The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - LLD Chapter 102: Invitation (Part 1)

The County was emerging from winter.

And yet, the cold persisted all year round in the County.

In the reception room of Whitewolf Castle, the biting chill of frost seeped into every corner.

The window sills were covered in cold frost, as though decorated with ice. From the cracks, wind slipped through, carrying with it the scent of bitter cold and a touch of moisture.

Only the fireplace crackling in one corner gave off any warmth.

“Ugh…!”

A man groaned in pain in front of the fireplace.

He was naked—completely exposed except for his vital area being barely covered.

Upon closer inspection, there were red, sharp wounds across his shoulders and waist. His back was engraved with blood marks where the skin had been torn.

They looked like the aftermath of a fierce battle.

But judging by the neatly placed metal armor beside him…

…it was clear these torn wounds weren’t from combat, but rather the result of wearing metal armor in this bitter cold.

I stepped forward, making my presence known.

“Agh… oh!”

The man startled and turned toward me.

And the moment I saw his face—

‘Not him.’

…He wasn’t Ian.

Truthfully, I had already been told by Bernard that this wasn’t Ian. But still, seeing it with my own eyes brought a wave of unavoidable disappointment.

That face, on the verge of freezing to death—

“I-I’m so sorry…!!”

Definitely not Ian.

“I-I heard it was cold, but…! Ugh, I-I didn’t know it would be this cold…!”

The man trembled uncontrollably.

“A-a late introduction…! I-I am Herald, from the 1st Knight Order of the Royal Knights!”

The Royal Knights were the kingdom’s elite guard, assigned to protect the palace and other royal facilities.

A knight order made up of the kingdom’s brightest talents.

However, Herald wasn’t a full knight, but a squire. In other words, a knight-in-training.

“What brings the Royal Knights all the way out here?”

That meant his status was below mine, as the heir of the House of Whitewolf.

Actually, even full Royal Knights were no exception.

Individually, their rank wasn’t very high. They only borrowed the King’s authority temporarily when representing the royal family, and otherwise fell under the lower-tier administrators.

By contrast, a Count was a noble title granted directly by the Monarch. The direct bloodline of a Count was never low in rank.

So it made sense that Herald showed no signs of offense even when I spoke down to him.

“T-The Count of Whitewolf… h-he left a will…! H-His Majesty the King has sent me regarding it…!”

Herald behaved as if this were only natural.

“His Majesty the King?”
“Y-Yes…!”

Herald grunted as he strained his Aura.

It seemed like he was trying to expel the cold using Aura.

While he did so, I drifted into thought.

‘Ah, the will. I forgot about that.’

It had been around three months since the Royal Family began investigating whether the will had been forged or not.

Which meant three months had passed since my father’s death—and likewise, three months since I returned to the past.

‘Has it only been three months?’

It felt like a full year had passed.

Come to think of it—

‘I spent 241 days in the Infinite Labyrinth.’

So in practical terms, a year had passed for me.

“Pardon the delay.”

Herald had finished warming himself with Aura.

Every time I saw it, I thought the same thing—it’s such a convenient function. The power to manifest one’s imagination into reality. No wonder it was powerful.

“His Majesty says he cannot trust the will.”

Herald continued.

I tilted my head slightly.

There’s no way the King didn’t know the will wasn’t forged.

“More precisely, it’s the contents of the memorandum sent by Lady Whitewolf that are causing confusion.”

“A memorandum from Serapia?”

“It was a statement declaring she was relinquishing her rights as Lord and Head of the County.”

“…Ah.”

The one she gave me back then, casually, while suggesting we eat together.

A document in which Serapia gave up everything inherited to her.

It must have been that one.

“So His Majesty has decided to meet both of you in person and make a judgment.”

“His Majesty himself?”

“Yes. That is why I’ve come to invite both of you to the royal capital.”

As Herald finished speaking—

◆ A new Territory Quest has arrived. ◆

A new quest appeared, and the content unfolded before my eyes:

You have fulfilled the responsibilities and duties of a true Lord!

You have become a genuine Lord who truly cares for their people!

Your heart pounds! Your soul trembles!

All the people of your Territory are captivated by you!

Now, let all kneel at your feet!

For you are the Lord of the County of Whitewolf—Count Adrian!

…Or so you thought!

Huh? Wha?

Wait a second…?!

You’re… not the Count?

What kind of ridiculous nonsense is this?!

You’re the rightful heir of House Whitewolf!

Adrian Whitewolf himself!!

The legitimate successor recognized by the people…!

What?! There’s someone who doesn’t acknowledge you?!

Who dares… huh?

…Your father?

That’s right!

Your very own father!

The one who gave everything to your sister—who shares not even a drop of your blood!

And unfortunately, you can no longer earn his recognition even if you wanted to!

Is this why people say to be good to your parents while they’re alive?

…What a load of crap!

You are the famous Fire-Attribute Filial Son!

Truly the greatest delinquent under the heavens!

Aaaaaaah, your fury is rising!

Burn. It. All. Down!

Why, son?! What are you doing, son?!

I am inheriting the County, father!

…Unfortunately, such a dramatic scene will never come to pass, but hey—

So what?

Even if you go against your father’s wishes, you still seized the County through your own strength!

And most importantly, you’re not some infamous traitor—

You are a dignified, capable leader who has proven their worth and fulfilled their responsibilities!

So don’t forget—

Everyone in the County is now wishing for you to become their Count!

== [Inheriting the County, Father!] ==

[Objective] – Obtain royal recognition

[Reward] – Partial unlock of “Management Mode”

[Failure] – “Management Mode” functions restricted

‘…Did this system also study the concept of infinity or something?’

Its exaggerated ranting showed no signs of restraint.

Though stunned by the system’s theatrics…

‘This didn’t happen in my previous life.’

I calmed down and started organizing my thoughts.

This royal summons occurred because my father’s will and Serapia’s memorandum conflicted.

But in my past life?

I had left the family.

So Serapia had no reason to send a memorandum to the royal family.

Most likely, she simply inherited the County based on Father’s will.

But in this life, because I stayed with the family, the situation changed.

In other words—

‘I changed the future.’

Just like the flutter of a butterfly’s wings can cause a storm far away, small changes can lead to enormous shifts.

The Commander of the Beast Legion, the Lycanthrope, fell by my hand.

Avarus and Iratum fell as well.

Even the Commander of the Abyss Legion, Kraulgarr, was destroyed.

With that, the lawless city of Baoless disappeared.

The fluttering of my wings had caused serious disruptions in the Emperor’s grand plans to swallow the continent.

Which meant…

The Empire might now act differently from how it did in my past life.

And keeping that in mind—

◆ Territory Quest [I Am Inheriting the County, Father!] has begun.

He accepted the quest without much thought.

Translatin_Otaku

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