, she'd need a kill list. He plopped into a chair a soldier brought and stared at me. "Behave. Once we get that wench Melissa to hand over authority, I might spare your life—even if not your sister's." "Melissa's qualified to be Border Count, so she has to die?" "Sad, but necessary. Legitimacy-wise, it falls to Father or me over her anyway." I couldn't help but scoff at his words. "You lot, who shouldn't have any claim to the countship, bootlicking capital nobles for a shot, now talking legitimacy. Well, yeah—the winner who spins the narrative best is the good guy. Losers are the villains." "Quick on the uptake. Good. Behave, and no harm." He stood as if that was all. "Once Father secures all authority, the official Border Count appointment from the capital will come. Then Cascadia County will be Father's to manage—not yours and your sister's." "And you'll inherit it after?" "Exactly." He turned. "Watch him closely. Don't let him pull any stunts. Break a limb if he resists." "Yes." Some knights bowed. "Thought those faces looked familiar. Guys who left the count's house right after Father died. How long ago did you seduce them?" Bishiri Cascadia left without a word to my question. "Bishiri Cascadia." I called out, stopping him. "I've got business, so I'll let you go for now. See you soon." "Just a barking mutt." Assuming I couldn't escape, he vanished underground. Left in the cell: five knights who looked like Aura Users. Plus over ten regular soldiers. Probably more forces waiting outside this underground. I sat, closed my eyes, and slowly circulated my aura. I was already exhausted from lack of sleep. The stress soured my mood terribly. Maybe that's why the aura circulating in my body churned roughly to match. 'Librarian.' I silently called the librarian via intent, and a question mark appeared before me. The librarian's text seemed invisible to others. 'Any way to force sleep?'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Instantly cutting off aura flow to force unconsciousness is possible, but not recommended.]
Yeah, figured. With so much aura, one slip could cause an accident—even I couldn't guarantee safety.
This overflow of stagnant aura was new to me too.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [However, accumulated fatigue from excessive activity should induce sleep.]
Translation: Go wild and tire myself out. Fine.