Chapter 99. Rightful Lord of Norington (2)
The lord’s temporary residence was built by the three lords of Gartaria.
There was a man walking the hallway there with fast steps.
“Who did you say?”
“He said he was the person who took on the role of scribe for the Cadmus family.”
Blanc walked toward the lobby of the residence as fast as possible without caring about face as a noble.
Because the people waiting for Blanc in the lobby right now were people sufficiently qualified for that.
“Where are they?”
And finally, when Blanc reached the lobby, there were 3 men visible in front of his eyes.
They were standing wearing shabby clothes without exception.
Loose sleeves and hollow impressions without a bit of cheek flesh allowed guessing their destitute state.
Blanc’s eyes quickly scanning them stopped quietly when they reached the old man piggybacked on the young man’s back.
“Oh oh…… Young Master.”
The skinny old man piggybacked on the young man recognized Blanc and lifted a trembling arm.
It was a hand like a bony dry branch.
Tears filled up inside the cloudy eyes of the old man looking at Blanc.
“Subject Valone. Offers greetings to Lord Blanc Cadmus, the true master of Norington.”
The old man moved his body that didn’t move properly by force and paid respects to Blanc.
The young man carrying him on his back bent his knees in place of the old man, who no longer had legs.
“…….”
Something surged up from deep in Blanc’s chest watching that appearance.
It was a feeling like discovering something burnt black in the place where the burnt Cadmus family mansion used to be.
“……I am sorry. I should have visited first.”
Blanc approached the old man and held his wrinkled hand.
“Haha…….”
Valone, the loyal subject of the Cadmus family who remained clearly even in the long memory of the regressor Blanc.
He who had worked in the Cadmus family since Blanc’s grandfather’s time rose to the position of scribe after Pallard Cadmus became the lord and oversaw administrative affairs of Norington.
“Lord Pallard would also be happy if he sees the Baron’s dignified appearance now.”
He, who was an old man since Blanc’s childhood, was a person who always stood next to his father whenever young Blanc went to play in Pallard’s office.
“Should have visited…… should have visited me somehow…….”
Blanc was genuinely heartbroken seeing the appearance of Valone fallen shabbily and miserably.
Because the reason he fell like this was solely one, that he kept loyalty to the Cadmus family.
“Haha…… Since the legs became like this…….”
Valone laughed and answered as if it was no big deal, but truly many things must have happened until he could smile like that.
Blanc looked at his son standing behind Valone.
The middle-aged man who didn’t even have a proper cane was struggling to maintain balance somehow with one intact foot relying on a shabby tree branch.
“……Escort them.”
Seeing even his son became a cripple, it was clear there was an unbearable trial in Valone’s family.
Blanc held the hand of the old man piggybacked on the young man and led him personally.
Sunlight shining in the hallway of the lord’s residence settled behind their backs.
***
“Although we heard rumors of Lord Blanc’s brilliant good fight and achievements from afar, it was a situation where we couldn't move to Baltimere at all.”
Those who arrived at Blanc’s office.
Jesman, Valone’s son, explained the circumstances in the meantime from the side.
The three barons tortured retainers until the end to obtain hidden assets or secrets of the Cadmus family that might exist just in case.
Finally, when the utility value of the retainers dropped, the three barons decided to lock them in prison instead of killing them.
Because the public sentiment of Norington was too ominous to kill even them.
However, the roots the Cadmus family lowered in Norington were thick and hard.
For those who kept loyalty until the end, several residents joined forces and helped them escape from prison unbeknownst to the three barons.
Perhaps the existence called Blanc rising brightly from afar awakened the root called Cadmus to the territory residents.
Besides, it was also possible because dissatisfaction with the three barons was prevalent and they failed to solidify dominance over Norington.
Those who escaped like that scattered promising the future, and Valone’s family hid deep in the mountains.
Because eyes of surveillance were spread everywhere by the three barons who already entered wartime system to leave Norington immediately.
So they had no choice but to enter deep into the mountains.
Cultivating slash-and-burn fields together with several territory residents who fled unable to endure the exploitation of the three barons.
“Probably, those who succeeded in escape together also found it difficult to leave Norington easily.”
Blanc was just feeling complicated thinking about retainers of the Cadmus family who couldn't reach him.
“……Are there many residents who left?”
When Blanc asked about stories regarding slash-and-burn farmers, Jesman answered with a gloomy expression.
“It must be so. Because they viewed Norington merely as an object of exploitation rather than their territory.”
Not only faithful retainers but also many territory residents couldn't endure the exploitation of the three barons and hid into the forest even abandoning the status of commoners.
Because heavy tax was scary enough to make them abandon the land they had rooted in all their lives.
“I see…….”
Blanc touched his forehead and fell into worry.
Norington was devastated.
The hometown land Blanc missed even in dreams was wounded and fallen by the three barons, still sighing miserably.
“Anyway, thank you for returning well. I welcome you all with open arms.”
Blanc hugged the three people directly who didn't forsake loyalty to the Cadmus family and conveyed his heart instead.
“B-Baron.”
The young man who was lanky tall but had loose sleeves because he couldn't eat properly spoke to him.
“What is it, Jerome? Speak comfortably.”
The stuttering appearance reminded of Rakshar, but Jerome was a much bolder young man than him.
“We are serving the remains of Lord Pallard Cadmus…….”
“……What?”
Jerome, looking at Blanc’s surprised appearance, made an apologetic expression and said.
“Because Lord Pallard is a person who shouldn't be in such a place.”
Jerome in front of Blanc was truly a bold young man.
He came to Pallard Cadmus' grave site piercing through darkness, dug up stones, piggybacked the remains of the former master of Norington, and escaped leisurely.
“I will guide you. Baron.”
Blanc nodded hearing Jerome’s words.
“I ask you.”
***
It was deep in the mountains.
Rakshar, who hadn't fully recovered from injury yet, stuck out his tongue long and panted.
Soldiers escorting Blanc were also struggling climbing the rugged and steep mountain.
“Thank you.”
Blanc offered thanks to Jerome guiding the way in front of him.
If Jerome’s words were true, he would have climbed this rugged mountain path with his father’s crushed corpse strapped to his back, enduring the stench of decay and maggots raining down on him.
Hearing Blanc’s words, Jerome laughed and replied.
“I am the one thankful. Baron.”
“For what?”
Blanc wondered and asked Jerome who suddenly expressed gratitude to him.
“For returning to us.”
Hearing Jerome’s words, Blanc could guess with what feeling he climbed this rough mountain path piggybacking his father’s corpse.
He, they were believing.
That someday Blanc would return to Norington.
Blanc felt his chest becoming heavy and followed silently behind Jerome climbing up.
The weight Blanc felt now was the weight of faith and the weight of responsibility he had to carry all his life as the Lord of Norington.
That weight would press down on Blanc’s shoulders, but the one step the heavier Blanc takes would leave a deep footprint as much.
“We have arrived.”
What was seen in Blanc’s eyes who climbed the rough path likely for beasts to use was a small village.
“It is a slash-and-burn village…….”
As Jesman said, there was a slash-and-burn village made by territory residents who fled chased by taxes.
It was a village looking destitute and shabby at a glance.
Even the built houses were all poor ones making one wonder if they could even block the wind.
“Wh-Who goes there!”
At the sudden appearance of armed troops, village residents couldn't hide pale faces and didn't know what to do.
“Do not worry. We didn't come to harm you.”
Blanc soothed them with a soft tone and put forward the flag Jerome was holding.
“We came here because there is something to find, so do not fear too much.”
Murmuring village people couldn't recognize Blanc and were trembling in fear, but realized the person holding the flag was Jerome and looked up at the flag he was holding.
“Ah ah…… Cadmus, Cadmus has returned!”
Slash-and-burn farmers who recognized the black wolf symbolizing Cadmus soon knelt, bowed heads, and paid respects toward Blanc.
At the appearance of Blanc Cadmus, the true master of Norington and their true lord, some people were moved to tears and crying.
Because Blanc’s existence was hope itself and like a symbol ending the current hardship.
Blanc looked with deep eyes at the slash-and-burn farmers paying respects toward him.
“This way. Baron.”
Jerome held the Black Wolf flag proudly and led Blanc.
Blanc followed Jerome’s guidance, passed the village, and went up to a bit higher place.
Then soon a sunny and flat terrain was revealed in front of Blanc’s eyes.
There was a small tombstone without a name engraved standing there.
Blanc could feel instinctively.
That his father was sleeping under that tombstone.
Blanc walked slowly but with heavy steps to the grave site where the tombstone was erected.
Blanc’s bangs shook quietly in the passing wind.
At the father’s grave where everyone was dismissed, there were only the nameless tombstone and Blanc standing quietly.
“I am sorry. Father.”
Blanc apologized to his father.
He returned to stop it but eventually couldn't stop it.
The mansion burned again and his father Pallard Cadmus ended up losing his life once again.
However, the regressor who jumped over 30 years and returned, although he couldn't stop his father’s death, blocked the Void and regained Norington.
“I have returned. Father.”
He struggled desperately and created a reality different from the last life.
If seeing such an appearance of his, Pallard would also have smiled and nodded.
Saying you worked hard.
Blanc stood in front of the grave site and quietly looked at his father.
Only the nameless tombstone watching that appearance.
A flower placed on the tombstone was fluttering in the wind.
***
Blanc returning to Norington serving father’s remains for Pallard Cadmus' true rest.
Blanc, who thought fully serving his father was the last of this Norington recapture, was sitting on the horse with a somewhat relieved heart.
“Baron! There are people crowded at the entrance of Norington!”
However, there was a procession of people blocking the party’s front without even time for Blanc to get sentimental for a moment.
“What is it?”
As per the soldier’s report, in front of the Norington gate was crowded with people.
It was like seeing a procession of pilgrims in Moirai.
“Rakshar, find out.”
“Yes, Baron.”
Rakshar moved his huge body unique to Werewolves, pierced through people, approached guards in front of the gate, and asked.
Since Rakshar was already high in fame as a knight of Cadmus, the attitude of guards treating him looked very polite.
While Rakshar asked the circumstances, Blanc sat on the horse and looked at the people in front of the gate.
They were people of shabby appearance enough to look like a beggar group if this place wasn't Norington but Baltimere.
“They are slash-and-burn farmers.”
“Seems so.”
Even without Jerome’s advice, Blanc could grasp their identity.
They were territory residents of Norington who fled avoiding the exploitation of the three barons.
“Lead the way, Jerome.”
Blanc gave the honor of becoming the standard-bearer of the Cadmus family to Jerome just for this time.
The young man who didn't let go of loyalty to the Cadmus family even in the time of hardship and trial held the Black Wolf flag high and stood in front of the procession.
“Oh oh! Black Wolf! Black Wolf has returned!”
“Blanc Cadmus! True master of Norington!”
“Please save us pitiful ones! Baron Blanc!”
At Blanc’s appearance, shabby people gathered in front of the Norington gate shed tears and approached the party.
Blanc sat on the horse and looked at them quietly.
People who fled unable to overcome the tyranny of the three barons were gathering again.
They were believing.
In the new Black Wolf, Blanc, and the family called Cadmus.
Trust in the Cadmus family, which had led Norington excellently over 3 generations, was already embedded deep in the hearts of territory residents.
That trust was like a legacy of the Cadmus family that continued from Blanc’s great-grandfather’s time.
And the only one who could inherit that glorious legacy.
Was only Blanc Cadmus, the sole Cadmus.
“My territory residents! I promise!”
Blanc’s voice rang full in front of the gate.
“I will restore Norington to its original state! This land containing my roots will embrace you warmly again!”
It was a promise only Blanc Cadmus, the true ruler of Norington, could make.
“Cadmus has returned!”
At Blanc’s declaration, territory residents gathered in front of the gate raised hands and praised him.
Although the Cadmus mansion burned down without a trace and nothing remained.
However, there was a legacy Pallard Cadmus passed to Blanc.
A glorious legacy continued from Cadmus to Cadmus.
The legacy named public sentiment of Norington and trust of territory residents.
Blanc Cadmus inherited that perfectly.
Since the one who can become the true owner of Norington is only Cadmus.
The Black Wolf flag finding its place was shining at the highest place in Norington.
And following that light.
People were gathering.