Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 73

Ah, so this is what they call ‘sacrifice.’

‘One characteristic of bad guys:

They always want to retaliate when they’re hit.’

And because of that, they tend to fall into two categories:

Those who are somewhat smart just stay quiet and look for another way.

Those who are a bit lacking in brains try to retaliate with ridiculous schemes.

Obvious moves, which they gleefully employ,

Confident that it’s their trump card.

‘Viscount Conean, thinking I’d use the money you gave me for my personal gain… You are a true legend. You moronic bastard.’

To proceed with matters after returning to Klausen, money was absolutely necessary.

That’s why I briefly focused on that aspect, but I wasn’t foolish enough to swallow something that was obviously poison.

Rather, Zion had set a trap in reverse.

Making it seem as if he was obsessed with money, leading them to believe he would use it all for himself without thinking of anything else.

“I intend to use all the money I received from that man as travel expenses for the demi-humans who were freed through this demi-human girl, to return to their homeland, and also as rewards.

It’s not like they live completely isolated from our world; they occasionally trade and exchange letters.”

It was an easy act.

After receiving all the gold coins, he handed them over to Winnie Portable, the princess of the Myo-eun Tribe [a tribe of demi-humans with feline features] and the girl chosen by lightning.

He bowed and apologized.

Though his apology wouldn’t erase the man’s sins or the evil he had committed.

It wouldn’t undo the pain you, your people, and countless other demi-humans had suffered.

Saying that this was something that had to be done because he was a ‘human,’ a being with reason.

“That’s right.

This human man returned it all.

And he took care of all those who were hurt or in poor condition!

So he is my benefactor!

He is the benefactor of our Myo-eun Tribe!

I won’t stand for anyone who touches him!”

Perhaps thinking that Schumacher was trying to harm Zion, Winnie crouched down as if she would pounce on him at any moment, and then… Kyaaak!

She was making a noise, a fierce hiss.

“···Is that true, Myo-eun Tribe girl?”

“Are you doubting my words?

You humans?

You who lie with every word and act with hypocrisy?

How dare you doubt me!

Kyaaaang!”

“I am not doubting.

I merely wish to confirm.

You too must know that this is an important matter?”

At Schumacher’s cold voice, Winnie slightly lowered her guard and looked at Zion, who was standing behind her.

Then, she wagged her tail for a moment, snorted, and opened her mouth.

“He’s weak, slow, and insignificant as a human, but there are no lies in his words and actions.

Not only me, but all the members of my tribe staying in this castle will testify to it.”

Having said that much, Schumacher nodded and looked at Zion.

“Please forgive my rudeness, Young Master.

I suspected you without knowing you well.”

“It is only natural.

Rather, I was prepared to receive such misunderstandings, so Vice-Commander, you have no reason to worry at all.”

As Zion smiled and waved his hand, the royal knights standing around nodded as if they knew this would happen.

A war hero who led the war against Nudia to victory, a nobleman’s son who jumped into a hellfire to save a soldier, and in a place where no one would criticize him for boasting about his exploits and victories, he instead reminded everyone of who the real heroes were and maintained his humility.

Moreover?

It turned out that he had a fatal condition that prevented him from manipulating mana itself, yet he had lived and fought without any problems, and even defeated Ibe, who was called the Chess King of Nudia. Zion Klausen had accomplished so many amazing things at just twenty years old.

‘Moreover, he plays the lute and expresses the aspirations of a brave man in moving songs! He is outstanding even in artistic pursuits!’

Knights tended to have fantasies about art because they emphasized martial arts every day, and Zion perfectly targeted that aspect.

A war hero who is also excellent at playing instruments and singing.

Isn’t that the image of a true hero that only appears in novels!

“More importantly, Viscount Conean.

In the end, you were just a foolish nobleman who was thoroughly played by Young Master Zion Klausen from beginning to end.”

“Ah, no.

That’s….”

Viscount Conean couldn’t say anything, flustered as he listened to Zion’s story.

He thought Zion wanted money so badly that he could use it as a weakness, and he gave it away without hesitation, but it turned out that Zion was going to give it all to the demi-humans as an apology and a minimum courtesy!

“You!

If it weren’t for the rules of humans, I would have torn you apart and killed you!

Kyaaak!”

Winnie had been causing a ruckus, saying she would kill Viscount Conean with her own hands just a few days ago.

However, Zion stepped in and persuaded her that it was right to follow the laws of humans in the human world, and Winnie grumbled but eventually followed Zion’s opinion.

There was no other reason.

She just wanted to observe the human man who had saved her and her tribe a little more closely.

She was curious about what kind of human he was to cause such an amazing thing to save them.

“It seems that even talking to you any further, Viscount Conean, would be a disgrace to the kingdom.”

“Wa, wait.

Not yet….”

“It would be best to be careful when you speak from now on.

What will end with the punishment of you and a few of your retainers may turn into a great disaster that affects your entire family.”

Because he violated the laws of the kingdom, the viscount would have his title taken away, and he and all his household would become commoners, but at least Viscount Conean’s family could escape severe punishment.

This was Hispania, where direct punishment was only given to the person who committed the crime, unless it was treason against the royal family.

“I have nothing more to say to Viscount Conean.

Let’s go, Young Master Zion.

I’m afraid that the disgusting smell coming from that man will stain your clothes if we stay any longer.”

Viscount Conean wanted to say something, but he realized that Zion was glaring at him as if to say that if he kept doing nonsense, he would use every means to make him regret opening his mouth.

At that moment, he closed his eyes and decided to accept reality.

At least, at least his wife and children had to live safely.

―

Vice-Commander Schumacher was now completely persuaded.

Even if Viscount Conean said anything, he would report to the royal palace, convinced that it was all a lie, armed with the justice and compassion for the weak advocated by chivalry.

From the beginning, Viscount Conean wouldn’t do anything more because he was holding the lives of his family, who could live quietly, hostage.

Those who hurt other people’s bodies and minds were, in fact, psychopaths who cherished their own bodies, minds, and the safety of their families.

“Lo, Lord.”

“Young Master Zion.”

As Schumacher was sent away to look at the demi-human slaves, Rishikida and Lucia’s eyes sparkled as they looked at Zion, who had entered the best room in the Conean estate.

Seeing their expressions as if asking when he had thought of such a thing and put it into action, Zion scratched the back of his neck and smiled bashfully as if he was embarrassed.

“I was wondering whether to explain it to you two, but I was a little embarrassed. Ahaha….”

*Embarrassed my ass.*

If Viscount Conean had surrendered early and hadn’t done anything, Zion would have devoured all that money.

Of course, he had predicted that the man would never stay still and had moved accordingly, so today’s result was possible.

“Lucia.

I heard that many demi-humans are still showing extreme stress and self-harm.”

“Yes.

That bad man tormented those women so thoroughly that half of them immediately regained their sanity, but the other half are still confused and afraid.

Poor people….”

This was where Lucia’s nature was revealed once again.

Most humans on the continent tend to regard demi-humans as just ‘demi-humans,’ and they don’t equate them with themselves, but rather look down on them.

You can see it even in Vice-Commander Schumacher just now.

Even he, who holds the honorable position of Vice-Commander of the Royal Knights and has compassion and pity for the weak, didn’t he have a look full of displeasure when he saw Winnie?

‘The kingdom thinks that demi-humans only cause chaos while living within their territory, rather than helping with taxes or military power, so it’s natural that they don’t want to keep them close.’

Besides, they are all temperamental—no, let me correct that.

Who would want to look kindly on those damn temperamental guys?

It would be a blessing if they didn’t keep them at a distance.

“Would it be difficult, but could you go and take a little more care of them, Lucia?

Since we’re going to safely send them back to their homes anyway, I want to send them back in a little better condition.”

“Of course!

How could I refuse Young Master Zion’s heart!

Rather, I was wondering if I should ask Young Master to help them even more!”

“That’s a relief then,” Zion muttered, and asked Rishikida, who was standing next to him, to escort Lucia.

He was able to persuade her by saying that taking care of the demi-humans was the same as taking care of himself, so protecting Lucia’s safety was the same as protecting himself.

“Then I’ll be back!”

“I’ll be back, Master.”

With that, the two women also moved to the place where the demi-human slaves were receiving treatment, and Zion, who was left alone, opened the door and entered.

“You’re here?”

“Yes, Lilith-nim [using ‘-nim’ is a sign of respect in this context].”

“You’ve had a hard day.”

She didn’t know when she had been waiting inside.

Lilith, who was sitting on a chair, crossed her legs elegantly and continued.

“Really… when I look at you, I’m not sure who the demon is.”

“Why?”

“Isn’t the reason why you humans hate us demons because of that?

Because we are evil, accustomed to deceiving others, and living only for our own benefit.”

“That’s what they say.”

Of course, Zion knew better than anyone that demons were not really such a race.

If you ask who the most evil people are, Zion could confidently name two races.

Humans and the Celestial Race.

“But when I look at you, I feel like the demons’ pride is falling to the ground.

What are you?

Are you really a nobleman’s son?

Where did you learn those thoughts and words?”

In fact, Lilith’s suspicion was somewhat reasonable.

He had been stuck in the Frontier Count’s territory until now, and he was only twenty years old.

But the things he said and did were more like an old fox who had lived for decades.

Even she, a demon, was impressed, so it was a situation that was strange enough to be considered.

“Lilith-nim also knows that I don’t have mana, right?”

“Of course.”

“Manipulating mana is almost the most basic thing in this world.”

“Isn’t it?”

“Then imagine what preparations a guy who can’t even do that basic thing would have made since he was young to survive, and how he would have done it.”

“Uh….”

“You’ll do anything and think anything to survive.

I just lived through my childhood fiercely like that.”

In fact, Zion Klausen doesn’t know how he lived when he was young.

Lilith doesn’t know, Lucia doesn’t know, Rishikida doesn’t know, and Kim Yu-hyun doesn’t know.

Even Zion Klausen’s father, Frontier Count Lichten, doesn’t know, and Sebastian only started to look after him a little after Zion became a teenager.

What thoughts he had, what decisions he made, and how he acted when he was young, only the writer who set up and created all of this would know.

“I’m just a human struggling to live.

Lilith-nim is helping me with that, and she is a very important and precious person.”

“···Ah, ah?

You, you bastard!

I, I told you not to come in so suddenly like that!”

“Were you nervous?”

“Sh, shut up!

Ah, damn it!

Why is my heart acting up again!

It’s annoying!”

Her heart almost dropped.

That was Lilith’s inner thoughts.

Even though she had no choice but to show a weak side due to the contract of servitude, it was not easy for her to endure if he suddenly launched such a strong attack that struck her heart.

‘Really!

Why am I like this!

I decided to move forward as a reliable older sister, but if I do this, it looks like I’m clinging to him, so I’m embarrassed!

You crazy bitch, get a grip and hold on to your heart!’

Lilith was hitting her head with her own hands.

Thump thump!

Thump thump thump!

…But the thumping sound she was hearing now was not the sound Lilith was making with her head.

“···Huh?”

A noise from outside the door.

Someone was knocking roughly on the door.

‘Who is it?

Lucia and Rishikida went to look after the demi-human slaves, and even though Kim Yu-hyun has a bit of a reckless streak, he wouldn’t knock this hard.

Lilith-nim is here, though?’

Thinking that, Zion opened the door and had to stare blankly ahead for a moment.

Not because someone had come to visit, but because he couldn’t see anyone.

‘…What is it?’

Tilting his head, he was about to close the door again.

“Where are you looking, human man.”

A sulky girl’s voice was heard from below.

When Zion lowered his head, a cat—no, a girl—was squatting in place like a cat, looking up at him, came into view.

“Uh….”

“Can I come in, human man?”

While asking for permission, the Myo-eun Tribe girl, Winnie, was already stepping lightly into the room.

Then, the moment she discovered Lilith sitting in the chair.