How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 109

Following Alphonse’s guidance, I arrived at the stables.

In a specially prepared area, more spacious and with comfortable bedding, three or four heavily pregnant mares were peacefully asleep.

Having come this far, there was no need to ask further. Lord Coles Nide’s plans were clear.

“Pregnant mares.”

“That’s right.”

“Don’t tell me these mares were impregnated by…”

Alphonse nodded.

“A griffon.”

“Good heavens.”

“The Lord has successfully crossbred griffons with warhorses, and these mares are pregnant with the results.”

“But isn’t it uncertain whether the offspring will inherit the griffon’s characteristics?”

At my question, Alphonse snapped his fingers, and a stableman opened a small door.

A small foal emerged, but its appearance was unlike any normal foal.

The head, resembling its griffon father, immediately caught my eye.

Thick wings, seemingly strong enough for flight, and the forelimbs of a bird of prey were visible, while the lower body and tail, usually leonine, were replaced by those of its mare mother.

‘It combines the familiar characteristics of a warhorse with the flying ability of a griffon.’

In short, it was perfect.

Though still small, it wasn’t hard to imagine its fully grown form.

‘Lord Coles Nide.’

I had to admit it.

My face burned as I recalled dismissing his dream as impossible.

‘It was possible.’

This was possible.

Not only possible, but its potential shone brilliantly.

Alphonse, noticing my expression, nodded slowly.

“The Lord instructed me to name it Hippogryph if the plan succeeded.”

Hippogryph.

A combination of ‘hippo,’ meaning horse, and ‘gryph,’ from griffon.

It was the birth of an unprecedented mount.

But a significant problem remained.

The griffon, crucial for breeding, was dying.

“It’s still in the testing phase. If the griffon dies with so many trials and errors remaining…”

I anticipated Alphonse’s point.

“The plan becomes worthless. Even counting unborn hippogryphs, there are fewer than five. Lord Coles Nide’s dream can’t be realized with so few.”

“That’s right. And capturing another wild griffon is uncertain. The Lord found and raised this one after a lifetime of dedication.”

This revealed why everyone distanced themselves from Dane and why Dane was so dejected.

Coles Nide’s life’s work was threatened by Dane’s mistake.

“Is there no sign of recovery?”

“The griffon is sturdy, barely holding on. A normal beast would have died already.”

“Well, it was wounded by aura. How long can it last?”

“Its condition worsens daily. At most, a week.”

Aura-inflicted wounds resist conventional treatment. The surrounding tissue necrotizes [dies]. Even healing magic, unless from a great mage like Kerwyn, offers little hope.

“The plan was nearly finalized. Once we confirmed the hippogryphs inherited the desired traits, we’d report everything to the Count in Lord Coles Nide’s name and finalize the plan. But…”

I could almost hear him saying Dane Lindaier ruined everything.

“The Lord’s lifelong goal is half-ruined. The griffon’s death will completely collapse his dream.”

“No.”

I turned to meet Alphonse’s gaze.

“There might be a way.”

“You’re saying there’s a way?”

“Yes.”

I nodded, seeing Alphonse’s eyes widen.

* * *

After speaking with Alphonse, I went to find Dane.

Dane was drunk, heavily intoxicated.

Having revealed everything, he likely believed his actions would soon reach the Count’s ears.

I approached the drunken Dane, sat down, and he gave a hollow laugh.

“Now you know everything, right?”

“Yes, everything.”

“Then you understand the weight of my actions.”

“…Lord Coles Nide intended to train riders to control the hippogryphs and use them to secure the Blue Mountains for the Sky Fortress.”

“It was entirely possible.”

“Yes. By constantly monitoring and controlling the Blue Mountains’ monsters, we could secure the northeastern lands.”

“Its value is endless. The Lindaier family could become the strongest on the continent. But…”

Dane trailed off, drinking quickly.

“I ruined everything.”

At Dane’s powerless words, I took his wine.

“Why haven’t you reported it until now?”

“If I could have corrected my mistake, wouldn’t I have reported it?”

“…”

Even if he reported it, no magician in the Lindaier family could heal that wound.

Perhaps the Duke of Bashrun or the Master of the Magic Tower in the Capital could help. But even that was unlikely, and the griffon would be dead before they arrived.

“Still, you never know. I think you didn’t report it to hide your mistake.”

“That’s right, I was trying to hide it.”

“…”

Dane readily admitted it.

“To be exact, I hoped for a miracle. That the griffon would suddenly recover.”

Clang!

Dane grabbed the wine and drank from the bottle.

“I was afraid.”

“…”

“I lack deep knowledge, but I knew Lord Coles’ plan was great. How could I tell my father I ruined it?”

“…”

“And I hesitated even more because of you.”

It’s also because of me?

“I’ve had an easy path. Sein? He was never my rival. You? You indulged in women and lived like a rogue. You’re competing with me?”

Dane chuckled.

“But things changed. I subjugated the Knife Tribe, which I never dreamed of, and you went to the Founding Day, which I always attended. You won the tournament and became a formal knight.”

“…”

“In that situation, you want me to confess this mistake? I’ve wielded a sword for 20 years. It’s too cruel.”

The laughter turned into weeping.

“How can I tell my father I shattered my efforts?”

Dane was no longer the proud eldest son, but a pathetic man losing everything.

Dane has unfair points. If things went as planned, he would have become the next lord, despite the mistake.

‘If I hadn’t interfered.’

Strictly speaking, Dane is a victim. I, from another world, changed fate.

I felt sorry for him. His desperation shook me.

“Then.”

I spoke quietly, but Dane didn’t care and drank.

“I’ll give you one more chance.”

“Chance…?”

Even though I dropped the honorifics, Dane didn’t argue. He focused on ‘chance’.

“Chance, what?”

“I know how to save the griffon. It’s difficult, but possible.”

“You can save it?”

Dane’s eyes widened.

“That’s right, I can save it.”

“How?”

“This isn’t the place to talk.”

I stood and headed for the door.

“Wait for me tomorrow morning, sober and in good shape. Then I’ll tell you.”

“…”

I heard no answer.

* * *

Perhaps the griffon was destined to die, and Lord Coles Nide’s plan to fail.

Otherwise, they would have been mentioned in future wars.

‘This will end with Dane’s blunder.’

But I intervened. I wouldn’t let the griffon die.

Fortunately, Alphonse would cooperate, so I organized the plan and said I’d reveal it later.

Then, I went to the inner castle’s conference room.

I had Rihas bring the necessary materials and spent the night reading and planning.

As the sun rose, I summoned Loven.

“You were looking for me?”

Loven looked curious.

“Please sit. I have a story.”

“A story?”

“Lord Coles Nide’s goal.”

“…Coles’ goal?”

Loven nodded and listened to everything I had seen. His face showed excitement as he read Coles Nide’s future plans.

“Have you ever seen such an absurd friend?”

Loven admired or swore, frantically scanning the records.

“To think he imagined such an amazing thing.”

“But that plan is in danger.”

“In danger?”

“The First Son of Lindaier, Dane Lindaier, mistook the griffon for a monster and wounded it with aura.”

Loven’s face hardened.

“The griffon was hurt by aura?”

“Yes.”

“This is a headache.”

Loven, a knight who wielded mana, knew the harm caused by aura.

“How badly was it injured?”

“At most, a week.”

“Then there’s no way, is there? But you didn’t call me just to tell me that.”

“That’s right.”

“You have a way.”

I nodded.

“There is a way.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then that’s fortunate. But to heal an aura wound… What is that method?”

At Loven’s question, I nodded and slowly opened my mouth.