The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - LLD Chapter 54: Whereabouts (1) (Part 1)

Bernard brought news that a guest had arrived at the County.

And not just any time—just now.

I pressed him impatiently.

“Who is it? Who came to the County?”

“It’s a guest from House Benneron.”

“…House Benneron?”

“That’s right.”

A faint trace of disappointment slipped onto my face.

Because it wasn’t Ian.

But the name House Benneron…

It felt strangely familiar.

Where had I heard that before?

Not during the Allied Forces days… Ah, right.

“Wasn’t the guest who visited after the Ice-Drake subjugation also from House Benneron?”

The guest who had come to the County after the Gelu Drake hunt.

I remembered something about Benneron back then too.

“That’s correct.”

As expected, Bernard nodded, confirming my suspicion.

“Then why are they back?”

“It seems to be related to the proposal they made last time.”

“A proposal?”

“That is…”

Bernard trailed off.

From the look of it, he found it hard to bring up.

Whatever House Benneron had proposed, I didn’t know, but—

“Bernard, you handle it.”

I had no real interest in it.

And no reason to get involved either.

For a moment, Bernard looked visibly disappointed.

Maybe my recent efforts—caring for the people of the territory and fighting the Legion alone—had changed how he saw me.

He might’ve even started expecting me to act like a true lordling.

But I had no intention of meeting that expectation.

I had no plans to become the Lord of this County.

Once Ian returns, I’ll settle matters regarding Serapia and Kai and leave.
As long as the guest wasn’t Ian, there was no reason to care.
Wasting time here would only hold me back.

Right now, I had to head up to Frecce first and track down Ian’s movements.

While I was at it, I needed to secure funding to establish the Allied Army, find medicinal ingredients to help Serapia recover, and increase the remaining favorability of the territory’s people.

I had a mountain of things to do.

“Isn’t this the Chief Steward’s job?”

The Chief Steward is granted the authority to act as the Lord’s proxy in emergencies.

With Father gone and Serapia in her current state, this absolutely counted as an emergency.

Right now, Bernard had more authority than me as acting Lord.

Wasn’t that why he rejected my request for funds to create a merchant guild?

And now he wants my involvement?

“…Understood.”

Bernard stepped back.

Even then, he lingered in place, hesitant to leave.

But when I said nothing, he finally turned and walked away in silence.

The free and bustling trade city of Frecce was always packed with merchants and visitors.

But lately, a strange gloom had settled over it.

Normally, the streets would echo with the shouts of street vendors calling out to passersby.
The crowds would fill the roads, brimming with energy.

But now, the stalls were coated in dust, and the faces of those wandering the streets were marked with worry and disappointment.

“I just don’t feel like doing anything these days…”

“You too? I’ve got no motivation either. Can’t even bring myself to work.”

People stared blankly at the sky.
Others gazed longingly toward the horizon.

They gathered in the plaza, hoping that maybe—just maybe—today was the day.

But they soon lowered their heads again, let down once more.

“What’s the point of working hard and making money…”

“If the Predator Merchant Group doesn’t come back, what’s the use?”

It was the taste of the Predator Group’s monster meat.

After experiencing it once, the people were like lovesick fools, wasting away with yearning.

“I can’t live without that meat anymore.”

“Just one more bite. Just once, please…”

A constant string of lethargic, unproductive days.

The blacksmiths no longer pounded on metal.
The sound of haggling and hammering had vanished.

This must be what people mean when they say addiction is dangerous.

There might be people who’ve never tried it,
but no one stops at just one bite.

And it wasn’t just the customers who were affected.

Even the merchants who had collaborated with the Predator Group—selling goods paired with monster meat—were feeling it.

“Without the Predator Group, our revenue’s been cut down to a quarter…”

“You’re lucky. We’re down to one-tenth.”

“Same here.”

The booming sales had dropped off a cliff the moment the monster meat ran dry.

Once you’ve had that ‘high,’ normal profits don’t cut it anymore.

Even nobles from various kingdoms, who had come chasing rumors, sighed in disappointment.

“We came all this way because they said the monster meat was divine…”

“Damn it! I promised the Marquis I’d bring some back…!!”

Lively conversations died down.
The once boisterous market became quiet.

“Haa…”

“Ugh…”

People gathered in one corner of the plaza, staring blankly at the empty streets.

Every time a horse-drawn cart passed, eyes lit up with hope—
only to dim again when they saw no sign of the white wolf emblem.

“Could something have happened in the House of Whitewolf’s County?”

One person, unable to stand it, voiced their suspicion.

“I mean, really. It’s been days and they haven’t shown their faces.”

“Huh…?”

“Now that you mention it…”

“Y-yeah! There’s no way they’d go this long without coming!”

“What if… they ran into an accident while hunting monsters…?”

Worry quickly spread like wildfire.

The skies over Frecce grew darker, and shadows slowly cast themselves over the city.

“N-no way! Maybe it’s just heavy snowfall blocking the roads!”

“Isn’t that worse? It means they want to come, but can’t.”

“Shouldn’t we help them?”

“You’re right. We can’t just sit here! Let’s send someone to House Whitewolf to help!”

“Dispatch the territory guards!!”

Just as everyone—commoners, merchants, nobles alike—were making up their minds to act…

“THEREEEE THEEEYYY AREEEEEEE!!!”

A roar rang out, like it came from someone who had boiled and eaten an Ogre’s lungs.

“THE PREDATOR MERCHANT GROUP IS HEEEEREEEEEE!!!”

Everyone jolted upright.

As if on cue, all eyes turned to the far end of the road.

A long line of wagons began approaching.

And beside them—clear as day—was the emblem of the white wolf.

“THEY’REEEE HEEEEREEEE!!!”

“They cameeeee!!”

“YAAAAAAHHHHHH!!”

Thunderous cries—loud enough to rival any loudspeaker—echoed as the Predator Group arrived.

People poked their heads out of windows across the shopping district at the sound.

And when they saw the long line of wagons adorned with the white wolf insignia—

“THEY’REEEE HEEEEREEEE!!!”

“THEY CAMEEEEE!!”

One and all let out roars like they’d eaten an Ogre’s lungs themselves.

Children ran through the streets, spreading the news like wildfire:

“The Predator Merchant Group is here!”

“They’re really here!!”

The wagon procession seemed endless.

Even by a rough count, there were dozens.

Which could only mean one thing—
they had brought a massive supply of monster meat.

It seemed the delay had been due to securing that massive supply.

Music echoed throughout the plaza.
With the grand beat of drums, the gloomy atmosphere of the city came to life, infusing it with energy and vitality.

Huge banners welcoming the Predator Merchant Group hung all over the streets.

[Frecce always welcomes the Predator Merchant Group!]
[This is your home now!]
[How did we ever live without you? Now, life begins!]

Translatin_Otaku

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