Chapter 49: The False Core

“The【Labyrinth】is this way.”

Walking through a dimly lit, high-humidity underground passage. After the friendly match, Lucius was taken by Brigadier Shaulia and descended into the underground of the fortress.

Shaulia, walking ahead, is tense.

――Well, it can’t be helped.

He sighed.

Regardless of the background or circumstances, people who killed family or friends would not mix with those who were killed.

Perhaps noticing Lucius’s sigh, Shaulia spoke without turning around.

“I didn’t seriously want to kill you. The Knights have not fallen so far. I just thought I would break a few of your bones in front of everyone.”

Considering that it was an attack made knowing in advance that there was a magic shield, it was probably true.

“For me right now, that’s the same as death.”

Lucius lowered his eyes to the crescent-shaped pattern that appeared on the back of his left hand. When this crescent becomes a full moon, Lucius will be devoured by the evil dragon.

There’s no time.

He can’t afford to be bedridden from injury.

“This is the Knights’ fortress. Many people here have healing spells. Most injuries can be healed quickly.”

“Is that so? …No, that’s not the problem.”

Shaulia’s shoulders twitched slightly.

“Don’t mind me. I don’t intend to be friendly with you either. But remember this. The thing about humans is that they need a reason or a trigger to swallow various emotions.”

Just as Lucius was about to retort, a light suddenly shone.

He could see a large hole in the exposed rock face.

――Is that the entrance to the【Labyrinth】?

In front of the cave was a space opened up like a hall, unthinkable for an underground area. It was brightly lit by several torches, but there was a gloomy atmosphere.

There were two groups in the hall.

They were probably squads of about 20 people each.

“Don’t tell me we’re the only ones who have to go in there again!?”

“Who else is going to go?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! We had a casualty yesterday!”

“I don’t care. Complain about being born in Norris in the north.”

――What’s going on?

The argument between the two groups in front continued.

“Just because we were born in Norris in the north, you can’t keep imposing impossible demands on us!”

“Huh? It’s only natural.”

Against the arguing two squads, Shaulia raised her voice.

“Quiet.”

Immediately, everyone present saluted.

“The roles of the squads in the exploration of the【Labyrinth】are already decided. What’s the problem now?”

“There are more golems in our exploration area than we expected! Please reconsider the formation.”

Shaulia faced the protesting man.

“Fine. I’ll tell them to assign you to an area that’s already been explored. Is that okay?”

“No, we don’t need that much.”

At Shaulia’s words, the man’s tone dropped sharply.

“Which one is it?”

“Well… if we could just share the current area with another squad…”

“The number of Knights is limited. You know that, don’t you, Captain Joseph?”

Perhaps he was told a true argument, the man called Captain Joseph fell silent.

“You became knights to support your northern homeland, which is being carved up and burdened. That’s why you were given the right to choose the place where you could get results easily. You, Captain Joseph, were the one who raised your hand saying the current place is good.”

“That’s… but…”

“There’s no such thing as low risk and high return in the world.”

“I understand… it’s fine as it is.”

“But I’m not a demon either. I brought you the hope of the north. Sir Lucius.”

Shaulia introduced Lucius in a flat tone.

On the other hand, there were surprised voices from the squads.

Those who had been arguing were also the same.

It was somewhat on guard from the incident in the courtyard earlier, but it was completely different from what was expected.

“So that’s the hero who saved the east. He’s younger than I thought.”

“But he’s the one who summoned Chiyou and the Evil Dragon, isn’t he? Isn’t that amazing!”

“Hey, someone try talking to him.”

“No, no, the status difference is too great. Even if he’s a child, he’s a bona fide baron, right?”

“The exploration of the【Labyrinth】is sure to progress at once!”

There were many who were thrilled, joyful, and hopeful.

The reaction was too different from the knights who had been training in the courtyard earlier.

“Could it be, the match earlier…”

Perhaps only the relatives of the knights taken down by Lucius were gathered in the courtyard.

Gathering those who harbored grudges against Lucius, watching the division leader and brigade leader being beaten down in front of their eyes.

Perhaps they aimed to relieve the frustrations of the group members in this way.

“If that’s the case, they could have told me beforehand.”

The result was that Lucius had won undeniably.

However, it might have been better that way, depending on how you think about it.

The Knights are a merit-based organization.

Rather than leaving the knights who have complaints unchecked, it might be possible to deter imprudent actions by showing them Lucius’ strength directly.

In fact, after a sweeping victory by manifesting Chiyou, fear was written all over the faces of the knights. They probably won’t do anything from now on.

As soon as I felt that things were going too well, the nonchalant face of Division Leader Karan flickered in my mind.

“I see. So, whether I win or lose, it doesn’t matter.”

From the perspective of Division Leader Karan, who harbors a spark, organizational control is a priority. If that is achieved, whether by satisfaction or fear, the method doesn’t matter.

As for Lucius, he wondered how the person in question would feel, but the face of Division Leader Karan, as if to say ‘If you’re a noble, you’d realize at least that much, wouldn’t you?’, came to mind.

If he doesn’t realize it, while Shiki is strong, as a noble, he would simply be judged as of that caliber.

“Ha, with Countess Esta and the four great nobles, are they under some curse to test people?”

As Lucius smiled bitterly to himself, Captain Joseph’s voice trembled.

“Is that you, Lord Lucius?”

“Yes.”

Shaulia silently beckoned Lucius.

“Captain Joseph, I leave the rest to you.”

“Yes, sir!”

Captain Joseph sent a hopeful look towards Lucius.

“Thank you for your guidance.”

In response to Lucius’ polite words, Shaulia left a message as she turned around.

“When you come out of the labyrinth, come to my room.”

Immediately, Shaulia began talking with the knights from the other squad.

A large man called Captain Joseph approached Lucius.

He seemed to be in his early thirties. He was big, but he didn’t seem to be overweight.

“Are you the son of Baron Dragon? The one who contracted with the evil dragon and was elevated to the rank of Baron before reaching adulthood…”

“That’s correct. Do you know me?”

“Yes, of course! There’s not a noble in the north who doesn’t know about Lord Lucius!”

“That’s surely an exaggeration.”

Although Lucius is from the north, he doesn’t know much about anything outside his father’s territory, Silver Heart. If anything, he knows more about the east now.

“That’s not the case at all. My name is Joseph Norris Gaeten. I’m the captain of a scouting squad.”

“Gaeten, could it be…”

“Ah, so you knew. Yes, I am the eldest son of the Viscount Gaeten’s house.”

Captain Joseph scratched his head without losing face.

The faces of his parents being tangled up with Viscount Gaeten at the three-year-old “Rite of Appraisal” flashed in Lucius’s mind.

Seeing Lucius a little cautious, Joseph laughed cheerfully.

“There’s no need to worry. My father seems to hold a grudge against the Dragon family, as per the family tradition, but I’m not going to inherit the house anyway.”

“But you’re the eldest son, right?”

In this world, the title of nobility is hereditary.

It’s not an absolute rule, but typically the eldest child often inherits.

“My younger brother has a double voice. It seems he’ll be the one to inherit the house. I was kicked out of the house when I came of age, so I don’t know what’s happening now.”

“…What kind of tradition are we talking about?”

“Don’t you know?”

“I know that Viscount Gaeten has a grudge against my father.”

“It’s not much of a story. Long ago, when Lord Lucius’s ancestor summoned a dragon in a ceremony, my ancestor fought alongside him. And they both became barons at the same time.”

“So, the two houses were originally allies?”

“The founders of the houses were. However, the Gaeten house has been constantly scorned as ‘leftover Gaeten’, and so they’ve adopted a family precept that promotion is everything. My father lives according to that precept. He seems desperate to become a count.”

“That sounds rather sad… What happened to that child?”

“Which child?”

“The child of the Gaeten Viscount’s family. We had our Appraisal Ceremony on the same day.”

“I remember it well. He was 3 years old, right? The last time I saw him was 4 years ago. I don’t know how he’s doing now, but he’s growing up just fine, just like his father.”

“Just like his father…”

Thinking of the child who was clinging to Gaeten and got kicked away made me feel melancholy.

“But more importantly, is Lord Lucius really going to accompany us in the dungeon exploration? If so, you’re more reliable than a hundred knights!”

“Yes, of course. I’m planning to go looking for a first-class ‘False Core’. In order to become a proper baron, I can’t afford to be eaten by an evil dragon here.”

‘A False Core’ is something that can be found in dungeons, similar to a magic core.

It can’t form a contract with a monster, but it is widely used to quickly increase the amount of magic power of the holder.

“Hah. Earlier, Commander Caran issued an order for all members to offer any first-class ‘False Cores’ they discover to Lord Lucius. This kind of order is extremely unusual.”

Lucius thought as much.

The whole sequence earlier was likely Karan’s attempt to gauge Lucius as a person.

— It seems he thinks it’s worth owing me a favor as a nobleman.

For magic users who possess magic cores, such as nobles, the value of their abilities itself is their worth.

Even if it is by royal command, borrowing the hands of others is generally not well regarded.

So, he had been prepared to search alone, but it seems he will receive unexpected help.

Also, Lucius is not aware, but this really is extremely unusual.

There are cases where a few platoons accompany as an exception when individuals who the country cannot afford to lose, such as heirs of the four major noble families or high-ranking officials, desire a ‘False Core’.

Yes, even then, it’s just a few platoons.

This time it’s not a company, battalion, or brigade, but a whole division.

While dungeon exploration is their main mission, and considering it’s also a collateral duty, for a whole division to search for a ‘False Core’ for a mere baron is simply unheard of.

On the other hand, it shows just how high Karan’s expectations are.

“This is helpful. With a first-class ‘False Core’, I can increase my magic power even more.”

“Lord Lucius, you already have four first-class magic cores, don’t you? How much more magic power are you planning to increase?”

“Until the evil dragon is satisfied, I suppose?”

The about twenty knights of the squad let out a dry laugh.

They are all from the North and know to some extent about the situation with the evil dragon.

Just as people from the East are abnormally afraid of Chiyou, there is a tendency in the North to regard dragons as special. There may not be many people who have seen a real dragon, but they have heard fables about dragons from a young age.

“I see. But you’re lucky. First-class ‘False Cores’ are often hunted down, but there might still be some in this newly discovered dungeon.”

“That’s what I’m hoping for. When I heard that a dungeon was found nearby, I couldn’t sit still and asked His Majesty to intervene.”

The faces of the members of the squad tighten at the mention of His Majesty. For these low-ranking knights, he is a being above the clouds.

“I see. Anyway, let’s continue the conversation while we walk.”

“Thank you.”

Lucius bows to the squad.

“Let’s go, guys.”

“Ou!”

With a spirited shout, all twenty or so members of the squad enter the side cave.

And so, Lucius, along with the squad, steps into the dungeon for the first time.

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