The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 49

6. Reclamation: The Young Master Returns

As always, the aftermath of war is far more complex than the conflict itself.

Stepping back into the castle, I was immediately confronted with a mountain of problems.

In this situation, the Blue Hawk Mercenary Group proved invaluable.

They not only repelled Philip’s forces but also secured Albus Castle after the retreat, stabilizing the fragile security.

Having clearly experienced numerous territorial disputes, they refrained from unnecessary looting or arson, and their cleanup was remarkably thorough.

“I am deeply in your debt.”

Once the most pressing matters were addressed, I summoned Rakan, the mercenary leader, for a private meeting.

“Kuhahaha! We were simply doing what was necessary.”

Before the heartily laughing Rakan sat a leather pouch, the glint of gold visible within.

It was the pouch of ancient gold coins I had been unable to give him previously.

He had refused the reward during our last encounter, but this time, he seemed to feel he had earned it, subtly pocketing the coins.

Nevertheless, he extracted one coin, turning it over and over in his fingers, feigning amazement.

“Actually, what’s so special about these old coins? The most important thing is that our relationship remains strong.”

To me, Rakan seemed to possess all the qualities of a merchant.

If he weren’t an Expert [a highly skilled warrior or mage], I would have suggested he trade his sword for a trading company.

“Still, things seem to have stabilized somewhat. The Albus knights and residents readily accept you as the Lord’s proxy.”

After securing the castle,

I gathered everyone and assumed the position of Lord’s proxy of Albus.

Formally, I required permission from Marquis Lloyd, who held the delegated right of appointment within the jurisdiction by King Elden, to follow the proper procedure.

However, I declared myself the temporary lord to calm the public sentiment within the chaotic castle and consolidate ruling power.

With the previous Lord of Albus relinquishing all rights and transferring them to me, others had little choice but to accept the situation.

Of course, not everyone willingly submitted to my authority.

Even after the gates were opened, Albus Castle remained divided into three factions, each vying for dominance.

The surrender faction, advocating for raising the white flag and returning to the Lloyd family.

The resistance faction, determined to await reinforcements from the Hilton family and fight to the bitter end.

And the rescue faction, insisting that all efforts be focused on rescuing the kidnapped lord.

To untangle these conflicting interests, I spent nearly a week without sleep.

As a result,

The heads of the resistance and rescue faction leaders were displayed in the castle square.

The remaining members either lacked the courage to betray me or concluded that following me was more advantageous after witnessing my overwhelming martial prowess on the cliff that day in what felt like 4DX [an immersive cinematic experience].

“My help is useful, but it’s primarily thanks to the Duke’s exceptional abilities. I’ve been in this business for decades and seen countless territorial wars. But you’re the first to seize a territory so quickly and cleanly, with minimal damage.”

Rakan’s expression was one of genuine admiration.

I entrusted him with an additional mission.

“Could you remain stationed at Albus Castle for the time being?”

“If the reward is reasonable, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do. Aren’t we already on good terms?”

The sight of him grinning, displaying his gold teeth, and extending his pinky finger was somewhat irritating.

But I understood his type well.

They claim to treat everyone equally, but in reality, they are highly selective.

Once they acknowledge someone, they forge a strong bond of trust and maintain long-term contracts.

Judging by his demeanor, I seemed to have been classified as a reasonably decent human being by this old man, allowing me to safely entrust Albus Castle to him for the time being.

“By the way, you’re incredible.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re practically the Lord of Albus already, aren’t you?”

“I’m merely the Lord’s proxy.”

“You’ll be the Lord soon enough. The news of you taking the castle with just a few words will spread like wildfire.”

Rakan’s chatter continued.

The Albus territory was quite extensive, with substantial wheat production, and its strategic location fostered significant trade and population.

It was a lucrative piece of land among the territories under Lloyd’s control.

Since I had seized this land entirely, I wouldn’t need to eat to feel satisfied, he joked.

“If you don’t eat, you’ll be hungry.”

“That’s just a figure of speech. If a young man is so rigid from the start, women won’t find him appealing, you know?”

“The conversation always seems to lead there.”

I briefly entertained Rakan and sent him on his way.

Having a contract with him ensured his continued presence in Albus territory even after my return to the Marquis’s main family, preventing any ulterior motives.

In an emergency, he could mobilize a force of 2,000 soldiers immediately.

For me, possessing ample funds but lacking authority, he was a highly reliable asset.

That evening,

I launched a small merchant ship into the Goblin Sea [a dangerous and monster-infested sea].

On board was the former Lord of Albus, who appeared to have undergone a rapid diet in recent days, his once-prominent belly noticeably reduced.

“I didn’t think you would actually keep your promise.”

That’s right.

Today was the day to release Evra Albus.

He had been confined to a room since I became the Lord’s proxy.

“You need to disappear quickly to silence the opportunists who might consider siding with the Hilton family again.”

“If they report my disappearance, your reputation with the Marquis might suffer. Are you still willing to risk that?”

“Worry about yourself first.”

The middle-aged lord gazed out at the distant sea.

“I believe I was too greedy. Despite being half-brothers, I attempted to kill my older brother and eliminate my nephew. I suppose I’m paying the price for that.”

Enough of the old man’s lament.

I pushed him onto the merchant ship.

“The ship contains enough wealth to live comfortably for the rest of your life if you avoid extravagance, along with three servants and maids who know how to keep their mouths shut. Head to the free city of Liang in the south.”

Liang is a place where the constraints of the class system are weak, making it easy to conceal one’s origins. It would be the perfect refuge for this old man. It’s also close to the Albus territory, ensuring convenient transportation.

“Thank you for your mercy.”

“What are you thanking me for? I’m the one who seized your territory.”

“No. I sensed it when I witnessed your skills. I realized how dangerous it was for me to straddle the line between Hilton and Lloyd.”

“I’m glad you recognized that.”

“Surely there must be someone in Hilton with similar skills to you, someone who defeated Lord Horman. If the territorial war escalated, such a skilled individual would have emerged again. Had I continued to be swayed by both sides, my end would not have been pleasant.”

This territory was too large for our family to manage in the first place—with these words, Evra Albus, now simply Evra, the middle-aged man, vanished beyond the horizon.

Only now did I truly feel that the Albus territory war was over.

Turning to the side, I saw Sion and Campbell, exhausted from working overtime, guarding me with bloodshot eyes.

These invaluable high-level personnel had been working as tirelessly as I had to pacify Albus Castle.

I always had full stamina thanks to the Druid’s passive skill [a skill that is always active], but they had endured the fatigue and persevered purely out of loyalty to me.

It was time to give them a break.

“Let’s return to Lloyd Castle.”

Their faces lit up.

* * *

People are captivated by heroes.

In a world where making a living is a struggle,

And where you can be killed at any moment, even if you prosper.

They find vicarious satisfaction in watching a hero overcome adversity while being admired by everyone in such a harsh world.

Not just anyone can be a hero.

There are stringent requirements.

First and foremost, you must be different from others.

The moment you become even slightly ordinary, you are disqualified.

Whether you speak a word, swing a sword, or even offer a simple greeting, there must be a distinction for people to recognize you as a hero.

Becoming a hero is challenging, but once you achieve it, people are enthralled by you.

They chase after the dazzling aura you emit like fireflies, and they begin to view all your accomplishments as the joy of life.

In fact, it’s surprisingly common for some extreme fans to become overly immersed and identify with the hero.

In the Lloyd Marquisate, there hadn’t been any talent worthy of being called a hero since the Seven Stars who defeated the Demon King’s army 20 years ago.

Perhaps that’s why.

It was the same in every tavern I visited.

The bards relentlessly sang only about the final battle between the Demon King’s army and the Seven Stars on the Great Plains.

The warrior Kyle and Marquis Lloyd, Karina of the Crimson Flame, and the other Seven Stars.

They repeated and repeated the songs praising their achievements to the point of exhaustion.

They sang it so often that it became a nursery rhyme for children.

There was no one else to call a hero other than them, no matter how hard you searched.

That was certainly the case.

Recently, the atmosphere in the Lloyd Marquisate’s taverns had begun to shift slightly.

The bards gradually began to sing songs about a new figure.

They cautiously but surely mentioned a young man who was rising like a comet.

There was a man

He was a bastard and a scoundrel

He was not loved by anyone

He didn’t want love either

But he didn’t give up

He clenched his fists tightly

He headed north empty-handed

Slaying monsters

Overcoming the cold

Becoming a brave guardian

He came to our side

The Twilight Executive

The impregnable fortress

They are no match for him

The moment he draws his sword

The dawn begins

The moment he sheathes his sword

Hope arises

Ah!

His name is Henon.

Henon Tris.

Henon Lloyd.

A name that must be remembered.

Let’s drink.

Let’s toast.

Remembering the exploits of the old hero.

Celebrating the birth of the new hero.

Let’s drink.

Let’s toast.

Other places were different, but Lloyd Marquis Castle was truly a cauldron of enthusiasm.

Stories about Henon were endless everywhere.

People had been starved for heroes for a long time.

Of course, there were many who nitpicked.

In particular, those who had witnessed Henon’s scoundrel behavior firsthand dismissed the rumors as mere boasting and exaggeration.

However, there is a reason for repeated rumors, even if they are only spread once or twice.

Moreover, unlike the relatively distant North, there were so many people who directly witnessed what happened in Albus Castle within the Marquisate.

In particular, the scene of him capturing the castle with just a few words was so shocking that they couldn’t help but share it with everyone they met.

As the soldiers of the Lloyd family who had won the territorial war returned one by one, Henon’s popularity continued to soar.

Meanwhile, I returned.

Honestly, I was unaware.

That I would become so popular.

“Waaaaaa!!!”

“Henon! Henon! Henon!”

“Amazing!”

The welcoming crowd was even larger than when I was discharged from the North. The streets were already awash in pink thanks to the flower petals scattered by the children. It felt like walking the red carpet at a major film festival.

“To be liked this much. It would have been a disaster if we had lost the territorial war.”

Sion, who was following beside me, explained.

“The Hilton family and the Lloyd family have been rivals for a long time. In fact, many people believed that the Hilton family was the rising sun and the Lloyd family was the setting sun.”

“So they were excited to demonstrate that the lion they thought had lost its teeth had grown new ones.”

“That’s right.”

Due to the crowd, the guards had to create a barricade with their shields.

Whether it’s on Earth or here, it’s the same: when a popular celebrity rises, the public officials have a hard time.

That means I’ve risen that high.

With this level of recognition, it’s safe to say that the stigma of being a bastard and the lack of support are prejudices of the past.

The relationship with the Blue Hawk Mercenary Group is solid, and although public opinion is primarily among commoners and serfs, I can say that my position is similar to Philip’s.

“Oh! Oh!”

“Miss, you can’t do that!”

A commoner girl pushed through the guards’ shields and jumped in front of me.

She was a cute girl with red hair and freckles.

Her passionate eyes reminded me of middle and high school girls who were obsessed with male idols back on Earth.

“Kyaaaa! Duke! I love you!”

She lunged forward, but a woman blocked her path like lightning.

It was Sion.

She lightly pushed the girl who was running towards her with a cold face.

It was a blow that didn’t even use mana [magical energy], but the powerless girl nearly flew halfway before landing in the hands of the guards who followed.

“The security is appalling. What if the person who just broke through wasn’t an ordinary girl but an assassin?”

The guards were sweating profusely at Sion’s reprimand.

“I’m sorry…”

“By the way, who are you?”

“I am a maid who serves Lord Henon in the closest proximity. Please be more careful in the future.”

“Ah… yes.”

Sion, having rebuked the guard, remounted her horse. I stared at her and asked.

“Sion.”

“Yes.”

“Did you use the Water Lizard Footwork [a very fast and agile movement technique] when you pushed that girl just now?”

“……”

After a moment of silence, the answer came back.

“I was simply doing my best to protect the Lord.”

“Wow! That was the fastest and most agile movement I’ve ever seen from a maid? I’d believe you if you said you were an Expert. What made the maid so urgent?”

“Shut up, pig.”

“Vice-Captain, I’ve come up with a way to train the maid even harder. That is…”

“If you don’t shut up, there’s no dinner.”

“Hic.”

As expected, you shouldn’t treat the person who provides your food carelessly. Even the strong warrior of the North couldn’t help but be helpless in the face of dinner.

I passed through the long welcoming crowd.

Finally arriving at the inner castle.

Marquis Lloyd was there to greet me.

He welcomed me with open arms, and Sebastian, the head butler behind him, also nodded slightly with a faint smile.

Of course, Rosalyn and Philip, wearing expressions of utter resentment, were also visible nearby.

That’s how I returned in triumph.

And took my first real step.

“I’m back.”