The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - LLD Chapter 34: A Lord’s Responsibility and Duty (2) (Part 1)

Suddenly, the name the soldier mentioned—Adrian.

“O-Opp… my brother?”

Serapia tilted her head in confusion.
And for good reason—Adrian wasn’t in the County right now.

Adrian had left the County to form a merchant group. She knew that. And it hadn’t even been that long.

In short, not enough time had passed for him to return from the trade expedition.
Above all, due to the heavy snowfall, the County had been completely cut off from the outside world.

Even if he wanted to return, it was currently impossible.
So how could it be Adrian?
Unless something had happened to him—

“What do you mean something happened to my brother!?”

Serapia hastily questioned the soldier.
But perhaps the soldier couldn’t find the right words to explain either.

“Y-You need to check for yourself!!”

The soldier shouted in a rush.

A sense of unease suddenly wrapped around Serapia.

Ominously—

The sky was covered in ashen clouds.

The frozen ground crunched with every step.

Serapia hurried her pace all the more.

After walking for a while,

What came into view first was a distribution center, sturdily built with tents.

“W-What is this…?”
“When did they build something like that…?”

Kai and Bernard, who had followed behind, widened their eyes in disbelief.

In front of the distribution center stood a long line of territory residents.
In the freezing cold, the people huddled in worn coats and fur clothes, blowing into their hands to stay warm.

Inside the center, supplies were piled high.

Large wooden crates and burlap sacks were filled with dried meat, salted fish, processed grains, and warm fur clothing.

Food, clothes, firewood, medical supplies—
Everything the County needed most at the moment, and what it had been struggling to secure, was here in abundance.

Those who had already received their rations quickly made their way home.

To family, friends, and lovers trembling in the cold and hunger.
But their faces were filled with smiles, imagining the joy they’d soon bring.

Serapia stepped deeper into the distribution center.

The soldiers who had accompanied Adrian on his journey were the ones in charge of distributing the supplies.

The season of bitter frost was closing in.
Despite the biting cold, the soldiers moved with firm resolve.

“There’s plenty for everyone, so take as much as you need!”
“Don’t hold back trying to be polite and end up starving!”

They distributed supplies to each household, maintaining a strong stance and passionate energy.

Adrian was no exception.

He moved throughout the site, checking for any missing items, ensuring that everyone was receiving their share.
One by one, he inspected everything.

The merchant group members followed Adrian, busily jotting down notes and double-checking everything.

Perhaps that’s why—

…it felt warm.
Even in the heart of a bitter season, this place hadn’t frozen over. It was full of life.

The gentle murmur of territory residents chatting around small campfires could be heard.

Children were eating warm soup, and elderly residents were receiving help from soldiers to carry their supplies home.

The occasional sound of a crying child pierced the air.
Some people, moved by the sound, began to shed quiet tears.

But those tears weren’t born from sadness or fear.
Nor were they a product of hunger or the cold.

“Thank you… truly, thank you…”
“How could we ever repay such kindness…?”

It was gratitude. Pure, heartfelt gratitude.
What blossomed on their faces wasn’t despair.

It was… hope.

Serapia’s red eyes trembled as she looked over each of their faces.

…She didn’t understand.

She didn’t know how to take in what she was seeing.
She didn’t know how to make sense of it.

She simply… didn’t know.

“…….”

Overwhelmed by emotion, Serapia bit down on her lip.
But even so, her lips trembled uncontrollably, unable to contain the surge of feeling.

She took a deep breath.
Clutched her robes tightly in both hands.
Yet her shoulders still quivered.

Kai, watching her, asked worriedly,

“Are you all right?”
“I-I’m fine… Just… I need a moment. Alone.”

Serapia fled from the scene.
Kai moved to follow her, but Bernard blocked his path.

“It’s better to leave her alone for now.”

When Kai turned his gaze back, Serapia was already stumbling.
She looked so fragile—like a petal caught in the wind.

Still, Kai stepped back in the end.

He could feel that she wanted to cut herself off from the world and her emotions for a moment.
And he understood exactly why…

Serapia wandered aimlessly.

She didn’t know how far she should walk, or where to go.
She just walked. And walked. And walked some more.

Eventually, she arrived at a narrow alley—one that no one else would pass through, hidden from all eyes.
Only then did her steps finally come to a stop.

At some point, her long black lashes had grown wet, veiling her eyes.
Tears welled up, glistening and clinging to her lashes.

Tears wouldn’t stop coming. She didn’t know why.
She just… felt so happy.
This moment—right now.

But why was she feeling such happiness? She didn’t know the reason.

And perhaps, that was the reason itself.

“…Hic.”

She couldn’t hold back the sobs that burst from her chest.
She couldn’t contain the flood of emotions that overflowed.

She shouldn’t be like this. She shouldn’t cry.
She couldn’t let her heart soften. If she did… If she did, then—

She had to be strong. Stronger, still stronger…

Without realizing it, her legs gave out beneath her.

“Hhik…!”

The sobs she had been holding back finally burst out.
Why… she didn’t know.
She just assumed her heart had grown weak.
Her face, drenched in tears—
If she looked in the mirror now, she’d probably look utterly pathetic.

Translatin_Otaku

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