How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 24

Living as the Third Son of a Trash Novel – Chapter 24

Chapter 9. The Ugliness Their Traces Left Behind

The story unfolded as expected.

Initially skeptical, Gerid weighed the pros and cons upon hearing the words ‘Blade Tribe’ and ultimately had no choice but to nod in agreement.

Well, what could he do if he didn’t agree?

“So.”

On the table, a topographical map was laid out, divided into sectors by mountain ranges. Gerid, looking down at it, shrugged.

“What’s your plan for catching that bastard, Young Master?”

Ignoring the half-mocking tone, I stared intently at the map.

The mountain range was rugged. It would have been effective for defense even with a small force. A natural fortress, in a way.

Looking at it on the map, the area was vast, making it feel daunting.

Of course, even so, I had to catch them.

My mental resolve firm, I recalled information about the Blade Tribe from the novel.

The reason they targeted areas outside the county was simple: they knew better than to provoke the sleeping lion, the Count.

‘Then exclude this area.’

I took a quill and drew an ‘X’ on the mountain range adjacent to the county on the map.

Even then, the remaining area was vast. Searching it one by one could take months.

“Roos.”

At my call, Roos presented a scroll he had prepared.

It showed the locations of small villages and slash-and-burn farming settlements scattered outside the direct territory.

Additionally, it noted when they had been raided and the frequency of repeated invasions.

‘What a funny guy.’

Assessing the extent of the damage, I could once again feel how cunning he was.

He was intelligent. He took what he needed, but only enough to avoid being fatal.

The fact that he didn’t touch women who could bear children or young children, even if he killed resisting middle-aged men, was proof of that.

He knew that they needed to survive to provide future plunder. How cunning indeed.

‘From here to here.’

However, his intelligent actions left a trail.

I modified the map, considering the frequency and range of the raids. After doing so, an area roughly presumed to be their territory was outlined.

“Anyone can guess their territory.”

Gerid, who had been silently watching my actions, clicked his tongue.

“The problem is that he doesn’t show himself. What’s the point of just taking out his subordinates? He’ll just hide more cleverly and move his territory.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“Then you must have a clear solution?”

Gerid was right.

This much information was something anyone could deduce. The fact that they hadn’t been caught for ten years meant that something more was needed.

In the novel, it was a mercenary who defeated the Blade Song Tribe chieftain.

He announced that he would hunt the Blade Tribe chieftain with a mercenary group he had formed and the support of nobles, and eventually succeeded, making a name for himself as the best hunter on the continent.

And that process was the result of years of searching and persistent intelligence gathering.

And those things were now in my head.

Recalling the vague memories, I looked at Gerid.

“A vast basin between two peaks.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Have you ever seen a place like that within this area that you remember?”

“What are you saying? A basin all of a sudden.”

“No matter how good a map is, the rangers who actually scour the mountains would know better. That’s why I’m asking.”

Gerid looked pleased at the compliment to the rangers.

“The mountain range is vast and rugged. I’m sure you could find something if you looked, but what do I know about some basin right now?”

“You don’t know the details? Then I’ll have to deploy the rangers under my command to find it.”

“You’re going to use my men to find some basin that you don’t even know the use of?”

“They’re under my command now.”

Gerid clicked his tongue at my firm attitude.

“Minimal evidence.”

“Evidence?”

“I need to know what that damn Blade Tribe has to do with that basin before I move, don’t I?”

No, if I said it was from the novel, you wouldn’t believe me.

“Isn’t it the commander’s job to know the evidence and make a decision?”

“Commander? So you can’t tell me? Ha, does the Knight Commander think so too?”

Thinking about it, I’m getting annoyed.

Why is he being so sarcastic to me and so respectful to Gilaine?

“The Young Master’s will is my will.”

As promised, Gilaine took my side without asking or questioning.

“I’m going crazy. You’re going to listen to the Third Young Master, who doesn’t even know the mountains, and suddenly go looking for a basin?”

Gerid sighed as even Gilaine sided with me.

His appearance was so pathetic that even the last bit of goodwill I had disappeared.

“If you’re so untrusting, then drop out.”

“What did you say?”

“Just know that if we succeed, your name will be left out of the rewards.”

“You think you can just say whatever you want…”

“Why, is your honor tarnished? Then challenge me to a duel. If you want to roll around on the ground in front of your subordinates, that is.”

“…….”

“If not, then shut up and cooperate, or get out. I can find another guide.”

Annoyed, I snapped at him, and Gerid tried to say something but then bit his lip.

He chose safety over challenging me to a duel with uncertain odds.

What a coward.

I smirked and turned to look at Roos.

“There’s no helping it. Roos.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“Pick out some of the rangers who know the geography best and bring them here. I need to find a guide.”

* * *

The next day, early in the morning.

After asking Gilaine to prepare the troops so that they could depart at any time, I decided to form a search party to find the basin.

The group was small. Roos, myself, and one ranger officer who volunteered.

The officer who followed was a woman, a rare sight among the rangers, and she introduced herself as coldly and bluntly as her face.

“I’m Leia. My rank is Black Crow, and I volunteered for this search. I look forward to working with you.”

I was worried because she didn’t seem very old, but Leia showed great skill, proving that she was a ranger.

She spared no advice for me and Roos, who were not used to climbing, as well as planning the schedule, route, and supplies.

Anyway, I formed a search party, albeit a small one, and set off.

And after that, three or four days passed.

“I’m going crazy.”

I wiped the sweat from my brow and sighed on the mountain ridge, where the scenery was at least stunning.

I had gradually become exhausted as the number of mountain ridges we had crossed had long exceeded the number of fingers on my hands.

“Still, you’re climbing better than most rangers.”

Leia chuckled as she looked at me.

It was either a compliment or a taunt.

In fact, the route Leia had devised was perfect.

There were several mountain ridges that made me shake my head as we passed them. If we had taken the wrong route and headed there, we would have been exhausted long ago.

“Still, thanks to you, it’s not that hard. You seem to have planned the route well.”

“No one in our ranger unit knows this sector’s terrain better than I do.”

“What about Gerid?”

“The Captain…”

Leia didn’t finish her sentence.

I didn’t bother asking further, as the rest could be easily inferred.

“You said you were second in command after Gerid.”

“Yes. If you exclude the units out on patrol, then in the garrison unit.”

The rangers’ ranks are determined strictly by skill?”

“Are you asking something obvious?”

Second to Gerid.

That means she’s higher in rank than Sven, who fought me.

“Wasn’t it agreed that only those lower in rank than Sven would come under my command?”

“That’s true, but I volunteered because of personal reasons.”

“Personal reasons? Related to whom? The Blade Tribe?”

“That’s right.”

Hmm. Is she hiding something?

Well, it’s none of my business. As long as she does her job well, it doesn’t matter.

“Then that’s good. Do your best. Who knows? If this goes well, you might get promoted.”

“With the Captain here, how could I…”

“Originally, promotion is about pushing out your superiors and trampling on your subordinates. Besides, Gerid said with his own mouth that he would withdraw from this subjugation.”

She’s a lady with different words and actions.

I shrugged as Leia, who was pretending not to be interested, listened intently.

“I’m not exaggerating. Our lord is a man who divides rewards strictly based on merit.”

Even if nothing else, he’s definitely a rational person.

Leia nodded slightly at my words, as if she had been harboring quite a bit of dissatisfaction with Gerid.

“Anyway, where are we now?”

“We’re almost there.”

“If it’s not this time, we’ll have to postpone it again until tomorrow.”

There were a total of seven places where Leia pointed out that there might be a basin.

The previous five points were all duds.

That was to be expected. The previous points were close to the rangers’ territory.

Perhaps the further back we go, the greater the distance and the greater the possibility. According to Leia, this place is where even rangers don’t often venture.

“Just over this place.”

The terrain was such that even warhorses couldn’t climb it, so I had no choice but to do some unexpected mountain climbing.

Soon, after crossing a mountain ridge and standing on a peak, I saw a peak of similar height on the opposite side.

Following that, a vast basin came into view below.

“It’s a bust.”

This basin, too, was overgrown with vegetation, untouched by any artificial hands. The sunlight was shining brightly, not even a hint of shade, causing me to frown.

“Is it a bust again? Damn it.”

Roos scratched the back of his neck as if disappointed.

“Stop complaining. Just in case, let’s rest for a day in the basin to check it out properly, and then look again tomorrow.”

“Another camping trip. But since it’s a basin, it seems like it’ll be quite comfortable.”

Roos stretched and loosened his joints, then held out his hand to Leia.

“Take it.”

“What is it?”

“I said take it. So we can go down at once. I want to look around quickly, eat quickly, and sleep quickly. But I wouldn’t want to go down first and do it alone, would I?”

Overwhelmed by his momentum, Leia unknowingly took his hand, and Roos shouldered Leia and leaped down the mountain.

‘He’s like a monster.’

That was my honest impression.

He seemed to be using mana as he gripped the steep slope with his bare hands and slid down.

“Kyaaak!”

Leia, who was riding on his back, let out a strange scream, but Roos didn’t seem to care and pushed down roughly.

‘Mana, huh.’

I also have the Mana Heart open.

I had learned about mana cultivation in the study, and since then, I had been diligently gathering mana whenever I was alone.

The problem was that the amount I had gathered was as small as a sparrow’s tear.

I glanced at Roos, who seemed to have arrived at the basin in less than a minute.

Since we couldn’t see each other anyway because of the dense vegetation, they wouldn’t notice even if I used mana.

‘Well, should I try using it this time?’

When else would I get to use it in a real situation?

I’ve only used mana a handful of times, other than when I subdued the guy in the Knights who mistook me for a petty thief.

At most, I just tasted it roughly when I was alone before going to bed.

There were too many eyes watching, and I had to keep it hidden for now, so that was even more so.

“Hmph!”

I made up my mind, loosened my body lightly, and stimulated the Mana Heart in my dantian [energy center].

Then, I felt an unprecedented energy surge and surround my body.

It was a strange feeling.

At the same time, I felt confident that I could accomplish anything in this state.

Thump!

As I kicked off the ground and leaped high, my body rose more than a few meters.

“Ugh…”

I felt the wind brushing past my cheeks as I realized the dramatically increased power.

Before falling on the steep slope, I momentarily focused mana on my legs.

Thud!

I landed, kicking up a cloud of dust.

There was no impact. Rather, my body felt light. Relieved, I began to slide down like I was snowboarding at a ski resort.

‘This is fun.’

Is this what it’s like to transcend the limits of the body?

I guarantee it. If I went to the Olympics in this state, I could easily beat Usain Bolt.

‘Slowly…’

After sliding for a while, I slowed down as I passed through the dense trees and saw the basin.

But it wasn’t as easy as I thought.

Slowing down meant that I accidentally stepped wrong and lost my balance, falling over.

“Damn it!”

At least the impact was less because I was almost at the bottom?

Just as I was about to get up quickly, not wanting Roos to see me rolling down in such an unsightly manner.

‘What?’

What is this?

Something long and white was caught in my hand, rattling.

‘Bones?’

They were pure white bones.

Not from birds.

Then are they animal bones? But they look too familiar. Are they from a bipedal monster?

…I have an unknown ominous feeling.

“Young Master.”

Roos called me.

I looked up and saw Roos standing far away, staring at something.

With an ominous feeling, I followed Roos’s gaze.

“…….”

The sight that came into view there put an end to my premonition.