The Story Of The Second Son Of The Baron Family [EN]: Chapter 97

Baron’s Family Second Son – Episode 97

‘I forgot about this?’

Dragon Heart.

The most valuable treasure I possess. Why did I forget it existed?

‘Well, I haven’t taken it out recently.’

When I first obtained it, I was burning with the desire to research it and achieve something I had never even considered before—to break through the limitations I had always thought were there. However, when I acquired it, my physical condition was barely above the worst, and I needed rest to recover.

After that, I was busy thinking about the Titans, and then I met another dragon, Serena. Since then, the Dragon Heart hasn’t seen the light of day. Even if she didn’t particularly desire revenge for me killing that thing—even if she felt it was a good thing—I couldn’t imagine she would be okay with me experimenting on its corpse.

Isn’t it the same with people? Even if they feel good or indifferent when someone they dislike or don’t know dies, very few are okay with dismembering the corpse or, so to speak, desecrating it.

Woo-oong-

The amount of mana inspires awe even when I just look at it. Even though it’s been dead for several years, I can’t feel any weakening at all. If I mishandle this and cause a magical explosion, about half of the Imperial Capital would be turned into ruins.

‘But a treasured sword is meant to cut down enemies. It’s too precious to just leave it as an ornament.’

Isn’t it said that it’s high risk, high return? I wonder if that risk will be my life, but the Dragon Heart is worth it.

‘First, I need to tell JoJo.’

This isn’t something I can show to just anyone, not even my teacher or JoJo. Anyway, the development of the power source itself won’t be a big problem even without me, so it doesn’t matter if I leave for a while.

“No, what am I supposed to do if you’re not here at this time?”

“I’m sorry. It’s a shame that the head of the research lab is taking time off after only starting research, but I don’t have time unless it’s now. Please.”

I felt sorry for adding my burden to JoJo, who was already carrying a heavy load, but it was an opportunity to put down the burden much faster if I succeeded. It wasn’t easy to persuade him because I couldn’t give him a detailed explanation, but JoJo reluctantly took on my responsibilities at my continued request.

I finished reporting to the Emperor and told my teacher that I would like his help when he had time. After making love with my wife for the last time, I left the Imperial Capital, which I had grown fond of, and started my journey. The destination didn’t matter, but it had to be a place where there were no people nearby.

In that sense, there would be more suitable places in the barren north than in the warm south. I even thought about going over to the land of monsters, but I put it on hold because it was too far. In the end, I settled in an unnamed mountain somewhere in the north, far away from villages or territories.

“Not bad?”

It wasn’t that difficult for me to build a temporary house using the surrounding materials. Moreover, I had received teachings from artisans on my shoulders [learned directly from them] in the process of creating blueprints for the research lab and workshop, so a small cabin was nothing.

After taking various security measures to prevent anyone from coming and taking out the furniture and materials I had put in the subspace [a personal storage dimension], a house with a study-like feel was created. I don’t know how long I’ll be staying here, but it’ll be comfortable for the time being.

“Shall we give it a try?”

However, despite starting out with great enthusiasm, I was unable to produce any meaningful results for a while. Because such a huge amount of mana was concentrated in a small space, even a small change could lead to irreversible results. I readily stepped forward, but it wasn’t like I wasn’t afraid of death.

Therefore, just like crossing a thousand-foot cliff, a very careful and prudent approach was needed, so it was natural that the time increased. Also,

“I don’t understand. How is this possible?”

Even if it’s the heart of a giant dragon, it’s still a heart. Of course, it was so huge that ordinary magic stones couldn’t compare, but it was small in size to contain such an overwhelming amount of mana. Most of all, what was surprising was that there was no loss at all.

‘Is it really because it’s a dragon?’

No matter how much mana humans accumulate in their hearts or dantian [energy center in the body, according to some Eastern philosophies], the mana scatters upon death. There may be a difference in time depending on the amount, but it was not eternal like now—even if it was only infinitely long.

I didn’t know whether it was a phenomenon possible because it was a Dragon Heart or whether it was simply because a huge amount of mana was gathered, but it was definitely an interesting topic. However, it was not the research that could produce the results I wanted, so I would put it off for a while.

One day, while I was holed up in a remote cabin continuing my research on the Dragon Heart, I had to grab my surprised heart at the sight of a familiar intruder.

“What are you doing here?”

#

JoJo was quite satisfied with his life in the Empire. He had friends he liked, a superior who was a pioneer in their field, and passionate colleagues. In the process, the fact that he was from the Aube Kingdom, not the Empire, was not a problem. If he was an insignificant person, it would be different, but he was a skilled magician who was second to none.

Unless he had lingering feelings for his hometown—his parents had both died, and his life had been saved by his teacher—so he didn’t have that much attachment to his hometown. Above all, the Empire was the land that gave him opportunities. If he had continued to stay in the Aube Kingdom, his teacher’s honor would likely still be buried.

Of course, his recent daily life had been a series of days where he couldn’t even go home, thanks to his friend who had dumped his burden on him and disappeared somewhere, but it was nothing compared to what he had received from him. The research itself was quite interesting. In the meantime, a letter arrived for him.

“Hmm······.”

A letter stuck in front of his house, on the gate. The sender was not written, but thanks to the words ‘To JoJo,’ he could easily know that it was sent to him.

Rustle-

After confirming that there were no traps or magic on the letter, he opened the envelope and checked the contents. There were familiar letters, letters from his hometown.

‘Did I have anyone to send me a letter?’

In fact, he had cut off ties with his hometown. Moreover, there was no one who could send him a letter. That’s why he spent most of his time in the house where his memories with his teacher were sleeping when he returned to his hometown. However, he was soon quite embarrassed by the contents of the letter.

‘A teacher’s acquaintance?’

An unidentified sender who introduced himself as an acquaintance of JoJo’s teacher said that he was proud of him for restoring his teacher’s honor and asked if he could meet him as a fellow countryman if he had time, and that he would give him the item his teacher had left behind for this time.

‘That can’t be.’

He knew best what kind of life his teacher had lived. There was no one to visit, so he didn’t even finish the funeral with anyone present. If he had visited even once, he would have known. But now he’s saying he’s an acquaintance and asking to meet him.

A suspicious smell was wafting. Surely it was a trick by someone trying to deceive him and gain something.

‘Maybe they’re trying to get to me.’

Renil’s request came to mind. An unidentified group is trying to steal research data. Not only the research data, but also the researchers will not be free, so be careful.

However, unlike his heart, he couldn’t easily burn the letter. He could get rid of this thin piece of paper more easily than breathing.

‘But what if it’s really my teacher’s acquaintance? What if there really is a relic?’

In the end, JoJo couldn’t throw away the letter.

#

JoJo secretly moved, without telling anyone. Considering his birth and current position, it was just meeting a fellow countryman, but he knew well how it would be seen from the outside. If it was just his problem, he wouldn’t care, but he had to be careful because he could hurt others who believed in him.

When he arrived at the place set in advance, the expectation that had swelled up in case was swallowed by the disappointment that it was as expected. The man standing in front of him was a young man of similar age to him, too young to be called his teacher’s acquaintance.

“Did you send this letter?”

“You came. I’ve been waiting.”

The language of his hometown that he had heard in a long time. However, his vigilance was not relieved but only heightened, and he momentarily looked around, but there was no sign of anyone else, no other presence of magic.

“You don’t have to be too wary. There is no one else besides me; I just want to talk to you.”

“If you wanted to talk, you shouldn’t have mentioned someone else’s teacher’s name.”

“I didn’t think I could call you to this place without doing that.”

JoJo was about to leave but soon sat down. To hear what he was babbling; who knows, he might be able to get a useful clue.

“Please. Help the country.”

“No way.”

Help the country, now?

When his parents died, his country didn’t do anything for him.

When he grabbed his hungry stomach, his country didn’t give him a piece of bread.

His teacher’s achievements were also ignored, and he did not see the light despite his efforts.

But the Empire gave him a lot. To urge him to betray him on such a topic, it was absurd.

“The country abandoned me. Isn’t it too shameless to ask me to help you when I succeed? Go back. Unless the Empire abandons me, I will never turn my back on the Empire first.”

“Your teacher!”

Just as he was about to turn around and leave after saying that, the opponent’s shout stopped JoJo’s steps, even if only for a moment.

“If he knew that his achievements were being used to kill the people of his country, he would never forgive you, even if you were his beloved disciple.”

“······You who know nothing about my teacher, you who only ignored my teacher’s achievements, don’t think you have anything to say.”

“You know very well that the research you are currently conducting will eventually be the starting point of war. I don’t want much. I know your heart, but what sin do the poor people have? Please help. Even if it’s just enough to instill hesitation in the Empire, we can prevent war.”

Baron’s Family Second Son – Episode 97 – End