The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 125

16. Disguise: The Perfect Scoundrel

After bringing the Elden Kingdom under my control,

With the help of King Rebecca, I dispatched exploration teams throughout the country.

The purpose was to search for and discover the Golden Branch.

We continued the intense search for months, but without much success.

Even with Sasha’s help, we scoured the Eastern Great Forest, but there was no Golden Branch.

The same was true for Liang, ruled by Mayor Yuron, and the northern region ruled by Karina.

At this point, I came to a conclusion.

There is no Golden Branch in the Elden Kingdom.

We’ve already found all the Golden Branches that were originally here, and to find more, we need to go abroad.

The Celestial Demon also agreed with this opinion.

-The aura of the Golden Branch can be felt from a considerable distance.

Even while training, my mind was filled with thoughts of leaving for foreign lands.

At this point, Sloth came and told me that the Twilight Church was targeting the entire family, including me.

If I had to be tied down to the estate to prepare for the Twilight’s attack, it would be a significant loss.

So, the conclusion I came to was disguise: officially announcing my death, even though I wasn’t actually dead.

“This way, Sloth has completed his mission. The Twilight Church won’t focus all their forces on the estate, so Sebastian and Zion’s lives can be saved. And since I’m not actually dead, isn’t it a win-win for everyone?”

Sloth pondered for a moment, resting his chin on his hand, then nodded.

“It’s a proposal that meets everyone’s requirements, as you say. But the moment your survival is exposed, it will come back as an even greater backlash. How do you intend to deal with that?”

I need to do some smooth-talking here.

“Sloth, use that clever brain of yours to calculate carefully. It’s only been three years since the name Henon spread across the continent. Already, I’ve reached your heels. Three years is this much, but how will Henon change after ten years?”

It’s a gamble, but a gamble based on evidence.

My growth rate right now is unprecedented.

If this pace doesn’t slow down, I can look beyond Sword Master, of course.

Would the Twilight Church still be scary then? Shouldn’t the Twilight Church be afraid of me instead?” I asked, and Sloth understood immediately.

“That’s quite a plausible proposal. If only Sebastian agrees, I don’t mind. I’ll tell the Pope that I killed you.”

“Young Master, you don’t have to go that far! My daughter and I are prepared to cut down the forces of evil for you.”

I knew Sebastian would object.

So, I had a customized answer prepared for him.

“It’s not just about the two of us. If a full-scale war breaks out with the Twilight, countless innocent people in the territory will die. I’ve made this decision to prevent unnecessary sacrifices.”

I even brought up the people of the territory, so Sebastian had nothing to say.

He knelt down on one knee.

“I was foolish and couldn’t fathom your great intentions. Please forgive me.”

“It’s alright. I always remember the hard work of the Head Butler and Zion. Go to my father and tell him everything that happened today.”

Sloth’s visit started with a fierce battle but ended with a normal conversation.

Sloth spoke to me from behind as I returned to the estate.

“Henon Lloyd, I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Our Twilight Church is looking for a Druid. And you are a Druid.”

“That’s right.”

“The Pope said that Druids can know the location of the Golden Branch from birth. So, the Church has been constantly searching for Druids, especially since he said that gathering all the Golden Branches can break the seal of the Demon King. Is this true?”

Druids can know the location of the Golden Branch?

If that were the case, I wouldn’t have gone through all this trouble.

I would have quickly found all seven from the start and become a Super Ultra Druid.

More than anything, the Golden Branch is not a key to unlock the Demon King’s seal but a key to unlock the Celestial Demon’s seal.

The Demon King was sealed by the dragon Kyle, who is in eternal sleep, and I am currently raising Coco, the next generation seal keeper.

I couldn’t tell him all this information in detail, so I extracted only the facts and told him briefly.

“I am a Druid, and I am currently looking for the Golden Branch, but I don’t have the ability to sense its location. Also, the Demon King’s seal and the Golden Branch are not related.”

Sloth surprisingly agreed easily.

“I had a feeling. The Pope lied. I don’t know why he deceived us, though.”

This was unexpected for me too.

Did the Twilight Pope give wrong orders because he didn’t know?

It was unlikely that someone like the Twilight Pope would be misinformed about this information.

Then why is the Pope so obsessed with the Golden Branch and Druids?

‘I can’t know for now.’

Right now, it’s time to worry about how to move forward, rather than the Twilight Pope’s intentions.

I have provided enough information to Sloth, who has been helping me from within the Twilight Church.

“Henon Lloyd, I hope we never meet again. If it weren’t for my promise to my family, you would have died by my hand long ago.”

“The same goes for me. I hope I don’t have to kill you with my own hands the next time we meet.”

“Don’t worry. That will never happen.”

Sloth, as the best assassin on the continent, disappeared as soon as he opened and closed his eyes.

Only the trampled grass faintly suggested that she had been here for a while.

* * *

Sloth’s visit turned the estate upside down.

The same goes for my subsequent remarks.

Lord Lloyd vehemently opposed the statement that I would officially become a dead person.

But he was also a lord who ruled a large territory, so he eventually had to understand.

“You’ve made a big decision.”

“No. If the estate is damaged and even the kingdom falters because of me, what greater loss could there be?”

“Hmm…”

Now that I’ve become a dead person, I need to think about how to live from now on.

The first thing that comes to mind is a disguise, and Lord Lloyd also came up with a similar idea.

“We need to create a fake identity.”

“That’s right.”

“How about becoming royalty this time? I think it would be possible if Her Highness Rebecca helped.”

Whether it’s royalty, a serf, or a commoner, taking on a different role is enjoyable.

But I had an identity in mind in advance.

An identity that doesn’t attract attention, allows me to travel freely to various countries, and even engage in economic activities.

“I’m going to become an adventurer.”

It was an adventurer.

Lord Lloyd, who had extensive knowledge, also nodded.

“That makes sense. Then you’re going to leave the kingdom and go to the Empire.”

“That’s right.”

The Elden Kingdom is a small kingdom, so there are few adventurers, and even those who are there are mostly from other countries.

Therefore, to become an adventurer in this place where mercenaries are the majority, I had to go to the Calron Empire.

“It’s perfect for hiding your identity and working, but there are many restrictions. In particular, meeting with nobles will be uncomfortable. Are you okay with that?”

“I heard that high-ranking adventurers are treated like quasi-nobles.”

“That’s right. The better your skills, the more recognized you are in that world. Will it be possible to get a high rank?”

I tilted my head at Lord Lloyd’s question.

“By any chance, are there expert-level swordsmen with Druid abilities roaming the streets in the Calron Empire? If so, it might be difficult to get a high rank.”

Only then did the Marquis realize how much of a cheat character his son was.

He puts his hand on his forehead and shakes his head.

“I was worried for nothing. It’s not a problem for you to get a high rank, but it’s important that your identity is not exposed. You’ve always done well, so I believe you’ll do well this time too.”

After that, the conversation with Lord Lloyd ended with words of encouragement.

Contact me often, write letters, ask how I’m doing, etc.

I hadn’t been in touch since the last time I went to the capital, so it was nagging I deserved to hear.

I was finally released after making several promises.

The Marquis said he would give me full support to disguise myself as an adventurer, but I refused.

I already had a lot of money anyway, and in case of emergency, the support troops totaled nearly 10,000, including the Guardian Army and the mercenary group.

Even at this moment, they were growing rapidly while eating gold.

Instead, I decided to inform not only Lord Lloyd but also Sasha, Rakan, Aiden, and Rebecca about my fake death and adventurer disguise.

It would be a problem if they really thought I was dead.

Zion was perfect for sending letters, so I went to her room.

But she’s not there again.

Only a letter on the bed.

Did this woman suddenly get bitten by the travel bug?

I opened the envelope and checked the contents.

[Dear Young Master, I’m sorry for always greeting you with letters. By the time you receive this letter, I will already be on my way to the Calron Empire.

The reason I’m going to the Calron Empire is simple: It’s to become stronger.

I’ve been having a lot of worries lately. You are getting stronger day by day, but why am I standing still? This fact tormented me.

Then, I had a duel with Sloth and realized I still have a long way to go. To gain powerful strength, I thought I should learn even from her, who is like an enemy.

Sloth is also my biological mother, but she is also my father’s top disciple. She has already surpassed her teacher and become the best assassin on the continent. Her skills are certain, so I will take and absorb all of her techniques.

I will become a maid who is not ashamed to stand next to you. Please wait a little longer. I will come back stronger. -Zion-]

“Running away without permission. That’s absurd.”

I have nothing to say since she left because of me.

If someone like Zion is following Sloth, it means she has thought a lot about it.

It would be useless to run and catch her now.

First, I decided to move with Campbell.

“Kkyuuu!!”

“Right. I have you too. Sorry.”

Coco, who came out of the gourd, rubs her face on my cheek.

Come to think of it, I need to raise this guy too.

Unlike mercenaries, adventurers often have to deal with monsters, so I decided to raise Coco this time.

“Huh?”

I turned the letter over and found another envelope attached to the back.

I opened it and checked the contents further.

[p.s This is information that Sloth told me, but I’m telling you just in case. She said this: ‘What you’re looking for is in the Holy Nation.’ ]

It’s like being hit hard on the back of the head.

To put such important information on the back.

I almost didn’t see it!

What Sloth said, ‘What you’re looking for,’ must have meant the Golden Branch.

The Golden Branch is in the Holy Nation.

If this is the case, the place to go as soon as I become an adventurer has been decided.

‘I need to move quickly.’

If I collect this Golden Branch, it will be the fourth one, collecting more than half of them.

My hands packing my travel bag became faster.

* * *

Eastern Calron Empire

Base City Galanach

Unlike the Elden Kingdom, where monster habitats are concentrated in the Northern Mountains, the Calron Empire has a large land area, so monsters appear all over the continent.

To respond to this, the Empire also prepared countermeasures, one of which was the Adventurer’s Guild.

Adventurers belonging to the guild maintain their livelihoods by being投入投入 [invested] into monster hunting, dungeon exploration, ruins investigation, and sometimes simple labor.

Among them, monster hunting and the resulting by-product business have become the main tasks of adventurers and a stepping stone for turning their lives around.

That’s because the by-products of higher-level monsters can be worth tens to hundreds of gold if sold well.

Assuming that 10 gold is the annual living cost for a family of four in the countryside, the rewards that can be obtained from monster hunting were literally a bonanza.

Of course, there were also side effects.

Some people, blinded by gold, recklessly applied to become adventurers without even knowing how to swing a sword properly. Usually, these people ended their lives as a meal for monsters.

Galanach is a base city in the eastern part of the Empire, quite close to the Elden Kingdom, and a place where the Adventurer’s Guild is 활성화 활성화 [active].

Two men were walking here.

One man was of enormous size: a height of nearly 2m, a body full of muscles, and a fierce face were enough to inspire fear just by looking at him.

On the other hand, the other man had dark skin and a thick jawline. His large nose was impressive. He couldn’t be called handsome, but he was definitely likable.

“Campbell, lighten up your face. People are scared.”

The identities of the two men were me and Campbell.

After saying hello to acquaintances, including Lord Lloyd, I ran to Galanach as if flying.

The reason I came to Galanach was that it was the easiest place to register and work as an adventurer.

To work with a new identity, I had to change my appearance, so I am currently in a state where I have changed my face.

Tom’s help was great here.

Tom, who received my letter, sent me another ancient artifact, the very one I used to kill Guild Master Haman in Liang last time.

[Ancient Artifact]

[Disguise Cream]

[Put a part of the body of the person you want to transform into, apply it to your face, and you will transform into that person’s face.]

Therefore, I pulled out a strand of hair from a serf in the territory and disguised myself as his face.

I even changed my unique green eyes, so no one will be able to recognize me as Henon.

To become an adventurer, you must visit the Adventurer’s Guild.

Fortunately, Galanach is a city full of adventurers, so it was not difficult to find the guild.

I went into the largest building.

The inside was bustling.

In the very center, there was a large bulletin board, covered with requests nailed to it.

Seeing that the colors of the requests were different, it seemed that the colors were different depending on the request grade.

On both sides of the bulletin board, guild staff members behind the counter, like a bus terminal ticket office, were responding to adventurers.

Campbell and I also had something to do, so we stood in line and waited before standing in front of the counter.

A pretty female employee smiled brightly and greeted us.

“Hello! Welcome to the Galanach Adventurer’s Guild. What brings you here?”

“I came to register as an adventurer.”

“Ah, I see? I’ll give you an application form, so please fill out your personal information as detailed as possible. In particular, please write down your career history without leaving anything out.”

I received the application form and filled it out separately.

I couldn’t write Henon Lloyd, so I wrote a new pseudonym in the name column instead of Henon.

Campbell was less famous than me, so he honestly wrote Campbell.

I wrote the Blue Hawk Mercenary Group in my career history.

The setting is that I used to work as a mercenary and came to the Empire to become an adventurer.

No one will check it anyway, and even if they do, Rakan, the leader, will tell them well.

“You were in the Blue Hawk Mercenary Group?”

The employee’s eyes widened as she checked my career history.

“Is there a problem?”

“What problem? I’m happy about it. The Blue Hawk Mercenary Group is the most famous mercenary group in this area these days.”

When did my mercenary group become like that?

“Is that so?”

“Of course! It’s a mess that the Blue Hawk Mercenary Group has good salaries and treatment. Several of our guild adventurers quit the guild to apply to the Blue Hawk, but you, Khan, came in the opposite direction.”

“I have circumstances.”

When I cut it short, the employee nodded.

People who want to become adventurers all have different circumstances.

It was also a basic requirement for guild employees not to dig into their backstories.

“The application process is complete. Khan and Campbell are now Bronze-ranked adventurers. You need to fill out the request points to raise your rank. If you have a request on the bulletin board, come to me.”

The employee gave us a piece of paper with 0/100 written on it.

It means the request score is zero.

If you fill 100 points, you will be promoted to Silver rank.

“Campbell, let’s go to the bulletin board.”

I scanned the bulletin board with papers attached to it.

-Bronze Rank Request-

[Five Goblins] 1 point

[Two Small Magic Stones] 1 point

[Three Kobolds] 2 points

[Two Orcs] 5 points

There was even this request.

[Construction Site Help] 1 point

[Find a Cat] 1 point

[Central Square Cleaning] 1 point

“A Bronze-ranked adventurer is no different from a handyman.”

“Vice Commander.”

“Call me Khan.”

“Yeah… Khan, do we need to raise our rank? You said we have to go to the Holy Nation. Let’s go straight to the Holy Nation without wasting time here.”

Campbell is right.

It’s good to become a high-ranking adventurer, but searching for the Golden Branch in the Holy Nation is more important.

I was about to nod in agreement…

“Huh? Are you guys going to the Holy Nation?”

Suddenly, a middle-aged man joined our conversation.

“That’s right.”

“Then it’s impossible with a Bronze rank.”

“Why is that?”

“The Holy Nation is 까다롭게 까다롭게 [strict] to adventurers. You must be at least a Gold rank or higher to work in the Holy Nation as an adventurer.”

This is the first time I’ve heard of it.

You have to be Gold to act as an adventurer in the Holy Nation.

Then this is a change of plans.

I was going to go immediately, but I need to raise my rank a bit.

I scanned the bulletin board and found a request that caught my eye.

-Diamond Rank Request-

[Collect 10 Owl Bear Cores from the Forest of Magical Beasts] 1000 points.

“…That would be perfect.”