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Chapter 123

I gave them a thumbs-up for keeping their word, but they averted their eyes. Their expressions were bitter, like they’d just been made to swallow bugs.

Calzark, standing on the platform, looked at me with an unreadable expression. He quickly composed himself with a cough.

“Ahem... These three young heroes have successfully completed the 61st Training Camp with excellent results. In recognition of their achievements, they will be awarded hero qualifications along with the prize money.”

Whoa...!We get money too? Even better.

I’d not had much need of money back when I’d been holed up in the Bednicker estate, but things were different now. Leaving Bednicker meant paying for everything—lodging, food, clothes... the necessities.

Of course, the Lord of Blood and Iron had told me to contact the treasury if I was ever short on funds, but...

Even if I now carried the last name “Bednicker,” getting too entangled with this family felt wrong to me. And minimizing my reliance meant I could cut ties whenever I wanted.

I saw a knight approach the platform, carrying a wooden chest with both hands. When he arrived in front of us, it opened automatically as if by a hidden mechanism.

Click.

Inside were three identical metal plates.

“These are hero plates. Charon Woodjack, Hector Bednicker, and Luan Bednicker, I expect all three of you to live up to the title of ‘hero’. Everyone, a round of applause!”

Applause echoed through the banquet hall, though most of the young heroes seemed more stunned than celebratory.

“I told you! He was alive!” Mir, clenching her fist, shouted as if proving a point.

“A g-ghost?”

“That’s impossible!”

“What in the world is going on...?”

As murmurs rippled through the crowd, Calzark launched into an explanation, as if reciting a prepared script: “...Young Hero Luan had to leave the training camp midway due to unavoidable circumstances, but he returned three days before the end of the final exam. He showed a strong will to complete the training, so we allowed him to participate, and he achieved remarkable results. He is an amazing young man.”

“...Thank you.”

It didn't feel like enough of a cover story, but I nodded and descended the platform.

Several familiar faces rushed toward me.

“Luan! You bastard!”

“I thought you were dead!”

“What the hell happened?”

Their relief was palpable, and I couldn't help but grin. “It’s just like the instructor said: The forest was so damn big, I got a little lost.”

“For four weeks?”

“Yeah, somehow.”

“Ugh... You stubborn bastard!”

“To think you survived being lost in the Forest of the Butterfly for four weeks. That’s incredible!”

Surprisingly, Karis seemed especially happy to see me. He might have looked like a bear, but he was more kindhearted than I’d thought.

Beside him were Evan, Mir, and Pam.

“I’m so glad you’re alive.”

Even Sharyl offered her congratulations.

I nodded and surveyed the room.

...A lot of them managed to survive.

A strange sense of relief washed over me. Various images flashed through my mind: Sharyl, staring at Mir’s corpse with vacant eyes; Evan, who had vanished without a trace; and Juniang and Rook, collapsing into blood before me.

“Mir! I told you already! Don’t just eat meat, eat your vegetables too! And why are you drinking when you’re the size of a pea?!”

“Mind your own business! Fifteen is an adult for giants!”

“They were the same age...?”

But right now, Sharyl was smacking Mir on the head as the giant caused a scene while Evan watched on with an awkward expression. Juniang, a little distance away, smoked a cigarette as she gazed up at the moon.

It was only now that reality sank in. I had prevented the disaster.

The thought brought a surprising warmth to my chest.

I clinked glasses with other young heroes to celebrate our reunion.

...Of course, not everyone was thrilled at my return.

“How could someone like that get third place...?”

“He must have been ridiculously lucky.”

“Who knows, maybe he cheated somehow.”

“Just leave him alone. He won’t survive long in Heroes anyway.”

It wasn't an unreasonable reaction. I hadn't exactly been a star performer before I’d disappeared, so most of them had probably forgotten about me. It was natural that they’d react this way after I suddenly reappeared and snagged third place.

Normally, I'd just put them in their place. However, I was feeling generous, so I decided to let it slide as long as they didn’t cross the line.

Ignoring their gossip, I slipped away from the group to search for something to eat. I'd had a bite back at the main house, but that wasn't nearly enough.

I spotted a table piled high with steaks. There was far more food left on this table than any of the others, and the reason was clear: the occupant.

But that wasn’t a reason to stop me.

I approached the table and asked, “Is this sirloin?”

“Tenderloin.”

“How is it cooked?”

“Rare.”

“I prefer mine well-done.”

“So?”

“Just making conversation,” I said, spearing a steak with my fork. “You’re still as prickly as ever.”

“...”

Sellen gave me an exasperated look. “I never thought I’d see you alive again.”

“I came close to death many times, but I guess I’m doomed to live a long life.”

“If you say so.”

Her tone was back to its usual clipped sharpness. This was definitely the Sellen I knew.

Then had that been about earlier?

Had I imagined it?

Here, in Bednicker of all places?

Sellen glanced at me, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes, though she tried to hide it. “By any chance...”

“...?”

“So the thing is...” Sellen hesitated, then sighed. “Ugh. Never mind.”

I’m sure it’s difficult for her to ask directly.

There was no way she could casually bring up the demon lord’s summoning ritual or the high priest to a Bednicker.

She seemed to have some suspicions about my disappearance. No evidence, but plenty of suspicions.

Of course, I also wanted to ask Sellen some questions.

“What was that earlier?” I asked casually.

“What are you talking about?”

“We met for a bit in the garden at sunset.”

“What are you talking about?”

Sellen was looking at me like I was crazy. I couldn’t tell if she was being serious or putting on another act.

“It was definitely you.”

“You must have been mistaken.”

“You think I’d mistake someone else for you?”

Sellen closed her mouth, unable to retort.

I asked, “What were you doing at that time?”

“I changed my clothes and took a nap in my room... Why am I telling you this?”

“...”

It didn't sound like a lie. The Sellen I knew wasn't good at hiding her true feelings...

But then again, I didn't know much about her. I’d seen her die in my previous life, but her true identity remained a mystery.

Should I try to pry information out of her using my knowledge from the past as bait? I could say, I know your real name, and observe her reaction?

That feels risky.

Strangely, I had a feeling that would backfire—we were both hiding something, after all. What mattered was Sellen's nature... and I knew exactly what that was.

She was the type of person who would gladly sacrifice herself to save others. The world called people like that heroes.

Thinking about it like that made me feel a little guilty.

“I’m sorry.”

“About what?”

“If it wasn’t for me, you might have been in the top three.”

“Whatever. Judging by how things turned out, you must have had something to do with those two suddenly going crazy,” Sellen said, gesturing toward Charon and Hector.

She was as sharp as ever.

“You’re right. I had to get into the top three somehow.”

Sellen snorted and sipped her wine. “If you say so.”

I studied her face for a moment.

The Tome of Laplas, was it?

The book of prophecy in Goodspring.

It bothered me. Sellen claimed she’d learned about the future from it, but was that really true?

I could find out. I was probably the only one on this continent who could verify the authenticity of a book of prophecy. I might only have partial knowledge, but it was still knowledge of the next ten years.

The problem is that it’s in Goodspring...

House Goodspring wasn't as closed off as House Bednicker, but as a Bednicker, it wouldn't be easy to get in.

I wondered whether I’d be able to set foot in the mansion if I were Sellen’s friend... but it didn't seem like she’d been treated well by her family either.

My curiosity piqued, I asked, “What are you going to do now?”

“What do you mean?”

“What are your plans? Are you going back to your family?”

“Family? Ah—” Sellen chuckled coldly and swirled the glass in her hand. The crimson liquid sloshed around, creating a small whirlpool. “Well... I think I’d rather live here than go back there.”

“Is this how our arranged marriage reignites?”

Sellen ignored my nonsense. “I’m thinking of staying here for a while and then going straight to the Academy.”

“The Academy? Why there?”

“...Well, you know. There are opportunities for me there.”

At that moment, I remembered a conversation I’d had with Sellen in my previous life.

—Then did you join just to save these people?

—...That was a factor. But there were also opportunities for me in this forest.

Sellen knew the future, perhaps even more clearly than I did.

Even though I had glimpsed the future, I hadn't known that a disaster of that magnitude would occur at the training camp.

In other words, Sellen’s path was worth paying attention to. That her next destination was the Imperial Academy might mean that some other incident would occur there.

I need to get information about the demon zone anyway, so I’ll be killing two birds with one stone.

The academy was in the Imperial City.

Surprisingly, I had never been to the Imperial City before.

One might wonder how a noble could have never been to the capital, but it wasn't strange for House Bednicker, which rarely interacted with other families.

The safest place on the continent.

The heart of The Empire, so to speak.

If the cult’s influence had reached even that place...

The situation might be far more serious than it appeared.

* * * * *

* * * * *

I ate and drank until I was pleasantly full and slightly tipsy.

Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve drunk alcohol since my regression.

The good-for-nothing me of the past had loved alcohol but hated drinking parties... Now that I thought about it, it was probably because of my inferiority complex and sense of inadequacy.

The main topic of conversation at those noble drinking parties was always some pathetic loser, and back then, I had been the most pathetic loser of them all.

Lost in thought, I was on my way to my room when Kayan suddenly appeared.

“This way, Young Master.”

“Huh?”

He led me not to the main house but to a different building—the Small Iron Hall.

“...”

The sight of the imposing building sobered me up a bit.

“The family head has ordered that you use this place from now on when you are staying at the main house.”

“Ordered...?” I scratched my temple. “This feels a bit too much.”

“You shall get used to it.”

“Hmm...”

It felt strange to refuse, so I opened the door to the Small Iron Hall and stepped inside.

“Young Master, there’s something I need you to check. Would you mind coming with me for a moment?”

“Something to check? Will it be quick?”

“Of course.”

From experience, I knew that passing out drunk would only make the next morning miserable.

I followed Kayan to a room on the first floor, figuring I could use the time to sober up a bit.

Click.

Unlike other ordinary rooms, this one had multiple layers of security.

Kayan unlocked several locks before telling me, “Please, go in.”

The room wasn't that big. Inside were a large chest and a couple of large leather pouches.

“What’s this?”

“Would you like to open them yourself?” Kayan asked in a playful tone.

It was rare to hear from him and totally unexpected. To think such a serious man was capable of such behavior.

What if there’s a dead body in there or something?

There probably wasn't, but then again, this was House Bednicker. Anything was possible.

I opened the leather pouch, feeling a little nervous...

To my surprise, I found that it was filled to the brim with gold coins.

“...”

I rubbed my eyes and looked again.

The gold coins were still there.

My drowsiness completely gone, I asked, “Kayan?”

“Yes.”

“What is this?”

“Your assets, Young Master.”

“My assets?”

“Don’t tell me you forgot about the gem beast’s corpse?”

The voice that suddenly cut in belonged to Calzark. When I looked, I found him leaning against the doorframe.

“This is the money from selling it.”

The gem beast’s corpse.

I’d been told it was worth a fortune...

“Remember how the cult was acting in the Gem Mountains? They were likely after the gem beast as well.”

“Dellark destroyed the cult branch in the mountains. Unfortunately, the high priest got away.”

“Ah...”

So that's why he’d been running around so busily—he’d gone to the mountains.

“How did he find out where the branch was? I didn’t tell him.”

“I don’t know any demon hunter better than Dellark. If he’d managed to capture even one cultist in the mountains, extracting information from them would have been child’s play.”

“Hmm...”

Having just witnessed Einsburn’s gruesome state, I couldn't deny his words.

“After the branch had been, someone was sent to retrieve the corpse.”

“The family head has a message for you,” Kayan said. “He said he had to sell it quickly because the corpse had been left unattended for quite some time.”

“Its value was depreciating by the minute. Fortunately, it was winter, and the Sapphire Snake was a monster that emanated cold air. We were lucky.”

I nodded. “That’s great.”

I had completely forgotten about the corpse anyway, so this wasn't bad at all.

—You will receive a gift soon.

That’s what the Lord of Blood and Iron had said to me before we’d parted ways.

So this was what he’d meant.

“How much is all this?”

“I haven’t counted it all, but I’d estimate it at about five or six thousand gold.”

“It’s exactly 5,700 gold,” Kayan said. “Not all of it has been sold yet, so you’ll likely receive more.

“Wow. Sounds like a jackpot.”

“...”

My thoughts suddenly stopped, and for some reason, my mind recalled a conversation I’d had with my third senior brother.

—Little Brother, what’s the value of currency in your world? You said you use gold and silver, right?

—The value of currency? Hmm...

—Wait, let me guess! One gold coin is enough to cover a family of four’s living expenses for a month, right? Right?

My third senior brother’s eyes were sparkling with anticipation as he asked that.

—Not quite. It’s enough for one person to live comfortably.

—Ah... So it’s about 2,000,000 won per gold coin.

—2,000,000...? Why are the units like that in your world, Senior Brother?

—-Inflation.

—So people there just carry around tens of thousands of coins?

—That’s right. That’s why we used to hire hundreds of workers when trading expensive goods. And that’s not all! After the deal was done, we had to count hundreds of millions of coins one by one, so it took at least a few months to complete a big trade.

—Oh my goodness.

...Of course, I had eventually realized that my senior brother had been lying, but that wasn't important right now.

The point was, 5,700 gold meant that I could live for at least 5,000 months without working.

...

...

...What do I do?

I suddenly felt a strong urge to do absolutely nothing.