My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 271

271. Homecoming (2)

“Where is everyone?”

Sian’s loud question echoed around him.

Yes, it was Sian’s voice.

The voice they heard was definitely Sian’s.

“Sian…? Is that really Sian?”

But Leah struggled to believe it.

The energy she was feeling right now…

More powerful… No, this energy that even frightened Leah.

There was no way this could be Sian’s.

Even so, the voice she heard was undeniably Sian’s.

Focusing her mind, she could sense Sian’s presence, though it was hidden by the overwhelming energy.

“What on earth…”

Leah’s mind reeled.

Soon, Leah silently broke through the conference room wall and stepped outside.

Maintaining her focus, Leah soared through the sky above Ruben.

And before long, in the distance…

Leah could see the source of the energy with her own eyes.

“Oh? Leah!”

Sian was waving happily.

Sian asked Leah, who was approaching, with a puzzled expression.

“Where did everyone go? You’re the only one here. I don’t see anyone at the guard tower either… Why is the atmosphere so desolate?”

Then Sian looked around.

He seemed genuinely clueless.

Certainly, he seemed no different from the Sian that Leah knew.

“How… how can this be…?”

Leah’s mind was in turmoil.

It was definitely Sian. There was no room for doubt. It was Sian.

It wasn’t someone disguised, or a demon [a mischievous or evil spirit] that had transformed.

But it didn’t feel like Sian.

Putting everything else aside, the energy she was feeling right now…

The presence that wouldn’t stop trembling.

What on earth was this pressure that seemed to crush her?

“Is that… Sian?”

Leah finally asked Sian with a trembling voice.

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

*It doesn’t seem like the Sian I knew…*

“How long has it been since I left…? Ah, is it because of this energy?”

Then Sian smiled awkwardly, as if he understood.

“Some monsters bothered me on the way. I was too lazy to deal with them one by one, so I briefly released my presence.”

And then Sian continued.

Leah’s mind remained in chaos.

The monsters of the Dark Forest were different from ordinary monsters.

The monsters that had undergone Over Drive had lost their reason.

Monsters had no fear.

Since they had no reason, they only recognized their target as prey.

But Sian had made those monsters tremble with fear.

That meant…

He stimulated the fear of instinct, not reason…

Was that even possible?

Of course, it was possible. Leah could do it instantly.

But that was only when she focused her mind.

So it was only possible when she had a clear intention and unleashed her power.

Absolutely, definitely.

She couldn’t make monsters terrified with just a simple presence.

There was no being in this world that could do that.

To be exact, that being no longer existed in this world.

The strongest predator that reigned over all things: a Dragon.

Only a dragon could suppress a target with its presence.

But a thousand years ago, all the dragons were hunted by demons.

Sian was originally human – wait a minute.

At that moment, a thought flashed through her mind.

Leah focused her mind on Sian’s energy, sharpening her senses.

And soon she was able to discern its identity.

*Dragon Pressure…?*

Dragon Pressure.

The authority that only the highest predators can have: Fear.

And the authority that can be called the pinnacle of that fear: Dragon Pressure.

Dragon Pressure was an absolute power that made even the instincts ingrained in living things cower.

The power of powers that could kill a being by suppressing its very existence with mere momentum.

Leah was sure because she had experienced it herself a thousand years ago.

This was definitely Dragon Pressure.

But it didn’t make sense at all.

That was because it was an authority that only a dragon could use.

*But how…?*

Whether he knew Leah’s question or not…

“It was a hassle, but I was worried that the beastmen would get hurt for no reason.”

Sian waved his hand lightly.

At the same time, the pressure that seemed to crush her vanished instantly.

Leah’s trembling also subsided.

*Beastmen…?*

But her mind was even more confused.

At Leah’s question, Sian moved to the side.

At the same time, *woogeuk, jjeojeok* [onomatopoeia for cracking and crumbling].

The ground Sian was standing on cracked and crumpled.

*What is it?* For a moment, she was curious.

The scenery behind Sian as he moved was even more spectacular.

The landscape was utterly devastated with every step.

The Dark Forest, where the ground was completely destroyed, stretched out behind him.

The trees growing there were all uprooted.

He was naturally creating a path.

And an enormous crowd was following that path.

Huh? Crowd…?

Leah narrowed her eyes.

The crowd was… a crowd.

However, the character for people (人) that means crowd contained a different meaning.

*Beastmen…?*

It was real beastmen.

Not just one or two.

There were thousands of them, befitting the word ‘crowd’.

*Ah, no…*

Leah’s head had given up on trying to understand.

And right then…

“My lord…?”

Kendrick’s voice came from behind Leah.

Behind Kendrick were Hans, Semir, Amelia, Grayson, Sera, Jerry, etc.

The main figures of Ruben rushed out.

“What, what is it…?”

“Who are they…?”

“What is this…?”

Each of them voiced their confusion in different ways.

Only one person…

“······!!!”

Only Semir looked utterly astonished.

Semir’s gaze was fixed on one place.

And the place where Semir’s gaze was fixed…

“He, Helen…”

It was none other than where Helen was.

At Semir’s murmur, Helen looked at Semir.

No, Helen’s gaze had been fixed on Semir even before that.

The two didn’t say anything.

They just stood there blankly, looking at each other.

Only their constantly trembling eyes betrayed their emotions.

*Tteobeok* [sound of footsteps].

Soon, Semir took a step forward.

Semir’s mouth was moving as if he wanted to speak.

But no sound came out.

*Tteobeok. Tteobeok.*

Semir just kept walking forward.

Helen also took steps towards Semir.

The pace quickened, and when the two finally met…

*Wharack!* [sound of embrace]

Only a silent hug filled the space.

The reunion of two people who had been waiting for over 100 years.

No words were spoken.

Only a silent embrace was visible.

Sian was watching them with a happy smile.

And people wondered what this was.

They really wondered what it was.

Helen, who was possessed by a demon.

Semir, who had been waiting for Helen.

It wasn’t that they didn’t know the situation of the two.

But suddenly, what was going on?

People blankly watched the reunion.

Soon, Hans came to his senses.

And then he approached Sian, who was smiling happily.

As he walked, many questions filled his mind.

Why haven’t you been in contact all this time?

And what on earth is going on?

How and why is Helen here?

What on earth has happened all this time?

When Hans stood in front of Sian like that…

Hans just opened and closed his mouth.

He didn’t know what to ask first.

Hans’s mind was too confused.

“Ah, Hans. How have you been?”

He had nothing to say in response to Sian’s greeting.

Sian said to Hans with a happy face.

“How’s Ruben? Nothing happened to Ruben while I was away…”

And he glanced at Hans’s face.

“I guess something happened.”

Sian nodded, answering himself.

He didn’t know the exact situation, but he could tell just by looking at Hans’s face.

Dark circles under his eyes and hollow eyes.

Skin that was dry and rough.

It was a face that told anyone something was wrong.

“I have a lot to tell you. I have a lot to ask you too.”

As expected, Hans nodded with a dark expression.

“First… let’s go into the lord’s castle and talk.”

“No, let’s talk here.”

Sian shook his head slightly.

“I want to, but if I go into Ruben now, the ground will all collapse.”

“What do you mean…”

*…are you saying?*, just as he was about to ask.

*Woogeuk, jjeojeok.*

Suddenly, a strange sound came from under Sian.

Hans lowered his gaze slightly.

Then the ground Sian was standing on was cracking.

Cracks began to form in all directions, as if the ground was drying up in a drought.

“What on earth… what happened?”

Hans had no choice but to ask.

Instead of answering, Sian looked behind Hans.

At the people blankly watching the reunion of Semir and Helen.

To be exact, the main figures of Ruben, including Kendrick.

“Everyone, come here.”

People snapped out of their daze at Sian’s words and gathered.

#

Sian explained to the people of Ruben what had happened in the meantime.

Because it was a public place and there were many things to deal with, he explained it as briefly as possible.

Even so, the explanation continued for quite a while.

Right after the explanation was roughly over.

“······”

“······”

“······”

The spirit had vanished from people’s faces.

Shock and astonishment. No matter what expression of surprise they wore, it couldn’t fully capture their feelings.

However, Semir was the only exception.

Semir was still hugging Helen silently over there.

While wondering if they had been hugging for too long.

At the same time, he thought that it was a reunion after 100 years, so it was understandable.

Anyway.

In particular, Leah and Kendrick’s shock was by far the most overwhelming.

*Dragon… real dragon…*

*Karze-nim…*

Leah and Kendrick were beings from a thousand years ago, like Karze.

Of course, Karze was quite young a thousand years ago.

So Sian didn’t know what kind of relationship Leah and Kendrick had.

But looking at them…

It seemed like they knew the name, even if it wasn’t a deep relationship.

*I felt the Dragon Pressure…*

*How is the lord now…*

That’s why the two were more surprised than anyone else about Sian’s existence.

Now that everyone was in shock and astonishment.

Sian looked around.

That’s because the words that should have been heard were not heard.

Specifically, Karis’s self-introduction was not heard.

Sian looked around to find Karis and quickly located him.

“······!”

Karis was gaping in astonishment.

Karis knew that Sian would inherit Karze’s power.

And he was directly involved in the beastmen incident.

Of course, there was no reason for Karis to be astonished by Sian’s explanation just now.

Even so, the reason why Karis was astonished was none other than Ruben.

Iron-clad walls. Well-organized roads.

And even high-level buildings that he couldn’t dare to evaluate.

“How… how can this be…”

Ruben was worthy of being called a paradise on earth.

The kingdom of the beastmen where they had lived.

It was a kingdom built with the power of the guardian, Karze, but it couldn’t be compared to Ruben now.

No, is there any territory in this world that can be compared to Ruben?

That’s why it wasn’t just Karis.

“Oh my goodness…”

“Is, is this our new home?”

“Really? Are we really going to live here?”

Thousands of beastmen gazed at the scenery of Ruben.

Regardless of their race, all the beastmen were astonished by the sight of Ruben.

Sian chuckled slightly at the beastmen’s reaction.

Following that, he subtly amplified his energy to stimulate Karis’s senses.

Karis, feeling Sian’s energy, was startled and looked at Sian.

Sian gestured with his eyes, and Karis cleared his throat.

“I am Karis, the chieftain of the beastmen.”

With a small cough, Karis greeted the people of Ruben.

Only then did the people come to their senses and return the greeting.

To be precise, their feeling of wonder was a bit stronger.

That’s because the beastmen had been hidden away for hundreds of years.

A race known to exist only in records.

Moreover, Karis was a rare dragonkin [a beastman with dragon-like features] among the beastmen.

It was a natural reaction.

-Are you… perhaps a descendant of Noemi?

Only Leia showed a sense of joy.

Leia asked Karis with curiosity.

The people of Ruben also watched with curious eyes.

In any case, Karis and the beastmen had now become residents of Ruben.

It was necessary to become friendly with the people of Ruben.

However, Sian shook his head and spoke.

“I’m sure you all have many questions, but let’s be satisfied with a brief introduction for now. We’ll have a detailed introduction later.”

There was something else that needed to be resolved first.

None other than the current state of Ruben.

He didn’t know the details, but Ruben was different from usual.

The overall atmosphere was desolate, and the buildings felt worn out.

In particular, Hans’s face was also unusual.

“Hans, what happened to Ruben?”

“That is…”

At Sian’s words, Hans slowly began his explanation.

It was quite a long explanation, but to summarize, it was simple.

Most of Ruben’s facilities had stopped working.

As a result, all of Ruben’s systems were paralyzed.

“Currently, even the guard towers are not functioning properly.”

“Ah.”

Sian let out a small exclamation at Hans’s words.

He wondered why it felt strange.

Even though Sian had come to Ruben, no one was visible.

Normally, there should have been a reaction from the guard towers long ago.

The surveillance of Ruben’s guard towers, which had been upgraded with countless cash investments.

Even Sian found it difficult to penetrate.

Moreover, in a situation where he had revealed the presence of a dragon, there was no room for argument.

But it was strange that there was no reaction at all.

Even though he had brought thousands of beastmen, he wondered why no one was visible.

‘Did the functions stop because there was no maintenance fee?’

It seemed that was the case.

Above all, Ruben was currently in the midst of a war with Elandur.

In short, the functions of the facilities were being pushed to their limits.

Perhaps that’s why they were even more overloaded.

That’s why war wasn’t just a game played with combat power.

Well, anyway.

To solve this problem, he needed gold.

In other words, there was a need to invest cash.

Sian looked around again.

And stopped his gaze on Amelia, a long-haired beauty with a blank expression.

Amelia, the head of the Ruben Brahe Merchant Guild, who was in charge of Ruben’s finances.

“Amelia?”

“Yes? Ah, yes. Lord.”

“I have some treasures that I brought from Karze’s residence this time. We’re quite short on gold right now, so could you sell them for me right away?”

“That’s not difficult, but…”

Amelia tilted her head without realizing it.

It was strange that he suddenly asked her to sell the treasures.

Above all, Sian’s words that he was short on gold.

Those words were a bit suspicious.

That’s because those words meant that the 500 million gold that Amelia had handed over from the Brahe Merchant Guild last time had all disappeared.

Of course, it had been a few months since then.

But was 500 million gold the kind of money that would disappear in a few months?

Amelia was very suspicious, but she didn’t pay much attention to it.

It wasn’t the first time she had heard those words.

Digging deeper would only destroy Amelia’s mind.

“How much did you bring?”

At Amelia’s question, Sian turned around and shouted.

“Lucas! We need to move the treasures, so tell the soldiers to come!”

“But Lord. The soldiers are currently busy moving Karze from the back, so they don’t have the capacity.”

“Ah, that’s right. That’s what happened.”

At Lucas’s reply, Sian exclaimed as if he had forgotten.

And the people wondered what he was talking about.

Moving Karze…?!

But they couldn’t continue their questions at Sian’s next words.

“Kendrick. Go and bring all the soldiers in Ruben. Um… just tell the Black Lion Knights to come out as well.”

-Understood, my lord.

It was a sudden order from Sian, but Kendrick didn’t add any complaints.

Just after Kendrick went inside Ruben.

“Now, everyone, step back.”

Sian pushed the people back a great distance.

The people were also questioning this, but they followed Sian’s words.

When a space about the size of a training ground was created.

Sian untied the pouch hanging from his waist.

“Kkeueueueuk…!”

And he made all sorts of faces as he turned the pouch inside out.

For a moment, they thought, ‘Why is he making such a fuss just to turn that pouch inside out…’

Waaaaaaah.

Something poured out of the overturned pouch like a waterfall.

Rubies, sapphires, diamonds, etc. These gems were basic.

In addition, all sorts of unusual weapons and things they couldn’t identify.

All the treasures of the world poured out of the pouch!

“…!!”

“…!!”

The eyes of the people widened at once.

Not only the people of Ruben but also the beastmen in the back.

Even Aria, who already knew this fact, widened her eyes.

Because there were really, really, really, really many.

And they kept pouring out endlessly!!

The person who was most shocked among them was definitely Amelia.

“W, what is this…”

Because she knew. Amelia could vaguely know the value of the treasures that were pouring out now.

So Amelia wondered what it was.

She really wondered what it was.

No, beyond wondering what it was, she wondered if what she was seeing was reality!

It wasn’t a joke. So it wasn’t an exaggeration either.

Since the days of the Brahe Merchant Guild, the largest merchant guild that dominated the empire.

Until now, after meeting Sian, who spent money like it was evaporating.

“N, no way…”

Amelia had never seen such a pile of treasures!

Waaaaaaah.

Even in that moment of shock, the treasures kept pouring out.

Beyond a mountain, another mountain.

When dozens of mountains filled the front of Ruben.

“Hoo…!”

The treasures that had been pouring out of the pouch stopped with Sian’s panting breath.

“How much do you think it will all be worth?”

At Sian’s question, Amelia… well.

She didn’t know how to answer.

But Amelia soon calculated the value of the treasures with a dazed expression.

There were so many that it wasn’t accurate, but…

“Roughly 1 billion gold… it’s definitely enough, is that right?”

Amelia ended up blurting out the words.

No, what the hell is this?

Even as she spoke, Amelia doubted herself.

1 billion. 1 billion!

-My lord.

At that moment, Kendrick’s voice was heard from inside.

-I brought the soldiers and the members…?

And Kendrick’s dumbfounded voice was heard next.

Looking at that place, Kendrick’s blue eyes were floating in the air.

The sea of treasures spread out before his eyes.

It was the face of a Death Knight covered by a helmet, but.

Kendrick was making a ‘what is this?’ expression.

“What, what is this…”

“It’s not a toy…?”

Many soldiers who followed him were also the same.

Thousands of soldiers were all blankly looking at the sea of treasures that unfolded.

Knowing or not knowing such feelings.

“Kendrick. Move all of this to the commercial district with the soldiers.”

Sian was just calmly giving orders.

At Sian’s command, Kendrick and the soldiers carefully moved the treasures.

Even while moving, they had expressions of ‘is this right…?’, but they didn’t stop working.

“If I go into Ruben with the inventory, the Ruben foundation will collapse. It’s troublesome, but please work hard!”

Sian shouted, encouraging the soldiers.

How much time had passed like that.

After many twists and turns, they were able to move all the piled-up treasures.

“T, then… I’ll try to process the treasures right away.”

Amelia slowly moved her steps.

Even while moving, she wondered if this was really right.

So, she wondered if the scene she had just seen was reality.

But she grabbed her mind, thinking, ‘Because it’s Sian.’

Because it was Sian, who was not enough to be called a money-crazed person.

Because it was Sian, who was crazy about money.

Because it was Sian, who used money like it was evaporating but also gathered money like he was doing alchemy.

Amelia was able to hold on to her mind until the end.

So.

Waaaaaaah.

Until she heard this sound again from behind her.

Amelia’s steps stopped abruptly.

Her mouth opened involuntarily, and she had a thought that maybe, just maybe.

Amelia slowly turned around.

And.

Waaaaaaah.

She could see the scene of treasures pouring out again!!

Amelia’s thoughts stopped at once.

These treasures that are pouring out now.

And Hoo…! Sian’s question of ‘How much is this?’

Amelia had to say ‘1 billion is definitely enough’ to that question again!!

“N, no… no… no, this is…”

Amelia froze in place like a stone statue.

And oh my goodness.

“It’s still as heavy as ever.”

A truly terrible sound was heard in Amelia’s ear.

Amelia’s head moved jerkily.

It moved towards Sian like a doll with a broken string.

Surely that wasn’t the end…?!

Eh, surely he’s just saying that─.

Waaaaaaah.

The treasures poured out again.

Amelia’s mind went blank for a moment.

But she was able to regain her senses quickly.

Sian is a crazy being who spends 500 million gold in just a few months.

It was a truly unbelievable sight, but she had been trained.

Amelia had been thoroughly trained by Sian.

This much couldn’t break Amelia’s mind.

Waaaaaaah.

Amelia was able to endure the pouring 3 times.

But. But…

“It’s still heavy.”

Waaaaaaah.

Her mind reached its limit with the pouring 4 times.

Her consciousness faded away, and her vision flickered.

And the 5th Waaaaaaah.

Like that, 6 times, 7 times Waaaaaaah.

When an additional 8 times Waaaaaaah was heard.

“Ah, ah…? Ah?”

Amelia finally broke down.

She kept tilting her head left and right, denying the phenomenon in front of her.

Each time Sian poured out treasures, they were worth about 1 billion.

So the treasures that have been poured out so far.

Since it was the 8th time in total, about 8 billion had been poured out.

But oh my goodness, really.

Waaaaaaah.

The 9th Waaaaaaah was being heard now!

Even the flow of time is no longer recognized.

It’s just that her mind hasn’t been cut off.

The broken Amelia was no longer in her right mind.

And the moment the 10th Waaaaaaah was heard.

So, the moment the expected amount exceeded 10 billion gold.

Ah.

Amelia let out a small moan.

What kind of… person is he?

What kind of person is he? No, is he really a person?

Now… I don’t know either.

Thud.

Amelia’s broken mind was finally destroyed.

Amelia collapsed to the floor.

As if fully sympathizing and understanding Amelia’s feelings.

Ting!

《Kkueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!》

Kkekodak.

The mobile lord’s mind was also cut off.