[Lord of Abundance] Chapter 34: This Is Fengrao Territory

 Chapter 34: This Is Fengrao Territory

“Niya, the moon is so full tonight. You hardly ever see one this clear in the capital.”

“It’s fine. Isn’t it like this every night?”

“Niya, is there anything you like? I brought quite a few interesting things from the capital. I could show you sometime.”

“Not interested.”

—

At the entrance of Emerald Heart Village, the two guards stood chatting in low voices—one desperately trying to make conversation, the other replying half-heartedly.

Though a faint scar marked the corner of her lips, Niya was far from unattractive. There was a rare wildness about her, something seldom seen in women—like a graceful yet dangerous leopard.

Back in Emerald Heart, plenty of young boys had liked her.

Now that the village had grown, there were even more—many of them fully-fledged warriors from the guard unit.

But Niya liked none of them.

Anyone weaker than her now—or destined to be weaker in the future—didn’t interest her in the slightest.

—

In the distant darkness, a few flickers of firelight suddenly appeared.

Niya’s attention snapped toward them instantly.

“Alert!”

Though she had already become a beginner-tier warrior, the darkness and distance still limited her vision.

According to Granny Grace, the apothecary, she suffered from night blindness due to malnutrition. With regular medicine—and more fish, meat, and liver—it would gradually improve.

And indeed, her eyesight had already gotten much better than before.

—

As the lights drew closer, Niya had already sent a signal.

The village militia should be on their way.

—

“It’s Lord Dawn!”

The guard beside her shouted in surprise.

Niya, who could only make out blurry silhouettes, finally let out a breath.

They were back.

—

“…But something’s off.”

“There are more people than when they left this morning.”

“Who are those ragged ones following Lord Dawn?”

—

“…No, they’re running!”

“Something’s chasing them—Niya, signal now!”

—

A low-tier magic scroll was torn open.

A faint white orb floated upward—

Then exploded with a sharp buzz.

In an instant, the night sky above Emerald Heart turned into daylight.

—

At the same moment the flare burst, Kun—resting in bed—snapped his eyes open.

He had crafted those warning scrolls himself.

He knew their effects perfectly.

—

Throwing on a coat, he stepped to the window.

“Enemy alert… white signal.”

“Low threat level.”

“Beast disturbance, then?”

—

Knock knock knock.

Old Tate’s voice came from outside.

“Young Master, word from the militia—Dawn and his group have returned.”

“But they’ve brought trouble with them. They’re being pursued by magical beasts.”

—

“Magical beasts?” Kun said calmly.

“Then let the militia handle it.”

“A good opportunity to test their response.”

“When it’s over, have Dawn report to the reception hall.”

“I’ll wait there.”

—

“Yes, I’ll relay the order.”

—

Kun stood by the window, watching the village gate.

He made no move to intervene.

—

A lord’s duty was to ensure the safety of his territory—

Not to personally charge into battle.

—

Even if he could.

Even if he could resolve it easily.

—

If everything required the lord’s personal action—

Then what was the point of paying others?

Decoration?

—

And more importantly—

A lord stepping onto the battlefield was the greatest humiliation for his subordinates.

It meant they were incapable of protecting him.

—

Farmers farmed.

Soldiers fought.

Lords ruled.

—

As long as he stood—

Fengrao Territory would not fall into chaos.

That was the rule of this world.

—

Besides—

He hadn’t sensed any particularly strong magical fluctuations.

Which made the situation… strange.

But answers would come soon enough.

—

Too lazy to change fully, Kun simply walked downstairs in his white-and-gold night robe, cloak draped loosely over his shoulders.

The castle was already brightly lit.

Scented candles and magic lamps illuminated every corridor.

Servants moved swiftly through the halls.

They bowed briefly upon seeing him—then continued their work without hesitation.

Orderly. Efficient.

—

These were not peasants.

Nor purchased slaves.

—

They were trained retainers of a great noble house.

Generation after generation raised under the Arlan family.

In refinement and etiquette, many surpassed even minor nobles.

—

They would always be protected—

So long as the Arlan name endured.

—

Kun paused mid-step.

The militia likely wouldn’t finish quickly.

—

He felt… hungry.

Turning, he headed for the kitchen.

—

Inside, behind the stove—

Mrs. Mary clutched a frying pan while hugging the young kitchen maid, Shalan.

“I—I’m scared… Do magical beasts eat people?”

“Don’t be afraid. The lord will protect us.”

“He’s a mage, you know. One fireball—and any beast turns to ash!”

“B-but I’m still scared…”

—

Shalan trembled.

She had never even seen a large animal, let alone a magical beast.

—

“Fireball magic, huh…”

Kun’s voice suddenly sounded behind them.

“I’m not actually very good at that.”

“But with my modified spells… killing a beast with a first-tier spell isn’t too difficult.”

—

Ordinarily, a first-tier spell would barely scratch a first-tier beast.

But Kun—

With fifty times the leverage of natural laws—

Could unleash third-tier power using first-tier cost.

—

His understanding of magic was enough to make the old masters of the capital kneel.

—

The two women jumped.

Then quickly composed themselves.

“Young Master.”

“My—my Lord…”

Shalan’s face flushed bright red.

It was the first time she had spoken to him.

—

“Mrs. Mary, I’m hungry.”

“Something simple will do.”

—

“White bread with smoked meat, shredded fine, sprinkled with herb-pepper—made into sandwiches.”

“And a glass of honey iced fruit wine.”

“How does that sound?”

—

“Perfect.”

—

“Shalan can bring it to your room?”

“No need. I’ll take it.”

“I still have to meet our security captain later.”

“Let’s see what kept him out so late.”

—

“It will be ready shortly.”

—

The meal was prepared quickly.

Kun took the tray himself and left.

—

“…The lord carries his own plate?”

Shalan blinked in confusion.

—

Mrs. Mary laughed.

“Not all nobles are like our young master.”

“He’s the best kind of noble.”

“…And look at you—you’re not stuttering anymore.”

“Not scared of beasts biting your arms off?”

—

“Hehe… after talking to him, I don’t feel afraid anymore.”

“His eyes… they’re so beautiful.”

“Golden, like they’re glowing.”

“They make you feel safe.”

—

“Stop daydreaming.”

“Clean up the kitchen.”

“I’ll teach you another dish tomorrow—the young master loves it.”

—

“I will! I’ll learn properly!”

—

Mrs. Mary smiled softly, patting her head.

She had once lost a daughter.

And now, she treated Shalan as her own.

—

Outside, at the village gate—

Chaos reigned.

—

After successfully receiving Dawn’s group, the militia immediately shut the gates.

But the pursuing Green Dragon Basilisks didn’t retreat.

Seven of them gathered—

Attempting to breach the defenses.

—

Climbing over wooden fences was trivial for them.

—

But this was no longer the same village.

The defenses had been reinforced.

Traps lined the perimeter.

—

Instead of breaking through—

The creatures found themselves trapped.

Surrounded.

—

Seven separate battle zones formed.

—

Never underestimate a first-tier beast.

They were stronger than first-tier human warriors—

In both strength and magical power.

—

It usually took three to five warriors of the same tier to fight one.

To kill one without casualties?

Twice that number.

—

And these—

Were dragonkin.

Even the lowest rank.

—

Only the elite guards—and Dawn’s command—prevented total collapse.

—

“Watch out!”

Niya shoved a teammate aside, saving him from a spray of corrosive venom.

She countered with a strike.

—

A flash of crimson battle aura—

Like a falling star.

Like a burning sunset.

—

The basilisk screamed.

One eye was destroyed.

—

“Now! Attack!”

—

Dawn only glanced once before shifting his focus elsewhere.

—

Good.

As expected of my best student.

In just over a month, she had mastered the notoriously difficult Falling Star Flowing Flame technique.

—

Her talent in battle aura?

Probably twenty streets ahead of his lord.

—

The battlefield shifted.

—

Beasts relied on brute strength.

Humans relied on coordination.

—

With Dawn directing—

No one dared falter.

—

The first basilisk fell.

Then the tide turned.

—

Half an hour later—

It was over.

—

All beasts dead.

Eleven injured.

Seven lightly.

—

“…We won?”

Little Joel, face covered in blood, stared in disbelief.

He had… killed a magical beast.

Well—

Helped.

—

“Yes.”

A guard clapped his shoulder.

“You didn’t run.”

“That’s enough.”

—

“This is a victory worth remembering.”

Dawn spoke.

“Fetch Mage Melwald.”

“Freeze the corpses—display them for a day.”

“Let the people see how they’re protected.”

—

“After that, process them.”

“The hides can be turned into armor.”

“The meat will enhance cultivation.”

—

“I’ll report your merits to the lord.”

—

Cheers erupted.

Dragonkin hide.

Magical beast meat.

—

Priceless rewards.

—

Dawn had technically overstepped—distributing the spoils without permission.

But he knew his lord.

—

Kun wouldn’t hoard them.

Nor sell them.

—

He would use them.

—

To strengthen his people.

—

“Lord Dawn.”

“A message from Steward Tate.”

“The lord is waiting for you in Blackstone Castle.”

“Report immediately after finishing here.”

—

“I understand.”

—

Dawn turned to the Icefang mercenaries.

Cold.

“Come with me.”

“The lord wishes to see you.”

—

“Our lord is of the Arlan family.”

“He may even know you.”

—

If the boy truly was Count Breton’s son—

Fine.

—

If not—

Dawn’s smile turned cold.

—

The one-eyed mercenary suddenly felt uneasy.

A militia composed entirely of trained warriors?

Even the capital wouldn’t be this extravagant.

—

The noble youth’s face suddenly turned pale.

“Arlan…?”

“Then this place—don’t tell me…”

“F-Fengrao…”

—

“That’s right.”

Dawn said calmly.

—

“This—”

“Is Fengrao Territory.”

—

“After you.”