The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - LLD Chapter 98: End of a Long Winter (2) (Part 2)

To put it simply, this quest was asking me to turn criminals into soldiers.

The clear reward was a massive amount of EXP.
A reward that was both crucial and necessary.

However, the penalty for failure was just as significant…

‘Come to think of it…’

Now that he thought about it, there was still a Territory Quest he hadn’t completed.

==[The Authority of a Lord Comes from Responsibility and Duty]==

[Objective] – Raise your territory residents’ Favorability to [Trust] within 90 days.
[Reward] – Authority
[Failure] – 「Management Mode」 will be revoked.

It had already been two months since he received the quest.

‘So I have about a month left.’

The current Favorability of the residents was at [Friendly].
One more level remained before reaching [Trust], the clear condition.
Restriction of features vs. complete revocation.
Naturally, revocation was the harsher penalty—

‘Guess I’ll just clear them both at once.’

As long as he took care of both, it’d be fine.
With steady steps, Adrian walked through the sunset-stained streets of Frecce.

And at that moment—

“Lord Adrian!”

From far off, a member of the Predator Merchant Group came running toward him, panting hard.
He stopped in front of Adrian, out of breath.
It looked like something had happened.

“What is it?”
“Haah… It’s not exactly an emergency, but…”

The merchant took a moment to calm his breathing,
then pulled out a neatly squared object from his chest pocket and handed it over.

“What’s this?”
“It’s a letter left behind by someone named Iliana.”
“…Iliana?”

Adrian accepted the letter.
The seal was tightly shut—clearly untouched.

He broke the seal and unfolded the letter.
Inside, the handwriting was tightly packed, pressed in with care.

Hello, Lord Adrian.

I originally wanted to tell you this in person.

But you seemed busy…
And I didn’t have the courage to face you…
Even if I did, I probably wouldn’t be able to speak properly…

So I’m leaving this letter.

I’m still nervous that it might be rude of me to send something like this.

I’m planning to take the official mage exam once I return to the Magic Tower!!

To be honest, I hesitated a lot.

Whether someone like me even deserved that kind of help.
Why someone like you would support me.
You told me I had potential, Lord Adrian, but I kept wondering if I could ever live up to that.

But still!!

I’m studying hard every day, doing my best to grow so that I can become a great mage—
One you can be proud of!!

My efforts and passion may be lacking,
but I’ll do my best in hopes that it can be a small token of gratitude toward you!!

If there’s ever anything you’re curious about, or any research you need help with,
or anything at all where I might be useful, please let me know!

Even if I have to stay up all night, I’ll solve it for you!
Even if it’s about the Infinite, anything at all!

I want to repay your faith, even if it’s only a little.
I know you said you expected nothing in return—but still!!

And lastly…

Please, please stay healthy!!

I’ll be praying—truly, sincerely praying every day
for your continued happiness and good health!!

—With all my heart,
Iliana Segretus

P.S. I’ll be sending lots—um, I mean, frequent letters!!!

The moment Adrian finished reading the letter—

◆ Iliana’s Favorability toward you has reached the maximum!!

A semi-transparent system message popped up in front of his eyes.

◆ Error: Iliana is a character who cannot reach the [Affection] state.
◆ Favorability Block – Seen as a fatherly sponsor
◆ As long as the Favorability Block remains, [Affection] cannot be reached.

◆ Iliana’s Favorability toward you is now at [Trust].

…That was… unexpected.

It wasn’t surprising that [Affection] couldn’t be reached.
But to be considered a father figure by the head of the Magic Corps?

Sure, he’d funded her generously, but father?

‘…Well.’

Iliana had grown up without knowing what parental love was.
Her mother died giving birth to her, and she’d never felt the unconditional love of a parent.

At present, Iliana was only 16.
Unlike in her previous life, she was still a girl in need of care and love.

And with her incredibly sharp mental perception,
every person and thing around her had become a source of mental stress.

But at the same time—

That meant she had the capacity to understand and empathize with all things more deeply.

‘It’s not too late.’

If he took good care of her from now on, Iliana might not fall apart.

If he helped her understand and harness her emotions and innocence,
if he built a safe environment and a foundation she could trust—

Then Iliana could become a light to the continent,
a Great Mage surpassing even her past life.

In her previous life, despite being mentally broken,
she had become the hero of the allied forces.

Adrian carefully folded the letter and placed it in his inventory.

And then—

◆ Serapia’s Favorability toward you has reached its limit!!

Another message popped up.
This time, about Serapia, and not just a maximum—her Favorability had reached its limit?

◆ The Favorability of your territory residents has risen drastically!!!

Yet another message appeared—this time about the residents?

◆ Your territory residents’ Favorability is now at [Trust]!
◆ People at [Trust] status will fully rely on and believe in you.

◆ Your residents will gladly endure personal losses for your sake.

Just like that, they’d all reached [Trust] status—

◆ You have cleared the Territory Quest [The Authority of a Lord Comes from Responsibility and Duty]!
◆ You have earned 1,714,500 Quest EXP!

The quest auto-cleared on its own—

◆ Level Up!
◆ Level Up!
◆ Level Up!

And just like that—three levels at once.

‘…What the?’

…Something’s going on again back in the County.
Adrian’s head already started to throb.

A soft, ticklish sensation brushed against her eyes.

Awakened by that strange sensation, Serapia slowly opened her eyes.

But something about the feeling was unfamiliar.
It was like waking from a long, deep sleep—refreshing and clear.

When was the last time she’d felt this at peace while sleeping?

She could hardly remember.

What was more—this was the first time she’d ever woken up without pain.

‘Huh…?’

Her body felt light and warm.

That is to say—

‘Wait…?’

…She didn’t hurt at all?

Translatin_Otaku

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