The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 18

The path to breaking the Heavenly Demon’s seal is to grow as a Druid.

“Do you understand now? You and I are in the the same boat. I don’t know how such an incredible connection formed. If this is fate, then so be it.”

Even I can see that my relationship with the Heavenly Demon is special.

Thoughts continued to surface.

“I’m just overwhelmed, not knowing where to start looking for the Golden Branch. Should I go find an information broker or something?”

“That’s not a problem. The key to the seal is connected to me, so we can sense each other even from afar.”

“You mean you can sense the Golden Branch?”

“Yes. I can’t know the exact location, but I can guess the general direction.”

It’s practically a Heavenly Demon GPS.

But it’s too early to celebrate.

This isn’t the 21st-century Earth, where travel and movement are free.

“The closest location… seems to be far to the north. It seems to be in what you commonly call the Northern Mountain Range.”

Of all places, it has to be in the Northern Mountain Range.

The North is the sealed land of the Demon King Baal and one of the deadliest places, where all sorts of monsters run rampant.

And the weather is disgustingly cold.

It’s not going to be anything like my military service in northern Gangwon Province.

“This is difficult. But I have to go anyway.”

It’s a good thing in a way.

According to what I learned while staying on the Arnia Continent, one nobleman from each family in the Elden Kingdom must serve in the military in the North.

Of course, that’s just the principle, and most people pay their way out of it.

In this situation, what if I successfully complete two years of military service in the North?

It would be considered a great honor regardless of social status.

It means that commoners would be treated one step ahead among commoners, and nobles would be treated one step ahead among nobles.

If I, who am currently competing with Phillip for the position of heir, return alive from the North, I can increase my chances significantly.

“I’ll try to persuade the Marquis [a nobleman of high rank, below a duke]. I don’t know if he’ll allow it.”

* * *

A few days later.

As always, I sparred with Ciel today.

The life-and-death struggle with Gavin, the ragged mercenary leader, and the subjugation of the necromancer Raul seemed to have been good experiences, as my swordsmanship skills improved rapidly.

Sweat beaded on Ciel’s forehead as she crossed swords with me.

“Young Master, you’ve improved a lot.”

Ciel readily admitted it.

But it wasn’t enough for me.

“How much more training do I need to become an Expert?”

“Marquis Lloyd is a Sword Master, so you might not realize it, but even becoming an Expert is considered a master of the sword.”

“Didn’t you say before that my growth rate is fast?”

“That’s right. However, improving skills and enlightenment are separate matters. To reach the Expert level, you have to overcome an invisible wall. It’s not just about effort; you also need the right opportunity and luck.”

“I see.”

Just as I was about to pick up my sword and train again, the training ground became noisy.

I wondered what was going on, and surprisingly, an unexpected person came to find me.

A fat, middle-aged woman with thick makeup plastered on her face stood there, trying to force a bright smile.

“Is this where you usually train?”

Why would Rosaline come to find me?

The forced smile is awkward to anyone who sees it.

“What brings you here?”

“I’ve been neglecting you too much lately, and I feel guilty as a mother.”

“You’ve always been like that, so what’s new…”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

“Anyway, if you’re done training, let’s go to the dining hall together. You need to eat breakfast.”

No matter how I look at it, she and I are not on laughing terms, but suddenly being so kind makes me feel uneasy.

In any case, I walked side by side with Rosaline to the dining hall.

I kept my mouth shut, but she spoke first.

“Henon Lloyd, you must be happy to have become the new Lloyd.”

“The Marquis has given me a generous gift. I will have to live my life in gratitude.”

“Still, it’s good that you know your place.”

Is this a new type of attack, hitting while smiling?

It’s even more difficult.

I narrowed my eyes and tried to figure out her intentions.

It seems like she has some ulterior motive, but it’s still a bit vague.

“As you know, the name Lloyd is heavy. It’s not just about the benefits; you also have to bear the weight.”

“I’m well aware.”

“I’m glad you know. Let’s go in then.”

I entered the dining hall, listening to her cryptic words.

The Marquis, who was sitting at the head of the table, looked very tired today, with dark circles reaching down to his cheeks.

I wonder if something happened.

“Everyone, sit down. The soup will get cold.”

An uncomfortable meal.

I’m going to get indigestion every morning like this.

I took a bite of bread.

My head was filled with thoughts of how to persuade the Marquis to let me go to the North.

It was then.

“Henon, go to the North.”

What’s this?

The Marquis is suggesting that I go to the North first!

I was dumbfounded that my worries were resolved so easily, but I didn’t show it and answered calmly.

“Are you talking about the North that I know?”

“Yes.”

“This is too sudden.”

“Sudden? I don’t understand,” Rosaline suddenly interjected.

“Didn’t I tell you? The weight of the name Lloyd is heavy. Go to the North and bring honor to the family.”

I thought it was strange.

Was the series of unnatural actions she showed me from this morning all because of my trip to the North?

I couldn’t help but smile at her childish behavior.

Wrinkles formed on her forehead.

“You’re so frivolous. Take a serious attitude…”

“Marquis, is this an obligation?”

I ignored Rosaline and asked the Marquis directly.

Then a calm answer came back.

“It’s not an obligation. It’s just a recommendation. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

“You! What are you saying! If Henon doesn’t go to the North, we have to pay three years’ worth of taxes from the Marquisate [the territory or land controlled by a Marquis] to the royal family!”

Rosaline’s shrill voice.

I could feel her determination to send me to the North no matter what.

“The North is a difficult place to survive. It’s not just about being good at wielding a sword. Going to the North would be good for the territory, but I don’t want to send you to your death if you don’t want to go. What do you think?”

Phillip, Rosaline, Marquis Lloyd.

Even the butlers and maids, including Ciel.

When everyone’s eyes were on me, I slowly answered.

“Please… send me to the North.”

The Marquis raised his eyebrows.

Rosaline couldn’t hide her expression and smiled brightly, and Phillip smirked.

Ciel’s face darkened, and the head butler Sebastian tilted his head.

And the Heavenly Demon…

“Lucky bastard! They say a lucky guy will pick up gold even when he falls! That’s exactly what you are!”

I don’t know why, but he was getting angry all by himself.

He has such a wicked mind, so he was sealed in a sword… ahem, let’s just stop here.

Anyway, I was cheering inwardly, but I maintained a solemn expression on the outside.

Marquis Lloyd confirmed once again.

“Are you sure? I’ll give you a chance to cancel. That place is very different from what you imagine. You can assume that there’s almost nothing that can be solved with youthful spirit.”

“I’m serious. If I can freeze the territory’s assets and bring honor to the family, that alone would be an honor.”

“Henon wants to go, right? Let’s send him quickly. You’re so admirable.”

I heard Rosaline’s praise for the first time in my life. Of course, I wasn’t happy at all.

“I am also aware that military life in the North is difficult. I will serve the kingdom and the family there and return safely.”

I made a statement that I would be loyal to the Lloyd family to the bone.

In the end, it’s an empty statement.

Two out of every two noble children die in the North.

Even the 50% survival rate is based on the nobles in the rearmost area.

As a bastard, I wouldn’t be able to receive the privilege of being assigned to the rear, so unless I was extremely lucky, it was right to see it as a death sentence.

But I have to go.

It’s not just to get the Golden Branch and become stronger.

If I don’t gain the power to overcome the upcoming mainstream, it’s the same as being dead whether I’m in the Marquisate or in the North.

For me, I had to take the risk and move to escape from my current situation.

So I went out a bit strong, and Marquis Lloyd seemed impressed by this side of me.

The Marquis stroked his chin and said.

“Our Lloyd family is a place where rewards and punishments are clear. It’s a place where the obvious principles of being punished for doing wrong and being rewarded for doing well are clearly applied. If you, Henon, return safely from military service… I will give you a corresponding reward.”

He didn’t say what kind of reward it was.

The Marquis didn’t use the expression reward separately even when he gave the family name.

Since the Marquis directly mentioned the word reward, if I come back alive, I will receive a huge reward.

Only if I come back alive.

“Of course. You deserve to receive it.”

“My brother is a veteran who returned from the North. I’m so proud.”

Rosaline and Phillip also chimed in.

Their intention was clear that they were going to use their kindness on a guy who was going to die anyway.

“When are you thinking of going?”

“I’ll go tomorrow.”

“That’s refreshing. You can stay a little longer.”

“No. There’s no need to dawdle. But I want to take a companion with me.”

“Who are you thinking of taking? The family’s knights are busy with their own work, so it’s difficult to assign them to you even if you want to.”

Rosaline wanted to block any variable that would increase my survival rate, so she blocked the escort knight from the beginning.

Marquis Lloyd realized this and frowned, but I wasn’t planning on taking a knight anyway.

There’s a talent who is more skilled than most knights, gets along well with me, and is also beautiful.

“I would like to take the maid Ciel with me. Please allow me.”

“Eeeeeh???”

Ciel, who was behind me, was shocked.

She didn’t even expect it.

It’s exactly the face you make when you’re confessed to by a boy you hate in class.

This is a bit hurtful?

“I allow it. She was your exclusive maid from the beginning, so it’s natural for her to follow. Head Butler, is that okay?”

“It’s natural for the thread to follow the needle. It’s the same even if she were my daughter.”

“If she’s a maid… you need at least one woman to do the laundry and get the bathwater.”

Rosaline and Phillip, who don’t know Ciel’s true power, seem to agree.

Only Ciel’s face turned dark.

How dare she not follow me when I’m going.

It was rude, so I’ll have to repay her with sparring later.

* * *

Early the next morning.

A carriage was prepared.

The whole family came out to see me off.

This suddenly reminds me of the day I went to the Nonsan Training Center [a military training facility in South Korea].

Of course, there were no cool military bands or red-hat instructors like back then.

“Oh, Henon! Be sure to come back safely. This mother will pray to the sun god Bellanus every day.”

I wanted to say, ‘You’re praying to save me, right? I feel like you’re going to pray to kill me,’ but I held back.

“I should have gone, but I became a bad brother who sent his younger brother instead. Be sure to come back safely.”

I was going to say, ‘If you think so, why don’t you go instead now,’ but I held back again.

In contrast, Marquis Lloyd’s send-off was realistic.

“Forget the idea that you are outstanding. Swordsmanship skills? It’s just the minimum requirement for survival. It’s not the strong who survive, but the survivors who are strong. Keep that in mind.”

Then he handed me a letter.

“What is this?”

“Deliver it to Karina, the commander of Black Castle.”

“I understand.”

I put the letter in my arms and boarded the carriage.

Ciel was already sitting across from me.

“Then I’ll be going. I hope everyone is well.”

“Stay healthy.”

With those words, the door closed.

The carriage carrying me and Ciel left the Marquisate with a clattering sound.

The real journey had begun.

* * *

The journey to the North.

I set off with one coachman.

Ciel and I packed a lot of dried jerky as emergency food.

Before leaving the Marquisate, we stopped at each manor, paid silver coins, and received meals and lodging.

We also visited Cave Manor, where the necromancer had appeared, again.

The villagers, including Village Chief Harrison, treated me especially well.

“Have some alcohol instead of food. You don’t seem to touch alcohol at all.”

“I’m afraid you might have put sleeping pills in it. You already have a track record, don’t you?”

“Oh my! Would we ever do that again? Besides, you were fine even after drinking alcohol with sleeping pills in it, weren’t you?”

“So you’re saying you did put it in?”

“No! No! Please drink some!”

It was fun to tease Village Chief Harrison.

Anyway, I had a good day there too.

About fifteen days later, I left the Marquisate.

I met a group of monsters once in the middle.

Only ten goblins.

They aimed for us while we were asleep and attacked, but Ciel, who was on watch, caught them.

We easily defeated them with a bland battle.

I didn’t let go of my sword even while traveling.

I constantly refined my swordsmanship with the advice of the Heavenly Demon.

His advice was similar to that of my father, Marquis Lloyd.

“Everything you’re learning now is orthodox swordsmanship. In actual combat, all sorts of cheating and variables run rampant. In that respect, you’re still a kid.”

“Druid abilities? Of course, it’s amazing. It was even difficult for me. But keep in mind. Even such a Druid couldn’t handle this old man and ended up sealing him.”

“Increase the mana accumulated in your dantian [an energy center in the body, according to traditional Chinese medicine]. It’s your basic stamina and lifeline. The climate in the Northern Mountain Range is harsh. An appropriate amount of mana is essential to maintain body temperature.”

Based on the Heavenly Demon’s sincere advice, I continued to develop, and Ciel, who felt my growth in real time next to me, was also stimulated and gritted her teeth and trained with me.

So much so that the coachman shook his head, telling us to rest a little.

I went up like that for a long time.

The road became increasingly barren.

The green meadow turned into a yellowish-brown arid plateau and soon became a pure white snowfield.

The carriage wheels fell off several times a day, and I had to use mana to lift them up repeatedly.

The weather became so cold that I wore a thick hood covered with wool inside and out.

Ciel, who was across from me, kept blowing on her hands.

“Are your hands very cold?”

“No.”

“What do you mean no? Your hands are red.”

“Actually, I have cold hands and feet.”

It’s the same here as on Earth; young women suffer from cold hands and feet.

“There might be a healer in the North.”

“There was a maid from the Empire in the Marquisate. According to her, all the priests are fat pigs.”

“Fat pigs, huh.”

“They give a little healing and rip off a lot of money. Besides, unless the priest has a lot of divine power, the healing effect is insignificant.”

“I see.”

Thump!

While I was chatting with Ciel, the carriage suddenly stopped.

Soon, the coachman’s voice was heard from outside.

“Henon-nim.”

“What’s wrong?”

“A passerby has requested a ride.”

It was surprising that there was a passerby in this cold snowfield in the North.

“Is he threatening us?”

“That’s not the case, but he’s wearing a sword at his waist.”

I was curious.

“I’ll go out.”

I opened the carriage door and went out, and a man wearing an old hood deeply stood there blankly.

The hood was full of snow.

The stranger looked at me and took off his hood.

The accumulated snow fell, and a man with a gentle impression appeared.

A comfortable impression that seems to be everywhere.

For some reason, it evokes a sense of familiarity.

The Heavenly Demon’s voice was heard.

“That guy is a master. He’s way above you.”

I was startled.

My muscles tensed.

I quickly wrapped mana around my body.

Perhaps noticing my reaction, the man’s eyes flashed sharply.

It was a brief moment that was so short that you wouldn’t notice it at first glance.

Then the man smiled and said cheerfully.

“I’m Victor, a traveler with nothing special. It’s very cold, so can I get a ride with you?”