Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 345

Not good.

As I’ve emphasized repeatedly, Sion had no intention of dying, nor of losing.

If he failed here, it wasn’t that he couldn’t face the people he had stepped on to get here, but rather that he would be so ashamed of himself that he would go insane.

‘But it looks like it will take some time, and the people here will suffer quite a bit in the meantime….’

Managing public sentiment was absolutely essential, and especially confirming pre-existing connections was even more so.

While the Second Division took a brief rest, Sion spent time touring Klausen, visiting those who could lend him strength or be helpful in the future, and greeting them.

For example.

“Commander.”

“Young Lord Sion.”

Lion, the knight commander of Klausen County, was middle-aged but still had a sharp edge. He was the most supported person in the county’s knight order after Lichten Border Lord and Sion, so securing his loyalty was the way to control the county’s military force without issues.

“I’ve heard the story. I heard you are now the vice-commander and are going to fight against the Holy Prussen.”

“That’s how it turned out. And being a vice-commander is just about serving Marquis Volkov well, so it’s not particularly difficult.”

“Being too humble can sometimes be a poison. If the vice-commander position wasn’t a big deal, the Border Lord wouldn’t have smiled like that.”

“…My father smiled?”

“Yes. The Border Lord himself went through all sorts of hardships to rise to the position of Border Lord when he was your age, but he said he was very envious that his son was already a vice-commander at that age.”

*This is all a position I earned through hard work! So don’t say things like that!* Sion chuckled inwardly.

At the same time, hearing it from Knight Commander Lion made him realize how great his achievements were.

Just looking at Ludwig, you can see what kind of life a noble family’s son in his early 20s lives.

Their destiny is to strive and work hard to prove to the previous head of the family that they are the best successor to lead the family in the future.

If they don’t please the head of the family, they could be pushed out of the successor position under the guise of benefiting the family and face a miserable end.

Successors of noble families had to engage in a bloody succession battle, but Sion was far from that; rather, the head of the family was eager to hand over the position to him.

“The family’s knights are now very enthusiastic about Young Lord Sion, unlike before. After realizing that everything you’ve shown so far was an act of self-deprecation to achieve the perfection you have now, they are in awe of your insight and thorough preparation.”

“That’s a relief then.”

In fact, none of that was true, but Sion accepted it very casually.

In the past, this body’s craziness and foolishness had nothing to do with self-deprecation, insight, or preparation, but there was no need to correct that.

Delusion was like a magic that made people believe in this side more than any words could.

“I’m sorry to say this to the Border Lord, but I honestly hope you will take over the Border Lord position as soon as possible.”

“Huh? Why are you saying that, Knight Commander Lion?”

“I want to be able to say proudly later: ‘I was the knight commander who served Border Lord Sion Klausen, the hero of the kingdom, up close!’ That’s what I want to say.”

“My father would be upset.”

“Ahahaha! He’s just teasing me. He said that since you don’t seem to want to accept it, I’ll have to give up my position as knight commander and leave before I get too old!”

At Knight Commander Lion’s words, Sion smiled along with him.

Afterward, he followed the knight commander and watched the Klausen County’s knights training.

It was an important schedule as it was both an event that a family’s successor should show and a way to emphasize that he was paying attention to the knights.

—You must fulfill your duties. I will also complete all the work I must do as a hero of the kingdom and stand before you with dignity!

—Saying embarrassing things like that is truly the ‘best’ way to win the hearts of the knights.

After confirming the morale of the knights, Sion moved his steps and could see an old man approaching from afar.

‘Right, that old man was there too.’

A person of the same age as Lido, or rather, even older than him.

Unlike Knight Commander Lion or Lichten Border Lord, who could still be called middle-aged, the butler, who had a truly ‘old’ appearance, noticed Sion approaching him and greeted him with an elegant gesture.

“Young Lord Sion. I heard that you arrived in Klausen, but I was too busy with work because there were many guests who came with you. I should have come to greet you first, but I can only apologize.”

Looking at this alone, he only looks like a skilled butler, but he is an old man who once worked as a royal secret guard knight and was called a strongman.

Even recently, he was wielding a sword instead of a kettle and teacup, and cutting down enemies, a fearsome butler similar to Lido, Sebastian.

‘Now that my identity is all known to him, he’s still acting like that. He’s such a professional.’

A neat suit, spotless white gloves, and a neatly trimmed mustache.

Sion couldn’t help but want to give a thumbs up to Sebastian’s appearance, which could be said to be a perfect example of a flawless butler.

“I have returned home, but I will have to leave again soon.”

“You are busy.”

“There are so many places looking for me. What can I do? This is the path I have chosen.”

At those words, Sebastian chuckled.

In just over a year, a person has completely changed.

Whether he has truly matured and grown, or whether he was originally such a young man but was hiding his true self even from those close to him and deceiving himself, even he can no longer know.

However, one thing is certain: there is no longer any concern about the Klausen Border Lord territory.

Even the late king, as well as the current king, Vanessa, are subtly relying on him, so it would be nonsense to say that he cannot lead the Klausen Border Lord territory.

“You have suffered a lot during that time, Sebastian.”

When Sion said something that made the atmosphere strange, the butler slightly widened his eyes and waited for Sion’s next words.

The word ‘during that time’ is a prelude to saying that it is okay to stop now.

Or it was a word for asking him to suffer more in the future.

“So, what I’m saying is, I hope that you will continue to take charge of the Klausen family and use your abilities, and fulfill your duties, as you have been doing.”

“…Are you talking about my abilities and duties as a butler?”

“I’m talking about your abilities and duties as Sebastian.”

Butler Sebastian, and former Royal Secret Guard Knight Sebastian.

The old man immediately noticed that he was asking him to work hard in all those areas.

He had never said such a thing before, but if he was saying this, Sebastian roughly grasped how difficult the battlefield that man was heading to from now on and how great the aftermath of the war that Klausen would face would be.

“You worry too much, Young Lord. I will continue to stay and work here unless I judge that my body is too rotten to move anymore, or unless I receive orders from the heads of the family. Even if you don’t like me, you won’t be able to kick me out unless you take over the Border Lord position, so you don’t have to worry about my duties.”

If the original Sion Klausen had heard these words, he would have shouted that he was ignoring him because he was not the Border Lord.

However, the current Sion knew exactly what Sebastian was trying to say, so he smiled, nodded, and moved to his room.

‘The Nudia royal family will eventually plan to resist, using the Vasura County as their last base, unless it is a truly urgent situation.

There is nothing more unsightly than a king leaving his country, and Nudia land is much more advantageous in order to properly handle those who are still resisting in various places.’

Eve will also try to avoid crossing over to Hispania land at all costs.

The two countries have shaken off their old feelings and said that they will join hands and move forward into the future, but Hispania and Nudia have been fighting each other with spears and swords until recently.

In that situation, if the Nudia royal family and core noble forces, as well as refugees, suddenly rush in.

No matter what the higher-ups say, the people below them will not be able to accept it, and it was obvious that there would only be friction and disharmony.

‘In other words, the front line must be limited to the center of Nudia. If the west is pushed back, the opinion that we should eventually escape to Hispania will gain strength, so it must be done even more.’

The war must continue and end on Nudia land.

It was a pity for them, but in the first place, their future was to be burned to ashes without a single survivor.

From Sion’s point of view, he was saving those dead lives, so he thought it was natural for them to hand over at least the bundles they were holding to him.

“Master?”

Sion sighed at the familiar voice that suddenly came from the front.

He was so preoccupied with various thoughts that he didn’t notice that Rishikida had arrived a little while ago and was calling him and waiting for him.

“You look worried.”

“Rather than worried, it’s just….”

Sion was about to throw out any words, but Rishikida’s expression was not good.

Sometimes it might be better to tell the truth and use it to reassure him rather than pretending to be strong, and Sion thought that now was the time.

“…Okay. To be honest, I should say I’m worried. However, the reason for that worry is completely different from what you think, Rishi. I’m just worried that things aren’t going as planned and are getting a little twisted, but I’m not worried that they’ll fail completely.”

“Is that so?”

At those words, Rishikida smiled gently and nodded slightly.

“I’m not worried. Because I’ve seen everything you’ve done so far. I know that the person who has done everything that no one in the world would dare to do is my master.”

“That’s a relief. I was wondering if Rishi would be worried too.”

“…To be honest, I’ve had something to worry about a little while ago.”

As expected of a woman who can’t lie, her facial expressions were clumsy.

*Okay, let’s hear what this girlish knight is worried about this time.* As Sion thought so and looked at her as if to tell her to speak, Rishikida made a troubled expression and suddenly looked around.

Whack, whack—.

‘What’s wrong with this woman?’

Rishikida thoroughly scanned every corner of the castle hallway, from beginning to end, to the point where you could hear the sound.

Sion was about to open his mouth to ask why, wondering if this knight was suddenly going to say that she had discovered a minion of the Holy Prussen or the Celestial Race inside the castle.

Pooh—.

“…?”

Sion looked at Rishikida, who suddenly hugged him lightly, and exclaimed, “Huh?”

For reference, Rishikida was somewhat aware of her position as an escort knight, so she rarely revealed her inner feelings unless Sion approached her first.

Even if that happened, the limit was only in a room where only she and Sion were present.

There had never been a time when she had actively collided like this in a completely open place like now, he could guarantee.

“Rishi?”

“J, just stay like this for a moment. It’ll be just a moment.”

“No, why are you suddenly doing this….”

“I, I’m sorry. Master. But I can’t help it!”

“So what exactly can’t you help?”

It would be better if she could explain it clearly, but Rishikida was just hugging him and screaming ‘Eugh!’ repeatedly, so Sion was really thinking about all sorts of things about why this knight was doing this, or if she had eaten something wrong.

“…”

“…”

Thanks to that, Sion failed to notice the gazes of the two women who were secretly watching him from the end of the hallway.

“I’m suddenly annoyed.”

“Why are you suddenly annoyed?”

“Wasn’t she the woman who was saying that she couldn’t do it, and that Sion would be in trouble if anyone saw it, until just a moment ago?”

“So?”

“But she’s doing so well, as if she’s showing us!”

At Zann’s grumbling, Lilith gave her a look as if there was something wrong with that. She just hugged Sion and smiled whenever she wanted, so the words ‘as if she’s showing us’ didn’t resonate with her.

Of course, from Zann’s point of view, she wasn’t always next to Sion, and Sion was Sion, but she was also the leader of the northern tribes, ‘Temujin’ [a title similar to “Khan” or “chieftain”], so she didn’t have the freedom to act affectionately like that anywhere.

‘Well, it was fun, so it’s okay.’

If she was particularly attached to the physical relationship with Sion, Rishikida was a woman who reacted quite sensitively to every little collision, although she liked that too.

Lilith had realized quite a while ago that she looked like a very cold knight on the outside, but inside, she had a very delicate girlish sensibility.

So, she deliberately pushed her back and whispered to her to win such small and trivial but very big happiness with her own hands, and Rishikida, who was crying at first, saying how could she commit such rudeness, eventually fell completely for Lilith’s words, ‘You’ll be pushed back by other women if you keep doing that?’

‘I had fun with Sion a while ago anyway… I should be kind this time and give way.’

Other women would have entered into a subtle competitive structure, but this time the opponent was Zann.

Unlike the others who were always next to Sion, she was a woman who returned to the north to fulfill her duties for her other position.

At the same time, she was also very helpful to Sion, so from Lilith’s point of view, Sion had no choice but to manage the morale of the women, just as he was managing the morale of the various people of Klausen.

‘Originally, it should be noisy because there are so many kids, but several are missing, so I can share some. So, take this opportunity to take it properly.’

Lilith thought so and opened her mouth in a subtle tone.

“Don’t grumble like that. I’m going to teach you something very good.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Do you know what kind of being I am?”

“I know you’re a demon.”

“More specifically. Tell me what I am at the same time as being a demon.”

“…Did you say you were the queen of the succubi [female demons who seduce men]?”

“That’s right. I am the queen of unique races that seduce the hearts of the opposite sex and gain power from there. So, our people have a knack for stealing the hearts of the opposite sex. So, what I’m saying is, I’ll help you.”

At those words, Zann blinked her eyes, wondering if she had heard something wrong.

Even if they were not in a hostile relationship, all women were ultimately in a competitive relationship, whether they liked it or not.

In that situation, Lilith suddenly came forward to help her, so she seemed a little embarrassed.

“It’s nothing. Just go to my room with Sion right now while Rishi is stalling like that. Just do what I tell you to do when you get in, and it’ll all be over?”

“Suddenly what… Why are you helping me?”

“Is the reason why you give water to someone who is dying of thirst important? I’m not poisoning you to kill you; I’m just giving you cool cold water and telling you to drink it, so are you going to argue about that? If you don’t like it, I’ll drink it?”

Lilith’s words touched and passed Zann’s impulsive parts.

When Zann shook her head as if she absolutely didn’t like that at the provocation, Lilith smiled and continued.

“It’s almost dinner time in a little while. I’ll prepare everything for you, so don’t worry and just follow this sister—.”

“…”

Zann was dissatisfied with the sudden appearance of a sister, but anyway, the person who was going to help her was Lilith, who was Sion’s clear first woman and the most powerful rival.

Since she was the one who needed help in the current situation, she decided to follow her for now, counting it as a pass.

―――――――Afterword―――――――

Recommendations are always a great help…!

Recommendation…!