Chapter 10
#1
The cold winter had arrived.
This winter, there was an unusually heavy snowfall, and the wind cutting through the forest was as sharp as a blade.
Standing against the wind was Edward, the Master of the Montemer Duchy.
Bracing against the chilly breeze, he silently gazed at the northern mountain range beyond.
“Master, the wind is biting. Please come inside.”
“……”
As he continued his train of thought, a woman’s voice came from behind.
Medeia Montemer.
Her maiden name before marriage was [Medeia Ophillian].
The youngest daughter of the Marquis Ophillian family, renowned for their mastery of ice magic.
Edward looked at her face blankly for a moment before finally turning his body.
Although he rarely spoke due to the overwhelming mana he possessed, he always listened to Medeia’s words.
It was a change that occurred only after a long time had passed since Anis died.
Sitting down and accepting the blanket handed over, Edward spoke.
“What is your business?”
“I came to ask who you would like to bring for this subjugation.”
“……”
Edward’s gaze grew slightly colder.
Medeia, my wife.
He already knew what feelings she harboured and what thoughts she held.
But Montemer… Edward never intervened.
His role was always singular.
To nurture and train, and to maintain the highest combat power.
Thus, he never involved himself in the affairs of the family.
Lawrence, my son.
‘I heard the rumours. If they are true…….’
The constant sound of things breaking and the maids’ screams could be heard coming from the annex.
If what people were seeing and hearing was true, then there would be great disappointment.
Even the slightest bit of interest he held for him would vanish.
That was the kind of place Montemer was.
Please, my son.
Don’t betray my expectations.
Scratch, scratch—
The master waved his hand, and the fountain pen moved according to his will.
This subjugation would be a [Wolf Hunt].
Winter wolves were truly dangerous beings—vicious and cruel creatures.
[…….]
[Lawrence Montemer]
Edward stared at the name he had written last, which adorned the final spot on the list.
After gazing at it for a moment, he waved his hand again and handed the list over to Medeia.
Medeia, the lady of the house, was also an exceptional administrator.
Edward’s method was to utilize competent people regardless of personal feelings.
After checking the list, Medeia gave a soft smile.
“Thank you. I will summon them as instructed.”
“Mm.”
Rumble—
Mana shifted, causing the master’s office to tremble.
Medeia bowed deeply and left the room.
After closing the door, she thought.
‘Curse, poison, and… the subjugation.’
A perfect trio was now in place.
The master of the house, Edward, would simply think, “He died because he was weak.”
Because that was the kind of man her husband, Edward, was.
The affection between them had long vanished.
It was always a marriage of convenience, after all.
As long as her children could rise to the top of Montemer, she was willing to do anything.
Because the ruler of Montemer would become the ruler of this world.
“You have no place in that path.”
Lawrence.
Even though she didn’t know how a child without a mana core could use magic, there was no more opportunity left for him now.
His body, already in shambles and losing his sanity, would only worsen.
“It’s best to wrap things up neatly.”
After staring intently at the list, she disappeared into the darkness.
It was time to hunt the winter wolves.
***
#2
“Master Lawrence—! We’ve arrived!”
“Haa—! Oh, already?”
“Yes! Here’s your summons.”
The annex.
Rachel handed the summons brought by the carrier pigeon to Lawrence.
It bore the family master’s seal.
The document contained a simple command to participate in the subjugation squad.
“What about the luggage?”
“I’ve packed everything. But… what do you plan to do with all of these?”
“Wolf Herding.”
“Pardon?”
Lawrence checked his belongings once more, inspecting his newly grown and sturdier body.
The Boston bag was packed full of sealed chunks of meat.
These would serve as bait for the upcoming hunt.
It was tightly sealed to prevent any scent from leaking, so no one would know unless they opened it.
“I’m leaving now.”
“Please be careful. You didn’t forget anything, did you?”
“Yes.”
Then there was his backpack.
It contained artifacts he had crafted over time.
It wouldn’t take long to implant them, so he could switch and use them as needed.
Lawrence carefully stepped outside the annex.
The desolate street.
It felt like he was stranded in a ghost town, devoid of any human presence.
He pulled his hood down low and slowly made his way towards the city centre.
Of course, the distinct emblem of Montemer imprinted on his arm clearly indicated his identity.
‘It seems the rumours are spreading well.’
Surprisingly, Medeia’s support hadn’t ceased.
Although sporadic, she kept sending him cursed items.
Moreover, the intensity of the curses had grown stronger.
It was a bit troublesome ensuring that Rachel didn’t get affected by these curses, but he managed somehow.
And because of that, he had grown this much.
The surge of growth during adolescence was indeed terrifying.
Currently, his height was 168 cm.
It was a remarkable size for someone who had just turned eleven.
“Medeia, I wonder how surprised you’ll be when you see me.”
She didn’t even send a carriage.
Or maybe she would send one at the last minute.
It would be a great way to completely humiliate him from the very start.
‘Should I try sprinting for the first time in a while?’
His physical abilities, now unrestrained by the chains of mana, had already surpassed that of an average person.
He began sprinting full-speed towards the main house, using it as a warm-up.
There were countless people walking the streets.
He considered dodging through them a form of training as well.
He was looking forward to seeing what kind of reaction they would show when they saw him at the main house.
There’s a saying: a nail that sticks out will be hammered down.
If you’re going to stick out anyway, why not be a spike that pierces everything and prevents anyone from approaching?
“Hahahaha!”
People were terrified by the crazed laughter echoing through the streets.
***
#3
Montemer Estate
Despite the bitter cold and harsh weather hindering passage, the footsteps of those visiting the estate never ceased.
The entire nation was moving for the grand event of the [Subjugation Battle].
Barbarians, Beastmen, Wolves, Monsters, and everything that threatened the empire…
For the peace of the empire, the family must be devoted.
Those with noble titles must go to the battlefield, achieve merit, and protect the people.
This was their duty, and the reason the emperor bestowed them with titles.
Montemer, along with the Grand Duke at the northernmost front, guarded the empire’s northern borders.
“Huu…”
The weather was freezing.
Steam was rising from Lawrence’s entire body.
When he took off his hood, the northern wind pierced through his clothes, reminding him just how cold and harsh this winter would be.
In such weather, wolves tended to become even more savage.
“Stop! Identify yourself…?”
“Lawrence of the Montemer family. I’ve come as summoned.”
“Ah, welcome!”
The emblem of the direct line was clearly visible.
The bright crimson eyes shining vividly—there was no mistaking it. It was clearly a trace of Edward.
But… Is he really only eleven?
“Are you really… Lawrence, the young master?”
“Yeah. That’s me.”
“…”
Something was strange.
According to the rumours…
“Why, were you expecting a lunatic to show up?”
“No, not at all! Please come inside!”
“Where should I go?”
“To the Grand Training Hall.”
Lawrence nodded.
Before he knew it, he had drawn attention.
As he glanced around, various northern families were passing through Montemer’s main gate, carrying carriages, horses, and supplies.
Among them were the very people Lawrence was targeting this time.
This world had far more pawns of [Ammon] than one would expect.
‘Algeras… and Demian.’
The Algeras Family.
That knightly order, named after the family itself, must have made a pact with a dark wizard, and Demian would commit horrific deeds during this subjugation battle.
Preventing the disaster and hunting down the wolves.
With his gaze fixed on the Golden Eagle Emblem against the black background of Algeras, Lawrence slowly made his way to the Grand Training Hall.
Many people had already arrived at the Grand Training Hall.
Lawrence scanned them slowly.
Every person he made eye contact with reacted differently.
“Lo… Lawrence?”
“Is that really Lawrence?”
“No way, how…!?”
Most of his siblings were in a state of shock.
It was to be expected.
The one who was supposed to be frail and bedridden from curses and poison had returned, strong and healthy.
Lawrence turned his head and approached the sibling closest in age to him.
“It’s been a while, Loras.”
“You…”
“I’m taller than you now, huh?”
At eleven years old, Lawrence stood at 168 cm.
Loras, at fourteen, was only 161 cm.
Though he had likely taken various elixirs, he couldn’t keep up with Lawrence’s terrifying growth rate.
A Head Taller.
For children, such a height difference was akin to facing a giant.
“H-How did you…?”
“Why, was I supposed to be ruined? Beating up maids and smashing furniture all day long?”
“…”
He’s caught off guard.
Alarms of danger were blaring inside Loras’ mind.
If Mother sees this…!
“You… Are you really Lawrence?”
Just then, a woman’s voice came from behind.
Lawrence turned around and looked at the woman’s face.
It was Medeia, the Duchess, hiding her shock behind a composed expression.
Lawrence bowed politely.
As if to declare that he had lived well, thanks to her.
“I greet the Duchess. Have you been well?”
“Is there… nowhere that hurts?”
“Of course not. Didn’t you take great care of me with utmost devotion for the past six months?”
“Yes, yes… That’s right. That’s what I did…”
Lawrence smiled brightly.
Medeia’s heart sank, clueless as to what might have happened behind that innocent and bright smile.
Oliver had told her.
He had mentioned that Lawrence was swallowing curses and poison.
Those who reported to her daily had said.
That tragic sounds constantly echoed from the Trash Storage.
They insisted that no normal person could produce such noises and screams without losing their mind.
‘But… He should’ve gone mad!’
As those thoughts scrambled through her mind, Lawrence’s voice rang out.
“Thanks to you, I’ve grown this much. I’m taller than Loras now.”
His sturdy physique was visible.
To grow so well and rest so much, he now stood as tall as an adult woman.
His crimson eyes showed no traces of curses or poison.
‘Did the Cathedral intervene? No, there was no report of him visiting the Cathedral. No priest was reported to have entered the Trash Storage either!’
What on earth had happened?
Medeia swallowed dryly, unbeknownst to herself.
Anis.
Lawrence.
Why did these two keep hindering her so much?
“Ugh…”
Her hands clenched the documents she was holding tightly.
“Well, then, I’ll go wait now.”
“…Go ahead.”
With so many people watching, Medeia couldn’t hold him back and scold him.
She couldn’t ask what had happened, nor could she question how he had overcome the curses and poison.
All she could do was suppress the chaos in her mind and head to her seat.
“Why… Why that brat…”
A resentful mutter, one that no one else could hear, dispersed into the cold wind.
Meanwhile, the lineup of families was complete.
“The Duke of Montemer is entering!”
And another person appeared, who would witness how well Lawrence had grown.
—
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