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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Overeating is Harmful to the Body - 2
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Martial King Ters blinked for a moment, as if he couldn't comprehend my words.
But soon enough, his mind seemed to start working properly.
"You bastard!"
He reached for the hilt of his sword.
However, he couldn't draw it.
"Calm down."
Jenia was pressing down firmly on the hilt of his sword.
Sshhh.
A chilling silence flowed for a brief moment.
The Martial King strained to pull out his sword, while Jenia kept pressing the hilt with her own strength.
Even if it was just a little at a time, it was twenty years' worth of stolen vitality.
She was already at a hero level, but Jenia didn't spill a single drop of sweat.
In the end, it was the Martial King who first released his grip from the scabbard.
"You're no mere mercenary, are you."
"Who knows."
"I don't know where a nobody like you popped up from, but I'll remember what happened today. You'll pay for this insolence."
The Martial King turned on his heel without even greeting the viscount and left the room in an instant.
Neril pursed her lips with an intrigued expression.
"I'm not interested in brutish swordfights... but that momentum from the Martial King just now was no joke. You okay?"
"Yes. As long as you're not around."
"That's a real creative response."
Jenia ignored Neril's twitching eyebrow and glanced at her own arm.
Her arm was trembling faintly.
I asked.
"Looks like it was a close call."
"Yeah. I've heard all about the Martial King's reputation until I'm sick of it, but I didn't expect this much. It's been ages since I had to strain my muscles like that."
"..."
"I was pretty shocked. Though not as shocked as I was with you the other day."
Hm.
Honestly, I was more surprised that he couldn't overpower Jenia, despite having stolen twenty years of vitality, even if just a bit at a time.
Even if Jenia's at hero level, is that possible?
"..."
Wait. Maybe?
My mind spun at a terrifying speed.
[What is it. Spill it.]
'I remembered what the Martial King said before he died in my previous regression.'
When Neril's magic decomposed his entire body and made him vanish, he spat out one venomous line like a ghost whose grudge pierced the heavens.
-Kugh. If only I'd absorbed all this power, scum like you...!
[A classic villain exit line.]
'I didn't get it back then. But now I think I do. He hadn't fully absorbed the jewel's power. The vitality stolen from people wasn't absorbed into the Martial King's body—it went into the jewel itself.'
[Huh?]
'Think about it. Every morning, he vomits it up and swallows it back down like some pervert. Why bother taking the jewel in and out of his body?'
[...]
'He wasn't doing it because he enjoyed it. Meaning he had no choice. That jewel doesn't lend its power to the Martial King unconditionally.'
In other words.
That jewel, still filled with the territory folk's vitality, is slumbering in his gut.
Tempting, isn't it?
I leaned back leisurely in my chair and said to the lord.
"Viscount. I have one request."
The lord, who had been rolling his eyes like a puppet in this unfolding situation, jumped in surprise.
It seemed decades of living under the Martial King's thumb had made him forget his own title and bloodline.
"Wh-what is it."
"First things first. Half the request is already resolved."
"...What?"
"The request was to find and fix the cause of the lethargy, right? I just figured out the cause. So half of it's done."
"..."
"That cause is the Martial King Ters who just stormed out of here full of bluster. His scheme is what's making the territory folk lethargic and lazy."
The lord looked at me like I was insane.
In his stead, Neril asked.
"Got any proof?"
"There's a red jewel of unknown origin slumbering in his body. Every morning, he vomits it up, absorbs people's vitality with it, and swallows it back down. He's been repeating that daily routine for twenty years."
"A red jewel that absorbs vitality?"
"That's why the people of this territory have no choice but to start every day in the worst condition. In other words, deal with the Martial King, and everyone will regain their healthy constitutions."
Jenia's expression turned to one of curiosity about what gave me the confidence to rattle this off so smoothly.
But Neril latched onto a different point.
"A red jewel that absorbs vitality. I think I know what that is."
"What? What is it?"
"Not now. I'll tell you later when we're alone."
Jenia reacted to the word "alone."
"Why exclude me?"
"Why include you in the first place?"
"The lethargy in this territory is clearly an anomaly. In my... position, I can't ignore investigating things like that."
It was persuasive, coming from the vice-captain of the Knights of Light, who managed and monitored all imperial anomalies.
Of course, Neril seemed to be letting it go in one ear and out the other, but I thought differently.
"Let's include Jenia, Neril."
"What?"
"We'll need her strength right now."
I said that much and turned to the lord.
"Well. As you've heard."
"Heard what? I didn't understand a single word you said!"
"We'll take care of the Martial King and restore health to the territory. There's something I need you to do for that, Viscount."
"Hey."
"Hold a duel. Between me and Martial King Ters."
The lord, about to descend into a rage, clamped his mouth shut.
Neril and Jenia stared at me with baffled expressions.
"...Do you even know what you just said?"
"Yes. And by the way, it'll be easy to convince the Martial King. He seemed pretty pissed at our party."
"Exactly, so he won't hold back. It won't be a duel—he'll try to murder you."
"I'm planning to live to a ripe old age of a hundred, so I'm fine."
"Hah. Looks like that 'Unyielding Sword Emperor' title was earned with a silver tongue. You really think a lowly mercenary like you can beat the empire's tenth strongest?"
"Yes."
My curt reply made the lord's expression turn serious.
I tilted my head and continued.
"While we're at it, since we've already been plenty rude, let me add one more thing. It seems like you're quite afraid of the Martial King, Viscount. Am I right?"
"..."
"No matter how strong the Martial King is among the empire's elite, the master of Rior Territory is you, isn't it? But from what I see, you've already handed over all major and minor affairs of the territory to him."
"Hoo. Can't be helped. My line ends with me anyway."
Huh?
I didn't pry further, but the lord kept grumbling on as if venting long-suppressed words.
It looked like he was finally spilling what he hadn't told anyone in ages.
"My one and only son passed before me seven years ago. The people of this territory are all lazy and lethargic, but that boy was health incarnate."
"...You haven't tried having another heir?"
"After he died, everything became a hassle. Logically, I know I should, but my heart and body just wouldn't move."
"..."
"My son was deeply loved and trusted by all the territory folk. If he'd lived, the Martial King couldn't have rampaged like this... Ahem."
Realizing he'd said too much, the lord awkwardly cleared his throat and shut his mouth.
I crossed my arms and sank into thought for a moment.
After a brief silence, I spoke.
"Got it. We'll look into that too."
"What?"
"Anyway, back to the point. For that duel I mentioned, please gather all the territory folk. Make it the biggest duel tournament in the territory's history."
"Um. Why go that far..."
"It's a golden opportunity to boost my fame."
The only one who understood my words was Neril.
Her eyes gleamed as she said.
"True enough. If a mere mercenary beats the Martial King, it'll make what happened in Quelk look insignificant."
Jenia glanced back and forth between Neril and me.
"What happened in Quelk? Fame? Now I get it."
"..."
"You weren't doing this to uphold justice or do good deeds. It was all just groundwork to build your reputation. Am I wrong?"
Neril replied cynically.
"You're right. And I wasn't planning to hide it, so no need to interrogate like that."
"Eek."
I raised my hand to calm Jenia.
Then I said to the lord.
"When do you plan to hold the duel?"
"I haven't agreed to it yet."
"Then agree now."
"You insolent cur! Your arrogance pierces the heavens. You lowly commoner. Do you even know who sits before you!"
I sighed and glanced sideways at Jenia.
"Jenia. Show him that, please."
"What's that."
"The badge proving your identity."
"...! Why should I?"
"Don't you want to see it? Me dueling the Martial King?"
"..."
"Two days ago, you couldn't properly gauge my skills. Against the Martial King, you can take your time to watch."
Jenia's eyes wavered.
Recalling my pre-regression memories, I gave her back one more light push.
"I'll buy you a meal."
"...Just so you know, it's not because of the food."
Jenia reached into her bosom.
The lord was still at the peak of his excitement.
"I'll tear you all apart right now and feed you to the dogs..."
Clang.
Jenia slammed the badge down on the table like she was throwing it.
The badge symbolizing the vice-captain of the Knights of Light.
In moments of investigation, that badge itself symbolized the emperor.
The lord's voice abruptly shrank.
Neril chuckled.
"Gonna spare the dog food bit? With that."
"What did I say?"
It was a swift change in attitude.
That's the kind of skill that lets him still play lord with the Martial King around.
The lord said he'd hold the duel tournament in a week.
In the meantime, we stayed at the inn, spending quality time getting to know each other.
"Maide, showing the lord that badge seems to have served its purpose with her. Why not just send her back?"
"That's a good idea. Come with me when you go, witch. Destination's the capital's underground prison."
"Did you get permission from your daddy?"
"Why would the captain show up there!"
"Don't yell. My ears hurt."
The one with the sorest ears here is me.
I mediated between them.
"That's enough. Back to the main topic."
"Main topic?"
"Yeah. Jenia, I'm planning to become the Hero."
At my declaration, Neril and Jenia blinked in unison.
A moment later.
Thanks to her age and cunning, Neril recovered first and shouted.
"You, you crazy? Why spill it out loud!"
"Trying to bring Jenia in too."
"But why..."
"Of course I want her skills, but more than that, she's the one who commands Agril."
Neril, who had been all riled up, clamped her mouth shut at my words.
"Agril, huh."
"Yeah. The treasure the gods gave humanity in the Greed Demon King's descent. Aka the divine carriage Agril."
"...So that's why you've been throwing daggers into thin air. Figures."
Neril got it in an instant.
If we had Agril, which could traverse the continent in ten days, and Jenia could convince it to carry us.
It would be an indescribable boon to my Hero ambitions.
As Neril quieted down, Jenia raised her voice like passing the baton.
"The Hero? Did I hear that right?"
"Yes. Soon, the Demon King will descend on the continent."
I quickly explained the situation to her, just like I did with Neril.
Jenia's reaction wasn't much different from Neril's.
Except for one thing.
"...So you're saying the real Hero has already appeared in the southwest?"
"That's right."
"Kaild Wake. I've heard of him."
Oh?