My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 22

§ 22 – Mana Stone Mine (2)

It took a considerable amount of time for Cian’s ascended spirit to return.

Cian lowered his gaze to look at the screen of his smartphone.

《The next product I’ll introduce is…》

Advertisements for other products were playing on the screen.

Cian watched the ads intently.

He wasn’t particularly interested, but the buff wouldn’t apply unless he watched them directly.

However, his mind was entirely focused on the item from just now.

“Singijeon (神機箭)… was it called?”

Something that vaguely resembled a cart.

Cian swore he had never seen or heard of such a weapon.

More than anything, the firepower that had devastated the surrounding area.

If a weapon with that kind of firepower existed, the Imperial Army would have been using it as a weapon long ago.

But the weapons used by the Imperial Army didn’t include anything like that.

In the first place, it was questionable how such firepower could even be possible.

To assault a castle with just ordinary arrows.

“What kind of modifications do you need to make to get that?”

Cian couldn’t figure it out at all.

No, it seemed like even if he brought the chief court magician and the Dwarf chieftain, they wouldn’t know.

That’s why.

“With this…”

He thought he could sufficiently deal with the Orc horde.

There were as many as 3,000 Orcs in the Orc village.

A considerable number.

It wasn’t just considerable; Ruben’s current forces couldn’t handle it right now.

But if he had that weapon called ‘Singijeon (神機箭)’, he thought he could more than stand against them.

The firepower of the Singijeon that Cian saw was truly enormous.

“It was 20,000 Gold, right?”

Cian took out the money pouch from his pocket and checked the amount.

Clatter, clatter, clatter.

The gold coins that poured out of the money pouch quickly began to pile up.

He had been scavenging to the point of wiping out the Goblins.

More than anything, now that Amelia had joined as a territory resident, a lot of gold coins could be collected.

The amount he confirmed was…

“About 21,000 Gold…”

21,000 Gold.

If he bought the Singijeon (神機箭) for 20,000 Gold, he would have about 1,000 Gold left.

“Hmm…”

Cian paused for a moment to think.

Based on the advertisements Cian had watched so far.

The items sold in the ads were all items that weren’t quite right in the head [unconventional or quirky].

But just because they weren’t right in the head.

There was no doubt about their performance.

Not only the S-rank sword,

The sturdy wooden fence that defended the territory.

Even the strongest Arnaise, Kyle’s martial arts.

Of course, the above items were not purchased from advertisements.

But the ads were also items sold in Mobile Lord.

So, no matter how he thought about it.

“It seems worth buying.”

Click.

Cian pressed the purchase button for the Singijeon (神機箭) without much hesitation.

#

Lukas was honestly half-doubtful.

About the territory called Ruben.

And about the existence called Cian.

Lukas had been a knight of the Brahe family since he became one.

More precisely, since becoming Amelia’s escort knight.

He had never once doubted Amelia.

Even at a young age, Amelia was wise,

And the results of her decisions, while not always perfect, always moved in the best direction.

But when Amelia said she would become a resident of Ruben’s territory.

Furthermore, when she said she would work as Ruben’s merchant.

Lukas doubted Amelia’s decision for the first time.

That’s why he had stopped Amelia.

However, Amelia’s thoughts were firm.

“I understand Lukas’s thoughts well enough. But… we can’t just keep wandering around like this forever.”

Lukas couldn’t deny Amelia’s words.

The fallen Brahe family.

Lukas also knew well how the Brahe family had fallen.

To be exact, Brahe’s head of the family and Amelia’s father.

Lukas was also there when he said his last words.

‘Amelia, there are things in the world that you can’t buy with money alone. Power that transcends money. I still don’t regret trusting people… But I regret not building power, not building influence…’

He didn’t tell her many things.

As if Amelia shouldn’t know.

And was his thought right?

He soon returned as a cold corpse.

Since then, Amelia had wandered around.

And perhaps she couldn’t forget the last words her father left behind.

Amelia worked tirelessly to gain her own power and influence.

But the world was not so easy.

Amelia was hit and hit again by such reality.

“This time, the lord of Ruben… no, the person named Cian is somehow different.”

Lukas could see a slightly different Amelia this time.

A belief in someone she had never shown before.

“······ If that is what you wish, Miss.”

Lukas eventually decided to follow Amelia’s opinion.

However, Lukas was still half-doubtful.

Nevertheless, if Amelia decided so, Lukas would just follow.

The knight of Brahe.

Amelia’s escort knight.

That was who Lukas was.

But now.

“You mean… to attack the Orc village?”

Lukas was regretting that decision so much.

Lukas slowly looked around.

Soldiers lined up in formation.

The expressions on their faces were clearly tense.

Lukas turned his gaze back to Amelia and said.

“Was that why the soldiers gathered?”

“That’s right. They’re going to strike first… at the Mana Stone Mine soon…”

Amelia hesitated slightly at the word ‘strike first’.

But Lukas didn’t care at all and asked again.

“Is it perhaps because of the Mana Stones?”

“I guess so?”

“Didn’t you say that it contains magical energy and is useless? Then why…?”

“I did say something…”

Somehow, it seemed like they hadn’t listened to Amelia.

“What do you think, Lukas?”

Amelia’s question followed.

Lukas was troubled about what to answer.

That’s because the answer was predetermined to be in a bad direction.

Of course, Ruben’s soldiers.

Their level was no exaggeration to say that they were at the level of elite soldiers.

No, not just any elite soldiers, but it was safe to say that it would be difficult to find soldiers of that level in any territory.

It seemed that an old man named Hans was training those soldiers…

The Hans that Lukas saw was quite skilled.

Although he was old and declining now, Lukas thought that even Lukas himself would not be able to easily guarantee a victory in his prime.

Such Hans’s experience and know-how.

And practical training conducted in a special place called the Forest of Darkness.

The combination of these two made Ruben’s soldiers excellent elite soldiers.

‘No. Even considering that, their level is too high.’

An inexplicable level of growth.

But that was it.

What they had to face was none other than 3,000 Orcs.

Moreover, they were magical beasts living in the Forest of Darkness.

Not even a mere Goblin could compare.

Orcs who could almost fight Trolls.

The difference in power was too great.

“Does the lord perhaps have anything else prepared?”

“He asked me to get some arrows and a few Mana Stones, so I got them for him… but you couldn’t buy much with 1,000 Gold.”

But all they had prepared were arrows and Mana Stones.

Surely they didn’t think that the Orc’s skin could be pierced with arrows.

That might work for ordinary Orcs.

But it was impossible for magical beasts living in the Forest of Darkness.

“But why Mana Stones…?”

“I don’t know either. I heard that the power source of the Singijeon is Mana Stones? Lukas, do you know what Singijeon is?”

Lukas shook his head firmly.

“I’ve never heard of it.”

“Lukas has never heard of it either?”

Amelia tilted her head once.

It seemed she hadn’t thought that even Lukas wouldn’t know.

Amelia continued.

“So Lukas. What do you think, Lukas? Will this strike first… will it work?”

“It’s impossible.”

Lukas shook his head firmly once again.

“It would be a wiser choice to wait until the Orcs attack. Then at least, we can take advantage of the defense.”

The wooden fence surrounding Ruben.

In Lukas’s view, those wooden fences boasted a strength that could not be called wooden fences.

It would be better to defend based on that wooden fence.

Even so, it was still a disadvantage, but it was a judgment that had at least some possibility.

That’s why Cian’s choice now was foolish and far too foolish.

“This is literally like hitting a rock with an egg [a futile endeavor].”

There was no more appropriate analogy than this.

Of course, Cian would know this fact.

He would know better than anyone that it was impossible.

Even so, the fact that he was attempting to strike first now.

‘He’s crazy about money.’

This could only be seen as being crazy about money.

To be exact, he could only be seen as having his eyes on the Mana Stone Mine.

Even that was on Mana Stones that were stained with magical energy and useless.

And in the process, what was being sacrificed was none other than the territory residents.

In the end, Cian was no different.

He was a greedy lord,

A nobleman who only knew himself.

That’s why.

“We have to stop him.”

Amelia was wrong this time.

Lukas took a big step.

But.

“I think a little differently.”

Amelia’s meaningful voice was heard.

“What… what do you mean?”

“I mean I want to trust the lord once.”

The Amelia he looked at was wearing a small smile.

Lukas shook his head and said.

“I have never strongly opposed Amelia’s opinion, but this is not it. Cian, that guy…”

“I know. Our lord… so the man named Cian is really crazy about money. But you know…”

Amelia continued slowly.

“At least, he doesn’t seem to be blinded by money to the point of sacrificing the territory residents. No, rather, it seems that the reason he is obsessed with that money is all for the territory residents.”

Amelia slowly raised her gaze.

Amelia’s eyes, looking at the sky.

The figure of someone was reflected in Amelia’s vision.

‘There is no vulgar person here.’

A lord who was angry for the territory residents.

And.

“Mr. Grayson told me. What Cian did when he first came to this place, Ruben.”

A man who sacrificed himself for the territory residents.

“Honestly, I’m also confused… but he’s still someone I want to trust once.”

“······”

Lukas couldn’t say anything.

It was the first time.

It was the first time he had seen Amelia trust someone so much.

Even a nobleman.

A lord.

But no matter how he thought about it, it was a stupid idea.

The strategy of striking first now is a stupid and foolish idea to walk into death.

Is this really right?

Lukas could shake his head firmly.

But.

“······ I will protect you no matter what, Miss.”

Lukas couldn’t refuse Amelia’s opinion in the end.

#

Cian calmly checked the supplies.

“Grayson. You packed the arrows well, right?”

“Yes. I packed everything without missing a single one.”

To be exact, he was checking if he had packed them well… well, anyway.

“Hans, what about the soldiers?”

“They are waiting in front of the territory.”

“Good.”

Cian nodded with satisfaction.

Soon, he headed to the front of the territory where the soldiers were waiting.

While moving his steps like that.

Cian took out 5 stones from his pocket.

One Mana Stone with a black light.

And 4 Mana Stones with a faint blue light.

They were the Mana Stones containing magical energy that Grayson had brought and the Mana Stones that he had asked Amelia to get.

These were all to be used as power sources for the Singijeon (神機箭).

‘I didn’t know that Mana Stones would be used as a power source.’

Well, such explosive firepower couldn’t have come out of nowhere.

And even if Mana Stones were used as a power source.

That firepower was not normal.

The enormous firepower of the Singijeon, which devastates the area with ordinary arrows.

That was really enormous firepower.

It was to the point where he wondered how that was possible with just Mana Stones.

The chief court magician and the Dwarf chieftain would still be shocked and say that this didn’t make sense.

Anyway, to show off such firepower, even if Cian had the highest grade Mana Stones

There was a possibility that that magic power would be insufficient.

So Cian asked Amelia to get 4 low-grade Mana Stones just in case.

Like that, low-grade Mana Stones costing 200 Gold each.

And arrows of decent quality costing 10 Gold per 100.

Cian bought 4 Mana Stones and 2,000 arrows, and even emptied the remaining 1,000 Gold.

With this, all preparations were complete.

“That’s right…”

Cian put the Mana Stones back into his pocket.

And slowly turned his head towards the eerie gaze that he had been feeling since earlier.

That distant vision.

There, a man was quietly looking at Cian.

A man with a solid impression.

‘Lukas… was it?’

It was none other than Amelia’s escort knight, Lukas.

‘He was also said to be an Expert-level knight.’

That’s why there was considerable momentum in his eyes.

When Cian looked at him, Lukas slightly turned his gaze elsewhere.

Lukas, who naturally became a territory resident as Amelia became a territory resident of Ruben.

Lukas was also naturally participating in this battle.

‘To be exact, it’s because Amelia is following.’

Well, isn’t that the same thing.

Anyway, it meant that he could freely use an Expert-level knight.

“Let’s go.”

Cian nodded with satisfaction.

#

“Stop.”

Cian raised one hand.

At the same time, the soldiers following Cian stopped at once.

Then Grayson tilted his head and asked.

“Lord, we still need to approach the Orc village…”

“Shh.”

Cian raised his finger to cover his mouth.

Then, he carefully parted the bushes that were slightly obscuring his vision.

Between the slightly parted bushes.

Beyond that, countless Orcs were lined up.

Bulky muscles and ferocious pig faces.

Unlike ordinary 1m-sized Orcs, the over 2m giants were a perfect match for the word ferocious.

Wheeze.

Wheeze.

Only then did the Orc’s unique snorting sound faintly reach him on the wind.

“Uh, when did they get here…?”

Grayson looked greatly embarrassed.

And Hans, who was watching the scene.

‘He sensed that presence…’

Hans also couldn’t hide his inner surprise.

Hans glanced around.

And as expected.

The knight named Lukas was also quite surprised.

“We can’t get any closer.”

Soon, Cian’s voice was heard.

Cian looked at the soldiers.

Then the soldiers moved in unison and dragged something.

Something with wheels like a cart.

The name of this thing with countless holes was Singijeon (神機箭) [a type of Korean rocket arrow cart].

Of course, Hans, Grayson, and the soldiers were seeing it for the first time.

The soldiers dragged the Singijeon in front of Cian.

Then, they began to load the prepared arrows into the holes of the Singijeon.

Like that, a total of 200 arrows were all loaded.

Cian took out the Mana Stones and began to attach them to the Singijeon.

Click. Click.

The sound of fitting into the slot was heard, and a trembling sound of Woooong…!

And at the very moment when he inserted the Mana Stone containing magical energy last.

Kiiiiiiiiing…!

Suddenly, an enormous wave of magic power erupted from the Singijeon.

It was only a moment of embarrassment.
Pshushushushuk!!

Flames erupted from the Singijeon and sent all the loaded arrows soaring into the sky.

A shower of arrows covering the sky.

It poured down on the place where the Orc horde was far away.

Quack, quack, quack, quack!!!!

Kwaaaaaang!!!

The entire forest trembled with the enormous explosion.

A thick cloud of dust rose and obscured the vision.

The cloud of dust that had risen did not dissipate for a long time.

The scenery that was visible after quite a long time.

The trees that were broken and shattered.

The ruins that seemed to have overturned the entire earth.

The appearance of the Orc village that had been destroyed.

“······”

“······”

That was really… nothing but a wasteland.

The place where the shower of arrows had rained down was literally devastated.

Orcs?

They were not visible.

No, they were visible.

The sight of things that ‘were’ Orcs mixed with the ruins of the forest.

“······!!!”

“······!!!”

“······!!!”

There was no one who made a sound.

Every single person was staring at the destroyed scenery with their mouths wide open.

Soon, as if by appointment.

Everyone’s gaze turned to Cian, the culprit of this incident.

But why…

Why on earth.

“······ What did you do to the Singijeon…?”

Cian’s expression was also floating in the air [reflecting the shock and disbelief of the others].