Chapter 54

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“Thank you all for gathering.”

A secret space in the basement of the old building.

Cowen brought up the topic in front of ten nobles.

The reason he couldn’t bring all the former retainers was to evade Vares’s eyes.

“I still find it hard to believe. Does a method to clarify those bastards’ crimes truly exist?”

A middle-aged man sitting closest to him, Henry, said while rubbing his glabella.

The contents written in the secret letter Cowen sent stated that the time to wash away William’s false charges had come.

“Yes. A temple of the Holy State was discovered in the underground waterway.”

“A temple?”

“You’re saying a temple?”

“Does that make any sense!”

Surprised at the shocking words, people’s voices grew loud.

Henry, who was also showing a serious expression, asked once again.

“Was it really a temple?”

“Yes. It was a temple of considerable scale. I heard Camon was coerced into taking the lead in its construction under Vares’s threats.”

“…Camon? Are you talking about the Camon I know?”

“Yes. The very craftsman who was in charge of remodeling His Excellency William’s mansion. The fact that he was also a friend of Lady Reventia is likely something only you know, Lord Henry, but… Please look at this first.”

Cowen took out the crystal ball and placed it on the table.

When he operated it, light spewed out and a scene began to be projected.

“What is this…!”

“A forward operating base, does that make any sense!”

“Furthermore, what is this talk about the traces of the Spirit King?”

The conversation between the Bishop and Vares heard from the projection magic tool.

Those watching the contents could not suppress their astonishment.

And when the light disappeared from the crystal ball, Henry tightly clenched his fists.

“…As expected, it was all Vares’s doing.”

Even if he suspected it, hearing the truth directly through that bastard’s voice made him grind his teeth.

William, whom they had sent off in vain and powerlessly.

His past self who couldn’t do anything to protect his lord and close friend was always pathetic and shameful.

Even if there was William’s request to protect the city.

“As you saw, the tragedy that occurred to His Excellency William was a scheme by Vares and the Holy State. Without this magic tool, reaching out to the truth would have been considerably difficult.”

“Is this an item Camon left behind?”

“Yes. However, the one who found it was not me, but an adventurer from foreign lands. Black Dragon, come in.”

Along with those words, the viewpoint returned to Han-bit’s.

Opening the installed screen, he took a step inside.

“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Adventurer Black Dragon.”

– I, appear.

– It was natural.

– But why is his expression like that?

– How is his name Black Dragon. Lol.

– Let’s do a nick-change match if he meets the real Black Dragon.

As he offered a greeting, everyone’s gaze gathered on Han-bit.

They were expressions mixed with suspicion, concern, confusion, and anticipation.

“Could you explain through what circumstances you found that item?”

Henry asked with courtesy.

It was completely different from the usual attitude nobles showed toward adventurers.

However, his sharp gaze that seemed to look right into his insides was exuding even a sense of intimidation.

“A cat named Ruby ran away from the slums. As I chased after it together with a child named Ria who lives there, we discovered the secret passage to the waterway. We found the temple deep inside there.”

“…The slums?”

The name of the slum district popping up out of nowhere brought doubt.

Looking at that face, Han-bit continued his explanation.

“In the temple’s basement, there was a place that exactly replicated Lady Reventia’s room. It was a space Camon made.”

“Why is Reventia’s name coming up?”

In an instant, Henry’s voice sank coldly.

The only daughter of William sacrificed to Vares’s filthy scheme.

Because her bright smile flickered before his eyes, pain and despair washed over his consciousness once again.

“You will know if you look at this.”

Han-bit took out Camon’s notebook and handed it to him.

Henry, meeting his gaze for a moment, received the notebook and opened it.

“…”

While he was checking the contents, a heavy silence descended.

The former retainers gathered together also wanted to understand the situation, but they silently waited for Henry’s words.

Since after William was executed, he was the person who became the center for their wandering selves and held his ground.

“Phew.”

When a bit more time passed, Henry took his eyes off the notebook.

Then he muttered with distant eyes.

“To think William went this far…”

In a way, it was a meaningless act.

Even if establishing such a space was to preserve his daughter’s memories, the parties to those memories did not exist.

Since even if former retainers like himself visited that place, only sorrow would come storming in.

However, as a result, what Camon left behind became something of far too great meaning to them who survived.

“We located Camon’s workshop as written in this notebook. And that’s where we ended up finding the projection magic tool.”

“If you’re talking about the workshop, are you referring to the sealing stone kept in Harpen’s mansion? You obtained that?”

“Since I had a feeling there would be important evidence. Although I used a radical method, my face wasn’t discovered.”

“…A phenomenal action-taking ability. Or rather, am I simply incompetent.”

– What’s with his mentality;

– Self-reflection is Henrytube.

– But has anyone seen this NPC before?

– I saw him pass by the City Hall sometimes.

– He’s f*cking blunt but looks tired.

Henry spitting out lamentations and self-reproach together.

With this alone, his evaluation of Han-bit rose considerably.

Although an even bigger task still remained.

“Isn’t it about time they come in?”

“…It is.”

Cowen, meeting gazes with Han-bit, slowly nodded his head.

Then, looking at the former retainers, he said.

“There are people I must introduce.”

“An introduction? Are there more helpers?”

Henry thought of a figure similar to Han-bit.

Cowen, not answering, slowly approached the screen and opened it.

“Did we really have to set this up?”

The blonde-haired girl entering inside along with complaints.

It was a face that seemed slightly tense.

Behind her was an old man with a sword on his waist.

“…?”

Henry’s expression became somewhat strange seeing Ria.

A nostalgic feeling as if he had seen her somewhere, no, as if he simply couldn’t forget her.

However, no matter how he thought about it, it was an impossible reality.

“This is really awkward.”

Ria also discovered the only face she knew.

Henry, who continuously revised his thoughts several times within his confusion, spat out a name he couldn’t possibly hold in.

“…Reventia?”

“Long time no see, Uncle.”

At words spoken all too carefully, Ria calmly offered her greeting.

Those words fiercely shook Henry’s mind.

“No, how can this… Is this a dream? Or my illusion? How is Reventia…”

Henry fell into chaos, unable to even reach out his hand.

Meeting his gaze, Ria recalled her old memories and said.

“The small harp you gave me as a birthday present, Uncle. You remember I broke it right in front of your eyes, right? The three of us tried to fix it and it got completely ruined.”

“Ah…”

Henry let out a low gasp.

Now that William was dead, the secret story only he should know was clearly heard.

It’s a mirage.

Or a ghost that appeared to punish his powerless sins.

Even if he died because of it, he could silently accept it.

But then.

“Reven… tia.”

The girl in front of his eyes truly existed.

Even when he carefully reached his hand out like past times and stroked her head, she did not disappear.

Reventia’s emerald eyes were just looking at him slightly sorrowfully.

“Why are you even crying? I’m perfectly alive.”

The silently flowing tears, even Henry himself hadn’t realized.

He just couldn’t believe this miracle-like situation.

– T. T

– Vares piece of sh*t.

– Gonna go smash his head immediately, right?

– Ah, I really want to redo the story.

– LFG Han River Reincarnation Party. (1/100)

“Lady Reventia?”

“Is it true!”

“To think you survived…”

The retainers who hadn’t seen her face were also surprised yet deeply moved by Reventia’s survival.

The legitimate bloodline of Northon they thought they had lost.

As their memories of William and the despair leading up to today overlapped, their emotions swirled in a vortex.

“Running away with the Young Lady was a command His Excellency William gave me.”

Cowen, silently watching the reunion, opened his mouth.

He explained the events that occurred in the past, and the situations afterwards.

“…So that’s how it was. I can only say it was truly William as expected.”

The agony of William Northon, a Mayor and a father, could be felt.

A decision made in a situation where it was difficult to trust anyone.

While protecting Edlen, he had to protect the future of his daughter Reventia.

That is why he left different duties as his dying wishes to Cowen, Camon, Henry, and the other retainers.

So that even if one side went wrong, the others would not collapse.

“…”

Henry looked at the surviving Reventia.

Even assuming a one in ten thousand chance, he did not tolerate failure.

An unspoken trust was laid down that his retainers and colleagues would do well.

Because all of this was preparation for when Reventia returned to her rightful place.

“There’s no greater doting father.”

When his thoughts reached that point, a hollow chuckle naturally escaped him.

To the point William’s figure bragging about his daughter every single day was vividly drawn.

“Are you okay? You’re crying and then laughing.”

At her Uncle’s confused state, Ria threw a worried question.

Henry stroked her head and turned his gaze to Cowen.

“What is the current situation? Have there been pursuits from Vares?”

“Assassins from the Holy State attacked first. It appears they developed a technique to detect the traces of the Spirit King contained within the ring.”

“…Are the traces of the Spirit King in that ring.”

He looked at the ring worn on Ria’s finger.

The ring that was identical to the one William wore was clear in his memories.

Although he hadn’t heard anything about the inner workings, he could guess the reason.

Since just knowing about the tremendous power of the traces of the Spirit King held the concern of falling into danger.

Looking at what Vares and the Holy State were actually targeting, knowing is a poison.

“Who is that gentleman?”

Henry’s gaze shifted to the white-haired old man.

Although his face looked somewhat sick to his stomach, his eyes were as sharp as the wind observing his surroundings.

“He is my master. He is a Spirit Summoner and a Swordsman. He is currently undertaking Lady Reventia’s escort.”

“…A Spirit Summoner?”

At that introduction, Henry’s eyes opened wide.

An existence about whom one couldn’t even properly hear rumors in this era.

If he is that person’s disciple, Adventurer Black Dragon can also be considered part of the Spirit Summoner’s lineage.

To think such figures were by Reventia’s side.

Nothing could be more reassuring than that.

Henry turned his gaze towards Cowen.

“Do you have a specific plan? As you know, utilizing Edlen’s laws is difficult.”

“Yes. That is why we intend to borrow the power of the Royal Guard Knights. Although meeting them face to face will be difficult, if we show this projection magic tool as evidence, they will move for us.”

“The Royal Guard Knights… I see. Was this a foreseen destiny as well.”

Henry, listening to the story, closed and opened his eyes for a moment.

Then he continued with a resolute expression.

“There is a promise I received from Vice Commander Leon. I will arrange a meeting with that.”